Book Review - The Last King of Scotland

I was looking forward to reading this book, hoping to learn more of the story surrounding the infamous tyrant Idi Amin. As such, I found the first stages of the book a little bit laborious. I enjoyed the descriptions of the African landscape and people, but I didn’t find the character of Nicholas Garrigan very compelling. As the book went on, I felt like I appreciated the complexities of Garrigan’s situation and could empathise with his situation, but I didn’t develop any liking for him as a person.

Idi Amin remains an enigma. There was a fair amount of historically accurate or consistent information about him in the novel, as well as plenty of embellishments (like the comical trapped gasses incident). Do we know him any better after reading this book? Are we any closer to understanding what went on during his reign of terror?

I think it’s important to try and understand characters like Idi Amin. History has been filled with people who have risen to positions of power on the basis of natural charisma and radical ideology. Some of these people achieve genuine greatness and leave humanity richer, some of them leave a trail of destruction and horror.

Thinking of Idi Amin, I am struck by the similarities between him and Adolph Hitler. Both started in humble positions in society, found advancement through their military service, and their natural charisma and passionately held beliefs inspired people to follow them no matter where that led. They were able to tap in to the disillusionment and disempowerment of common people and sell them a dream of a better future. They were adept at bullying and seducing people, often using a mixture of both to bend people to their will.

But what made them this way? What madness inspired their genocide? How did they develop such a skewed morality? Was it simply psychological illness such as megalomania or schizophrenia? Was it just that they were a product of their own beliefs?

If you look at Adolph Hitler, his terrible policies were the natural result of his personal philosophies. One reason that he was a credible leader was that he had solid intellectual backing for his madness. But we’re talking about Idi today!

One of the things that interests me about Idi Amin is his apparent sampling of a range of different religious and cultural ideologies. He worldview is a mishmash of Christianity, socialism and Islam jumbled together with traditional African sorcery and folk wisdom. It’s no wonder he seemed confused at times! He worked on a utilitarian approach where he would use any philosophy that justified his mad impulses or served his purposes. He succeeded in deluding himself first of all, and was so was convinced of his own lies that he considered it only natural for others to agree with him also.

His mind was unable to admit it’s own self-deception, so as reality began to catch up with him he became increasingly erratic and bizarre. His subconscious mind was forced to invent ever more ludicrous scenarios to explain the events around him.

When you read of things he said and did toward the end of his rule, you must conclude that he was insane. I would argue that he had just reached the natural conclusion of his approach to life. It wasn’t a medical issue, it was the mind’s reaction to living by beliefs that don’t fit with the real world.

The issue for us is whether or not we are in danger of being in the same situation. Popular culture is promoting a utilitarian approach to religion and belief which says that it’s OK to believe whatever works for you. It denies that there is such a thing as absolute truth, right and wrong. While most people are never going to go to the same extremes as Idi Amin, many people are actually making what I believe is the same mistake. I believe that truth matters, and finding the truth about life’s big questions is one of the most important issues in life. The fact is that reality will one day catch up with all of us, and no matter what we believe, we will be confronted by what is true. The Bible says that this means that one day all people will bow before Jesus and acknowledge Him as the rightful ruler of the universe. Regardless of what they thought of Him prior to that moment, when they actually see Him in all His glory the truth will become obvious. At that time Jesus will judge every person according to what we have done. For those who have accepted forgiveness for everything they have done that falls short of God’s standards, it will be granted. For those who have not, they will receive justice according to God’s standards, not our own.

But that is what the Bible says. Is it actually true?

I believe it is worth doing all we can to make sure that we have carefully examined the evidence and made an informed decision about this. What’s true is true, regardless of whether we think it’s true or whether we want it to be true. What matters is that what we believe fits with what is true.

Attacks Against Christians

Attacks against Christians – Where do they come from and how do we overcome them?

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:13

25/03/07

audio + powerpoint

Introduction

Have you ever felt like you were under attack? Welcome to normal life as a Christian! One of the least loved promises of the Bible is found in 2 Timothy 3:12 - In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (o/h)

As we journey together through the book of 1 Thessalonians, we come to a section in chapters 2 and 3 which raises the issue of attacks against Christians – where do the come from and how do we overcome them? (o/h)

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:13

Open in Prayer

Part One – Where do attacks against Christians come from?

Before we answer the question of where do attacks against us come from, we need to quickly identify what they look like (o/h). Attacks against us take 2 basic forms:

1) Opposition (2:14-16)

This type of attack normally comes through people. It might take the form of a rival religious group, or an oppressive government, or harassment in the media, slander and gossip in the community, mischievous lawsuits, underhanded business dealings, discrimination in the workplace and so on. It’s when Christians are being treated badly because of their faith.

Paul says the goal of the Jewish agitators was to try and stop the message about Jesus from being proclaimed to the Gentiles. They were trying to protect the purity of their own religion and also stop a rival religion from being established. You might recall others who stirred up persecution against Christians, such as the metalworkers in Ephesus. Their goal was to protect their income and the status of their goddess, Artemis. Or persecution from the Roman Empire, which was attempting to maintain the unity of the empire by insisting that the emperor must be worshipped along with whatever other gods people chose. Each of these sources of opposition had different motives, but one goal: they wanted to stop the message about Jesus from being shared. As long as Christians were being fairly quiet and keeping to themselves, they were safe. As soon as they started sharing the message publicly and seeing people’s lives changed through accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, then persecution would inevitably follow. In fact, as Paul pointed out in his letter to Timothy, even living a godly life – which is a witness to Jesus – is enough to make you a target for opposition.

