Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission

Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission

David Mathis

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/sent-into-the-harvest-halloween-on-mission

What if a crisp October wind blew through “the way we’ve always done things” at Halloween? What if the Spirit stirred in us a new perspective on October 31? What if dads led their households in a fresh approach to Halloween as Christians on mission?

What if spreading a passion for God’s supremacy in all things included Halloween—that amalgamation of wickedness now the second-largest commercial holiday in the West?

Loving Others and Extending Grace

What if we didn’t think of ourselves as “in the world, but not of it,” but rather, as Jesus says in John 17, “not of the world, but sent into it”?

And what if that led us to move beyond our squabbles about whether or not we’re free to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve, and the main issue became whether our enjoyment of Jesus and his victory over Satan and the powers of darkness might incline us to think less about our private enjoyments and more about how we might love others? What if we took Halloween captive—along with “every thought” (2 Corinthians 10:5)—as an opportunity for gospel advance and bringing true joy to the unbelieving?

And what if those of us taking this fresh approach to Halloween recognized that Christians hold a variety of views about Halloween, and we gave grace to those who see the day differently than we do?

Without Naiveté or Retreat

What if we didn’t merely go with the societal flow and unwittingly float with the cultural tide into and out of yet another Halloween? What if we didn’t observe the day with the same naïveté as our unbelieving neighbors and coworkers?

And what if we didn’t overreact to such nonchalance by simply withdrawing? What if Halloween wasn’t a night when Christians retreated in disapproval, but an occasion for storming the gates of hell?

The Gospel Trick

What if we ran Halloween through the grid of the gospel and pondered whether there might be a third path beyond naïveté and retreat? What if we took the perspective that all of life, Halloween included, is an opportunity for gospel advance? What if we saw Halloween not as a retreat but as a kind of gospel trick—an occasion to extend Christ’s cause on precisely the night when Satan may feel his strongest?

What if we took to the offensive on Halloween? Isn’t this how our God loves to show himself mighty? Just when the devil has a good head of steam, God, like a skilled ninja, uses the adversary’s body weight against him. It’s Satan’s own inertia that drives the stake into his heart. Just like the cross. It’s a kind of divine “trick”: Precisely when the demonic community thinks for sure they have Jesus cornered, he delivers the deathblow. Wasn’t it a Halloween-like gathering of darkness and demonic festival at Golgotha, the place of the Skull, when the God-man “disarmed the powers and authorities [and] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them” at the cross (Colossians 2:15)?

Marching on Hell

What if we were reminded that Jesus, our invincible hero, will soon crush Satan under ourfeet (Romans 16:20)? What if we really believed deep down that our Jesus has promised with absolute certainty, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). What if we realized that the gates-of-hell thing isn’t a picture of a defensive church straining to hold back the progressing Satanic legions, but rather an offensive church, on the move, advancing against the cowering, cornered kingdom of darkness? What if the church is the side building the siegeworks? What if the church is marching forward, and Jesus is leading his church on an aggressive campaign against the stationary and soon-to-collapse gates of hell? What if we didn’t let Halloween convince us for a minute that it’s otherwise?

What if Ephesians 6:12 reminded us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic power over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”? What if we remembered that it’s not our increasingly post-Christian society’s Halloween revelers who are our enemies, but that our real adversary is the one who has blinded them, and that we spite Satan as we rescue unbelievers with the word of the cross?

Resisting the Devil

What posture would Jesus have us take when we are told that our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)? Naïveté? Retreat? Rather: “Resist him, firm in your faith” (verse 9). What if we had the gospel gall to trust Jesus for this promise: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)? And what if resistance meant not only holding our ground, but taking his?

What if we hallowed Jesus at Halloween by pursuing gospel advance and going lovingly on the attack? What if, like Martin Luther, we didn’t cower in fear, but saw October 31 as a chance to serve notice to the threshold of evil? What if we didn’t turn out our lights as if hiding, but went pumpkin-smashing on the very doorstep of the King of Darkness himself?

