Public Blog

We have seen in previous posts that the soil in which we plant our children is very important if we are going to raise strong, healthy trees.  I explained how the soil is representative of the prevailing worldview of an individual, home, church, or school.  It was also pointed out that the prevailing worldview of a teacher, school or other institution will be either secular or biblical in nature.  A secular education is built on a secular or man-centered worldview.  On the other hand, a biblical education is built on a biblical or God-centered worldview.

It is important to remember that a secular worldview is predicated on lies while a biblical worldview is grounded in truth.  It is not enough to simply know that a secular worldview’s soil is filled with lies that will feed the children who are planted in it.  We must also be able to identify these lies.  These lies or Satan’s truth claims will shape the beliefs of the children who are planted in this type of soil.  As this happens it forms the culture of society that will be held in captivity by these lies.

When we enroll our children in a school, we are, in essence, “planting” them in some type of soil.  Since the majority of Christian parents enroll their children in secular schools, the majority of our children are being planted in a secular worldview soil.  As soon as that young child is planted his/her tender, fibrous roots start drinking in the nutrients that are in the soil.  Yes, they will take in some truth.  However, the main nutrients that they will absorb will be lies or Satan’s “truth claims”.  The question that I must raise is this.

Are Christian parents even aware of the lies that their children may be drinking in on a daily basis from their secular education?

If you were asked what are the fundamental lies in today’s secular culture that has enslaved its people, what would you say?  Many times we see the symptoms of our diseased culture and we know that it isn’t good.  However, we don’t get down to the root of the problems we face in everyday life.

I want to begin identifying some of the basic lies that are currently enslaving us, our families and our communities.  These lies, I believe, have even taken some captives in our churches.  It is important to try and discern the lies that affect the entire culture, not only in the United States but also around the globe.  Here a few that come to my mind.

• Man’s happiness is the most important goal in life.
• The government is to provide for all of its citizen’s needs.
• Gender is a personal choice.
• Tolerance is the ultimate value that humans are to exhibit.
• Man is a mere mechanistic creature of nature of equal value to all other forms of life.
• Making money is the primary goal of work and one works to be able to consume.
• Popularity is important in determining one’s identity.

I hope the readers can see that I am trying to identify some fundamental false ideas that impact everyone in our society and determine what we believe and how we act.  There are many more that can be added to this list.  Since it is so important for us to know what the lies of a secular worldview are, I am asking each of you to give me some more lies from today’s postmodern culture that are enslaving us.  You can do this on  your own or sit down with a group of people and discuss this together.  Then simply write down your ideas in the comment box below.  I will gather them together and make a final list that I will share in next week’s post.  Once we identify Satan’s truth claims that keep us in bondage, we need to see how this impacts all areas of one’s life.  I look forward to reading your comments.

Last week I shared how the soil in which a tree is planted is a major factor in the future growth and health of the tree.  I also equated the soil with the prevailing worldview held by our families, churches, schools and communities.  Finally, I pointed out that there are two worldview options that can make up the soil in which our children can be planted — a biblical worldview or a secular worldview.  The first is God-centered and grounded in truth.  The second is man-centered based on human opinion and falsehood.

There is a profound truth in Scripture that must be applied to this analogy of growing healthy trees (future generations).  In John 8 we find Jesus making this powerful statement.

 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32 (NKJV)

Most Christians are very familiar with the last statement of Jesus that truth shall make (set) you free.  It doesn’t mean Christians are free to do whatever they want.  Instead it tells us that knowing truth frees us from the captivity of sin and false ideas.  We must keep in mind that truth is the person (see John 14:6), Jesus Christ.  We also know that Jesus Christ is the Word (see John 1:1-5, 14).  This is why Jesus is saying that if you want to know truth, you must continue in His Word.  Here is the key thought.  Truth frees us — it brings freedom.

Since this statement being true, the opposite is also true.  Lies enslave us — they take us captive.  With this in mind, let’s go back to our analogy of trees being planted in different kinds of soils or worldviews.  A secular worldview is man-centered and based on lies and falsehoods.  Therefore, this type of soil would look something like this picture.

The soil formed by a secular worldview would lack the necessary nutrient of truth that is needed to produce a fruitful and healthy tree.  It is important to point out that even the most secular or atheistic worldview will contain some elements of truth.  For example 2+2=4 is true in any worldview.  So we will be able to find some truth in the soil of a secular worldview.

In contrast to this type of soil, stands soil that is based on a biblical worldview.  A biblical worldview is grounded in truth.  So this type of soil can be characterized like this picture.  If you study this picture, you will find that the soil contains some falsehoods.  We must always remember that we live in a fallen world.  This means that no matter how strong of a biblical worldview that an individual or organization develops, it will also contain some error.  We can never achieve a completely renewed mind that is based totally on truth.

