“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
- Romans 8:28
Back in 2006, due to a change in leadership in the church I was serving in and a change in ministry direction from that leadership, I believed that God was calling me to leave a very successful youth ministry that I and many others had poured our hearts into for many, many years. It was a very difficult decision to make because the previous leadership I served under had supported us (with their actions, words, and even finances) in training and equipping the students in the youth ministry to go out and speak into other youth around the country for the sake of the gospel.
Not only had we already made trips to other states with music and conference events, but we had been training our team of adults and youth for literally years before this new leadership and direction came into this church. I was even told by the new leadership that we don’t need you going all around the country teaching and sinking into other youth. We need you sinking into our youth here. Yes, this was emphasized by the new leadership that our youth at the church were what mattered. It was incredibly mind-blowing to me because this new leadership said they were all about reaching out to the unsaved and the unchurched. What they really meant was that we are all for reaching out to the lost if it is our idea and not yours.
Admittedly, I was seriously devastated! All of that work, time, effort, and spending of money happened for what purpose? God and I had many conversations over that time.
It’s just one reason why I hold to the belief I do regarding Romans 13 and submitting to earthly authorities. Either God establishes the authorities on this earth or He doesn’t. At that time, I had a serious choice to make:
#1. Stay at the church God had called me to, and rebel against this new direction they believed they were called to go in.
#2. Stay and be quiet while being incredibly miserable, being paid a good wage in order to “take care of my family,” and in doing so, not follow God in what He was calling me to do.
#3. Leave and stay the course with what God was calling me and my family to do.
It was a tough decision to make. Many at that time, and with what seemed to be good intentions, tried to counsel and sway me away from leaving to officially start full-time with Worldview Warriors. They tried to sway me into staying in my position by reminding me I had a responsibility to support my wife and to provide for our 6 children. It was so incredibly difficult inside and outside of our home. However, when is it not difficult when God is calling you to something outside of your comfort zone and much bigger than yourself? So, after almost 10 years of ministry in a wonderful youth ministry position, with much prayer, godly counsel, and tears, I chose to follow God’s leading for my family and me, even though I thought Worldview Warriors, with the support of the first pastor I served under, would be a huge part of this congregation and its ministry.
After leaving this youth ministry position, in June of 2007, I made a very pointed decision to strive to get into the world of atheists, agnostics, and non-believers in Jesus Christ to try and understand better what they believed and how they chose to think. During that same time, I went from working in a very wonderful office setting and hanging out with people in person a lot to working out of a dark, dingy basement by myself for a time. Sometime in 2008 to 2009, I was the only founder left in Worldview Warriors. During that time, I learned a lot about how people think and why they believe what they believe. You see, before God put me on this path, I thought the majority of people would see truth and accept truth as truth once they were exposed to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Boy, was I wrong! What I have experienced since 2007 has been a whole other experience altogether. I think what has been and is still the most shocking experience on this journey is the fact that many people do not understand the difference between an opinion and the truth. It has been incredibly eye-opening to me because before I was a Christ follower, when I was out searching for the truth, I wanted the truth regardless of where it took me. I didn’t care if what I thought was wrong. I didn’t care if it was uncomfortable, and I certainly didn’t care if I disagreed with it. All I wanted was the TRUTH at all costs.
Today, unfortunately, many people are not really interested in the truth. My experience has been that they want to be right at all costs and want their beliefs, even if they are wrong, to be confirmed as true. Many today desire good gifts and good outcomes even when the truth of God or God’s natural law says otherwise.
This brings me to the title of this blog post and why it is so important. Failing has the potential to be an incredible teacher of how not to do things in order to lead a person to the truth. When a person keeps doing the same thing over and over and not learning from their failures, they are not living up to their incredible potential given to them by God Almighty. When a person is stiff-necked and is unwilling to change their ways to find the truth, that person is just stuck – stuck in misery and stuck in failure. That person can also be stuck in victimhood, instead of victory in Jesus.
Once a person realizes they are stuck in failure and they choose to do something about it, by choosing God’s way over their own, or at the very least trying to do things God’s way, it can be a very freeing day for that person and their life in Christ. Victory in Jesus is right there for the taking if we are willing to grab hold of it and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ.
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Most of you reading this are familiar with the account of Jesus’ baptism. Each of the Gospels at least touches this moment: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus, when He is ready to begin His ministry, goes to John the Baptist to be baptized. John initially refuses but Jesus insists. When Jesus comes up, the Holy Spirit comes down like a dove and the Father speaks aloud to the crowd, “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.”
Many sermons and teachings have been made on this passage, but as I said at the start of this series, I want to get into the heart of Jesus. I want to learn and understand His thoughts and His mind – what He was doing and why. I only have the text of Scripture and prayer to guide me. I want to know Jesus’ mind as I go through this study.
The only thing we know of Jesus saying or doing prior to this event is from His youth; at 12 years old, He already knew His calling and what He was there to do. He was about His Father’s business – teaching, praying, and living the life of a normal human only without sin. Now, roughly 18 years later, Jesus enters the scene to be baptized. We don’t know what He was doing before or between. Chances are He made somewhat of a part-time living as a craftsman, but for some reason, He did not stay or live with His mother even after the most likely passing of His father (due to being nowhere to be seen in later accounts). But when it was time, He left it all and began His journey.
So why start with baptism? Many people will suggest it was to be an example for us, but I think there is a much deeper reason for it. In baptism, we know the standard idea of it being a picture of dying to the old sinful life and being born again into a new life in Christ. We hear it often enough that it becomes rote to many of us, and we don’t even think about it often. But I want to cite two major reasons for Jesus being baptized: 1) to signify that Jesus was not going to do this job by His own strength as a man, but to do so completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit dwelling within Him to get the job done, and 2) to declare war on Satan and sin that this was not going to be a work of the flesh. This was a spiritual warfare move.
One of Jesus’ major teachings that so many people refuse to look at today is that to be a Christian – to truly go after Christ, to do what Christ says, and to be as He makes us – we must deny ourselves and put “self” to death by taking up our cross. Jesus emphasized this point. Paul emphasizes this point. When Jesus enters your life, you are not the same person anymore. That old life is gone. The new life, where you are no longer your own master, where you are now submitted to a new master, is now here. Jesus demonstrated this through His baptism. He was declaring that what He was about to embark on was not His journey to proclaim Himself to go on, but a journey His Father in heaven is sending Him on.
Jesus submitted Himself to do this task not of His own will but by His Father’s will. He chose not to listen to His own ideas but to submit all His ideas to the Father to guide and direct Him. And because Jesus was without sin, without any inherent rebellion against God and His plan, Jesus was able to accomplish this task of living around 33 years on earth, eating sin-cursed food, breathing sin-cursed air, dwelling among sin-cursed people, when all He had known before was the holy, perfect presence of God. He did so without sin because, unlike any of us, He did practice what He preached and denied Himself and submitted to the Father.
