Forget You Sucker!

In the plant world, a “sucker” is vegetative growth that springs quickly from the root system. Bypassing the main trunk, suckers rob the entire plant of valuable minerals and nutrients.

The worst part is that although suckers may bear leaves, they do not bear fruit.

I wonder if Jesus had these suckers in mind when he said, “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches…” (John 15:4).

Most alarming is the fact that Jesus says of these fruitless branches, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit [the Father] takes away…” (John 15:2).

While most interpretations of these verses in John 15 are directed toward individuals, I wonder if there is a parallel application for local churches?

Sooner or later, in the life of every church, ministry programs are added that grow up quickly yet never bear fruit. Many times, churches are hesitant to end them.

Yet, if those programs are sucking resources away from other ministries that do bear fruit, shouldn’t churches take a cue from the “Master Gardener” (v. 1) and remove the suckers from our congregations?

Here are a few signs of a “sucker” program:

  • Benefits are more social than serving.
  • Leadership is in name only and involves little or no function.
  • Activities focus more on preservation than purpose.
  • Results bear little or no fruit.

Happy gardening!

 

(Special thanks to Steve Ogne for the information on suckers.)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

The Pharisees and Sadducees once asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven. I’m not sure what they were expecting –maybe the ancient equivalent of fireworks or a laser-light show.

Either way, Jesus didn’t grant their request. Instead, He criticized them for missing the signs that were all around them: Namely, the sign of the Messiah.

For centuries, God had promised a Messiah to deliver His people. And year after year, His people searched for the sign. Yet, now, in this very instant, the Sign is standing in front of them, having a conversation with them –and yet, they missed it! Even worse –they ask the Sign for a sign!

It would be like asking Michael Jordan if he knows any good basketball players, or Bill Gates if he knows someone who could help you fix your computer!

Jesus just answered them this way, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 16:2-4).

Basically, Jesus says, you know how to read the signs of coming weather, but you can’t read the signs that are most important.

Granted, the Pharisees and Sadducees had ulterior motives in their question. They were trying to trick Jesus (Matthew 16:1). But the root of their problem was blindness –spiritual blindness.

Isn’t it interesting how, even for believers who have had their spiritual eyes opened, bouts with spiritual blindness still remain?

We are always looking for signs, aren’t we?  See if any of these thoughts sound familiar:

  • The owner prayed to open the interview –that must be a sign to take this job.
  • The girl actually called me back –that must be a sign that she’s “the one”
  • I made a “D” on my last paper –it’s a sign to change my major!

When we look for signs, we are really looking for something more: We are searching for hope and a future. (think on that for a while)

And just like the Pharisees, the ultimate sign has already been given to us in Christ.

Ultimate fulfillment doesn’t come in landing the right job, major, or even spouse –although all of those things can be fulfilling. But they are only fulfilling when our ultimate fulfillment is in Christ. There’s your sign!

Road Trip: Macedonia, Arkansas

Macedonia Baptist Church near Magnolia, Arkansas has a rich heritage and a bright future. During my recent visit, my son Bryce and I fell in love with the congregation.

Before the service, I struck up a conversation with the man sitting in front of us. Like me, had experienced the loss of a wife. It was a blessing to hear his testimony of God’s faithfulness in giving him a second wife of nearly forty years. Isn’t it amazing how God uses kingdom-relationships in the local church to encourage his children!

Pastor Joe Owens also encouraged me during my visit to Macedonia. Having served as pastor for about seven years, it is obvious that he has the trust of the congregation. That only happens when a man evidences a strong love for the needs of the people and a faithful service to the ministry.

One of the things that I love about pastor Joe is that he is a former deacon. He spent over a decade serving in that role before making known his desire to pastor. I point this out because I’m convinced there may be other deacons who are in a similar position as Joe was, but feel like “once a deacon, always a deacon.” In other words, they feel as though they cannot do anything but serve as a deacon. However, the Bible makes no such limitation on these men. In fact, the biblical qualifications for a deacon are almost identical to the qualifications for a pastor (I Timothy 3). The only difference is that a pastor must be “apt to teach.” If a deacon has the gift of teaching/preaching, there is nothing biblically holding them back from becoming a pastor if God places it on their heart.

