Losing Saltiness

"Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens"  (Heb. 7:26, NIV). 
"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!" (Psalm 1:1, NASB).

We are the "salt of the earth,' according to Jesus, and salt is not only a preservative, but it also adds flavor, zest, seasoning, and taste.  One thing it's good for is the dung heap: it makes it useful for fertilizer! But what if the salt loses its usefulness?  Is it able to be recycled and renewed, once used up?  No, it's served its purpose and must be trampled underfoot by men or thrown away with the garbage.  Salt is always salt, and never loses its genetic characteristics or chemical makeup, but once mixed in with impurities, it cannot be made pure again by normal means. The consolation is that we remain salt as our permanent status.  It is simply good for nothing, and some believers find themselves good for nothing, harassed by Satan and the world.

We are in an angelic conflict and it matters that we stay pure to fight and not lose our taste or usefulness.  Our role in the world is as witnesses and light in the dark also, and we must guard our testimony and not jeopardize it by too much casual friendship (note that friendship is hard to define) with the world--i.e., not going where you cannot invite Jesus with you, and not being contaminated by the world, for we are called to be saints (set apart ones), which implies a setting apart or of being holy in God's sight.  The issue is:  "Who is the good neighbor?  Not who is a good friend?" The Scripture says in 1 Cor. 15:33, NASB, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'"  We must not overestimate our spirituality and believe we are so holy and like Jesus that we don't have to be careful about the company, we keep and especially who we befriend.  Jesus said His friends were those who obeyed Him.  He was called the "friend of sinners," but He drew the line at befriending Pharisees, His enemies.

However, we must not neglect to reach out to the lost, of course, but there is a line to be drawn as to how intimate we get with the unbeliever.  There is a difference between being friendly and being friends!  If our ways please the Lord, even our enemies will be at peace with us, but they won't necessarily want our friendship.   We are opposed to the world and all it has to offer and our message to the lost is that they need to repent, not that we accept their sins and they are okay in our opinion.  Romans 1 makes it clear that approving of sin is equal to committing it.  If we don't denounce sin we are silently acquiescing and giving approbation to it.

There are many places I wish I'd never gone, and people I wish I'd never met (I've been to the dung heap and am permanently scarred as a result), but now I have learned to show discernment in whom befriend.  This doesn't mean we don't love indiscriminately and reach out to any in need, but friendship is a different matter and a friend can bring you down to his level.  It is true that, if you are so spiritual and mature that you may have a higher tolerance level and don't feel anyone can influence you, this is flaky and presumptuous, and naive ground to be on and you are not taking spiritual cautions.  If you have never been sorry about whom you rubbed elbows with, maybe you haven't been there and done that yet, or pitched your tent toward Sodom like Lot mistakenly did, "...who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked" (2 Pet. 2:7, NKJV).  One may inquire, "How do they get saved, if not by friendship?"  The answer is that only by the preaching of the gospel and our testimony, not to be jeopardized, penetrates their veneer and feet of clay.

We may find ourselves in a cesspool of human excrement and a wasteland, but we are to bloom where we are planted and realize that we are there for a reason: to plant seeds and be salt and light--sometimes the solution is MORE SALT, NOT BETTER SALT. The key, then, is to bloom where we are planted!  The Bible makes it clear that we are to show discernment and choose our associates and friends wisely, not being yoked unequally even when we are in love--to do otherwise would be presumptuous.  Friendship implies a mutual give and takes from equal partners.  Now it may be that you just happened to become friends with some sort of "untouchable" (i.e., the unrighteous who will not inherit the Kingdom of God according to 1 Cor. 6:9), and it may be your ministry to reach out to him, but it is not generally good advice to relax your standards.

How would you feel if your teenage daughter started hanging out with pimps because she thought she could convert them?  There is a place for common sense and choosing our friends and acquaintances.  Sometimes we are even distant from our own family members, much more do we need to keep our distance from sinners sometimes.  It is true that no unbeliever can "contaminate" you by his sin without your cooperation and negligence, but we are not to put the Lord to the test and see how far we can venture into sinful territory without contamination or defilement either!

This is why Scripture says, "[B]ut others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh," in Jude 23, NKJV.   If God has placed you in a dung heap, it shows His confidence in your ability to stay pure and He trusts you to know your limits and that you will show discretion.  Caveat:  Once we lose our innocence, it cannot be restored.


The conclusion of the matter is that some of us may become burdened for the lost and not afraid to befriend them (note that definitions of "friend" differ), no matter how sinful, and we may feel and think there is no danger of contamination, but we don't test the Word of God by our experience, but our experience by the Word of God, and the Bible says in 1 Cor. 15:33, NASB, "Do not be deceived:  'Bad company corrupts good morals.'"  The whole idea of being a Christian is to be one of the "called out ones" (ekklesia in Greek), and to be separate from the world:  "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; and then I will welcome you"  (2 Cor. 6:17, ESV). This does not necessitate cloistered virtue or becoming recluses or hermits, but showing discretion.     Soli Deo Gloria!

A Man For All Seasons

We need another Sir Thomas More, who stood up against King Henry VIII when he sought divorce and was known as the man for all seasons.  Paul said that he became all things to all people that he might save some.  We don't all have the kind of versatility these two had, but God can use us with the blessings and talents He has bestowed on us. We are mere stewards and will be held accountable.  In witnessing, for instance, some people are called to witness to a far different makeup of people than the average Joe.

Some people can only be reached by the like of us, and God has put them in our path and sphere of influence for a reason.  We don't witness, so much as to be witnesses; our lives speak volumes and often actions speak louder than words.  Augustine said to witness and if necessary use words.   People read us like a book and if they know we're saved, they are relentless.  We cannot be all things to all people and must find our niche in the crowds we hang around with.  Paul was good with the intellectual types of Mars Hill, Philip, the evangelist, was at home with the more common folk.  Peter was the apostle to the Jews, while Paul to the Gentiles, and for good reason--we are all wired differently and are meant to be a message to a certain element of society.

We must never say that God wants us to witness to the power elite of the universities, and to be remiss of our duty to the common man, just like a person with the gift of teaching cannot say that he can't help out because he doesn't have the gift of helps--we have a primary gift and way God uses us, but we need to be ready and prepared to be used any way that is necessary for the moment.  It isn't any one believer's job to save the world, but he must certainly find out his gift and how God blesses his endeavors.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

How To Engage Christ

Note, that in Ephesians 6:19, Paul asked for prayer support "... that words may be given to [him] in opening [his] mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel."  Yes, Paul needed those doors to be opened and didn't force Jesus on anyone.  You have to earn the right to speak and wait for the door to open.  Machine-gun  evangelism, or preaching to everyone the same message such as "repent sinner!" is out of line (this is only half the message--one must present the good news about Jesus too), and you must get them lost before saving them, but always saying the same thing simply doesn't work but only alienates. A good fisherman knows how to use different bait for different fishes. There is a "time to sow and a time to reap" and one must be patient because "He has made everything beautiful in its time"  (Ecc. 3:11).

