We are exiles—but not of the bitter type.
Gospel Centered Parenting in a Time of Cultural Crisis
I appreciate the balance here.
I’m a nerd, so I like stuff like this.
How Should Christians Comment Online
It would be terrific if all believers followed this advice.
Where was this guy when I was asleep in my high school science classes?
Are you scared, Christian?
Are you worried telling someone about your faith in America will now cost you something? Respect, civility, friendships, family.
The Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage fell like a hammer blow on the anvil of American democracy. New revelations around Planned Parenthood doing things consistent with what they believe, selling parts of dead babies, have surfaced this week. America is being reshaped before our eyes, and Christians are increasingly an annoying minority to the culture.
So I say again; are you scared, Christian?
Why?
The two polarizing things mentioned above are evidence of moral decay. They are evidence that America is not a “Christian nation.” They point to the loss of cultural influence and power that Christians have enjoyed for a long time.
Some advocate a withdrawal from culture. Some advocate a continuance of vigorous debate. The news is full of stories related to this new moral orthodoxy, one in which the Christian may find it hard to move.
Stay The Course
Don’t be frightened into hiding.
Don’t run away from your faith in Christ.
Don’t light a lamp and hide it under the bed.
Stay the course. Your calling was never to comfort and ease in this life. Christ promised us tribulation in this life, not ease. He bookended that promise of tribulation in an exhortation to trust Him. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Our hope should never be in this world and it’s comforts. Our hearts should not rest on what our friends, family, and the culture at large thinks of us. The eternal home of your soul does not rest on the approval of man but on the approval of God through the grace of Jesus Christ in his atonement on your behalf. Have you repented and believed on Him?
The road may now get bumpy. It may some day get dangerous. It may even become deadly. It isn’t right now. Whatever this road of faith brings we know the destination. No matter how uncomfortable, painful, or sad this may get we know where we are going. “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
Into Exile
When the Israelites were conquered, their temple destroyed, and they were marched out of their homeland that was promised to them by God, I imagine the despair and sorrow ran deep. I can almost see furrows in the road made by the tears of Israelites as they were ripped from God’s promises. Or so they thought.
Are we entering a period of exile in our own land? Perhaps. Maybe we need to start thinking like exiles in a foreign land who knows nothing of our God. Consider who sent the Jews into exile, and his command to them.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
Do not withdraw. Do not destroy. Seek the welfare of the city? How can we do that when our cities would not have us?
Be faithful and obedient Christians. Do not pull back, press in. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.
“Platitudes!” some may cry. “All you give us are platitudes!”
I hope not. I hope I’m reminding you to do what God says in His word. I hope scripture reminds us to trust Him and obey Him.
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Go in the power of God. Love everyone, including those who hate you and persecute you. Exercise self-control and put sin to death in your body. Show the love of Christ to a world that doesn’t believe or submit to Him.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
How Law Preaching Leads to Sin
There is a type of preaching which might actually increase the sin in your church, Jared Wilson outlines it.
This is similar to our own—tough even less frequent. Which is why I wrote The Seeds Project the way I did.
It’s a phrase you probably haven’t heard much. Nick Batzig explains.
How to Support a Partner Struggling with Depression
This isn’t from a Christian perspective but its still pretty helpful.
I’m not sure why this shovel fascinates me so much—but it does indeed:
I’ve got a personal relationship with Jesus. I spend daily, personal, and private time with the triune God in prayer, petition, study, worship, confession, etc. So why do I need to join a local church?
Here are at least 5 biblical & practical reasons to join a local church.
1. Join a local church for the glory and praise of God.
Conspiracy theorists, don’t worry! Local church membership isn’t just the idea of pastors that need money to feed their families. Nor was it the idea of the local Chamber of Commerce either to attract people to their city. The idea of the local church is traced back to God Himself. You see, there is a unique and profound fullness of knowing God. What’s more, there is an intimacy with God that you find in committed relationships within the local church with one another that crescendos as a foretaste of heaven.
The local church, having been birth by God’s predetermined, providential will, is a reflection of God’s own character, love, and grace and brings Him the highest praise when done according to His plan and His plan alone.
