I've been looking for ways to make baby dedications an even more special moment for all involved. I came across the idea of giving a letter to the baby to be opened on their 12th birthday. The child's letter is sealed - and I give a copy to the parents as well. Here's the letter:
Date ________
Dear (babies name):
Happy Birthday! I gave this letter to your parents the day that they dedicated you to the Lord at Destiny Church, Huber Heights – so they could give it to you today. As you read this letter, you are celebrating your 12th birthday. I hope today is a very special day for you. God blessed you with two very special parents. They prayed for you during your mother’s pregnancy.
Earlier today at your dedication, we reminded your parents of their responsibility to provide for you a home in which Christ is honored. We prayed that you would grow up learning God’s love and that one day you would accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.
Now you are 12 years old. Your parents have made most of life’s important decisions for you until now. There is one decision only you can make. You alone must decide how to respond to God’s love for you in Jesus. If you have already received Jesus as your Savior, I pray that you will continue to grow in God – just as Jesus did in Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
I pray that you will stay close to Jesus in the years ahead and continue to seek Him with all of your heart. If you have not yet received Jesus as Savior, I urge you to put your trust in Him today. This has been our prayer for many years.
May God bless you on this special birthday.
In Christ’s love,
Eric B. Smith
Pastor
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
More Christmas Sermons
Another scaled down Christmas sermon outline:
Sermon Title: Make Haste
Scripture Passage: Luke 2:6-17
INTRO:
There are normally two responses to divine encounters in scripture; unawareness and fear. And often times God encounters are often missed out on today because of the same reasons. But in this awesome passage we see that the shepherds were very fearful to start with here – but I love what verse 16 says - And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And they came with haste.
I like it when people make haste after God.
The shepherds could have missed a moment – if they had waited, or doubted, or hem-hawed around – but they made haste. What was it about this most unlikely group to receive this news that caused them to make haste and not miss what God was doing? So many that we read about in this Word missed what God was doing. All through Jesus’ earthly ministry people missed the time of their visitation – but not the shepherds.
What can we learn from the shepherds?
1. They were able to transition quickly.
I hear people ask questions like – who stayed behind to watch the sheep? But then I think – who cares? You know what – doesn’t matter – whatever it took, whatever it meant for the shepherds to leave and head to the manger, whatever arrangements needed to be made – they made them. They didn’t drag their feet they went for it.
You see the reason why many folks miss revival or miss what God is doing miss what God is doing is because we become– transitionally challenged. Why are we transitionally challenged? Because for different reasons we become content with status quo.
Psalm 119:60 - I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Often it seems that churches, movements and individual believers can have an encounter with God, or have one great time in the altar with God – and then never bother to seek more from God.
In Ephesians 1 Paul speaking to the churches at Ephesus said, “I pray that you may have more wisdom and revelation. What does that tell us? It tells us that there is more of God to know. There is more of God to get a hold of. The Bible says that God want to take us from glory to glory. But many times instead of glory to glory – we become static in our relationship with God.
This happens to people and denominations. Instead of becoming a movement to the future - they can become monuments to the past. But the glory of Christmas is that the God of the universe wants to lead us from glory to glory – from encounter with Him to encounter.
2. They were able to recognize what God was doing.
Verse 15: So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
In summary the shepherds said, "God is doing something – let’s go see it."
They were able to recognize that God was doing something. They recognized that this was God.
What is so interesting to me is that for hundreds of years Israel prayed and cried out for God, they prayed for revival – so God sent Jesus and what happened – they killed Him. Why? They didn’t recognize Him. They didn’t recognize revival. God in the flesh shows up – but because he rode a donkey instead of a white horse into Jerusalem – because He wasn’t riding at the head of a conquering army like they thought He would be. Because He didn’t come the way they thought He would – they missed what God was doing.
Jesus pointed this out to them in Luke 19:43: "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
We must be very careful that we don't miss what God is doing - it's possible to be very sincere in faith and miss what God is wanting to do.