2) Seduction (3:5)

This type of attack is one that seeks to use our own sinfulness against us. Even though Christians are saved from sin, we are not yet completely saved – it is a work in progress that will only finish when Jesus returns in power to destroy sin and death forever. Until then, we are susceptible to making wrong choices that take us away from God’s good plan for our lives. Choices that corrupt our witness and prevent us from living a godly life.

Temptation is the art of making garbage look delicious. It is the ability to tune in to a person’s desires and use them against him or her. Satan tried to discover desires within Jesus that he could manipulate. He tried to find a desire for power, for physical satisfaction, for reassurance and respect. All he found was that Jesus desired to please His Father.

Before receiving Timothy’s report, Paul was worried that Satan had managed to tune in to the desires of the Thessalonian Christians in order to tempt them from the faith. Did some crave wealth? Did some chase respect and the good opinion of others? Did some crave physical pleasures?

This has brought us to the point of answering our main question: Where do attacks against Christians come from? (o/h)

Attacks against Christians stem from Satan (2:17-18)

When Paul describes how his travel plans were thwarted by Satan, he does not go into details about how that occurred. It was through opposition of some sort. It may have been because of the Jewish agitators still present in Thessalonica. It could have been because Jason and others had posted bond, and would lose it if Paul came back – a form of financial opposition. Whatever it looked like, Paul says that it came from Satan.

The Bible portrays Satan as the head of an organisation of angels who rejected God’s authority and are at work in the world to usurp His rule and His plans. For that reason they stand against the church, and seek to destroy the church in any way they can, through opposition and seduction. Satan is not like God – he is not everywhere and doesn’t know everything. However he is the ruler of the spiritual forces that stand opposed to God and God’s people.

As a result, around the world we see all sorts of different strategies being used against the church. In some places it is the fear of litigation for speaking the truth, as has been the case in Australia recently when 2 pastors accurately taught about some of the less well-known teachings within the Qur’an and were charged with religious vilification. In others it take the form of kidnappings, tortures and murders. Sometimes it is being excluded from opportunities in business, sporting or social groups. Sometimes it involves being the target of jokes or offensive behaviour. When things like this happen we tend to look at the people who are doing it as though they are responsible. The Bible never spells out exactly how it is that Satan and his angels exercise their control over the world systems, but it is clear that this world is under Satan’s control, and that the people of this world need to be rescued from the dominion of their hidden master.

Ephesians 6:12 says this (o/h)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

So if this is the case, what are we to do about it?

The Apostle Peter explains in 1 Peter 5:6-9:

^6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ^7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

^8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ^9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

James the brother of Jesus echoes the same truth in James 4:7:

^7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

So what is the first step. Peter said it was to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand. James said that it was to submit ourselves to God. The same truth in different words. In Ephesians 6:10, Paul starts his discussion of spiritual warfare on exactly the same note.

“be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

The first lesson in overcoming Satan’s attack is that we are not the point. It’s not about our strength or our desires. People who demand to be in control of their own lives actually belong in Satan’s kingdom. People who think that they can make it on their own belong in Satan’s kingdom. God’s kingdom consists of those who have accepted that Jesus is Saviour and Lord. As our Saviour it is His strength that we need to survive. As our Lord it is His will that we follow. And so instead of trying to be strong in ourselves we submit ourselves to the one who has already overcome Satan.

(o/h) – We must stop focussing on ourselves.

This is easy to say but tough to do. To stop focussing on yourself leaves no room to wallow in self-pity. It leaves no room to do your own thing. It leaves no room for treating others badly, no matter how they might have treated you. On the positive side it leaves no room for wallowing in guilt either, because your failures are no longer the point.

To stop focussing on ourselves protects us from temptation because we are not focussed on our own desires but on pleasing God. It protects us from opposition because it reminds us that God is the only one with the power to affect eternity and our destiny. No matter what Satan throws at us we are safe in God’s hands. The Bible says that God has the power to take Satan’s attacks against us and turn them around so they actually work for our good! The greatest attack Satan ever mounted against God’s kingdom was when He succeeded in having Jesus nailed to a cross. Imagine the victory that Satan thought he had won. The all powerful Creator of the Universe, invulnerable to anything that Satan might concoct, dares to take on human form, and in doing so makes Himself vulnerable. Satan seizes the opportunity and succeeds in having the God-man killed. VICTORY!! THE FORCES OF EVIL HAVE OVERCOME GOD HIMSELF!

But then God the Father raises Jesus from the dead, and in doing so rescues millions upon millions of people from the kingdom of darkness and brings them into the kingdom of light. Satan’s greatest victory is turned into his greatest defeat. That’s the power of God at work! That’s the power that we can access when we stop focussing on ourselves and start focussing on Jesus.

The second part of this lesson is that it means that other people are not the point either (o/h) – we must stop focussing on others. Instead of getting angry and bitter toward people and how they have attacked us or tempted us away from Christ, we begin to see them as victims of a more malicious enemy. It means we can replace anger toward those people with sadness and even mercy. Instead of a desire to retaliate or seek revenge or punishment our desire becomes more to seek their salvation. The story of Paul and Silas with the Philippian Jailer is a good example of this principle. However we don’t just seek salvation for people who don’t have it, but also for those who do. Salvation is something you receive and something you grow in. When Christians sin against us, we must also seek to help them grow in their salvation (eg. 2 Tim 3:16).

So if we must not focus on ourselves or on others, what should we do?

We must stand firm in our faith (o/h)

In other words, as we have already said, we focus on Jesus instead. What did Paul do when he feared for the wellbeing of the Thessalonians? He wasn’t sure if they’d crumbled under opposition or been seduced by temptation.

He sent Timothy to strengthen their faith.

1 Thessalonians 3:2-3

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker ^ in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ^3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.

