All posts by Jeff Ryder

In this unique period in which we find ourselves, what three letters represent the supreme authority of the land … W.H.O., C.D.C., or G-O-D?

I have sought to take a commonsense approach to the COVID-19 crisis. I do not need a government mandate to exercise the common sense to wash my hands, not sneeze or cough on other people, and stay home if I am sick. I certainly understand that those who have compromised immune systems need to exercise even greater caution. That is sensible.  However, I have been stunned as to how broadly the COVID-19 situation has been imposed on us. At this writing no one knows how this is going to end up and if what we have known as normal is destined to become a thing of the past. Most bothersome to me is not the danger of the virus itself, but rather how quickly some have relinquished the prime authoritative influence in our lives.  Dear Follower of Christ, which question below needs the greater consideration? …

God, we know.  His sovereign plan provided us with the Scriptures to not only know Him but also navigate through the issues of life.  His provision of redemption enables us to have a relationship with the Lord of heaven and earth.  Amazing!

Now, what about this influential organization of authority known as WHO? The World Health Organization is not just about virus awareness. It is one of the biggest promoters of abortion and peddlers of radical sex education worldwide. Sharon Slater of Family Watch International exposes this shameful history in a recent publication on WHO. According to Family Watch, “In 2018, WHO co-published with other UN agencies and the help of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) the radical “International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education.” This guide purports to set the sexual health education standards for all of the world’s children. Please note that WHO defines “sexuality” to encompass “sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction,” and thus, WHO supports such controversial topics being taught to children.” ¹

This week I watched as the governor of my state unveiled a 3-phase plan to open the territory again. With that plan, another entity is being touted as a primary authority to oversee our lives.  In his plan seemingly every level of the free function of our society is at the discretion of the Center for Disease Control.  Hmmm, I thought the job of the CDC was to make recommendations not become the arbiter of societal function! 

I do not claim to have all knowledge, nor do I claim to have all information in the tangled tale our government, medical science and the media has produced.  However, I am still obligated to navigate life from a Biblical Worldview that places Scriptural influence as the major influence in my life.  For the unbelieving world around us, WHO or CDC may at this time represent ultimate knowledge and authority.  But for Believers, GOD and the principles of His Word must remain our authority and ultimate source of knowledge. Just as the unnatural social distancing concept has been cultivated among us, I am very concerned that Christians have also we been lulled into an unnatural distancing from a clear, Bible-directed lifestyle and the mindset that must accompany it (see Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 3:20-21).²  We are called to function in a different value system than the world around us.  Practically speaking, what does that look like?

Consider the following questions I have been pondering.  Feel free to make application and conclusions at your own discretion:

1. Outside of getting alone to pray, do we have any evidence that Jesus socially distanced Himself from anyone?

Life threatening illnesses were not abolished when Jesus walked this earth. To demonstrate His power and purpose He did heal. But no doubt fatal illnesses like cancer, pneumonia and viruses were still present among the populous as our Savior walked the earth. Getting sick is not a sin. Can anyone provide a reference for me that relates that Jesus never got a cold or the flu? He is our example in every area of life. He experienced life as we do, yet without sin. He walked among humanity. He went toward people and did not isolate away from them. He actually touched the leper (Luke 5:12-13) when society was practicing extreme social distancing (Luke 17:12-13).  Hypothetical I know, but from what I can glean from the recorded actions of Jesus, I do not see an asymptomatic Jesus detaching Himself in isolation away from others.  His interaction with other humans was Light amid darkness and hope amid gloom.  Are not we to be the same today?  How can we best be that to others?

2. When does adherence to 1 Peter 2:13-17 become a scapegoat to shroud our responsibilities as followers of Christ?

Special consideration should be taken in the passage to note context for the words, “evildoers”, “those who do good”, and “a cloak for vice”. We must allow God the right to define those terms for us.  Currently, the god of this age subtly and deceitfully influences a society to spin their own definitions to define evil, good and vice.  I fear some believers have categorized defying government mandates of social distancing, stay at home orders, forbidding church attendance and the wearing of PPE’s, as equal to sin. This would be an extreme overreach of the context of the passage above. It is never right to squelch the application and practice of what it means to live out the Christian life.  Society can only be better when this occurs.

I was reminded recently of the firsthand testimony of Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place) during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1940-45. The German military used a similar tactic to numb people into complacency. They challenged the Dutch citizens to abide by their Bible’s command to “obey civil authorities” while they were gathering Jewish/and non-Jewish citizens to haul them off to death camps!  The Ten Boom family suffered dearly for being responsible Christians in a time of social disorder – Corrie was the only member of her family that survived the ordeal. 

