The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

He gave up his one and only son Jesus Christ to accomplish our salvation…

What more could he do? And if there was more he could do, he would surely have done it, no?

And yet many will not, in fact, be saved. Just as the verse states, God really isn’t wanting anyone to perish, but rather to repent and be saved! (2 Peter 3:9)

Yet, apparently less than 15% of Christians see it that way.

But he cannot control our will. Free will in the Bible  refers to being free from God’s control. Some might scoff at the idea, but there really are things that God simply cannot do. The letter to the Hebrews, for instance, reminds us that “God cannot lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) “But he could if he wanted to,” someone might dispute. But God really cannot lie. He cannot even want to lie. He cannot think, ponder, desire, or feel to lie in the slightest bit. His nature is perfect in holiness and righteousness. This must be dwelt upon a little. It would be a complete contradiction to God’s nature and character. In the same way that God could not be something and nothing at the same time, neither can he be true and false at the same time.

According to surveys, roughly 32% of Christians believe that God can save all mankind but will not, and about 53% of Christians believe that God can save all mankind and will.

Very quickly, I will point out the serious problems with these two views:

God can save all mankind but will not
For God to be able but unwilling to save all mankind is to make him out to be a tyrannical god of anger, not a God of Love. God, though he can be provoked to anger, is not a god of anger.

God can save all mankind and will
If so, then the birth, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to which the entirety of the Bible speaks was needless, and he is not the only way to the Father. The love and salvation of God has a single condition and it’s called The Gospel. For a more in depth study on this read God’s Love is Not Unconditional.

John Wesley

A great way to understand God’s will without going into much detail is to think of it in four parts or layers:

1. The Purpose

The first layer is more like the core of God’s will for your life. This has more to do with what you are than anything else. It is your humanity. God wants you–obviously–to be a human being. He wants you to feel and experience human emotions, feelings, desires, dreams, inspirations, and aspirations. He wants you to experience spiritual realities and power. He wants you to know truth and falsehood. He wants you to become intelligent, wise, productive. At the core also is where we are made “new creations”(2 Cor. 5:17), not after our first humanity (from Adam), but after Christ’s humanity in which all of our broken emotions, desires, feelings etc. are fixed and made right. The second humanity of Christ offered freely to us all is intended to fix the problems of our first humanity.

2. The Person

The second layer has more to do with where you were born, when you were born, your gender, your culture, your race, your family, your parents, and (generally) the first 18 years of your life in which you have very little control. These are aspects God chose for you. If you are a white male of Germanic decent born to well-to-do parents in the suburbs of Los Angeles in the year 1960, that is God’s will for you. It’s not chance. There is an enormous amount of shaping of and searching for identity in the first 20 or 30 years of your life. Your upbringing is beyond your control. Someone had to take care of you and feed you otherwise you would be dead. It may have been a delightful upbringing or it may have been an awful upbringing. But God’s will remains intertwined throughout—it is up to you to search it out.

3. The Calling

This is usually where “calling”, “giftings”, and “talents” fall. It’s the calling of a Christian life (i.e. fellowship, pray, know his word). God grants to us in our life various strengths and giftings and expects us to use those to their potential (Read Jesus’ Parable of the Talents). He may call us into a particular ministry, or mission overseas. He may call us to go into business for ourselves, become a politician, or work a particular trade. It is not always life callings either–sometimes he may call us to a particular thing in a particular place for a particular period of time. I find this layer to be more frustrating for most (myself included). The honest truth is, it’s not always clear. Often what God reveals to us about this layer is very limited. He says just enough to put the seed of thought into our mind and leaves the rest to carry itself out. We’d like to wish he would just give us the whole blueprint but he doesn’t, so we have to learn to trust what we don’t see. Where it doesn’t require any faith to figure out the first two layers of God’s will, here faith is often necessary.

4. The Gifts

The one we like to talk about! This is an exclusive aspect of God’s will for our lives that can only be seen with eyes of faith. It’s the mysterious one and when God does something here people are usually stunned. The Holy Spirit is most active in this area, I believe. It is when he gives a specific word, command, or impression that doesn’t have anything to do with the first three layers. To one, God might give a word to tell another a verse from the Scriptures, or lay hands and pray for someone’s healing. He may interrupt and direct you to do something completely different than the way you were planning to. The best and most important part of this layer is that prayer largely dictates what happens here. God is an active participant in all things, and calls his children to participate in all his work by letting us pray things, events, and experiences into existence (according to his will of course – see 1 John 5:14-15).

These four points should give you something to work with the next time you mull over in your head the question of God’s will and purpose for your life. More of “his will for your life” is revealed to you than you may realize. Often times we close our eyes and forget about the obvious purpose(s) that God has for our life.

