Life's Three Most Important Books

By this time next week (as of this writing it is Thursday, October 28) the 2020 presidential election will be in the books, thankfully and hopefully.

When you get to the end of The Book, God’s Book, the Bible, you come to the two most important books regarding each one of us, “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death” Revelation 20:11-14 (NLT2).

“The books,” are the complete, uncensored, record of each one of our lives. All we did and didn’t do that we should have done can be found in each one of our books. Every action, every thought, every word, every decision, every intent, and every motive, it’s all there in each one of our books. Every single sin of both commission and omission impartially recorded. No room to wiggle, dodge, point fingers, and make excuses. Nothing but full exposure, the naked truth about each one of us.

“The books” will clearly and incontrovertibly evidence what God’s Book, the Bible, has testified for thousands of years, namely, that we are sinners, each one of us, “ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” Romans 3:23 (NLT2); 

“Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?’” 
Proverbs 20:9 (NIV);

If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God” 1 John 1:10 (MSG). It is what is in each one of our books that will condemn us, not God the righteous judge.

Did you notice that no one escapes the final judgement of God, everyone who ever lived will be summoned and will appear. Secondly, no one survives God judgment on what is found in our books, our own full record. Each one of us will be found guilty, suffer the “second death,” eternal damnation in the “lake of fire,” or in plain English, go to hell. - Except.

Except, if your name is found in the “the book of life” the most important book of them all. It is also called “the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 13:8), “Lamb” being a synonym for Jesus Christ, and shorthand for sacrificial lamb. When the prophet John the Baptist’s saw Jesus, the first words out of his mouth were, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NIV). Jesus died for the whole world, including you and me, but as the “great white throne” passage above makes clear, our names are not automatically written in Jesus book of life. It is only when we believe in Him, when we call on His name to save us, that His righteousness is transferred  (imputed) to us, our sin debt is paid for by Him, we receive mercy instead of condemnation, and our names are written in “the book of life.  “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (from eternal judgment)” Romans 10:9-10 (NIV, parenthesis mine).

Like the 2020 election, eventuality your entire life will also be in the books, over and done. Until then the three most important books in your library are the Bible, the book of your life, and Jesus book of life. Built the one in the middle around the other two, and hell can’t have you and heaven will welcome you.

To God be all glory.

Love you, Pastor Hans

Justice Matters - Black Lives Matter

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. Proverbs 28:5 (NIV)

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:2-3 (ESV)

Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. Isaiah 59:14-15 (ESV)

Every one of us, regardless of the color of our skin, should be weeping, should be outraged, and should be calling for justice. We all should be demanding change, rushing to be part of the solution, and stand alongside our black brothers and sisters as we bitterly mourn Ahmaud Arbery, whose violent death barely caused a ripple until the sick recording of the lynching in broad daylight was finally released - and the death of George Floyd, who died pleading for his life while a policeman’s knee slowly choked the life out of him. We should be brokenhearted as we witness violence birthing more violence, injustice breading more injustice, and stones are being thrown at each other instead of working together to build a nation “with liberty and justice for all.”

Each of these deaths is outrageous by themselves, but sadly, they are just the most recent and most public in a long history of racism, injustice, and police brutality. Neither Ahmaud Arbery nor George Floyd should have died, they should be alive and well today. We need to decide when enough is enough.It should not be difficult to stand beside our fellow Americans and shout with them, “Black lives matter!” in light of the long reality of injustice this cry represents. Immediately countering with, “All lives matter,” or “Blue lives matter,” is tantamount to telling them, “Just shut up.” Of course, all lives matter, blue lives matter, but the very nature of injustice is that some lives matter more than others.

Injustice is always an abuse of power. One of the greatest statements about ancient king David, a man after God’s own heart, is “So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people” 2 Samuel 8:15 (ESV, emphasis mine). Since we are privileged to live in a country led by a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (Abraham Lincoln), we, every citizen, are responsible to hold our governmental institutions and powers accountable to use those powers entrusted to them in just and equitable ways. That’s not a knock on our police officers and all those who work in our justice system, but rather it validates the importance of a police force and justice system that does not tolerate injustice, inhumanity, and abuse of power.