One more person blessed my heart that morning. During the service, I shared my testimony of losing Jill. I mentioned the fact that she was a nursing instructor at Southern Arkansas University, which is about fifteen miles from the church. After the service, a lady introduced herself saying, “My husband and I were both in Jill’s class at SAU –and she was just as wonderful as you described her.” I can’t express how much those words meant to me. People who have lost loved ones long to hear others remember them. It lets us know that they are not forgotten and that they are still loved. In a way, it’s like someone wrapping their arms around you and saying, “me too.”

Praise God for the ministry that Macedonia Baptist Church has toward their community –and, the ministry that they provided to me!

Feeling Stuck on Earth?

Have you ever wondered why God leaves us on this earth after we are justified by faith in Jesus? With all of the pain and suffering this world brings, at times it seems that an immediate rapture into Heaven would be the most loving thing God could provide.

So why does God leave us here?

I’m sure there are a multitude of reasons that only God knows. However, the Bible gives us plenty.

In Romans 5, for example, Paul states:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and werejoicein hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

In these verses, Paul is addressing those of us who have been “justified by faith” (ie. saved, redeemed, reborn, etc). In the very same sentence (verse 1), he explains that because of our justification, we now enjoy “peace with God…”

Peace in the midst of a fallen world should be reason enough for contentment. What a gift of grace to be anchored by a peace and a hope which cannot be shaken.

In fact, that very grace is what Paul states in verse two is our means by which we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. If we were immediately raptured, how would we ever rejoice in hope?

Further, beyond our rejoicing in hope, Paul explains that we also can rejoice in our sufferings. Once again, this is impossible unless we are inhabiting a fallen world. These sufferings are a part of the sanctifying work Christ performs in our life as, “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…”

Christ is glorified both in our initial faith at justification, and our increasing faith throughout sanctification –both of which take place in a fallen world.

So the next time this world has you frustrated and weary, take Paul’s advice –rejoice! Rejoice in the peace of God and rejoice in the sanctifying work of Christ taking part in your life.  If you take joy in that hope, the Bible says, “hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Road Trip: Cushing, TX

I have had a wonderful experience visiting the people of Landmark Baptist Church in Cushing, Texas recently. Pastor David Snelson was gracious to invite me to preach a series of revival services for their congregation.

During my time at the church, I discovered some wonderful people with amazing ministries.

One of the senior men spends countless hours visiting and serving. A “QuiltBox” ministry gathers women to sew quilts and give the proceeds of their sales to church ministries. The church’s food pantry feeds local residents in need. And the AWANA program reaches countless youth who would otherwise never enter a church to hear the gospel.

The congregation was so generous. They offered me warm hospitality. But the most special gift of all was something they provided for my son. Bryce was not able to travel with me because of school. So the people of Landmark bought a children’s Bible for him and everyone in the congregation signed it. They explained that it is in appreciation for Bryce letting them borrow his daddy for a few days. How sweet it is to experience the family of God reaching out to one another!

Pastor Snelson is doing a wonderful job of leading Landmark. I enjoyed my time with this blessed congregation and look forward to spending time with them in the future.

Professions and Power Rangers

I heard a scuffle so I headed to the back yard. There I found my son and his friend arguing over a toy.

As soon as I passed through the door, Bryce said, “I told him it belonged to me.”

I knew that sounded suspicious, so I asked Bryce’s friend what happened. He explained that Bryce had given him a Power Ranger action figure to play with and then took it back a few minutes later. Apparently, Bryce had become jealous of the fun that his friend was having with the borrowed toy.

I pulled Bryce aside and had the “sharing means releasing” talk.

Then, I asked Bryce, “What should you say to your friend?” He answered, “I’m sorry.”

Something didn’t sound quite right about his tone. “Bryce, are you just saying words, or do you really mean it in your heart?”