In the history of the church each current revival or move of God persecutes the one that follows it. Reformers were burned at the stake because they believed a certain revelation that God had given them. Then the Anabaptists came along and believed that baptism should happen after you make your profession for Christ - they were persecuted by the Lutherans. Then the holiness movement springs up out of the Anabaptist movement and the Anabaptist's persecute the holiness movement – then the Pentecostal movement springs up out of the holiness movement and they are persecuted by the holiness movement. At the turn of the century if you were Pentecostal you were considered a cult member and the scum of the earth. My grandmother had rotten fruit thrown at her as she left church from time to time because of her Pentecostal faith. Pentecostal preachers were considered dangerous. Then the Pentecostal movement persecuted the Jesus movement, then the Jesus movement persecuted the charismatic movement, and on and on we go.
Jesus came with good tidings of great joy that were to all people – peace on earth – goodwill to man. The good news is that relationship with God is now possible. Who wouldn’t want that? Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to pursue that? It's time to have a heart like the shepherds did so long ago and make haste towards Him.
Christmas Sermons
Here are a couple of scaled down Christmas sermon outlines that I recently preached. Some pastors love preaching Christmas sermons, some don't - I'm in the 'love to' camp:
Sermon Title: Gifts
Scripture Passage: Matthew 2:11
INTRO: When Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God - He not only fulfilled the Law and the prophets – He brought a whole new way of looking at things.
In the Kingdom you really do have to give in order to receive. If you want to go high – you have to go low. Jesus thought that there was enough food in the lunch of a little boy to feed thousands. It’s just how He thinks. He thinks if you want to live – you have to die. These are not just token inspirational thoughts – this is what a renewed mind – this is what a Kingdom perspective looks like. With Kingdom perspective a miracle is logical.
And with the coming Savior, came a new perspective on.
Matthew 2:11 - And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Some thoughts about giving:
1. The heart of Kingdom giving is worship.
Vs. 11 – And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
Giving should never be done out of duty, obligation or compulsion – but rather from an understanding of giving is based in worship. Giving is never compartmentalized either. Giving as worship never says "I gave my time, so now I don’t need to give my resources". This is not Kingdom thinking. Because this act of worshipful giving affects every part of our lives. That type of thinking is Old Testament religious duty thinking – well I did my time here so that gets me off the hook in this area. Jesus introduced giving as a lifestyle of worship - illustrated by what the wise men did at His birth.
Jesus spoke to this when he dropped this epic verse on us in John 4:24:
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
He changed worship.
Worship was no longer going to come from religious conformity, or religious duty, or obligation – but now the worship God was seeking came from a genuine heart of love – it was given from the purity of an honest heart. That’s why Paul said giving can never come out of pressure or duty – but out of a heart that has encountered God that moves you to give. It’s just what you do – it’s like breathing. Kingdom giving is a grace that only belongs to the believer. It’s who we are – giving is what we are about.
Something else about Kingdom giving:
2. Something has to be opened before something can be given.
Vs. 11 – And when they had opened their treasures...
When they had opened their treasure – then they gave. Before giving could happen – a treasury of some type had to be opened up. Jesus talked about treasure.
Matthew 8:19-21: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Heart and treasure have the same exact zip code. We all have treasure to give out of. Has nothing to do with how much money you have or don’t have. One of the biggest misnomer’s about giving in the church today is that you have quote unquote ‘have to have extra money in order to give’. That’s false. Real giving starts when we cease to be able to afford what we are giving. Sometimes folks get hung up on percentages in tithing – this might be a better measuring stick – give a little more than you can truly afford – then you will be giving from your treasure.
We all have treasure – the question is does our treasure have us? Are you will to open your treasure like the wise men did?
Kingdom giving gives without regard of the thought – what I may benefit from this? Why? Because it comes from the heart.
Luke 6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Kingdom giving asks, "What's in it for me?" If the answer is "nothing," then that means let’s give then!
Finally, in Kingdom giving:
3. There is a presentation.
Vs. 11 - they presented gifts to Him.
Notice they did the giving. They didn’t have their assistants give the gifts – they gave them. There was great honor and power in them presenting the gifts. The very act of giving is part of the gift - there is joy in the very act of presenting our gifts to Him.
Sermon Title: Gifts
Scripture Passage: Matthew 2:11
INTRO: When Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God - He not only fulfilled the Law and the prophets – He brought a whole new way of looking at things.
In the Kingdom you really do have to give in order to receive. If you want to go high – you have to go low. Jesus thought that there was enough food in the lunch of a little boy to feed thousands. It’s just how He thinks. He thinks if you want to live – you have to die. These are not just token inspirational thoughts – this is what a renewed mind – this is what a Kingdom perspective looks like. With Kingdom perspective a miracle is logical.