It’s so easy to talk about these complex issues, but it is quite another to engage myself in ways that help, that are part of the solution, that bring about change and empower equal justice for all. As multifaceted and overwhelming as all of this is, we dare not flee into disengagement or mere talk. Even without having all the solutions:

  • I need to recognize that justice is also a spiritual issue. Just by reading the Scriptures above, I know I can only fully understand justice in seeking God through Christ, and that God expects me to personally practice and engage with justice regarding others.

  • I need to thoroughly study my Bible (God’s written word) so I can understand justice and what it demands of me as a follower of Jesus.

  • I need to put my listening ears on and go to my black brothers and sisters and hear their side, their story, their hurt, their rage, their sorrow, their solutions.

  • I need to be a voice for justice and equity with my friends, around my dinner table, and in the sandbox with my grandchildren.

  • I need to speak up whenever and wherever ignorance, bigotry, cruelty, evil, and injustice rear their ugly heads, regardless of who I am with, and regardless of the cost.

  • I need to pray for God to show me my blind spots, to see justice through His eyes, for courage, for change, for those in power, for our law enforcement officers in my own community and counties.

  • I need to use the avenues available to me as an ordinary citizen to influence our government officials and institutions.

May God have mercy on us and help us. 
Love you, Pastor Hans

Getting It Right

It is so easy to be wrong. Sometimes being wrong is not a big deal, like not listening to your wife and cooking a batch of chocolate chip cookies at 450 instead of 350 degrees. Sometimes being wrong has huge implications, like Chamberlain trusting Hitler and declaring, “Peace for our time,” or persistently denying or ignoring the existence of God, only to find yourself standing before the judgment seat of God.

Can you imagine being in our president’s or our governor’s shoes at this time? I am fairly certain that you wouldn’t want to get your handling of the COVID-19 crisis wrong. So much on the line for millions of people, for your political party, for your own political career. You would need input and advice from wise counsel in regard to public health issues, economic concerns, budget implications, public sentiment, political considerations, and so much more. Then you would have to weigh all this information and make timely decisions that the power of your office allows you to make. All the while, you would have no shortage of critics screaming that you are getting it all wrong.

I have not been entrusted with an ounce of authority regarding civil government and the public decisions that have to be made. But, I have been entrusted with authority to lead an assembly of believers known as the Lake Don Pedro Baptist Church according to the will of Christ (the head of the church) and the leading of the Holy Spirit according to the Scriptures (the Bible). How do we as Christians not get it wrong? How long do we suspend the assembling/being-together-life integral to our faith and being a church? How much submission to the authority of the state is appropriate for a church? At what point are we justified in rejecting governmental authority and take a stance of civil disobedience?

The opinions, voices, and criticisms within the church are as divided as they are in the general public. “The state has no authority regarding the church!” “No, we have to apply Romans 13:1-10 and 1 Peter 2:13-17!” “God will protect us and heal us!” “Our highest priority is to love our neighbor!” Allow me to tackle a few of these and the process give you some insight into what has been guiding me.

  • Our highest, supreme, royal laws are to love God and to love our neighbor (Mark 12:28-34). Knowing this we are forced to live in continual dependence on the Holy Spirit and his Word (the Bible) to help us figure out how to practice both of these commandments and the tensions they can create. Loving my neighbor does not mean I stay silent about his/her racism etc., but it also means I will not endanger his or her health. At this point, we do know that close contact large group gatherings are particularly problematic in spreading COVID. In that sense it matters little what Walmart or Lowe’s is permitted to do by the state, it matters what scripture’s core laws compel us to.

  • The Head of the Church is Christ (Colossians 1:13-20) not the state and any of its representatives (In fact, even the state is under the authority of Christ). This, however, does not mean the church can or should ignore all state authority, for instance, we should adhere to building codes, fire codes. However, regardless of any actions and orders of the state, the church is the custodian of the both the Gospel and the Faith (A Christian worldview) that permeates all aspects of life, and the church’s allegiance to and practice of these is uniquely subject to Christ alone. I have led our church to comply with the official orders not out of a recognition of the state’s authority over us but out of the freedom we have in Christ to do so.