But this was also a declaration of spiritual war. My church’s teaching elder brought this up a while back and taught about the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. When we partake in these sacraments, it is an act of spiritual warfare because we are declaring which side we are on and that we are going about the Father’s business. Don’t forget one of the reasons He came to begin with was to undo and overcome the work of the devil. When Jesus went down under the water, He declared to the devil that He would die willingly and take upon Himself the sins of the world. When He came back up, He declared to the enemy that death would not hold Him and that anything that he tried to do to Jesus would end in failure.
The baptism of Jesus wasn’t just a preparation for His ministry but a pronouncement of the victory that would come with the resurrection. It was a symbol and picture of how He would do His ministry, but so much more than that. It was an act of obedience to the Lord that would make all Hell shake with terror. The perfect Son of Man, the Messiah, had come onto the scene.
I have found in my walk and my life that the more I deny myself and do what God wants me to do, even in my daily routine tasks that need to be done, the more free, the more alert, and the more power I have to get stuff done. But whenever I want to do my own thing, it sure is amazing how time quickly flies away and I feel total drudgery, lethargic and weak. Why? Because I had been relying on my own strength and power and it was spent. Where, how, and why we choose to get baptized is between you and God and your church, but if we are to imitate Christ, let us start with why Jesus did it: to move on doing nothing apart from the will of God and without getting His permission to do something or say something. We will see how Jesus handled all His situations by having been engaged in prayer before going out. Next week, we’ll look at the Temptation of Jesus, and it will be more than just what kind of temptations Jesus faced.
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Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5-10
The Apostle Paul's second letter to the Corinthians ends with a powerful exhortation, challenging believers to examine their faith and live in alignment with God's truth. This is Paul’s concluding section of teaching in this letter, with only his final greetings remaining after this.
Paul begins in verse 5 with a call to self-examination. This isn’t merely a surface-level introspection but a deep, honest evaluation of whether one's life reflects genuine faith. The focus is not on perfection but on authenticity. Here, Paul assumes two things. First, faith is recognizable. True faith in Christ will bear fruit, which is evident in attitudes, behaviors, and spiritual growth. Second, Christ is within believers. His presence is the foundation of faith. The question is whether that presence is reflected in how they live.
Paul's rhetorical question, "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?" emphasizes the transformative power of the gospel. Failing the test doesn’t mean occasional struggles; it indicates a lack of real connection with Christ. We should have that intimate connection present in our lives if we are truly following Jesus as His disciples.
In verse 6, Paul shifts focus to himself and his ministry team. His confidence isn’t boastful but rooted in his integrity and faithfulness to God's calling. Throughout this letter, Paul has defended his apostleship against critics in Corinth. Here, he subtly reminds them that their spiritual growth is evidence of his genuine ministry. Leaders in the church should not take pride in their own faith, but their duty is to impact others with their ministry. The goal of being in ministry is fruitfulness and making disciples.
Paul's heart as a spiritual father shines in verse 7. His concern is not his reputation but the Corinthians' obedience to God. He desires their transformation, regardless of how his ministry is perceived. This verse also highlights a key principle: righteousness isn’t about appearances but alignment with God’s will. Even if Paul’s efforts appear ineffective to outsiders, the Corinthians' obedience will validate the work of God in their lives. Christianity is not about impressing others or maintaining an image but about a sincere commitment to doing what is right before God.
In verse 8, Paul underscores his commitment to the gospel. His authority as an apostle is not for self-promotion or manipulation but for upholding the truth of God’s Word. His actions and decisions are bound by his allegiance to Christ. The statement also reminds us of the unchangeable nature of truth. God's truth stands firm, regardless of human efforts to suppress or distort it.
Paul’s humility in verse 9 is striking. He rejoices in his own weakness if it means the Corinthians are strengthened in their faith. This selfless attitude reflects the heart of a true servant leader. The phrase "fully restored" (or "made complete" in some translations) refers to spiritual maturity. Paul’s ultimate goal isn’t just to correct their behavior but to see them grow into the fullness of Christ. We should all seek spiritual maturity, striving to become more like Christ.
At the end of his content here in verse 10, Paul explains his purpose in writing. He wants to address issues now so that his next visit can be constructive rather than disciplinary. His authority as an apostle is not to dominate but to edify and build up their faith. This reflects God’s heart for His people: correction is always for restoration, not destruction. Paul’s approach demonstrates wisdom. Addressing issues through a letter allows for reflection and repentance, sparing unnecessary conflict during his visit.
Paul’s call to examine ourselves is as relevant today as it was for the Corinthians. Faith isn’t static; it requires ongoing reflection and growth. Paul shows leaders that they are called to serve, not dominate; true leadership seeks the well-being of others. Believers are called to live in alignment with God’s truth no matter what, remembering that anytime we receive God’s discipline, the goal is healing and growth, not punishment.
The ultimate aim of Christian life and ministry is to grow into the likeness of Christ, reflecting His love, wisdom, and truth, which is what we see Paul demonstrating throughout this letter. Paul’s words invite us into a deeper relationship with Christ and a higher standard of living as His followers. Whether through self-examination, embracing humility, or standing for truth, these verses challenge us to align our lives with God’s purposes. As we do so, we not only grow in our faith but also become vessels through which others can experience the transformative power of the gospel.
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Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11-15
Since way back in 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul has been discussing the apostolic ministry. He has described the privileges of being an apostle, competence for serving in this way, the old and new covenants and how that relates to their ministry, and the suffering and rewards of being an apostle, including having confidence when faced with death. Here, Paul continues to talk about apostolic ministry but in the context of motivation for serving God in this way.
Paul begins this section in verse 11 by acknowledging the fear of the Lord. This fear is not a paralyzing terror but rather a profound reverence and respect for God's holiness and justice. Recognizing the reality of God’s judgment (as mentioned right before today’s passage in verse 10), Paul and his companions are motivated to persuade others about the truth of the gospel. This truth includes both sharing what God’s Word says about Jesus and the Kingdom and how we should practically apply it to our lives. The apostles’ transparent and sincere lives are open before God, and they hope that is evident to the Corinthians as well. This verse highlights the integrity and earnestness of Paul's ministry, driven by the awareness of God’s omniscience and the desire for others to come to the same understanding.
We see Paul’s humility in verse 12 where he clarifies that his intent is not self-promotion but rather to provide the Corinthians with a reason to be proud of their association with him and his ministry. This is in contrast to those who boast about external appearances and superficial achievements. Paul’s focus is on internal, heart-centered transformation and genuine faith. By emphasizing the importance of what is "in the heart," Paul challenges the Corinthians to value authentic spirituality over outward appearances. Being transparent before God and other people so that they can see the state of our hearts is more important than simply appearing as good to others but in an unrighteous manner.
