Wednesday Worship:

Tough Question: Is My Child A Christian?

Is my child a Christian?

As parents, we all wrestle with how to answer this question, and I’ve found there are usually two extremes that need to be avoided. The first is made worse by a lack of discernment shown in many churches when they routinely extend altar calls to 4- or 5-year-olds, ask them to raise their hands if they love Jesus, and then baptize them as converted followers of Christ.

The second is often a reaction against the carelessness of the first. This extreme prevents both parents and also pastors from being willing to affirm a child’s conversion until they are adults, independent of their parent’s authority and care. While reluctance on both counts is somewhat warranted, I believe a middle ground must be approached in order to discern clear biblical evidence that a child, teenager, or young adult has become a new creature in Christ.

Five Evidences

Admitting the obvious—that we are not God and cannot see the heart—I maintain certain evidence can help us discern the legitimacy of child or teenager’s profession of faith. In the spirit of Jonathan Edwards’s five signs of true conversion, here are five evidences I often use as a template when dealing with this difficult issue.

1. Growing affection and need for Jesus and the gospel.

2. Heightened understanding of the truths of Scripture.

3. Increased kindness and selflessness toward siblings.

4. Greater awareness of and distaste for sin.

5. Noticeable desire to obey parents.

In my experience as a parent and pastor, I've realized age isn’t the most important gauge in determining true conversion. Instead, it’s generally wise to look for these evidences in an age-appropriate manner. For example, a 16-year-old will articulate his understanding of the gospel differently—and more fully—than a 10-year-old. The same may be said of a child’s desire to obey their parents or display a selfless spirit toward their siblings. As children age, these things will begin to look different, and our expectations should follow suit.

Nevertheless, visible fruit must be present in some way, and I'd strongly discourage anyone from affirming a child’s conversion without some kind of tangible evidence apart from a verbal profession. On the flip side, though, I’d caution parents and pastors from falling into the trap of demanding more from a child than can be reasonably expected and observed.

Five Questions

Here are five questions to consider when looking for the above evidences and evaluating the spiritual condition of a child.

1. Does my child appear to truly love Jesus, or is he or she just telling me they do because I said so?

Children will often do what we tell them to do, believe what we tell them to believe, and say what we tell them to say. When it comes to saying, “I believe in Jesus,” parents can manipulate a response even with the best of intentions. Instead of coaxing the right words, however, we should look for genuine affection for Jesus within the child and, as best we can, ascertain if this affection finds its root in what he's done to save them from their sins through his death and resurrection.

2. Does my child independently seek to know God’s Word?

I've been talking with other parents about this issue and what caught their eyes, is when their oldest daughter began to read and seek to understand its truth apart from their prodding. She would read Scripture on her own and then ask them questions. These behaviors revealed what they identified as a genuine desire to know God’s Word better—independent of either of us.

3. Does my child demonstrate greater understanding of deep spiritual truths?

The word “awakening” is a helpful way to understand conversion not just in adults, but in kids, too. Consider whether your child appears to understand truths about God, the gospel, and the Bible better than before. Have you noticed a spiritual awakening?

4. Is my child demonstrating spiritual fruit contrary to his personality?

It‘s common to mistake spiritual fruit with positive aspects of a child‘s personality. We need to know, then, the different personality traits in each child before we can discern true spiritual fruit. In short, it’s important to honestly assess your child’s personality and look for evidences of supernatural fruit that would appear contrary to it.

5. Is there independent remorse for daily sins?

A parent can make a child feel “convicted” for sins, but that doesn’t necessarily mean God by his Spirit has brought the conviction. Look for moments when your child hurts a sibling with their words and goes to apologize on his own. Look for your child to come and confess a lie to you before you catch him—for no other (apparent) reason than that his own heart and conscience were convicted by the Spirit.

I realize this is tricky ground. As a parent and pastor, all of the above must be applied on a case-by-case basis. Though many of us may be in different places on the spectrum, we must nonetheless endeavor to avoid the extremes on either side. Find a nice seat in the middle as a starting point, and from there be wise, assess honestly, and pray that the merciful God who regenerates adults, teenagers, and children alike will give you much discernment, patience, and grace.

Helping My Daughter To Be Sexually Pure:

Well, it looks like the Bible messed up my game plan once again.

Let me explain. I have a daughter. Some day she is going to be older and, unless I act fast, some boy is going to try to sweep her off her feet and romance her. I know teenage boys - I once was one. So I don’t like this scenario at all.

My plan (at least up until now) has been to attach one of those castle towers to our house and lock her up there until she is somewhere around the age of 35. I figure that’ll be my only recourse once the government takes my shotgun away (that I don't own). Of course, I’m being just a little silly. But what I am not kidding about is my passion for my daughter’s purity. And I figure that the best way to keep her pure is to avoid the topic altogether, right?

The Bible, unfortunately, disagrees with my plan. Consider these verses:

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV)

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul paints a beautiful picture of what God has done, and is doing, in redeeming a broken people and a broken world. Then, in the next three chapters he helps us to see what it means to live out of redemption, instead of rebellion. And he does this by following a pattern. Numerous times in those last three chapters, Paul follows a formula: 'Don’t do this. Instead, do this because of this.' Ephesians 5 is no exception.

What I find interesting, though, is what Paul uses as the antidote to sexual immorality, whether in the form of words or actions. He says, “...but instead let there be thanksgiving.” I’d have thought we’d see another word there — maybe a word like purity or holiness. Or maybe that he’d have borrowed from the Proverbs and admonished us to “enjoy the wife of our youth.” But he doesn’t. He said, "Let there be thanksgiving.”

So how in the world is thanksgiving the antidote to sexual immorality?

Consider, for a moment, what is happening when we fall into sexual immorality. Such a thing is always a selfish choice. Sex is meant to be a self-giving act. But any form of sexual immorality—when we choose our way over God’s way—is fundamentally self-centered. Though it may seem to be rooted in pleasure and love, it is destructive not only to ourselves, but also our partner because anything which isn’t pleasing to God cannot further our joy.

