Joy in tribulation

Posted on by kevinjandt

persecution

Today is December 31st, the last day of 2012.  I am writing this morning from a local Starbucks.  It’s something I do on occasion as I enjoy getting up early and heading to the coffee shop to read my bible and write.  I’m always hopeful for a chance to share the gospel if the opportunity avails itself.  It’s sometimes interesting to see people look at you as you’re reading a bible.  One man said to me “I didn’t think anyone read that anymore”.

I was in a Starbucks in Cincinnati a couple months ago and the place was loaded with people working on computers doing whatever it is they were doing, probably blogging, they all looked so cool.  I’ll admit I’m not one of the cool people sitting in Starbucks.  I work on a three plus year old ThinkPad, not a Mac Book Pro or an Ipad, I like the utilitarian look of my ThinkPad.  I think it fits my personality.  I also don’t have a cool paraph or don’t sign off my emails with “cheers”.  I like being different in a very normal sort of way.  My desire is to be very workmanlike.  I think if I played professional football I’d be an offensive lineman, of course that would be impossible at five foot eleven and a hundred and eighty five pounds, but that’s how I envision myself.

One area I desire to stand out and be different is in the area of evangelism.  I desire to share God’s Word and have people consider me different.  Not for my own recognition but for God’s Glory which brings me to the point of this post.  Ephesians 3:13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 

This past Saturday we discussed this verse at our mens bible study.  The question was posed to each man if they were suffering tribulation.  Each man gave testimony about tribulation in his life and when this was done we looked at Paul’s tribulations.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they ministers of Christ? – I speak as a fool – I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.  From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things, what comes upon my daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

As I considered this throughout the rest of the weekend I came to realize how completely normal I am.  I say this to my shame.  On occasion I may suffer some reproach, I might even actually have someone upset with me.  Sometimes that might be a family member or someone I care about.  Sometimes it’s a stranger when they are challenged with the reality of God.  As we went through all of Paul’s tribulations one by one I realized that Paul never became discouraged in any of these tribulations, in fact he was joyful.

I want this to really sink in for a moment.  He was beaten and then he picked himself up and went to the next town where it was likely it happened again and then again and again.  It can be very intimidating when someone reviles you and is upset with you, but not to Paul.  He just kept going back for more.  How small we are today.  How weak that we can’t speak up when we know we should.  How self focused we are when we say things like, “well that was Paul”.  Don’t forget Paul says imitate me as I imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).  Or my favorite, “he’s too heavenly minded to be any earthly good”.  Maybe in reality your too earthly minded to be any heavenly good.  See this great article if you say that, then repent and stop saying it.  Heavenly  minded

In all of Paul’s tribulations he was joyful and he tells us to not to lose heart why?  It’s for our glory; our glory and the glory of the King that suffered and is worthy of our suffering.  As a new year is approaching many will make resolutions.  If you call yourself a Believer, I propose you make it a goal to suffer more for Christ this year.  If you’ve never experienced any sort of tribulation for Christ’s sake, you need to examine yourself to see if you are really in the faith.  You might not be saved, or at best you are in rebellion to God.  2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

I pray 2013 is the year that God make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory… (Romans 9:23)

Kevin

Why blog?

Posted on by kevinjandt

why blog

As of this morning there are 59,254,447 Word Press blog sites in the world, Over 390 million people view more than 3.7 billion pages each month, and WordPress.com users produce about 29.2 million new posts and 40.5 million new comments each month according to Word Press Stats , and that’s only Word Press sites, there are many others out there as well.   Wow, that’s a lot of people with a whole lot to say about an unimaginable amount of topics.

I started Uncommon Faith in August of 2012 with my first article titled Pulling Weeds.   Since then I’ve posted 38 articles, had over 2500 views, 47 comments (half are probably mine), and I have about 25 followers (many are my church family).  I am by no means setting the world on fire or blowing people out of the water, but that was not my purpose.

So why bother?

