4 Things to Remember When Your Faith Is Under Fire

If your faith is under fire, here are four things to do: 

1. Trust God despite disturbing circumstances. 

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

2. Realize God can and will use bad situations for your good.
 

Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

3. Do your best no matter the circumstances.

Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” 

4. Forgive people who've offended you, and let God deal with them.

Genesis 50:19-20: “But Joseph said to [his brothers who had sold him into slavery], ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’”

Are you going through testing or trial? Apply these four principles to your circumstances and be blessed! 

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For more insights, see Hang in There and Did You Know God Collects Your Tears? 

 

Have you checked out the Wisdom for Life devotional? If you want to learn more about the background of the book, click the image. 

It has 100 one-minute devotions to start your day with instruction, encouragement, inspiration, and insights. Check out the current sales on Lifeway and Amazon. 

 

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Biblical Accuracy or Entertainment? Truth or Popularity?

Our values are evident in what offends us. Are we offended by things which misrepresent God’s precious, perfect Word or by people who point out biblical errors in things we like?

I’ve lost readers and a few friends by exposing errors in popular books, teachings, mini-series, movies, politics, and exercise programs. (Each of these words is linked to a pertinent example.)

 

To be honest, I'm sad how passionately some Christians defend things which misrepresent God's Word. 

 

What's your passion? What offends you? Is it better to share a distorted gospel that's popular with millions or an accurate gospel that's far less popular? 

Is biblical accuracy unimportant if something comforts, entertains, and inspires us? 

Very often when something “Christian” is wildly popular, it's because it presents a softer Jesus and a softer gospel. It takes us on the broad highway, not the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14). 

We must understand that we're meant to be “picky.” Propaganda always starts with small errors mixed with truth (i.e., Lies in Disguise).

 

In Galatians 1:6-10, Paul affirms the importance of an accurate gospel:

“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” 

Then he repeats that statement to emphasize the importance, and he explains that we can't be a servant of Christ if we're seeking human approval.

So let me ask again: 

What offends you—things which distort or deny God’s Word or people who point out scriptural errors in something you enjoy?

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There are many “tests” of our loyalty to biblical truth, but let me highlight one that is fiercely defended by millions of Christians: The Chosen. It's sad to see so many fall under its spell ignoring or justifying the errors it contains, praising and promoting it, letting it shape their view of God, and defending it when it directly contradicts God's Word.

 

When we fully trust God's Word, we don't consider it a small thing when a mini-series unnecessarily creates a new “I Am” statement for Christ that identifies Him as the law of Moses when Scripture says, “So the law was our guardian until Christ came” (Galatians 3:23-24) and “when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses” (Galatians 5:18).

 

When we know the perfection of Christ as the Living Word (John 1:14), we don't consider it a small thing when He is portrayed as needing human help in writing the Beatitudes. 

 

There is no reason that a mini-series about Christ can't be interesting and accurate at the same time.  

 

Do we believe that God thinks it's more important to make the gospel popular than to make it accurate? 

 

See Are You Willing to Address Scriptural Contradictions in The Chosen?  

 

Would you attend a church where the pastor believed that practicing Mormons are his brothers in Christ? Please don't trust such a person to accurately portray the Jesus of the Gospels, who is nothing like the Jesus of Mormonism. See Dallas Jenkins Explains the Story Behind The Chosen.

If you are hooked on The Chosen, I encourage you to listen to this excellent video from a Christian teacher who very graciously explains how he welcomed and appreciated The Chosen, overlooking the errors, until God began opening his eyes to the spirit behind it: Let's Talk About The Chosen.  

Do I have a beef with The Chosen? No, I have a heart for God's people. It makes me sad to see how easily many Christians can be persuaded to accept things that contradict God's Word. We must be prepared to discern error, and we must care deeply when our Lord is misrepresented. Otherwise, we will walk blindly into deception.

 

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The Sweetest Gifts — Sacrifice versus Wealth

In 1995, I celebrated my birthday in Bulgaria while on a two-month mission trip, sharing Christ with those who had been trapped in atheistic communism for 45 years (1944-1989). 