Paul addresses criticisms that he and his companions are "out of their mind" in verse 13. This accusation likely stems from their zealous and unconventional approach to ministry. Paul asserts that if their actions seem irrational, it is because they are wholeheartedly committed to God. On the other hand, if they appear rational and sensible, it is for the benefit of the Corinthians. This verse highlights the dual motivations of Paul’s ministry: an uncompromising dedication to God and a thoughtful concern for the well-being of the believers. Paul emphasizes that he is not motivated for his own selfish gain but that it is all for God’s glory, as he had previously written about in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and 2 Corinthians 4:15 among other places.
In verse 14, Paul reveals the driving force behind his ministry: the love of Christ. This compelling love is not just an abstract concept but a powerful, active force that motivates and directs his actions. Paul is deeply convinced of the foundational truth that Christ died for all humanity. This sacrificial death implies that all have died to their old, sinful selves and are called to live a new life in Christ. The universality of Christ's atonement is emphasized, underscoring the fact that the gospel message is truly for everyone.
Paul concludes this section in verse 15 by explaining the purpose of Christ’s sacrificial death. It was not just for the forgiveness of sins but also to transform the lives of believers. Those who have received this new life are called to live not for themselves but for Christ, who died and was resurrected for their sake. This verse shows us the essence of Christian discipleship: a life lived in response to Christ's love and sacrifice, characterized by selflessness and dedication to God’s purposes.
This section gives us some great insights and applications to our daily lives as followers of Jesus Christ.
First, Paul’s motivation is deeply rooted in the fear of the Lord, a reverent awareness of God’s holiness and justice. This fear drives him to persuade others about the truth of the gospel. In our contemporary context, cultivating a healthy fear of the Lord involves recognizing His sovereignty and holiness, which should lead us to live lives of integrity and urgency in sharing the gospel. We, too, should have that fear, awe, and reverence of the Lord.
Paul emphasizes the importance of heart-centered faith over superficial appearances. This challenges us to evaluate our own lives. Are we more concerned with how things look on the outside or with genuine transformation and spiritual depth on the inside? Living an authentic Christian life requires transparency, sincerity, and a focus on internal character rather than external praise from others.
The compelling love of Christ is the driving force behind Paul’s ministry. This love is not passive but active, urging us as believers to live sacrificially and passionately for Christ. The call to live for Christ rather than for ourselves is central to Paul’s message, and it should be central to our lives as well. This involves a radical reorientation of our priorities and desires. As believers, we are called to live in a way that honors Christ, reflecting His love and grace in our interactions and decisions. This means putting aside selfish ambitions and embracing a life of service and dedication to God’s will.
Reflect on your own life this week. Are you driven by a deep reverence for God and a passionate love for Christ? Are you focused on genuine spiritual growth and transformation? Are you living for Christ, seeking to honor Him in all that we do? May Paul’s words inspire and challenge us to live faithfully and fervently for the one who died and rose again for us.
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Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
- 2 Corinthians 3:1-6
In the previous section, the apostle Paul began talking about his role as an apostle and what that means for the Church. Here, he discusses the significance of the Corinthian church and how our confidence and competence come from God.
Paul begins this passage with two rhetorical questions in verse 1, probing the Corinthians' understanding of the nature of his ministry. Before this, Paul defended his authority as an apostle against detractors who sought to undermine his credibility. Here, he questions the necessity of relying on external commendations or credentials to validate his ministry. Paul's emphasis is not on human accolades or endorsements but on the authenticity and fruitfulness of the Gospel message itself.
This verse should prompt us to reflect on our motivations for ministry, whether full-time vocational ministry or occasional volunteer ministry. Do we seek validation from human sources or rely on God's affirmation of our calling? While letters of recommendation may have their place in certain contexts, Paul challenges us to prioritize the sincerity of our hearts and the transformative power of the Gospel over getting our affirmation and validation from other people.
In verse 2, Paul takes that metaphor of a letter one step further to illustrate the Corinthians' significance in his ministry. He likens them to a letter that was written on the very fabric of his heart. The Corinthians' transformed lives, their faithfulness, and their growth in Christ serve as a testament to the authenticity and effectiveness of Paul's ministry. This church has clearly made a great impact on Paul personally.
This imagery emphasizes the relational aspect of Christian discipleship. Ministry is not merely about sharing information or performing rituals; it is about investing in people's lives, nurturing their faith, and witnessing the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. We are called to imitate Paul's example by investing deeply in the lives of those we disciple.
Paul continues his metaphorical exploration in verse 3, attributing the Corinthians' transformation not to his own efforts alone but to the work of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The contrast between ink and the Spirit of the living God highlights God’s work in the process of spiritual transformation. Ink fades and even writings on stone tablets are static, but the Spirit's imprint on human hearts lasts forever.
Paul's declaration of confidence through Christ in verse 4 emphasizes the foundation of his ministry and the source of his assurance. Despite the challenges and opposition he faces, Paul derives his confidence not from his own abilities or achievements but from his identity in Christ. This confidence is rooted in the assurance of God's faithfulness and the sufficiency of Christ's grace to sustain him in all circumstances. We are challenged by Paul to do the same in our lives; we should root our confidence in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Paul stresses this point more in verse 5 where he humbly acknowledges his own inadequacy and insufficiency apart from God's power. The word "competent" here carries the connotation of sufficiency or adequacy. Paul recognizes that apart from God, he cannot fulfill the demands of his calling or bear fruit in his ministry. It is only through God's grace that he is able to effectively fulfill his mission.
The old covenant that God had with the Jews before Jesus was based on the letter of the law, but the new covenant is based on the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. This new covenant is what gives us life and makes us competent to fulfill the mission that God has for each of us. Verse 6 gives us the fundamental difference between legalistic religion and authentic faith. We always fail and deserve death when we must follow God’s laws perfectly, but the Spirit brings freedom, transformation, and abundant life.
As ministers of the new covenant, our calling is not to enforce legalistic rules or impose religious rituals but to proclaim the liberating message of God's grace through Jesus Christ. The Gospel is not a set of rules to be obeyed but it is a relationship to be embraced, a transformational encounter with the living God. As we embrace the ministry of the Spirit, may we experience the life-giving power of the Gospel in our own lives and share it boldly with others.
In this passage, we are challenged to reexamine our motivations and understanding of ministry and to focus on our identity in Christ. True success in ministry is not measured by numerical growth in a church or personal accolades but by how lives are transformed by the power of the Gospel. Our role is to faithfully proclaim the message of the gospel and allow the Spirit to inscribe it on the hearts of those who hear it. We should be fully dependent on God in all aspects of our lives and ministry; He is where we should receive our identity and our confidence to live out the plan that He has for us.