In Ephesians, 1 Peter and James the exact same language is used: “Stand firm” “Resist the devil”. It’s referring to a faith which is solid, unmoving. No matter what Satan does to you, no matter what cunning lies he tells you, no matter what tempting enticements he offers you – do not move from what you know is true. Stand firm in your faith. Keep looking at Jesus. Keep remembering what He has done for you. Keep thinking about what He has in store for you. Keep hold of His promises.

Sometimes in life we go through intense trials and temptations that make it really hard to keep our eyes on Jesus. I have gone through such times of discouragement that I have even doubted my own salvation and the work God has called me to. I have been knocked about and Satan at times has seemed to have been on the verge of victory. I have almost given up on the church because in my depressed state of mind it has seemed as though the church is no different to any other club. I have almost given up on preaching because it doesn’t seem to make any difference to how people actually live. I have almost given up on leadership because no matter what I do it seems someone is pulling in the other direction. I have almost given up on visiting because people still seem to think I don’t care. I have almost given up offering biblical counsel because people will always find some reason not to do what the Bible says anyway. I have doubted my salvation because of my despair over sin.

What is it that has kept me safe? The first thing is that my faith is based on the Word of God. No matter what Satan is able to achieve in my circumstances - or even within the church - that creates doubts in my mind; even when I have felt so low that it has been hard to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life; still I have a faith that is grounded in the truth. And so I come, much like King David in the Psalms, with an anguished heart and I meditate on the Scriptures that point me to Jesus. And slowly God heals my wounds, encourages my heart, teaches and grows me and helps me to stand firm.

Finally, we must devote ourselves to prayer (o/h)

It is no coincidence that Paul closes this section of the letter with a prayer for the Thessalonians. Prayer is powerful and effective in the spiritual battle that we are in. 1 Peter 5:7 says: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Ephesians 6:18 says:

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

We have already talked about the importance of prayer at the beginning of this series in Thessalonians, so I won’t go over it again. There is also an article in this week’s Friendly Messenger on that topic.

We need to recognise that we are in a spiritual battle. If we really want to stand firm against all kinds of attacks against us, and if we want to see other people coming to faith in Jesus Christ, we have to be people of prayer. Prayer is not something we do at church and Bible study, or even during our daily devotions. Prayer is the constant communion of spirit that we have with God as we recognise His presence in our lives. It is talking with Him as our constant companion. It is allowing Him to exercise His role as our Lord as He is given the opportunity to influence our thinking and behaviour. It is relying on Him as our helper and also the helper of those we pray for.

Do you want to be able to stand firm as a Christian no matter what? Do you want to overcome the attacks of your enemy? Stop focussing on yourself or on others. Focus on Jesus by standing firm in your faith and devoting yourself to prayer.

I want to close by reading Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:15-23:

^15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ^16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ^17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ^18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ^19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ^20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ^21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ^22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ^23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Jesus can handle whatever it is that you are facing! Trust Him.

Too much responsibility!

Ever felt like you carry too much responisibility? Feel like you've got too many people wanting too many different things from you and you know that you can't possibly keep them all happy?

Sometimes the weight of responsibilities and expectations can be crushing. It's been a bit like that this week. At the moment I feel the weight of the pastoral needs of my church family, the leadership needs, the administration needs, the needs of some community groups I'm involved in have been a huge issue over the last couple of weeks, then there's the needs of my children, my wife, friends... myself. It seems that wherever I look there are problems that demand my attention.

Sometimes the weight of responsibilities and expectations can be debilitating - it can cause you to do less not more. It plays on your mind and disrupts your sleep (at least it does to me!), so that you are less effective and creative because of mental & physical weariness.

It occurred to me last night that all week I'd been running around trying to do all that needed to be done, fixing problems and living up to my "responsibilities". What I'd actually done was neglected the most important things in favour of the noisy and the urgent. There are things that I felt needed to be done early in the week that hadn't been done because "stuff" came up that got in the way. I felt like I didn't have a choice, but I did.

Sometimes we do have to say no to people (including ourselves). We need to set good boundaries so that we are able to stick to our convictions about what God would have us do instead of what our circumstances or other people want us to do. We need to do this lovingly so that people know we genuinely care for them and their needs, but that we are not controlled by them. Ultimately, this allows us to develop healthy lives and ministries; instead of winding up as stressed-out people pleasers - who usually end up bitter & frustrated as well because in the end they couldn't please everyone anyway!

There's a lot more that can be said on this topic, but enough for now - I've got too many other jobs to get on to ;-)

Being a Person God Uses Part 2

How to Be a Person God Uses Pt 2

1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12

18/03/07

Introduction

Last week we started thinking about How we can be the sort of people God uses. In other words, how you and I can be competent servants of God.

Have you ever felt incompetent?

(slideshow + audio)

While some of these clips were pretty amusing, I’m sure we all realise how important it is to be a competent person when you are in charge of a vehicle. When people are incompetent because of a lack of training, poor reflexes, lack of attention, medical conditions or substance abuse; there can be some very serious and tragic consequences. Before anyone takes charge of a vehicle, they should be certain that they are competent to do so.

In the Church a similar principle applies in the area of leadership. In our culture the privilege of driving is subject to a whole series of tests to insure competence. There are also rules of conduct that must be adhered to. If a person is caught breaking those rules then there are penalties that apply. The same is true in terms of leadership within the church. There are standards that determine a person’s eligibility to lead. There are rules that govern how that leadership is exercised, and there are penalties that apply when leaders step outside of what God has set out for them to do.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 the Apostle Paul is briefly outlining some of the characteristics that made Silas, Timothy and himself competent ministers in the Church. Paul and Silas in particular are recognised leaders, and Timothy is in the process of being trained in leadership. This leadership is exercised in teaching, nurturing and ruling over the various churches they establish.