The best preparation is to know the Word and your personal testimony, not to make mention of knowing why as well as what you believe.  Not knowing what you believe is a kind of unbelief and we are commanded to be ready to give an answer for the hope within us in 1 Peter 3:15.  You may have to make a defense and do so equipped with the full armor of God:  His truth, His righteousness, His Word, His peace, His shield of faith all given to you--note that your righteousness is God's gift to you, not yours to God (cf. 1 Cor. 4:7:  "... What do you have that you didn't receive?").  The more we learn to depend on God and realize that it isn't us doing it, the more success we will have.

There are plenty of provocative questions one might stimulate a dialogue with such as:  "What do you think is on the other side?  If you were to die today, are are you sure you'd go to heaven?  How are you managing your spiritual journey?  Do you ever ponder the hereafter?  What do you think a Christian is?  There are many such inquiries, and to personalize them is even better.  But let God direct the conversation and don't push it, but be Spirit-led.  Dare to be used by God because He will not let down a person of faith who wants to show his Christian colors and speak up for Jesus--you'd be surprised how many people really don't hold anything against Jesus Himself.

We are not to force an answer, but make sure they are ready to give one.  We should talk to God about the person before we talk to the person about God, it has been said.  In my own experience, it usually happens that, after much involvement with the person's own life, God seems to open the door and people don't really care how much you know until they know how much you care. The key to being used is to be prepared and to have compassion for the lost, which is a barometer of your usefulness, because you cannot do it in the flesh, but must know how to be led by the Spirit.  In witnessing, they would rather see a sermon than hear one any day--so guard your testimony. Once you've experienced God using you, you get addicted and desire to be used again and again--you get the bug!  They also say that once you've experienced the love of Christ, you want to pass it on!  You cannot lose, but it's always to your credit that you stood up for Jesus.

There are several roadblocks or impediments to overcome before the chance to present the gospel happens. Many don't know what to do at that last stage--they don't even know the gospel itself! There are opportunities, for instance:  To mention sin, then God, then Jesus, then salvation, then finally, the personal challenge, invitation, and opportunity for salvation--be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and don't force the issues.

Not making a decision, is a no decision. and we must make a beeline for the gospel as soon as we see the door open, i.e., know when to cast the bait and when to reel him in or close the deal.  We are never losers in this proposition because only God can open a door, and the results are up to Him who alone can convert a soul. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..." (John 6:44, ESV).  We are only being obedient to the Great Commission and doing our part.  "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received..."  (1 Cor. 15:3a, ESV).  We are only responsible for what God has given us and that is called faithfulness.

We all have a testimony (what you know for sure that happened to you) and that says something about how you came to know Christ personally, and as long as we don't jeopardize it, God will open doors: people will see Christ in us and want we we have--that is the highest compliment. But we must "be ready in season, and out of season" (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2) or we should always be on duty and know when to cast the line or drop the net because timing is everything--it must be God's timetable!

It is vital to know that you cannot argue someone into the kingdom.  "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels, which generate more heat than light!   And the Lord's servant must not quarrel..."  (2 Tim. 2:23f, NIV). We should not be embarrassed that we don't know all the answers--it only proves that you don't need to know all the answers to have faith and it doesn't shake your faith to not know--but you can tell them you will find the answer. There is no question that hasn't already been asked and none is going to make an impact on the power of the cross. The servant of God is never quarrelsome, but patient and sometimes he is all ears before God gives him the opportunity to speak forth the Word of God--you must wait for God's timing.  Learn to build bridges, not tear them down and find common ground, especially by getting to know them and showing interest in their problems or life crisis.  Jesus is the only one who can bridge the gap between us and God and they must realize their alienation and estrangement from a relationship with Him and the more abundant life Christ promised.  Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:19 that God has given to us the "ministry of reconciliation" or of bringing people back into a harmonious relationship with God.

Remember, the final pivotal question and challenge is whether there is any reason they cannot accept Christ as their Lord and Savior right now and see the urgency.  But the problem with most Christians is that they don't know what to do when they reach this point:  i.e., knowing an invitation or prayer of salvation.  Many Christians do not see the big picture or have a handle on the gospel and how to present it, even if given the opportunity.  But they must be willing to step out in faith from their comfort zone and be used by God--a beautiful experience!

In the final analysis, you must realize that your skill is not as important as your faith and faithfulness. The bait that God uses for seed is the Word of God and He promises that it will not come back void in Isaiah 55:11 and will always accomplish God's purposes.  God promises to honor His Word, so incorporate it and depend upon it, not your brilliance, witness, or testimony, important as they are.  1 Cor. 3:7 says, "Neither he who plants, nor he who waters is important, but God who gives the increase." Note that there are different lures or bait for different kinds of fish and we can become "all things to all people that by all means [we] might save some" (1 Cor. 9:22b, ESV).

Finally, we must acknowledge Paul's attitude in Romans 1:14-16 that he is ready, under an obligation or indebted, and not ashamed or embarrassed to spread the Word.  This is the least we can do out of a debt of gratitude we owe for our salvation--of which grace we cannot ever repay, can't earn, and don't deserve.  The right attitude is that we "get to witness" not that we have to.  Someone took the time to preach to us, so we must observe the Golden Rule and do unto others likewise.  If we are well prepared, Christ will be the rock of offense and stumbling block, not us.   Soli Deo Gloria!

The Window Of Opportunity...

You never know when God opens the door to communicate the gospel or to tell your personal testimony.   The first step is to break the ice and get the conversation rolling--pique their interest with something like:  "Have you ever considered what happens on the other side?" There are manifold opening lines one could concoct to challenge a person to think about eternity--don't force it, but wait for God's timing ("He makes all things beautiful in his time"), and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Don't be contentious, divisive, or argumentative, but try to build bridges and find common ground to start a dialogue. There are many barriers to break in witnessing:  The first mention of God; the mention of Jesus; the testimony of your salvation; and the way of salvation itself to challenge a person to make a decision--not making a decision is a "no" decision!

We are not to judge our witness as to its effectiveness, but only plant seeds (relying on the Word of God as you know it), water them and let God give the increase.  Caveat: Don't try to convict the person of his sins, but let the Holy Spirit do His job as He will.  The most important aspect of witnessing is our faithfulness and not our knowledge--God can work with what we know and will give us the words to speak at the time.  You don't need to feel you need all the answers to witness and you never will.

There will come a time when you will have to get to the real issue--the moral decision and not the smokescreen of an intellectual problem, as if they are feigning some ability to believe--they can believe; they just won't, unless they are willing to do His will (cf. John 7:17).  You cannot argue a person into the kingdom and it shouldn't be attempted--it will only feed their ego and reaffirm their skepticism and cynicism.  You must make it clear that there is enough evidence for the willing person who wants to believe, and never enough for the person not willing to do God's will.

