Gospel.com Blog

Last week, Liberty University wrapped up their investigation of an issue that has had bloggers talking for several months now: seminary president Ergun Caner and the contradictory statements he’s made about his personal background and Christian testimony. The investigating committee found that Caner had spoken untruthfully at times, and it declined to renew his contract as seminary president, although Caner will continue to teach at Liberty as a member of the faculty.

Bloggers continue to debate whether the “punishment” fit the “crime;” some believe that Caner engaged in willful deception while others think he is merely guilty of “pulpit exaggerations.” One of the most thoughtful responses I’ve seen is by Tom Chantry, who encourages us to keep the situation in perspective and understand that the Caner controversy is a symptom of deeper problems in American Christianity: time and time again, we put church leaders on pedestals—often with almost no serious examination of their life and character—and then are caught off guard when they inevitably slip up in some way. It’s obviously the individual’s responsibility to behave righteously, but the church “celebrity culture” encourages and enables our leaders to cut moral corners in pursuit of approval.

What do you think of the way this situation was handled? Did Liberty respond to the situation in a responsible Biblical manner? Did the bloggers who raised the initial accusations against Caner act in accordance with Biblical teaching? And most importantly: what can we do to avoid crises like these in the future?

Have you ever acquired a taste for something you now can’t imagine living without?

When you’re teaching yourself to appreciate a certain food or drink you have to commit to the process. Sometimes your first few experiences are terrible, but by persevering, you notice subtitle flavors and sensations that you had previously missed.

For me, drinking coffee is a chore; I have to load it down with sugar and cream just to make it palatable. But for those that have acquired the taste for coffee, a perfectly brewed cup can be the highlight of their day.

In Psalm 34, the psalmist writes that we should “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” Our devotional this morning from Day by Day urges us to take the psalmists advice and set about on the journey of acquiring a taste for the LORD:

Now, would we say that our “taste” for the Lord is an acquired taste? I would say so. For it is only through the contact with the Holy Spirit that we even begin to discover what the Psalmist is talking about when he writes, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

So how does one taste of the Lord? In Psalms 119, we read, “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” To taste of the Lord, simply means to walk with Him and according to His word. It means meditating on the things of God–chewing on them, if you will. And it means experiencing God in an up close and personal way as we keep our feet from evil and purposely set our hearts on the purposes of our Maker.

In time, our acquired taste is one that we cannot hardly go a day without. We enjoy the pleasantry of His company. We enjoy the warmth of His filling. We enjoy the aroma of His sweet Spirit as He embraces us in all His goodness. We have grown so accustomed to tasting the Lord on a daily basis that, when we do not spend time with Him, we soon feel the effects thereof.

Do you feel like you’ve “acquired a taste” for the Lord?

Few Bible stories are as well-known as that of Cain and Abel. It’s the story of the first murder, and you probably know how it goes: God is pleased with Abel’s sacrifice but displeased with Cain’s; rather than repent and do what pleases God, Cain decides to murder his brother in a fit of jealous rage.

In this devotional from Lifetime Guarantee Ministries, Anabel Gillham muses about Cain’s motivation:

How much time did Cain spend brooding over the honor that Abel was given? What thoughts did Cain practice over and over in his mind?

Hurt pride? “My offering was as good as his. I’d spent just as much time on mine.”

Self-pity? “I did the very best I could do. Why do things like this happen to me? Nothing seems to go right–no matter how hard I try.”

Failure? “Seems like my best is never quite good enough. I just don’t do things well–never have, never will.”

Jealousy? “If only I had thought of doing that. He was always the favorite.

Resentment? “Why should his offering be accepted and mine not be accepted? Any way you look at it, that’s not fair!”

Rejection? “How could God treat me this way? Why was my offering turned down? What’s wrong with me?”

Bitterness? “I don’t have to put up with stuff like this. And I don’t intend to put up with it! I’ll take care of this my way. I’m sick of Abel and everything about him! I’ll show him!”