Bulgaria was only beginning to recover from the effects of Communism, one of which was a ruined economy where the people had only the most basic necessities.

Because of this, I was surprised when one of the local Christians came to my birthday dinner and surprised me with a gift. When I unwrapped the small package, it contained a bar of soap—nothing special, just regular soap.

But that soap was one of the sweetest gifts I've ever received. Like the widow in Mark 12:41-44, my foreign friend had given generously from his limited income. 

I kept that soap for several years as a reminder of true generosity.

Compared to most of the world, we Americans are rich. What many people consider luxuries, we consider necessities. Yet most of us take our blessings for granted and complain that we don't have more.

Let's ask God to give us grateful, generous hearts and a true understanding of our blessings.

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For more encouragement, see the one-minute devotion: In God's Economy, Sometimes Less is More and When Prosperity Devours Our Blessings.

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Don't Take Submission Beyond Scripture

I’m a complementarian, meaning I believe in biblical submission of a wife to her husband (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1) and male leadership in the church (1 Timothy 2:12-14).  

See Limits to Submission: Immoral or Illegal Requests.

Ephesians 5:22-28 explains a wife's submission to her husband and a husband's sacrificial love for his wife. These are commands specifically for marriage, not all relationships. 

Rules for male leadership are also specifically applied to prayer and worship in joint fellowship (i.e., church) (1 Timothy 2).

So beware of teachings (example below) that go beyond Scripture:

“A woman, whether she is married or single, must recognize the fact that in general, as a woman, she must have a spirit of submission to all men … whether in marriage, in business, in the church.… The woman must realize in any relationship that she has been given the place of submission.” (source: MacArthur)*

That statement isn't biblical, nor are the claims of pastors who say women should not be allowed to vote in government elections (e.g., Douglas Wilson).

Both men and women should submit to church leadership, employers, and government (Romans 13:1-7) wherever they choose to worship, work, and live. 

But claiming women should have “a spirit of submission to all men” would mean she must submit to her brothers, adult sons, neighbors, doctors, etc. Besides being unscriptural and impossible, this claim is unsafe.  

The Bereans carefully judged the teachings of Paul with Scripture, and they were called noble for doing so (Acts 17:11). Let's be noble in testing the teachings we hear, no matter who presents them.

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Would you like a more thorough study of this issue? See Biblical Submission Is Unique to Marriage. 

* Important Note: If we defend people no matter what they do or teach, we lose discernment. If a teacher offers 99% accurate Bible teaching, we should still be willing to identify and disagree with the 1% error. God's Word must have our first loyalty. I say this because I know I will get negative feedback by pointing out an error in the teaching of John MacArthur. The linked sermon contains some accurate Bible teaching, but the quote about women being in submission to all men in all areas of life is not biblical. And it's dangerous. Another quote in MacArthur's sermon also disturbs me.

To make the point that submission is not an inferior position, MacArthur talked about Christ being in submission to God the Father when He came to earth to die for our sins, which did not make Christ inferior to God the Father. I agree. That is completely scriptural. But again, MacArthur took it beyond Scripture and made a statement that's not accurate biblically.

“It is not – and mark it – it is not that Christ is inferior to God. In fact, He said, ‘I and the Father are’ – what? – ‘are one.’ There is no inferiority; there is simply a role that is taken. And I’ll tell you something else, think about this: in the truest sense, I, as a member of the Church, am not even inferior to Christ, who is the Head of the Church, because God the Father says I am a joint heir with Christ. And that Christ lives in me. And it is only that I have taken the place of submission, the role of submission. Someday, when I get to heaven, I will be like Him. So, you see, it isn’t talking about inferiority-superiority, it is simply talking about role.” 

We will never be equal to Jesus Christ. He is eternal and perfect, the only Savior and Lord of mankind.  

Perhaps MacArthur misspoke or later changed his mind about the serious errors he expressed in this sermon, but this sermon remains a featured sermon in his website.  