This is why, I believe, Paul links sexual immorality with covetousness. Sexual immorality happens when we are not satisfied in God. We believe in that moment that disobedience will be more pleasurable than obedience. There is something we want and we will have it no matter the cost. So it isn’t shocking, then, that gratitude will sever the root of sexual immorality. Gratitude does just the opposite. It is an expression of our satisfaction in God. When we are thankful for what we do have, the lure of the forbidden loses its luster.

All of this means that the way to help my daughter pursue purity isn’t to lock her up in a castle. Instead, it is to help her walk in the freedom of the gospel. It is to cultivate a heart of gratitude. When she is satisfied in God, she will have what it takes to say no to the fleeting pleasure of sin. She’ll believe that God’s way is better.

It seems I need to start tearing down my castle and start working overtime to cultivate a heart of gratitude in my little girl.

Wednesday Worship:

Tough Question: What Should A Christian Believe About The Death Penalty:

Capital punishment is a controversial subject among Bible-believing people. Sincere followers of Christ disagree on this issue and it should not be a test of fellowship or a source of division among believers. While I have close friends who disagree with me, I am of the opinion that capital punishment is, on occasion, the Biblical and just response to heinous crimes.

The Biblical view of the sanctity of life is going to influence our position on capital punishment. There’s an ongoing debate about the pros and cons of the death penalty. On January 11, 2003, Governor George Ryan of Illinois commuted the sentences of 167 death-row in-mates. One of them had cut open a pregnant woman’s womb and brutally murdered both the baby and the mother.

Governor Ryan’s argument for commuting all their sentences was that the system is so imperfect, capitol punishment is inhumane and there’s no proof that it’s a deterrent to crime, so he changed all death sentences to life imprisonment or less. That was the largest such emptying of death row in history.

But the Bible teaches directly about the responsibility of the government to exercise capital punishment for the purpose of justice. After the flood, God instituted this principle: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man” (Gen 9:6).

Notice capital punishment was instituted by God out of respect for life- that of the victim. Since man was created in the image of God, to take the life of another was considered a violation of God’s image. Exodus 21:12-13 commands, ”Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate.”

The Bible teaches that capital punishment is to be administered for deliberate, premeditated, proven murder. Deuteronomy 17:6 reads, “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” No one was to be put to death on circumstantial evidence, but only eyewitness evidence.

The Bible teaches that capital punishment is to be administered swiftly.  Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Many people argue that capital punishment is no deterrent, but how would we know? By the time the punishment is carried out there are often two decades separating the crime and the punishment and there is little connection between the two. Melody Green, wife of deceased songwriter/artist Keith Green and advocate for life, said that statistics show that the safest place in America is on death row while the most dangerous place in America is in the mother’s womb.

The Bible teaches that justice is to be administered without favoritism. “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern” (Prov 29:7). Our system has become increasingly corrupt over the years and the scales have been tilted in favor of the wealthier class. The Mel Ignatow’s and the O.J. Simpson’s who can afford skillful lawyers are more likely to get by with heinous crimes.

Some Christian people insist that since Jesus said turn the other cheek, no one has a right to take another’s life. But if Jesus’ words are to be extended beyond personal insults to civil law, then we shouldn’t punish any crime. Romans 12 talks about how individual Christians should treat others: “Don’t be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” But Romans 13 says the government official “does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

Again, God’s instrument panel makes sense. The front page of USA Today, Jan. 7, carried a headline “Death Penalty gains unlikely defenders-   Professors speak out in support of executions.” “Robert Blecker sat quietly as other professors ticked off their reasons for opposing the death penalty. But Blecker, a professor at New York Law School, was having none of it.

When it came his turn to speak at the recent death penalty forum at John Jay College, he summed up his support in three words: “Barbara Jo Brown.” He then launched into a graphic description of an 11-year-old Louisiana girl who was abducted, raped, tortured and slain by her attacker. People gasped. “We know evil when we see it, and it’s past time that we start saying so,” Blecker said. When it comes to the death penalty, too many in academia can’t face that.” The article pointed out that 72% of the American people favor the death penalty.

The primary purpose of capital punishment is not to deter crime but to administer justice. The Bible teaches that the government is to make the criminal pay proportionate to the crime committed. For example a person who steals is to make complete restitution plus 1/5th. If a man like Timothy McVeigh senselessly takes scores of lives or a Charles Manson delights in torturing and murdering victims at random, then their lives are to be taken. Anything else does not satisfy justice.

Proverbs 28:5 reads,  “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.” A family member of a victim who had been murdered by one of the death row inmates given a reprieve by Governor Ryan was outraged. He said, “Here’s the score.  Murderers 167; victims 0!”

The Bible says, “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers” (Prov 21:15). The reverse is true also. When justice isn’t done, it brings frustration to the righteous and license to evildoers.

 In conclusion, I am of the opinion that capital punishment is, on occasion, the Biblical and just response to heinous crimes. 

Don't Make A BIG Ripple:

“We are all capable of contributing to the world in a way that makes a profound difference. A rare few go big. Make the big gesture. Take the big risk. Expose themselves on a grand scale. Create and then ride the big wave. But most of us, myself included, take a different yet equally valid path. 
It’s the path of the ripple. Simple actions, moments, and experiences. Created, offered, and delivered with such a purity of intention and depth of integrity and clarity that they set in motion a ripple that, quietly, in its own way, in its own time, expands onward. Interacting with, touching, mattering to people we’ve never met in ways we never conceived.”– Jonathan Fields, How to Live a Good Life

Although I don’t believe Jonathan is a Christian, he just summarized what we do in youth ministry.
We make ripples. In the early days of ministry I wanted to change the world. I wanted to cause HUGE waves that would point massive amounts of young people to Jesus. I wanted to go big.

