Tag Archives: Christ

Oct 7 2010

Just Say No to the Status Quo!


First, an admission. I am a skeptic. I am one who questions the “Status Quo” in every arena of life. For example, when I receive a forwarded email that makes some claim that doesn’t ring true in my mind, I at once try to find out if my intuition is correct. (It usually is.)

Just because “this is how we have always done it..” does not equate to being right or best. I question public policy, and even contemporary Christianity. I think it is very healthy to read the label before you ingest some substance into your body. And, I think it is profitable to follow the same logic about what you allow into your mind. So, I have questions…

Does it bother anyone but me that not one of the people we read about in the book of Acts would qualify to be a minister in almost all of our churches?

This week I read a want ad from a church seeking a youth minister. One of the first requirements was “a minimum of 5 years experience”. Peter wouldn’t qualify, he only had about 3 years experience in ministry when he preached the powerful sermon where 3,000 were saved. Paul would’t qualify, he had no ministry experience when he began his ministry to the Gentiles.

Most all churches now require a degree from some Bible related school. Paul had about 3 years alone with God. He was schooled in Judaism but wouldn’t qualify on educational grounds. Even Jesus himself wouldn’t pass muster.

Maybe it would be beneficial if we would spend some time thinking about how and why we got so far off track. Could it be that culture has crept into our churches so that we are operating more like business than like a living organism that is solely dependent upon God to exist and function in the world?

Could it be that the reason numbers are shrinking in most evangelical groups is that Jesus is no longer the central message?

Read the book of Acts sometime and you will see a noticeable difference in the message of those early preachers and what comes out of most pulpits today. I am certain that multiplied thousands of regular church goers have never once heard their preacher give a clear presentation of the gospel.

Several months ago I read about a dozen sermons by a fellow whose self description was “Gospel preacher”. Amazingly, not once did this guy explain the gospel. He made reference to the word “gospel” several times but oddly failed to preach the gospel. How can you logically give an invitation to people to become Christians if they haven’t a clue about the gospel?

We would do well to get back to preaching Christ and the good news about what He accomplished for sinners.

Can “Ministry” become an idol?

Think long and hard before you answer. Only each individual can answer from him or her self. I answered the question and was not pleased with the answer… Granted, my feeble ministry pales in comparison to many who will read this post. But, what we do have in common is an ego that keeps fighting for the front of the line. The praise of men too often takes the place the glory of God should occupy in our “ministry”.

Do I first seek God’s approval for what I do? Do you? Or, do I want to hear words of praise from others? Our honesty, or lack of it, about such matters is a measure of who we really are.

Oh that all of our teaching and preaching and ministry models and community activism and charity give Christ glory and honor! If when at the end of the day Jesus is the center of attention, and not us, we will have succeeded.

Manage your ministry well, don’t allow it to manage you.

Dare to be different

Tens of thousands of ministers and other Christians are running about clamoring for attention, rushing to this conference and that one, looking for something new and exciting. We believers are fascinated by new books sometimes at the sacrifice of the Old Book.

Surrender to Jesus is not glamorous. Holiness will not get you invitations to a lot of parties. And, being Christ centered at all costs will not pay off by the world’s standards.

He must increase and I must decrease. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Only in my brokenness is His wholeness on display to a watching world.

Agape’

Royce


Sep 25 2010

The Intellectual Prophet


The first lie recorded in the Bible is found in Genesis 3 when Satan said to Eve though a serpent, “You will not surely die”. In essence he was saying to her, “You can’t trust what God says, trust yourself”.

In 2010, in pulpits and seminary class rooms, all across America there is a chorus of infidels who join with the evil one in his declaration that God’s words cannot be trusted. These sails with no wind have become so educated that they are convinced they can pick and choose which parts of the Bible record to believe and which parts to reject as only ancient myths, fables, and fabrications.

If Jesus Christ is not who the Bible says he is, and if he did not do what the Bible says he did, there is no Christianity, there is only religion. It seems in every church group there are those who cast doubt the reliability of the Holy Scriptures and the result is a message of good works, self improvement, religious ritual, and nice devotionals.

The most zealous legalist  does no more harm to the cause of Christ than those who teach that God will welcome anyone  into heaven whose morals are good, who helps the poor, has participated in certain rituals, and is a faithful church member.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17,18)

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)

Apart from divine revelation we have no message from God. These words from Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, make it perfectly clear why men would stand in church pulpits and tell the listeners they can’t really trust the Bible, certainly not all of it. God’s truth is “folly to him (them)”, or foolishness, and they are “not able” to understand it.

I once took a New Testament course at a seminary in North Carolina and the professor gave no illusions that he believed the Bible. One day as many of us waited in line to eat in the school cafeteria the unbelieving New Testament professor was near where I was standing. A young Christian Church pastor called out to him, “If you don’t believe the Bible why don’t you quit and get into some other line of work? Even the drunks where I live believe the Bible is the Word of God!”

May our Lord help us to be faithful to the revelation given us and to boldly reject infidelity where ever we find it.

Royce Ogle

Sep 24 2010

A few words from Jesus to you.


“You are down a little this morning. I don’t like it when you are unhappy, you don’t have to be, let me remind you of a few things.

I love you and have since before the world was. I know you, your best and your worst, and I still love you intensely. You have never disappointed me because I have never been surprised by those times when you have done stupid things, destructive things, unloving things, even things that make me look bad. My love for you never wavers, it is always sure, steadfast, and certain. You can count on my love.

You are weak but I am strong and if you will, you can live today and every day in my strength. Remember, I created you and the world you live in and I still am in complete control. I know, from your vantage point it seems things are spinning out of control sometimes but never doubt me on this, I’ve got it covered. Just trust me.

I have all authority in heaven and on earth and I have overcome the world and all of its evil, even Satan is defeated, and I did it for you. I came to earth and lived a perfect life, and died as one who had broken every law, and I did it for you to give my Father glory. My Father has credited my perfect life to your account and all of your sins and short comings to my account. When I died, I died for you, in your place, so your sins are paid in full! Don’t fret, you are safe. You need not fear anything, even when its time for your physical body to die you will only enter into my life more fully.

There will never be one moment of any day when I am not with you and in you. I will never allow any circumstance that I don’t approve and I always and forever have your best interests in mind. It is not for you to understand, it is for you to rest in the knowledge that I am always for you. Take me at my word, I have overcome the world…for you.

It is my intention to provide for you everything you need to the tiniest detail. But I do want you to ask me for what you need and even for what you want. Understand that what you want is not always best for you so I’ll say no sometimes and other times I’ll be silent, but I’ll always do what is best for you and what gives glory to my Father.

You are safe. Your life is untouchable in my Father’s mighty hand. Your future is secure, your hope will soon be reality. You have the supernatural capacity to love like I love and to forgive like I forgive. So today, take a deep breath, drink deeply from the wells of joy my love and presence provide, and go love someone today. Remember as you go, you represent me so don’t depend on yourself, just completely depend on me, I’ve got everything covered.

Now, let’s have a great day together.”

Jesus

Sep 23 2010

Forgive!


Lord, how many times should we forgive someone? Jesus said:

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As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13b)