OOPS!

I remember growing up and listening to Bill Cosby on a record-player. One of the shows, he talked about going in for surgery and hearing the surgeon say, "Opps."

That's not what you want to hear as you're laying on an operating table!

I just came across a story about a grocery store offering "Boneless Spiral Ham" - delicious for Chanukah. - "Opps!"

Just in case you're not familiar with Chanukah - it's a Jewish holiday - and all pork products are considered unclean in the Jewish faith - that means you don't market ham for a Jewish holiday!

Opps!
Whether it's a mistake on the operating table - or a mistake in marketing, these "opps" moments are something we want to avoid.

But what about "opps" moments in your faith? Do you have any? What do you do about them?

First - if you're the least bit honest with yourself, you realize you aren't the perfect example of how to live a Christian life. We all have times when our Christian faith doesn't live up to the standards of the Bible.

We feel uncomfortable in saying along with the Apostle Paul - "follow me as I follow Christ." We much prefer - "do as I say - not as I do."

Second - when an "opps" moment occurs - learn from the politicians. What! I thought this was a Christian blog - how can you tell someone to learn anything from politicians?

Simple - politicians (at least some) have found that it's not the deed that drives you out of office - it's the coverup.

That means - in Christian terms - when you have an "opps" moment, confess it to God. Don't try to cover up your sins - get them forgiven instead.

Third - understand that while they do happen from time to time - we are called to eliminate the "opps" moments from our Christian life. This means using excuses like, "Well, I'm only human." aren't a goal to pursue but a plague to avoid.

Examine your life - if you've got too many "opps" moments - maybe it's time to repent and use this Christmas season to get acquainted with the God who has the power to turn you into a NEW creature.

Pastor John

What label do you carry?

What label do you carry?

Recently I got into a controversy over the way I described our church – specifically “conservative/evangelical”. Some have argued that these words carry too much political baggage. Let me explain my reasoning.

There is a lot of talk about labels, why we use them, the problem of people misunderstanding them, non Christians not having a clue about what they mean, etc. However, we live and breathe by labels. They are the means by which was can talk about things without always having to place extended preambles and post scripts describing what we mean. We all label our churches. Are you a Cumberland Presbyterian? Many people don't have a clue as to what that means. Are you are Presbyterian? Many don't understand what that means either. How about a Christian church? Again, this is another misunderstood label. Well, then, a church. Again - another label. It seems we just can’t avoid labels in everyday life.

Next, you don’t use the same label in every situation. I am a dad, when talking about my sons, a son, when talking about my parents, a brother, when talking about my brother, an uncle when talking about my nieces and nephews, a pastor when talking about my church, and a programmer when talking about my 8 to 5 job.

I describe our church as evangelical/conservative in the church section of the newspaper. I do this because people who are looking at this section are either those who already know what denomination they want to attend and are just trying to find out times and location - or - they are looking to visit a church and are trying to figure out in advance what they might expect.

I choose this label shortly after the PCUSA had their General Assembly in 2006 in which they, in essence, allowed moral questions to be put to a local option. I wanted to reach out to those from Presbyterian backgrounds who didn't agreed with the direction the PCUSA church was going (around 100,000 per year).

I have a son who hangs out with many from a non-church background and I am quite sure they spend little or no time on the church listings. If I were advertising our church to this group, I would use different, more instructive terminology.

What about having a medium theology? Well, after having grown up in this denomination, then graduating from seminary (in the United Methodist church), later attending the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ Church, Southern Baptist Church, and Assembly of God Church – I had never heard of medium theology until I went to PAS (Program of Alternate Studies). If you try and look up medium theology on wikipedia - there is no reference. For some people, saying you have a medium theology would mean you believe your steaks should not be overcooked.