The Lion of Judah

Amidst the abundance of theologies and philosophies of manhood available for studying in this world it is often difficult to just find some simple, practical, and straight forward principles that would help a guy learn to be more of a real man. The one thing I have discovered over years of searching and studying the subject is that being a real man is based on one thing: God’s will. The following are principles based entirely on inferences from the Bible where that will is revealed to us. It is our sole compass. The following list is by no means an all-inclusive one, but should make a sufficient starting ground. I believe that following these closely will change your life and give you the “life abundantly” that you seek.

• Keep your word, never raise false expectations.
  Guys have the worst time with this, and is also why they have so few friends.

• Work.
  Again, guys have a really hard time with this.

• Be strong, act like a man.
  It’s really simple: don’t act like a woman or a child.

• Protect the weak, the desperate, and the young.
  There are so many of them that need YOU.

• Take responsibility for other people’s wrong actions.
  The most important of all. This is the litmus test of manhood. Only a real man can do something like this. Just think of Jesus, the man who took responsibility for the whole world’s wrong actions.

Suffering for Jesus

This was a plea to the Church written over 150 years ago. How loud it still rings today.

We are living in an age of shames and counterfeits. Satan seems to have abandoned the hope of crushing out the Christian Church by a process of undisguised hostility, and now seeks to destroy her efficiency by stealthily draining off her vitality, and robbing her of every supernatural element. He “transforms himself into an angel of light”, and often assumes to be the special friend and guardian of the Church. Craftily he infuses his deadly virus and inculcates his plausible philosophy, until the moral perception is obscured, the conscience is distorted, and policy runs nearly the whole ecclesiastical machinery. Thus a popularized religion — which costs nothing and is worth nothing — is readily accepted, while the old religion of the cross is utterly discarded. The consequence is, that there is religion enough, and Churchianity enough, but a great famine for real Christianity. We meet with thousands all over the land who, if catechized in regard to their spiritual condition, reply with much self- assurance that they are members of such a Church. They assume that the Church is an ark of safety; and, once ensconced within her enclosures, all further anxiety ends. Let us try to unmask this dreadful delusion of the devil.There is a difference, we may premise, between the real and the nominal Church of Christ; The former is composed of all true Christians. Its boundaries are therefore invisible, as no man can tell exactly where to draw the lines. The latter is composed of those who assume the Christian name and practice the ordinances of God’s house. It is commonly called thevisible Church, because its boundary lines are known. The epithet may apply to a single local society of a given denomination, or to the aggregate of local societies of all denominations. We use the term, in this paper, to designate the outward or visible Church.

1. Christ and the Church are not identical.

There may be ten thousand Churches, but there is only one Christ. Nor can all those Churches supply the place of our one, blessed all-sufficient Savior. A man may be saved without the Church, but he cannot be saved without Christ. A man may be in the Church and not be saved; but he cannot be in Christ without salvation. Sinners sometimes become members of the Church; but only saints are members of Christ. A person may live in the Church for years, with the old heart of carnality and selfishness; but “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature”. The requirements of the Church are often wrong and ruinous; but the claims of Christ are always reasonable and right. The Church may become a sink of pollution; but Christ is ever the perfection of purity. The Church may be rent with divisions; but Jesus Christ is not divided. The Church may become terribly entangled in mysticism and error; but Christ is always the embodiment of light and truth. The Church may change her name and her nature; but Christ is “the same yesterday, today, and forever”. The Church may be a crutch to walk with, but she is a poor Christ to trust in for salvation and eternal life.

2. Christian worship and Church worship are not identical.

Vast multitudes cling to some Church establishment as a drowning man would cling to a life-boat. They bow obsequiously to her priestly and official mandates, and imagine that the blind servility which they tender to the Church will be accounted acceptable service offered to Christ. The simplicity of the Gospel is lost in the imposing forms and glittering accompaniments of modern churchism. Splendid church edifices attract the eye. Splendid music charms the ear. Splendid prayers are addressed to the CONGREGATION. Splendid sermons please the fancy, and leave deluded sinners to slumber on. Church rivalry has achieved a glorious success, if success thundering organs, ostentatious dressing, theatrical singing, pointless praying, rhetorical preaching, careless hearing, and unscriptural practicing! Much of the current worship is done by proxy. Lazy religionists surrender their sacred rights to others. They take it for granted that the preacher is on the right track, and readily swallow whatever may be doled out from the pulpit, without using their own brains in searching for the hidden treasures of truth. Thus religious ideas are transmitted from generation to generation, until tradition exerts a more powerful influence than the Bible in molding the sentiments of men. There comes to be a fashionable faith, as well as a fashionable dress. To embrace a certain stereotyped circle of doctrinal views entitles a man to the claim of “orthodoxy”; but let him not venture one step out of the beaten track, if he would not be denounced as a deluded heretic! But few have the moral courage to question the decisions of the Church, much less to discard what she has labeled as “orthodox”. The verdict of a few leading denominations has thus grown up into a threatening tyranny; and the multitude cannot think of stemming the mighty tide. So they bow down in their narrow enslavement and worship this curiously- fashioned but pious-looking idol – the Church! Since all idolatry is an abomination to God, we have no more right to worship a church than we have to worship a golden calf! We rob the Lord of His rightful honor, and ourselves of the highest bliss of Christianity, by looking to the Church too much, and “looking unto Jesus” too little. What can be done to deal a staggering blow to this cruel church- worship of the day, and at the same time give us more exalted and ravishing views of Jesus Christ? There is a grand failure to carry out the ultimate design, when the appliances of the Gospel result only in the production of Churchianity. Our perception, our prayers, our faith and our adoration must overleap the narrow precincts of the outward Church, and rise up to the eternal throne! “Worship God!”