The reality of doing youth ministry over the years has allowed me to see things a bit more clearly. I go for small impact now. I make ripples. Then, God does something cool with that. Whatever he does with whatever good I initiate or create is up to him. I simply get out of the way. I’m removed from the outcome. I hope what I do makes a difference in the lives of students. I want to see them in a deep passionate relationship with Jesus. Connected to each other. Serving those around them.

But my only job is to create ripples.

I believe we’re all in the same boat too. We’re all making ripples, stepping out of the way, allowing God to do his stuff in the lives of students. 

Wednesday Worship:

5 Christian Sayings That Need To Die:

“Books don’t change people,” John Piper once observed. “Paragraphs do. Sometimes even sentences.”

A good sentence is a gift. We love finding complex truth shrinkwrapped in clear, simple, memorable form. It’s why Charles Spurgeon and C. S. Lewis are dominating a newsfeed near you. Even God likes pithy statements—at least enough to breathe out a whole book of them.

But one-liners aren’t always helpful. Sometimes, in our desire to simplify truth, we can trivialize and even obscure it. And to obscure the truth is to tell a lie.

Here are five popular Christian clichés that are not biblical, and therefore need a memorial service.

1. “When God closes a door, he opens a window.”

I appreciate the heart behind this statement. It’s true, after all, that God can do anything he pleases (Jer. 32:27), that he sometimes redirects our course (Prov. 16:9), and that he never abandons his own (Heb. 13:5).

But if God closes a door in your life, there’s no guarantee he’ll open a window. He may not open anything. He may want you to realize you have the wrong address.

Scripture is filled with examples of the Spirit closing doors, windows, and any other conceivable entrance to keep one from heading in the wrong direction or at the wrong time (e.g., Prov. 16:9; 19:21; Acts 16:6–7).

I once heard calling described as the trifecta of affinity, ability, and opportunity. Do you like it, can you do it, and is there an open door? Now there are rare times when, if the third piece isn’t in place, God may want you to break down the door. Missionary martyr Jim Elliott once said that a lot of folks are sitting around waiting for a “call” when what they need is a kick in the pants.

But what if God has something else for you entirely? What if he doesn’t want you to move to that city, or take that job, or enter that relationship—whether by door or window?

Maybe he wants you to re-evaluate in light of affinity, ability, and opportunity—your internal desires, your confirmed giftings, and your actual options.

2. “You’re never more safe than when you’re in God’s will.”

Insofar as the safety here is eternal, or means something like “in the right place,” this maxim is gloriously true. Almost every time I hear it, though, the person is referring to physical safety.

Jesus seems to disagree:

You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. (Luke 21:16–18)

Some of you they’ll slaughter. You’ll be entirely safe. Huh?

These promises sound contradictory, but they’re not. Justin Martyr (AD 100–165) was almost certainly reflecting on this passage when he said, “They can kill us, but they cannot harm us.”

I love that. Only a Christian could say something so crazy.

God has promised us many wonderful things; physical safety is not one of them. Brutal life circumstances are normal in a fallen world. Pursuing God may even lead you into greater physical danger. But you will be spiritually alive and eternally secure.

3. “Let go and let God.”

At its best, this phrase highlights the value of surrender. God is God and you are not, so lay down your résumé, your excuses, your fears.

All too often, though, the phrase is wielded as if the symbol of Christianity is not a cross but a couch. It’s subtly used to put the brakes on striving, on working, on effort.

Now, if “let go and let God” solely referenced the moment of justification, it would be fine. But it typically refers to the process of sanctification, which is anything but passive.

The Christian life is grueling. When Paul reflects on it he doesn’t think of sunsets and naps but soldiers and athletes and farmers (2 Tim. 2:3–6). He thinks of running tracks and boxing rings (1 Cor. 9:24–27).

We’re called to work out what God has already worked in us, laboring not for our salvation but from it (Phil. 2:12–13). This dynamic of restful vigilance (Matt. 11:28­–30; 16:24)—what the Puritans called “holy sweat”—lies at the heart of Christian experience.

As J. I. Packer once put it, “The Christian’s motto should not be ‘Let go and let God’ but ‘Trust God and get going.’”

4. “God will not give you more than you can handle.”

In a culture that tells us we can be anything we desire, this motivational slogan is meant to encourage, to reassure us that life won’t be too hard. There will be challenges, sure, but God knows my limits. He won’t overdo it.

The problem, however, is that God will give you more than you can handle. He’ll do it to make you lean on him. He’ll do it because he loves you.

Over the past few years, few things have encouraged my soul more than the letters of John Newton (1725–1807), the former slave trader who penned “Amazing Grace.” In one letter to a widow fearing death, Newton writes:

Though our frames and perceptions may vary, the report of faith concerning [the time of death] is the same. The Lord usually reserves dying strength for a dying hour. . . . When the time shall arrive which he has appointed for your dismissal, I make no doubt but that he will overpower all your fears, silence all your enemies, and give you a comfortable, triumphant entrance into his kingdom. You have nothing to fear from death; for Jesus, by dying, has disarmed it of its sting, has perfumed the grave, and opened the gates of glory for his believing people.

The good news is not that God won’t give us more than we can handle; it’s that he won’t give us more than he can handle.

5. “God helps those who help themselves.”

I’m not aware of a statement more commonly misidentified as a Bible verse. And the fact that it originates from Benjamin Franklin—not God’s Word—is the best news you will encounter today.

If God only helps those who help themselves, we’re all sunk. But he didn’t come for moral standouts; he came for moral failures (Matt. 9:12–13; Luke 19:10). He came for us.

While this slogan may be a fine summary of the teaching of other religions, the entire message of Christianity hinges on the fact that, as Charles Spurgeon once quipped, “God helps those who cannot help themselves.” Indeed, he helps those who humble themselves, who repent and rely on Jesus alone.

Truth Is Loving

While the heart behind these five mantras is often genuine, they are all unhelpful for one overriding reason: they are unbiblical.

Speaking biblically isn’t just a matter of truth; it’s an issue of love. God’s words, after all, aren’t just true; they’re also good for the world. May we love our neighbors by stewarding our words, and steward our words by speaking what’s true. For love rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). 