  • The church has from its beginning lived in tension and often open conflict with public and state authority (You do not have to look any further than Jesus). Christians throughout history have lived in and had to sort through that tension and conflict in order to have clear conscience with both God and man, often at a very high price. In this navigation we do well to remember to make every effort to be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).

  • Does God protect and heal? The answer is unequivocally, “YES!” Is God obligated to protect and heal even when we practice foolishness, ignore sound knowledge, and trample on established wisdom because we claim faith? The answer is unequivocally, “NO!” Faith never excuses foolishness, in fact, foolish faith is a stumbling block to reach the lost.

Since I am way past of this being a short pastor’s note, let me add a few things that irritate me.

  • Christians navigating, opinionizing, speaking out based on their political persuasion and overdosing on news outlets and pundits rather than reading the Bible extensively, daily, with a willingness to apply it, even if it completely contradicts our politics and opinions.

  • Christian pontificating that is devoid of actions, not reaching out, not sharing the Gospel, not helping in some shape or form.

  • Christians without Kingdom of God vision, acting like this is all there is, afraid of all the things unbelievers are fearful of, content as long as they are okay and have it their way.

  • Little, if any, acknowledgment of the value and work of the church by our governmental leaders, acting as if they have to invent what the church has done since it’s inception, loving, helping, taking care of people.

Finally, since this is no way of ending this pastor’s note:

  • I thank God for all those in our government who are working incredibly hard to get it right, may God give them favor, insight, foresight, and some rest.

  • I thank God for the encouragement of brothers and sisters who have reached out to Susie and me, who are daily looking to be used by God, who are searching the Scriptures in order to direct their own minds and lives, and who are praying with me for the church to get this right.

 To God be all glory. Love and miss you, Pastor Hans  

Stable and Shining

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT2)

Jesus was directly speaking to his disciples when he spoke these words, but there was also a large crowd listening in, and clearly, he wanted them to hear what he had to say as well. At the end of his sermon, he spelled out why he was preaching what he was preaching.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows (practices, acts on) it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash” Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT2, parenthesis mine).

Jesus, God is interested in you and me living lives of stability amidst the instability, even torrents, and disasters of our world. He wants you and me to be people of purpose, who make a difference, whose light keeps shining no matter how dark it gets, whose actions make people want to sing praises to God. But for this to actually happen, we need to hear Jesus' words and trust them enough to act on them, that’s called faith. This is why I read some portion of God’s word (the Bible) every day, think about it, take some notes, and try to make “act-on-it” connections to what is going on in my life around me. The last two mornings I read Luke 11 and 12 (We are in Luke in our church’s Bible-reading plan) and found some things to help my life keep shining brightly and keep me stable in our current crisis, and, since this is a pastor’s note, I am convinced these will benefit you too:

Pray – Luke 11:1-13

  • Not if but “when” you pray.

  • Pray with persistence, keep knocking, seeking, asking.

  • Pray with a focus on God’s goodness.

  • Pray seeking God’s very best.

Help – Luke 12:13-21

  • Don’t hoard.

  • Don’t act on the fear of not getting your fair share.

  • Look out for more than yourself.

  • However little or much you have enables you to share.

Invest – Luke 12:21, 31-34

  • In more than yourself.

  • In more than the stock market and your financial portfolio.

  • In more than what will keep you comfortable to the end of your life.

  • In the goodness of your heart.

Jesus didn’t just teach the above as a means of crisis management, he wants you and me to practice them, and much more keep-your-light-burning stuff, whether the sun is shining, or the torrents are raging. He wants you and me to build foundations that don’t crumble even under the greatest stresses and challenges.
To God be all glory.
Love you, Pastor Hans         