Currently mass abduction to civil disobedience is not occurring amid the COVID-19 crisis.  But at what point is the compromise of Bible directives, a significant enough compromise that it will eventuate into giving position to the real Enemy who behind all of this?

3. When being salt and light is confined to electronic relationships and is dependent on bandwidth and connectivity, have we sidestepped what it means to live “incarnationally”?

I have prayed for and I have applauded local churches and the response to this pandemic. I understand that we all were trying to figure it out. No one saw this coming. After government mandates, video and live streaming equipment was rapidly purchased or utilized in order to find a way to connect and shepherd flocks all over our country. Kudos! Creativity found a way to make it happen.

But now, the dust has settled a bit from the initial reaction. Yet, the rippling ramifications of government mandates are growing broader by the day.  Virus projections appear to have been significantly inflated, conspiracy theories abound, politicians and medical practitioners are in fierce debate, while economists theorize if our country will ever be able to crawl out of this. Businesses have closed, people have lost jobs, government unemployment claims cannot be processed because of the rush of those who have signed up, and a restless, hopelessness is growing in our society.  Yet we, the representatives of Light, remain disassembled and isolated as we attempt to compete with celebrities, media giants and newsfeeds for the electronic attention of the society.

What are we to do, Christian?

We must remember this is a spiritual battle and we are to endure hardship as a good soldier in Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).  Never pacifists, by our position in Christ we are to be actively engaged in the spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-20). A line in the lyric of a famous song from the 70’s says, “Did you exchange a walk on part in the war, for a lead role in a cage?”³ Can this be applied to empty church buildings and believers confined in isolation so others “will be protected”?

Historically, regardless of the ramifications, Christians have led the charge to represent Christ in circumstances where no one else would venture to go. Sincere Christ followers educated, treated the sick and risked personal health, safety and security to represent Christ when others cowered in fear and/or complacency. Missionaries have always defied “logic” to take the message of Christ into areas others refused to consider. More than just a “generational thing”, as 21^st century human beings we have been duped into thinking electronic, social interaction is an acceptable substitute for authentic human contact. We must consider the implications and the long-term consequences of inhibiting human to human interaction. Our Savior’s incarnation should teach us that it is in “live relationships” human need is best met. And it is in those relationships the message of the Gospel is best identified, exemplified, and propagated in any society and at any time. The control-mongering propagators of fear, phobia, and detachment want us to remain silent, out of sight and isolated.  Let’s cease the abdication of our God ordained role of influential social soldiers of Light and Hope. To do this we may have to make some difficult decisions.  Soldiers often do. 

To make the proper, difficult choices we must be prayerful and students of the Word as we seek our guidance in these unparalleled days.  We must be Christian on all levels. May God enable us to be courageous, bold and insightful, yet empathetic and caring at the same time. I do not presume that will  be an easy balance to maintain.  Inaction and detachment, however, are not options. We must find a way to respond in a God honoring fashion. 

To conclude, two voices from the past are worth considering …

Contemplate this as an application of a spiritual call to action in our spiritual battle – “…It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentleman may cry Peace, Peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun. … Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?” ³

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (NIV) ⁴

¹ https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA20D59&f=WU20D17

² Romans 12:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Philippians 3:20-21 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (NLT)

³ Wish You Were Here, David Gilmore & Roger Waters, 1975

⁴ Patrick Henry, to the Second Virginia Convention March 23, 1775

⁵ The Apostle Peter to the Dispersion, 1 Peter 3:8-9

On October 31st, nationwide, streets and parking lots will be full of people carrying bags and buckets to hold all the sweet treats that will be availed to them.  For some houses decorating for Halloween has far surpassed the commercialism that is associated with Christmas.  As a pagan kid I loved Halloween.  Dracula and a Werewolf were my two favorite go-to costumes.  These days, less effort seems to go into the costume by would-be trick or treaters and greater effort into mapping out the community to hit as many streets as possible for the bounty.

Photo courtesy of Traveler (unsplash.com)

I have a suggestion for the Christian Homes across the land.  How about Reformation Day instead?  On that day in 1517 Martin Luther, in response to corrupt practices in the Roman Catholic church, defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. This challenge was the beginning of the Great Reformation.

