philcoleman

Romans 3...But NOW!

   Psalm 14:2 reads, "The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God."  What does He find?  Verse 3 reads, "But no, ALL have turned away from God; ALL have become corrupt.  NO ONE does good, not even one!"

      You gotta wonder went through God's mind as He pondered what He saw.  Did He think, "what a waste," or "where did it all go so wrong?"  I doubt it.  These are human thoughts from a finite perspective.  God, in his very nature, is love.  His capacity to love is incomparable and beyond anything that we can imagine.  His love for us is selfless and unconditional.  We're not something to be thrown away. God's desire for us is that we share in His splendor, that we become like Him. 

   But God is equally just and right.  And as much as He loves us, darkness (all people are sinners) cannot be shared with the light (pure holiness, complete perfection).  In the same way, sin keeps us from sharing in God's glory.  So God knew what He was going to see because He allowed evil into the world. 

   Why you ask? 

   Billy Graham writes, "The opening chapters of the Bible tell us what happened when Adam and Eve committed the first sin -- but they don't tell us exactly why God allowed it to happen. We must be careful, therefore, not to blame God for something that is ultimately beyond our understanding."

   "At the same time, the Bible does tell us two very important truths about Adam and Eve's sin. First, it tells us that they were completely free to love God -- or to reject Him. In other words, they weren't robots! God's warning was clear: 'You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die'" (Genesis 2:17).

   "But what if they had been robots -- that is, what if they didn't have any will of their own, and all they could do was love God? Then their "love" for God wouldn't have been love at all -- because love always involves a choice or a decision on our part. God took a great risk in creating them with a free will -- but only then could their love for Him be real."

   John MacArthur wrote, "...maybe the best solution to that question is to simply say He allowed it in order that He might destroy it. By that I mean this: if there is a right, there is a left; if there is an up, there is a down; if there’s an in, there’s an out; if there’s a good, there’s a bad. And so, if there was goodness, there was always potential evil and maybe God allowed evil to exist in order to ultimately destroy it so that it could no longer again exist. And that’s what heaven is all about."

   The other truth the Bible tells us, however, is that while sin's consequences are great, God's love is even greater.  Verse 21 starts out, "BUT NOW."  Here Paul introduced a sharp contrast with what preceded.  The simple fact is that you and I screwed up and, on our own, have no means or ability to make things right with God.  God's divine dilemma - how to satisfy His own righteousness and its demands against us, and how to demonstrate His grace, love, and mercy to restore us from our rebellion and alienation, was ultimately solved by Him stepping in with His provided righteousness.  The perfect solution to deal with our sin and separation; the solution of justification (declared righteousness) and redemption (paid ransom) is His only Son - Jesus Christ. 

   For all who believe in Him, Jesus becomes the price of payment for all sin, and, on the cross, eternally secured our release from the bondage of Satan and sin.  His death is the once-and-for-all sacrifice which completely satisfies God's demands against sinful people (that would be you and I).   

   I'm forever grateful for the "but now," aren't you?

   On the Journey,

Romans...Chapter 2

   After reading chapter 1, you probably had the same reaction I did.  You probably thought, "That's right Paul, you go.  Those weirdos in San Francisco, the Sodom & Gomorrah types who live in the French Quarters of New Orleans, the Wall Street CEO's, the corrupt loons in Congress, Bill Ayers, and that mother who killed her little girl in Florida...yeah, those people are evil and totally deserve God's condemnation!"

   BUT, verse 1 says, "You may be saying, 'What terrible people you have been talking about!'  But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse."   WHAT?!  No way!  I'm not gay, or cheating on my wife, or having sex with my dog, or a murderer. I don't hate God.  I'm not a wicked, evil, greedy or depraved person.  How can this be?  Hey Paul, I may not be perfect, but I'm a good guy!