Orienting on Others

What if we saw October 31 not merely as an occasion for asking self-oriented questions about our participation (whether we should or shouldn’t dress the kids up or carve pumpkins), but for pursuing others-oriented acts of love? What if we capitalized on the opportunity to take a step forward in an ongoing process of witnessing to our neighbors, co-workers, and extended families about who Jesus is and what he accomplished at Calvary for the wicked like us?

What if we resolved not to join the darkness by keeping our porch lights off? What if we didn’t deadbolt our doors, but handed out the best treats in the neighborhood as a faint echo of the kind of grace our Father extends to us sinners?

Giving the Good Candy

What if thinking evangelistically about Halloween didn’t mean just dropping tracts into children’s bags, but the good candy—and seeing the evening as an opportunity to cultivate relationships with the unbelieving as part of an ongoing process in which we plainly identify with Jesus, get to know them well, and personally speak the good news of our Savior into their lives?

And what if we made sure to keep reminding ourselves that our supreme treasure isn’t our subjective zeal for the mission, but our Jesus and his objective accomplishment for us?

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
– Jesus in Matthew 9:37–38

Four Moments of Salvation

God calls us to become what He declares we already are.-Dan Holcomb

In Salvation there are four moments:

1. Eternally: We are elected in Christ.
• God chose us in him before the foundation of the world-Ephesians 1:4
• God predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will.-Ephesians 1:5
• God called us according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.-2 Timothy 1:9
• We were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God our Father.-1 Peter 1:1-2
2. Historically: We are represented in Christ. God declares that whatever our representative, the Lord Jesus Christ, has accomplished, those who trust in him have also accomplished. Believers are considered by God:
• To have died with Jesus-Col. 3:3-4
• To be buried with Jesus-Romans 6:2-4
• To have risen with him-Romans 6:5-8
• From an historical perspective our salvation is a finished feat, accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth nearly two thousand years ago.
3. Presently: We are redeemed in Christ.
• Regenerated in Christ
• If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation-2 Cor. 5:17
• God made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace.-Ephesians 2:5
• For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.-Ephesians 2:10
• Justified in Christ
• There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.-Romans 8:1
• We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.-Ephesians 1:7
• Sanctified in Christ
• To those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus.-1 Cor. 1:2
• Adopted in Christ
• He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.-Ephesians 1:5
4. Eschatologically: We are glorified in Christ.
• Believers "die in the Lord" (Rev. 14:13) and "sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14).
• When the Lord returns "the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thess. 4:16).
• Believers will be resurrected in Christ.-1 Cor. 15:22
• Believers will be glorified in Christ.-Romans 8:17

We must remember that there is a now and not yet aspect to our salvation. The first two moments-eternal and historical-are objective and completed, while the second two-present and eschatological-are subjective and are yet to be completed. We end where we began with a quote, "God calls us to become what He declares we already are." Remember these truths and live in light of who God declares you to be.
*Lecture by Dr. Keathley October 25, 2011

My Wish

If you would like to read more please click this link...http://viewthestory.com/viewer/?c=3156&p=t&quality=normal

The Fall of Man and the Victory of Christ

You will strike his heel and He will crush your head.-Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3 tells the story of the Fall of Humanity into sin. In this chapter we see that sin brings alienation from God, nature and mankind, however; in the midst of humanities darkest hour their is a bright ray of hope. This hope is found in Genesis 3:15 which contains the first picture of Christ with-in the Bible. The day is coming, God says, when Satan will be defeated and removed from the earth. The offspring of the woman will crush Satan. That decisive blow was struck by the perfect offspring of the woman Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross. This is one of the reasons why the eternal Son of God had to become a man-because it was the offspring of the woman who would crush Satan, but in turn be bruised.