Today, we need a renewed appreciation for that event.  Martin Luther (amid some of his blatant human deficiencies), was a man of his time who was used of the Lord to clarify the central theme of the Scripture; Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone.  The significance of his courageous stand against the powerful religious establishment of his day cannot be overvalued.  The evangelical world today should continue to rejoice.

What resulted was a renewed focus opposing the unscriptural basis of a works-oriented salvation.  The known world at that time was changed forever!  It is worthy of a day of recognition (with or without the candy!).

But the refocus on the purity of Gospel message was not proclaimed without great sacrifice.   Satan’s desire for the deception of righteousness that can be earned fed decades of heavy persecution.  The blood of the Martyr’s fill annals of history.  The battle between a works-oriented theology and the Good News of the “Grace alone Gospel” continues today.  Truly, a “trick or treat” confrontation with eternal consequences.

Unfortunately, the persecution continues today as well.  Perhaps it is fitting that a few days after October 31^st, it is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (November 4^th this year).

Let’s be sure and pray for our persecuted brethren worldwide.  As the country overdoses on candy, let’s reflect on the significance of Reformation Day and glorious message of Salvation by grace alone!  And, why not share its message with others?  How about including it with the dozens of sweet treats you are likely to give out this year?  Let’s start a trend.

Have a Happy Reformation Day! 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

– Ephesians 2:8

Reached = Evangelized. Discipled. Equipped. Fully functioning¹ indigenous church established.

Unreached = No significant response to the Gospel message either by no exposure or no acceptance.  Also classified as least-reached which means less than or equal to 2% evangelical Christian, less than or equal to 5% professing Christian².

Unengaged² = a people group is not engaged when it has been merely adopted, is the object of focused prayer, or is part of an advocacy strategy.” At least four essential elements constitute effective engagement:

• apostolic effort in residence;
• commitment to work in the local language and culture;
• commitment to long-term ministry;
• sowing in a manner consistent with the goal of seeing a Church Planting Movement (CPM) emerge.

Photo courtesy of Andre James unsplash.com

I recently heard that only 5% of Native Americans (called “First Nations” in Canada) identify as Evangelical Christians.  When one considers that some Native Americans have been exposed to Christianity since the mid 1600’s, that is a startlingly low percentage.  Based upon the common understanding of the terms used in Missiology  (above) the Native American situation may not fit cleanly in any of them. Churches sporadically spot the reservation maps but most of them (so I am told) are not driven by a methodology that is indigenously motivated.  Starting a church on a reservation with the same mindset by which one would start a church in Columbus, Ohio will undoubtedly establish significant barriers before the launching of the initial Sunday service!

The 5% reception rate communicates one thing quite loudly; Whatever has been practiced for 300 years has not worked very well.  Endeavors to “reach” native Americans have failed to accomplish the task.  Well-meaning missionaries have sought to engage Native Americans for three centuries.  All but one of the Native American languages have had at least some Bible translation work done in them yet the conclusion my research is producing is that Indigenous Native American churches are almost unheard of.  My training and experience in working as a church planter to an indigenous people group in Papua New Guinea has caused me to conclude that mission methodology may be the primary culprit.   When missions is driven by assimilation goals that are culturally, linguistically and historically insensitive it is highly unlikely that anything close to an indigenous church will result.  This is why, perhaps, the term mis-reached is the most accurate term to describe the attempts to reach Native Americans.

On another blog I will detail some of the social issues obstacles in Native American societies.  For now, understand that it is a condition that demonstrates the terrible darkness that Satan produces when unimpeded by the Gospel’s presence.  It is a reality that only Jesus can remedy.

Will you pray with me about this?  I desire to help in this dilemma in some way.  Perhaps my training and experience could be of some service.  I will be exploring some options out west in September.  Please pray for the 567 federally recognized Native American Tribes (326 Reservations) that exist in our country.

¹Fully functioning based upon the church planting principles of Self-governing, Self-sustaining, Self-propagating.  These three concepts mean the church is not dependent on outside assistance in any way and the initiative and drive to maintain these principles comes from within the people group rather than from outsiders.

² https://joshuaproject.net/help/definitions

I consider myself a student of history.  I enjoy looking through the lens of the past to see the present more clearly.  After all, the human condition has not changed across the epochs of time.  The circumstances around it have, the people in it have and cultural issues take different shapes in history but the struggles of human existence in a sinful world intersect constantly unbound by time.  I especially enjoy the singular glimpses into the lives of people through biographies.  What I learn about their character, their failures, their timely decisions that played into making them noteworthy individuals is interesting and helpful as I journey onward in my life.