2. Join a local church for the sake of those without Christ.
Jesus said in John 13:35:
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another
This, of course, doesn’t mean you join a church filled with non-Christians (even though, sadly, they exist!). No, you need to join a church that that will biblically teach and show what the Gospel is (1 Cor. 15:1-8). The leaders will dedicate their lives to show, teach, and live out what it means to be a true believer and communicate what it doesn’t mean (Phil. 3:17).
Some would say: “Well, the church is full of hypocrites! People believe one thing and believe another.”
My response is simply: “Let’s hope so! Where else on earth should we have them? All the sinners are welcome here insofar as we repent and cast ourselves upon the grace of God only available in His Son, Jesus Christ and see the Holy Spirit working in our lives.”
Every true Christian is part of the answer to this objection. As part of that local church, you are called to be an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Join a biblical local church to clear up what it means to be a follower of Jesus!
3. Join a local church for the sake of a true, feebler Christian
This is not original to me, but it has been well said by many a pastor: “There are no Lone Ranger Christians!” I heard someone say once, “Well, I am strong-blooded American. I am independent. I can handle myself!”
Really? So, you are not “strong enough” to save yourself from you sin, but you can maintain your own sanctification apart from other Christians also called by God? Really?
You will not make it! You need to be an example of Christ for weaker Christians and them for you.
According to 1 John, if you do not live a life marked by love toward others, the Bible has no encouragement for you to think you are a Christian—none (1 John 3:11-24 with 2 Pet. 1:10)!
How do you do this, you ask? One sure way is to join a local church and get involved in it.
When you see the character of Christ worked on in your own life personally, you can help grow other true believers by God’s grace and power that may be weaker corporately.
4. Join a local church for the sake of seeing, knowing, and learning from mature and stronger Christians.
A wise mentor once told me:
Darin, God is not just about you. He is not just about you like your spiritual life is some kind of weightlifting experiment. No, He wants you to work hard for Him. God has redeemed you and saved you to be a member of a local church to give your time, effort, life, and love to other true believers that may ‘slow you down,’ but that will also ‘speed you up.’
You see, being a stronger Christian is simply having the ability to love like Jesus Himself said in John 13:35 above. It means that you dedicate yourself to a local group of saved sinners. It means that you try to love them, not just for a month or a year, but year after year, as long as God would have you there.
This is ultimate test of whether or not you love God—the truth will come out. And, most of all, you will be grow because personally and corporately unto God’s glory.
5. Join a local church for the sake and backing of the local leaders.
As a pastor, it is imperative that I know who is committed to our local church. I (we) need to know who I (we) am (are) caring for!
Think about it: How can I be a blessing and encouragement to someone as God commands me to be as a pastor if a person hasn’t committed him or herself to the local church? If the person is gone 3 out of 4 Sundays a month? If the person is always late and never attends anything else outside of a worship service?
As a member of a local church, this means a person should be attending regularly (Heb. 10:24-25), praying regularly for the church (Col. 1:9), and giving egularly (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9)—to name a few.
Please understand that if you are a true believer, you aren’t called to be just a consumer, but you are called, biblically speaking, to be a provider. It is your responsibility to hold out the Word of life to others (Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:26; Col. 3:16; James 5:13).
It is not just the job of the pastors that serve you or of the other people around in the local church. It is also your responsibility. By the life imparted by the Holy Spirit of God to regenerate and save you, it is your glorious privilege and responsibility to be one of the providers of ministry in that local church.
Local pastors need your support, prayers, and encouragement. Perhaps the greatest way to do is to say, “What can I do to serve? I don’t know much. I don’t have much ability, but with God’s strength, whatever I can do that you name, I just want to do it.”
How is your involvement with your local church going in this moment?
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Photo source: here
Darin C. Smith serves as senior pastor of Tower View Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. He released his first book, The Daily Message Devotional: 365 Devotions to Bring You Closer to Christ, in 2013 after 11+ years of daily devotion writing, starting at the age of 15. In 2014, Darin ghostwrote over 250+ devotions for the The Action Bible. He also has two forth-coming books: 10 Short Prayers of the Bible (summer 2015) and Gospel Joy: Sermons From Philippians (fall 2015). Darin is husband to Natalie and father to Simeon (2) and Scarlett (1).