Tough Question: Why Do You Believe The Bible?:

As Christians, we are always to be ready to give a defense of the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3:15). The basis of this hope is our confidence that the Bible is God’s Word. It is trustworthy and sufficient. I’ve put these five points together as something of a quick reference notecard for why I believe the Bible. They can serve as a quick reference for personal evangelism or devotion. That is, they can help you to tell others why you believe the Bible while also reminding you (amid seasons of doubt) why you believe it.

(1) THE BIBLICAL ARGUMENT

By this, I only mean that the Bible claims to be God’s Word. This claim is not just in a remote passage or book but throughout. We read in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” The source of the text, the Word, is God himself. There is no flinching on this fact from Genesis to Revelation. The fact that the Bible claims to be God’s Word and proves to be so throughout history needs to be on my mind when dealing my doubts or a skeptic’s.

(2) THE HISTORICAL ARGUMENT

In short, the people and places in the Bible show up in history. When we read of descriptions of times and events we often find these same things in extra-biblical history. Further, when archeologists dig and uncover ancient artifacts it often shows us that biblical events that were not previously discovered were in fact true. And finally, the history of events from within the Bible concerning prophecy, they happen. Consider the Babylonian captivity, King Cyrus, and the details concerning the life of Christ. Within the canon of Scripture, it unfolds with historical consistency.

(3) THE EMPIRICAL ARGUMENT

Personally speaking, I have experienced a substantial change. The day I was converted I walked out of my dorm cursing God, and then I came home praising him. How does this happen? My experience tells me that this is not some ordinary book. I’ve been moved to tears reading other books, but this book actually reads me, wrecks me, and rebuilds me. What’s more, I’ve seen and experienced this same thing with other people. This change is not limited to gender, ethnicity, geography, or even time. This book claims to change lives, and it actually does.

(4) THE LOGICAL ARGUMENT

There is a single, coherent theme throughout the book that the glory of God is paramount. If God were to write a book, this is how he would write it. If man were to write a book, this is not how he would write it. It has the “ring of truth” as C. S. Lewis would say. Man would tend to diminish his defects and exaggerate his virtues; the Bible seems to do the opposite. It maintains the dignity of humanity but also shows its brokenness. Here we see the glory of God on display. This brings me to another aspect of this argument. If you survey world religions, most will agree that there is a problem, and they exist to help us with this it. However, only biblical Christianity actually maintains a God who does not compromise. Every other plan of salvation has God bending his righteousness to show love. Man and God partner together to achieve salvation. However, with the Bible God does not compromise. He maintains and demonstrates his righteousness while showing forth his love! On the cross, God is both the just and the justifier (Rom. 3:26). This means that he does not compromise. Think about this: the Bible maintains that all of God’s attributes are intact, no dimples, defects, or deflation! However, without the cross (and outside of the Bible) you have a god who compromises something to bring salvation. This reminds me of God’s infinite wisdom, love, mercy, and grace—as well as his authorship of the Bible.

(5) THE CHRISTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

This one seals the deal for me. Here it is a nutshell: since Jesus rose from the dead he is God; therefore, his view of the Bible is the right one. Jesus believed the Bible was divinely inspired (Mt. 4:2; Mt. 22:31-32), authoritative (Lk. 4; Jn. 10:34-36; 12:47-48); powerful (Mt. 5:17-18; Jn. 6:63; Jn. 17:17); and about him (Lk: 24:25-27, 44-47; Jn. 5:46-47). Furthermore, he believed the Bible was historically accurate. “In the Gospels we see Jesus reference Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaac and Jacob, manna in the wilderness, the serpent in the wilderness, Moses as the lawgiver, David and Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Elijah and Elisha, the widow of Zarephath, Naaman, Zechariah, and even Jonah, never questioning a single event, a single miracle, or a single historical claim. Jesus clearly believed in the historicity of biblical history.” (DeYoung, Taking God at His Word). Having Jesus’s bibliology is never a bad idea.

Conclusion

After all of this, we must remember that there is nothing wrong with the Bible. It is perfect and clear. Our problem is with our reception; we are fallen.

I was reminded of this recently during a discussion with a waiter during a lunch meeting with some friends. As we got to talking with the gentleman, we came upon the subject of the Bible. In time he let us know that he didn’t accept the Bible, because he couldn’t be sure that it was God’s Word. He didn’t trust it ultimately. In another round of conversations, our waiter began telling us about his cat. Without blinking, he relayed how his cat talks to him and how he can understand it. We clarified to be sure he meant actual words, and in fact, he did. He was sure that his cat was speaking to him in a clear, understandable way.

The effects of sin are pervasive and persistent. However, God can and does use his powerful Word to bring us to faith in him. It is this Word that we must be ready to share and even defend with others.

Wednesday Worship:

Wednesday Worship:

13 Reasons Why: Hope

Have you been watching? It’s compelling. It will suck you in. It’s certainly done that for millions of kids. It’s the Neflix series “13 Reasons Why.” High School student Hannah Baker has taken her own life. But before she does, she records a series of messages to individuals who have given her a reason. Like I said. . . it’s compelling.

The series seems to hit on just about every single teen issue and cultural reality we talk about at CREW. Julia and I binged watched the show over a week staying up to midnight every night and afterwards I would lay in bed thinking about the show and everything I had just witnessed.

Suffice to say for now that one of the trends “13 Reasons Why” so clearly reflects is a trend reflected through its’ absence. The life-giving narrative of the Gospel isn’t there. In fact, in its’ place is a huge void. . . which is exactly what happens in lives young and old alike when the narrative one lives (or dies) by lacks hope.

Since watching “13 Reasons Why,” I’ve been thinking about how to best respond. The implications are not just one or two. There’s a multitude. But one that sticks out to me right now is one that has to do with those called to love and lead kids. It’s an implication for parents and youth workers: To give hope, we must have hope. And the starting point for doing that in a culture that has lost its’ true north is to do some good hard listening ourselves. We must be intent on listening ourselves to the narrative of the Word, rather than to the empty narrative of the world.