So today we will continue to learn about how we can be competent ministers, regardless of what type of ministry God has called us to; and we will also learn more about the ministry of leadership within the Church.

Pray

There are a number of passages in the Bible which talk about the qualifications necessary for leaders within the Church. Here’s a quick summary:

Characteristic	Reference
Self controlled	1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8
Hospitable	1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8
Able to teach	1 Tim 3:2, 5:17; Titus 1:9
Gentle	1 Tim 3:3; Titus 1:7
Not quarrelsome	1 Tim 3:3
Not a lover of money	1 Tim 3:3
Has a good reputation in the community	1 Tim 3:7
Not overbearing	Titus 1:7
Not quick-tempered	Titus 1:7
Loves what is good	Titus 1:8
Upright, holy	Titus 1:8
Disciplined	Titus 1:8
Blameless	1 Tim 3:2,9; Titus 1:6
Faithful in marriage	1 Tim 3:2,12; Titus 1:7
Temperate	1 Tim 3:2,8; Titus 1:7
Respectable	1 Tim 3:2,8
Not given to drunkenness	1 Tim 3:3,8; Titus 1:7
Manages his household well	1 Tim 3:4,12
Respected by his children	1 Tim 3:4-5,12; Titus 1:6
Doesn’t pursue dishonest gain	1 Tim 3:8; Titus 1:7
Keeps hold of the deep truths	1 Tim 3:9; Titus 1:9
Sincere	1 Tim 3:8
Not a recent convert	1 Tim 3:6
Someone who has been tested	1 Tim 3:10

I hope what you will realise as you look at this list is that these are characteristics that we should all aspire to. These qualifications are a way of identifying mature Christians who are ready to accept the responsibility of leadership. Even the ability to teach, which is a requirement of Elders in the Church, does not mean that each Elder must have a gift in teaching, just that they have the spiritual maturity to be able to teach others in what they say and in how they live.

The reason I point this out is that I want all of us to be aware that what we discover today about how Paul approaches his ministry of spiritual leadership is relevant to all of us. It is what we should all be aspiring to. I hope that this will become increasingly clear as we go through our passage.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, ^7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. ^8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. ^9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

^10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ^11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ^12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,

Because of his position of leadership Paul could have exercised his rights and the authority of his position. He could have expected to have his material needs met by the church. He could have expected that people defer to him and show appropriate respect. As he served them in teaching and nurturing he could expect that they would serve him in return in more practical ways.

Have you ever been in a position where you felt entitled to something from others? I know of people who have given generously to a church over many years, who have felt entitled to control what the church does with it’s finances. I know people who have served in leadership, who have felt entitled to the blind trust and obedience of the congregation; without consultation or explanation of decision making. I know of worship leaders who felt entitled to only choose material that suited their own tastes. I know of pastors who expect their congregation to put in volunteer hours to the church, while they stick rigorously to a 40 hour week.

Paul says “We could have felt entitled to something from you. We could have expected something on the basis of our position and authority, but instead….”

but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

The first thing Paul points out is that he and his companions are not on a power trip. They are not seeking their own advantage, instead they care for the church like a mother cares for her infant children.

Now, Paul is not picturing himself as this sort of mother… (o/h)

Instead, the picture is of a nursing mother – a mother who is still breastfeeding her child. That tenderness that exists between mother and child is the tenderness that Paul felt for the Thessalonians.

Now, we all know that the Church would be a great thing if it weren’t for the people in it! Christians, just like anyone else, can be hard to get along with at times. We hurt each other, we sin against each other. Anyone involved in leadership knows that it can be very painful and frustrating. I believe the same can be true of breastfeeding! However when you think about how a nursing mother treats even the most difficult child, even at great personal cost; that’s the picture that Paul has of leadership. When you think of the bond between mother and child, that’s the relationship between leaders and their congregations that Paul has in mind.

This image is extended in verses 11&12 to include fatherhood.

^11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ^12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory

I have a picture on my computer which is a great illustration of this (o/h)

You can see by that man’s uniform that he has a certain authority. He has authority as a Policeman and as a father. Yet he uses his position to serve the needs of his son. You can see by his haircut that he needs to wear that policeman’s hat! ( I can identify with that!) But instead he uses it to serve his son. In the same way Paul used his position not for his own purposes but for the purpose of serving those he was responsible to lead.

This is how the Apostle Peter describes this principle of servant leadership in 1 Peter 5:1-6

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ^2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; ^3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ^4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

^5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.” ^a

^6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

I hope you can see that as Paul reflects on his own conduct with the Thessalonians, he is demonstrating the same leadership principles that Peter taught in his letter.

^8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. ^9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

^10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

In Paul’s time, philosophers and travelling teachers would support themselves in a number of ways. The most desirable method was to be attached to a wealthy patron. This would be of social advantage to the patron and financial advantage to the philosopher. Otherwise, a philosopher might charge a fee for tuition in whatever subjects they had expertise. Some (such as some Cynics) supported themselves by begging. The final method was manual labour. Paul notes in verse 9 that they worked night and day to support themselves. This fits with other historical records which show that artisans such as tentmakers had to work very long hours just to meet their most basic needs. Many of us have a picture of Paul doing a little part-time work while he devoted most of his energy to preaching and teaching. In all likelihood, most of his time was spent teaching in the workshop while he worked! In Ephesians 19 we read that handkerchiefs (ie. sweatbands) and aprons that Paul wore were taken to the sick and the sick were healed. He would have used these things while he worked.

So Paul, one of the most significant leaders in the Church, worked hard in a profession that had very low social status, and paid very poorly; when he could have demanded to have his living expenses met by the churches he served in. He taught that leaders who devote themselves to serving the church should have their needs met, but he did not make use of this right himself.