The full fruit of anger, ripe. Cain probably felt and thought a lot of other things before he felt and chose revenge. One little thing plus another little thing plus other little things and suddenly you have a mountain of little things you can’t see around, a mountain that comes between you and that person and there’s death on that mountain.

Abel played out his part, too….

(Read the full devotional for Anabel’s thoughts on what Abel might have done to help Cain steer clear of sin.)

The most frightening thing about the story of Cain and Abel is that Cain’s terrible action isn’t incomprehensible. It was driven by emotions that are familiar to us even today: resentment, jealousy, self-pity. Thankfully, most of us don’t follow those emotions as far as Cain did… but the anger that consumed Cain is the same sin that wants to consume us, too. Fortunately, as the devotional explains, Christ offers freedom from the power of anger.

When you feel your anger rising, what do you do to keep it in check? Do you have a favorite verse that helps you in situations where you’re tempted to let your anger control your actions?

Have you thought about how the internet is changing missions?

John Edmiston certainly has. In an article at the Lausanne World Pulse, he lists 10 ways the internet is changing evangelism and missions. It’s clear from his list that the internet is providing unique ways for Christians to make themselves available. It’s also clear that in order to be visible to the vast majority of the population, you need to be visible online.

Within five years, at least half the globe should be online; within fifteen years, Internet reach should be almost universal. Global proclamation will soon be within the reach of any Christian with a computer.

Here are three of the 10 items from Edmiston’s list. You can read the rest at Ten Ways the Internet is Changing Evangelism and Mission:

2. Ratiocination. People “think aloud” in cyberspace. The theology and practice (including ecclesiology and missiology) of most Christians is now primarily formed as a peer-to-peer online process with occasional expert input. There is less and less reference to decisions promulgated by the central governing ecclesiastical bodies of the major world religions. People do their own thinking, and they do so increasingly online through sources such as Wikipedia; out-of-copyright commentaries; and through browsing various websites, e-groups, and postings on social networks. Those ministries who wish to influence opinion need to start doing so in cyberspace, because that is where Christian opinion is now largely being formed.

3. Exploration. People do their private, personal, and controversial thinking online. If a person wants to find out about a suspected medical matter or investigate a forbidden political opinion, they first check it out online. A Muslim wishing to find out about Christianity is not likely to ask his or her family or imam; rather, he or she will look at Christian websites. About one-quarter of all Internet users make regular queries about religious matters. They are exploring their own and other faiths. The Church needs to have an evangelistic, apologetic, and missionary presence in this new global marketplace of ideas.

[...]

5. Validation. People use the Internet to check things out. This applies to everything from a “too-good-to-be-true” investment scam to the local church they plan to attend when they move to a new city. One oft-quoted statistic is that eighty-five percent of young people check out a church’s website before deciding whether or not to even visit that church in the first place. Churches and organizations that are easy to validate online have a huge competitive advantage. This includes having a clear statement of faith and making your ethos, programs, meeting times, address, contact information, operating principles, and finances clear and above board to the honest online enquirer.

Read the rest of the article at LausanneWorldPulse.org.

The site you’re on right now, Gospel.com, was started three years ago in order to highlight Christian content from smaller internet ministries who might have previously been overlooked. Our goal is to facilitate numbers 3 (exploring) and 5 (validating) above.

Even a short three years later, the time and monetary cost of establishing a digital presence has gone way down. Now, it’s trivial to start up a blog and a Facebook page for any idea you might have. What this means is that individuals, ministries and churches have it easier than ever to make themselves available to people seeking information about Christ and Christianity.

How have you seen the internet change how you interact with your faith? Have you ever used the internet as a platform for evangelism?

Much has been written in recent years about “Generation Me,” a generation of people obsessed with themselves. Our thoughts and activities, the argument goes, have come to revolve completely around our own wants and needs. Our plans are built around what we want to do. Technology makes it easier than ever to filter out any news, data, politics, or entertainment that we don’t want to see.