Whether we are children, teenagers, or adults, we all look to some authority for guidance, direction, and answers. That authority, be it a friend, parent, spouse, writer, film star, musician, self, or even our changing opinions, becomes our compass, directing our steps as we try to figure out who we are, who to follow, and how to live in our world.

In a world where there are many “experts” sharing conflicting opinions on the purpose of life, how to live our lives, and how to raise and relate to kids, it’s good to know that there is a compass we can trust, handed to us by the One who created life, children, teenagers, parents, and families. That compass is the Bible. God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible reveals what we need to know about everything we encounter on the journey of loving and leading teens in today’s world.

The words of the apostle Paul to Timothy, a young man who needed encouragement, apply not only to Timothy’s life and ministry but to us today as we fulfill our God-given ministry in parenting or ministering to kids: “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.” (2 Tim. 3:16, The Message). In this verse, Paul lists four valuable uses for the compass, all of them helpful as we parent teens in this loud and convincing culture.

First, the Bible offers sound instruction. It is a believable teacher and the only true source of knowledge about God’s world. Like the instruction manual accompanying a complicated machine or appliance, God’s Word helps us to understand and bear through the complexities of life, including our changing children and their confusing world.

Second, a growing knowledge of the Bible helps us to evaluate and test everything else that claims to be true. All worldviews, parenting philosophies, youth ministry strategies, advice, manuals, and approaches should be measured against the blueprint of the Bible.

Third, the Bible serves as a diagnostic checkup and trouble-shooting guide. As we look at our own lives and approaches to youth ministry or parenting, the Bible helps us to see where we have gone wrong while offering clear guidelines and instructions on how to correct our course.

Fourth, the Bible is a road map that helps us stay on course in all of our tasks and activities. It lays out a clear path for right and godly living. In a day and age when some kids grow up without parents or any other positive role models, our children and teens desperately need godly parents and youth leaders whose disciplined and regular study of and meditation on Scripture pays liberal dividends in Christlike love and direction.

When our kids go through difficult times in which there seems to be no way out, we must stand by them, support them, care for them, and communicate hope. Perhaps we can use these words from Jeremiah 29:11 – “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

That just might be the reason why “13 Reasons Why” is so compelling. It serves to remind us of God’s gift of a hope-filled narrative that begins with the resurrection and ends with the restoration of all things. It serves to remind us to live and teach the Gospel narrative. . . which is much more compelling than any other story that’s ever been told.

Why My Generation Is Leaving The Church:

I have been on a quest for about a year to discover why my generation is not attending church. I have read piles and piles of books on the subject and recently I began to sit down with young adults who used to attend church but no longer attend and I have been compiling a list of reasons why they have left the church.

To date I have sat down with 11 young adults and asked them a series of questions about their experience with church, why they attend and why they do not attend. These young adults used to attend various churches in different denominations all ranging in size. Throughout the blog I will use young adults and millenial interchangeably. The age range of the people are 22-41.

Below is what I am finding.

1) Young Adults Are Looking For Authenticity:

My generation has been burned by people in leadership roles so we are naturally skeptical of anyone in any position of power. This is true for those who serve in the church. Without fail the number one thing I kept hearing from young adults was a desire for authenticity. What is the leader going through? Does he (or she) really practice what they preach? Does the leadership of the church really believe what is being said from the pulpit? Why does a preacher need to wear a suit? Does he really care about us? Is he just in it for the money? I fact checked my preacher on Google and some of the things he says are not true... do you think he knows he's lying?

Those are just a few of the questions I have heard over and over again. Millennials have been marketed to our entire lives. We are able to pick up on a sales tactic in an instant. We can detect if someone really believes or does not believe what is being taught.

It is hard to be vulnerable and open with others but if we want to reach this next generation putting on a good face and acting like we have it all together and know all of the answers will not cut it. We need to be men and women of integrity. Those of us in leadership need to work hard to be authentic.

2) Young Adults Are Looking For Community:

Point two goes right along with point number one. They desire authenticity and true authenticity leads to community. I heard questions like, "where can I be vulnerable and receive mentoring? When do your community groups meet? How do people share about their struggles? Where can I find help? I'm so lonely how do I connect with others?"

Look around everything that we have is designed to foster a "false" feeling of community. Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Blogging, Twitter all are designed to create community but there is never any face to face communication. There is no actual community on social media. I believe because of this millennials are crying out for a place to be themselves. They are looking for a place to belong. They are looking for a place where they can ask questions. They are looking for a place where they can be vulnerable and open. They are looking for a place where they can share their struggles and not have to worry about those struggles being gossiped or shared on social media.

As leaders it may be very hard for us to be truly authentic from the pulpit but imagine if we began to do life with those we were trying to reach. Imagine if we rubbed elbows on a daily basis with others and they saw us: warts and all. Maybe it's time we got out of the office and began doing life with our church members. Is the only time we see church members when they are in the hospital or on our shut-in list? Maybe we need to go and visit them in their place of employment, invite them over to our house for a meal. Live life together.

3) Young Adults Are Looking For Spirit-led, Spirit-filled Worship:

Most of the people I met with want a genuine experience and encounter with the living God. They want to lose themselves in worship every Sunday. They want to lift their hands and voices to the Heavens and sing praises to God.

Millennials can smell a gimick and they can smell a show from a mile away. They want authentic Spirit-led, Spirit-filled Worship. No one could define what that meant but they knew it when they experienced it and if the worship and preaching seemed forced or lacked passion they would not return. They do not like to sit still and let a band on the stage lead worship rather they would like to be involved in the process. They are not coming to church to watch a bunch of professional play on a stage no they are coming to church to worship God and that is what they want to do. I also found that they could care less about the style of music: they loved hymns (just as much if not more) and they loved contemporary. The issues which was most important was did the worship involve the Spirit and allow them to really worship.