How does knowing all this help us in our quest to be competent servants of God?

Firstly, a competent minister is a person of integrity - our lives must match what we say. Paul was able to say to the Thessalonians “You are witnesses…”. “You have seen how we lived and you know that our lifestyle backs up our preaching. We don’t just say that God has saved us from sin, we show what it’s like to live free from sin’s control. We don’t just say that God loves you, we show you by loving you ourselves. We don’t just talk about prayer, about humility, about confession, about forgiveness, about acceptance, about encouragement, about sacrifice…. we live it!!”

I don’t care what you sing on Sundays, what you say in Bible study or anywhere else – if you’re lifestyle doesn’t match it, then it’s just hot air. A person who God uses is a person whose walk matches their talk. They are people of integrity.

Secondly, a competent minister is someone who loves intensely. Paul says it was their love for the Thessalonians that caused them to serve in the manner they did. This is in fact the second reason Paul gave, the first (which we looked at last week) was their desire to please God.

Paul wants to be very up front about how much he loves the church family in Thessalonica. Jesus said that this love is a defining characteristic of his people. Do you have that sort of love? As we’ve already pointed out, it isn’t always easy to love people. People can be hurtful, unappreciative, opinionated, selfish and so on. But if Jesus loves you as you are, can you love others as they are too?

Thirdly, a competent minister sacrifices him/herself for the sake of others. This is not saying that they become a doormat. Allowing people to walk all over you is not loving them or you or others around you. However competent ministers are prepared to give up their rights for the sake of serving others. They are able to choose humility and submission. They do not compare themselves to others. They do not focus on their own entitlements. They do not consider their needs more important than others’. This is a particularly difficult thing to do when you are in a position of authority, which is one reason why leadership is the responsibility of the mature. In leadership you need to be constantly testing your own heart to make sure that you are using your authority to serve others and not indulge yourself. You need to guard your heart from bitterness when people don’t submit to your oversight. You need to guard against despondency when people don’t seem to heed your teaching or follow your example. You need to guard against pride that says you are better than or wiser than others. There are a whole lot of other pressures and temptations which can cause you to stop thinking and praying about how you can best serve the people in your care. While this can be particularly acute in leadership, it is true no matter what area you serve in. As ministers our prayer should always be “Lord, help me to serve others in love.”

Conclusion:

From what we’ve been describing today, being a competent minister is hard work! Why bother with that? Why not just accept your free gift of salvation and then just lie low until you die or Jesus returns?

The Bible says that Jesus has given each of us the calling and the gifting to serve in His Kingdom. Our decision is whether or not to be competent servants. Whether or not we will make ourselves available to be used well. You don’t need to do the sort of ministry that Paul did or what I do or anyone else for that matter. God has shaped you for a unique role.

The assurance that Peter gave to Elders who lead well is also an assurance for all of us who serve well in whatever capacity:

1 Peter 5:4

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Let me close with a challenge that Paul gave to Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed…

Amen!

Discipline of Journaling? You've got to be joking!

Well, after what felt like a promising start to my blogging career, all that's been happening lately is me posting up copies of my sermon notes! My last journal-type post was a month ago, so it's time for a re-start.

Part of the difficulty for me has been that a lot of the stuff dominating my thoughts & feelings over the last month or so has not been the sort of stuff that I could share online. Some things need to be kept in fairly small circles. Through it all though I have been learning a lot about what we need to be moving towards as communities of Christians (see "Disillusioned with Church").

I'm excited that we have finally (after 3 years of thinking about it) started a midweek prayer group, which includes people who cannot always get to Sunday services. Prayer is really the engine room of church life for a whole stack of reasons. One thing I love about corporate prayer (when it is done well) is that it draws us closer together vertically and horizontally. It brings us closer to God and to each other. It breaks through suspicions and misunderstandings and fosters a geniune sense of teamwork and mutual care. It encourages boldness in prayer and in prayerful action.

Anyhow, let's see how I go at being a bit more regular in jotting down stuff!

Sermon - How to be a person God uses pt 1

How to Be a Person God Uses Pt 1
1 Thessalonians 2:1-6
11/03/07

audio

Introduction

Do you want to be the sort of person who does great things for God? Would you like God to use you to accomplish great things in the lives of people, things that make a difference for eternity? Or does the idea of that sound foolish to you?

I want to read a little blurb that did the rounds on the internet:

Think God Can't Use You? Well, Read On. . .

Noah was a drunkard, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused by his family, sold into slavery and falsely imprisoned, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Samson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, Peter denied Christ, The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, Mary Magdalene was, well you know, the Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once, Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer . . . AND . . .Lazarus was dead. Now, no more excuses!

The Bible isn’t full of stories about great people – it’s full of stories about a great God who uses all sorts of people – people just like you and me. Today we are going to explore some of the things that get in the way of what God wants to do in and through you, and how we can make sure that those barriers aren’t stopping God from doing great things in our lives in and the lives of those He wants us to touch.

Today we are going to start looking at the ministry of the Apostle Paul in Thessalonica. We have been looking at the Thessalonians themselves and what we can learn from how they responded to the gospel message. Now we want to see what God wants to teach us from how Paul and his companions went about their ministry of sharing the gospel message, because we have been given both those roles to play. We are all people who should be constantly receiving God’s truth and responding to it, and we are also people who possess God’s truth and must share it.

Prayer

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6a

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. ^2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. ^3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. ^4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. ^5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ^6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

v. 1: You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.