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Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
- 1 Corinthians 9:1-11
After discussing the issue of whether the early Christians could eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols (which you can read about here and here), Paul gives an example from his life of sacrificing for the sake of the gospel message.
Right before this, Paul had said how the believers have the freedom to do things such as eating meat that was sacrificed to idols, but just because they can doesn’t mean they should. They need to be considerate of the other believers who may be watching them.
Paul asks 4 rhetorical questions in verse 1, all of which are structured to be answered with a “yes.” He is free in Christ, he is an apostle, he has seen Jesus, and the church in Corinth is the result of his work. All of these verify his status as an apostle. While Paul was not with Jesus during His earthly ministry (as was required of an apostle in Acts 1:21-22), Paul did meet Jesus face-to-face on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). The church in Corinth, and therefore all the believers there, were because of Paul’s obedience to God’s calling, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit
In verse 2, Paul realized that some may not recognize him as an apostle because he did not follow Jesus during His earthly ministry. But Paul knew that he was so influential with the Corinthian church that they recognized his role and authority as an apostle. That congregation was the seal that marked him as an apostle. His work in Corinth really authenticated Paul’s role as an apostle.
Starting in verse 3, Paul begins to defend his apostleship against those who would criticize him for that claim. While the language used in this verse has legal connotations, Paul is obviously not defending this issue in a courtroom but rather to all who would read this letter, so that they would understand the authority that God had given him in the church.
Then in verses 4-6, Paul brings up rights that were due to those working for the gospel in that time period. He first mentions the right to food and drink, which implies that as one who works for the church, the church should provide for his basic necessities. By mentioning the right to bring along a wife, Paul is saying that if he were married (as Cephas aka Peter was), she should be permitted to participate in the ministry and be supported as well. When Paul mentions “the Lord’s brothers,” that refers to Jesus’ physical half-brothers, the children of Mary and Joseph.
We know that Paul worked as a tentmaker in order to provide for himself while doing ministry, but Paul is stating how he had a practical right to be supported by the church if he chose to do so. Paul also brings up Barnabas in this, that both of them should have the right to be financially supported by the church if they desired to do so.
Paul provides additional examples of this theory in verse 7. Soldiers are supported in their military service. If you have a vineyard, you would eat the grapes that you grow, thus being supported in a way by that work. If you have a flock, you would drink the milk provided by your herd. The implied conclusion, then, is that if you work for the church, the church should at least partially support your needs.
But rather than only basing this on his own authority, Paul shows that this is from Scripture by referencing Deuteronomy 25:4 in verses 8-9. It’s not just Paul who is making this claim, but God laid it out for the people of Israel centuries before this. They were commanded not to muzzle an ox while it was working in the grain, that way it could eat some while it was working. If God is that concerned for oxen, how much more concerned is He for people, especially people who are called to work for His Church!
Paul is not only sharing about his rights as an apostle but he’s also teaching the people about how God cares for them (verse 10). While God does take care of animals such as oxen, He takes care of His people even more. The person who plows the field will reap the harvest, and then he can bless others with that.
Paul reiterates in verse 11 that these principles should apply to himself and the others who are working for the Corinthian church. Shouldn’t they have the right to have at least some of their needs met through the generosity of the church?
These concepts are still true today. Those who work for the church should be supported by the church. That means pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and all those whose vocation is serving God in some way. Those who work in other fields are still called to work for God and share the gospel message, of course, but the work of those not in vocational ministry-related roles should desire to support those who spend their time working toward equipping others spiritually and doing the work of the church.
Even if Paul himself did not need the financial support of the church, he makes the case that as an apostle and one who is doing God’s work, he should have the opportunity for the church to support him. Whether you are one who is supported by the church or one who is doing the supporting, continue to ponder this passage and pray about what God is calling you to do.
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by Steve Risner
Are you a foot washer?
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James further drives this point home in the following verses, making sure we understand that the Word is of little use to us if we don’t actually apply it to our lives. Other translations say, “Be doers of the Word.”
A question I’ll pose today is: are you a doer of the Word? Or do you get your ears tickled on Sunday, agreeing with every word the pastor speaks, knowing God has revealed something to you that He wants you to either do or forsake doing and you then go home, not having changed a thing? That could be a point all by itself; in fact, I’ll leave that there for you to ponder for a moment. What has God been saying to you either in your prayer time, Bible reading time, or listening to your favorite pastor or discussing life’s challenges from a Biblical perspective with a friend that you’ve thought to yourself, “Boy, I really do need to ________. That was a great word.” But then you’ve walked away exactly the same as you were before you heard it? Move!
So, my reason for this intro is to apply it to something Jesus did and further commanded us to do along with His apostles. In the Gospels of Matthew and John, we see an event that I’m sure the Disciples had a hard time figuring out at first. In John 13, we find the following:
“So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him… When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’”
I’ll first point out that, again, Jesus tells us we need to be a DOERS of His Word. I’ll repeat what He said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Be a doer and not just a hearer.
Jesus served. A great way to serve the Lord is by serving others. The Word is replete with examples of commands and illustrations of how we are to serve others. In fact, James says that taking care of widows and orphans (serving them) is pleasing religion to the Father. So, my real question—the whole point of this blog post—is who are you serving? Let us take a closer look at some of the examples in the Bible of this other than Jesus washing the feet of His disciples:
1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” But he further states in verse 11, "Let him who serves serve in the strength which God supplies so that in everything God will get the glory." It’s for the glory of God that we serve. The whole point is to point people to Christ.
Galatians 5:13b-14 says, “Serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” In loving your neighbor, you will certainly find opportunity to serve them. Service is an act of love.
Matthew 20:28 tells us Jesus came to serve and not be served. This goes along with His statement that it is more blessed to give than to receive. It’s better to serve than be served, although it takes both for the action to work, right? Are you looking for opportunities to serve those around you (whether you know them or not)?
In Mark 9:35 Jesus says, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” A servant is humble, and this is a hard thing to be, especially in today’s America. But humility is critical to having the heart of Christ.
Jesus and James seem to be in agreement with each other on being doers of the Word. Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” James says, “What good is it… if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” It sounds like they’re both saying, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.”
John says, in 1 John 3:18, “Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” John writes this right after asking the question, “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” Let’s be about the business of meeting needs. Let’s be the Church we were called to be—one that serves rather than criticizes or judges in pride.
Paul tells us in Philippians, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” This, again, goes along with humility and thinking of others AND doing something to meet their needs.
Paul further says in 1 Corinthians that in serving all, his goal is to win some to Christ. Here we see that service’s end goal is for Christ to receive glory and for Him to receive another person’s heart. He emphasizes this in 2 Corinthians by saying that “we ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
I’ve gone a little long this week, but I want to encourage us all, myself included, to seek opportunities to serve. We should serve those that are part of the family of God because we’re directed to but also those who are outside the faith so we might win them to the Lord.