Many of these individuals could be classified as great because of their influence on humanity at the given time and place they existed.  There are also great people in the Bible.  Whether prophet, priest, king or common person there are many that we can single out as worthy of the title “great”.  In Luke 9:28-36, while on the “Mount of Transfiguration”, Peter was quick to acknowledge greatness but also got a startling clarification of the difference between greatness and God-ness…

²⁸ Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. ³³ Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

 In typical Peter fashion, he had to say something!  And in any other circumstance it would have been an honorable suggestion to erect three monument-like structures to honor great men.  But one of those three was far from just great…

 ³⁴ While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” ³⁶ When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

No doubt, this dramatic moment would have left any of us speechless!  All human greatness combined could not be compared to the God-ness embodied in Christ!  God the Father spoke authoritatively about God the Son.  And when the cloud cleared the Greatest Human Being to ever set foot on the soil of the earth, Jesus, was standing alone before him.  Singled out in His greatness by a wonderful, approving, act of God the Father, the extreme uniqueness of the Savior was magnified.  He was no mere man!

Let’s contemplate today the great God-ness of our Savior. 

Let’s rejoice in the marvelous redemption plan of the Father.

Let’s be sure that the biographies of The Greatest Human Being of ALL Time recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are read (and reread) by us often.

Warning! “Feather ruffling” possibility: HIGH.

I have observed a trend over the last several years.  It seems our society is placing a growing level of importance on dogs.  Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs.  I just think that dogs are what they are…dogs. Nothing more.  Loyal? Yes.  Much more than cats! (My apologies to the all the cat-people out there)  But, still…they are… dogs.

There is a commercial on TV currently that is the latest installment by the ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) designed to pull heavily on your heart strings while reaching deeply into your pockets.  I was perturbed during the holidays at this organization’s hijacking the meaning of Christmas with a donation driven appeal of shivering dogs in the snow while an ethereal version of Silent Night was playing in the background.

Photo courtesy of Charles Deluvio (Unsplash.com)

However, regarding the present campaign, I am down right irritated!  There is more footage of underfed, mistreated, sad dogs attached to heavy chains in the sweltering heat of summer with no water.  Only now, the ASPCA appeals for funding are using speech phrases that missionaries have used for years regarding the cause of the Great Command of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).  Here is a sampling;

• The ASPCA is asking for $19.00 a month to “reach more animals”.
• “Many of these animals are almost out of time.”
• “We need 2000 new donors in the next 30 days so that we can rescue more animals who need our help this summer.”
• “Please help save animals this summer.”

Now, before I go any further, let it be understood I am in no way insensitive to mistreating animals.  I would not treat a dog that way nor do I enjoy seeing dogs treated that way.  My purpose in writing this, though, is to call for a reality check.

Reality check #1:  Human beings are the only feature of creation created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) thus having an eternal being.  God places tremendous value on the life of human beings.  So much so He sent His only Son to die in order to redeem them (John 3:16).  Between 2005-2015  900,000 Persecuted Christians were martyred – an average of 90,000 each year killed¹.  Our society in the USA is fine with terminating the lives of over 3000 human beings every day through abortion^2.  Thousands upon thousands of indigenous peoples continue to die not knowing that Jesus is the Savior while the ASPCA needs 2000 more financial donors this summer to “reach, rescue and save” … dogs!!!

Reality Check #2:  Jesus’ last command was for His people to be witnesses for His life-giving message to the entire world including every people group (Acts 1:8, Luke 24:45-47).  Yet Americans spend more on Halloween costumes for their pets than they do on missionary endeavors to reach the real unreached!³

 Reality Check #3: As far as I can tell in the Scriptures Jesus never had a pet nor did he ever command anyone to help them. But He did feed 5000 men, healed hundreds of people of diseases, rescued countless human lives from desperate circumstances, and gave His life to give eternal life to the entire population of humanity.  Oh, and by the way, he did command us to go reach people (Matthew 28:19).

 Folks, I am not anti-pets.  They serve many purposes that are good and harmless. They are fun and bring a lot of smiles to life.  I am not even anti-ASPCA. I’m sure there are some wonderful, well-meaning  people associated with that organization.  But, I am for proper balance in the real, Scripturally defined issues of life.  If you give to the ASPCA that is fine, but please consider if that gift is prioritized proportionally with the causes that build the Kingdom of Christ and have eternal benefit.  Shall we “reach, rescue and save” dogs or eternal souls?  Let’s invest time, energy and money into the things we know are in line with the heart of God… helping PEOPLE.