So is the Cumberland Presbyterian Church conservative in it's theology (officially - not what any individual might think)? I believe so. According to the COF, we believe in a literal Adam and Eve who where our first parents, rebelled against God and became inclined towards sin in all aspects of their being. We believe that in sinning, all people become guilty before God and are under His divine wrath and judgment. We believe that repentance is necessary to be saved. We believe that the holy scriptures are The infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe that marriage is defined as between a man and a woman. We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the trinity, that he died and rose physically from the dead. And we believe that Jesus is coming back.

Maybe a contrast will help illustrate. The following (edited) material comes from Wikipedia.

Liberal Christianity is sometimes called liberal theology. The word "liberal" in liberal Christianity does not refer to a leftist political agenda or set of beliefs, but rather to the freedom of thought and belief associated with the philosophical and religious paradigms developed during the Age of Enlightenment. The liberal Christian tradition continues today with the work of Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, John Shelby Spong, and Douglas Ottati.

Biblical hermeneutics (theories of interpretations)

The theology of liberal Christianity was prominent in the biblical criticism of the 19th and 20th centuries. The style of scriptural hermeneutics within liberal theology is often characterized as non-propositional. This means that the Bible is not considered an inventory of factual statements but instead documents the human authors' beliefs and feelings about God at the time of its writing—within an historic/cultural context. Thus, liberal Christian theologians do not discover truth propositions but rather create religious models and concepts that reflect the class, gender, social, and political contexts from which they emerge. Liberal Christianity looks upon the Bible as a collection of narratives that explain, epitomize, or symbolize the essence and significance of Christian understanding.

Liberal Christian beliefs

Liberal Christianity, broadly speaking, is a method of biblical hermeneutics, an individualistic method of interpreting the word of God in scripture, not a belief structure. Unlike conservative Christianity, it has no unified set of propositional beliefs. The word liberal in liberal Christianity denotes a characteristic willingness to interpret scripture in an intellectually independent manner—with no preconceived notion of inerrancy of scripture when its passages are literally interpreted.

Conservative Christianity Generally those seen as belonging to conservative Christianity give priority to traditional values and traditional beliefs and practices.
Conservative Christianity and Liberal Christianity have quite different biblical theories of Biblical interpretation.

Points of difference include the authority and importance of the Bible, literal or metaphorical interpretation of scripture, divinity of Jesus Christ and reality of his resurrection from the dead, need for organized missionary work and personal sharing one's beliefs in salvation through Jesus Christ, and the view of women in both marriage and ministry.

General beliefs of Conservative Christianity

• Conservatives have a "higher" view of scripture being the authoritative "Word" of God. A belief in the authority of the Bible as God's revelation to humanity. Bible prophecy and Bible inerrancy are often affirmed. This often includes the understanding that the Bible is the final authority in all matters on which it speaks.'
• The doctrine of original sin is foundational to some groups in Conservative Christianity.
• Conservative Christians see the resurrection of Christ as the most important actual event in the history of the world. They place a central focus on Christ's redeeming work on the cross as the only means for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.'
• Conservative Christians generally believe that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is inerrant when its passages are literally interpreted.
• Conservative Christians take at face value biblical teachings such as Jesus’ statement: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).'
• Encouragement of evangelism—the act of sharing one's beliefs in salvation through Jesus Christ with others—through both organized missionary work and personal evangelism.'
  Many Conservative Christians believe in a literal heaven and hell as biblically described.'
  Engagement in Society
  

Though often stereotyped as uncaring for the needs of society, conservative Christians have frequently led in building hospitals and medical clinics, disaster relief work, having food banks and kitchens, institutions of higher education, primary and secondary schools, adoption agencies, and technological missions that teach agriculture, help drill water well drilling and install water supplies, and many other services, through churches and parachurch agencies.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, British conservative Christian William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was the leader of the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade.

So, am I a conservative Christian – is our church a conservative church – based upon the above? The only thing I can say is ABSOLUTELY!