We’ve already learned the visit was not a failure because of the work God did in those particular Thessalonians so that the gospel message powerfully changed their lived. Today we will discover that it was not just about what God did in the hearers of the message, but what God did through the messengers that was important.

v. 2a: We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know

If you don’t remember the story, here’s how Luke describes it in Acts 16:

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. ^17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” ^18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

^19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. ^20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar ^21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

^22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. ^23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ^24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

That night God sends a powerful earthquake that rocks the jail, opens the prison doors and loosen everyone’s chains! However instead of running away, Paul & Silas stay and share the gospel message with the jailer and his family, who become Christians also. Later, when the magistrates find out that Paul & Silas are Roman citizens, they realise they have made a bad mistake but they still ask Paul & Silas to leave town.

Now, when most people remember the story of Paul & Silas in Philippi, they remember the miracle and how the jailer and his family became Christians as a result. That’s because it’s always great to hear those stories of God exercising His power. Paul would remember that too, and he would be grateful to God for that. But what does he remember most? The suffering and insults!

You put yourself in Paul’s shoes: First you get harassed day after day by this girl. Finally, you do something about it and the result is that you get your clothes torn off by an angry mob, beaten to a pulp then thrown in jail with your feet clasped in stocks. All of this doesn’t stop them from praying and singing to God, while all the other prisoners listen; but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a traumatic event.

Now they rock up to another city, knowing that once again there is going to be plenty of hostile people there, and what are they going to be thinking?

“Hey, let’s do what we did in Philippi! Let’s offend the people, get ourselves beaten up and imprisoned and see what God does with that this time!” (NOT!)

So what did they do?

v2b: but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.

They dared to tell the gospel, despite strong opposition. They knew that it was going to be tough. They had only just come through a tough time. They were scared! Sometimes we have this weird idea of people like Paul that makes out that these people thrive on opposition – they love being called names, beaten up, thrown in prison and so on.

No, Paul says they “dared to tell” the gospel message. Who has ever played a game of dare? I’ve played games like that several times as a younger person. I was never once dared to spend an hour in a spa, or eat a nice meal, or read a good book or anything like that. All the dares I was given were things that could have made me look very silly or were very unpleasant. You don’t dare someone to do something safe or easy. You dare someone to do something that they don’t want to do or something that entails risk.

We read through a list of some famous Bible characters earlier on. Do you think that what they did for God was easy? They took risks! They believed things and did things that weren’t easy or safe. They did things that were beyond their own ability to do! They predicted the future, achieved feats of strength, defeated armies, built a ship, stood up to empires and kings – all because of their faith in God and obedience to Him.

Paul says that this is exactly what he and Silas did in Thessalonica. Verse 3 says “with the help of our God we dared…“

Why? We’ve seen that it was not easy for them to share the gospel in Thessalonica. We know from our background study a few weeks back that they put their lives in danger and had to be smuggled out of town, because exactly the same thing was happening as in Philippi – an angry mob had assembled and was looking for Paul & Silas.

So why did they do it?

Verse 3 tells us what the reasons were not…

 v. 3: For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

Paul says there is no lying or manipulation or trickery or profiteering going on here. We’re not in this because of some delusion or for our own personal gain. We’re not resorting to dodgy methods in order to win you over. Something else is going on.

v. 4a On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

First of all, we speak because we have been given the authority by God to do so. We are trustworthy messengers and we have been entrusted with the gospel message – the message that every person needs to hear and have an opportunity to respond to.

At this point in time, the gospel message has been transmitted primarily by word of mouth, so it has been vital that the people who are spreading the message are people who are trustworthy. Paul was taught the gospel by Jesus himself, and was confirmed as an Apostle by James, Peter and the other leaders of the early church in Jerusalem. Silas was originally a member of the Jerusalem church, and was a leader there who had a recognized gift of prophecy. He learned the gospel from the disciples of Jesus, and was trusted by them as a faithful messenger. So Paul and Silas chose to share the gospel because they had the truth that others needed to hear. They were well qualified messengers.

Some people believe that today this sort of condition applies to ministers, priests, evangelists, missionaries and other special classes of Christians. A lot of people lack confidence in their status as being people approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

Let me simply say this: “If you have a Bible, then you have been entrusted with the gospel.” God has given the church the means of ensuring that we can speak as people approved to be entrusted with the gospel. We have a way of testing what anyone says that relates to God and His plan of salvation – we use the Bible as our measuring stick. It’s therefore up to each of us to simply make sure that we know it well. That we are confident in what it says. That we are able to share it’s message with others. That is what it means to be entrusted with the gospel. Of course, just like Paul and Silas, we need God’s help to do it, but none of us lack the authority to be a messenger of God.

v. 4b-6: We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. ^{ 5} You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ^6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

Secondly, if we are going to be faithful messengers of the gospel – if we are going to be available to be used by God to change lives – we have to learn to care more about what God thinks than about what people think.

Does not being controlled by what people think mean that we simply don’t care about other people? Is it a flippant “They can think whatever they like, it doesn’t worry me” sort of attitude. “If they don’t like me or what I believe they can go jump for all I care”!

Not at all. Verse 8 talks about how much Paul & Silas loved the Thessalonians. They cared very much about what the Thessalonians thought & how they responded to them and their message. At other times, such as in his second letter to the Corinthian Christians, Paul works very hard to defend his ministry and his reputation – he doesn’t want people thinking badly of him. He doesn’t want to give anyone an excuse to reject his message.