As we consider this analogy, we must ask the question what is the prevailing worldview of most Christians?  This is important because the worldviews held by Christians will determine the worldview that is prevalent in our homes and churches.  Just growing up in a Christian home and church does not guarantee that all parents and church leaders have developed a biblical worldview.  In fact, most studies have shown that just the opposite is true.  In one Barna study I read found that only 9-10% of pastors have a strong biblical worldview.  This would lead me to surmise that a lower percentage of Christian parents have a biblical worldview.

When it comes to schooling, we find an even more troubling dilemma facing Christians who want to grow their children in soil that will cause them to grow into strong, healthy and fruitful trees.  The majority of Christian children are in schools that are based on a secular philosophy of education.  Thus the dominant worldview in this type of school is a secular one.

A biblically-based school is built on a biblical philosophy of education (I call this a kingdom education philosophy).  Therefore, the dominant worldview in this type of school should be a biblical worldview.  To illustrate the difference in these two schooling options, consider the following picture.  Here we find the two philosophies of education that a school will operate on and the corresponding worldview soil for each type of school.

As you can see in the visual, parents will “plant” their children in some educational soil.  Their children will be nurtured and admonished in accord with the philosophy of education and worldview of the schooling choice.  This raises two questions that must be answered by all parents and Christian educators.  The first question is for Christian educators.

What are you doing to make sure that a biblical worldview is the soil from which your students will receive the nutrients necessary for their healthy growth?

The second question is for Christian parents.

What type of soil are you going to “plant” your child in?

The answers to these questions will determine if the next generation will develop into strong, healthy trees that can impact the culture for Christ.

Ever since the age of 12 I have loved landscaping.  My first job was with a company that was the largest producer of annual flowers in Western New York.  From time to time I was privileged to work at various nurseries and for a couple of landscape architects.  I even took a correspondence course in landscape design many years ago.  I have designed planting for several houses in several different states.

From this experience I have come to understand what it takes to grow healthy plants, specifically trees.  The key to growing healthy plants and trees is determined by the type of soil in which they are planted.  If the soil is poor and lacks necessary nutrients, the soil must be amended and enriched in order to produce a healthy plant.  If this doesn’t happen, the tree will eventually die.

I have a particular fondness for growing trees.  Over the years I have planted ornamental, fruit and shade trees.  Each tree was planted for a particular purpose.  Planting southern magnolias, Kwansan and Yoshino cherries, dogwoods, Japanese maples and Bradford pear trees brought joy because of their beautiful blossoms and ornamental beauty they showed at various times of the year.  It was also exciting to plant apple, peach and plum trees for the fruit they produced.  One time I planted a kumquat tree and was amazed at the amount of fruit it produced each year.  Of course, planting maple and oak trees provided enjoyment as I watched them grow from small seedlings to mighty trees that provided cooling shade during hot summer months.

One also finds many significant references to trees throughout the Bible.  Of course, the first tree we think about in the Bible is the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  When Adam ate the fruit of this tree, sin entered the world and we all know the fatal consequences that followed from that one act.  Another tree mentioned specifically in the Bible is the fig tree.  It was the leaves from this tree that Adam used to try and hide his sin from God.  We are also aware of another tree in the Garden.  This is the tree of life.  Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden so that they would not eat of this tree and live for ever in the state of sin.  The Bible also talks about the cursed tree on which Jesus, God’s Son, shed His blood for man’s sin.

There is no question that trees play an important role in God’s plan for mankind.  One of the most interesting

analogies related to trees in the Scriptures is its use as a metaphor for a  person’s life.  One of the most familiar examples of this metaphor is found in Psalms 1.  God says that a man who avoids ungodly counsel and meditates in the law of the Lord day and night is like a tree planted by the rivers of water.  Such a tree is always fruitful and prospers at all times.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:2-3 (NKJV)

When our lives are planted in the right soil, we are fruitful and prosperous.  This is important because the Scripture also emphasizes the importance of a person bearing good fruit.  In fact, we are known by the fruit we produce.

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.   Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:16-20 (NKJV)

So how do we grow healthy, fruitful trees?  When I use the analogy of growing a tree, I am referring to growing fruitful children, families, churches and communities.  The key is to make sure we plant them in fertile, rich soil.  The soil must have the necessary nutrients to produce healthy trees.  Recently I was studying this topic and came across a description of soil related to producing individuals and societies.  The Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA) explains that the soil we plant our children, families, churches and communities in can be described as the prevailing worldview.

The prevailing worldview held by individuals, organizations and the culture, in general, determines the richness of the soil in which these things grow and mature.  Let me explain.  Every child will be planted in a home and some form of school.  For children raised in Christian homes, they will, most likely, also be planted in a church.  The education (nutrients) that a child receives in these institutions will be determined by the worldview these institutions hold.