We need to work hard to NOT let our worship and our preaching become dry, stale and lifeless. We need to have passion in our preaching and passion in our worship. We need to remember that we are beggars showing other beggars where to find food. We need to be pointing people to Jesus with passion and authenticity in everything that we do. We are not putting on a show but rather inviting our congregations to join us in worshiping our Lord and Savior.

4) Young Adults Want A Safe and Secure Nursery and Vibrant Children/Youth Program:

The few millennials and token 40 year old I had lunch with all emphasized the importance of the nursery and children programs. They said things like, "I'll put up with bad preaching if my children like the children's department." "is the nursery safe?" "How do they check in babies?" "How is the room laid out?" "Is the paint peeling off the walls?" "Are my children learning?" "If I don't feel safe leaving my child I won't be back."

If we want to reach the next generation we are going to need to do a lot of updating. We need to be emphasizing our nursery and children's programs. Adults care about these programs. Invest time, money and effort to get all programs and departments which minister to babies and children up to date. At the very least do not let asbestos paint be peeling off the walls.

5) Young Adults Want To Learn The Bible:

The Millennials I interviewed all thought churches were pathetic and lame when they attempted to be cool by giving away a car or having door prizes or providing motivational, self-help talks.

All of them wanted to know what the Bible said. All of them from a wide range of denominations and ages, all wanted to know about the Bible. Let me repeat that so you don't miss that... ALL OF THEM WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE BIBLE.

 If they took the time to come to church than they wanted to hear the Bible: not a self-help talk or a list of do's and don'ts but they wanted to hear the Bible in an applicable way.

They said things like, "I can have a cook out with my neighbors." "I can play games with my co-workers." "I can learn about finances from the YMCA." But when I come to church I want to learn the Bible.

We need to be doing a better job at teaching the Bible. The church is not a country club or another activity to add onto our schedule rather the church is how we grow in grace and mature as a follower of Jesus Christ. Millennials... this next generation...want the Bible.

They do not want to hear the Bible taught like a commentary rather they want the Bible to come alive and be filled with real world application. They are always asking, "What does this mean for me?" They want a faith that is real and active. They want a faith which challenges them to live on mission. They want a faith that is robust enough to handle this life. As leaders we need to be teaching the Bible and also challenging the next generation to live out the truths found in the Bible. We need to be providing opportunities to serve the poor, take care of widows, go on mission trips, free sex slaves, share the Gospel and be involved. They want to learn the Bible and they want the Bible to be taught in a relevant way which challenges them to live on mission. If Jesus changes everything than He changes everything.

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This list is nowhere near exhaustive and I could certainly go on and go deeper on each point but those are my top 5 I have discovered. If you would like more information I would love to talk with you further about this.

If you are a Millenial (18-30) who used to attend church but no longer attends or you are tired of church I would love to meet with you and discuss. Let's do lunch, my treat. If you live far away I'd love to Skype. I look forward to hearing from you.

I Love Listening To K-Love:

I love listening to K-Love. I know shocking... a Pastor likes to listen to Christian music. Don't get me wrong I still like listening to 93.1 The Wolf (country) or 100.3 Kiss FM (pop) but I always find myself switching the station back to K-Love. Below are ten reasons why:

10) Because It's A Gift:

Our great God has given us so much. He has given us His Son so we can be saved, He blesses us, provides for us, walks with us through tragedy and so much more. 1 Timothy 6:17 says that we are to "fix our hope... on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy." Christian music is one of those wonderful things God has given us to enjoy.

9) Because It Connects Me To Other Believers:

The Holy Spirit makes us one body in Christ and Christian music helps me feel connected to other believers. Listening to K-Love in the morning, I can be encouraged through the positive story of the day or listen to other people call in and talk about how God is moving in their lives. God is on the move and hearing other Christian's stories helps to connect me to them and encourage me that God is not dead but roaring like a lion.

8) Because It's A Preview of Heaven:

When we read the Bible, especially in the book of Revelation, what do we see people doing around the throne of God in heaven? We see them singing praises to God. Christian music here gives us an idea of part of what we will spend eternity doing, praising God in His presence in heaven. How exciting is that?

7) Because I Love To Sing:

Don't read I can sing. No I can't sing but it doesn't mean I don't like to belt out praises to God in my car. I shudder to think what the people next to me at the stop light think about my impromptu worship session. God put it in each of us to worship Him. While every act of our lives can and should be an act of worship to God it's wonderful to have songs to sing that help me express my worship to Him. So many artists, even if they aren't worship leaders per se still give us songs that allow us to enter God's presence and worship.

6) Because My Kids Can Listen To It:

When driving Piper and Bryant around I don't have to worry about them hearing bad language or having their world view changed. Piper has begun to sing along with a few of the songs. There is nothing sweeter than to hear her sing God Is On the Move or mumble under her breath some of the songs. I want my kids to listen to music that will have a positive message.

5) Because It Inspires:

In some of the darkest times of my life God has used a song to help pull me back out of it. Somehting like "How He Loves" from David Crowder or some other great song that brings me closer to Jesus. We often need inspiration or encouragement and God often uses music to do that.

4) Because It's Evangelical:

So much of the music that we have in the Christian world shares the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How many people have come to know Jesus through the message of a song, or being invited to a concert, or hearing it on the radio? What an amazing avenue of sharing the good news with people.

3) Because It's Biblical:

Think about the book of Psalms, an entire book of the Bible that was originally set to music. Then we have passages like Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Music is part of the Christian life and how wonderful for us to have it.

2) Because It's Good:

Within the world of Christian music we have everything from instrumental hymns to great hip-hop and rap with worship music or all styles and rock and roll in between. There is such a diverse pool of talent and available music from so many amazing artists that why wouldn't I love Christian music.

1) Because It Glorifies God:

We live in a world saturated with music and so much of it is filled with negative messages that are the opposite of who God is and what He has given us. The other day I was driving into work and the DJ on a non-Christian radio station was talking about her sex life. I'm not sure why she was sharing intimate details on the radio but I remember thinking, "why am I listening to this? why am I filling my mind with such garbage? Does this honor Christ?" K-Love seeks to do the exact opposite. K-Love seeks to provide God glorifying lyrics and a message that is both positive and encouraging.