Pastor John

Miss USA and the Apostle Peter

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15)

Two nights ago, I got a phone call about our church. The caller wanted to know about some of our theology and specificially about our theology about women. Now, I'm the pastor. It's expected that I'll get questions like this from time to time. But it was also a reminder that working on your theology is a constant job. It's not ok to just know answers while you're preaching. It's not ok to just know answers when you've had time to write a paper. Peter said, always have an answer.

Now, I know he was talking about being able to explain salvation. But I want to expand that a little further. One of the problems Christians today have is not knowing what they believe and not knowing why they believe it.

Many of you have heard of the answer Miss Teen USA contestant, Caitlin Upton gave to the question, "Why is it that 1/5 of Americans could not locate the United States on a world map?"

“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as, uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”

Wow! I wonder how clear our answers are when we are asked about our faith. I'm afraid that many times our answers come across like Miss Upton's.

Scriptures tells us to study to show ourselves approved to God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed. (2 Timothy 2:15 paraphrased).

Let's use the example of Miss Upton to make sure we never need to be ashamed at how seriously we take our Christian faith.

Pastor John

Evil Spirits Today

Many people sitting in the pews of American churches today have bought into the belief, at least unconsciously, that evil spirits do not exist. They read or hear about the accounts of demon possession in the Bible and they think that it 1) never happened, 2) was a result of faulty medical diagnosis, or 3) only happened back in Bible times or in primitive cultures.

Usually, this belief is thought out. It's just a result of living in a modern culture. Somehow, we've managed to get to the point where we really don't believe that we are in a spiritual battle. Even when we use that term, we usually think about doing battle with our own temptations.

The Bible however is clear. There are spiritual forces at work in this universe. And they are not all good! Jesus recognized this and taught about this. He struggled with Satan in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. He told us that that the Devil comes only to steal, kill, and to destroy. He cast out demonic spirits out of various people. He knew that there was and is a great spiritual battle for the souls of men.

In the Miami Herald Tribune, I just read the account of Galindo, a man who was controlled by demons. From his childhood, he's been tormented by the evil spirits and this evil spirit that he named Candelo finally led him to murder.

Was he crazy? Was he "brainsick" as one definition of crazy is given? No! He was possessed! He was living out in dramatic fashion what the Bible say.

Some would think, he just needed to get "religion". Well, he had "religion". He practiced the religion of Santeria, described as a blend of traditional African religions and Roman Catholicism.

You see, not all religions are the same. All but one, enslave you to false beliefs and false practices. Only one leads you into the kingdom of Heaven. All but one, leads to hell, both in this life and in the next.

Jesus Christ said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. Everyone is going to practice some kind of faith. I just pray that you will follow Jesus and find the heavenly Father before the father of lies destroys you.

Evil spirits are at work in the world. But be of good cheer, (Jesus) has overcome the world. John 16:33

Pastor John

When other things take priority

Yesterday, July 31, 2007, a young man committed murder. He got in an argrument with his Dad and ended up killing his Mom with a 20 pound dumbbell. What could have set this young man off so? What could possibly make someone kill his mother by hitting her in the head with a heavy dumbbell?

The answer? He was watching a baseball game and his father complained he was making too much noise! When his mother tried to intervene in the fight - he ended up killing her.

How sad, how pitiful.

But how predictable. Predictable?

Yes. You see the Bible teacher several very important truths about reality.

One - our heart is deperately wicked! Many people believe that people are basically good. If you give them the things they need, food, clothing, education, etc., they will live and act in a good and moral manner. But the truth, waiting for anyone who reads the newspaper, watches TV, listens to the radio, observes life, or reads history - is that we are corrupt and depraved creatures in need of a savior.

Two - the devil has come to steal, kill, and destroy. There are plenty of people who believe that the Christian faith destroys happiness. Christians are just a bunch of do-gooders who want to make sure others aren't having any fun. But we know that sin and Satan do not bring happiness. Yes, sin may delight for a moment - but soon thereafter, the bitter consequences arrive.