There are many types of worldviews that have been identified by different individuals and organizations.  However, when you boil all of the various worldview options down, you end up with only two main types.  One can have either a man-centered worldview or a God-centered worldview.  A man-centered worldview is basically secular in nature while a God-centered worldview can be described as a biblical worldview.  These two worldviews are in total opposition to one another.

The question that must be answered is what worldview is forming the soil of our homes, churches, schools and communities?  The answer may not be what we think it is.  Stay tuned for more on this very important topic.

I usually post blogs on Monday mornings.   However, there were two things that happened last night and this morning that caused me to post this morning.  Romans 1:20 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  Right behind it is Psalms 19:1.  Most likely these verses are special to me because of my love for the sciences and mathematics.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (KJV)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 (KJV)

From these two verses we find that creation is an expression of the very nature of God.  By studying His creation, we can know and understand His invisible attributes.  One of the occurrences that takes place every once in awhile is an eclipse.  This morning we were able to witness a lunar eclipse in some parts of the United States.  My daughter sent the family a video of today’s event from her home in Texas.

Not only was it a lunar eclipse but is was also preceded by a blood moon.  As a beautiful full moon moved into the shadow of the earth, it appeared to change color.  Right before it disappeared it became a brilliant reddish orange ball in the night sky.

As I followed coverage of this phenomenon, I was reminded of some lessons I learned many years ago from watching various eclipses take place.  A lunar eclipse is one where the earth comes in-between the sun and the moon.  When this occurs, the earth blocks the rays of the sun from reflecting off of the moon.  This creation moment always causes me to reflect on something that God’s Word says about our relationship to Him and this world.

In John 5 we read that God is Light.  God is like the sun.  He is the source of all true light.  Man is fallen and is in darkness but through regeneration he enters into a personal relationship with God.  When a Christian is rightly related to God, God’s light shines on man and is reflected onto a lost world.  When a lost world sees God’s light reflected off of a Christian, God receives the glory.  This is exactly what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so let me try and illustrate my thoughts with a visual.

This picture illustrates how Christians should be related to God (Who is Light) as we live and work in this dark world. This is how we should be living our lives by abiding in Christ and allowing God’s light to shine through us to a lost world.

In the beginning of this post, I said that there were two things that led me to write it.  The second one also relates to what we just observed in today’s lunar eclipse.  Last night the President of the United States gave his first State of the Union Address since taking office.  I am not going to give political commentary on the speech but I do want to point out a theme that ran through the address.

This President, whether one likes him or not, has accomplished a lot of things.  One thing I am very grateful to him for doing is how he has boldly stood for the sanctity of all human life — including the life of the unborn.  He has not only spoken out publicly on this issue but he has also appointed strong, conservative, constitutionalist judges who will defend all human life.

The theme that I want to draw our attention to, however, is that of economic prosperity.  There is no question about it, many of his actions have caused the economy to rebound and grow.  I am not against keeping a little more of the money I earn so I can use it for kingdom business.  I also want to see others be blessed financially.  However, I am fearful that we can very easily start loving the things of this world more than the things of God.  As some has aptly said, we can focus on the blessing and forget the blesser!

Let me explain using the example of today’s lunar eclipse.  We find a very solemn warning in 1 John 2.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 (KJV)

This verse used to always concern me.  When I would read it, I thought it was telling me that if I loved this world, God stopped loving me.  However, that is not what it means.  It says if I love the world, the love of the father is no longer IN me.  It took a lunar eclipse many years ago to help me understand what that means.  Consider a second image.

When I love the things of this world more than God, I allow the world to come between me and God.  This is exactly what happens in a lunar eclipse — the earth (world) comes between the sun and the moon.  When the world comes between me and God, God’s light cannot get to me — His love is not IN me.  This means I have nothing to reflect through my efforts to a lost, dark world.

As Christians, we cannot let economic prosperity or any other worldly desires come between us and God, Who is light.  When this happens, we end up walking in the darkness of an eclipse.  Economic prosperity and/or the American Dream is not what we should seek after.  Jesus said that we are not to be like the lost and seek after material gain. Instead we should seek first the kingdom of God.  We are to seek His Lordship over our entire lives.  When we do, we will abide in His light and everything we do, will bring glory to Him.  I am always blessed when I know God better through lessons from Creation.  Have a blessed day!

It is hard to comprehend the cultural slide that has taken place in our country over the past decade.  (Even though I will be focusing on what we are facing in the USA, I find similar battles taking place around the globe.)  What may have started as a small snowball now seems like an avalanche racing toward us out of control.  Most of the issues that are being played out each and every day are dividing people like never before.  We even find many Christians on “opposing” sides of certain hot button matters.