And with the coming Savior, came a new perspective on.
Matthew 2:11 - And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Some thoughts about giving:
1. The heart of Kingdom giving is worship.
Vs. 11 – And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
Giving should never be done out of duty, obligation or compulsion – but rather from an understanding of giving is based in worship. Giving is never compartmentalized either. Giving as worship never says "I gave my time, so now I don’t need to give my resources". This is not Kingdom thinking. Because this act of worshipful giving affects every part of our lives. That type of thinking is Old Testament religious duty thinking – well I did my time here so that gets me off the hook in this area. Jesus introduced giving as a lifestyle of worship - illustrated by what the wise men did at His birth.
Jesus spoke to this when he dropped this epic verse on us in John 4:24:
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
He changed worship.
Worship was no longer going to come from religious conformity, or religious duty, or obligation – but now the worship God was seeking came from a genuine heart of love – it was given from the purity of an honest heart. That’s why Paul said giving can never come out of pressure or duty – but out of a heart that has encountered God that moves you to give. It’s just what you do – it’s like breathing. Kingdom giving is a grace that only belongs to the believer. It’s who we are – giving is what we are about.
Something else about Kingdom giving:
2. Something has to be opened before something can be given.
Vs. 11 – And when they had opened their treasures...
When they had opened their treasure – then they gave. Before giving could happen – a treasury of some type had to be opened up. Jesus talked about treasure.
Matthew 8:19-21: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Heart and treasure have the same exact zip code. We all have treasure to give out of. Has nothing to do with how much money you have or don’t have. One of the biggest misnomer’s about giving in the church today is that you have quote unquote ‘have to have extra money in order to give’. That’s false. Real giving starts when we cease to be able to afford what we are giving. Sometimes folks get hung up on percentages in tithing – this might be a better measuring stick – give a little more than you can truly afford – then you will be giving from your treasure.
We all have treasure – the question is does our treasure have us? Are you will to open your treasure like the wise men did?
Kingdom giving gives without regard of the thought – what I may benefit from this? Why? Because it comes from the heart.
Luke 6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Kingdom giving asks, "What's in it for me?" If the answer is "nothing," then that means let’s give then!
Finally, in Kingdom giving:
3. There is a presentation.
Vs. 11 - they presented gifts to Him.
Notice they did the giving. They didn’t have their assistants give the gifts – they gave them. There was great honor and power in them presenting the gifts. The very act of giving is part of the gift - there is joy in the very act of presenting our gifts to Him.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Five Books
Since I'm often asked about what books I'm reading and which ones I'd recommend (besides the Bible obviously) - I thought it was time to post a list of what I'd call my top five books that every Christian should read. This list is obviously highly subjective and is subject to change from time to time as the years pass and there are many others that I've read that are 'top five' quality to be sure. But these five books have impacted my life for various reasons and in various ways. To make my top five list a book must epically rock my spiritual world, increase my passion for Christ exponentially, and light fires in my heart to do more for God than I ever have before. With that criteria in mind - here is my list (in no specific order):
1. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala. Cymbala is the founder and pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. This book will epically rock your prayer life and build your faith.
2. When Heaven Invades Earth, Bill Johnson. This book will inspire and grow your faith to places you didn't know it could go - guaranteed. You will learn exactly what it means to not 'put God in a box'.
3. Tale Of Three Kings, Gene Edwards. Humility, brokenness, honoring others and dealing with authority in our lives. These qualities handled wrong are often the cause for division, broken relationships and church problems. This book will challenge you to grow in these crucial areas.
4. The Final Quest, Rick Joyner. This book is unusual in that it was a prophetic vision that the Lord gave to Joyner. I was first exposed to this book during a 'Shake the Nations' missions conference in the early 90's. I grabbed a copy - read it in a couple sittings - and then spent much time weeping before the Lord with my face in the carpet. Another book that will rock your prayer life.
5. God's Generals, Roberts Lairdon. There are actually three books currently in this series and I've read two so far and they have both moved me beyond words. Lairdon's research for these books was top notch and the stories of our fathers in the faith are incredibly inspiring and encouraging as well as very informative. I learned much and was greatly blessed. The two I've read are, God's Generals: Why They Succeeded And Why Some Failed; God's Generals: The Revivalists. I realize I have six books in my top five - but you can pick one of these two and not go wrong.