Who are you serving? Are you pouring yourself into someone? Are you finding opportunities regularly to serve others, considering their interests and needs? Whose feet are you washing? Service can be a one-time thing with someone, or it could be something you do for someone for a season. Wash their feet and share His love.
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by Chad Koons
What does God want for your life? Ever wondered that? I have.
On a clear summer night in 1998, I had been driving fast through the countryside while DC Talk’s Jesus Freak CD was blasting through my speakers. The night sky was shot through of brilliant, starry holes, and the moon lit up the landscape with a hopeful glow. The wind whipping through my open windows stung my eyes and reminded me of the tears still lingering on my face.
“I will do whatever You want,” I pleaded with the Lord, “What is Your will for my life?”
By that point in my life, I had felt left behind and unsure of my future. I had faithfully invested some years working with Greater Harrisburg Youth for Christ, a season of life which was beyond amazing. God had been moving at YFC and lives were being changed for both students and leaders alike. I can’t even begin to tell you how many powerful people of God came from that era.
I knew that my season of ministry with YFC had been winding down, yet I wasn’t sure what to do next. Many of my peers seemed to have that answer pretty well supplied to them, as they were either in college, getting engaged, or beginning careers. For a few of us, however, the next steps were not so clear.
All of this had weighed heavy upon my heart that evening in the car.
“Lord, have I messed up and missed your will?!” I yelled out over my car stereo, while cruising even faster between two fields. My heart ached to know the will of God for my life. Perhaps you can relate.
To my complete surprise, God actually answered my question.
“Look up,” the voice of the Lord spoke clear as a bell in my heart. I slowed down and stole another quick glimpse of the stars. The voice continued, “If I can control the universe, I can direct you.”
At once I was in the Spirit; call it a brief mini vision. I saw myself stuck inside of a great labyrinth made of giant hedges. I was lost, staring at the hedge walls before me. Suddenly the angle of my vision panned outward and upward until I was able to see an aerial view of the labyrinth. Now, viewing the maze from above, I could clearly see the path that I had taken, including all of my wrong turns, and I could also see the way out. The voice of the Lord came again: “I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end, I look back on your future.”
Undone, I began to weep.
“Nothing that you do can take Me by surprise, nothing can take you from My hand. Follow Me,” the voice of the Lord concluded. That encounter changed my life, because I knew what the Lord meant when He said, “Follow Me.”
“Follow Me” as a directive was nothing new; Jesus is quite famous for it in the Bible, actually. But what did it mean in relation to God’s will for my life in the here and now?
At the time, I had sincerely thought that will of God was something that I did, and that I’d miss the will of God if I failed to listen and obey correctly. Have you ever felt this way?
The will of God may often include a particular thing to do, or a particular place to go, yet that is not the heart of the matter.
When the Lord said, “Follow Me,” He was actually telling me the secret to knowing His will for my life. Do you know what the Bible says is God’s will for your life? I do. To be like Him. To follow the Lord so closely that you begin transforming into His image.
To be conformed into the Image of Christ: this is the will of God for your life! That’s what the Bible says. The rest… well, in most cases, that may just be details.
Where are you right now? Be like Christ there. What does the Lord have you doing right now? Be like Christ while you’re doing it. Are you sensing a transition coming soon? Be like Christ through the transition. Being like God where you are. This is the will of God for your life.
What about the details? Can you miss the will of God for you? Relax. Love God and be pure. What your hands find to do, do it with all of your heart as unto Him. Follow your giftings, know the Word of God inside and out, stay in community with a local Church body, listen to Godly counsel, and be like Christ. Change your thinking. The will of God is not always what you do; it’s who you are. It’s great that you want to know particulars, but never let the “what’s” and “where’s” take up too much space. Concentrate on HIM. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and the details will come.
You won’t miss it. I didn’t.
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As we close out 2018 tonight, it’s tradition to look back on the past year and look forward to the new one. I’m not one to make new year’s resolutions, since it doesn’t take a new calendar year to make a change in your life and they’re so over-hyped anyway in my opinion. But a new year is a good opportunity to look at where you’ve been and where you’re going.
If you follow this blog, you’ll know that I started 2018 in the middle of a series on what the Bible says on various topics. That series contained an entire year’s worth of posts on a wide variety of topics, and it was truly an interesting series for me to write. It was so interesting, in fact, that it will be published in book form on January 28, 2019, along with books by fellow writers Logan Ames and Charlie Wolcott. All three of our books will be available in paperback first and then Kindle versions, so watch for those in about a month!
After wrapping up that series in October 2018, I started a series on the Ten Commandments. Growing up in the church, I started memorizing these commandments in kindergarten if not before, so they’ve been a part of my life for many years. Back in 2014, I helped a student of mine write a book on them as well, focusing on the Hebrew grammar in them as well as the context of the passage and providing commentary on the commandments. Writing this series was a great way to revisit the commandments again this fall and keep them fresh in my mind, as well as providing me an opportunity to dig into the text and context of them more along with how they can apply to our lives today.
So what’s next for my writing? Many people who know me know that I have a passion for the Biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. While I know that not everyone is a “language person,” I believe we can all benefit from the richness of the Biblical text in its original languages. I’m planning to write on selected psalms and share some of the insights from the Hebrew text for the entire year of 2019. The psalms make up an amazing book in English with all their depth and emotion, and they’re even better in their original Hebrew.
Along with looking at the grammatical insights from the psalms, I hope to also dig into how these psalms can apply to our lives today. They were written thousands of years ago, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely out of touch with today’s world. As I continue to study the Bible, I keep seeing how humanity really hasn’t changed all that much over the thousands of years we’ve been around. We have always been selfish people drawn away from the things of God by our sinful nature, but always seeking God whether we acknowledge it or not. While many technologies in our world have changed since the original writing of the psalms, they’re very human and still apply to today’s world.
I'm still working on specifically which psalms I’ll write about, so if you have a favorite that you’d like me to write about, please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to include it. I know I’ll for sure be writing on some of my favorites - Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 24, and Psalm 46, just to name a few.
All of us at Worldview Warriors wish you a blessed 2019, and we hope you’ll continue to enjoy all of our writings on this blog!
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Ministry Note: If you’d like Jason and his wife Jaya to come and speak to your congregation about this incredible story, please contact us at info@worldviewwarriors.org
On December 12, 2017 I awoke sick and feeling really terrible. That evening I had thrown up at least 10 times and was not feeling any better the next morning.
The next couple of days are still a blur. On Friday December 15, 2017, I was still sick and my wife was wondering what to do. Should she take me into the doctor, or wait another day to see if I improved? That night was much of the same, and I was not improving. My oldest son asked my wife, “What are we going to do about Dad?” She told him that she was going to wait until the morning to take me into the doctor. He said, “We’re not waiting. We’re taking him in now.” So, they took me to the ER in the small town we live near. Now I don’t remember any of this, but according to my wife the ER was completely empty that night. I was the only one that was needing treatment.
