Calvinism: My Journey There and Back Again (Part 2)

April 30, 2013 — 8 Comments

4.29.13When I left off yesterday, I was heading off to Africa with a armful of John Piper books. Growing up as a classic free-will loving Arminian, I didn’t know how soundly my quaint ideas were about to be crushed under the weight of Scripture. If you’ve ever read a John Piper book, then you know it’s like drinking from a fire hydrant. The guy knows his Bible, and he is a passionate Calvinist.

After a few months of reading, I was convinced. I couldn’t argue with that much Scripture. So, living in Africa, I became a Calvinist. I drank in passage after passage of Romans. I relished in the sovereignty of God. Calvinism expanded my small view of God, and I am forever grateful for the much larger picture of God that I gained from the whole experience.

The problem for me was that I couldn’t stop going down the road of Calvinism once I started. If I was going to believe in something, I was going to believe in it all the way. If God truly was sovereign, if everything was predestined, then man’s choice is a farce. Once I started down the road to Calvinism, I couldn’t stop the slide before I ended up at its extreme end: hyper-Calvinism.

The results on my personal life and missionary activities were devastating. I literally lost all motivation to evangelize the lost (the very reason I was sent to Africa). If everything was already predestined, then I was wasting my time. God had already determined who would be saved, and my efforts weren’t going to change anything. When I was in my deepest valley, I was literally immobilized. I had no motivation to go out and do any missionary work. In my mind, it was all a wasted effort. For about six weeks, I didn’t pray. I didn’t have a quiet time. I was so overwhelmed by God’s sovereignty and my inability to help determine anyone’s salvation that I was paralyzed. I had the Scripture to back me up. I just didn’t have any practical motivation to go out and waste my time in the useless farce of personal evangelism. Not a good place for a full-time professional missionary to be at.

After about six weeks, I’d had enough. I made a deal with God. Here’s the gist of what I said, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I can’t live like this. I’ve got entire passages in Scripture that scream predestination at me, but it’s taken away all practical motivation for me to share the gospel with anyone. God, I’ll let you fix my theology when I’m in heaven, but while I’m here on earth, I’ve got to believe that I’ve got some skin in the game. I’ve got to believe that my efforts can have an effect on the salvation of others, if I’m going to survive here in Africa as a missionary.”

That prayer began my road to redemption, which I’ll share about in my next post. If you think it led me back to be a classic Arminian, think again.

In Food for Thought, What I'm Living , , , , , ,
permalink

Calvinism: My Journey There and Back Again (Part 1)

April 29, 2013 — 4 Comments

4.29.13It’s Calvinism week here at mtvpastor, where I’m going to weigh in on the growing controversy within the Southern Baptist Convention. To those who don’t know about the Calvinism debate: don’t worry, you’re not missing much. To those of you caught up in the hype and wonder why I’m choosing now to write about it: it’s already been predestined that I would write about it today, so why fight it?

A good controversy like this can’t be settled in one post, so I’ll be sharing fourteen years of thoughts over the next few posts. To start, I want to share with my story. For me Calvinism isn’t some esoteric debate, it’s something I struggled with for years before coming to a peace about it. Alas, let the saga begin:

Growing up in church as a kid, I was naturally an Arminian (the theological belief that we have a choice in our salvation). There was no overt debate about it, that’s just all I ever knew. It made sense to me; we had a choice about many other things in life, why not salvation? Wasn’t that the whole point of preachers working up a sweat and pleading with people to walk down the aisle? If it was all predestined, then why all the effort? I would hear adults use variations of the argument, “God loved us so much that he gave us free will.” Sounded solid to me. I never questioned it.

Fast forward several years. I graduated college and was in training with 120 other college grads for a two-year missionary stint overseas. It was a blast. What I didn’t know was that a majority of the other trainees had just gotten back from Passion Conferences and were still hopped up on John Piper. Suddenly, the classic Arminian vs. Calvinism (the theological belief that God has already predestined who will be saved) debate revved back up. To counter my suddenly weak-sounding arguments of logic, the Calvinist camp had Scripture. Lots of it. I would pull a VBS verse here or there. They would counter with Romans 9-11. My arguments were crushed.