That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? It admits that I cannot judge anyone’s heart with complete accuracy -not even the heart of my own child!

At the same time, the question suggests that a person’s actions and attitudes can be strong indicators of what is happening inside.

Living between these two truths is a constant responsibility of parenting. While back-yard disputes over toys are to be taken seriously, they are not nearly as important as shepherding a child’s heart in the midst of understanding, confessing, and professing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Often, after a child responds to the gospel, a parent or pastor will ask, “did you mean it in your heart?” I think this is a healthy question because it recognizes that faith in Christ is more than a recitation of words.

While this question is a great start, it should not be the end of the matter. After all, how many children have you ever heard say “no?” Most kids want to please their parent, guardian, pastor, or leader. Further, it is ambitious to expect a child to discern his/her own heart completely.

Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that a child cannot place faith in Christ for salvation. All I am saying is that if a parent truly cares about their child’s soul, they will not quit observing and guiding their child. Eternity is too important to take a child’s word for it. So why do some parents spend less energy evaluating their child’s profession of faith than they do settling a Power Ranger toy dispute?

That’s why I agree with those who take a longer approach by saying, “I’m so happy that you have taken this step toward Christ! Let’s keep talking about this every day and watch how God changes your life.”

I would never advocate anyone saying to a professing child, “You aren’t old enough to trust Christ,” or “You don’t understand.” Instead, I am a believer in encouraging, not discouraging, the faith of children. I’m simply saying, we must be responsible.

A responsible approach allows parents to watch for indicators of heart transformation displayed in attitudes and actions. Of course nobody is perfect, but if the seed of the gospel has truly taken root, fruit should begin to grow.

 

This doesn’t mean that as a parent you will ever know your child’s heart perfectly. That is reserved for God alone. But, if you take your responsibility to raise your children in the admonition of the Lord, you will want to keep a finger on the pulse of your child’s life direction.

Parenting a child’s heart, particularly in light of the gospel, is not a light task. It drives us to intense prayer and a greater sensitivity to our children’s attitudes and actions.

May God give us all wisdom and discernment. Parenting, after all, is more than childs play!

Providential Breakfast

Perhaps you could call it “East Texas Hospitality.” Or, it may be better described as a case of mistaken identity. Either way, it was funny.

I’ve been preaching a series of revival services in Cushing, TX while staying at a hotel in Nacogdoches, TX. This morning, I visited a small café next door to the hotel for breakfast.

I chose a table away from others who were dining so that I could read without distraction. It was a large table that would seat 8-10 people, but I didn’t think the restaurant would mind me sitting there. There were plenty of seats for other customers. After finishing my scrambled eggs, I continued reading and sipping on hot coffee.

Suddenly, the door of the restaurant opened and a group of men began to enter. They started walking toward the area in which I was seated, so I gave them the obligatory smile and head-nod.

The next thing I knew, all of the men were taking a seat at my table! One of the men even started talking to me as though we were old friends. I wasn’t sure what to make of it…. So, I just played along!

After about ten minutes, one of the men  said, “Well, I guess you aren’t a part of our group are you?”

It turned out the men were all members of a large Sunday School class at a local church which has an open invitation to meet for breakfast every Tuesday morning. When I looked up and smiled at the men entering the restaurant, they assumed I had been a visitor in the class and was there for the breakfast! It made sense, they explained, because I was sitting at the table where they always gathered.

We all had a great laugh over it. Even more, we enjoyed wonderful fellowship and discussion about the work God is doing in their local church.

It reminded me of another large gathering around a meal described in Revelation 19:9: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

This is the celebration of the final, complete, eternal reunification of God’s people with their Savior, Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God.

If I don’t see my new friends anywhere else in this life, I will see them at that great event in the life to come –and none of us will sit at that table by mistake!

Should I Bring a Charge Against My Pastor?

The office of pastor is to be respected and honored by the church. Yet, these recognized leaders of the church are still humans battling the flesh like everyone else. They are no -and cannot be expected- to be perfect.