They took me in for testing immediately and as my wife and son were waiting for me to come back, my wife told my son that I probably just needed fluids put into me as I was just dehydrated and probably just had the flu. Well, no sooner had she said this but the ER doctor came in and told them that I had a life threatening stroke and that they needed to be prepared that I might not make it through the night. I was life flighted to Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. There, my wife was told by the neurosurgeon that I needed lifesaving brain surgery. He usually needed permission to do this, but he needed to save my life, so he wasn’t asking for her permission to do the surgery. The surgery was performed and no one knew what was going to happen following the surgery.
When I awoke, I was very groggy but could move both of my arms and both my legs. Since I had a breathing tube down my throat I could not speak, but I could communicate by writing, even using punctuation. All the doctors and nurses were utterly amazed at my recovery. They wouldn’t say my recovery was a miracle, but they would use terms like “remarkable” and “incredible.”
Before being discharged 10 days later, one nurse did lean over and spoke quietly into my ear, “You do know that you are a miracle, right?” Then I went home. Even for follow up appointments the nurses, doctors, and therapists were amazed at my recovery. At one of my appointments, when the nurse called my name to come into the office, she did a double take on her chart when I got up and started walking toward her. She looked and me and said, “I thought you’d be in a wheelchair.” Then she asked me, “What nursing home are you rehabbing in?” I told her, “Home.” She was shocked verbally and visually!
One year ago today is the day I had my life threatening stroke and brain surgery the next day. Yes, part of my brain is missing. I have a 5-inch scar on the back of my neck and head to prove it. If you ever doubt that we serve an amazing God, please remember this story. God is absolutely still in the healing business today and in the miracle business too. He not only has given us the knowledge and technology to do all these incredible things today, but He is also still in charge of giving life or taking it away.
Since this whole ordeal, I see things in this world differently now. I am much more thankful and grateful for what God has given to me, and I try to complain a whole lot less than I did before. I also want to thank all of you who were there for my family and me during that time with all of your prayers and financial gifts. I am seriously humbled at how much God has given to my family and me. To have good friends, like so many of you reading this right now, is just a blessing.
For months my wife and I prayed and wrestled with God if we should continue down this path of Worldview Warriors, encouraging and equipping the saints for ministry, or if it was time to be done and pass on the baton to someone else. Well, I am pleased to announce that we have been called to stay the course. I have kept hearing God’s leading to us saying that we have been raised for such a time as this. We know God saved my life to continue down this Worldview Warriors path to not only show people the truth in love but to encourage and equip others to do the same. So, with that said I would like to ask you to please pray for us and prayerfully consider giving Worldview Warriors a year-end financial gift here to help us stay the course in doing God’s will.
Thank you for your prayers and consideration.
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
Worldview Warriors was only an idea back in 2003, with a few friends moving things forward in our own youth and groups with some of our own conferences held in Ohio, Minnesota, and later in Michigan. We began to provide events all over the country once we became an official non-profit in 2006.
The leadership of Worldview Warriors knew early on that conferences would not be the only thing we could offer, and we knew we needed other avenues to promote what God was calling us to do in equipping students to impact this generation for Jesus Christ. So, we started our own podcast called, The Worldview Warriors Podcast (pretty original, huh?) and began to blog shortly after that. Since then, thanks to one of our dear friends and allies of the ministry, New Vision FM out of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, our podcast turned into our current 2-hour weekly radio show Do Not Keep Silent. We were also encouraged by our friends at New Vision FM to create a 30 second radio program that we could offer other stations around the country to help us get our foot in the door of other ministries. That program is now our one-minute radio program, the Worldview Warriors Fastcast. Our fastcasts are heard all over the country via radio and the internet. These programs are still available today and can be found here on our archive page.
Worldview Warriors will now be getting into the publishing world! We have been blessed to have so many talented and passionate writers become a part of this ministry over the years. I am pleased to announce that Worldview Warriors will be publishing three new books in January 2019. This has been a dream a long time coming for me personally and the ministry of Worldview Warriors. In fact, I think some people thought we’d never get this project done. These books will be written by three of our bloggers, Katie Erickson, Logan Ames, and Charlie Wolcott. Charlie will be releasing his book under his pen name, C.A. Wolcott.
Katie Erickson’s book will be titled, “What Does The Bible Say About…” and will be covering more than 50 different topics including heaven, hell, addictions, miracles, authority, and more.
Logan Ames’ book will be titled “Heroes of the Faith,” covering the heroes we see in Hebrews 11. Samson, Moses, Abraham, and many more will be in there. Our friend of the ministry, Scott Harshbarger from The Art of Harsh, will be making the cover art for this book as well as a few more illustrations inside the book.
Lastly, C.A. Wolcott’s book will be titled, “Biblical Foundations: Basic Christianity and the Reliability of Scripture.” This will be Charlie’s second book released to the public and his first with Worldview Warriors Publishing.
We are all so excited for what this endeavor will look like for now and in the future. So, keep your eyes open for more details about these exciting projects to be released this coming January.
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
We are living in such interesting times. Back in 2007 when I decided to go full time with the ministry of Worldview Warriors, I was still leading a youth ministry that was quite successful. Leaving that position seemed rather foolish to some. Some friends and I realized that not only did the youth of our day need to be taught more about what a solid Biblical foundation is, but how to live out that faith in the real world. So, we set out on what we saw as a God-sized endeavor: the ministry of Worldview Warriors.
We believed God was calling us to reach out to youth, their parents, and their grandparents by equipping them with solid Biblical truth, and to encourage them to live out their faith in the public square. Much of this was done through events and conferences around the country for a time. We could already see at that time that the world was changing drastically, and that reaching more and more people consistently would become easier and easier as the internet grew and became much more stable in the world we live in today. Earlier on, the ministry struggled with finances so much that we couldn’t have our own land line and only had a cell phone for extreme cases to make calls. We paid for phone service through the Internet back then, even though it was not a tried and tested technology. We did this in order to save money and be wise with what we were spending. I even had some people I consider very wise men of the world and in Christ warn me not to use this new technology because no one knew if it would really get the job done, or if it would just fail and make things even more difficult on us and the ministry. Things have changed so much and our world is so different, even from just 10 years ago.
I am so thankful for what God had done in and through this ministry, and I am so thankful for those who choose to support this ministry financially and prayerfully. Without those people being involved and believing in this ministry, we would have failed so long ago. You have spurred us on and continue to spur us on to advance the Kingdom of God here on earth. For that we are thankful.
As we continue to take ground from the enemy, now is the time to keep moving forward. It is not a time to retreat or try and just dig a “foxhole” and hold ground. We believe it is time to continue the advance and we need you to help with that effort.