3. Christian fellowship and Church fellowship are not identical.

The followers of Christ are called upon to “love one another with a pure heart fervently”. Indeed, this is one of the Scriptural tests of discipleship. “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren”. All Christians constitute one family, and love is the golden tie designed to bind their hearts together around the common cross. But love is a tender plant that needs to be reared with a hand. Hence the many exhortations of Scripture to “consider one another” — to “be kindly affectioned one to another” — to esteem others better than ourselves — to “bear one another’s burdens” — to exercise a forgiving spirit — to “let brotherly love continue” — to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace”. All such injunctions point out the danger of alienated feelings and poisoned affections, and show the importance of making a special effort to promote Christian unity and love. How disastrous are the results of not regarding these Gospel precepts!

1863 by A. A. Phelps.

At that time a tiny fissure began to develop in the body of Christ between an inexperienced, modern, tech-savvy, innovative generation and an established, deep-seated, steady-going, experienced generation that has since grown to become a major chasm between the two.

At first it wasn’t all that noticeable as churches conceded to those youthful interests by apportioning the “youth group” which was the stylized name for what was really the beginning of a youth church. But the young got older and eventually had to leave the stylized youth group. Now what? Well, churches conceded yet some more, and we saw the emergence of the contemporary service. Not quite the church of the young generation, but pretty darn close.

No one seemed to know the heart problem behind the division and figured surface level solutions like these would rectify the situation and everyone would be happy. Instead, the rottenness of the division deep down continued to fester. The split services just weren’t satisfactory. By the early 2000′s churches began to severely break down; it was like church multiplication but on negative terms. The stylized youth groups finally emerged from their cocoons and became their own independent churches fashioned after the long held values of modernism, creativity, and technology. On the other end of things, the experienced, deep-seated generation continued steadfastly in their way and ten years later the youth group rooms are empty, congregations are devoid of young people, and church buildings everywhere are over half empty.

This unfortunately has left the church body with a wide chasm of distrust running straight through it. It’s like a huge gaping gash right across the chest. It’s an issue that doesn’t seem to have ever been directly dealt with or addressed. Of all the divisions in the church, I wonder if this isn’t the worst kind? If there is an absence of creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking—biblical roles of the Holy Spirit in the church—how can the Church survive? Likewise, if there is no anchor, established experience, or steadfast wisdom—fundamental to its strength and ability to withstand the changing influences of worldliness—how can the Church survive?

I’m sure many of us are by now growing tired of having to choose between either a trendy, brand-focused, church of anchor-less, fickle youth with no direction and an empty, stunted church that does not value innovation, creativity or contextualization.

Re-visioning the church for such as time as this means healing the gash in our chest. This is no mere wound, but a gaping blow by the “father of lies” that has proven successful at keeping us down over the last 20 years. Who will have the courage to turn and be mindful of this? The call from the standpoint of the Scriptures is for the fathers of the people to take responsibility, not because everything is their fault, but because they are the fathers. The young have grown restless and distrusting, not just rebellious—although there is plenty of that in the church body. What they need is for the fathers of the church to earn it back. Listen to them. Spend time with them. Let them know you’re there for them. Communicate to them that you understand and that you take responsibility for the faults of the older generation and how it has contributed to the division in our church. The young are counting on you.

Reports are coming in that 29,000+ children have starved to death. That means a slow, agonizing death over a period of weeks with endless hunger pains. The parents can only watch helplessly. Estimates say that 2500 people will die per day this next month unless aid is brought in which, unfortunately, is being hindered by Islamic militants. Those are no small numbers, folks! As you retire for the night, after a sumptuous meal at the dinner table, do remember to pray for them. Skip a meal and fast for them.

“Share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7)

Ways to help:

http://www.mercycorps.org

http://www.worldvision.org

20 years of ‘30-days’ prayer
Ramadan begins today for millions of Muslims around the world. And for millions of Christians, that means the start of the 20th edition of ‘30-days’ prayer for the Muslim world.