Curious about the whole debate, I left for the mission field with a few Piper books under my arm. Little did I know the quantum world shift I was about to experience. Come back tomorrow to see just how far down the yellow brick road I went . . .

In Food for Thought, What I'm Living , , , , ,
permalink

Why Your Church is Like Rotten Tomatoes

April 24, 2013 — Leave a comment

Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2009.One of my favorite apps on my phone is Flixster, which lets me view upcoming movies and trailers. More importantly, before I make the decision on whether to watch the movie, I look at the Rotten Tomatoes score, a percentage of how many other users liked the movie. More than the critical reviews, I know that if other users like the movie, I probably will too.

Why is this important for the church? Because 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family above all other forms of advertising, up 18% since 2007. Online consumer reviews are the second most trusted source of brand information with a 70% trust rating, up 15% since 2008. Television ads were trusted by only 47%, down 24% since 2009 (Nielsen, April 2012).

I’ve worked at churches before I that I wouldn’t have attended if I wasn’t employed by them. How many of my friends did I invite there? None. A church can have a ton of formal advertising, but word of mouth trumps it every time. Growing a church is a lot simpler than pastors and theologians make it out to be. The number one way to grow your church in today’s society is to create a church environment that your members enjoy enough that they’ll naturally tell their circle of influence about it, and to create a culture where your members have the mindset to reach out (as opposed to simply reaching in).

We’ve seen this play out at Mt Vernon. Over the past year and a half that I’ve been pastor, 99% of our growth have been family and friends of existing members. Virtually every time our staff discusses a new guest, we discuss the close friend or family member who brought them. Why? Because people trust recommendations of family and friends above all other forms of advertising. A member loves our church enough to bring her mom, who brings her close friend, who tells everyone at work. We’ve grown roughly 20% over the past year, with no formal advertising, no mass mailers, no door-to-door campaigns. It’s simply word of mouth.

The winds of culture are changing. We can continue to fight against it, or find a way to harness the power of it to see the Kingdom advance.

QUESTION: What is your church’s Rotten Tomatoes score? (It’s more important than you think)

In Food for Thought, Ministry in the Trenches, What I'm Living , , , , ,
permalink

7 Reasons Why I Love Joy Prom

April 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

IMG_0240Think of the happiest, funnest, most memorable prom that you can remember. Multiply that by ten, and you have the Joy Prom. Last Saturday I attended the Joy Prom, an event I’ve had the privilege of being a part of for the past several years. The Joy Prom is where our high school students throw a prom for the special needs community in our area. The high school students serve as dates, we literally roll out the red carpet, and have a night we’ll always remember. (Watch last year’s recap video here.) Here’s seven reasons why I love the Joy Prom so much:

1. It’s all about the red carpet. When the Joy Prom couples walk down the red carpet with hundreds of people cheering them on, you should see their smiles. They feel like a million bucks, and you can tell. To see the smiles on the faces of the precious special needs students is absolutely priceless.

2. Blessing the caregivers. The caregivers of the special needs community are the unsung heroes of this whole thing. Their time, energy and continuous effort to serve others goes vastly under-appreciated. To bless them and validate their work by blessing those precious souls in their care, even if for one night, is worth the effort.

3. Providing the best prom for high schoolers. Over the years, the constant refrain I’ve heard from high schoolers is that the Joy Prom is the best prom they’ve ever been to. There’s no pretense, no image to upkeep, no social hierarchy. The students are able to come in, let loose, and truly be themselves.

4. Seeing Christians coming together to serve. Too often, Christians are separated by churches and denominational lines, allowing secondary things to separate them. The Joy Prom is one of the few times I’ve seen Christians from numerous churches come together. The purpose of serving the special needs community transcends religious territorialism. If only this could happen more often.