In his morning devotions at the Urban Neighbours of Hope conference last year, Mick Duncan talked about what is “above the line” and what is “below the line”. Above the line are the people or things that we live for. Below the line are the things that we care for and care about, but they are not the people or things that we live for. The Bible is clear that only one thing belongs above the line, and it’s not a thing, but a person. That’s God’s place. It’s where He belongs. To live for anything or anyone except God is idolatry. That is a really helpful image to explain what is happening here. If we are controlled by other people or what they think of us, we are committing idolatry. If we are controlled by our own self esteem or lack of it, that is idolatry. Paul says, “There is only one who I live to please. It’s not myself. It’s not you or any other human being. I live to please God. That’s why I do what I do.” Does Paul care about what others think and say about him? Does he care about what others do to him? Does he care about the hardships he endures and the risks he takes? Yes, to all of that. But he doesn’t live for any of those things. He lives for God. And because he does not live for any of those things he is not controlled by any of them. Instead he is controlled by the Spirit of God. Not perfectly, but that is what his chosen lifestyle is.

What about you?

Today you have a choice to make about whether you will dare to please God by doing what He has called you to do. Paul wrote that God tests our hearts. What does God find above the line in your heart? What or who are you living for? What or who has the power to control what you do? Is it the approval of others you seek? Is it your own pleasure or security? Is it the stuff that you think you need? If you say that God is number one in your life, will you dare to tell His gospel despite whatever opposition you might face or whatever you risk might need to take?

If the answer is yes, I want you to pray steadfastly that God will help you to see the opportunities and take them up. I want you to think about how well you know the gospel and how you can explain it to others, and to get hold of resources that will be a help to you.

Today in Lifegroup we are going to talk further on the topic of healthy self esteem, and how important that is generally, but particularly in the Christian life. In a nutshell, we will be discovering how healthy self esteem flows from healthy God esteem. You’re welcome to join us!

Growing up in the Church

Growing Up in the Church

4/03/07

(audio)

Introduction

How many people here today have grown up in a Christian home?

Today we are going to talk about the challenges and blessings of being a second, third or whatever generation Christian.

Last week we were exploring together what it’s like to receive new life in Jesus, and how different that new life is from what we had before we had a relationship with God in Christ. The Bible describes it like the difference from living in constant darkness to suddenly having the lights turned on. Imagine what it would be like to be unable to see your whole life, and then suddenly being able to see. That’s what it’s like when God opens your eyes to the truth that is found in Jesus.

However for many of us, it’s almost as if there is no “before” story. We have grown up knowing about Jesus, we’ve grown up being guided by Christian principles. So right from infancy we have tasted something of the goodness of the new life that Jesus came to give. And sure, at some point we needed to decided whether we would continue in it or not, whether we believed what we had been taught and whether we would accept it, but we have had the incredible blessing of tasting the goodness of Christianity right from an early age. But is that a blessing, or does it have great drawbacks?

If you haven’t grown up in a Christian family, what we’re talking about today is important for you to, not only to help you understand others in the church, but also to be prepared to minister to any children that God blesses you with.

Opening Prayer

I had a friend who said to me once “I sometimes wish I had lived a really sinful life before becoming a Christian, so that there would be an obvious change in my life once I was saved”. There are a lot of Christians who feel like they don’t have much of a story to share about how God has worked in their life, because in a sense they have inherited a faith and a lifestyle which has protected them from making a lot of wrong decisions and doing a lot of harm to themselves and others. They feel like their stories are boring because they don’t feature all the drama of a life marred by sin.

At the same time, I know people who wish they had the benefit of growing up in a Christian home. They would have loved the security, love and godly values that go along with striving to live up to what the Bible describes a family should be like. I know many Christians who experienced things that continue to hurt because of their own choices and the choices of others that impacted on them.

What are some of the blessings of growing up in a Christian home?

• You are taught the truth from a young age (2 Tim 3:14-15)
  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
  
  Last week we talked about how we receive new life in Jesus. God helps us to understand the truth about Jesus and to believe it with our whole heart and mind. Some of us, like Timothy, experience this by hearing and seeing that truth from our parents and our church families. What we saw and heard made us wise for salvation. We knew what was true and what we needed to do in response.
  
  There are many people who grow up in families and societies that are hostile to God and to the church, or indifferent. Those children inherit values and attitudes that actually keep them away from God. God needs to find other ways to break into their lives to show them the truth.
  
  Christian parents must understand the importance of their role in bringing their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord, as it says in Ephesians 6:4.

• You are protected from a life ravaged by sin
  Romans 7:5 says: “For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, a the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.”
  
  We need to remember how the Bible defines sin. Sometimes people think of sin as the things that God doesn’t approve of. It’s as though we face a whole smorgasbord of different options, some of them are OK with God and some aren’t. Some people say “That’s fine if you just want to choose from those options, but I want to sample the whole lot.” No, sin is falling short of God’s standards. It’s missing the mark. When we sin we fall short of the goodness of God. We fall short of the life that He intended for us.
  
  Instead of the blessing of marital faithfulness, there is the burden of infidelity. Instead of the blessing of self-control, there are fits of rage. Instead of the blessing of honesty, there is lack of trust. Instead of putting others first, there is selfishness and competition. Instead of always speaking in love, there is gossipping and slander. Romans 7:5 describes these things as fruit for death. In Galatians 5 these things are called the fruit of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:21 says that people who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  
  Growing up in a Christian home does not mean that you are completely shielded from the effects of sin. We all still fall short of God’s standards, even the best of us. All parents sin against their children sometimes, and all children sin against their parents. But it does mean that to some degree at least, you are kept safe from a life which is ravaged by sin. Your family life should be characterised by the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Those are some pretty good blessings that come with growing up in a Christian home. There are some real challenges that come with those blessing though:

• Confusion over Conversion
  
  For many people, their decision to follow Jesus came very early in life, and although their level of commitment and maturity has waxed and waned, they have basically been a Christian their whole lives. If you are someone who feels somehow inferior or unsure because you don’t remember a particular moment of conversion, don’t worry, you’re not alone! As great as it is to celebrate great conversion stories, the greatest blessing a person can have is a godly inheritance. If you inherited a faith from your parents that at some stage became your own, be thankful. Don’t worry if you don’t know the date or time that you first decided, but rejoice in the fact that you are a follower of Jesus today because of the influences God put in your life right from the beginning.
  