What books are in your top five?
1. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala. Cymbala is the founder and pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. This book will epically rock your prayer life and build your faith.
2. When Heaven Invades Earth, Bill Johnson. This book will inspire and grow your faith to places you didn't know it could go - guaranteed. You will learn exactly what it means to not 'put God in a box'.
3. Tale Of Three Kings, Gene Edwards. Humility, brokenness, honoring others and dealing with authority in our lives. These qualities handled wrong are often the cause for division, broken relationships and church problems. This book will challenge you to grow in these crucial areas.
4. The Final Quest, Rick Joyner. This book is unusual in that it was a prophetic vision that the Lord gave to Joyner. I was first exposed to this book during a 'Shake the Nations' missions conference in the early 90's. I grabbed a copy - read it in a couple sittings - and then spent much time weeping before the Lord with my face in the carpet. Another book that will rock your prayer life.
5. God's Generals, Roberts Lairdon. There are actually three books currently in this series and I've read two so far and they have both moved me beyond words. Lairdon's research for these books was top notch and the stories of our fathers in the faith are incredibly inspiring and encouraging as well as very informative. I learned much and was greatly blessed. The two I've read are, God's Generals: Why They Succeeded And Why Some Failed; God's Generals: The Revivalists. I realize I have six books in my top five - but you can pick one of these two and not go wrong.
What books are in your top five?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Remembering
This was written by Azusa Street Revival participant and author Frank Bartleman about a year before the revival happened:
"A wonderful work of the Spirit has broken out here in Los Angeles, California, preceded by a deep preparatory work of prayer and expectation. Conviction is rapidly spreading among the people, and they are rallying from all over the city to the meetings...Already these meetings are beginning to "run themselves". Souls are being save all over the house, while the meeting sweeps on unguided by human hands. The tide is rising rapidly, and we are anticipating wonderful things...The fear of God is coming upon the people, a very spirit of burning. Sunday night the meeting ran on until the small hours of the next morning." Frank Bartleman, June 1905
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Meat And Milk
When it comes to our spiritual growth - becoming mature in Christ – you often hear the terms ‘milk’ and ‘meat’. I'm convinced that many believers are confused as to what ‘meat’ and ‘milk’ are when it comes to growing in the Lord. That matters because knowing the difference between the two will greatly affect ones spiritual growth - similar to knowing which foods to eat in order to receive the optimum nutrition for the physical body.
First of all, when it comes to maturity in Christ there are often two false assumptions that get in the way: 1) "I will automatically become mature in Christ as I age"; 2) "Just as it takes years to mature physically, it takes just as long to mature in Christ". There is no such scripture, however, to back either of these lines of thinking. In fact it says in Job 32:7-8 that it’s not age, but rather the Spirit of God inside of you that makes one wise. Maturity, or growing up in Christ is not a matter of getting chronologically older, but rather a matter of what you eat spiritually. Often in the church world we find that some of the oldest saints can be some of the most immature spiritually, while some of the younger ones can be some of the most spiritually mature.
WHAT IS MILK?
Simply stated, milk is the Word of God, as well as teaching or preaching from the Word of God. That's why no pastor on the planet can give you 'meat' - they can only give you 'milk'. I know that some may bring a protest in the thinking of some - but look at scripture itself:
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. 1 Cor. 3:1-3.
This is in the beginning of his letter to the Corinthians where he states he's going to give them milk - nine chapters later he talks to them about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their use. Most folks would consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the use of them to be advanced stuff. But Paul did not change his mind half way through writing one letter. He said he was going to give them milk and that is what he did. He asks them to drink this 'milk' and grow up in Christ.
Peter also talks about milk here, saying to desire the pure milk of the word:
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:1-2.
From Hebrews:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews 5:12.
The writer of Hebrews also talks about this milk and meat issue. He states that the people he's addressing should have been teachers by now but they are in need of milk again. He calls the ‘milk’, teaching them about the first principles of the oracles of God. The word ‘oracles’ is rooted in the word logos - again, speaking of the Word of God.
In this we must never downplay the importance of milk in our lives. In the physical body milk is critical all of our lives because it provides nutrients that give our skeletal structure it's strength. Similarly, the Word of God strengthens and supports our structure, or foundation that we must have in order to be healthy spiritually. We must never neglect the pure milk of the Word!