   The next sentence basically says as soon as I point my finger or even think about pointing my finger at "those" people, I've condemned myself.  It's easy to point, but what happens when the spotlight turns on you and me?  We turn into little roaches and run for cover.

   You see, everyone in the entire human race has turned away from God and commits sins even though there are differences of frequency, extent, and degree.  The standard by which we are ALL judged is truth.  When held up to the light of God's truth, we all have blemishes on our record.  And even one tiny, seemingly insignificant, no-big-deal dark spot falls short of God's perfection and glory, leaving us no escape.  Light cannot co-exist with dark.  It's impossible.  It's one or the other. 

   Uh...(pause for dramatic affect)...more silence...well, put a fork in me - I'm done (for).  But wait...

   Although this standard is impossible to achieve - no one's perfect, right - this judge of ours is also kind, tolerant and patient.  God's purpose is to lead us toward repentance. Not realizing this purpose shows contempt for God's attributes and actions.  SO why are we so ignorant of God's intentions?  It's because we are stubborn, arrogant, insolent, proud, hard-hearted people.  Ok, maybe not you, but that's certainly telling of the guy in the mirror.

  Judgment is over the horizon for all of us, regardless of ethnic background, gender, religious affiliations...for people like Bill Ayers, and me...and you.  God is impartial and does not show favoritism.  Verse 8 says, "God will  pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey truth and practice evil deeds."  BUT, verse 7 says, "He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers."

   That's what I want.  You?

On the journey,

Studying Romans

   I decided this week to read and study the book of Romans.  I have read it many, many times, but can't say that I've ever spent timing studying it in depth.  It's a great book.  In the simplest and most general terms, it is "the gospel."  It's a book that all Christ-followers should read on a regular basis - sort of like going back to basic training to get in shape and re-tool for the journey that is before us.

   According to the outline in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, the book is broken down as follows: God's righteousness revealed in condemnation, justification, sanctification, sovereign choice, and transformed living.  I know...big churchy words.  But they'll make sense as we go along.

   It's not a pretty start.

   Chapter 1. After the niceties of the introduction, starting in verse 18, Paul lowers the boom.  But God never condemns without just cause.  Here Paul gives us three reasons for condemnation: suppressing God's truth, ignoring God's revelation and perverting God's glory; resulting in fornication, sexual perversion and a depraved lifestyle. 

   Having fun yet?  Wanna stop reading?  I wouldn't if I were you.  It's just getting good!

   Failure to give God "props" results in failure to treat people, created by God in His image, the right way.  You ever try to keep the truth about God from someone?  God doesn't like that very much.  Yet, despite our efforts, you and I (we all) know God's truth instinctively.  God has put this knowledge in our hearts.  Because God is spirit, all His qualities are invisible to physical eyes and can be understood by the human mind only as they are reflected in what has been made...God's creative works.  This is the proverbial, "stopping to smell the roses."  Take a look around you.  God is clearly seen everywhere all the time.  You can't open your eyes or ears without seeing or hearing Him (Psalm 19:1-6).  You can choose to ignore it or say it ain't so, but to do so is indefensible (and stupid).

   Rejecting the clear evidence of God as the sovereign Creator and the perversion of that knowledge  steers us away from our created purpose.  We become dark and confused...and foolish.  We purposefully choose to believe lies.  Lies like self-sufficiency, self-direction, and self-fulfillment...you know, becoming our own gods. We find ourselves on a downward spiral toward worthless thinking, moral insensitivity, and idol worship. 

   Verse 26 & 28 says, "God left them to their shameful desires, their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done."  I could go into graphic details here, but (I hope) my daughters are reading along.  Of course all they have to do is turn on the television, read their Facebook, or talk to any of their friends. The kinds of things that Paul writes about here are rampant in our society today.  I'm guessing every generation feels the same, but I don't think things have ever been this bad in our country and around the world.  And it gets "better."  Verse 30 & 32 says, "They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They are well aware of God's death penalty for this stuff, yet do them anyway.  And worse yet, they encourage other to do the same."  This degree of rebellion fully warrants God's condemnation.  Gee, ya think!