Now if you will excuse me I'm going to go listen to K-Love

10 Reasons Jesus Came To Die:

Why did Jesus Christ suffer and die? I believe that is the most important question of the twenty-first century. Here are ten answers from the Bible.

Jesus came to die…

#10) To destroy hostility between races

The suspicion, prejudice, and demeaning attitudes between Jews and non-Jews in Bible times were as serious as the racial, ethnic, and national hostilities today. Jesus died to create a whole new way for races to be reconciled: he “has broken down…the dividing wall of hostility…making peace…through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

It is impossible to build lasting unity among races by saying that all religions can come together as equally valid. God sent his Son into the world as the only means of saving sinners and reconciling races. Only as the races find this reconciliation will they love and enjoy each other.

#9) To give marriage its deepest meaning

God’s design was never for marriages to be miserable, yet many are. That’s what sin does…it makes us treat each other badly. Jesus died to change that. He knew that his suffering would make the deepest meaning of marriage plain. That’s why the Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

God’s design for marriage is for a husband to love his wife the way Christ loves his people, and for the wife to respond the way Christ’s people should. This kind of love is possible because Christ died for both husband and wife.

#8) To absorb the wrath of God

God’s law demanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). But we have all loved other things more. This is what sin is—dishonoring God by preferring other things over him, and acting on those preferences.

The seriousness of an insult rises with the dignity of the one insulted. Since our sin is against the Ruler of the Universe, “the wages of [our] sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Not to punish it would be unjust. So God sent his own Son, Jesus, to divert sin’s punishment from us to himself. God “loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation”—the wrath-absorbing substitute—“for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

Then God publicly endorsed Christ’s accomplishment by raising him from the dead, proving the success of his suffering and death.

#7) So that we would escape the curse of the law

There was no escape from the curse of God’s law. It was just; we were guilty. There was only one way to be free: someone must pay the penalty. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

The law’s demands have been fulfilled by Christ’s perfect law-keeping, its penalty fully paid by his death. This is why the Bible teaches that getting right with God is not based on law-keeping: “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). Our only hope is having the blood and righteousness of Christ credited to our account.

#6) To reconcile us to God

The reconciliation that needs to happen between man and God goes both ways. God’s first act in reconciling us to himself was to remove the obstacle that separated him from us—the guilt of our sin. He took the steps we could not take to remove his own judgment by sending Jesus to suffer in our place: “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). Reconciliation from our side is simply to receive what God has already done, the way we receive an infinitely valuable gift.

#5) To show God’s love for sinners

The measure of God’s love is shown by the degree of his sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sins: “he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). When we add the horrific crucifixion that Christ endured, it becomes clear that the sacrifice the Father and the Son made to save us was indescribably great!

The measure of his love increases still more when we consider the degree of our unworthiness. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it.

#4) To show Jesus’ own love for us

The death of Christ is also the supreme expression that he “loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It is my sin that cuts me off from God. All I can do is plead for mercy.

I see Christ suffering and dying “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). And I ask, am I among the “many”? And I hear the answer, “Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me—personally—the greatest gift possible.

#3) To take away our condemnation

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith. Christ becomes our punishment (which we don’t have to bear) and our worth before God (which we cannot earn).

The death of Christ secures freedom from condemnation for those who believe that Christ has served their death sentence. It is as sure that they cannot be condemned as it is sure that Christ died!

#2) To bring us to God

“Gospel” means “good news,” and it all ends in one thing: God himself. The gospel is the good news that at the cost of his Son’s life, God has done everything necessary to captivate us with what will make us eternally and ever-increasingly happy—namely, himself. “Christ…suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

#1) To give eternal life to all who believe on Him

Jesus made it plain that rejecting the eternal life he offered would result in the misery of eternity in hell: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already....the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:18, 36).

But for those who trust Christ, the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see the all-satisfying glory of God. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

For all these reasons and more, Christ suffered and died. Why would you not embrace him as your Savior from sin and judgment, and live with God eternally?

Tract by John Piper entitled, "10 Reasons Jesus Came To Die"

Tough Question: Where Was Jesus The Saturday Before Easter?:

Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. (Mark 15:46)

We all know that Jesus died. “‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ And having said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46). But what happened after he died? We know that his body was laid in Joseph’s tomb, but what about his human soul?

Reflecting on this question not only sheds light on the Bible’s teaching about death and the afterlife, but it also is a great encouragement to us, who must face death and seek to do so without fear.

What Is Death?

First of all, what exactly is death? Death is separation, a dividing of things that ought to be united. Fundamentally, it is separation from God. Paul suggests as much in Ephesians 2:1: “You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.” To walk in sin is to be dead, to be enslaved to dark powers, to be separated from God, to be children of his wrath. This type of separation is an estrangement, a hostility, an alienation from the life and hope of the living God. In this sense, all of us, by nature, are born dead, and it is this death that Jesus endured in his suffering on the cross.

But of course, death is more than just separation from God. Death also marks the separation of the soul from the body. God made human beings to be embodied souls and ensouled bodies, and death rips this union asunder. But what happens to these two parts after they’re separated? Psalm 16:10 gives us a window into the biblical teaching.

          You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, 

                    or let your holy one see corruption.

This passage directs us to the normal account of what happened when a human being died prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The soul was abandoned “to Sheol,” and the body saw corruption or decayed.

In Acts 2:29–31, Peter tells us that David, in writing this psalm, foresaw the resurrection of Christ, “that he was not abandoned to Sheol (that is, his soul wasn’t), nor did his flesh see corruption” (notice that Peter reads the second line as a reference to Jesus’s body or flesh). Thus prior to Jesus, at death, souls normally went to Sheol, and bodies (flesh) decayed. We’re all familiar with the latter, but the former is more opaque. A quick Bible study will show us why Peter thinks that David’s prophecy in Psalm 16 is such good news.