How do you open doors? (Even Paul prayed for open doors in Eph. 6.) When God opens the door, no one can close it (cf. Is. 22:22).  You must absolutely realize that only God can and will with prayer--speak to God about the person before speaking to the person about God as a good rule of thumb.  But don't be hesitant, but be always ready, in season and out, as Peter says--preach the Word boldly and let them see your faith in action!   You will find that God is giving you the wisdom to speak His Word and will guide you by the filling of the Holy Spirit--enabling to do His work.  

If you genuinely care about a person they will sense it and will give you the opportunity and time to share a testimony or give a reason for the hope within you, as Peter says.   We don't preach to people, but share and relate to them on their level--find out where they are (neither go over their heads nor condescend), and level with them in an area of commonality.

Your story uniquely qualifies you to witness to certain people that others cannot reach.  In a sense, we are all things to all people or people for all seasons in this regard.  When you see God opening doors, know that He is blessing your witness and proceed faithfully and confidently with this assurance.  But note:  Once you see the door open to share the gospel message, make an immediate beeline to the way of salvation--sometimes this window of opportunity is very small and we must be attentive to see its arrival.  Remember, you are in a win-win situation when witnessing because God is responsible for the outcome and result, while He expects you to just be a faithful witness and tell your own personal story. You cannot lose!  Soli Deo Gloria!

How I Know I Am A Christian...

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith"  (1 Timothy 1:5, cf. 2 Tim. 1:5, ESV).
"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall"  (2 Peter 1:10, ESV).

God does not require perfect faith, but sincere faith.  It is the object of the faith that saves, not the amount of it.  We don't have faith in faith per se, but faith in Christ.  You can be sincerely wrong too. You can be 100 percent sure and still go to hell because the faith was misguided.  God wants no feigned, pretended, pseudo-faith but an honest faith in Christ. Muslims can be 100 percent sure (by dying in a jihad) and still go to hell because they are misguided. Like Romans 10:2 says the Jews had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  In other words, you can have a lot of faith in the wrong thing and be lost.  Our faith gets strengthened by trial and tribulation as our faith is tested by God since it is more valuable than silver or gold.  Bear in mind that we are saved through the instrumental means of faith (but in Romanism the instrumental means are the sacraments, i.e., baptism, etc.), but our reward is based on our works (Rom. 2:6), not our faith!  Faith and faithfulness can be distinguished, but not separated (they are the same Hebrew word in Habakkuk 2:4).

Now, I have had no heavenly vision, divine visitation, dream, heard voices, have had any divine revelation, or existential experience whatsoever to my knowledge, yet I know I am saved.  This begs the question:  How can I be so presumptuous, as it were, and be so positive without any doubts whatsoever, being convinced 100 percent?  After all it is our duty to be sure and find assurance because of the command in 2 Peter 1:10; however, it is not just to satisfy idle curiosity!  Without assurance, you will be stunted and paralyzed in your walk and remain an infant in Christ.

The reason most believers doubt (and assurance is not an automatic fruit nor of the essence of salvation, according to The Westminster Confession of Faith, ca 1646, but only for the benefit of its well-being), and this is because they confuse works and faith or fact and feeling. They may also just be ignorant of the Word or even fail to take God at His Word in light of the gospel message!  Once they get a biblical view of the subject of assurance they may be reassured.  It is not the evangelist's job to give or grant assurance or to certify salvation--that is the domain of the Holy Spirit.

It is because I know the Scriptures and they are a part of my soul and spirit and I know they are dependable and reliable for faith, as the psalmist declared in Psalm 119 so many times.  God wants us to be sure and to know, but He wants us to have faith and not be dependent on experience which is so subjective. We can have reassurance in many ways to increase our faith though.  No one has the same experience and there is no common ground for faith and fellowship.  "For without faith it is impossible to please God."  Thomas was gently rebuked by Jesus because he doubted and he had to see Jesus believe (believing is seeing, not seeing is believing!) because Jesus said that "blessed are those who have not seen [or heard] and yet believed [they have more faith]."

1 John 5:13 says that the reason he is writing is so that we can know that we are saved--he doesn't mention any type of O.B.E. or out-of-body experience, near-death experience, hearing of heavenly voices, visits of angels,  visions, or dreams, but quotes the Bible.  We are to rely on God's plain and simple Word, the way a child would.  We need childlike, but not childish faith!  Take Him at His Word!   This is known as having "spiritual birth certificates." There are other reasons I know I am saved, besides relying on verses like John 6:37 ("He who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out") and John 1:12 ("As many as received Him gave He the right to be the children of God, even them that believe on His name"). I know that Christ died in my stead and rose again on my behalf!  God has more to lose than I do if I don't get saved, because His Word says so:  "God says it in His Word, I believe it in my heart, that settles it in my mind."  I know what God says and believe Him  (as 2 Tim. 1:12 says, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able...").  As Michael Faraday said, "I'm not resting on conjecture, but certainties."

There are other factors that reassure me:  The way God is changing my life and making me more in the image of Christ; the way God speaks to me through the Bible and many other ways; and especially in fellowship and witness the way the "Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God" (cf. Rom. 8:16).  An obvious sign is that I live an abundant, complete, and fulfilled life in Christ that has meaning and purpose and is very rewarding and inspiring, producing fruit. In short, my life has not only been changed, but exchanged, surrendered, renewed, and transformed, and I have not just turned over a new leaf, but my mind, will, and emotions have experienced a complete and total about-face, a complete turnaround, an overhaul of my soul and spirit,  a 180-degree turn! It's not that God made me "good," but He gave me life and made me "alive!"  However, no matter my experience, I like the refrain:

"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name."  (Edward Mote)

I know that I have "the Spirit!"  I have tested the spirit like it says in 2 Cor. 13:5 (ESV): " ... Test yourselves.  Or you not realize this about yourselves, that  Jesus Christ is in you? ...."  We are to examine ourselves and I have done this to "test the spirit."  In other words, we are to examine our own fruit and be fruit inspectors (no fruit--no faith!).  Search your own heart--do you love Jesus?

Only God can inspire me as He does and open my eyes to the Word as He does, and guide my life providentially as He does (like in meeting my daily needs)--there is no mistake God is at work in me--anyone that has known my life story could testify to this--my life is a miracle!  I have witnessed so much in my life and been the recipient of so much grace that, if I were to ask God for a sign or more evidence, He would simply say, "My grace is sufficient for thee!" I was indeed saved long before I became fully convinced because you don't have to know you're saved to be saved!  We are all "works in progress" as it is commonly said.  Like Paul says in Philippians 2:13 (ESV) to conclude: "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  Soli Deo Gloria!

Is Talk Cheap?