But as the Word points out - to grow to maturity there is something else we need to add to our diet.
MEAT - THE MISSING INGREDIENT
So what is 'meat'? Well it's not a good sermon or a Christian book, or even a Bible study. It doesn't happen when the pastor 'rings the bell'.
Clues to what meat is are found in Hebrews 5:14:
"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Note the key words "by reason of use" which gives us the clue that those eating meat are actually doing, or 'using' something.
Jesus Himself answers the question for us about what meat actually is. And since Jesus is our example, as He stated that He is sending us just as He was sent - Jesus defines for all Believers what our meat is in John 4:34:
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Meat is DOING the Word of God. If we are going to mature in Christ we must move from just studying, hearing and listening to the Word - and begin DOING the Word. The Bible is God's revealed will for us on this planet - so by doing the Word we are doing the will of God - and eating meat.
This brings greater clarity to James 1:22:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
If you only study or read the Bible - you are deceiving yourself. Why? Because you cannot grow from just reading or hearing. In fact that will keep you on the infancy level in Christianity. Growth to maturity requires meat - and that only comes when we DO the Word.
A good church and a good pastor cannot give you meat - but they can give you opportunities to eat meat and facilitate the eating of meat. That should be a guiding factor in choosing a church. It's not just about sermons and programs offered - but am I trained and afforded opportunities to eat meat?
First of all, when it comes to maturity in Christ there are often two false assumptions that get in the way: 1) "I will automatically become mature in Christ as I age"; 2) "Just as it takes years to mature physically, it takes just as long to mature in Christ". There is no such scripture, however, to back either of these lines of thinking. In fact it says in Job 32:7-8 that it’s not age, but rather the Spirit of God inside of you that makes one wise. Maturity, or growing up in Christ is not a matter of getting chronologically older, but rather a matter of what you eat spiritually. Often in the church world we find that some of the oldest saints can be some of the most immature spiritually, while some of the younger ones can be some of the most spiritually mature.
WHAT IS MILK?
Simply stated, milk is the Word of God, as well as teaching or preaching from the Word of God. That's why no pastor on the planet can give you 'meat' - they can only give you 'milk'. I know that some may bring a protest in the thinking of some - but look at scripture itself:
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. 1 Cor. 3:1-3.
This is in the beginning of his letter to the Corinthians where he states he's going to give them milk - nine chapters later he talks to them about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their use. Most folks would consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the use of them to be advanced stuff. But Paul did not change his mind half way through writing one letter. He said he was going to give them milk and that is what he did. He asks them to drink this 'milk' and grow up in Christ.
Peter also talks about milk here, saying to desire the pure milk of the word:
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:1-2.
From Hebrews:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews 5:12.
The writer of Hebrews also talks about this milk and meat issue. He states that the people he's addressing should have been teachers by now but they are in need of milk again. He calls the ‘milk’, teaching them about the first principles of the oracles of God. The word ‘oracles’ is rooted in the word logos - again, speaking of the Word of God.
In this we must never downplay the importance of milk in our lives. In the physical body milk is critical all of our lives because it provides nutrients that give our skeletal structure it's strength. Similarly, the Word of God strengthens and supports our structure, or foundation that we must have in order to be healthy spiritually. We must never neglect the pure milk of the Word!
But as the Word points out - to grow to maturity there is something else we need to add to our diet.
MEAT - THE MISSING INGREDIENT
So what is 'meat'? Well it's not a good sermon or a Christian book, or even a Bible study. It doesn't happen when the pastor 'rings the bell'.
Clues to what meat is are found in Hebrews 5:14:
"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Note the key words "by reason of use" which gives us the clue that those eating meat are actually doing, or 'using' something.
Jesus Himself answers the question for us about what meat actually is. And since Jesus is our example, as He stated that He is sending us just as He was sent - Jesus defines for all Believers what our meat is in John 4:34:
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Meat is DOING the Word of God. If we are going to mature in Christ we must move from just studying, hearing and listening to the Word - and begin DOING the Word. The Bible is God's revealed will for us on this planet - so by doing the Word we are doing the will of God - and eating meat.