Predicting Christ's Return

May 29 2011May 21st , 2011 came and went without any of Harold Camping’s rapturepredictions coming true. Now he has been wrong twice (he made same predictionfor 1994). He is one of many who have prophesied an exact date for the raptureor the end, and all of them have been wrong, just like any who will do so in thefuture will be wrong. The Word of God, the Bible is crystal clear when it comes toanyone purporting to know God’s timing:"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36 (NIV)"You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." Luke 12:40 (NASB)A true prophet of God who truly speaks for God bears an awesomeresponsibility, especially when it comes to predicting future events. In the fifthbook of the Bible, Deuteronomy, God speaks to this, “… any prophet who fakesit, who claims to speak in my name something I haven't commanded him tosay, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. You may bewondering among yourselves, ‘How can we tell the difference, whether it wasGOD who spoke or not?’ Here's how: If what the prophet spoke in GOD'sname doesn't happen, then obviously GOD wasn't behind it; the prophetmade it up. Forget about him.” Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (MSG)The New Testament does not uphold the standard of putting false prophetsto death, but the standard for discerning real prophets from false ones holds,there is no margin of error or revising things when they fail to come to pass. Atrue prophet, any spokesperson for God is never at liberty to just make it up. Allprophets and prophecies have to meet a twofold test, what is prophesied has tocome to pass and it cannot contradict what God has already clearly revealed in thescriptures.What is sad about men like Harold Camping is that they discredit not onlythemselves, but they deceive many who genuinely believe, and they become astumbling block to the lost (those who do not believe in Christ). However, as clearas Bible is in regard to anyone being able to predict the day and hour of Christ’sreturn it is equally clear about the certainty of His return and the judgment ofGod. Thus both Jesus and the Apostles continually warned and admonished to beprepared for both God’s judgment and Christ’s return.Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep(died), or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe thatJesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesusthose who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, wetell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord,will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himselfwill come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of thearchangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will risefirst. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up togetherwith them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with theLord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:6 (NIV, parenthesis mine)"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”John 14:1-6 (NIV)To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans

Weed Eaters and Bibles

May 1 2011My weed-eater (also known as a string trimmer) is down. Nothing crucial, I amwaiting for the parts to restore it to health. The only bad thing is that spring isnot a good time for a weed-eater not to work. However, I have observed weed-eaters and the truth is they much rather just sit around or hang on a wall than eatweeds. In fact, if left to themselves they’ll never eat a single weed. Talk about notliving up to your name. Actually a weed-eater cuts down weeds really well whenI, or you, put it to work. I am sure weeds are perfectly fine with weed-eatersconfined to garages and sheds, they love being unattended to. For weeds to takeover one has to do absolutely nothing.As if the weeds proliferating in our yards were not enough there are also spiritualweeds. Jesus once told a parable to illustrate the fact that God is trying to geteveryone’s attention so they will live a life that has eternal purpose and will honorhim. For some, Jesus said, weeds are the problem when it comes to responding toGod, "The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it,” Matthew 13:22 (MSG).Few things are as effective as the Bible (God’s written word) in dealing withspiritual weeds. But just like a weed-eater hanging in a garage you and I won’tbenefit from our Bibles sitting on the coffee table or being stuck on a shelf.Spiritual weeds will happily keep growing, chocking out all God wants to grow inour lives.In order for a weed-eater to be an effective tool in your hands you have to followsome basic steps:1. Get if the wall.2. Put gas in it (make sure it’s a fuel and oil mixture if it is a two stroke).3. Put cutting string in the trimmer head.4. Start it up (wear ear-plugs and goggles, long pants are advisable as well).5. Go to where the weeds are and go to town (you can have the stringer running butswinging it across the asphalt of your driveway will not only make no differencewhen it comes to the weeds, but it will also make you look really silly).In order for the God’s Word (the Bible) to be an effective tool against spiritualweeds there are some basic steps as well:1. Put it in your hand and open it (the Gospel of Mark is a good place to start).2. Start reading it with an awareness that God is trying to speak to you.3. Don’t read past any place that captures your attention or causes you to ask aquestion. Stop, and ask yourself what God is pointing out to you and how youneed to respond. If you have a question look for, and don’t rest until you find theanswer.4. Look for anything God clearly tells you to do or not to do, as well as any generallife principles and or clear instructions of doing things God’s way.5. Immediately apply to your life anything that God has clearly instructed you todo or cease doing (you can spout Bible all over the church or anywhere else but ifyou don’t put into action what you were told the weeds will continue to grow andyou will look like the guy swinging his weed-eater across the asphalt – silly).To God be all glory, love you, Pastor Hans