Everyone can easily see the animosity that has grown over the past decade in the political arena.  There is also the issue of human sexuality and the gay rights movement.  Of course, there are the constant arguments and attacks that are over racial issues.  Just this past week I read an article about how the issue of “white privilege” is tearing apart a Christian higher education institution.  Then there is the constant bombardment from all sides on the issue immigration and dreamers that is always being talked about through all the various news outlets.

Everyone appears to be forced into to taking one side or the other on these and other social issues.  In fact, Christian artist, Mandisa, has a hit song, We All Bleed The Same.  Some of the lyrics to this song are:

Are you left? Are you right? Pointing fingers taking sides…

The artist asks the question that if we all do bleed the same, so tell me why, tell me why we’re divided.  It is not my intent in this article to try and convince the readers what is the “right” side each of these divisive issues.  Rather I want to suggest a strategy that Christians need to follow when trying to discern what God’s will is for them when trying to be salt and light in today’s dark world.

Christians need to understand a couple of things when it comes to living the Christian life in what some people have said is a “Babylonian culture”.  The first thing we must always understand is that we are at war.  I know that whenever I make that statement, some people will say that I am part of the problem.  However, when I say we are at war, I am not saying we are war with other people and, therefore, need to attack and defeat the “other side”.

What I mean is that we are in a culture war.  In Focus on the Families’ Truth Project, teacher Del Tackett, explains that we are engaged in a “cosmic battle of worldviews”.  He goes on to explain that this war requires Christians to chose between believing God’s truth claims or Satan’s truth claims on any and every issue we face in life.  Of course, Satan’s truth claims are actually lies.

This is exactly the battle that our first parents faced that dreadful day in the Garden.  Satan set forth his truth claim (lie) that they wouldn’t die if they ate the forbidden fruit but would actually become like God.  Satan’s lie was in direct opposition to God’s truth claim that eating the forbidden fruit would bring death to the couple.  We all know that Adam and Eve chose poorly.

But just knowing we are in a cosmic battle over God’s truth claims and Satan’s lies isn’t enough to help us navigate today’s troubled seas.  The most important thing we must do is to accurately identify the opposing truth claims.  No matter what the issue is that we are addressing, we must be able to articulate God’s truth claim and Satan’s lie regarding it.

This isn’t something that most of us can do in a couple of minutes while we rush through life.  It will take a concentrated and determined effort to know the truth.  I am one who needs to see something that shows the big picture in order to understand it.  Some have said that I am a “model” person.  I need a model to look at that helps me address various challenges and opportunities I face in everyday life.

I would like to suggest that Christians need to make a list of various issues that are dividing us today.  Then on the left side of the each item write out God’s truth claim related to the issue.  Of course, to do this we must know what God’s Word actually says about the issue.  After doing this, we need to write down on the right side of the issue Satan’s lie that he wants us to believe about the matter.

As one goes through this exercise, he/she must understand that Scripture makes it clear that truth sets people free.  This, in turn, means that lies enslave us.  Once we have identified the two opposing truth claims, we must decide which one we are going to accept — knowing that our choice will either free or enslave us.  Here is an example of a worksheet showing some of the issues that are dividing people today.

It is important that we clearly identify God’s truth and Satan’s lie about every issue of life.  This must also be a major aspect of the education we give our children and youth.  If we don’t teach them what God says about every aspect of life, they will only choose a side that makes them feel good and accepted by the culture.  Knowing what God’s Word says and what the enemy wants us to believe is the key to whether we walk in freedom or become enslaved to ways of this world.  I don’t know about you but I choose freedom!

Having a kingdom mindset is absolutely necessary if we want to live a life that is pleasing to God.  The topic of the kingdom is a key theme in the New Testament.  Most of the references to the kingdom use the phrase the “kingdom of God”.  However, the phrase the “kingdom of heaven” is also used when referring to the kingdom.

In order to understand how important it is for Christians to develop a kingdom mindset we need to consider the following.

• The kingdom of God is found 66 times in the New Testament.
• The kingdom of heaven is found another 32 times, all of them in the gospel of Matthew.
• The term kingdom  is found 154 times in the New Testament; 119 times in the four gospels.
• Jesus used the term kingdom 93 times alone.

I think it is safe to say that the kingdom of God is a very important concept in Scripture.  The importance of the kingdom of God is what led me to title my book on education Kingdom Education.  I did this because I saw in Scripture that God’s highest priority for every believer is for him/her to know, understand and experience His kingdom every day of life.  My reasoning for such a bold statement is found in Jesus’ own words:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… Matthew 6:33

This verse makes it clear that Christians are to seek His kingdom more than anything else in life.  Pastor James McMenis recently made this point in relation to this verse.