What could I possibly offer the world that has not already been said or thought of?  The simple answer is I don’t know.  I started this out of a desire to Glorify God and have an opportunity to express the things that rattle around in my brain.  I expect the latter is why many people write blogs, I doubt most think that somehow the world is going to fall at their feet asking them to write a book.  I like my simple little articles that I can usually tap out in less than a couple hours a week.  I primarily desire that God’s Word is proclaimed and that Jesus Christ is exalted above all things.

Have I accomplished this goal?

I believe so or else I would quit writing.  I never seem to lack for things to discuss.  Sometimes the topics are lighter and sometimes they are very challenging to me and to others.  Sometimes people voice their opinions and more often they don’t, but the point is they are now out there for everyone that cares to read.  I hope my personal opinion is rarely voiced and God’s Word is exalted high above anything I could ever imagine.  I hope He is the Pearl of Great Price… (Matthew 13:46)

I am nothing outside the hands of the Potter, but through Him I have much value as I proclaim His glory.

So why write a blog?

I began this with a goal of encouraging Believers.  I’ve also found it is useful for evangelism.  I pray God uses it for His purposes and none of my own, this is the reason He saved me.  Not for my benefit, although I benefit, but for His glory.

Ephesians 1:4-6 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Kevin

When is it time to leave a church?

Posted on by kevinjandt

I had a conversation with a friend last night and he announced to me he and his wife were leaving our church.  I am grieving this loss and I began to think about why one would leave a fellowship of God’s Church.  There are certainly legitimate reasons to leave which I think primarily revolve around the lack of the gospel or truth.  If this is the case that person should go seek restoration and call leadership to repentance (Matthew 18:15-17) or in the case of a sinning leader scripture speaks clearly how to handle (1 Timothy 5:19).

What if we just don’t like what comes from the leadership?  This really is the point of the rub.  Can we disagree and still be in fellowship?  Can we be like-minded and still have some points of disagreement?  Paul tells us to strive for the unity of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).  This is a major problem, sinful man likes autonomy.  Merriam-Webster defines autonomy as “self-directing freedom and especially moral independence”, we like this don’t we?  Isn’t this what it usually comes down to?  I don’t like to be told what to do, if it disrupts my world-view I would rather rebel than consider my-self directed freedom.  Scripture is full of examples of this.

Matthew 8:19-20 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Do we understand that following Christ is difficult?  Have we not seen the many examples the Lord Himself has provided.  What about John Chapter 6?  This message was so shocking and so scandalous that Jesus ran them all off, all but the twelve that is.  This shook people to the core.  John 6:61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this.  He said to them, “Does this offend you?”  verse 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

But this was Jesus right?  If Jesus was the one getting up and preaching it would be no problem.  If He made challenging demands it would not be an issue.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who ruler over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief.  For that would be unprofitable for you.

The writer of Hebrews gives us clear direction that we are to be submissive to leaders in the church.

John MacArthur commenting on this verse:

That God is a God of principle, that God is not a God who says, do your own thing. But God has some very strong and very rigid and very clearly defined standards of behavior…

In order that those who read might understand that joy is produced by obedience. And in order the readers might understand that witness to the world depends upon the consistency of the pattern of their living.

And I want you to notice how this submission is ordered, verse seventeen, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves,” and we’ll stop there. Now here is a responsibility toward God. You say it sounds to me like a responsibility towards some rulers. Yes it is, but the wonderful thing that is evident in this text and evident in other texts in the New Testament is this, that God, now watch it, that God mediates much of His rule in this world through men. God has done that for a long time. Throughout the Old Testament God mediated His rule at times through kings, through prophets, through judges. And in this age God mediates His rule through Spirit-controlled men. Someday God will mediate His rule in the living Christ who sits on the throne of David and rules in the world and the kingdom, right? And He’ll mediate His own kingdom. But at this time God is literally ruling His people through certain Spirit-led men.

