At one point in the sermon, he mentioned how different generations approach the truth. Since I am relying on memory, this is not a direct quote. In reference to truth, he said, “The builder generation asked is it true? The boomer generation asked does it work? (I cannot remember what he said about the buster generation.) The millennial generation (today’s generation) asks how will it make me look if I buy into this truth?”

This is an accurate description of contemporary youth in American culture. I have previously blogged about the rampant narcissism of the millennial generation. The question is how do we engage the millennial generation and our contemporary culture of narcissism with the truth of the gospel? My fleshly tendency is to just call them a bunch of self-centered ingrates, but this is not really a great opening for the gospel.

I believe we can compassionately engage this generation by showing them the end result of narcissistic thinking and living. It is merely a symptom of their total depravity and will lead to destruction, alienation and ultimately God’s wrath. Rather than pervert the Gospel and tell them how good it will make them look, we need to redirect their focus on the truth. The Gospel is about God and how he looks. The Gospel is about the God who came looking for his lost sheep and found them. The Gospel is about the God who poured out his wrath and punishment for my sin upon his own son. The Gospel is about the God who brought his Son out of the grave for my justification. The Gospel is about the God who has prepared a place for his people. This God looks wonderful and beautiful beyond words. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth [including us] will look strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

In my gym time this morning, I listened to the album “Depth of Mercy” by Red Mountain Music. If you have not discovered this diamond in the Christian music rough, I suggest you check them out. I was convicted by the hymn “Satisfied” as I reflected on my tendency to go to other things rather than Jesus for satisfaction. The hymn was written by Clara Tear Williams in 1875. She was a circuit riding Methodist evangelist.

All my life long I had panted

For a drink from some cool spring

That I hoped would quench the burning

Of the thirst I felt within.

(Chorus)          Hallelujah! He has found me,

The One my so long has craved!

Jesus satisfies all my longings

Through his blood I now am saved.

Feeding on the filth around me

Till my strength was almost gone.

Longed my soul for something better

Only still to hunger on.

Poor I was and sought for riches

Something that would satisfy.

But the dust I gathered round me

Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.

Well of water ever springing

Bread of Life so rich and free.

Untold wealth that never faileth

My Redeemer is to me.

You can listen to the hymn here. Listen and be blessed—Jesus can satisfy all your longings!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Social justice—these words conjure up diverse reactions. Some hear “socialism” and others hear “compassion.”  Some hear “social gospel” and others hear “this is the gospel.” I am not going to debate those issues. I am simply going to encourage evangelical, Bible believing Christians to stop letting social and theological liberals hijack social justice.

I believe the biblical approach to social justice is balanced. It neither ignores human need and suffering nor does it subsidize irresponsible behavior. In addition to their debauchery, the people of Sodom were guilty of an equally heinous sin, “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy” (Ezek. 16:49). Equally wrong is enabling sinful behavior, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). For those who are able but just plain lazy, we are to allow them to experience the consequences of their sin (i.e., hunger). This is harsh to some, but it is biblical.

I believe human suffering and poverty is best addressed by the church. The roots of poverty and suffering are not simply the results of economic injustice. No one is helped by just throwing money at the problem. Also people are not helped when we subsidize their irresponsibility. We must do good works unto the poor and needy so they will in turn glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). This is why we help the poor and needy—for God’s glory. Additionally, we seek to address their sin and need of salvation. We dig deep to get to the roots of generations of poverty, addiction or whatever the issues may be. We don’t just give money and food and then “feel good about ourselves.” We go deeper. We must go deeper. We want to equip people “to aspire to live quietly, and to mind [their] own affairs, and to work with [their] own hands, as we instructed [them], so that [they] may walk properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 Thess. 4:11-12).

Soli Deo Gloria!

It was not the minister’s eulogy that moved me. His eulogy was rather formal and pedestrian. It was the few words the grieving husband uttered over his wife’s closed casket that moved me. He said, “My love for Mabel is the kind of love (he paused a moment here to collect himself)…well…it is a love that will last into eternity.” This is why I am glad I went to that funeral—to hear those words and to watch a man of faith and a man of endurance pray for himself and his family at the freshly dug grave of his wife of 61 years. That’s right, I said 61 years. Ted and Mabel Miller know something about endurance. After the funeral, I said to my wife Donna, “When I grow up, I want to be like Ted Miller. They just don’t make men like him anymore.” Ted is the real deal—he is genuine. I want to be a man like Ted Miller. I want to be a husband and a father like Ted Miller—a man who endures in the faith. Happy Father’s Day!

Soli Deo Gloria!

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

(Galatians 1:6-9, ESV)

Astonished rightly describes my mood of late. Like the Apostle Paul I am astonished that quite a few people of late “are so quickly deserting him who called [them] in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” First it was American Christendom’s love affair with The Shack by William Young. This book butchered the doctrine of the Trinity and denied such essential doctrines as the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ. Now many in the American Church are all mushy over Rob Bell’s Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. In his book, Bell essentially attempts to rewrite settled Church doctrine concerning Hell and God’s wrath. There have been numerous critiques (Kevin DeYoung’s Critique is the most thorough) and outcries from the sane in the Evangelical community.

Is it just me or is there really a serious questioning and abandoning of orthodox cardinal doctrines of Christianity lately? I am astonished, seriously, really astonished. When I read the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:6-9, I grieve for the William Youngs and Rob Bells of the world. I am astonished and sad.

Soli Deo Gloria!