Yes, we are running against the wind

In light of the recent events in our state, I had intended to write a blog post of my own for today. However, I read a great article by my friend, Dr. Mark Foley, President of the University of Mobile.  I was so moved by his words, I wanted to share them with you today. Here is Dr. Mark Foley’s article in its entirety…

The culture is sharpening it’s turn to run with the wind of same sex marriage. Alabama has officially joined the turn by action of one federal judge in Mobile.

So, where does that leave those who understand the Word of God to reserve marriage to one man/one woman exclusively for life? Answer…running against the wind.

Several thoughts…
1. As part of the Church that has failed to effectively influence the nation, I share responsibility for her condition and culture…culture soaked in sin and extensions of sin for so long that it is morphing into new iterations of behavior each farther from the standard of God than the last. People are products of those extensions and view their experience as reality. They do so naturally and with honest belief that they are created as they represent themselves to be. Those conditions present the greatest opportunity in American history for the Church to offer an alternative in an effective manner.

2. Moral rightness or wrongness is a matter of the measure one applies to an issue. If Scripture is that measure, same sex marriage is clearly wrong, but America stopped using Scripture as a measure of sexual behavior long ago. This issue is now viewed by the courts as a civil rights matter, and the measure being used is the Constitution. Like it or not, sexual identity and gender choice are now considered as one’s discovery of his or her created nature.

3. Christianity is no longer the de facto state religion in America, thus the days of Christian methodology through bully pulpits, rallies, rants, lines-in-the-dirt, and political or legal cover for the position of the Church are all but over.

4. My personal responsibility is to read, understand, comply with, live-out, and influence through the whole of Scripture, not just preferred pieces of it. That includes learning to genuinely love and care for people where they are…even if I disagree with their behavior and decisions…as the primary methodology. Admittedly, no easy task.

5. America is morally on par with ancient Corinth and Rome. The Church was planted and thrived in both. God is not surprised nor does He lack a plan for these conditions. That plan is the Church present and engaged in culture…not the social/institutional church as it has evolved to be in America, but the people Church. The story of the Church in the book of Acts is the opportunity for America.

6. Change as massive as that for which I long is not done in a near term. It must begin freshly in homes of Christ-followers teaching our children and children’s children of Jesus and his expectations and the empowerment of those expectations by the Holy Spirit.

7. Prayer has long been neglected, yet it remains the most powerful tool God has given His Church.

8. A great many established organizations calling themselves “church” will cease to exist or will become empty shells because they cannot or will not adjust to meet the expectations and opportunities of Jesus in a culture that bewilders and offends them. Those that do adjust will thrive in the favor of God and will witness transformation in their communities.

9. The formula given by God to Solomon still stands…2 Chronicles 7:14: Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

10. Running against the wind is where God leads his Church to its best work. Psalms 32:8 – The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Speaking the truth in love

There is absolute truth.  I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the only hope of salvation and the only way to Heaven. I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ literally died on the cross for the sins of the world and literally rose again on the third day.  I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is literally coming again to this world where He will finally defeat Satan & those he leads.  I believe there is a literal Heaven where those who have placed their hope in Christ will spend eternity.  I believe there is a literal Hell where all who reject Christ will spend eternity.  I believe God created the heavens and the earth. I believe the God who created the heavens and the earth also created the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman as the universal building block of human society.  I believe we all stand as sinners before a Holy God and the only solution for our sin was the Cross where Jesus died. I believe there is hope for any person on the face of the earth who will repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation.  Here I stand. I will hold these (and other) convictions until my last breath. Anyone who knows me or who has listened to many of my messages will not be surprised. These convictions guide how I live out my life every single day.

My convictions have not changed, but the culture & environment I minister in is transforming rapidly.  There is a growing cultural hostility toward people who hold these and similar views. Recent events in our nation and even my own state have made it clear that the government and the courts increasingly do not affirm such convictions.  In fact, it seems that some in the government and the courts are actually adversarial to those of us who hold Biblical convictions.  The news media and popular culture have long despised Biblical convictions.  Many people are understandably angry and respond in ways that aren’t helpful. Others attempt to give a reasoned, winsome defense of the “faith once delivered to the saints” in the public arena to varying degrees of effectiveness.  Virtually all of those reasoned, winsome voices for truth get disparaged, shouted down, marginalized, and labeled as hateful, bigoted, or worse.