Christ was bruised as He was beaten forty times minus one, but He crushed the head of the serpent because it was by His blood we are healed. Christ was bruised when He had the crown of thorns forced onto His brow but He crushed the head of the serpent when a crown of gold was placed on His brow and He became King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christ was bruised as He was mocked but He crushed the head of Satan when one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess Christ as Lord. Christ was bruised as He was forced to endure false trials but He crushed Satan when He willingly endured till the end. Christ was bruised as the nails were hammered into His arms and legs but He crushed the head of the serpent when He took the nails for us, when He endured the cross for our sins. Christ was bruised as He was put to death as a common criminal but He crushed the head as He died to offer His body as a payment for sin. Christ was bruised when He died on the cross, a spear thrust into His side causing blood and water to flow out, and He was taken down wrapped and placed into a cold and damp tomb but He crushed Satan when on the third day He rose from the dead, visited the disciples, ascended into Heaven and now sits at the Father's right hand forever living and pleading for you and me. CHRIST HAS CRUSHED THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT!

In Christ we can join with the Apostle Paul and say, death where is your sting, Hell where is your victory? In Christ we have life! In the midst of humanity's darkest hour we see the compassionate, consuming love of God for sinners shine the brightest!

He is not safe, but He is good

In C.S. Lewis epic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, one of the characters describing Aslan the Lion says that, “He is not safe, but He is good.” Aslan the Lion is “good” towards the children in Narnia and the other creatures; however, he is not safe and does punish the White Witch for her evil deeds or “sins.” Aslan, the Lion, represents the picture of God which we see in Psalm 76.

Psalm 76 shows us a picture of God which has grown mistakenly absent in today’s post-modern world. The truth of God’s wrath has become ridiculed as an outdated caricature of deity, or worse, denied altogether as a myth. The truth is the Bible clearly portrays the wrath of God as a necessary attribute of His holiness. The Psalmist in verses 1-3 describe God’s wrath as revealing, in verses 4-9 he shows God’s wrath as glorious, and verses 10-12 show God’s wrath as a way to renew our allegiance towards Him. We must always remember that God is good, therefore He must punish sin.

Sin is anything that we do which is not pleasing towards God. Anytime we lie, steal, look with lust, harbor anger in our hearts, or disobey our parents all of that and more is sin. Psalm 76 tells us God’s wrath, His holy anger, is directed towards sinners. If you are living in sin than God is not safe and He will punish sin.

God shows that He is good, however, in sending His Son Jesus Christ. Tim Keller says, “Christ lived the life we should have lived and He died the death we should have died.” Jesus Christ, the spotless Son of God, is the ONLY way we can have a relationship with a Holy and Just God. Psalm 76 asks the question, who can stand before God, and the New Testament answers the question with ONLY the individual who trusts in Christ can stand before Him.

Today, in view of God’s wrath we should redirect our allegiance towards Him. We should submit our lives to God as Lord over everything because He alone is good. We must remember that God is good, but He is not safe. God will punish sin! Psalm 76 reminds us that God’s wrath is directed towards those who do not confess His name. This understanding should urge us to tell others about Him. Psalm 76 should spur Christians to the task of world evangelism. We should be telling all that God’s wrath is directed towards those who oppose Him, however, He has provided a way to have a relationship with Him – through His Son, Jesus Christ. Please take time today to share the message of hope and God’s goodness with someone who does not know Christ.
*Parts taken from NIV Commentary Series

But a vapor

You don't even know what tomorrow will bring-what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.-James 4:14

This afternoon like the rest of the world I discovered Stuart Scott passed away at the age of 59. I was shocked and saddened by the news, not so much because of my love for his work on ESPN but rather at the realization that the world has lost one of its greatest announcers.

Stuart Scott's death reminds all of us that life is short.  We are not promised forever!  The shortness of Stuart Scott's life reminds us of this but also the Bible repeatedly talks about the shortness of life.  We are told time and time again that in view of eternity our life is but a vapor, here one minute and gone the next.  We are constantly reminded to live in light of this reality.  Ecclesiastes 12 is a chapter in the Bible written by King Solomon which allegorizes the shortness of life...