 Action Step: Consider how much money you directly spend on pet related expenses vs. the amount you directly invest in the last, great command of Jesus to reach the world with His Gospel?  Is there a disparity? Do you need to make adjustments?

If so, please do so.  Your dog will be just as devoted to you as ever.  And… your cat will continue to ignore you like always. 😊

Thanks for reading.

¹Center for the Study of Global Christianity, via http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/14/christian-persecution-how-many-are-being-killed-where-are-being-killed.html

²https://steemit.com/life/@arthur-schopen/18-22-million-abortions-in-2017-so-far-43-million-by-the-year-end-2017-shocking-and-the-winner-is-american-women

³http://www.thetravelingteam.org/stats/

My training as a cross cultural missionary has taught me to examine cultures for themes.  Every culture is unique and has themes that drive that culture onward.  To be a theme, it’s inter woven presence in the culture demonstrates it is a value within that culture.  Because a theme is aspired to, the self-propagation assures it maintenance from generation to generation. Clearly, “Entertainment” has become a theme in American culture. It is present in every aspect of our society.  An astounding proof for this conclusion is verified by different causes using celebrity icons to sanction their endeavors.  Examples range from political campaigns, to human rights causes, to squelching inner city violence and advertising certain products.

Entertainment celebrities are the individuals sought to endorse a cause. Why? Because our society exalts the individuals who entertain us.   Sadly, they have become cultural heroes and the ones to whom our society aspires to emulate.  Not, mind you, because of great acts of courage, moral integrity, inner strength, and/or benevolent kindness.  In entertainers we see wealth, attractiveness and fame (a few other areas in which our current culture aspires!). Hence, the appeal that celebrities bring is seen as a way to verify the validity of a given cause.

However, when celebrities are vocal about their faith in Christ is it wise to consider that an endorsement to the validity of the cause of Christ? Don’t misunderstand me, I rejoice as much as anyone when celebrities vocalize Christ’s position in their lives.  Be it a superstar athlete, an accomplished actor, a gifted vocalist, or a politician, I am grateful they use that platform to testify to that fact.  But, my concern is that we may be falling into the celebrity endorsement trap as validation for Christ’s cause.

Photo courtesy of Neil Godding/unsplash.com

I understand that it is a human need to sense validation for our causes.  We look to each other for this on a regular basis.  However, human acknowledgement for a spiritual cause can only produce temporal and whimsical results.  It is the best we can do.  True validation can only come when sourced beyond the human realm.

At its core, most would agree that Christ’s sacrifice for our sins is the central message of our faith.  However, where do we look for validation of that message and were does verification of that validation come from?  Donald English said it well, “We today in the West are under enormous pressure to demonstrate our relevance.”¹  Evidencing relevance defends validity of purpose.  But, do we seek to illuminate validation in the wrong areas?

Why is it we gravitate to celebrity testimonials?  When a superstar athlete makes a remote reference to his/her faith, social media lights up with posts as if valid confirmation of the worthiness of Jesus has suddenly been unearthed.  Do these posts reveal a desperation to promote validation? It is almost as if there is a sense of … “Isn’t this great?!!  Look how true our message is,  ______________ has even acknowledged it!”

Certainly, Christians testifying of Christ’s influence is wonderful.  But, our testimonies, actions, or reactions are not the example we should look towards to validate Christ’s worthwhile message.  The greatest endorsement of validation for the message of Christ is clear from the Scriptures.

Even after Jesus miraculously fed 4000 men, Matthew 16:4 and Mark 8:12 detail Jesus’ response to the Pharisee’s question about a “sign” for validation.  Jesus said he would not give a (different) sign.  Because earlier in Matthew 12:39-40 Jesus had already given them the only sign necessary for validation of His message…

 ³⁹ But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

… Jesus was forecasting His burial in and rising from the tomb.  The greatest verification to the validity of the Christian message is in the resurrection of Jesus!  Through that one act He…

• Verified that He conquered death.
• Affirmed the Father’s value of His worthy sacrifice.
• Validated the accuracy of His message.
• Thus, endorsing the legitimacy of the cause of an army of witnesses for future generations.

This thought is not just for Easter.  Let us understand the resurrection and all that it entails.  It is the only verification for validation we need.  Rejoice in the testimonies of others, of course.  Thank God when a celebrity (or anyone else!) acknowledges truth.  However, let us be clear that we need look no further than the resurrection of the Sacrificial Savior in our quest to verify the validity of our cause in Christ!

The greatest verification and only validation necessary for our cause?  The Resurrection!