If narcissism has come to define our personal lives and social relationships, it’s impossible that it wouldn’t also have an effect on our spiritual lives. It’s tempting to think that people today are more self-absorbed than ever, but Charles Spurgeon—writing over 100 years ago—sharply described the danger of letting your Christian faith get pulled into orbit around your own ego:

It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ…. let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

One of the most basic tenets of Christianity is that we cannot make ourselves right with God through our own efforts. Narcissism tempts us to think that we can—and when we inevitably fail, it tells us that there’s no hope for us. But when we focus our eyes on Jesus, we are saved from our sin… and from the weight of a hollow, self-obsessed life.

Do you ever find it hard to care for the environment because of who else cares about it?

Unfortunately, environmentalism is often packaged alongside New Age and other pantheistic belief systems. It sometimes feels like signing up to care for Creation also means you have to think, act and vote a certain way as well.

Today’s devotional from Wonder of Creation attempts to give Christians a thorough answer to the question of whether or not environmentalism is actually rooted in pantheistic ideas:

Christians should be able to demonstrate to those who have fallen into neo-paganism and pantheism that the Christian faith provides ample support for creation stewardship. Fundamentally, Christians should care because earth stewardship is our responsibility of service to God (Genesis 2:15).

Many believers who are outspoken advocates of creation care—good earthkeeping—have had significant opportunities to reach non-Christians with the truth of the Gospel—providing them with the fundamental reason for environmental concern: respect for and obedience to the One who created the earth. Many so-called earth worshipers might be drawn to the message of the Gospel if more believers lived out the meaning of the Gospel in all its aspects—including respect and care for the Creator’s handiwork

Read the entire response at wonderofcreation.org.

Have you ever considered creation care as a way to present the Gospel?

Recently I started seeing ads for a company called Samaritan Ministries International (SMI) popping up on various other Christian sites. SMI is a Christian health care sharing service. Practically speaking, it works like health insurance; however, rather than paying a company to take on your medical risks, you’re entering into a community where people help each other pay for their medical expenses. I have to admit that it’s an interesting concept, but I have my doubts about how well it works.

Here’s an excerpt from an article about Samaritan’s Ministries from christianpost.com, which explains the system in a bit more detail:

Each month, members of Samaritan Ministries receive a newsletter directing them to send their monthly share dues to another participating family who has verified medical bills. The monthly dues range from $135 for singles to $320 for a two-parent family of any size, which is vastly cheaper than insurance. There is also an annual administrative fee of $170 for each membership.

Through this plan, the ministry meets $3.5 million in medical needs a month, according to Lansberry.

But more than having their medical needs met, people join the health care sharing plan because of the emotional and spiritual dimensions.

Samaritan Ministries requires all its members to agree to live in a biblical way that reduces health problems, such as not abusing alcohol, abstaining from use of tobacco and illegal drugs, and abstaining from sexual activity outside of marriage.

And when people send their monthly dues to a member family, they include a card or note of encouragement and prayer.

“So it is not just about getting the financial needs met. That is an important part of what we do,” Lansberry said. “But it is about those notes and cards, especially those prayers that are going up to God so that our members are receiving that prayer blanket at a time when they need it most. The larger the medical need you have the more members are praying for you.”

You can read more about SMI at their FAQ page. A few questions:

Is health insurance (or any insurance for that matter) a Biblical concept? What about SMI’s approach? Would you ever drop your health insurance and participate in a sharing program like SMI?

The worlds of college and professional sports are not always marked by gracious and sporting behavior. But sometimes an act of genuine class takes place, elevating the participants above the all-consuming rush for victory. In one such instance, described at the Our Daily Bread devotional, a Christian school in southern California did something beautiful:

When the Los Angeles Times covered a 2008 conference championship soccer match between two Christian schools, Azusa Pacific University and Westmont College, it was about far more than winning the game. Three days earlier, a wildfire had swept through the Westmont campus, destroying several academic buildings, faculty homes, and student rooms. Unable to host the game, the rules required Westmont to forfeit. Instead, Azusa invited their opponents to play at their campus where they welcomed Westmont fans with free admission and lunch.