This brings greater clarity to James 1:22:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
If you only study or read the Bible - you are deceiving yourself. Why? Because you cannot grow from just reading or hearing. In fact that will keep you on the infancy level in Christianity. Growth to maturity requires meat - and that only comes when we DO the Word.
A good church and a good pastor cannot give you meat - but they can give you opportunities to eat meat and facilitate the eating of meat. That should be a guiding factor in choosing a church. It's not just about sermons and programs offered - but am I trained and afforded opportunities to eat meat?
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Christian School vs. Public School Debate
I recently read an article concerning spiritual reasons why Christian children should be sent to a Christian school vs. a public school. The article heavily cites the book by Diane Dekker, Two Trees of Knowledge: A Biblical Case For the Separation of School and State.
The article makes a good point about being unequally yoked with the world in the education of your child, though it is debatable on how much of a 'yoking' really exists between parents and the public school system in actuality, and it is apparently and falsely assumed that no Christian teachers exist in the public school systems.
The article also brings into question parents who think they are sending their children into the public school system (the "devil's camp") to 'make their faith stronger' or to 'defend their faith' and finishes that point with saying that no where in the Bible are people sent into the enemies camp to receive training to make their faith stronger. Also cited in the article is the statistic that Christian kids who attend public high schools tend to abandon the faith by the end of their first year in college to the tune of 75% - 90%.
I have a fairly unique perspective on this matter. I have attended both Christian and public schools as a student, my children have/are attending both, and though I'm a full time pastor I also have the opportunity to be a part-time substitute teacher in the public school system here in my community. I'm certainly not against a Christian school education whatsoever, and in some cases it may be the best place to send one's child. However I have some concerns with some of the article's assertions.
Here are my observations:
1. I think it is falsely assumed that a public school is automatically the devil’s camp and the Christian school is God’s camp – what determines whose camp it is - a Bible class is offered? Does ungodliness abound in the public school? Without question. But the truth is there are ungodly people everywhere we go (even church) and the dirty little secret in Christian schools is that many of its students are just as ungodly as the students in the public school. The main difference is that in the Christian school it's kept on the down low. The students are often as good as wearing their "God mask" as some of their parents are on Sunday mornings.
The deal is - as Christians living on this planet we are aliens no matter where we go. Every ‘game’ for us is a road game. No where in the Bible are we promised an easy road in following Christ - in fact it is described as narrow and difficult. But nevertheless, as a Kingdom believer everywhere I set my feet is God’s property – I live in the victory and authority of Jesus name and by His Spirit I have the ability dictate atmospheres not be buffeted by them.
2. The article mentions not believing the myth of sending our kids to the public in order for them to be 'strengthened' or 'trained' in their faith by having to frequently defend it. My thought here is - if parents are sending their kids to any school to have them 'trained in their faith' they've already dropped the ball. The primary responsibility of passing the baton of faith onto our children rests firmly and squarely on the shoulders of parents. When I send my kids to which ever school - it's not in hopes that they'd be somehow trained in their faith. In fact while at the Christian school just the opposite began to happen - I found myself praying that they would maintain their faith in the lukewarm, faithless atmosphere that permeated their "Christian" school.
Having witnessed the Christian school firsthand – I found that it was just as tough to ‘defend’ the faith in a Christian school as it is/was in a public school - maybe harder because at the Christian school the attack was subversive. Many of the issues I dealt with were with people who supposedly had a relationship with Christ.
Just in case any doubt remained in me about what is going on with many Christian school students - they've been erased as I've seen their Facebook profiles. It's quite sad to see what is said, posted, with some even blatantly stating that they are agnostics and atheists! It could be easily argued that maintaining an on fire, passionate relationship with Jesus Christ is actually MORE difficult in a deluded, pseudo-Christian atmosphere than it is in a blatantly non-Christian environment.
3. The article cites the statistic that around 75% - 90% of Christians kids reject the faith in secular college. The problem is this statistic is an across the board stat for ALL church going kids - regardless of whether they attend a Christian or public school. Again, check their Facebook pages mom and dad - you may have already lost them and not know it yet. Perhaps after that first year of college is when they finally have the guts to let you know.
This very real (and heart breaking) statistic really may be more of a referendum on parents successfully passing a vibrant faith on to their children and perhaps the value of sending our kids to a Christian college rather than which high school the student attended.