What Is Sheol?

In the Old Testament, Sheol is the place of the souls of the dead, both the righteous (like Jacob, Genesis 37:35, and Samuel, 1 Samuel 28:13–14) and the wicked (Psalm 31:17). In the New Testament, the Hebrew word Sheol is translated as hades, and the description of Sheol in the Old and New Testaments bears some resemblance to the Hades of Greek mythology. It is under the earth (Numbers 16:30–33), and it is like a city with gates (Isaiah 38:10) and bars (Job 17:16). It is a land of darkness, a place where shades, the shadowy souls of men, dwell (Isaiah 14:9; 26:14). It is the land of forgetfulness (Psalm 88:12), where no work is done and no wisdom exists (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Most significantly, Sheol is a place where no one praises God (Psalm 6:5; 88:10–11; 115:17; Isaiah 38:18).

In the New Testament, the most extended depiction of the afterlife is found in Luke 16:19–31. There we learn that, like the Hades of Greek mythology, the biblical Sheol has two compartments: Hades proper (where the rich man is sent, Luke 16:23) and “Abraham’s bosom” (where the angels carry Lazarus, Luke 16:22). Hades proper is a place of torment, where fire causes anguish to the souls imprisoned there. Abraham’s bosom, on the other hand, while within shouting distance of Hades, is separated from it by a great chasm (Luke 16:26), and is, like the Greek Elysium, a place of comfort and rest.

While much mystery remains, the picture begins to take shape. All dead souls go down to Sheol/hades, but Sheol is divided into two distinct sides, one for the righteous and one for the wicked. The righteous who died prior to Christ dwelt in Sheol with Abraham, and though they were cut off from the land of the living (and therefore from the worship of Yahweh on earth), they were not tormented as the wicked were.

Where Did Jesus Go When He Died?

What, then, does this tell us about where Jesus was on Holy Saturday? Based on Jesus’s words to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, some Christians believe that after his death, Jesus’s soul went to heaven to be in the presence of the Father. But Luke 23:43 doesn’t say that Jesus would be in the presence of God; it says he would be in the presence of the thief (“Today you will be with me in Paradise”), and based on the Old Testament and Luke 16, it seems likely that the now-repentant thief would be at Abraham’s side, a place of comfort and rest for the righteous dead, which Jesus here calls “Paradise.”

Following his death for sin, then, Jesus journeys to Hades, to the City of Death, and rips its gates off the hinges. He liberates Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Old Testament faithful, ransoming them from the power of Sheol (Psalm 49:15; 86:13; 89:48). They had waited there for so long, not having received what was promised, so that their spirits would be made perfect along with the saints of the new covenant (Hebrews 11:39–40; 12:23).

After his resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven and brings the ransomed dead with him, so that now Paradise is no longer down near the place of torment, but is up in the third heaven, the highest heaven, where God dwells (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).

Now, in the church age, when the righteous die, they aren’t merely carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom; they depart to be with Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:23). The wicked, however, remain in Hades in torment, until the final judgment, when Hades gives up the dead who dwell there, and they are judged according to their deeds, and then Death and Hades are thrown into Hell, into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13–15).

Good News for Us

What implications does this have for Holy Week? Christ’s journey to Hades demonstrates that he was indeed made like us in every way. Not only did he bear the wrath of God on our behalf; he endured death, the separation of his soul from his body. His body was in Joseph’s tomb (Luke 23:50–53), and his soul was three days in Sheol, in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).

But as Psalm 16 makes clear, Jesus is not only like us, but different. Jesus’s body was buried, like ours, but it did not decay. Jesus’s soul went to Hades, like the Old Testament saints, but wasn’t abandoned there. God raised him from the dead, reunited his soul with a now-glorified body, so that he is the firstfruits of the resurrection harvest.

And this is good news for us, because those in Christ now bypass the land of forgetfulness, where no one praises God. Instead, when we die, we join with the angelic choir and the saints of old to sing praises to the Lamb who was slain for us and our salvation.

The Lord is risen. The Lord is risen indeed.

30 Pieces of Silver:

Last night before bed we were telling the Easter story to my three year old daughter Piper. We got to the part of the story where Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver; which was the price of a common slave and I was struck by how small the amount was that Judas was willing to betray his friend, mentor and Son of God. I mean think about it, Judas had been with Jesus for three years. They had done everything together, he had seen him perform miracle after miracle but yet when the opportunity presented itself and for just a small amount of money Judas betrayed Jesus. Very sad.

As I was standing in judgement over Jesus, God pricked my heart with the simple fact that I (we) betray Jesus for a small amount every single day. Take a minute and think about it. What is your 30 pieces of silver?

We betray Jesus when we gossip about somebody else.
We betray Jesus when we have anger in our hearts towards someone.
We betray Jesus when we steal.
We betray Jesus when we lie.
We betray Jesus when we put other things or people before God.
We betray Jesus when we fail to honor our parents.
We betray Jesus when we lust over someone of the opposite sex or maybe even the same sex.
We betray Jesus when we cheat.
We betray Jesus when we harbor un-forgiveness in our hearts.
We betray Jesus when we are lazy.
We betray Jesus when we don't take care of the poor.
We betray Jesus when we don't submit to the governing authorities over us.
We betray Jesus when we worry.
We betray Jesus when we are gluttons.
We betray Jesus when we compare ourselves to someone else.
We betray Jesus when we are not content.
We betray Jesus when we....

Oh, what a small amount we betray Jesus for.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We betray Jesus every time we do not follow these two commandments. The offense maybe small in our eyes but when we compare it to God's holy law we realize how great our betrayal is.

Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ went to the cross to forgive the sins of all those who place their trust in Him. This "Holy Week" we stand in awe and worship of the one who went to the cross, died and rose again to cover the betrayals of all those who trust in Him.

For all of us (myself included) who have betrayed our Lord and Savior may we look to the cross and thank Jesus for dying in our place and dying for our betrayal.