Whatever or whoever you put first in your life, controls every other aspect of your life.

When you add this to what Jesus said when He taught His disciples to pray, you see how important the kingdom is to God.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

From this second verse, we could say that God’s kingdom exists wherever His will is done.  This means that I can experience the kingdom of God to the degree that I obey His will (His Word).  So, how does a Christian develop a kingdom mindset?  If we want to develop a kingdom mindset, we must fully understand the concept of the kingdom of God.

Recently I was doing some study on this subject and watching some teaching on the kingdom of God presented by Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA).  This organization’s emphasis is that Jesus is King, and His primary agenda is to advance the Kingdom of God by discipling all nations.  In the video I was watching, one of its founders shared what he referred to as the essentials of a kingdom.  There are four key essentials that must be a reality if a kingdom is to exist.  These essentials are:

1. There must be a king.
2. There must be subjects over whom the king rules.
3. There must be laws and ordinances by which the king rules over his subjects.
4. There must be a realm or territory over which the king rules.

As I thought about these four essentials of any kingdom , it clarified my thinking related to the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God must be characterized by the following essentials.

1. God must be the king.
2. Christians must be God’s subjects over whom He rules.
3. God rules His kingdom through laws and ordinances.
4. My life (my heart, mind and will) must be the realm or territory over which God rules.

If I want to develop a kingdom mindset, I must:

• Accept God as king over everything – including my life.
• Realize that I am to be subject to the rule of the king, who is God.
• I must know His laws and ordinances and then obey them completely.
• Submit my heart, mind and will as the territory over which God has complete authority.

The third essential of God’s kingdom stated above makes it clear that God rules His kingdom through His laws and ordinances.  That means I must know His laws and ordinances.  I believe that there are two sources where I can find God’s laws and ordinances.  These two sources are the two books that God has written.

The first book that God has written is one that every person actually reads every day.  This is God’s book of creation.  In this book we find God’s physical laws or, what we could call, His creation ordinances.

It is interesting to realize that everybody obeys these ordinances of God. Even lost people know that if they ignore or disobey God’s creation ordinances, it can bring disastrous results in their lives.  The most obvious one of God’s creation ordinances that every person obeys is His law of gravity.  If man decides he doesn’t have to obey this ordinance and decides to walk off a 10 story building, the consequence is most likely death.  As a former chemistry teacher, I taught various laws that are found in creation that we better pay attention to.  My students accepted these laws and were willing to obey them without question.

The second book God wrote is the Bible.  In this book we find God’s moral laws and ordinances.  Since the same God wrote both books, we must understand that both His creation ordinances and His moral law are there for our benefit.  We should also accept the truth that if we ignore or break His moral laws and ordinances, we will experience disastrous consequences.

It is amazing how even lost people know that God’s creation ordinances, when obeyed, allow them to accomplish some amazing things.  Yet, they criticize and mock God’s moral law found in His Word.  What boggles my mind even more is that we, as Christians, don’t give the same amount of value to God’s moral law as we do to His creation ordinances.  In fact, many Christians today are willing to face the devastating consequences that comes by ignoring God’s moral law.  Or maybe they think they can avoid the consequences by merely asking forgiveness.

If Christians were to develop a kingdom mindset and accept the four essentials presented in this article, it would change every aspect of their lives.  It would impact our personal lives, our marriages, our families and our churches.  If God reigns in all of life, it would even change how we educate our children.  It all depends on our mindset.  Do you have a kingdom mindset?  If so, how has it changed how you live?

Last week I shared my desire to make sure that my salvation will be evident in all I am and all I do in 2018.  This will become a reality when I follow Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2 where he writes that we must work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  But how can I do this?  What are the steps?  I believe that God’s Word provides us with a process for making our salvation something that not only changes our lives but also allows us to impact the culture.

The first step in working out ones salvation is to work out what God has done in our hearts to impact our minds.  Romans 12:2 says that we must avoid being conformed to the ways of this world by renewing our minds.  This isn’t something that comes naturally.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul explains how the effort to renew one’s mind can be best described as entering into spiritual warfare.

The human mind is the center that drives our decisions and actions in life.  Because we are born with a sin nature, our minds have to be renewed if we are going to live lives that reflect the work of salvation that takes place in our hearts.  The key to success is bringing all of our thoughts in line with God’s Word.  This is what Paul meant when he wrote that we must bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  In essence, Paul says we must think biblically about every area of life.  Christians must develop a strong biblical worldview.  Kyle Idleman explained this in his book, Gods at War.  He wrote,

It is time to choose a worldview and let it remake you.

This leads us to the next step.  A renewed mind will remake us and will result in us developing Christ-like character.  Christ-like character is the mark of a transformed life.  As Christians develop Christ-like character, we will also see entire families being transformed.  Our families will become kingdom-focused and parents will follow biblical principles in all areas of their parenting responsibilities, including how they educate their children.