The Romans were practical people who believed talk was cheap and actions are what matter because sometimes actions do speak louder than words.  Did not Pilate ask Jesus, "What did you do?" and not "What did you say?"  If we don't make good on our talk it is cheap and we lose the validity of our testimony.  Most people that believe talk is cheap are those who don't know how to talk or haven't acquired the skill to converse intelligibly.  It is a matter of mutuality or give and take, listening and talking because there are times when listening is a better skill and more valuable than speaking.  We may need someone to listen to us at times of need and God can give us a word of encouragement, and it is a gift to be able to speak a word in season and to know how to comfort someone in their loss.

Talk can be therapeutic, too.  People that have problems need to talk them out and resolve personal issues together with other peers or trusted counselors.  To give someone the silent treatment is one of the cruelest forms of punishment because it cuts him off from communication and fellowship. All believers need the fellowship of their brethren and no one is a rock or island in need of no friends. Like the song by The Beatles, "I Get Along With A Little Help By My Friends."  People who need people, it is said in another song, are the happiest people.   Personally, I can testify that there have been periods in my life when I just wanted "talk therapy" and needed to talk out my problems and to get some empathy or sympathy.  I have been to the point of such loneliness that I was desperate to talk to even anyone.

We relate to one another by communicating not by doing works, which are a validation of our witness, and show that our faith is real.   Like Paul would say, "I will show you my good deeds by my faith," and James would say, "I will show you my faith by my good deeds."  They go together and can be distinguished, but not separated--you cannot have one without the other and works and faith are each other's flip side.  One work we are commanded to do is to witness of our conversion and of the gospel message and this is via words, not actions, through our actions prove our witness is real to us and show the gospel in shoe leather.

Talk can be cheap if it isn't backed up by a testimony that isn't jeopardized and is without hypocrisy. It can be empty talk that has no inner meaning or edifying or redeeming value to the listener. Some people know how to talk so well that their talk is their profession and they heard no matter the season because they have proved themselves or have the training and experience to back it up. We all want to hear from someone who has been there and done that or has learned through the school of hard knocks and has a story.  A person with a message to relate will always find hearers.

We earn the right to be heard and no one is obligated to listen to us if we haven't earned this privilege.  People who are good talkers have learned to be good listeners first and have often learned the hard way and not just through books.  Scholars don't necessarily have all the answers either; it is a matter of knowing God and having the gift of wisdom that He alone can bestow.   Soli Deo Gloria!  

Poor Follow-through

You can have the best of intentions, but if you don't make good on them,  they are only gestures and not worth recompense.  Sincerity is necessary, but it is not sufficient, you must practice the truth as well as know it;  this is known as orthopraxy vs. orthodoxy (right conduct and right creed).  We can all be in danger of being more empty talk and promise and less delivery of the goods. Intentions don't count without making good on them.

Some just preach or talk about what people want to hear and to please their itching ears and try to water down the truth and make it more palatable, instead of telling it like it is.  The truth can knock you out of your comfort zone, wake you up from your dogmatic slumber, and upset the applecart. Jesus was known for challenging authority and being "anti-establishment" and to invade the turf of the Pharisees so that they were jealous of His influence.

Sometimes we can tend to be all heart and not have the follow-through to apply what we feel or get convicted of--it is just sentiment.  We are to follow the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind; this means our whole person and ability, talent, time, gifts, and resources that we are stewards of and are accountable for.  Following God begins in the heart but we must graduate and go on to know the Lord and follow Him in obedience to His commands.

We must never jeopardize our testimony by not living up to our creed; we must turn it into deeds and make it our own to God's glory, for which we are saved. We tend to agree with each other in principle, but fail to carry it out in practice as a reality and testimony to others, making us look like hypocrites who don't practice what we preach.  I can't stress enough the value of going the "extra mile" and putting in the extra effort to please God to the best of our ability, and do the best job we can for the Lord ("Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not unto men," quoting Colossians 3:23).   Soli Deo Gloria!

What Is Witnessing?

It's time to define our terminology and make it clear what we are talking about. Is merely saying, "Thank God!" witnessing? Authentic witnessing is done in the power of the Holy Spirit and is a presentation of the gospel in whole or part, depending on where the person is spiritual. The basic message and facts are, according to 1 Cor. 15:1-3, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. To "obey the gospel" is to repent and accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus said, "repent and believe the gospel."

We all try to make people "God-conscious" by mentioning such phrases as "Thank God!", "God-willing" or "Praise the Lord (Hallelujah), "God knows best!, "God bless you!" or "Amen." Saying grace can open doors as well as be a silent witness. These kinds of remarks make a person aware of our position and stand. We may say political opinions (one way to open a door), and be accused of being too conservative, for example. We may ultimately be accused of being "holier-than-thou," or a holy-roller. If we mention Jesus, or object to someone blaspheming His name (and this is a barrier to break when we go from God to Jesus), we may be accused of being a Jesus freak. Many people are offended by Jesus, but not by God, since they don't equate the two.

Remember, it is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin, not we ourselves. Don't try to make them feel guilty or that we are out to reform their lives like giving up cigarettes or beer. Jesus is out to give a new life not just a changed life. Transformed and exchanged life (a more abundant life) in Christ not turning over a new leaf or making a New Year's resolution. Paul said that he was not "ashamed of the gospel" because that is where the power is.

Giving our testimony is something that cannot be argued. "I was blind, but now I see! [said the blind man]." First, we tell about how we were before we meant Christ (I felt separated from God, my life was dominated by sin and pleasing myself, there was a void in my life nothing could fill); how we met Christ (I realized I was a sinner and repented and invited Christ to be my Lord and Savior--if I may add in passing, one must believe Christ to be the one and only Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again as the facts); and what our life is like after we got saved (now I have peace with God and others and myself, I have purpose in living, and I have assurance I am going to heaven). We should all have our testimony ready because we never know when we will need it. "Having our feet shod with the gospel of peace."

We must be on the alert for opportunities or open doors (and only God can open a door-cf. Matt. 7:7 "knocking") to witness because God prepares hearts to be ready for His grace and love. The hardest thing to do is to break the ice and start a conversation. We can open by saying, "Are you absolutely, 100 percent sure that you would go to heaven if you died today?" Or, "Why should God let you into heaven?" For the timid, I suggest passing out tracts and saying something like, "Did you get one of these?" or "This is what helped me."   Soli Deo Gloria!

Talking The Talk

Yet "... it is written:  'I believed; therefore I have spoken.'  With that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak"  (2 Cor. 4:13).
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard," (Acts 4:20, KJV). 

In the seventeenth century, it was every gentleman's hobby to converse in "God-talk" or be clued in on theology and in the know, as it were. But this is no guarantee that one knows the Lord, simply because he is acquainted with Scripture!  Even the devil quotes it for his own purposes.