Today as I sit at my desk reflecting on how the landscape of culture has changed even in my beloved state of Alabama, I am also overwhelmed to think of the people. Outside my office window I can hear the vehicles roaring down I-459.  The majority of those in those vehicles do not know Christ. In any direction we look there is ample evidence that the moral, cultural revolution that has taken place over the last few decades in our country has brought incalculable harm.  There are more broken homes and more no homes. There is more poverty, more anger, more abuse, more addiction, more depression, more confusion, and more pain than ever before.  Everywhere we look there is more and more brokenness of every kind.  Go to the wealthiest zip codes and the poorest zip codes. The story is the same: more brokenness of every kind. Yet, America seems intent on continuing down the same path at a rapidly accelerating pace.  I do not know how all of this will play out, but I am absolutely certain of one prediction.  Continuing down the path that has brought us great brokenness will result in even greater brokenness. My heart aches for people.  They need hope.  True hope is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way…” (Ephesians 4:15, HCSB)

That verse challenges me more today than ever before.  If I am a faithful Christian and pastor, then I am to speak Biblical truth and be a man of staunch conviction.  If I am a faithful Christian and pastor, I am to love even my enemies and love my neighbor as myself.  If I am a faithful Christian and pastor, then I will have a spine of steel conviction and a heart overflowing with love for people no matter their convictions, religion, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, attitudes, or actions. If I am a faithful Christian and pastor, I will speak the truth, but speak in a way that communicates love – both God’s love and my own.

That great balance of truth and love requires more prayer and thought today than ever before. It’s a daunting task. Thankfully, we have a great example to emulate from a well known preacher. This preacher has the perfect blend of truth and love. This preacher deals with “hot button” issues like relationships, sex, temptation, marriage & family, money, sin, Heaven, and Hell. He pulls no punches.  Yet, this preacher’s love for people has prompted many to call him “a friend of sinners.” He has brought  hope and new life to people everyone else gave up on. Perhaps you’ve heard of him:  the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, in today’s challenging cultural environment, help me live, preach, and love more like Him.

 

The new tolerance isn’t the old tolerance: Josh McDowell saw it coming

In 1996 I attended my second Southern Baptist Convention in the New Orleans Superdome. One of the speakers was the well-known Christian apologist Josh McDowell.  In his sermon to Southern Baptists that year, McDowell surprisingly did not speak about the evidence for the Christian faith.  Instead he discussed the rise of what he called “the new tolerance” in America and the challenges it would present for the Christian church.

According to Josh McDowell, the “old tolerance” as he described it was the type of tolerance that had been ingrained in American culture. Intertwined with the American ideal of personal freedom, McDowell described the old tolerance as the idea that I can respect your right to have your beliefs and practices without sharing or affirming them.  The old tolerance meant the free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and practices for everyone.   Then McDowell described the rise of what he termed the “new tolerance” which is a totally different concept.  The new tolerance demands affirmation.  The new tolerance says you do not have the right to do anything but affirm my beliefs – even if you don’t share them.  If you do not affirm whatever I believe or want to do, then you are a bigot according the new tolerance and unworthy of respect or a voice in society.  McDowell went on to describe the effects of this rising new tolerance that he was seeing on college campuses where he spoke. He shared how the new tolerance sought to silence and ostracize anyone who did not go along. He predicted that the new tolerance would eventually lead to the overthrow of American morality and present the greatest challenge to the American church of the 21st century.

As I walked out of the Superdome that day, I saw a pastor friend who was a mentor of mine. He looked at me and said, “That was a prophetic word by Josh McDowell, he is exactly right.”  To be honest, I really didn’t think much more about it. After all, I was a busy young pastor and seminary student struggling to keep my head above water.  However, I have gone back in my mind to that day in New Orleans many times recently.