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Blessed Music is Healthy for Body and Soul — Part 3

These one-minute devotions share some wonderful truths about the way godly music can bless our body, soul, and spirit. 

 

Praise Music Therapy
When negative thoughts are swirling through our brains, this can completely turn things around.

 

4 Reasons God Gave Us Music 
An old man miraculously revives when he's allowed to listen to music. This one-minute devotion explains four of God's purposes in giving us music.

Making Music in Our Hearts is Healthy for Our Souls
This psalm offers a wonderful suggestion for keeping our hearts and our souls healthy!

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For more one-minute devotions on music, see:

Blessed Music Never Grows Old — Part 1

Blessed Music Brings Joy to All Ages — Part 2 

 

 

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6 Christian Rules of Speech from Proverbs and Ephesians

We learn grammar and rules of speech in school. But did you know that there are also biblical “rules of speech” that are about grace instead of grammar?

1. Respond gently to angry words.

Don't let another person's rudeness or anger shape your response. 
“A gentle answer deflects anger.” Proverbs 15:1

2. Share the truth lovingly.  
If you're resentful, proud, or disinterested, keep your mouth shut.
“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing … [so] speak the truth in love.” Proverbs 15:2; Ephesians 4:15

3. Speak truthfully.

Don't pass along rumors or reshape the truth. 
“A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit … [so] Let us tell our neighbors the truth.” Proverbs 15:4; Ephesians 4:25

4. Share wisdom.

Let God's Word guide your thoughts and words. 
“The lips of the wise give good advice.” Proverbs 15:7

 
5. Wait for the right time and place to speak.

Be considerate of others, sharing things at appropriate times and places.
“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” Proverbs 15:23

 
6. Keep a clean mouth.

Let your words reflect your faith. 

“Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful … [no] obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes.”  Ephesians 4:29, 5:4

God's Word doesn't teach us grammar or punctuation, but it does give us rules of speech to make us gentle, honest, wise, and helpful. Are there any of these areas where you need to renew your speech?

 

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For more, see Speech Lessons: Learning God's Language and Do You Know Mom's Version of Ephesians 4:29? 

✓ Free Subscription to 1-Minute Bible Love Notes. Have a one-minute devotion like this one delivered to your email each weekday.

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Building Selfish Boundaries in Relationships

Millions of people rave about the Boundaries books by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Promoted as Christian, these books have done enormous damage to Christian families.

I’ve sometimes thought the Boundaries books would be good material to use in seminary classes to teach eisegesis. Eisegesis is a false method where a person starts with a human belief and tries to find Scriptures to fit the belief. 

In contrast, exegesis, a true method of Bible study, starts with what Scripture teaches and develops beliefs based on God’s Word.

While boundaries can be appropriate when there is actual physical or sexual abuse, the majority of content in Boundaries books is about normal relationship problems. Perhaps 10-15% of the Scriptures they use are accurately applied, while 85-90% are misused to support modern victimhood psychology, a teaching that contradicts Scripture and keeps people from developing mature people skills. 

From my research, this is how I would sum up the basic concepts behind most of the Boundaries teachings:

Instead of acting like an adult, fairly evaluating situations, taking responsibility for your sins, and seeking reconciliation, consider yourself a victim and simply cut off people who don't do exactly what you want them to do, especially your parents. And to make your estrangement sound reasonable, exaggerate the problems by calling people toxic, unsafe, and abusive. 

The Boundaries books appeal to our fallen human nature, which accounts for their popularity. Boundaries concepts contradict many passages in Scripture, including almost the whole chapter of Romans 12 (full text below).

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For more on this important subject, see Boundaries versus Guidelines and Speak Your Mind Even if You Lose Your Marriage.

Read the chapter of Romans below and consider how many ways it contradicts cutting off family members who are annoying, difficult, or simply normal, imperfect human beings.

Romans 12: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: 

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

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Genesis 50/20 Eyesight

I love the story of Joseph. It's a wonderful comfort when I'm struggling with painful difficulties. It highlights God's amazing Romans 8:28 ability to use other people's sins to prosper our souls.