It seems like some reticent Christians who think "talk is cheap" (Rom. 10:17 says faith comes by hearing by the way!) and they attack believers who voice their opinions, saying that if you don't "walk the walk, you shouldn't talk the talk."  Satan will muster all his forces to shut us up!  However, we are commanded to speak out to the best of our ability.  These cliches are unbiblical and have no basis in truth--can you give me a Bible verse to back them up?   If we had to wait till we were perfect to talk we would have an excuse to keep quiet all our lives because we are always working in progress and no one can say that he has "arrived." 

However, we don't want to be hypocritical in our talk and talk a talk that contradicts us.  When one is filled with the Spirit he wants to talk about spiritual matters and share Christ with others, whether he is "perfect" or not.  "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).  In other words, they got the "can't-help-its" as they say.

Fellowship is not just for a few elite believers who have their act together, but for all of the body and no one can say that he doesn't need some "body part."  In my experience, one merely doesn't have the ability to speak of spiritual things and share Christ without the guidance of the Holy Spirit;  it is not mere energy of the flesh, but the power of the Spirit--(cf. Zech. 4:6 says:  "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of Hosts").

It is the religious people who think they are better than others by virtue of their performance and are a cut above other believers, that don't think God can speak through the least of these of Christ's brethren.  The devil is the one who wants to muzzle the ox that treads out the grain and can't stand it when someone speaks for Christ or witness and says he is "unworthy."  But no one is worthy and it is because of grace alone that we have the privilege of speaking on Christ's behalf as His ambassadors of reconciliation.

Now, my interpretation of this matter is that if you don't witness, you shouldn't pass yourself off as an expert on the subject (however, I'd still like to hear your opinion of what you do know or think you know!); and if you don't pray don't teach about it, but it is always fitting and proper to boast in the Lord and of what He has done through you ("I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me," says Rom. 15:18).

You don't earn the right to witness, you just see an open door and take advantage of the opportunity whenever the Spirit leads--we are commanded to witness via the Great Commission.  Fellowship is a birthright of all believers, not just a select few.   All believers have the right to witness and should never be ashamed that they are Christians or of the gospel (cf. Rom. 1:16 which says:  "I am not ashamed of the gospel...").

It is vital that we practice what we preach, but the devil will do everything to muzzle us and keep us from speaking for Christ.  It is a shame that some who profess a faith in Christ deny Him by their works and life testimony.   (Cf.  Titus 1:16:  "They profess to know God, but by their works they deny Him.")   In conclusion:  God will not stand for hypocrisy and we have to be careful not to condemn ourselves by our speech because Jesus did say that it is by our own words that we will be judged--but do not get discouraged that you aren't good enough, because no one is.   Soli Deo Gloria!

So, Are You A Sinner?

"If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar" (1 John 1:10).
"For everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness, sin is lawlessness" (per John).
"And who fain would serve Thee best
Are most conscious of wrong within."
John Stott:  "It is no use giving us rules of conduct; we cannot keep them."

That's a loaded question and not so easily expounded upon. First of all, according to R. C. Sproul, the renowned Reformed theologian, we are all sinners in that we sin and we sin because we are sinners, we are not sinners because we sin (i.e., we are born with the inclination to sin or with the cards stacked against us). We are born in sin (Psalm 51:5 says, "Surely, I was sinful at birth....")  You could say we lie because we are natural born liars and we don't become liars when we tell our first lie.

We are deeply flawed and radically corrupt and deformed in our heart, mind, and will by depravity, and are inherently evil, not basically good, as humanists assert.  My pastor says that God no longer "classifies us as sinners [though we really are]."  He also says, "Sin no longer defines us."  This means that we are above it and God no longer holds it against us (Psalm 32:2 says, blessed are those "whose sin the LORD does not count against them."

This may also seem like a trick question:  Either way, you answer it, you can be refuted!  N.B. that the Bible calls Christians "saints" and sinners are generally referred to those who are lost in their sin and not overcoming it. An exemption is Gal. 2:17 calling Christians sinners ("...we ...find ourselves also among the sinners").  We are no longer slaves to sin, nor under its power as believers.  We don't have the right to live in the flesh because we are forgiven, but the power to live in the Spirit.  Martin Luther, the renowned theologian, and pastor who inaugurated the Reformation said that we are at the same time sinners and just.  God reckons us as just as righteous as Christ because He sees us in Christ as our position.  In the Bible, when it calls people "sinners" it is generally referring to the lost or the unjust--that doesn't mean Christians aren't sinners who have reached "perfectionism" or "entire sanctification" (cf. Psalm 119:96 says, "  To all perfection I see a limit;" Prov. 20:9 says, "Who can say, 'I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin'?"

The titanic struggle that Christians have is to overcome sin; even pagan writer Ovid wrote that he "sees the better things and approve them, but he follows the worst:"  This is exactly what Paul was referring to in Romans 7 when he said that nothing good dwells in him and said, "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it but is sin living in me" (Rom. 7:15-17).

The key to conquering sin, and we are more than conquerors in Christ, is to keep our eyes on Jesus and stop trying so hard--but learn to trust!  The more we try to stop sinning in our own strength, the more enslaved we become, because we are reinforcing it (my pastor says).  Some good ideas to avoid sin is to keep busy, especially in the work of the Lord, and to think of things of good report and of virtue as Phil. 4:8 says.   There's always a way of escape according to 1 Cor. 10:13 and we never have to sin anymore.

It is important to realize how bad of a sinner we are and that we have no hope of saving ourselves, but throw in the towel and give up the ship to Christ as one's captain.  We don't realize how bad we are till we try to be good, and, conversely, we can't be good until we realize how bad we are.   This is a catch-22 to reflect on.  We are not as bad as we can be, but are as bad off as we can be--even Hitler loved his mother and wasn't as bad as he could have been and he is considered by many to be the paradigm of evil along with Judas.

This is God's estimation of man, not man's estimation of man!  Our sin, no matter how much or how little is enough to condemn us, because to God sin is like antimatter to matter.  I am grateful that even though I am a great sinner, I have a great Savior!  I just keep short accounts and "move on" as my pastor says.  I don't live in the past.

The devil accuses you of sin, but the Holy Spirit does an open and shut case against you and there is no argument.  We all have feet of clay and have weaknesses not readily apparent. But God doesn't grade on a curve!   Jesus sees through the veneer and exposes our dark side that we want to hide--He is the only one that really knows us better than we know ourselves even.  God doesn't grade on a curve!  Yes, we are bad, but not too bad to be saved!  We are never good enough to be saved, in other words, but bad enough to need salvation:  ironically, some people don't even want to admit they are sinners because they "haven't done anything that bad."

We often compare ourselves with others who seem worse and get proud:  "Compared to Saddam Hussein I am a saint!"  We may think of ourselves as just a "run-of-the-mill" sinner, but we should be comparing ourselves to Christ who is the express image of His glory and the divine standard:  "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).  Caveat:  God doesn't grade on a curve;  the standard is is perfection, the test is direction!

