The Lost Biblical Balance of Human Creativity, Part 1

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." -I John 5:21

John's last words in his first epistle. Words that sometime seem too archaic for our time and culture. For we know, if we have studied the Bible for any length of time, that the peoples of both the Old and New Testaments dealt with idols made of gold, silver, and other metals. We, in our civilized Western culture of America, don't deal with those. And yet, God has for some reason left that inspired, preserved verse in His Word. At this point, if I was to ask you, what are the idols of today in America? The list would begin with money. A good start. It would continue with things like TV, movie stars, general entertainment and amusement, food perhaps, and maybe even ourselves. And I would agree that these would certainly qualify in many people's lives as idols. But in the next few posts I want to discuss an idol that is so subtle and hidden behind so much heart and sincerity that we don't detect, nor are we concerned with it in most churches. The idol of human creativity. (To Be Continued...)

Making Room for the Nativity

I woke up this morning and decided to turn on the morning news. Of course Christmas time is upon us, and you know what that means: somebody has been offended at a Nativity scene. You would think the usual topics at Christmas time would only include stories of generosity, giving, and family, but, no, people get upset at a Nativity in someone else's yard. Anger and resentment began to enter my heart, but then I began to realize: someone being offended at a nativity scene in someone's yard is greatly illustrated by a Bible character who we know as the Innkeeper of Bethlehem.

We only find him mentioned in Luke 2:7 "And she (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM IN THE INN." Wait, what does that have to do with a nativity scene in someone's yard, you might ask? You see, just like the innkeeper had NO ROOM in his inn, people who are offended at these scenes are not upset because of the scene, but because they have no room for Jesus in their hearts.

May this not allow us, as Christians, to get angry and see them as an enemy to be defeated. But may we instead see them as the lost to be won to Christ. May our hearts, this Christmas season, be full of love and grace towards those who become cynical of our nativity scenes and our worship of Christ. For only these will encourage them as they Make Room for the Nativity...not in their yards, but in their hearts!

What Is the Ultimate Goal for our Teenagers?

As a youth pastor, this is a question I must ask myself over and over again? Focus can sometimes get placed upon that which is non-essential and forgetting that which is most important. There are a lot of valid and noble goals that we have for our teens in our churches, families, and community: To be drug free. To be alcohol free. To be pure until marriage. To be a faithful and life-long church member. To memorize Scripture. To witness to others at school. To bring friends to youth group. But are any of these the ultimate goal? NO. Our teens need to know that Jesus declared, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me (John 14:6)." If they can leave from under our leadership or parenting and never hear this truth, the ultimate goal for our teenagers is lost. There are too many people satisfied with telling our teens that Jesus is only one of many ways to heaven, but Jesus left no room for this to be true. Narrow-minded thinking? Of course it is, but so is the fact that there is only one TRUE answer on a multiple choice question in school. No matter how much I debated with the teacher, the TRUTH remained that there was only one right answer. Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 7:14, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." I am determined, by God's grace, to stand unashamed and uncompromising on this truth: that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. And WITH LOVE, proclaim this truth and demonstrate it to all I come in contact with. And I pray, by God's grace and for the sake of our teens and children alike, that you would commit to this as well.

A Friend Closer than a Brother

Friends. They are so important in the good times and the bad, especially in the teenage years! But how come the number of friends seem to disappear when times of trouble and difficulty come in your life? It seems the number of friends that truly care are much less than those that said they cared!

For example, the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 had many friends when he left home with the money and riches of His Father. But then his money ran out and so did his friends. He went from "Most Popular Student" in the yearbook to friendless in a few short days. In his time of need, he had nowhere to turn for a meal except to the pigs on a nearby farm. Doesn't sound like they were much of a friend to me! Ever felt that way or been there before? Not with the pigs, but the feeling of loneliness.

The Bible gives us good news and tells us of a friend that sticks closer than a brother. His name: God. David said in Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very PRESENT help in trouble." Did you notice the word "present" in the same sentence as "trouble"? No matter what difficulty or how much trouble your life seems to be in, even if all your earthly friends find themselves to busy to help, God is there and always PRESENT!

Getting and EXPECTING the Best

May we, as parents and youth ministers, not settle for our teens to simply live a good life of morality and religion but expect them to live the best life as life-long servants of Christ. God wants the best for every teenager and so should we! And with His help, may we see it come to pass, not only in their lives, but ours as well!

When It's Alright to Be Discontented

Now at first this may not sound Biblical but keep reading and you will see what I am getting to. In this day, many teens and adults are discontent (not happy with what they have) with their life, their posessions, their looks, their weight, etc. The list could go on and on and on and on... ok well you get the point. Paul was clear in Philippians 4:11 that "...in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Are you content with the things I mentioned before? Paul states that IN EVERY STATE or SITUATION to be content. Is that you? Or are you known for your complaining and whining until you get the next thing on the list of your wants?

So you should be content in everything in life...except one. Paul continues in Phillippians 4:17 to say, "...I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Paul had a list of wants for the Phillippian church: spiritual fruit/growth. This was the one thing Paul desired, wanted, and did not want the church to be CONTENT without it. He wanted the church to desire to learn MORE about God, have a deeper relationship with God, and see MORE people come to know Christ as their Savior. Are you content with your Christian life or are you like Paul, discontent in the area of your spiritual life and always desiring MORE, MORE, MORE? That's a good place to be.

Expecting Great Things from Teenagers

I hear it all the time, "I don't know why they do that, I guess they are just being teenagers." Doesn't sound that bad at first except most of the time it is in the context of a stupid and ridiculous action, like driving without a liscense. (No I have never done that myself. LOL) Trust me I did some stupid things as a teen like jumping off a 2 foot hill and tearing my ACL and breaking my knee in 2 places. And that was at Summer Camp!! But teens should never settle for low expectations when it comes to doing great things for God! In the New Testament, Timothy was a young man, probably in his teenage years, when Paul wrote, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (I Timothy 4:12)"

Teens, you can be a great example to those around you for Christ! Don't ever think that you have to wait til' you're an adult or with a family to do great things for Him! People may put low expectations upon you, but God never does! May 2011 be the year that you see souls saved and lives changed due to your example for Christ!!!