These men were ordered of the Spirit of God to have the rule of the church. They do not rule for themselves, they rule in the stead of Christ. They are called undersheperds, and that’s really what I am. That’s what your pastors are, that’s what any pastors are in any given church. So when in seventeen it says obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves, the submission here is not really to men but it is to God, as He rules, mediating His rule through Spirit-controlled men. So there were in that assembly, as in all early local churches gifted men, chosen by the Lord, granted to the church to rule.  You can read or listen to the sermon here:  http://www.gty.org/Resources/sermons/1642

Here is the issue.  Pastors and Elders are called to rule well.  Not for their own gain.  Believers are called to submit to them.  This is an act of the will, a decision to do so.  Many will attempt to say I’m submitting myself to God but they won’t submit to men appointed by God.  The truth is they are NOT submitting to God.  This submission thing is a big deal to God.

So what should we do if we disagree?  I’ve already shown above that we are to go to those that we have disagreements with or that have sinned.  Proverbs 1:5-6 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.  If we don’t follow this we are doing the opposite.  Proverbs 18:1-2 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.  A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.

The issue with my friends was persecution and trials that came from making tough decisions and challenging stances.  Are these sin issues?  They may or not be depending on how they are handled.  This is why one should attain wise counsel.  Didn’t Jesus teach us that persecutions would come when we stood on His truths?

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecute the prophets who were before you.  We know Paul affirmed this 2 Timothy 3: 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Jesus also said we should count the cost.  https://uncommonfaith.org/2012/11/16/count-the-cost/

Is this a salvation issue for my friends?  I hope not but I know the scripture shows them to be in rebellion to God’s Word.  I say that as the most loving thing I can possibly say to them.  They have rebelled against God’s authority through His Church.  Is it time for them to leave?  NO, it’s time for them to talk and work through the issues, not flee.  I hope they will attain wise counsel and search diligently to see if they are in sin.  I hope they will seek restoration.  This is what scripture call them to do.  What is my responsibility?  I must pray for them and I must plead with them to work through this.  If we call ourselves Believers then we have a guide book.  We must use that to seek truth and to seek like-mindedness.  Not because my opinion matters, but because God’s opinion matters.

Kevin

Heinous Acts

Posted on by kevinjandt

amazing grace

What happens in someone’s mind that causes them to kill?  What happens when someone goes on a rampage that causes them to act out in such an unthinkable way as what we’ve seen in Newtown Connecticut?  Something like this is in-comprehensible to most people.  I write this today, not with any special insights into the mind of a killer.  I write today, simply, as a slave of Jesus Christ.  I’m a man that desires to know Him more and to love me less.  I do not want to join the cacophony of voices commenting on what happened in an attempt to provide any solutions.  Gun control won’t solve the problem.  The government can’t stop it.  That is not the point of this post.

As a Believer I must have compassion, empathy and prayer for those that are suffering.  Today I want to discuss some very simple truths of scripture.  Not all men will act out in the way Adam Lanza did but only by God’s grace is man restrained from being as evil as he could (Romans 13:4).  Do we need more evidence than we already have in front of us?  Do we need to be convinced there is no end in sight?

2 Timothy 3:1-4 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents (does murder qualify as disobedience?), unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

What must we do when these things happen?  What is the Christian response?  If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you will undoubtedly have a conversation about this tragedy.  How will you answer the questions?  Where is God?  Why would a “good” God, allow something like this to happen?  How should you respond to the masses that want to blame God?  Are you prepared to answer with mercy and grace but also never compromising the truth?

What is the truth?

Man outside of God’s saving grace is evil

Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

Man does not seek God and therefore seeks himself

Romans 3:10-11 As it is written:  “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”

By nature man is under God’s wrath

Ephesians 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

God is merciful

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

God requires submission to His will

Isaiah 55:5-6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

What do we say in times like this?

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, why not share the news that Christ died to reconcile sinners.  This is the gospel, this is good news, and couldn’t people use some good news today?