Well, what is the biblical definition of sin?  In the study of hamartiology sin is from the Greek word hamartia, a marksman's word for "missing the mark."  It is suggested that one shoots at a target and misses the bull's eye.  When one misses achieving this standard he "sins."  There are both sins of omission and commission.  When God says in negative terms:  Thou shalt not, and we do, it is a sin of commission  When we fail to do God's will and leave something undone, which we should have done, it is also sin--this is a sin of omission.  Having a mind and willpower makes us able to sin.  Basically, sin is nonconformity to the law of God, anything not of faith, when we know the right thing to do, and fail to do it, any transgression, trespass, or perverted act.

Some things may be sin for one brother and not another.  We can sin against a brother (cf. 1 Cor. 8:12), but basically all sin is against God and only His forgiveness brings salvation from past, present, and future sins.  Any act of unbelief is a sin according to 1 John 5:10.  Sin is also lawlessness according to 1 John 3:4.  The Anglican Book of Common Prayer adds: "leaving undone that which I ought to have done."

However, Jesus internalized sin (the Pharisees had "externalized" sin by reducing it to what can be seen by men like fasting; eating kosher; ceremonial washing; et cetera), saying that "out of the heart proceed evil thoughts."  It is not a matter of having clean hands, but a clean heart to be pure in God's eyes.  "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7).  Sin is a disease or an illness and we cannot say we have a little sin no more than we can say one is a little pregnant!  In short, when we sin against God, we violate His nature and holiness; when we sin against man, we violate his humanity and dignity as a human in the image of God, according to R. C. Sproul.  He goes on to say that all sin is an act of treason to overthrow God.  I have heard it said, that sin is "man's declaration of independence from God."

It is a grave mistake to rename sin with pretty names to be less offensive like:  shortcomings, errors, mistakes, habits, vices, et cetera.  Billy Graham says that this is like relabeling a poison and calling it the Essence of Peppermint, which would make it more dangerous to the kids.  The closer you get to God the more aware you are of sin:  Samuel Rutherford said, "Pray for a lively sense of sin, then you'll have less sin."   Great saints have often discounted their holiness and downgraded themselves out of humility:  John Bunyan wrote Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners."  Paul called himself "the chief of sinners."  A good definition from Charlie Riggs is "any thought, word, omission, action, or desire contrary to the Word of God."  The whole purpose of the law is to make us cognizant of our sin not to be a way of salvation, or a code to live by for good measure--we are incapable of keeping it:  "For by the law is the knowledge of sin"  (Rom. 3:20, Phil.).  The Law measures us, it doesn't save us!

To become Christians we must be willing to turn from sin (repentance) and turn to God (through faith in Christ by grace).  We need not only to be against sin in theory but renounce sin and any individual sins God has laid on our hearts.  [Believers are still sinners, by the way, according to Gal. 2:17. and John says in 1 John 1 that "if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us in v. 8.] We need to repent of all our sins, not just the ones we don't like and keep our pet sins. Legalists see sins and not sin (God can make us a new person with a victory over it by putting a new man in the suit, not a new suit on the man):  Our problem is the old sin nature, or our sinful flesh or carnal man.  We must be changed (passive case) from the inside out (i.e., God does it!).  This is due to our solidarity in Adam and what's known as "original sin" (therefore sin is universal (termed the universality of sin) and the common-held belief that nobody's perfect--as they say, "To err is human."

We don't try to be the Holy Spirit and convict people of their sins, that's the role of the Holy Spirit alone.  In due time He will show them the error of their ways:  thus we have so many Christians doing what we wouldn't because they haven't matured to our level yet.  It is the consensus that we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Pet. 3:18).  We go from glory to glory and increase in Christ-likeness as we grow and mature according to 2 Cor. 3:18. ("...we are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory....").

Albert Camus said that "the absurd is sin without God."  This is true:  if there is no God, there is no absolute value system and everything is only relative.  No one can say with certainty that something is a sin.  We need a divine standard to appeal to:  some call this "natural law"--this is what convicted the Nazi war criminals who claimed they only obeyed the law of the "Fatherland."  We all have a conscience and an innate sense of right and wrong which makes us culpable for our sin.  Dr. Karl Menninger wrote a famous book: Whatever Became of Sin?  Even psychiatrists are starting to use the word again and think that "God" may have a point!

There is a very well-known preacher of a megachurch that refuses to preach on sin because he regards it as a "killjoy word."  I recall Calvin Coolidge, the man of few words, coming home from church and his wife asking him what the sermon was about:  "Sin."  "What did he say?" "He was against it!"  If  I make any point, I want you to be sure that God cannot tolerate sin in His presence (Satan was booted out of heaven) and His eyes are too pure to behold evil (Hab. 1:13). God is just and must do something about the sin question.

But God is love and also gracious and has found a way out of the dilemma.  The gospel message is that God has solved the sin problem through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  If we truly repent of our sins and receive Christ as our Lord and trust Him as our Savior we will be delivered and rescued from the coming wrath or calamity of God (1 Thess. 1:9).    Soli Deo Gloria!

Developing Holy Habits

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1).
"Direct my steps according to your word; let no sin rule over me" (Psalm 119:133).
 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
"Sin will have no power over you, because you aren't under Law but under grace" (Romans 6:14).
 "They are slaves to whatever has mastered them"  (2 Pet. 2:19).
 "'I have the right to do anything,' you say--but not everything is beneficial.  'I have the right to do anything'--but I will not be mastered by anything"  (1 Cor. 6:12).

NON-BIBLICAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

"To fall into a habit is to begin to cease to be," as P. D. Ouspensky has said.
"Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life," says Grenville Kleiser.
"Habit with him was all the test of truth, 'It must be right: I've done it from my youth,'" quips George Crabbe.

Why are habits crucial?
"Sow a thought  ["As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," says Prov. 23:7; cf. Prov. 4:23], reap an act ["The soul of every act is thought," according to Robert Browning]; sow an act, reap a habit [there's a loss of self-control]; sow a habit, reap a character [We are the sum total of our thoughts]; sow a character, reap a destiny [salvation or damnation]."  It is that simple according to Charlie Riggs.  Peter said, "Whatever overpowers you, enslaves you" (2 Pet. 2:19; cf. Rom.6:16).  Sin is just like that:  it enslaves and alienates you [from God or from others].  We must "consider [our] ways" as Haggai says!  This suggests that the first step is to analyze our life.--"The unexamined life is not worth living," said Socrates.

Habits can develop into addictions if persisted in (even impulsive behaviors) and some things like drugs or coffee seem to be addictive by nature.  In those cases, one may need deliverance and the aid of other believers to intervene and intercede on your behalf.  This is why we need to nip the habit in the bud before it controls us:  it is alright if we control it!  (Cigarettes are a prime example (not a sin in themselves) and are also a medical problem that is aggravated by chemicals such as tar and nicotine.)