A simple check of the news reveals what is happening.  Gay marriage is now legal in 36 states.  Christian photographers and bakers are being sued because they refused to participate in gay weddings.  Each week brings new stories about how our public schools and colleges are descending into moral insanity while they are busy affirming every lifestyle or belief system – except any lifestyle or belief system that refuses to affirm all other lifestyles and belief systems!  Many who work in corporate America report the unspoken pressure that is felt to keep conservative Christian beliefs to yourself or risk losing promotions, positive reviews, or even the job itself. The city of Atlanta just terminated its fire chief because he espoused his Christian beliefs regarding sexuality and marriage – beliefs which could not be tolerated by the new tolerance running rampant in Atlanta.  Incredibly, at some point in all of the controversy, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was quoted as saying he took action against the fire chief because he (the mayor) works everyday to ensure that Atlanta is “a welcoming city for all citizens – regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race, and religious beliefs.”  Chief Cochran and the many thousands who share his beliefs certainly don’t feel the welcome.

The message could not be more clear:  Biblical beliefs about marriage, sexuality, and morality cannot be tolerated.  Why?  Because the new tolerance only works for those who go along. Anyone who dares to disagree must be ostracized and silenced.  Their views cannot be tolerated. We are assured by many leaders that everything is fine because we can believe whatever we wish in our “pews, hearts, and homes.”   Everyone still has “freedom of worship” in the church of their choosing. They say everything is fine.  Don’t you believe it for one moment.  Our nation is headed down a path that will inevitably lead to tyranny and a loss of freedom for everyone.  Even more tragically, many millions of people will enter the eternal destruction of a Christless eternity in hell having tolerated everything except the one message that could have saved them.

Josh McDowell saw it coming.

Religious liberty is at stake

Most of the time I write my own articles on this blog, but today I am compelled to simply urge all of my readers to carefully read this post from Dr. Albert Mohler, along with the column in the New York Times in order to better understand the issues that we are facing.  Powerful people in our country are seeking to put Bible believing people of faith in a box – “pews, hearts, and homes.” Any expression of our faith outside of that is declared out of bounds.  Please read this article…

http://www.albertmohler.com/2015/01/12/religious-liberty-vs-erotic-liberty-religious-liberty-is-losing/

If judges, government leaders, and members of the media are able to declare our faith unacceptable except in our “pews, hearts, and homes” then how long will it be until our faith is declared unacceptable anywhere?

Seasons

In Alabama this week, the season is definitely WINTER!!  It’s been cold. I have friends who love it and eagerly look for the snow in every weather forecast.  Other friends love winter because they hunt, etc. Personally, winter is my least favorite season. It’s followed by spring, which I don’t particularly enjoy because we always have the threat of strong storms and tornadoes in Alabama during that season.  I love summer and fall.  Summer is great because there are so many hours of daylight to get things done around the house and for recreation.  It’s also time when special trips are taken because school is out.  Fall is special because the weather is near perfect in Alabama and football season kicks off!  Personally, I just hunker down during winter and spring looking forward to the seasons of better weather and enjoyment. The good thing about seasons is that they are not permanent. Seasons change.

Seasons aren’t just related to weather either. There are seasons of life. For instance, young adulthood is a season of life where people typically begin their careers, get married, have children, etc.  Middle age is another season of life. The kids are older and the nest eventually empties. You are long established in your career, but new challenges arise during this season. Senior adulthood and the retirement years are another season with new challenges & opportunities. On top of these seasons, every marriage goes through seasons – some good, some not so good. Talk to any parent and they will tell you that there are seasons in raising children – seasons of joy, seasons of uncertainty, seasons of rebellion, seasons of struggle, seasons of growth. There are seasons in our careers. Our churches go through seasons – some of them are sunny and blessed and others are stormy and rough.  This week in my personal Bible reading, I revisited a familiar passage of scripture that spoke to me in a fresh way about seasons of life…

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, ESV)

This famous passage reminds all of us that seasons of life happen to everyone and they normal.  It reminds us that seasons of life, like seasons of the weather, are not permanent. Seasons change. We have to endure unpleasant seasons while waiting on more pleasant days.

Perhaps you are reading this blog post, and you are going through a difficult season in life. It’s a harsh winter in your life. Don’t give up. Seasons are not permanent, and the sun will shine again in your life even though it doesn’t feel that way now. You just have to keep going, keep trusting, keep being faithful until the season changes.  This is why just a few verses down Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that the Lord makes everything beautiful in His time.  Praise the Lord for a God we can trust through the seasons of life we all go through!