We are having a Celebration/Fundraising Dinner to be held on Monday, October 29, starting at 6:00pm. This event will take place at Trinity Evangelical Church located at 108 Malabar Dr. in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. This is a free event, and an opportunity to support the ministry financially will be given during the evening. The theme will be, “For such a time as this,” based off of the text found in Esther 4:14.
We are so pleased that worship leader Mike Sooy from Old Fort Church and his band “Hoopty Hoo and the Such” will lead worship for the evening. A silent auction will also take place, and we are currently taking donations for this silent auction. Available at the silent auction will be some matted and framed prints of the original art from Scott Harshbarger that will be found in Logan Ames’ upcoming book, “The Heroes of The Faith,” a look at the heroes we find in Hebrews 11. Please write us at info@worldviewwarriors.org if you’d like to make a donation to the auction.
A State of the Ministry address will be given by yours truly. Pastor and Worldview Warriors blogger David Odegard has agreed to share that evening as well. This is a great opportunity to meet some of our board members, radio volunteers, and bloggers.
The main meal will be served around 6:30pm. For the meal we will be serving sliced beef and glazed grilled pork with the following options for side dishes: cheesy potato casserole, wild rice, and Caribbean vegetable blend with broccoli, yellow carrots, whole green beans, red pepper strips. For dessert there will be an assortment of choices, including pies, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and pumpkin roll. I am excited to share that the meal will be prepared by Special Occasions Catering from Upper Sandusky, Ohio. I am so pleased that they have decided to help with this event and make it a reality.
This is a free event to anyone who would like to support or has supported the ministry of Worldview Warriors, or who would like to find out more information about what we do. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported the ministry up to this point. I really believe the best is yet to come! I hope you will prayerfully consider joining us at this exciting event. Now is the time to keep the supply lines moving as we continue to press on and move forward into enemy territory for the Kingdom of God, for such a time as this!
See you on Monday, October 29th. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP no later than Monday, October 22nd by emailing me at jason@worldviewwarriors.org or by calling me at 419-835-2777. If you are unable to make it to the dinner but would still like to make a donation to the ministry, you can do that online here or send your donation to Worldview Warriors, PO Box 681, Findlay, Ohio 45839. We appreciate you so much! God bless!
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
You are invited! Yes, you!
I am pleased to announce that this year the Worldview Warriors Board and I have decided to have a Celebration/Fundraising Dinner to be held on Monday, October 29, with appetizers starting at 6:00pm. This event will take place at Trinity Evangelical Church located at 108 Malabar Dr. in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. This is a free event, and an opportunity to support the ministry financially will be given during the evening. The theme will be, “For such a time as this,” based off of the text found in Esther 4:14.
We are so pleased that worship leader Mike Sooy from Old Fort Church and his band “Hoopty Hoo and the Such” will lead worship for the evening. A silent auction will also take place, and we are currently taking donations for this silent auction. Available at the silent auction will be some matted and framed prints of the original art from Scott Harshbarger that will be found in Logan Ames’ upcoming book, “The Heroes of The Faith,” a look at the heroes we find in Hebrews 11. Please write us at info@worldviewwarriors.org if you’d like to make a donation to the auction.
A State of the Ministry address will be given by yours truly. Pastor and Worldview Warriors blogger David Odegard has agreed to share that evening as well. This is a great opportunity to meet some of our board members, radio volunteers, and bloggers.
The main meal will be served around 6:30pm. For the meal we will be serving sliced beef and glazed grilled pork with the following options for side dishes: cheesy potato casserole, wild rice, and Caribbean vegetable blend with broccoli, yellow carrots, whole green beans, red pepper strips. For dessert there will be an assortment of choices, including pies, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and pumpkin roll. I am excited to share that the meal will be prepared by Special Occasions Catering from Upper Sandusky, Ohio. They always do an amazing job for us. I highly recommend them!
This is sure to be a night to remember. Thank you in advance for those of you that can attend, and to those of you who not only support this ministry with financial gifts but with your prayers as well. We hope you will continue in this effort and perhaps some of you can begin to join us now to keep the supply lines moving as we continue to press on and move forward into enemy territory for the Kingdom of God. This ministry has been created for such a time as this!
See you on Monday, October 29th. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP no later than Monday, October 22nd by emailing me at jason@worldviewwarriors.org or by calling me at 419-835-2777. If you are unable to make it to the dinner but would still like to make a donation to the ministry, you can do that online here or send your donation to Worldview Warriors, PO Box 681, Findlay, Ohio 45839. We appreciate you so much! God bless!
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
If you look on any good map of the universe, in the very center you will find Wharton, Ohio, a sleepy village with only a post office and a pop machine, and a really great church—twice removed from the beaten path, populated by 412 souls. It lies nestled between bean or corn fields throughout the muggy summers and houses the families of farmers and factory workers year-round. This is the field of my campaign. I pastor that church.
Today, I lay down my pen for Worldview Warriors; this is my last post. I am leaving the trench. Worldview Warriors has a vision to empower students to stand up for their faith and offers answers to some of the intellectual and cultural assumptions which students have been taught. It seeks to answer those questions which evolutionary theory and postmodernity poses for Christian thinkers such as yourself, constant reader. I believe in the battle.
As passionate as I am to see young people develop and maintain a Christian viewpoint, I find that the field of my campaign does not overlap with Worldview Warriors in the same way that it has in the past. This is not due to any disagreement, but rather the recognition that I need a healthier distribution of labor for myself. I love writing for Worldview Warriors, but the demands of my own field require me to focus on it.
For me, this blog has only ever been the branch, never the vine itself. So, when the prunin’ time comes, it goes first.
The metaphor of war is a Biblical one and useful for us to understand the demands and complexity of our Christian lives which are lived out between the tension of this present darkness and the Kingdom of God. These two exist in conflict until Jesus returns. Our conflict is not with human beings, though, but rather the spiritual forces behind the present darkness. I feel that the persons that I want to reach with the Good News about Jesus are missing that point. I get the impression that they think I am warring against them. I am not.
Rather, I feel like I am a guy who displays a treasure so beautiful that people desperately want it. They would reach out and take it, but their idols, the silly lover-gods, hold them back. I fight the idols—not the captives. Not that I feel that Worldview Warriors is fighting captives—they are doing the same thing as I am, but I simply must trim some things from my own docket.
The church in Wharton is growing, we are in a building program, and I am currently slogging through my doctoral studies (half-way through). I have six children, a lovely wife, and a hobby farm where we grow our much of our own food. Obviously, constant reader, I have my own trenches to tend.
Of course, if you really miss me, I am pounding away at the pulpit in Wharton First Church of God. We are praying and preaching and loving and waiting on the Lord every day in an exciting ministry context. Perhaps you would like to jump in the trenches with us. We are here.