Having habits is like being programmed--we should be careful who is doing the programming and be aware of input error!  We are sometimes guilty of habitual behavior that is done without thinking too.  Habits may ultimately decide our eternal destiny, so we should judge them.  Some habits are just ingrained behavior due to repetition like sitting in the same seat where we feel comfortable, or taking the same way home, or going the same place and sometimes we find ourselves repeating the folly unconsciously--like when I go to the lounge instead of the laundry room, because I always go there.

Man is a creature of habit, it is said, and no one can claim to be without them. The issue is whether they are healthy or deleterious, and whether they interfere with our testimony or not. ("All things are permissible, but I will not be mastered by anything," says 1 Cor. 6:12b).   C. H. Spurgeon smoked and was asked when he would quit:  "When it became a problem."  When is that?  "When I smoke two at a time!"  There is some validity to his tongue-in-cheek remark:  The only time we need to worry about a habit is if it compromises or jeopardizes our witness to the world, or otherwise diminishes our character because most habits are fairly harmless.  Those who are married are often annoyed by the mannerisms, quirks, idiosyncrasies, and eccentricities of their mate:  Things like nail biting, procrastinating [never-ending to-do list], teeth grinding, negative thinking, potty mouth, or what-have-you.  Did the mate think he or she actually could change their mate?  Love in marriage is accepting the mate despite their faults--not demanding change.

God doesn't require us to clean up our act to become Christians.  We come as we are, but we don't stay that way.  We are changed from the inside out of all sinful habits.  It goes with coming clean and owning up to our failures, flaws, and shortcomings ( sins).  The fact is though, that God changes us and gives us the power to overcome our sin.  "He shall save His people from their sin."  God accepts us as we are and works on us "to do and to will according to His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).  I believe that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome our habits ("Cease striving and know that I am God," says Psalm 46:10) and develop good ones to replace them (it is a law of nature to abhor a vacuum!). Just taking them away would open the door for a worse fault or demon.  Don't replace one habit with a worse one!  Don't just clean house or turn over a new leaf, get the Lord's power to live in the Spirit.

Jesus had some "holy" habits (I'm not saying we need a longer to-do list, which would revert us to legalism like the Pharisees or known as the yoke of the Pharisees]:  he got up before dawn to pray, he gave thanks before eating, and he went to the synagogue every Sabbath to worship.  But he did not have the habit of washing his hands before eating, which drove the legalistic Pharisees nuts because he saw that as only an addendum or legalistic extension of the Mosaic Law.  He was probably known as Mr. Unclean.

It is good to have "holy" habits that develop into godliness and give God the opportunity to nurture our faith.  For me, reading the Bible is only natural and I wouldn't dream of not doing it on a daily basis.  Praying is also without ceasing as I keep the communication line open between me and my Maker.  I keep short accounts with Him and immediately confess all known sin according to 1 John 1:9 ("If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness").

One should study Brother Lawrence's book The Practice of the Presence of God to see how one can always be in fellowship with God, no matter what one is doing.  A word to the wise is sufficient:  Do not practice your piety before men, to be seen by them (per Matt. 6:1)--then you've had your reward.  To initiate godly habits one must simply take a leap of faith and just do it--try it, you will be rewarded!  And by all means don't ever get into the trap of thinking you have to do something (that is legalism)--the motive should be the unsatisfied one of love, not fear, i.e., that you want to!

To start the challenge of cultivating a "holy" habit, one should start with some goal or task that he or she believes he or she can faithfully execute.  It only takes a few days to develop a habit, so be careful what habits you are beginning.  It is a lot harder to break a habit than begin one.  We are known by our habits and we get set in a pattern or rut, you could say.  For me, the goal is to bow down to the Father first thing I wake up in the morning and thank Him and then offer my petitions for the day, of which are composed of my outstanding prayer requests and needs.  (I confess that I was brought up saying grace before eating, and hardly ever even remember to do it now as an adult, unless in company with other believers.  I just got out of the habit and don't remember anymore.)

I believe that God empowers us to break bad habits through the Holy Spirit.  We don't speak of quitting cigarette smoking, but being set free--viva la difference!  We want to give God the glory and learn to depend on His strength ("Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts," says Zech. 4:6).  Our attitude should always be to give God the credit to remember what Jesus said:  "Apart from Me you can do nothing"  (John 15:5).  If God wants us to quit, He will tell us when and all we have to be is obedient. It must be in His timing and we will be convicted by the Holy Spirit not accused or made to feel guilty by our friends or enemies.  He will give us the strength if it is His will.  It has to be in His timing, though.  It is not a matter of trying, but of trust.  It must be by faith that God gets the glory (Soli Deo Gloria! meaning to God alone be the glory).  Soli Deo Gloria!

Tough Act to Follow?

I know what it is like to have to speak after a great performance or Spirit-led testimony:  The question I ask myself is whether I can equal or even surpass his achievement; then I realize that we are on the same side and that God is in control--we both possess the same Spirit, but different gifts. The key is not to be competitive but be yourself and let them accept you.   Different manifestations of the Spirit for the common good, Paul elaborates in 1 Corinthians.  My pastor says that the body of Christ has many parts that are very diverse and we should celebrate our differences--viva la difference! Welcome diversity because a healthy body has it.  The lesson again is:  BE YOURSELF!  God accepts you, so accept yourself and have faith that others will too!

The eye cannot say to the ear that it has no use of it, for instance.   Paul warns us against commending ourselves with each other or comparing ourselves to one another--we are all unique in Christ and God has a different purpose for each one of us.  We should find our spiritual niche, as it were, and fervently and zealously serve God therein.  I cannot read like my pastor and never will be able to or be able to tell a story like he does, but I have a knack for writing (I did not judge this but have been told this) and I sense God with me doing that.

By way of example:  Some people are better with words than others, and some people are better at speaking to the average Joe on the street; note that the common people heard Christ gladly--He was not pompous or flamboyant in his words, but, nevertheless, articulate, fluent, eloquent, and glib I'm sure--saying what He means, and meaning what He says!  We all need each other and the happiest people in the body are those who realize their place and each other's importance, respecting authority, if need be.

My testimony is completely different from my brother's and God has other people I can reach that perhaps he can't with his.  "...But they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise"  (2 Cor. 10:12).  Let's not play the game "Let's compare!"  That's why I believe we should bloom where we are planted and that God doesn't plant us somewhere by accident--but has a purpose!  We all have our own sphere of influence, circle of friends and acquaintances, and the little world to call our own that we can greatly influence faithfully in God's service.  Soli Deo Gloria!

My Spiritual Journey

This is a first-hand account of my religious and/or spiritual pilgrimage, pitfalls and all, without glorifying the past--and sparing the details.   It's an example of a  believer who got his own way and ultimately learned to submit to God's will the hard way of "been there and done that."