Followed not found

It’s great to be back blogging again after taking a break for the holidays.  While taking some time off, I read David Platt’s book Follow Me.  In that book, he makes a statement that really resonated with me:  “God’s will isn’t something we find; it’s something we follow.”  All of us know what it is like to seek God’s will regarding an important decision.  Certainly, David Platt would be first to agree that our decisions should be bathed in prayer before the Lord.  His statement really speaks to the fact that most of God’s will for our lives is already revealed in scripture.  It’s clear what we are to do.  Our job is to begin earnestly seeking to align our lives with God’s will as revealed in the Bible.

Let’s take a couple of examples.  In the last verses of the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus gives us what is commonly referred to as the Great Commission…

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:19–20, HCSB)

This is God’s will for us as individuals. This is God’s will for our churches. We don’t have to pray about it, have a business meeting about it, or otherwise decide.  It is God’s will that we make disciples of the nations.  Period.  The issue is how we live that out in our individual lives and our churches.  The issue is how we align our lives and our churches according to God’s will.  Here is another example…

“Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, HCSB)

Did you see it?  It is God’s will that we rejoice in Him always, pray constantly, and give thanks in every circumstance.  Our challenge is doing that when everything in us screams otherwise. Our challenge is doing that when our natural selfishness and comfort pull in the other direction.  However, there is great blessing when we consciously seek to align our lives according to God’s will in these areas.

Those are just two examples, but if you think about the scriptures you already know, then you will find that so much of God’s will for your life is already known.  What about the areas of your life where God hasn’t spoken clearly?  Concentrate on being obedient in the areas where he already has spoken clearly until the way becomes more clear about those particular issues.  Too often, we get so caught up dwelling on the 5% of God’s will we don’t know that we fail to understand the 95% of His will we already do know. Think about it. That’s why most of God’s will is followed, not found.  He has already made it clear.

Many years ago when I was a young pastor, a member of the church I was serving at the time made a statement I’ve never forgotten.  He said, “Pastor, let’s face it. Most of us know a lot more than we are doing.”  WOW!  Isn’t that so true?  I imagine that every single one of us reading this blog already knows more of God’s will than we are doing right now.  Let’s get busy following God’s will rather than worrying so much about finding it.

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

FamilyPicture

From our family to yours, the Corbins wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!  I will not resume blogging until early January 2015 in order to take a couple of weeks to devote to family and planning for 2015.  Thanks for reading this blog. Your feedback and affirmation is a great blessing to me. Since I have had a number of people ask me recently, I will be preaching at Lakeside each Sunday during the Christmas/New Years season – December 21, December 28, and January 4.   Join us at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. each Sunday.

Grief during the Christmas season

As I write these words, a precious family is due to arrive at our church facilities in about an hour for a visitation and memorial service.  To lose a loved one is painful no matter the time of year, but when it happens so close to Christmas that seems to heighten the pain for years to come.  What is described in the famous song as “the most wonderful time of the year” is anything but that for these families who endure grief at Christmastime. When a person passes away in the immediate days before and after Christmas, it’s easy for many friends and family to be “out of pocket” with holiday travel and not able to respond as they normally would.  Please allow me to share a few of my personal thoughts about grief during the Christmas season…

1)  Remember that life & death do not stop for Christmas.  I have seen people pass away on Christmas morning. I have seen families spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day at the bedside of terminal ill family members.  The ICU waiting rooms at hospitals are just as crowded as they are the rest of the year.

2)  The “firsts” are a particularly difficult part of the grief process.  The first Christmas after a person passes away can be unbearable for the family.  Probably every one of us knows some family who is dreading Christmas day because it will be the first Christmas without their loved one.

3)  Don’t hesitate to reach out to someone.   Call someone you know is grieving this Christmas.  You don’t know what to say?  Just tell them you prayed for them today and wanted to give them a call. Write a hand written card.  Don’t be afraid to mention the person who has passed away; they are certainly on the heart of the grieving.  You do not make their grief worse by mentioning them.  Go visit someone who is at the bedside of a dying loved one. Find someone to reach to.