God doesn't tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13), but He's able to use sin for good. 

Of course, growth often comes with pain—Joseph's brothers and Potiphar's wife caused Joseph great suffering. But God used their sins to bring Joseph to the right place, the right time, and the right perspective so he could help countless others. 

He gave Joseph Genesis 50/20 eyesight:

When Joseph's brothers were fearful he would take revenge for the evil things they'd done, Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” 

Recently, God showed me He'd done this very thing in my life—the sins of another person have left their painful mark on my heart. But I've experienced growth in my walk because of them, and they've opened doors of opportunity for me to minister to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Has God used other people's sins to bring you to a better place? Have you found peace in a Genesis 50:20 perspective?

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For more on this important subject, see Rejected by the Majority and Renewed Eyes.

 

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💙 10 Reasons You'll Love the Book Wisdom for Life. A collection of 100 one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and a great gift for people who love God's Word.

💙 Full Description of the Book Lies in Disguise. A much-needed book to uncover half-truths that misuse Scripture and weaken Christian faith.

  

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A Gracious, Salty Answer to a Hard Question

How do we answer questions unbelievers ask about culturally accepted sins? Colossians 4:6 tells us to respond with grace and salt (truth):

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

How might we answer if a non-Christian asks, “What do you think about gays?”

We need to let God’s Spirit lead us, but our first response could be, “Why do you ask?” This will give us an understanding of the reason the person is asking and can help us answer more effectively. See Jesus Asked Questions and Understanding Why Jesus Asked Questions.

If someone asked me this question and said they wanted to understand why I can believe in a God who condemns people just because they love someone who’s their own gender, here’s my possible answer:

“I don’t pretend to fully understand the things in a person’s life that lead them to a gay lifestyle, and it breaks my heart to know that some who choose that lifestyle do so because they were sexually abused in childhood. But I believe God, as our loving Creator, knows what is best for us. His commands against homosexuality, just like His other commands, are lovingly designed to keep us from damaging our souls.” 

If this person is open, they may ask other questions or share personal stories, giving us further opportunities to help them understand God’s grace and truth.

If they become angry or rude, it’s likely that they aren’t open, no matter what we say. See When Is a Question Not Really a Question?

It's wise to prepare for questions about God and His commands, but we also must let God's Spirit guide us in each situation.

 

Free Subscription to 1-Minute Bible Love Notes. Have a one-minute devotion like this one delivered to your email each weekday.

10 Reasons You'll Love the Book Wisdom for Life. A collection of 100 one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and a great gift for people who love God's Word.

Full Description of the Book Lies in Disguise. A much-needed book to uncover half-truths that misuse Scripture and weaken Christian faith.

  

 

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How Do We Answer a Question with Grace and Salt?

A Christian friend told me her non-Christian co-worker asked what she thought of gays. She wasn’t sure how to answer, so she said, “I love them.”
 

Afterwards, she wished she'd been better prepared. Few Christians (including me) think through the best way to answer questions like these, but we should.
 

My friend’s answer wasn’t wrong, but neither was it right. Let’s unpack what Scripture says about answering questions about our faith.
 

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Colossians 4:5-6
 

1. We need to know what God's Word teaches.
 

2. We need to see such questions as opportunities to share Christ.
 

3. We need to be gracious, not rude or sarcastic.
 

4. We need to be unafraid to share hard truths. The salt of the gospel flavors and preserves our lives. Matthew 5:13 says we are the salt of the earth. 
 

If we refuse to share unpopular biblical truths, we aren't preserving the truth—we're offering an artificially flavored gospel.

 

John 1:17 says, “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Christ brought in the New Covenant that is based on both grace and truth. 
 

So how should we answer the question my friend was asked? With this foundation, I offer a possible answer in A Gracious, Salty Answer to a Hard Question.

 For more insights on being salt, see:

 Are You Sugar & Shadows or Salt & Light? and Seasoned with Salt.

And please check out this helpful resource: Full description of the book Lies in Disguise. It's a much-needed book to uncover half-truths that misuse Scripture and weaken Christian faith.

 

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