I was baptized in California as an infant in a Lutheran church and the pastor was my sponsor--we were corresponding for years.   I was also confirmed in childhood.  I can remember as a youth making a scrapbook of Jesus' life and my pastor showing it to the church, teaching vacation Bible school, and inquiring of my pastor whether I should go into the ministry.  I even went to Bible camp and believed I  knew the Lord mainly because I was fascinated with the book of Revelation (reading Billy Graham's book World Aflame), and then shared insights with my mom.

I recall no particular moment of surrender or spiritual awakening, but my faith was very important to me and I loved the Bible (I recall beginning the habit of underlining favorite verses).  I was a person of the Book as far as I can recall, even buying a children's Bible on my own.  My grandmother became very close to me and told me Bible stories.

I  made the big decision to dedicate my life to Christ in a Billy Graham crusade I heard on TV around my 15th birthday, and then got involved in a Seventh-Day Adventist Church Bible study.  Counseling with my pastor,  he told me to read  Martin Luther's Commentary on Galatians.   I then proceeded to write a paper debunking the sect and defending the Lutheran faith.  I also found out I am not Sabbatarian.   I don't believe in "forsaking the assembly together of ourselves, as is the manner of some." But to affirm that  there are no "hard-and-fast rules" for the Sabbath Day."

I went to Augsburg College (a so-called Lutheran Christian college), and was exposed to "higher criticism"  and liberal theology, finding out I didn't know all the answers. With no more motive to study and being confused in my beliefs, I dropped out to do some soul searching and to find myself--wondering if my experience was to no avail.

Joining the Army and looking for love in all the wrong places, I heard a Billy Graham crusade again, only this time it was from South Korea; it was translated into Korean, so he had to go very slow and not being a good listener, it sunk in that I needed to repent, the missing link in my walk ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, and times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," Acts 3:19; "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, Luke 24:47").   I was under grave conviction of my sin and rededicated my life to Christ.   I called my mom and told her she will like the new me; she said she liked the old me!   It seemed like I had made this decision before, but this time it stuck. I had to get to the end of my rope before admitting my need.

Going back I hooked up with the Navigators and was mentored.  Once you've experienced it,  you want to pass it on; so I got the bug to witness.  Witnessing to a  friend, he got saved; we became bosom buddies and hung around together the rest of my stint--I could not have made it through without his companionship and fellowship.   I credit the Navigators for teaching me devotions, witnessing, Bible study, and the discipline of committing Scripture to memory.  Then I taught Sunday School while in Okinawa and made many Christian friends.

I matured in my doctrinal viewpoints and the first doctrine I became interested in was eternal security--I even wrote Billy Graham to ask him his stand.   I perceived that repentance is a continual attitude and not just a one-time event and that God grants it by grace.  I frown upon "cheap grace," which justifies the sin, and not the sinner, as it were; giving a license to sin.  I had thought you could sin as much as you want as long as you confess it!  Repentance is an about-face, in military terms, and "If we regard iniquity in our heart, the LORD will not hear us."  We must get a new attitude, change our mind about our sin.  We can be very bad sinners, but never too bad to be saved ("Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow....").  

I became convinced of believer baptism and was officially dunked in the church--Dr. Johnson knew me and didn't give me a hard time.   I then shared my faith for the first time publically in the church, and had a personal revival and couldn't restrain myself--I had the "can't-help-it's" ( and I couldn't stop reading the Bible).  I was accused of living "under the influence.    And it was so strange that my mom committed me to the mental ward of the hospital for observation (they couldn't find anything wrong with me and released me).  I was accused of going overboard on my religion.   But I was scarred as a result and never got over it.  Afterward, I wandered the state of Texas flat broke, and went down to Mexico, and then committed myself to the VA.

Finally, I decided to move to Minnesota to live with my grandmother.  I gave my spiritual ambitions a rest and took up electronics and got a job at Honeywell troubleshooting torpedoes--I  wanted to pursue this as a career path.

Then I joined the Army again, but had issues with depression and wanted out,  and was given a medical discharge.  Later, I had many personal problems and found a girl who listened to me and fell in love--we were married for ten years.   During those years I was in and out of the mental hospital, being committed by my best friend, and then by my wife several times.  Once I spent 18 months in treatment, but, praise God,  have not had a relapse in over 20 years--but I do take medications,  and am under psychiatric observation, to be safe, considering my track record. 

I thought my hope had perished from the Lord, and  I was destined for mediocrity.   I found a church  where I  could continue to grow  (I learned that one must keep the main thing the main thing and that the purpose of the universal, as well as the local church, is to evangelize and fulfill the Great Commission), and this church had a place for me to serve; however, I wasn't that dogmatic anymore.

Later, after a lot of studies, I started to be concerned about my beliefs  (I became cognizant of the deity of Christ in a real way, and realized the Proverb "without a vision, the people perish"). I knew I had to exercise grace toward those I disagree with, and not be judgmental;   putting Augustine's dictum into practice:   "In essentials unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

Since then I've had a meaningful relationship and friendship with my mom, who is not ignorant of doctrine, either--neither of us believes ignorance is bliss, and know our way around the block, theologically speaking.  We talk every day and usually have mutually edifying and lengthy fellowship; we are on the same page so we can bounce ideas off each other.

I am not a success in the world's eyes and haven't achieved the American dream:  But I believe what Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, "The Lord calls us to faithfulness, not success."  God isn't interested in our achievements; He's interested in us and our obedience--Isaiah says, "All that we have done [God] has accomplished for us," and Paul says, "I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me"  (Rom. 15:18).

Doctrinally speaking, I am a Calvinist who believes in the gifts of the Spirit--an oddity.  Sometimes we must agree to disagree, and not be disagreeable, contentious, divisive, or argumentative.   Even Paul and Barnabas disagreed and had to go their separate ways:  There are more important things than being right all the time--relationships--our faith is a relationship with a person, not a creed.  We must accept one another in love because we are "accepted in the Beloved" (cf. Eph. 1:6) and always "speak the truth in love."

As far as doctrine goes, a good frame of reference for soteriology, the doctrine of salvation,  is important for witnessing and assurance of salvation.  Like they say,  "God said it in His Word, I believe it in my heart, that settles it in my mind."  I'm not what I ought to be, but thank God I'm not what I used to be! I now live an abundant life with a capital L and am seeking God's Kingdom first.

In summation, I am what I am by the grace of God, and am blooming where God has planted me.  My mission is to the vets, my ministry is my Bible study, and my avocation is blogging to the glory of God--I thank God for my church home!    

My favorite Bible verses are as follows:

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy word" (Psa. 119: 67).
"He brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps"   (Psa. 40: 2).  "Therefore, the LORD longs to have mercy on you, and He waits on high to have compassion on you" (Isa. 30:18).   "I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11).  "If thy Word had not been my delight, I would have perished in the way"  (Psa. 119:92).
"The LORD has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death"  (Psa. 118:18).

Most importantly:  "The LORD knows the way that I take, when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).   Soli Deo Gloria!