4)  Practical help is a great expression of love.  For the family who is spending days in the ICU waiting room, gift cards to restaurants near the hospital are tremendously appreciated and a practical blessing.  Maybe they are stressed because circumstances have prevented them from doing any Christmas shopping. An hour to just talk over coffee could be the best Christmas gift someone receives.

5)  Prayer is powerful.  It’s easy to say “we are praying for you” as we go through the line at the funeral home.  Actually remembering to pray for them is another matter. Take the time to specifically pray for the grieving this Christmas.

God keeps His word

God keeps His word. Every time. No exceptions. Did you know that is one of the great themes of the Christmas story we are all familiar with?  It all begins during a crisis in Judah that took place over 700 years before Christ was born. King Ahaz is ruling in Judah and he receives word of a crisis.  Two kings have joined forces and they are preparing to drive south and invade Judah.  The situation is dire. King Ahaz is terrified. You can read all about this episode in the first few verses of Isaiah 7. Certainly, it’s dire for King Ahaz’s immediate future, but there are even larger issues at stake: the family line of David ruling God’s people. If Ahaz dies, the family line dies.  If the family line of David dies and there is no descendant of David on the throne, then God has not kept His word because He specifically promised that David’s rule would be forever through his descendants.  It was in this situation that God gave one of the most famous promises in the Bible…

“Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:13–14, NKJV)

God reassures King Ahaz that He will absolutely keep His word through the miraculous birth of a child who would be called Immanuel – which means “God with us.”  Over and over again in the Old Testament, the coming Messiah is described as a descendant of David who will continue the Davidic dynasty forever.  Now, fast forward over 700 years to the very first verse in the New Testament…

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:” (Matthew 1:1, NKJV)

The New Testament opens with the statement that Jesus Christ is a descendant of King David.  Then Matthew spends the first 17 verses of the Gospel tracing Jesus’ family lineage through Joseph.  Matthew does all of this to prove that Jesus had the lineage of the Messiah. Beginning with Matthew 1:18 the attention turns to the description of the events of Jesus’ birth. Guess which Old Testament verse is quoted right in the middle of that?

“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”” (Matthew 1:22–23, NKJV)

That’s right. Matthew directly quotes Isaiah 7:14 to show that Jesus’ birth is the ultimate fulfillment of that promise God made over 700 years ago.  It’s like the Gospel narrative is screaming out in bold “God keeps His word!!”  While there are many great truths and applications we gain from the Christmas story in the Bible, this one is often overlooked.  Don’t overlook it any more.  If you are entering this Christmas season with doubt and uncertainty, the simple Christmas story is proof that God always keeps His word. If you are reading this and you are not a believer, then you can give your life to Christ, not matter your background or degree of guilt. This is true because God always keeps His word.  Merry Christmas!

Living between the Advents

Many Christian churches observe what is called Advent on the Sundays leading up to Christmas.  The term “advent” has Latin roots and simply means “coming.”  It refers to the coming of Christ.  As early as the fourth century, Christian churches were designating a period of time leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth.  It began as a time of fasting, but by the Middle Ages, the Advent season had become largely standardized into four Sundays.  This is why we refer to “the second Sunday of Advent,” etc. In addition to the Advent emphasis in the Sunday worship services, many Christians prepare an Advent wreath at their home or follow some type of Advent devotional.

The churches I have served in have been Southern Baptist churches, and many Baptists traditionally haven’t emphasized the Advent season nearly as much as their Methodist or Presbyterian friends. However, I do believe it is healthy this time of year to look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth. Advent can be a great way to cut through the busyness and materialism of this time of year and focus on Christ.

Advent helps us look forward to our celebration of the birth of Christ.  That’s the first advent.  However, there will be a second advent on a day in the future when Christ returns.  Christ’s first advent came in a manger in Bethlehem, but His second advent will come in power and glory as He splits the eastern sky and stands on the Mount of Olives.  Christ’s first advent brought our salvation, and His second advent will bring it to its eternal conclusion.  Christ’s first advent broke the penalty of sin over all who will place their faith in Christ, but Christ’s second advent will break the power and presence of sin – ridding the world of all its effects.

We live our lives between two advents – two “comings” of Christ. On December 25, we celebrate the first advent, and we live faithfully and hopefully looking forward to the second advent. Glory to God in the highest!  Praise Him!  Maranatha!