Rather than taking the default victory handed to them, Azusa extended a gracious invitation to their opponent. It cost them their victory—Westmont went on to win the game—but Azusa’s behavior ensured that everyone emerged from the game with something to be proud about.

What other acts of Christlike grace have you seen, either on the sports field or in your everyday life?

Can beauty come out of brokenness? When you or a loved one is reeling from an illness, injury, or a personal loss, it feels difficult (or even offensive) to talk about finding beauty in the midst of pain. But many people and events in the Bible illustrate God’s startling ability to bring out moments of grace and beauty out of even the most wrenching despair. In this Slice of Infinity devotional, Jill Carattini writes:

Beauty in brokenness? Without glorifying suffering, there is an unexpected beauty that can shine through stories of struggle. One friend is a paraplegic broken in the use of her body, and yet she has a beautiful spirit. Not limited by her brokenness, she uses her own difficulties to help others, and teach others about true ability and disability. Tony Snow, former White House Press Secretary, considered his cancer a “calling” and for an article written in Christianity Today said, “We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out. But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace.”(1) That possibility of salvation and grace is beauty in brokenness.

Somehow, uniquely, God desires to use those difficult moments of our lives to bring forth something extraordinarily beautiful. Even the natural creation attests to this truth. In fall, we marvel at the gorgeous, lush colors of burnt amber, burnished orange, brilliant red, and bright yellow leaves, even as that beauty belies the slow and gradual death of those leaves. Winter buries those leaves under the cold, dark blanket of snow and frost. And yet, death brings forth life. Spring bursts forth year after year with jonquils, iris, lilies, and all the beautiful pastels of new life.

Carattini points to the Israelite king David’s well-documented despair and suffering as an example of pain from which God brought something beautiful.

What about you? Are you struggling to keep afloat amidst pain, loss, or other setbacks? The closing words of this devotional challenge you to put your hope in Christ:

Today, if you are experiencing hardship, difficulty or personal darkness, seek the light and beauty of Christ, for he longs to be present to you, to give you a garland of beauty instead of ashes, to call you by name, and to bring forth treasures of darkness. He is there in the brokenness with you.

We all label people—it’s almost impossible to avoid. We draw conclusions about others based on their appearance and behavior (and sometimes based on our own preconceptions). Sometimes this is harmless and useful—for instance, in identifying a policeman by his uniform. But when we make moral and spiritual assumptions about people based on their appearance or behavior, we tread on much shakier ground.

In this Nehemiah Notes devotional, Blaine Smith writes about the unfortunate power of labeling:

Such labeling is a compulsive process that we can scarcely avoid completely. Yet the tragedy isn’t that our first impressions so often are inaccurate, but that they so easily get locked in concrete. They become still-life pictures that never change….

Just as unfortunate can be our tendency to label ourselves. Christ is working to change our lives, yet often the greatest barrier is our difficulty in letting go of old self-perceptions.

He holds up Jesus as the perfect example of somebody who looked beyond labels, always pushing past surface impressions to identify people’s potential. The most dramatic example of Jesus defying human labeling and judgment is in his treatment of the “woman at the well;” despite her sinful behavior, Christ engaged her and transformed her into a messenger of his Gospel:

Jesus was under no illusions about her past…. Yet he also showed great respect for her, privileging her with a private discussion about his messiahship.

Following her conversation with Jesus, the woman broke out of her shell. She returned to Samaria and declared to numerous people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

John minces no words about the woman’s effectiveness in arousing her townspeople’s interest in Jesus. “They came out of the town and made their way toward him…. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…. And because of his words many more became believers.”

What’s most interesting is that Jesus allowed her to play this critical evangelistic role. She ignited one of the most stunning explosions of interest in Christ recorded in the New Testament. And all because Jesus saw beyond her immediate condition to a vision of what she could become.

None of us have Jesus’ divine insight into other people’s hearts and motivations. But Jesus’ example shows us that while we should recognize and respond to the behavior that people present to the world, our interaction with others should not stop there. The sinner who offends and repels us just might be a saint waiting for someone to engage them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.