Finally, when Christians work out their salvation in these areas, we will see culture influenced.  BJ Press recently released  a new textbook, Biblical Worldview.  In this book the authors explain how a worldview is a set of basic beliefs, assumptions and values about life and the world.  The book goes on to explain that a worldview produces individual and group action which results in human culture.

Today’s culture is a result of individual and group actions that are based on our society’s dominant worldview.  This worldview is man-centered and completely secular in nature.  If Christians are ever going to influence the culture, they will have to change their beliefs and their actions to be in line with the truth of Scripture.   This is why we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling in 2018.  Our children’s future depends on it.

In my last post I shared with readers how God had spoken to me during the Aleph Tav Conference that I attended a few weeks ago.  It was at the conference that I saw a picture of Jesus like I had not seen before.  Based on the words of Paul in Philippians 2:5-11, Pastor James McMenis talked about the incarnation, humiliation, exaltation and adoration of Christ.  My salvation became more real and precious to me each night of Aleph Tav 2017.

Since the conference I have been praying about what my focus needs to be in 2018.  I have been asking myself the question I ask my students every time I teach my philosophy of education class at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  At the end the week-long class I have the students write a paper that is simply titled, So What?   I want to learn from the students how, if any, the class has impacted their lives.  So I have been asking myself this question.  So What?

I found my answer to this question and what I want to focus on in 2018 by reading what Paul wrote in the rest of the second chapter of Philippians.  Philippians 2:12-13 reads:

Wherefore, my brethren…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

My focus for 2018 is to diligently work out my salvation with fear and trembling.  I know that some have taken this passage to try and prove that salvation is based on one’s good works but that is not what this verse is talking about.

As a biology major in college, I marveled at the magnificent design of the human body’s circulatory system.  We all know that man’s physical heart is the center of this system.  The heart is located in the center of the body and is responsible to pump life-giving blood throughout one’s body.

It is critical that blood gets to every extremity of the body.  Improper or blocked circulation can lead to a member of the body losing its function and could even cause death.  The same is true for us spiritually.   My salvation took place in my heart.  It brought me new life in Christ.  I am told that everything was made new when I became a Christian.

However, that new life needs to be circulated throughout my life.  It must be worked out from my spiritual heart to every part of my being just like physical blood must be worked out from my physical heart to every part of my body.

Because I have seen afresh the incarnation, humiliation, exaltation and adoration of Jesus, this understanding of my salvation must be evident in every aspect of my life.  As I reflect on what Christ did for me when He left the glory of Heaven and became a man who suffered throughout His life and finally gave His life for me, it is supposed to change everything about me.  So I am asking myself some key questions at the start of 2018.  As I work out my salvation, how will it affect:

• the things I set my eyes on?
• the things I listen to?
• my thoughts?
• the words I say?
• the attitudes I display?
• my view of others?
• what I do with my life?
• my parenting?
• my marriage?
• the use of my time, talent and treasure?

I can go on and on listing how my life needs to reflect not only the work God did in my heart when I became a Christian as a 9 year-old boy but also the fresh work He did in my life during the Aleph Tav Conference.  This must be my focus throughout this year and any other years He sees fit to give me here on earth.

Most of us are aware of the importance of having a good diet and proper exercise in order to remain healthy.  If we eat the wrong foods and sit around and not get some exercise, our arteries can be affected.  A poor diet and no physical exercise can cause arteries to become restricted or even blocked.  This does not allow blood to get to the parts of the body that need it to survive.  If this goes undetected, it may even lead to death.

The same is true for our spiritual lives.  Nothing much will happen in 2018 if I just “say” I need to work out the work that God has done in my life.  This is going to require a proper diet and a good exercise plan in order for good circulation to take place.  I have made a commitment to read through the Bible again in 2018.  If I don’t feed regularly on God’s Word, I won’t have the needed knowledge and wisdom to keep the work that God has done and wants to do in my heart flowing through all aspects of my life and ministry.  The same is true for the other spiritual disciplines that need to be a daily part of my life throughout this year.

I am thankful for what God did in my life at Aleph Tav 2017.  However, I don’t want what happened at this event to be just something I attended and have a few nice memories about.  I want it to continue shaping my life and my ministry.  I am excited about what God is going to do in the days ahead.  Are you?

This past week my wife and I attended the Aleph Tav 2017 (AT17) Conference in Shreveport, LA. Aleph and Tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew language and it is the theme of the preaching ministry of James McMenis, pastor at Word of God Ministries.