  
• Hypocrisy in Family and Church
  
  The sad fact is that there are many people who have grown up in Christian homes and churches, who have been turned away by what they experienced there. When you look at the incidences of family breakdown, family violence and other abuse within the Church it is hard not to be very disappointed and disillusioned. If you have experienced these things or other evidences of hypocrisy in the church, it is hard to believe the gospel that the church preaches.
  
  There are a lot of pastor’s kids for example who are turned off the church for two reasons:
  1) They see what their parents are really like and it doesn’t add up to what they preach and present
  2) They see what their parents put up with in the church and that turns them off.
  
  It’s not just Pastor’s kids who experience this.
  
  There are two tragedies that can occur when children notice that what actually happens in family and church do not add up to what the Bible teaches:
  1) They become disillusioned and leave as soon as they are able to.
  2) They learn to acknowledge the Bible mentally, but in practice they copy the example set for them – they become hypocrites themselves.
  
  For this reason churches and families need to be serious about addressing sin. Instead of sweeping stuff under the carpet and being defensive of ourselves, we need to model an attitude of repentance and teachability. We need to learn to apologise to our children when we sin against them, and to acknowledge inconsistencies between what we say we believe and what we actually do.
  
  Interestingly, in the Bible it is Fathers who are urged to take the lead in this. Fathers tend to struggle the most to do it! Ephesians 6:4 says: Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
  
  Colossians 3:21 says: Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
  
  In my experience what has embittered or exasperated children most is hypocrisy in the family and in the church.
  
  If you are someone who has been turned off by hypocrisy I want to apologise to you for that. I ask you to remember that we are all people who fall short of God’s standards, and encourage you to learn to forgive those who have sinned against you. I urge you to look to Jesus and decide what you will do with Him. Don’t be distracted by other people, no matter who they might be. They will answer to Jesus one day, just as you will.

• Unawareness of the ugliness of sin
  
  If you are someone who has not experienced first-hand how destructive sin can be, it is very easy to get sucked in to flirting with it. You buy in to Satan’s lie that says: “God is a party-pooper. God is like your parents – He just wants you to be safe and boring.” Actually, God is nothing like that at all! But God does want what is good for you, not what is evil.
  
  I remember being part of a group of older teenagers in a church in Perth. We had a great group and we loved doing stuff together. At some point a number of people in the group started attending nightclubs. They were putting themselves in a position where there were a lot of temptations around in terms of being in a sexually charged environment with a lot of alcohol & drugs. There is something attractive about that sort of environment for a young person in particular.
  
  However when I think about that scene I just feel really sad. I used to walk past nightclubs in Scarborough sometimes on the way to the beach, and I used to see the way women of all ages were dressed hoping to attract some attention. What is their self-esteem like that they think they have to offer themselves like that to be worth a man’s attention and time? How many times have they been used physically and then abandoned?
  
  I remember a young man who became a Christian and who was really growing and loving his new life. He got involved with the group who were regularly clubbing, and something started to change in him. Over time he became less and less involved in the church and with his Christian friends. Last I saw him he basically said that all he lived for was the weekends, when he would go out, get drunk and sing karaoke! A shipwrecked life, because a group of young people were foolish enough to flirt with sin. Don’t go looking for fun and adventure where Satan is trying to sell it. Life’s only real adventure is to follow wherever God leads. Sin is ugly. God said to Cain in Genesis 4: “Sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you.” You don’t flirt with hungry lions. Don’t flirt with sin.

• Tension of Different Worlds
  
  There are plenty of other things that we could address today, but the last one I want to talk about is the tension of living in different worlds.
  
  When I grew up I lived on the Mission at Norseman and at Roelands. That was a distinctly Christian environment. At church and at home things were pretty consistent. At school things were pretty different! I recognised from an early age that I was living in two different worlds!
  
  In one world, I wanted to be good and to make my parents proud. Particularly I wanted to follow Jesus. I wanted that in the other world too, but I also wanted to be accepted. I wanted to fit in. Christianity doesn’t always fit that well in our world.
  
  So there’s a tension that kids have when they grow up in Christian homes, and it can very easily lead to living two separate lives. In one life there is church and Sunday school and home. In the other is school and sport and friends.
  
  Parents have a responsibility to teach children to live as Christians in the World – not to live in two different worlds. Sadly, many children grow up fitting in with both worlds. So even as adults they dress one way on Sunday and another way during the week. They speak one way on Sunday and another way during the week. They watch stuff on T.V. that they wouldn’t accept on the big screen in Church. They listen to things that they would never want to hear a preacher say! And somehow this doesn’t seem weird! It’s the problem of hypocrisy that we discussed earlier, but it goes even beyond that.
  
  Perhaps the biggest problem with living in different worlds is that we don’t know how to bridge the gap. Do I talk about God with people outside my Christian world? Do I invite my friends along to church events? Do I show them that side of me that they have never seen, and what will they think of me if I do? It’s easier to keep the two worlds separate, and that is just what Satan wants. He doesn’t mind if Christians keep that stuff to themselves. God does. We are His ambassadors to the world. We are not to keep our Christianity separate from our life in the world.
  
  I’ve got to tell you that as much as I’ve always tried to be a good witness to those around me, I’ve pretty much grown up living in two different worlds. I’ve always struggled to talk to people outside my church world about God and the difference He makes to my life. I don’t want to offend people. I want to fit in. I want to be liked. But I’m learning how to do it, and I’m praying for opportunities. I’m starting to see those opportunities. How about you?