   I love Paul's use of the word "they" in these verses.  Because just when you thought you were about to start pointing fingers, chapter 2...

   Take away.  1) Wake up tomorrow and view things from a different perspective.  All things were created to glorify God.  2) Be very thankful that God is patient and merciful, and for Jesus Christ, and that He doesn't give us what we really deserve.

   On the Journey,

Article on Taxation...from some guy named Chuck on Blogger

   According to the most recent data from the Congressional Budget Office, the bottom 50% of all income earners pay just 3.4% of the taxes collected! Conversely, the top 20% of income earners pay a whopping 85% of the taxes collected. In other words, 80% of income earners contribute a miserable 15% of the taxes collected! When you consider that this lower income bracket is totally dominated by politicians that overwhelmingly favor wealth redistribution, Americans are now able to “vote themselves money.” One is left to wonder if we have already begun to “herald the end of the republic.”

   Let’s not forget plank number two in Karl Marx’s ten planks toward communism in his Communist Manifesto, which is “A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.”

   Years ago, I came across a great analogy to our system of taxes. The story has been printed and e-mailed many times in different formats, but the basic concept remains unchanged. Although the origins of the story are unknown, everyone agrees that the good ole federal government clearly provided the inspiration.

Here it is:

   Every evening, the same 10 friends eat dinner together, family style, at the same restaurant. The bill for all 10 comes to $100. They always pay it the way we pay taxes:
• The first four are poor and pay nothing.
• The fifth pays $1.
• The sixth pays $3.
• The seventh, $7
• The eighth, $12.
• The ninth, $18.
• The 10th, (the most well-to-do) pays $59.

 

  One night the restaurant owner announces that because they're such good customers, he's dropping their group dinner bill to $80. Let's call that a tax cut. They want to continue paying their bill as we pay taxes. So the four poorest men still eat free. But if the other six split the $20 tax cut evenly, each would save $3.33. That means the fifth and sixth men would end up being paid to eat. The restaurant owner works out a plan: The fifth man eats free; the sixth pays $2; the seventh, $5; the eighth, $9; the ninth, $12; and the 10th guy pays $52. All six are better off than before, and the four poor guys still eat for nothing. The trouble starts when they leave the restaurant and begin to compare what they reaped from the $20 cut. "I only got a dollar of it," says the sixth man, "but he (pointing at No. 10) got $7." The fifth guy, who also saved a dollar by getting his meal free, agrees that it's not fair for the richest to get seven times the savings as he. No. 7, grousing that the wealthy get all the breaks, points out that he only got two bucks. "Wait a minute," the first four poor guys yell in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" The nine men jump the 10th and administer a severe beating. The next night he doesn't come for dinner. They shrug it off and eat without him. The customary $80 bill comes. Surprise! They're $52 short.

  Yes, those who pay the most taxes get the most back from tax reductions. But tax them too much — punish them for the wealth they may have — and they just might stop bringing their money to the table.

   I guess this is why American businesses have about $10 trillion in offshore deposits. You can’t blame them. After all, they got tired of getting beat up to forfeit their “fair share.”

Interesting Quotes...Things That Make You Go Hmmm

I was replying to an email from a friend about the role of government this evening and came across some quotes that gave me pause.  Here are some of the better ones.  Something to think about...certainly in light of what happened last week?  My favorites in RED.