Let’s live like it.  Let’s proclaim it!

1The Message of Mark, by Donald English pg. 102

There is an attribute of God called immutability.  It means “unchangeable” and comes from a Latin root which means “not changeable”.  From eternity past to creation of the world and on through to the present age God does not and cannot change.  He is the great I AM that is always in the present.  It is only because of the progressive revelation of who He is as He revealed Himself in the annals of time, interacting with human-kind through the Scriptures that we might get confused on this issue.  As God involves Himself in the tangled complexity of human decision and the ramifications of those decisions throughout history we are fortunate enough to see the depth of His being.   On this we must contemplate and even meditate.  For therein is the beginning of comprehension into the heart of God.  To consider the God of the Old Testament a god of wrath and vengeance contrasted with the God of the New Testament as the god of love would be a serious mistake.  We cannot cut away a portion of who God is simply because we see different aspects of His being.  For proof, finish reading the New Testament.  There is a coming time when God will be wrathful against sin…again.

 One Old Testament passage in Isaiah permits us to see inside the compassionate heart of God as it relates to the nations (people groups).  Chapter 42:1-9 initiates a description of the Chosen Servant whom the Lord will use to represent a new covenant relationship with the entire world.  This Chosen servant is, of course, Jesus Christ…

⁵Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
⁶ “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
⁷     to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸ I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols. (ESV)

Notice the qualities of God we can glean from this marvelous passage;

• Creator (vs.5a)
• Giver of Life (vs.5b)
• Standard of Righteousness (vs.6a)
• Pledge Provider (vs.6b)
• Light Giver (vs.6c)
• Enlightenment Enabler (vs.7a)
• Freer of Captives (vs.7b)
• Rightfully Supreme (vs.8)

…How foolish we are if we consider God as one dimensional in

His

qualities!  19 years ago, I stood before the Malaumandan people for 5 ½ months declar

ing in their language these and many other qualities of God so that the light mentioned in verse 6 could dawn in that nation.  What a privilege it was! God’s heart has always been that all peoples of the earth would know Him.  It was in God’s heart and mind when He spoke the world into existence, spoke through the pen of Isaiah, and in the words of the Savior when Jesus commanded us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19).  Time has unfolded to where we are today.  Now, because of the Scriptures, we have time-unfolded, detailed knowledge of who God is.  We have been promised God’s presence and power to communicate it.  We only need to choose to go and share it.

Want to join efforts with the movement of God’s heart past, present and future? The blind are waiting to see and the captives are waiting to be freed (vs.7).  Join the cause! Let’s share light for the nations (Isaiah 42:6) and commit to communicating this eternal truth to all the peoples of the earth.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (ESV)

John 8:12

We live in an age of expertise.  Everything from the medical world to athletics, and computer technology to engineering, the workforce has gotten more specialized.  Authorities in certain areas a called upon constantly in the media for their opinions.  Training has gotten more specific and the workplace for that training has narrowed because of it.  This is the natural progression of a society that is learning more and applying that knowledge as a service to humanity.

Photo courtesy of Rita Morais (Unsplash.com)

Is there, however, a caution necessary when considering this and the role of a disciple?  Is there potential for us to approach being a disciple of Jesus with a “specialist mindset”?  If so, is there potential for too many people top feel “unqualified”?  How “expert” must one be to fulfill the great commission of Christ to make disciples?  Or, even to witness for Christ in one’s neighborhood?

Amos is an individual who shatters the specialist theory within the confines of the work of the Lord.  By his own admission this prophet did not have the specific training or background to do what God commanded him to do.

¹⁴ Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah:

“I was no prophet,
Nor was I a son of a prophet,
But I was a sheepbreeder
And a tender of sycamore fruit.
¹⁵ Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock,
And the Lord said to me,
‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’

Amos 7:14-15

As a sheepbreeder or “herdsman” (as some translations put it), his expertise was in a different area.  He even clarifies his lack of pedigree further by saying he was not the son of a prophet.  What he was, though, was obedient. The Lord told him to go and proclaim God’s truth.  Talk about a career shift!

Amos was from Tekoa which was south of Jerusalem near the dead sea.  His northward mission was to a place where he was considered a foreigner.  He was the representative of the Lord’s message. A missionary.  He was not groomed, nor trained as a preacher.  But, was used of the Lord because he obeyed the Lord when the Lord told him to go.

His bold message was communicated in a place devoid of the Gospel’s presence.  His influence was so significant it was annoyingly, acknowledged to the king!

