A "PASTOR" SAID "THAT?!"

"Years ago I was sitting next to a popular woman pastor at a banquet. I asked her, "'Do you believe Christ is the only way to God?'

"She replied, 'Of course! Why do you ask?'

"'Do you believe that all the religions of the world are equally valid?'

"Again the reply, 'Of course!'

"When I asked her how this could be reconciled with the view that Christ was the only way to God, she refused to answer. Undaunted, I persisted until she leaned over and whispered in my ear, 'When I speak about Christ, I'm not talking about Jesus of Nazareth!.'"

Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers  1994
p.115

Seriously, who'd have thought!?

Lutzer knew of this woman and her beliefs; that's why he pushed a bit in this conversation. But how many of us would have thought we were talking to another Christian? And frankly, what disturbs me is that she leaned over and "whispered." In other words, she was well aware that her words were deceptive. That while she said one thing, she meant quite another.

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God . . . " 1 John 4: 1-3

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12 NIV

(all emphasis mine)

Thank you, Erwin Lutzer, for allowing us to eavesdrop on your conversation; for showing us the need to "test the spirits" and showing us how to do so, according to God's Word.

EverGrowing,
Lonnie

ALL RELIGIONS EQUALLY TRUE?

"If all the religions of the world are equally true, logic requires that they all are equally false: The conflicting doctrines would cancel one another!


Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers   1994
p. 49-50

Logically, Lutzer explains, all religions of the world may be false. But logically, they cannot  all be true.

I beg you to think this through. Christians believe in one God. Hindus believe in thousands. Many religions believe Jesus was a great man; a great prophet. He is all that and more. He is God! "When the Parliament of the World's Religions issued a Global Ethic, it did not even use the word God because some Buddists would have been offended." (Lutzer/p.48)

We are not talking baptism by sprinkling or immersion, here. We are not talking about tongues or not tongues. We are not discussing whether Saturday or Sunday is the appropriate Sabbath; or what constitutes dishonoring that Sabbath. We are talking about God's first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me."  

In the name of tolerance and diversity . . . maybe in the name of Minnesota Nice, I feel "required" to accept everyone's religion. I'm required to appreciate their culture, their beliefs. We have much to learn from one another and all religions, after all, have similar results--peace, love of mankind . . . and all the more so when agree. 

 I can appreciate. I can learn. I can love; and I do. Oh, my goodness, I encounter incredibly special people every day!

I cannot agree. Scriptures forbid that I do. I, at this point, have to choose --to please man or to please God. Because I have grown to love my Creator, my companion, and my Savior; and because this God holds eternity in His Hands, I choose to please Him.

By His Strength,
Lonnie
  

FREE TO WORSHIP PRIVATELY

"The Emperor Diocletian has issued a new order, requiring all people to attend the religious/political ceremony designed to unify the nation and revive lagging patriotism within the empire. Specifically, this ceremony involves burning a bit of incense and saying simply, 'Caesar is Lord.' Those who do this receive a seal of approval; those who don't might well be put to death.

" . . . they would actually not have to stop worshiping the true God; after they have sworn their allegiance to Caesar as Lord, they are free to privately worship whatever god they wish. Every religion is tolerated; freedom to choose one's own god is generally accepted. Indeed, there is richness in diversity."

Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody 1994
p.43

Worship your God. You absolutely have that freedom. But -- do it privately. Take down the crosses, remove the Ten Commandments. Hide your nativity scenes. And please (!) don't pray in school or in public. Some may be offended. And for the sake of peace, diversity, and fairness, we can't have that.

Every religion is tolerated; dare I say encouraged? Every religion, it seems, except Christianity. I feel that way; and others around me express that irritation often. BUT why are we surprised?

"This is the verdict. Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed."
John 3: 20 NIV

Symbols of, and especially words of Christ expose sin. They expose our sins, as well. Christians, however, use such "lights" to also remind them of God's forgiveness. 

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you . . ."
John 15: 18-19 NIV

We don't belong to the world, so it hates us.

"Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets."
Luke 6: 22-23

Sometimes, this presents a quandry for me. The closer the coming of Jesus becomes, the more hatred (intolerance) of Christianity there is likely to be. We have already lost freedoms of expressing our faith. There's a good chance that pattern will continue. Do we "accept" what we "expect?" Do we quit standing up for Christ and worship privately?

Here's my thought, even if I don't like it. I believe we have to continue fighting for our freedoms, so long as we have the freedom to do so. But . . . I think we need to do so for the love of Christ and for the people He died for, knowing this: we may suffer for doing so. The suffering, my friend, is temporary. For those who don't know Christ, their suffering is just beginning. When we are willing to suffer for our faith, doesn't it speak to the truth and reality of Christ? Perhaps, our willingness to suffer will draw others to Him.

EverGrowing
Lonnie

CHRIST AMONG OTHER gods

"You've heard of 'political correctness,' that doctrine based on a new American right--the right to never be offended. If your views run counter to the official liberal agenda, it is best to remain quiet or be accused of 'verbal violence.'"

Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers  1994
p. 30

I love that Lutzer and Moody use smaller case letters for "gods." Because, there is only one God. I'm likely to spend a few blogs in this subject and in this book. Ray and I attended a Changing Times conference, where Lutzer and others spoke. My prayer since has been, " Help us to be ready in season and out to give a reason for the hope that is in us."

This seems like a dangerous time to be a Christian, but it is no time to be silent. We have already lost freedoms in living and expressing our faith. The speed of continuing losses will only increase with our silence. Or -- another way to look at it is this: many don't yet know Christ, nor have they claimed the promise of eternal life. Let's tell them while we can.

EverGrowing,
Lonnie

A CONUNDRUM

"The church is to be in the world as a ship is in the ocean; but when the ocean seeps into the ship, the ship is in trouble."

Erwin W. Lutzer
Who Are You To Judge?
Moody Publishers  2002

Allow me to continue this quote:

"We have bought into the world's values; into its entertainment, its morals, its attitudes. We have also bought into its tolerance, it's insistence that we should never challenge the private beliefs of individuals, whether outside the church or within it. In the face of cultural pressures, we have found ourselves confused, hesitant to act, unable to give a loving but convincing witness to the world."
p. 14-15

I confess; I'm caught in this conundrum. While trying to share the Gospel, yet ever worried about how easily I can offend; I'm afraid I share rather ineffectively.

StillGrowing,
Lonnie

LEADERS, ROCKS, AND RIVERS

" . . . the prophet is speaking primarily about leaders in the kingdom. They should be both rocks and rivers, providing security and sufficiency. Rocks do not move or change, while rivers are ever moving and changing. Leaders must be both consistent and adaptable, combining faithfulness of the rock with the fruitfulness of the river."

Warren W. Wiersbe
Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary
Thomas Nelson Publishers  1991
p 470

I would love your thoughts.

Wiersbe's comments about Isaiah 32 provide a great picture of balance, strength, and security. I can "feel" the security. But what does it look like? Do you know a leader with the qualities Wiersbe speaks of? Or how would you expect those qualities to be played out in leadership? 

EverLearning,
Lonnie  

WHO SAYS I HAVE TO GROW UP?

"C.S. Lewis once commented, 'that we who will still enjoy fairy tales have less reason to wish actual childhood back. We have kept its pleasures and added some grown-up ones as well."

Gladys Hunt
Honey For A Child's Heart
Zondervan  1989
p. 34

Enough said.

Enjoying Picture Books AND Adult Ones,
Lonnie