If you are not a follower of Christ I hope you will look into your own heart today and seen the wickedness that is there, I plead with you today to do so.  If God has not taken your heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26), look to Him today and be saved (Isaiah 45:22).

And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stop, and not madly destroying themselves.  If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let no one go there unwarned and un-prayed for. – Charles Spurgeon

Kevin

Role reversal, the new normal?

Posted on by kevinjandt

role-reversalI believe gender role reversal is the new normal.  Just look around.  You are subtlety being brainwashed into believing a stay at home dad and working mom are entirely normal and everything is just wonderful if this is the way you choose to live.  The days of Leave it to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet are done.

If you think I’m being too harsh with the term brainwash turn on your television and see how many families you see living out a traditional familial structure; the man working and supporting the family and the wife staying home to care for the children.  Carefully observe ads that you see and run those through the filter of God’s Word.

I grew up in a family where my dad understood hard work.  I never remember my dad not working and I more often remember how hard he worked to provide.  My mom worked on a very limited basis but was always there when we came home from school.  What’s this world trying to get people to buy into and if you are a Believer are you buying into it?

I’ve recently seen two commercials that I believe illustrate my point quite nicely.  In a new Tide commercial we have a man extolling the virtues of being a man that can fold laundry perfectly and all the things that any woman could do.  Yet he is also manly enough to do pull-ups and crunches at the end of the commercial.  It’s a very catchy commercial and you might even find yourself chuckling at this.

In the second commercial we see an attractive and nicely dressed woman in her power suit instructing these working men how to build a house, or so it seems.  She is the authority in this scene as she points to the blueprints, they look at her with interest and nod their heads in agreement to whatever she is telling them.  These poor guys would be lost without her instructions or so this leads us to believe.  The message is loud and clear, she is in charge.  Note: I couldn’t find this one.

God designed men and women differently for good reasons.  It’s not accidental that men are more equipped for hard work and women are more nurturing with children.  If you bring a baby into a room of men they will probably look at the baby and go back to their conversation.  Do the same thing in a room full of women and they will be drawn to that baby like flies to a dead carcass.

So when did all this change begin?  Some will say the sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s but if you look closely you can see examples of this throughout history.  Let’s look at when it really began.

Genesis 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

God’s design was for man to tend the garden, to be a worker.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Woman is to be a helper, her job is to assist the man, this seems to be very straight forward and clear cut to me.  Man and Woman striving together for a cause.   See also Titus 2:3-8 for instructions for men and women.

So what happened when did this go wrong?

Genesis 3:16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Ladies do you have a desire to control and rule over your husband?  If so, God told us this would happen, I doubt any of you would dispute that you have pain in child birth.

Men your natural reaction will be either to show her who’s boss or to allow her to lead to avoid the turmoil that comes when you try to assume leadership.  This is the natural outgrowth of sin.

We can go all the way back to the beginning to see the cause of this today.  It’s simple.  When sinful man or woman listens to the lies they end up in disobedience to God’s design.  We just happen to see that today it is getting more in your face.

God also told us this would happen.

Romans 1:21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.      

The world will tell you that having a man work and wife staying at home to raise children is just not fulfilling enough.  There’s more out there for you if you are a smart and intelligent woman and you can earn more than the husband or the man, do it.  It’s a lie and if you are struggling to identify your role I pray you can find peace and solace in the only source of truth, God’s Word.

I recently knew a couple that seemed to have a good marriage with two nice boys.  He raised the kids while she went off to work.  The man enjoyed yard work and gardening, kind of like Adam, but he also worked out.  He was a big guy.  It seems while hanging around the gym he became attracted to another woman and before long the marriage was done.  It’s heartbreaking for me to see those boys and wonder how their lives will turn out because of decisions this man made.

Will this happen in all cases of a woman working?  Of course not; affairs happen when men work because of the ravages of sin but there is peace in God’s plan and His design, but that is foolishness to most (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Kevin