5. Breaking stereotypes and rocking the church. Yes, we have a dance at the church. And it’s rocking. You can hear the bass thumping before you walk in the doors. Every once in awhile, it’s good to shake things up a little. Christians can have fun too.

6. Experiencing pure, unadulterated joy. Attending the Joy Prom is like watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition for three hours. You’re going to love it, but you’re going to cry at some point. There’s an emotional experience when you see the pure joy radiating from the faces of the special needs students. It tugs at your emotional core, reminding you that such pure joy exists.

7. Knowing that we blessed more than just the special needs community. Jesus says, ”Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least ofthese brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). I think the Joy Prom honestly reflects the love of our Savior, who has a special place in his heart for those on the margins of society.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Joy Prom so special!

QUESTION: If you’ve been a part of a Joy Prom before, what’s you’re favorite aspect of it?

In Ministry in the Trenches, What I'm Living , , ,
permalink

Why Would a Good God Allow Bad Things to Happen to Good People?

April 19, 2013 — 1 Comment

Runners continue to run towards the finish line as an explosion erupts at the finish line of the Boston MarathonAt the time of this writing, one suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing is dead, with the other one on the run. Another stark reminder of the tragedy that happened so recently.

The bigger question many ask is this, “If God was such a good God, why would he allow bad things to happen to good people?” It’s easy to see the brokenness of the world around us and be overwhelmed. That inner sense of right and wrong given to us by our Creator screams for justice. It’s natural for us to wonder why God doesn’t put a stop to it. Is he cruel? Does he care? Is he powerless? Does he care?

Jesus gives us a clue to answer in a story about weeds. It’s a long passage, but well worth the read:

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus goes on to explain the illustration to his disciples, and in the explanation we discover why God allows evil to fester in the world:

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Matthew 13:37-41

Here’s the truth: the weeds represent everything that causes sin and all who do evil (verse 41). So, why would a good God allow evil to flourish? Look back at verse 29. Because the weeds (sin) and the wheat (humanity) are so intermixed, that to destroy one, he’d have to destroy the other.

The mistake we make is to think that evil is something separate from us, something easily wiped away if God would only do it. The reality is something darker. When sin entered the world, it infected all of creation, including humanity. We’re now fused together. So, here’s why evil exists: God allows evil to exist because to destroy evil He would have to destroy humanity.

Does God hate sin? Yes. Does God love humanity? Yes. So, he allows humanity to exist a little while longer, even with the scourge of sin, out of love, to give us a chance to repent. There will be a day when sin is destroyed, when God comes to judge the world. Until then, evil will exist.

QUESTION: Does this interpretation help your understanding of the problem of evil?

In Biblical Truth, Food for Thought, What I'm Teaching , , , , ,
permalink

Making Sense of the Senseless Boston Marathon Bombings

April 16, 2013 — 2 Comments

Runners continue to run towards the finish line as an explosion erupts at the finish line of the Boston MarathonWhy? That’s the question. Why do something so senseless? The Boston Marathon for years has been a ray of hope, a non-political gathering of people from throughout the world to celebrate human achievement. Why would someone introduce such harm and mayhem into something so profoundly peaceful?

While the US government will work tirelessly to discover and pursue the individuals behind this heinous act, we’re left to wonder the bigger question: why? Why did something like this even happen? In short, the reason the bombings happened is because we live in a broken world. When sin entered the world in Genesis 3, it corrupted everything in creation. It corrupted nature itself (hurricanes, earthquakes), human systems (families, governments), and even the human heart (those responsible for the bombing). While this answer may not fully satisfy your need for answers, it reminds us of some important truths:

  • Our sense of moral outrage speaks to our sense of absolute right and wrong, something our Heavenly Creator gave us. If you’re angry about this bombing (as you should be), you’re angry because you have this inner sense that the bombing was wrong (which it was). That inner sense of right and wrong is God’s imprint on you. He gave you that inner moral compass that screams outrage when senseless acts of terror like this take place.
  • The effects of sin are like shrapnel from a bomb: destructive and unpredictable. When a bomb goes off, the effects within the blast radius will be unpredictable; collateral damage. Sin is like a bomb that went off in the world, and we’re all within the blast radius. The effects of sin are unpredictable. That’s why some get cancer, some get in car accidents, and some live long, healthy lives. Did those three who died in the bombings do anything to deserve that kind of death? No. But sin is like that. Unfortunately, they got caught in the blast radius of a broken world.
  • America lives in a bubble. Our sense of outrage against this type of event is magnified because it is thankfully so rare here. Just a brief reading of the world news section will reveal that the majority of the human population has to live with this threat of terror every day. While this type of terror may be new to us, it’s not new to vacationers in Bali or Christian churches worshipping in Nigeria. Be thankful that this is so rare in America.
  • When tragedy strikes, our response should be prayers and active compassion to those in need. Whether it’s a marathon bombing or a horrific car accident, when tragedy strikes, our response as believers should be compassionate action. It’s the whole “love your neighbor” thing. While you may not know anyone personally in the Marathon bombings, you do know someone who’s been the victim of senseless tragedy in this world. What can you do to help them?
  • God will one day judge the world. The Bible is clear that one day Jesus will come back and restore righteousness by judging the world and all of its sin. For those who belong to Jesus, we look forward with anticipation to his coming. Senseless acts like this makes us yearn for that Coming even more.

Perhaps the biggest question this bombing raised was, “Where was God in all of this?” Or, put another way, “If God was a good God, why would He allow bad things to happen to good people?” That question is what we’ll tackle in my next post.

QUESTION: What helps you make sense of this senseless bombing?

In Food for Thought, What I'm Living , , , ,
permalink

The Most Dangerous Thing to Give a Teenage Boy

April 15, 2013 — 4 Comments

9.13.12If you’re a parent with a son still living at home, then you need to read this. The most dangerous thing you can give your son is unfiltered internet access. I know you know there’s some bad stuff on the internet (primarily porn), but it’s worse and more pervasive than you think. Roughly 25% of all internet searches are porn related, and the average age of first exposure to pornography is 11 years old.

When you were growing up, access to pornography was limited to purchasing dirty magazines at a gas station or watching adult themed movies. Now, any child with an iphone has unfiltered access to pornography that will severely warp his view of sexuality. Pornography will erode his future intimacy with his wife could enslave him for years to come. You don’t want that for your son.

I’m not saying that you need to become Amish and throw away all technology. I’m just saying you need to be smart.

  • Realize there are parental controls on most smart phones. Use them.
  • Realize there are ways to get around a lot of parental controls on most smart phones. Just because you blocked Safari, it doesn’t mean they don’t have internet access. Many other ‘safe’ apps (like Google or even CNN) have internet browsers built in. Don’t think blocking Safari has you in the clear.
  • Most internet browsers now have ‘private browsing,’ allowing you to surf with no trail. So, just because their search history is clean, it doesn’t mean they haven’t been viewing porn.
  • Use internet filters. One of my favorites is www.x3watch.com. More than a filter, it’s an accountability program that will notify you by email every time a questionable site is viewed.
  • Have that awkward conversation with them. If they’re going to struggle with pornography, deal with it now. That’s what parents are supposed to do. As awkward as the conversation will be, I guarantee you he’ll thank you when he’s walking down the aisle, free from the chains that enslave too many married men.

Parents, don’t let your teenage boy become another victim of the pornography industry. If you have a teenage boy, he’s looked at porn. His level of exposure and his possibility for addiction will depend on your willingness to roll up your sleeves and fight for your son’s purity. So fight.

QUESTION: What other suggestions would you give parents who have teenage boys when it comes to internet access?

In Family Matters, Food for Thought, What I'm Living , , , , , ,
permalink