 ¹⁰ Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.

Let’s let the example of Amos ring out loud and clear.  The Lord equips those willing to be used.  Every breathing believer has been given a command by Jesus… GO (Matthew 28:18-20).  Let’s allow the Lord to direct the extent of that going because Jesus has already outlined the plan…

⁸ …you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

We need to look no further than the book of Acts to see how that power of the Holy Spirit used common people in extraordinary ways to accomplish astounding things.

Dear resolute, active, harvest-minded disciple, let’s go in confidence that the Lord equips, specializes and empowers those who are determined to follow His plan…regionally, nationally, internationally and to the farthest reaches of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Being a resolute, active follower of Jesus “in the culture” means to engage our society regarding the hopeful options a Biblical worldview provides.  In kindness and love we must go towards people to enable opportunities to be salt and light in a society that desperately needs it.

Photo courtesy of Igor Ovsyannyko (unsplash.com)

Engaging a society as a resolute, active disciple of Jesus on the other hand, however, may necessitate the drawing of some lines of separation to illuminate the importance of standing on Biblical principles that should not be compromised.

At what point should Christian people actively choose “consumer restraint” and purpose to not patronize certain business and/or shun certain products?  Does the setting of first generation Christianity provide any insight for us in the Scriptures?   Paul makes a very interesting comment in 2 Timothy that may shed some light on this subject.

For starters, let’s be clear about one thing; corporate America cannot and should not be the entity that determines what is moral and what it not.  Power, money and love of it has corrupted many over the ages and Scripture clearly verifies that fact (1Timothy 6:10).  For followers of Jesus, there can only be one standard as the source for a morality.  That source is God’s inspired, inerrant Word. To abdicate that to any other source would be an offense to the God of the universe.

Secondly, on a pragmatic level we should also consider how much convenience direcst us toward some of our positions.  Most individuals, if honest, would not argue that ease and efficiency drive many of our choices on a consumer level.   If it is cheaper, closer, more convenient, or a good bargain it is understandable why that becomes the obvious, default choice.  But is it so obvious?

Choices that are prudent or Biblically principled are never going to be convenient.  For a male youth worker, it is not a convenient approach to have a policy in place to never drive a teenage girl home alone in a vehicle.  But, it is the wise, proper, safe and principled choice!  On the consumer level we need to ask ourselves if paying a few cents more, or driving a few miles more to obtain it, or perhaps (perish the thought!) not having something at all, is a worthy consideration in contemplating whether to specifically not purchase or associate with a business that clearly is opposing God’s Word.

It may be, that for the sake of the Lord’s purpose, we should consider consumer restraint under certain circumstances. In 2 Timothy 4:14 Paul seemed to be singling out an individual who was rigidly opposing his cause; making of disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) …

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

Now, I understand Paul may have been simply warning folks to be aware of this individual and mentioning his occupation specified who he was.  Fair enough.  However, after reading Paul’s words, do you think the first generation believers still went to Alexander for their coppersmith needs?  Is it a stretch to think the first-generation believers of the early church may have chosen to not do business with Alexander because of his position against the ministry of Paul?

But, what if his price was the best in town?  What if his shop was conveniently located nearby?  Not to mention the variety. He has so many options and of such good quality!  Where else could I get it?

 There are two statements in this passage that can help us with some guidelines for application of this subject as it is relevant for today…

1. Alexander the coppersmith did enough harm that Paul was invoking the Lord’s vengeance upon him (v.14).
2. Paul wanted it to be clear that Alexander had greatly resisted the message they represented (v.15).

 This, apparently, was much more than a mere difference of opinion or cultural background.  So, can we note there are some legitimate reasons that, for the sake of the message we represent, we could at least consider consumer restraint?  I acknowledge that there are many grey areas in this subject and individuals need to navigate through those grey areas and be gracious even in disagreement.

Using this passage as our application, consider this as a guideline to begin considering a standard for consumer restraint …

• Is the owner, business, company or corporation doing harm to the cause of Christ and a Biblical worldview?
• Is the owner, business, company or corporation aggressively against the cause of Christ and a Biblical worldview?

If the answer is “yes” to either of those questions we should ask ourselves if we should support that owner, business, company or corporation with our purchases.  This is where the social struggles of our contemporary society come into play.  Issues like, freedom of religion, abortion, the definition of marriage, and Biblical sexuality are major topics in which followers of Christ have for too long accepted societies definition of acceptability rather than God’s.  We must ask ourselves if God is pleased with His people disengaging from these issues.