The theme for every Aleph Tav conference is, and always will be, It is all about Jesus. Each night of AT17 was based on Paul’s writings found in Philippians 2:5-11. McMenis opened up God’s Word and gave those in attendance an image of Jesus that is far different from the one that many Christians have formed in their minds of who Christ is. The image of Jesus I saw at AT17 was not based on a church’s or a denomination’s or even a pastor’s image of Jesus. I saw the Jesus of the Bible in a fresh and revelatory way that changed my life forever.

Night #1: The Incarnation of Jesus.

At AT17 I saw afresh how the One who thought it not robbery to be equal with God took on human flesh and came to earth as a man. I realized that the God of creation decided that because man would not walk with God after the Fall, God would come to earth and walk with man. The incarnation of Christ did not happen by Jesus coming in the glory of the King of kings and being born in a palace. Instead he was born in the smallest of towns and took His first breath in a trough where animals ate and drank from.

When God announced the birth of His Son, He did not send the announcement to the rulers of the land or to the religious leaders of the time. Instead, God announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds. These were men who were looked down upon and despised by the average citizen. Smelly, dirty shepherds were the only ones who came to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The incarnation of Jesus caused me to see that Jesus is one who can relate to anyone – rich or poor, black or white, educated or uneducated, free or imprisoned. His incarnation was in the manner that would mark His entire life here on earth.

Night #2: The Humiliation of Jesus

I don’t remember ever hearing a message that broke my heart more than the one on the second night of AT17. I always knew how Jesus suffered on the cross to pay my sin debt. But I never saw how the Bible portrayed the entire life of Jesus here on earth as one of humiliation. From the day of His birth until He took His last breath and said, It is finished, the Son of God suffered rejection, persecution and betrayal.

The Bible does not present Jesus as a man who goes through life doing good and having everyone like Him. I saw through the Scriptures Jesus as one that:

• The religious leaders despised and criticized
• His own family discredited and rejected
• His own home town tried to throw Him off of a cliff
• John the Baptist, the very person who baptized Jesus and heard God declare that Jesus was His Son, questioned Him about being the Messiah and asked Him should he look for someone else
• When a woman tried to honor Him by anointing His feet with expensive perfume, His own disciples said that this was a waste of something that could’ve been sold and the money given to the poor
• Didn’t have a home that He could go to and find safety, acceptance and rest
• Was betrayed by a kiss
• Denied by a friend
• Abandoned by His closest companions
• Beaten and mocked by political, legal and religious leaders
• Was stripped of the only thing He owned, His robe, and stretched out on a cross, naked before the whole world
• When He became my sin, His own Father turned His back and darkness engulfed Him and caused Him to cry out, My Father, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

The next morning I saw a tweet by Paul David Tripp. It summed up what I had heard the night before.

We complain about so many little things, but no complaint came out of the Jesus’ mouth, even though He suffered every day from birth to death. (emphasis mine)

A couple of days later Tim Keller tweeted the following.

There’s no other religion that says God has suffered, that God had to be courageous that he knows what it is like to be abandoned by friends, to be crushed by injustice, to be tortured and die. Christmas shows he knows what you’re going through. When you talk to him, he understands. (emphasis mine)

Even though it was painful to see the humiliation of Christ, it is absolutely necessary that we understand His suffering. His humiliation means that Christ can relate to every person who has ever lived. No one has ever or will ever suffer more than Christ. Therefore, Jesus is the only One who can relate to one’s hurts and is the only One who can bring healing to a wounded heart.

Night #3: The exaltation of Christ 

When I saw the schedule for AT17 and after being broken by seeing the humiliation of Jesus, I thought that night three would be a night of simply praising the name of Jesus. However, I saw that the exaltation of Christ was much more than Him having a name that is higher than any other name.

The message focused on the reality that God has exalted His Son above everyone and everything. Jesus has been given a name that will cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that Jesus is Lord. Of course, I already knew this. I had been taught that there is coming a day when every being in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth will bow the knee and confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord.

However, the exaltation of Jesus is not just for some day in the distant future. It is for today! It is because of the humiliation of Jesus that the name of Jesus has power like no other name TODAY! God has exalted Jesus so that at the name of Jesus – in any country around the world, in any community, palace, government office, business, or home – has the power to save.

I saw the Jesus of the Bible as the One who was beaten with my sin, was mocked with my sin, was nailed to a cross with my sin, was suspended between heaven and earth as judgment for my sin. McMenis pointed out that just like Moses had to beat some brass (symbol of judgment) into the form of a serpent and lifted up for the people to look at so the Son of Man had to be beaten into the form of man’s sin and be lifted up for all men to look at.

The Israelites were dying from the bites of serpents so the serpent had to be judged to bring life and healing to the people. We are dying in our sin so Jesus had to be beaten into the form of our sin and lifted up in judgment for our sin. That is why there is salvation in only one name – the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is the only name with power to heal, it is the only name that has power to save, it is the only name that can change our lives and our destiny.