Three - what you put first in your life, what you focus on, determines how you will live your life. It's not possible to focus your time, energy, thought, and wealth on one thing in life without dimishing your devotion to other things in life. We have to make choices. It appears that this young man had focused his life on sports - and everything else became less important.

Too often, those who claim to follow Christ, do not put Him first. Yes, they may come to church, go to Sunday School, and put something in the offering plate - but their life revolves around other things: school, kids, their work, sports, movies, hobbies, etc. Whenever Christ gets in the way of any of these pursuits, He is dropped like so much garbage.

My plea is this - don't wait until the bitter consequence your actions appear to make sure you have focused on the Savior. Put Jesus first and everything else will be in its proper place.

Pastor John

Living on the right side of Easter

Years ago, I heard a talk by Tony Campolo. He was telling about hearing a Good Friday sermon at the church he attended. The basic message was “It's Friday, but Sunday's coming.”

That message has stuck with me for many years now. In it, the pastor talked about how the world look to the depressed and demoralized disciples. Their master, the one they had great hopes for, Jesus, had just been executed on the cross. There was no hope left.

The pastor talked about how upbeat the devil, his angels and followers where. They had just defeated the Son of God! Ding-dong – Jesus is dead, they must have been shouting.
The world looked like it was upside down. Righteousness had been defeated – evil was victorious.

And then, Sunday came. Sunday came and Jesus broke free of the bonds of death. We sing “Up from the grave He arose – with a mighty triumph over his foes!”

When we look around the world, sometimes we're tempted to live on the Friday side of Easter. Certainly the news headlines do not give us reason for hope. The obituaries keep listing people dying – and not just at ripe old ages. The culture keeps corrupting. The devil seems to be winning. Problem occur in our lives and in the lives of our family. Maybe we should just give up and despair!

But then we look to the cross. The cross appeared to be the greatest disaster in the world. Yet, we know different. We live on the Sunday side of the cross, the side where Jesus has risen. Praise God!

When you're faced with problems, situations seem to be determined to beat you up and knock you down – remember the cross.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Paul – to the Romans.)

Pastor John

In the cross of Christ I glory

I've been reading recently about the efforts to "Save the Wren Cross." It seems that last year the new president of William and Mary College in Virginia decided that the 18 inch cross on the altar in the 275 year old Wren Chapel should be removed and kept in storage. It might offend someone. It might make some feel like "outsider" and others feel like "insiders". Who knows what kind of damage might happen if people should see a cross.

Well, it's probably true. The cross has always been a dividing point in this world. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

What is the message of the cross? It's teaches us several things that we don't necessarily like. It tells us that we have a SIN problem. You and I are sinners who can't make it into heaven on our own.

I personally believe that the doctrine of totally depravity is one of the greatest safegaurds we have in our life. It keeps us from relying on our own goodness and strength when we are battling temptations and tests and keeps us relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us, "Be careful when you think you're standing - lest you fall!"

The message of the cross tells us that their are consequences to our sin. Sin is not just a minor imperfection, something we can brush aside. Many people think that what we need to do is get rid of guilt. After all, we're only human. But the Bible tells us that we're fallen humans. Our sin has made a barrier between us and God and condemned us to a godless eternity.

The message of the cross tells us that God is not some kind of divine watchmaker. He didn't wind up the world and then go off to do His own thing. God is actively involved in this world. Miracles happen. The Holy Spirit speaks to you. God is intently aware of everything that occurs in your life.

The message of the cross tells us that there is right and wrong - and God gets to decide. Moral relativism may be popular today. "It's only sin if you think it's sin" is a lie from the devil.

But my favorite message of the cross is that God stepped into this world to redeem it, to pay the penality for my sins and to open the doors of heaven, that if I have faith in Jesus Christ, I can spend eternity in His presence. The message of the cross tells me that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

The world is always going to hate the cross. But we know who's going to ultimately win.
1 Corinthians 1:21 ff says,
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

In the cross of Christ I glory!
Pastor John