Although initiated in 1993, this year is the 20th ’30-Days’ prayer season rather than the 19th, as Ramadan is based on the lunar, not the solar, calendar.

So let’s take stock and ask what has happened in these 20 years, drawing from various resources including the 30-days website, www.30-days.net.
On the positive side:
• Some three million Muslims are estimated to have come to faith in Isa (Jesus) over the past two decades. This is more than the total number since Mohammed died in AD 632.
• Ministries engaging the internet, radio, satellite television and other media efforts directed toward Muslims have exploded.
• The amount of literature, CDs, DVDs, Bibles and downloadable resources available for Muslims has increased hugely.
• The number of actual missionaries working in the Muslim world has grown significantly.
• Thousands of former Muslims are proclaiming Isa to their peoples.
• The goal of establishing believing communities among all ethnic group is becoming more of a reality.
• Awareness about Muslim peoples is greater than ever before (demographics, cultural affinities, history and the progress of the Gospel among them).
• There are more prayer efforts directed toward the Muslim world than ever before.
• Muslims are exposed to other cultures and religious beliefs more at the present time than at any point during the last 1,400 years.
• The 30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World initiative has drawn millions of Christians worldwide to a united, annual, global prayer meeting. The prayer guide (in hard copy or downloadable from www.30-days.net) is now produced in more than 42 languages, distributed from over 32 regional offices.

• The Arab Spring, triggered by the self-immolation of a Tunisian market-vendor just a few months ago, has resulted in the overthrow of several tyrants, and the expression of democratic aspirations of millions of younger Msulims across North Africa and the Middle East.
But there is a down side too.
Over the past 20 years:
• More Islamic television, internet, radio and other media is available now more than ever before.
• The number of Muslims and mosques in most Western countries has grown significantly (although birth-rates have dropped among immigrants).
• Islamist terrorism has become a factor of daily life, as we are reminded each time we check-in at the airport. The attack on 11 September 2001 in New York, followed up by attacks in London, Madrid and Amsterdam have shocked the whole world.
• These and other attacks inspired two controversial and costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as many other military and police interventions across the whole world with positive and negative repercussions.
• A growing Islamic presence in western Europe has become a source of political and social tension for many nations. Secular societies are divided on how to respond. Fear of terrorism and fear of the unknown has bred prejudice and bigotry toward Muslims in most Western countries.
• The rise of populist anti-Islam right-wing political parties in Holland, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany and elsewhere has led to a politics of half-truths and fear, demanding a response of truth and love from Christians, and a stand for religious freedom.

• Most recently we have witnessed the emergence of desperate extremist right-wing ‘lone wolves’ attacking fellow Europeans for perceived ‘capitulation’ to Muslims.
Reason for prayer:

Each of these factors, both positive and negative, is a reason for prayer. And not just for Muslims and the Muslim world, but also for our own effective response to the changing situation in our own countries.

As we see our Muslim neighbours disciplining themselves to fast and pray during Ramadan, we ought to be challenged also to a season of prayer for the future of Europe, and of all Europeans, Muslim, Christian and others. Even the most pessimistic among us can offer the following prayer from 2 Chronicles 20:12: ‘For we are powerless before this great multitude… ; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on you.’

“Is pornography driving men crazy?”

Read the insightful Al-Jazeera commentary here.

The post-evangelical status happened slowly over the years as I began to see more and more clearly the lines between consumerism, narcissistic competition, feminism, political agenda, euphoric carnivals, men making rules and promises on behalf of God, misleading religious rhetoric, and real church.

What is real church? I believe it has been under our noses all along. Real church is real disciples with a real identity. It is not when when we imagine ourselves as disciples or imagine ourselves as being a community. The hip logos, the impossibly promising slogans and motto’s, beautiful graphics, professional presentations, trendy and high-tech temples, the smiling photo advertising, the “you”-centered marketing, the cliche rhetoric—that is but imagined community. Over time, it drains you of energy. When those things die, so does the community.

It is when we truly are disciples and truly are a community. The bond of brotherhood, true love, discipleship, devotion and suffering for one another, devotion to the scriptures, and devotion to Christ—that is real community. Over time, it sustains you with energy. It is indestructible. It can only die when its members die.

The question at hand is how to achieve this, and that is what this website, and the post-evangelical pursuit, is all about. The truth of the matter is, most Christians today are likely not interested in pursuing real community or are perhaps afraid of what it might mean for their lives, because after all, we are sheep and sheep prefer the comfort of following the status-quo. And in the American church real community is not exactly the status-quo. So until the imaginations of evangelical Christianity collapse, there may not be much that can be done. But for those out there who have decided to risk black-sheep status for the sake of the gospel, you are not alone–there are actually millions of you.

Dear God.

What must the people of China or India who make these think about the men in this country?