I acknowledge there are other ideological things to consider in this concept …

• What if employees (who are just trying to earn a wage) don’t agree with the company’s policies? Should their jobs be placed at risk by us practicing consumer restraint?
• Where does educating business owners come into play in this scenario? Are concerned Christians engaging them about this? Some companies may be believing the secular rhetoric, and donating to causes that, if they knew what they represented, would not help to fund.
• How “nit-picky” should followers of Christ be on these issues? Is there not potential for well meaning believers to divide over these issues?
• Is it reasonable to be knowledgeable about these things with corporations constantly merging, selling and changing CEO’s and thus producing shifts where they may give or associate?

… Yes, I acknowledge these as legitimate and worthy questions.  However, we must act on what we do know and not turn a blind eye to those realities.  Let’s not shug a “whatever” attitude simply to avoid the potential convolution on this subject but, rather, let’s choose to engage in these issues for the good of the Gospel.  Choices do matter.  Even in where and from whom we purchase or invest.  Resolved disciples of Jesus cannot settle for complacency or consumer ignorance.  To do so is a victory of the for the devil every time.

If necessary are we willing to take an uncomfortable stand for what best honors the Lord?  Each of us taking the time to consider what Jesus would do in this area would not be time wasted. No doubt the cause of Christ will be better because of it.

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Need help discerning what some businesses value? Check out –  www.2ndvote.com . Acknowledging that our spending habits are like another vote for a value system, 2nd Vote seeks to report on the political and social activities of major corporations around the country.  As a disclaimer, I acknowledge there seems to be some inconsistencies in their rating system and this organization clearly comes from a conservative political platform, but for those of us who are concerned about a Christian worldview value system it is a decent resource to help understand what some companies are funding.

I have a very clear memory of my conversation with Tolata in 1999.  Tolata was a villager of the Malaumandan people remote in the jungle of Papua New Guinea.  He was recalling the major story themes of the evangelistic Bible teaching I had just completed.  He was commendably detailing the great amount of material I had covered in that 5 ½ month teaching phase.  In the chronology, he had gotten to Jonah and how God sent him to Nineveh to share God’s message.  He stopped mid-sentence and said, “You are like Jonah, God sent you to tell us like He told Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh!”  It was a touching moment at a precious time in my missionary career.  However, depending on how you take it, to be compared to Jonah may not be a compliment.

The great fish in the story of Jonah, sadly, distracts from what we should remember about the prophet.  The message of the book Jonah is that God loves to be merciful.  Our repentance invokes His mercy.  Like the people of Malaumanda in Papua New Guinea, the people of Nineveh needed to know they had a reason to repent and that a God of mercy was ready to forgive.

Tolata in 2005 (Village of Malaumanda, Papua New Guinea)

Sadly, Jonah did not want God to be merciful to such a cruel people as the Ninevites.

Let’s be honest and ask ourselves a question; How much are we like Jonah?  If God said to go preach to ISIS, Al Qaida, Boko Haram or Kim Jong Un in North Korea.  Would we? If not, would it be because of fear or, like Jonah, would it be because we really do not want them to experience God’s mercy?

After Nineveh repented Jonah was angry…

4:¹But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. ² So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. ³ Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

The fact is, Jonah understood God’s propensity to demonstrate mercy. His failure was wanting to control how it is dispensed.  You and I need to firmly grasp the fact we, ourselves, do not deserve God’s mercy.  We must understand our personal unworthiness before a holy, righteous God.

I am unworthy.

You are unworthy. Period.

Our position in Him is nothing less than His mercy and grace benevolently flowing from Him to us.

Jonah forgot this.   As resolute disciples “by the Son” we must not forget this.  The strive for God-likeness can only be rooted in the knowledge of who we really are – deceived, self-inflating, self-protecting sinners that have been touched by God’s mercy. That being acknowledged, humility should naturally follow.

The book of Jonah closes with a timeless object lesson that, apparently, spoke to Jonah more than his own journey to that point and entire nation that had repented.  In the burning sun of a post-repentant Nineveh God allowed a little shade producing plant to whither so Jonah would remember that God mercifully is the giver of all good things (Jonah 4:5-11).  Even a tiny bit of shade for a rebellious, stubborn prophet.

I think it is safe to say, Jonah learned the lesson.  I am thankful that, even though it reflected poorly on him, he was willing for it to be recorded for us. Like Jonah, let’s be sure to learn that lesson too!  To be resolute, active, harvest-minded disciples, we must understand our personal worth is only possible when positioned in His.