But what happens when a pastor abuses his power or treats the church in a harmful way? How should a concerned church member act?

These are not questions to be taken lightly. To question a pastor’s integrity is a serious matter. Not only will such accusations affect the pastor, but his family and the entire church body as well. Therefore, here are nine essentials to keep in mind before you do or say anything:

First, you must be praying for your pastor. I certainly wouldn’t advise you to do anything else until you can find yourself in a place where you can honestly pray that God will bless and minister to him. I know this may be difficult if you have been hurt or offended by him, but it is essential:

I Thess. 5:12-13 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Second, resolve to be a blessing to him. This may sound counter-intuitive, but again, it is biblical.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Third, ask God for wisdom in discerning whether or not you should approach him and, if so, how.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Fourth, if you determine to speak with your pastor concerning the issue, commit to keeping it a private matter between you and the pastor. Do not air personal grievances in public.

I Timothy 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Fifth, resolve to speak the truth in love and with proper respect for a pastor.

Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Sixth, listen respectfully and strive for peace. Give your pastor the benefit of the doubt as much as possible.

Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Seventh, don’t respond rashly. Rather, take time to consider what you have heard from your pastor. Consider saying, “Thank you for responding to my concerns. I certainly want to take the appropriate time to consider everything you have said. Perhaps we could meet again soon if I have further questions?

Proverbs 11:12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Eighth, prayerfully consider the conversation and consider the pastor’s viewpoint. Remember, unless you have served as a pastor, there are certain pressures and stresses that you may not understand. Further, keep in mind that because of confidentiality, the pastor may not be able to share everything he knows. Sometimes this puts pastors in a difficult position in which appearances can be misleading.

Ninth, If and only if you have prayerfully considered the issue and determined that you have been truly offended (or that an injustice/abuse of power is being performed against the church), follow the commands of Christ regarding conflict resolution:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Keep in mind, the first step is a private conversation between you and the person who has sinned against you. Your goal is to seek resolution -not establish greater hostility. Also, there is nothing in this verse prohibiting the offended brother from attempting this step multiple times. However, keep in mind that this is a private conversation and the details must not be made public at this point.

Hopefully, resolution will be made and the issue will be eliminated. Don’t ignore the possibility that God may change your heart toward the matter during this process as well.

However, if resolution is not found, it is time to take one or two others with you. I would recommend the most trusted leaders in your church -even if they do not agree with your claim. The point is not to have more people argue for you, but rather to have trustworthy folks observe the conversation and help you keep an objective viewpoint. They may be able to help you see the issue from a different angle, or be able to communicate more effectively with the person you are confronting. Again, remember, this must be done in love with the goal being restoration. This step, like the previous step, may be repeated more than once until resolution is found, or all agree that the conversation is not bearing fruit.

At that point, if you still have an issue, it is time to consider taking the matter before the church. However, remember that in the case of a pastor, you must have the “evidence of two or three witnesses” (I Tim. 5:19). This may include the witnesses you have had in the previous step -if they agree that an offense has taken place. Charging a pastor with a sinful offense is not only a serious matter, but it will have a great impact upon the church body for years to come. Even more, it will have an impact on the pastor and his family for years to come. Further, your entire community could potentially hear about the matter. This is not to be taken lightly.

With all of that being said, there still are situations in which it is appropriate to bring a pastor’s offense before the church. I would suggest requesting a meeting with any official leaders in your church prior to this step as an intermediate attempt to resolve the issue and avoid public controversy. If nothing is resolved, I would suggest asking the leaders for help in arranging for this step.

In such a meeting, it would be wise for church leaders to restrict non-church members from attending. This is a matter for the family and should be kept among those to whom it pertains.

Of course, a congregation will want to enter such a meeting with prayerfulness. Therefore, announcing the meeting beforehand (without great detail) may be in order.

Ultimately, whatever the congregation determines should be the end of the matter. Just as you would expect the pastor to abide by that, you should also be prepared to peacefully abide by that as well.

May the peace of Christ rule over your congregation for the sake of God’s glory!