The bottom-line is this: Parent's must never take for granted their child's experience with God. Never assume that just because they go to church with you that all is well. Never underestimate the value of them seeing you live your faith out in front of them in a very real and radical manner and never underestimate the value of frequent spiritual conversations and applications in your home. Finally, never rely on a school OR a church for your child's spiritual training - they should only be supplemental to what they learn from you at home. Their soul depends on it.
What are your thoughts?
The article makes a good point about being unequally yoked with the world in the education of your child, though it is debatable on how much of a 'yoking' really exists between parents and the public school system in actuality, and it is apparently and falsely assumed that no Christian teachers exist in the public school systems.
The article also brings into question parents who think they are sending their children into the public school system (the "devil's camp") to 'make their faith stronger' or to 'defend their faith' and finishes that point with saying that no where in the Bible are people sent into the enemies camp to receive training to make their faith stronger. Also cited in the article is the statistic that Christian kids who attend public high schools tend to abandon the faith by the end of their first year in college to the tune of 75% - 90%.
I have a fairly unique perspective on this matter. I have attended both Christian and public schools as a student, my children have/are attending both, and though I'm a full time pastor I also have the opportunity to be a part-time substitute teacher in the public school system here in my community. I'm certainly not against a Christian school education whatsoever, and in some cases it may be the best place to send one's child. However I have some concerns with some of the article's assertions.
Here are my observations:
1. I think it is falsely assumed that a public school is automatically the devil’s camp and the Christian school is God’s camp – what determines whose camp it is - a Bible class is offered? Does ungodliness abound in the public school? Without question. But the truth is there are ungodly people everywhere we go (even church) and the dirty little secret in Christian schools is that many of its students are just as ungodly as the students in the public school. The main difference is that in the Christian school it's kept on the down low. The students are often as good as wearing their "God mask" as some of their parents are on Sunday mornings.
The deal is - as Christians living on this planet we are aliens no matter where we go. Every ‘game’ for us is a road game. No where in the Bible are we promised an easy road in following Christ - in fact it is described as narrow and difficult. But nevertheless, as a Kingdom believer everywhere I set my feet is God’s property – I live in the victory and authority of Jesus name and by His Spirit I have the ability dictate atmospheres not be buffeted by them.
2. The article mentions not believing the myth of sending our kids to the public in order for them to be 'strengthened' or 'trained' in their faith by having to frequently defend it. My thought here is - if parents are sending their kids to any school to have them 'trained in their faith' they've already dropped the ball. The primary responsibility of passing the baton of faith onto our children rests firmly and squarely on the shoulders of parents. When I send my kids to which ever school - it's not in hopes that they'd be somehow trained in their faith. In fact while at the Christian school just the opposite began to happen - I found myself praying that they would maintain their faith in the lukewarm, faithless atmosphere that permeated their "Christian" school.
Having witnessed the Christian school firsthand – I found that it was just as tough to ‘defend’ the faith in a Christian school as it is/was in a public school - maybe harder because at the Christian school the attack was subversive. Many of the issues I dealt with were with people who supposedly had a relationship with Christ.
Just in case any doubt remained in me about what is going on with many Christian school students - they've been erased as I've seen their Facebook profiles. It's quite sad to see what is said, posted, with some even blatantly stating that they are agnostics and atheists! It could be easily argued that maintaining an on fire, passionate relationship with Jesus Christ is actually MORE difficult in a deluded, pseudo-Christian atmosphere than it is in a blatantly non-Christian environment.
3. The article cites the statistic that around 75% - 90% of Christians kids reject the faith in secular college. The problem is this statistic is an across the board stat for ALL church going kids - regardless of whether they attend a Christian or public school. Again, check their Facebook pages mom and dad - you may have already lost them and not know it yet. Perhaps after that first year of college is when they finally have the guts to let you know.
This very real (and heart breaking) statistic really may be more of a referendum on parents successfully passing a vibrant faith on to their children and perhaps the value of sending our kids to a Christian college rather than which high school the student attended.
The bottom-line is this: Parent's must never take for granted their child's experience with God. Never assume that just because they go to church with you that all is well. Never underestimate the value of them seeing you live your faith out in front of them in a very real and radical manner and never underestimate the value of frequent spiritual conversations and applications in your home. Finally, never rely on a school OR a church for your child's spiritual training - they should only be supplemental to what they learn from you at home. Their soul depends on it.
What are your thoughts?
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