God bless you,
Pastor Dave Odegard
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
We are putting together a new feature for one of our radio programs, Do Not Keep Silent, for 2018. We are asking that you please pray for us to hear very clearly from God as we put this new feature together. We are already receiving nominations for this project, but we are in need of more. We are looking for people from the ages of 14 years old to 24 years old. So, what is this new feature?
YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!
We have heard it said so many times that the current generation of youth and young adults today are lazy and self-centered, and some surely are.
But there are also a bunch of youth and young adults out there wanting to serve Jesus Christ with reckless abandon and speak out the name of Jesus in action and in word.
Starting as soon as January of 2018, we would like to share interviews of young people making a stand for Christ in this time and culture.
If you'd like to nominate someone for this opportunity please message us with the following:
- Their name and contact info (phone or email or Facebook account)
- Their parent(s)' contact info (phone or email will be fine). This is so we can contact the parent(s) if their child is a minor.
- Why you think they should be chosen. Please keep this to no more than 7 sentences long.
Send all this info to jason@worldviewwarriors.org or message us on the Do Not Keep Silent Facebook page.
We are looking for those young people who are living out their faith in Jesus Christ in action and in word. Thanks for any help you can give - pray for this program and nominate those youth and young adults!
You can find out more about Do Not Keep Silent on our website.
Yes, we need your help. Thank you!
~Jason DeZurik
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I noticed an interesting trend as I read through the list of the kings of Israel recently. With two exceptions, every king of Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord and did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam.” The two exceptions were Shallum, who reigned for six months, and Hosea, the last king of Israel. That got me thinking: what were the sins of Jeroboam that all but two of the kings of Israel did not depart from? None of the other kings actually did what Jeroboam did, yet they did not depart from his sins. Let’s dig in.
The crime Jeroboam was guilty of is recorded in 1 Kings 12:25-33. Take a moment to read the passage before continuing. The law remained for all people to come to Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam’s reign, for worship, the feasts, and all the other religious activities. Jeroboam was afraid that if the people, who had just rebelled against Rehoboam, would go back to Jerusalem they would in turn rebel against him. Keep in mind that Jeroboam was given the same promise as David, where if he followed the Lord, his seed would always remain on the throne.
Instead of following the promises of God, Jeroboam followed the fears of men and compromised. He built two golden calves, put one in Dan in the north and Bethel (the same place as where Jacob saw the staircase to heaven) in the south. He declared that these idols were the gods who brought the people out of Egypt and set up not only numerous non-Levite priests but his own feasts to celebrate them. What started as a compromise of convenience became a complete and total rejection of God and anything he stood for.
Jeroboam was cursed for his sin and an unnamed prophet told him a future king, Josiah, would desecrate his idols and the very bones of his priests. His son, Nadab, would be killed by Baasha, thus beginning a trend of five dynasties and a handful of individual kings who never left a son on the throne. Jeroboam caused Israel to do a mighty and terrible sin, however as bad as that was, none of the kings that followed him are recorded to explicitly turn away from this sin. Shallum had no mention of his action regarding Jeroboam’s sin and Hosea did evil, but not in the way Jeroboam did. Even these two are not recorded to have repented from the sin nor to take down the idols. The key I want to address is that all these kings, while not necessarily guilty of committing the same sins of Jeroboam, were guilty of not leading the nation a better direction.
There was only one king of Israel that even attempted to seek after God and that was Jehu. Jehu was sent to wipe out the entire line of Ahab and he zealously fulfilled those commands. However he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam. Notice that this passage emphasizes the golden calves at Dan and Bethel. Jehu successfully wiped out all worship of Baal and destroyed Ahab’s family, and the Lord was pleased with this, however he did not turn from the idols Jeroboam set up.
I do not know if these kings bowed before and worshipped these idols, but at the very least, we can tell this: the idols were never taken down, and because they were never taken down, God held them all guilty of committing the same crimes. The idolatry of Jeroboam continued through every king of Israel, and the only two kings that did not have this moniker attached to their name were Shallum and Hosea and even then, both were called evil kings. Both Shallum and Hosea murdered their predecessors and usurped the throne and neither left a son on the throne.
How does this apply to us? How many sins have our fathers committed that we have not done anything about it? I’ll tell you a major one of our nation: abortion. 1973 will always go down in infamy as the year that abortion was “legalized.” That generation is guilty of administering the crime of abortion in the eyes of God. Our generation is not guilty of setting up abortion; we are guilty of continuing it, or at the very least doing nothing about it. Some presidents, governors, and legislators have made efforts to limit the reach of abortion, however as long as it is the recognized law of the land, that sin will be upon the blood of us and our children until someone rises up to turn the nation against it. We did not commit the evil that got abortion started. What we have done (this generation) is exceedingly worse.
Slavery was another great sin started way back in the 1600s, and our Founding Fathers did not deal with it. They left it to future generations to sort out. The Civil War, according to some, was a result of judgment upon the US for that sin. I’m not entirely convinced by that argument, but it was Abraham Lincoln who was the first leader to actually turn from the sins of slavery. There were many other issues involved with that time period, but that is outside the scope of this post.
The “generational curse” is a zoomed in version of the same issue. The same besetting sin tends to haunt the same family members. One pastor I know said sexual morality was a big problem in his family and he and his father were the only ones in his extended family to not have experienced the pain of divorce. Other families deal with abuse or drinking. Sometimes it is poverty. Yes, I said that. Poverty is not just a financial situation; it is also a spiritual condition. It took one person to start the generational curse, and it takes one to break it.
Are you going to turn from the sins of your fathers? The only king to ever actually address Jeroboam’s idolatry was Josiah, king of Judah. The northern Kingdom of Israel had already fallen to Assyria and Josiah set out to execute the most significant turn-around in the history of both nations. Josiah’s full repentance and restoration of Judah even exceeded the reforms of Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, and Hezekiah, who each made reforms. Josiah destroyed the altars, the idols, and even the bronze serpent that Moses had made because the people had made that into an idol. He burned the bones of the priests of Jeroboam and reform came to the whole land. It took a king from a different nation to deal with this problem. As a result, God, who had already sworn to punish Judah because of the sin of Manasseh, would delay his judgment and not bring it in Josiah’s time.
What about us? Has God already condemned the US because of our sins? If Sodom and Gomorrah were judged as they were and they only had one guy preaching any form of righteousness (Lot), how much more so when what we do is even worse than Sodom and we have numerous preachers (and more, including myself, are rising) warning us of the danger? This weekend, take time to listen to this sermon by David Wilkerson on this issue, titled “A Cry Against the Wickedness of American Youth.” It ties in directly to this post. We are deeply entrenched in the “sins of Jeroboam.” Which of us is going to lead the way to turn from them?
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