 

My Fruit Snack Failure

Epic fail. That’s what it felt like.

My son, Bryce came home from Kindergarten and announced, “Dad, you forgot to put a snack in my back pack today.”

I admit I’m prone to overthink certain things. But all I could see in my mind’s eye was my son sitting alone at snack time with nothing to eat while all of the other kindergartners were saying, “At least our parents LOVE us!”

Turns out, the teacher keeps extra snacks on hand. And, to my chagrin, Bryce said he likes Mrs. Turner’s snacks better. Ouch.

Still, it was the principle of the matter that really bothered me. My son depended upon me for something and I let him down. Sure, it wasn’t a major problem that day, but what about when he depends upon me for something more substantial.

You live all your life training to be a parent. And then, when the time comes, you are expected to provide certain things.

It’s a lot like apple trees. Did you know that it takes 5-8 years for an apple tree to bear fruit? During those 5-8 years, the tree is preparing for its purpose –to produce apples. If 12 or 13 years go by without fruit, something is wrong.

Instead, when the tree reaches maturity, it should begin to bear fruit in season. In other words, a mature tree is dependable for bearing fruit.

That’s exactly how Psalm 1:3 describes matures believers: “He is like a tree… 
that yields its fruit in its season…”

Forgetting to pack my son’s fruit snacks is not the real issue of my concern. My real desire is to dependably bear spiritual fruit before my son.

Mrs. Turner is well equipped to compensate for forgotten snacks, but she cannot replace my parental responsibility to:

  • Bear the fruit of integrity within our home
  • Bear the fruit of faithful leadership in our family
  • Bear the fruit of a Christ-like father to my child

According to the psalmist, the only way that I can bear that fruit is by:

Walk[ing] not in the counsel of the wicked, 
nor stand[ing] in the way of sinners,
 nor sit[ting] in the seat of scoffers;

but [placing my] delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law… meditate[ing] day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).

We’ve Already Died

Lazurus –what an amazing life –then death –then life –then death –and now life.

In John 11, Jesus raised him from the dead. (This is the passage where Jesus wept).

In the next chapter, John12, Jesus returned to Bethany to visit Lazurus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha six days before Passover. Naturally, large crowds gathered to see Jesus and to see the guy He had raised from the dead (Lazurus was famous now).

And then, as if Lazurus hadn’t had enough stress already (sickness/death/Jewish Paparazzi), the Bible gives us a disturbing piece of news:

So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. (John 12:9-11)

Wow. The chief priests just didn’t like Jesus –or anyone He had impacted.

New life in Christ simultaneously secures eternal life and jeopardizes earthly life. Think that’s extreme? Check out what Jesus says in John 15:20.

That’s not to say that believers don’t experience abundant life while here on earth. It just means that abundant life is much deeper than what is on the surface. After all, we find life in losing it! (Matthew 16:25)

It reminds me of missionary James Calvert:

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”
-David Augsburger, Sticking My Neck Out

I can only imagine Lazurus saying something similar when his friends might have asked, “Aren’t you worried that the chief priests will kill you?” Maybe Lazurus would have said, “I already died.”

For those of us in Christ Jesus, we too have already died. And, similar to Lazurus (spiritually speaking), we have been raised to new life (Colossians 3:1). Death has no grip on us! “Whom shall [we] fear?” (Psalm 27:1)

That puts today’s trial into perspective, doesn’t it?

  • The ridicule from co-workers about my faith cannot harm me –I’ve already died.
  • The attacks on my counter-cultural worldview cannot destroy me –I’ve already died.
  • The persecution on my brothers and sisters in the underground church cannot rob them of their joy –They’ve already died.
  • The pain you experience for holding onto truth when your spouse hasn’t will not defeat you if you are in Christ –You’ve already died.

And so on…. Its just hard to kill someone who’s already died. After all, even Lazurus, who eventually “died” again, is still alive.

Because Jesus defeated death, and rose from the dead –you and I too can have the same testimony:

We lived, we died, and we will live –forever.