____________________________________________________________________________________

A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity. Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Thomas Jefferson

That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves. Thomas Jefferson

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on the objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. James Madison 

Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built. Abraham Lincoln

When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. Benjamin Franklin

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been about 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: '>From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage. Alexander Fraser Tytler

Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom. Ludwig von Mise

We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. Sir Winston Churchill

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. William Boetcker

The more one considers the matter, the clearer it becomes that redistribution is in effect far less a redistribution of free income from the richer to the poorer, as we imagined, than a redistribution of power from the individual to the State. Bertrand de Jouvenel 

To tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection, it is plunder. Benjamin Disraeli

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Ronald Reagan

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. Karl Marx

We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism. Nikita Khrushchev

365 and counting

   Today (11/08) marks the one year anniversary of my not-so-ceremoniously booting from full-time, vocational ministry.  A lot has happened to me and my family in the past 365 days.  When it comes to change, Yobama has nothing on us. 

   One thing that has remained a constant in our lives is God's proven faithfulness.  Through all the twists and turns, He has never abandoned us.  In fact, we have seen more evidence of His working in our lives than ever before.  We have never "needed-for" anything.  We have been well cared for.  We're very healthy.  Through it all, we've been able to pay off all of our consumer and medical debt, AND managed to put a little savings in the bank...not a lot, but it's a start.  Because of both need- and merit-based financial aid, loans and grants, Natalie and Rachel have been able to pay for school - and are both doing very well (PTL).  Nothing has come easy or early or late, but just when, where and how we needed it.  Maybe it has come because we've remained faithful to Him in our giving, or in our serving, or through family and good friends continual prayers.  The truth is it's probably all the above.

   Both Traci and I are very happy in our new full-time gigs.  We are surrounded by good, quality people full of integrity.  It's too bad that she and I both had to leave located ministry to find ethical, professional work environments (more on that below).  I am also staying active in worship ministry by helping several churches - here and in Cincinnati- with their Sunday services.  It's like having my cake and eating it too!  I've met some new friends and re-connected with old ones along the way; all of whom have been real blessings in my life.

   Having had a lot of time to reflect, and being in the position to see things from a different perspective, I want to share a few thoughts about my time (on staff) in the local church.

1. If you get too close to the fire, you might get burned.  The life-expectancy of a worship pastor is 2.5 years.  I'm not at all surprised by that stat.  I was the 3rd of 4 worship leaders at Heartland Church in its 6 (now 7) year history.  Working closely with the senior pastor in a highly subjective, opinionated, ego-inclined atmosphere is hard to sustain long term.  Mix in a bit of artist mentality, and it becomes more complicated.  Sprinkle the relationship with differing philosophies and varying ideology and it's over.  I think the best ministry to be in might be adult education or children's ministry. Most senior pastors (and church leadership) aren't involved and don't have a clue or really care what goes on in these areas of the church.  I've seen my colleagues leading these ministry departments get away with more crap than I could ever imagine...all under the radar.
2. Worship pastors make good target practice. Most of the guys I know were being shot at from both sides - in the front by the people and in the back by his bosses.  It was certainly true for me.  I wore a bulls-eye on my back and chest for 14 years. No matter what you do or how you do it, somebody doesn't like it or like you for doing it.  I've often joked that if you gather 10 people in a room to express their opinions about a worship-related issue, you'd get 11 different points of view.  It is the ultimate "damned if you do, damned if you don't" job. 
3. The church is the most political setting I've ever experienced.  It's sad, but it's true.    
4. Seminaries (do a great job preparing preachers and teachers, but) get an 'F'  when it comes to leadership development and personnel management training.  I worked with several skilled orators and Bible experts who failed when it came to leading others or managing his staff.  Think about it.  When a church crosses over the 800 threshold, they find themselves in thin air.  Only .01% of all churches in the world achieve this mark.  So that means 99.9% of all pastors are leading medium- to small-sized congregations with very little education on how to run an organization, manage budgets, or raise up other leaders.  However, they are EXPECTED by their congregation to do all of these things well.  It's a flawed system and a setup for failure.
5. Senior Pastors have issues too. While most pastors can have a wonderful heart, a servant's attitude, and be fully committed, quite often there exists some degree of emotional baggage or self-image issue.  They typically have way too little accountability - or people close enough to them to really make them accountable.  Most controlling pastors have narcissistic personalities, and can be quite possessive and self-centered.  A lot of these traits are enabled, and even inadvertently encouraged, by the very congregation they serve.
6. Elders should let the hired help do their job.  They are called to be spiritual overseers, not the board of directors or department managers.  They have even less of a clue how to lead ministry programs.  They wouldn't like it one bit if one of their pastors decided to come and run their business for them.  But somehow, it doesn't seem to "work" in reverse in the church.
7. Vocational ministry is VERY hard on the family - especially the spouse.  WOW!  I totally underestimated the stress and strain my work put on my family.  My work was their community.  They heard all the stuff that was said and done to me, but were in no position to do anything about it.  Then, when it didn't work out in the end, I didn't just change jobs, but we were all ousted from our community and demonized by leadership to rationalize their decision.