I have to get to the point that I am sick of my sin, my bondage, my addictions, my hurts and pain, that my only hope is to look at Jesus lifted up and call on the name of Jesus. Whenever I hear the name of Jesus, I will never see Him the same!

Night #4: The Adoration of Jesus

The final night moved from the CenturyLink Arena to Independence Stadium. Thousands of people streamed into the stadium, gathering together under an open heaven with temperatures hovering in the low 40s. The entire night focused on the adoration of Jesus. After being led in worship by Bethel Music, McMenis preached a simple message. Because of the incarnation, the humiliation, and the exaltation there is only logical response from us. All of our lives are to worship the Savior at all times.

My first Aleph Tav Conference won’t be my last. I gained a fresh, biblical image of Jesus Christ through the teaching I received these four nights. As I said at the beginning of this article, I will never look at Jesus the same!

Over the past several weeks we have been focusing our attention on the essentials that must be at the foundation of the education we provide our children and youth.  So far, we have discussed three essentials.  These three essentials are based on two biblical principles.  The principles are:

The education of children and youth must have as its primary focus the increase in the knowledge of God.  John 17:3; Romans 1:20; Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 19:1-6; Ephesians 1:16-19; 3:15-19; 4:13; Philippians 1:9; 3:8-10, 13-14; Colossians 1:9-10; 2:2-3; 2 Peter 3:18; Proverbs 2:5; Hosea 4:1; 6:6; and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

 The education of children and youth results in performing work in fulfillment of God’s will for their lives.  Genesis 1: 26; Matthew 6:10, 33; Ephesians 5:17; Hebrews 10:36; 13:20-21; Colossians 1:9-10; 12:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6; 20:24

From these two biblical principles on how God wants us to educate our children, we can discover three essential aspects that must drive our educational efforts at home, church and school.  These essentials are:

1. Know God
2. Discover God’s Call
3. Equip to Do God’s Will

Today I want to share with you what I believe is a fourth essential that must be a major part of the education a child receives at home, church and/or school.  This essential can be stated as:

Pursue Excellence for God’s Glory

The concept of excellence has been dealt with in several earlier blog posts. However, it is important to emphasize that one’s pursuit of excellence must be based on a biblical model for excellence rather than on a secular one.  The world’s concept of excellence is all about performance and achievement.  Excellence is measured by the compare and compete mindset.  Other individuals or institutions or teams become the standard for defining excellence.  One can claim excellence as long as he or the organization is better or defeats the other person or group.

This horizontal view of excellence was condemned in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth.  Paul warned these Christians not to put themselves in the category of people who measure themselves by themselves or compare themselves with themselves.  Whenever we pursue this type of excellence, Paul says we are not wise.

As we provide our children with an education that constantly challenges them to pursue excellence, we must be sure that we teach them what biblical excellence is.  Biblical excellence does not begin with a horizontal perspective but with a vertical one.  Our standard for excellence isn’t other people or organizations.  Our standard for excellence is God, Himself.

When God is our standard for excellence then we realize that the focus of true excellence is not on performance but on character.  God challenges every Christian to be holy for I am holy.  God always desires His children to be like Christ which means that they must develop Christlike character.

Out of this pursuit of godly character, one’s performance becomes an extension of his character.  Because our desire is to be like Christ, we, therefore, strive to do our best according to the gifts and abilities God has created in us.  As we strive to perform to our potential, we do so for only one goal — to bring glory to God.

The educational essential of pursuing excellence for God’s glory can be fully captured in another biblical principle of education.

The education of children and youth must be characterized by the pursuit of biblical excellence based on godly character resulting in competent performance for God’s glory.  2 Corinthians 8:7, 10:12; Philippians 1:9-10, 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:11; Psalm 8:1; Ecclesiastes 9:10

Since there is so much attention put on education in today’s world, we must make sure that we are addressing these four essentials of a biblical education.  We must assess the education we are providing our children at home, church, and at the schools that they attend in light of these key essentials of education.  We must constantly be asking ourselves a few questions.

1. Does the education our children receive at home, church and school have a major focus on them increasing in the knowledge of God?
2. Are our children being guided in understanding how God created them in His image and, from that understanding, developing the discernment to discover God’s call on their lives?
3. Is our children’s education equipping them to be able to accomplish God’s will for their lives as they pursue their vocations?
4. Is the home, church and school challenging our children to pursue biblical excellence that focuses on character that leads them to perform to their best ability for God’s glory alone?

These are challenging questions to answer in light of today’s emphasis on performance in order to get the better job and chase after the American Dream.  However, an even more daunting question must be answered.  This question is:

If the education we are providing our children at home, church and school is not addressing these four essentials, what are we going to do about it?