Vs. 3: keepers of the house tremble; Solomon is using an allegory to refer to the arms.  We are reminded that there will come a day when our arms will shake and become frail.  Opening and closing our fist will become next to impossible. 

Vs. 3: strong men are bent; this is referring to the legs, in reference to the fact that there will come a day when we will walk hunched over with knees bent.  One day we will wake up and never again be able to run, hike mountains, go for long walks, etc.

Vs. 3: grinders cease because they are few; One day our teeth will fall out and we will have to wear dentures.  We will no longer be able to enjoy a juicy, delicious steak or other amazing foods.

V 3: those who look through the windows are dimmed; One day our eyes will fail us and we will be unable to see.

Vs. 4: rises at the sound of a bird; One day we will have trouble sleeping. We will arise before the sun and  and go to bed shortly after dinner, and we will spend all of the time in between complaining about the noise.

Vs. 6-7; before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well; and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it; One day every one of us will die!  This morning Stuart Scott stood before the Creator of the Universe and had to give an account for his life.  What will you say when face to face with the Holy Creator?  If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, I beg you to click this link and read this story…(http://viewthestory.com/3156).  If you are a follower of Christ, than let me ask, how are you doing?

Ecclesiastes 11:9: Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.  Followers of Christ, live your life, but know that one day you will have to stand before God and give an account for how you used this time, how you used your energy.  Did you use your life for proclaiming the glory of Jesus Christ or for proclaiming the glory of self?  Did you live your life proclaiming and explaining the glory of Christ or did you remain quiet and let your friends and neighbors sink into a Christ-less eternity?

Remember, our lives are but a vapor, here one minute and gone the next…

How will you use your vapor?

Bloodlines

4 Guiding Principles

This weekend Julia and I had the opportunity to attend a missions expo in North Carolina. The missions expo was designed to introduce us to the numerous "jobs" which were available around the world. We were given a list of over a hundred jobs and told to determine our top three within forty eight hours. This was not an easy task, and very over-whelming (yes, we broke down a time or two or maybe ten), however, in the end we had to make a decision. People have begun to ask how we were able to make any sort of a decision, and below, are four guiding principles which help us to determine every decision which we make whether big (jobs to do for two years) or small (part-time job to take).


1)      Gifting and qualification are significant.  If you tell a mission organization God has called you to a particular country, they're not going to send you based on that alone.  You'll have to meet other qualifications (lot's of other qualifications).  And rightfully so. What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? Which jobs have you had in the past to give you certain skills?
2)      Obedience to Scripture is also of utmost importance.  In general, we know that Christ wants to reach the nations for his name sake (Hosea 2:23, Acts 28:28).  We can confidently say that missions work is a good and noble thing.  Scripture commands it (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) so it's got to be the right thing to do, in most cases.  Christians in the U.S. saying God hasn't called them to missions are mistaken.  Unless uncontrollable circumstances prevail, like a sick spouse or rebellious child, etc, no Christian has a right to say that cross-cultural missions isn't for him.  He can at least take a two-week trip into another culture before concluding he's not gifted for cross-cultural living. We trust that going over-seas for two years is in God's will and therefore, we trust He will send us.
3)      Desire is also a key player here.  Psalm 37:4 says to "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."  I take this to mean that when you are delighting in God, he will give you what you are desiring to have (also see Psalm 20:4, 145:19, Pro 10:24).  These passages lead me to believe that wanting to do something, while not the most important thing is nonetheless important.  Yes, sometimes we need to do some things whether we want to or not.  And God doesn't say that he will always give us what we want, but God is not against us wanting to be where we're going to serve.
4)      Faith really is the bottom line of where we live every day.  It doesn't matter how sure we are of a decision to go to a particular people group, or to marry a certain godly person, it's still a step of faith.  We have the promise that Christ will never leave us or forsake us on this life's journey, but there's no guarantee that it will always be an easy journey.  


Julia and I are nervous for the future and whether or not our decisions we made were the right ones, however, we trust in God and the missions organization trusting that the missions organization will place us in the right job which matches our skills, gifts, and experience.