OK, enough negative.  How about some positives.

1. My life is much richer as a result.  I got to see and do things, go places, and meet people I never could have dreamed or wished for.  I have deep, abiding friendships all over this country now. My resume is loaded with one incredible adventure after another.  The plethora of experiences and stories will last me a lifetime.
2. Life change is the ultimate high.  So many people along the way.  I witnessed so many lives being ripped from the clutches of Satan into the arms of Jesus.  Being permitted to play a part, to be one link in a chain of someone's life story was awesome, and very humbling.  Just sitting here writing about it give me chills.  So many faces and names flash before my eyes as I type.  
3. Ministry happens best outside the walls of the church.  OK, so I'm not working at a church anymore.  I have a new mission field before me now.  God has given me a new challenge and opportunity to share my faith.  I'm amazed how many times my relationship with Christ has "randomly" come up in a sales pitch, phone call, lunch conversation, or staff meeting.  My experiences as a pastor are serving me very well out here in the "real" world.

I love the church and all it stands for.  While I am thoroughly enjoying what I'm doing now, and despite some of what I said above, I really loved working in the church.  I have no regrets for choosing to serve the local church (and para-church) for most of my adult life.  I'm not sure I've ever go back, but I'm glad I had the opportunity.

On the journey,

This Night In America

Mark my words (as O'Biden said), this night will go down in history as the end of an era, and the official beginning of a rapid downward spiral of the United States of America.

Although I never thought I'd see this day in my lifetime, with the election of Barrack Hussein Obama, the majority of the people of the US (and maybe some of you) have set a new course, a new path, a new direction solidly and recklessly toward a culture of pro-death, European socialism, secular progressiveness, and anti-Christian values, morals and principles.

I'm not saying this because of any racial bias.  I think it is awesome that anyone of any skin color can rise to any level he or she desires.  The one and only good thing that happened tonight is I believe we have finally achieved a color-blindness in our culture. 

No, I say these things because Obama completes the trifecta of a new "low" of liberalism in our federal government - with the most leftist, out of the main stream group of men and women in history now governing unchecked and unbalanced.

Although not to this degree, the last time this happened was during the Carter Administration.  And we all know how that went.

What do we have to look forward to?  "One nation WITHOUT GOD," limited free speech, legalized abortions at any point in the young life of a fetus (even after delivery in failed attempts to murder the child), a welfare mindset, socialistic movements, economic depression, increased Christian persecution, wide-spread gay marriage, low-quality health care, weakened military, defeat abroad, loss of prominence world-wide (China will take our place as the world's super-power economically and militarily), the growth of the Islam within our borders, emboldened and empowered Jihad, increased pressure on Israel...I could go on.

Tonight, this country blindly and foolishly elected Lewis Farrakhan's "messiah," Oprah Winfrey's "the one," and the candidate that Hamas and Hezbollah endorsed and illegally funded for president.  This is one campaign where I hope and pray that the candidate breaks every single one of his promises.

None of us should really be surprised by this outcome.  The signs of the end are in sight.  May it come soon!  Until then, may Obama be blinded on his road to Damascus.

Peace,