A Great Bible Study Tool

Which is more realistic? A painting...

One of the greatest challenges in studying the Bible is seeing what is actually there. So often we take a quick look and think that we know what the text says. But to see what the text actually says requires careful and diligent study.

We know this from other areas of life. When we look at a picture we get a general idea of what the picture is about but if we take time and examine things closely we will see more and more details.

One of the best study tools that I have found is the website  Biblearc.com. It is not, like many bible study sites, an aggregation of links to other commentaries or sermons. Instead, it provides tools for a person that wants to dig deeper by actually observing what is in the text.

The name of the site, Biblearc, comes from one of its main features: Bible arcing. Bible arcing is a way to see the logical relationships in a passage. It forces you to think deeply about what the author is saying. By breaking the passage into statements, and then determining how each statement relates the others you gain valuable insights. While it takes a little work to learn how to use this tool, the rewards are well worth the effort. You will see things that you never saw before and grow in confidence that you know what the writer meant.

Here is an example of a simple passage that has been arced.

The benefit of arcing accrues to the person who actually does the arcing, rather than someone who simply looks at an arc. Remember: arcing is a way of looking and actually seeing what is there.

The site also has tool called phrasing which allows you to see the flow and the main points of a passage. This, plus an amazing diagramming function, word search capabilities, and multiple translations give you everything you need to study the passage itself for yourself.

...or a photograph? (Both of Arles, France)

Top Books I've Read in 2017

I read a lot. Don't tell my wife, but there are over 500 books on my Kindle! I've always got a bunch of books going. Some books are so good (Tozer's Pursuit of God) that I read them almost every year. Others I re-read less frequently. Still other "books" are collections like The Complete Mark Twain (which I have finished) or the Life and Works of John Owen (55 excellent volumes that I may never finish).

None of these were considered for my Top Books List.

To make the list I needed to both start and finish them in 2017. Here are my six favorites:

D.A. Carson - Praying with Paul. Carson is a solid biblical scholar but this book reveals that he is much more than that: he is a man of prayer. This look at Paul's prayer will inspire and instruct your prayer life.

John Piper - Reading the Bible Supernaturally. This book is one of the best books I have read on the Bible and the supernatural thing that occurs as we read it. Challenging and informative.

Tom Doyle - Killing Christians. A sobering and faith-deepening look at what is happening in places where being a follower of Jesus can cost you your life.

J.D. Vance - Hillbilly Elegy. Do you want to know how Donald Trump became President of the United States? This book, while not about President Trump, will tell you why. A look into a world you won't see on television, Vance tells a personal story of a forgotten America.

Tom Challies - Do More Better. Simply one of the best productivity books I've read. Written from a Christian perspective, it gives many insights into the whats, whys, and hows of getting things done.

William Manchester and Paul Reid - The Last Lion. This trilogy covers the life of Winston Churchill, one of the last century's most influential men. Well-written and full of surprising events and facts.  Entertaining and well-written, these books are well worth reading.

The Centrepiece of Christmas

Christmas can be a very peaceful time of year. Christmas gatherings bring friends family and coworkers together and for a moment people express gratitude for one another by exchanging gifts, cards, or a simple greeting. Decorated trees and the smell of Christmas cookies baking fill our homes with the warmth that does not exist other times of the year. Many people have a small nativity set that includes Mary and Joseph, shepherds, wise men, and angels gathered around a sweetly smiling baby Jesus. It helps us focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas: It is a time remembering the birth of the Messiah.

The story of his birth is well known and will be repeated in churches across the world. Pastors will struggle to find a way to make an old story seems fresh and new. Children will wiggle in church pews in anticipation of going home and opening the presents under the tree. After the singing of Silent Night there will be a mad rush for the door as people head home for dinner and gifts. It is a heartwarming tradition that is familiar to many people.

We need to remember that the baby lying in the manger was not what he appeared to be. Yes, he was a baby fully human in every way. But he was more than that, he was God himself come to earth. Early Chirstian artists tried to remind people of this by painting a halo around his head. Paul writes, "in Jesus all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:19). The amazing mystery of Christmas is that God himself became a man. Mary and Joseph held their Creator in their arms! Jesus was the one who created all things and even as he lay in the manger he was holding the universe together.

That Jesus would humble himself to the extent of becoming a baby is amazing. He did this for an even more astonishing purpose: to die for the sins of the world! In order to do this he needed to be like us and be tempted in every way. Jesus knows what it is to be hungry, Tired, and abused. Through all of the experiences as a man he learned obedience His obedience was perfect. He never sinned. As a result his life could be offered as a sacrifice for those who had sinned. (Hebrews 2:10-18). His birth was an important step in bringing salvation to the nations. It is good that we celebrate it.

There are many dangers in our celebration of Christmas. Perhaps the most common problem is that people focus on the giving of gifts and the decorating of their homes rather than its religious significance. Commercialism runs rampant in many places around the world. Merchants realize that the tradition of giving gifts is an opportunity to sell their wares. They cannot be faulted for this. They make a living providing things for people to buy. In the midst of holiday shopping it is easy for all of us to forget why we are giving gifts.

There is a danger even for those that do remember that Christmas is a religious holiday. The problem is caused by the fact that the birth of Jesus is in the past. It is a tender story that we enjoy hearing. Jesus in the manger is good and safe. We forget that Jesus is no longer a baby in the manger. We forget that the prophets who told his first coming as a Savior also foretold that he would come as a Judge. Jesus himself told us that he is returning as Judge (Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31-46).

When he comes again, and he will, he will come as the judge of all the earth. He will come with great glory and myriads of angels. On that day it will be obvious that everyone has fallen short of the glory of God and is guilty before him (Romans 3:23). The great question on that day will be whether we have accepted his offer of salvation. For those who have repented and believed the good news that day will be a day a celebration of the grace and mercy of God. For those who have not accepted the offer of his salvation, their rebellious hearts will be exposed for what they truly are. Their condemnation will be doubly deserved.

The centerpiece of our Christmas should not simply be the baby in a manger but the entirety of the salvation message. It is not wrong to talk about the birth of Jesus. The Incarnation is an amazing event that should be celebrated. But we must also speak about its implications because on the day of judgment the question will not be whether or not we celebrate Christmas but whether we responded to the gift Jesus came to offer us.

In these days people are stressed with the preparations for the celebrations of his first coming. Time is running out. Christmas is coming. The most important question it's not whether we are ready for the Christmas celebration of his first coming, but whether we are ready for his second coming. Jesus told us that we must be ready.

Are you?

Something is Missing

Whenever I am in a new city or village here in France I always check to see if the church is open. Whether it is a grand cathedral or a small chapel, each of them has a unique feel. Some are architectural marvels while others testify to a more humble and simple style.

This time of year many villages are decorated for Christmas and the churches are often the backdrop of the area's famous Christmas markets. In addition to all of the decorations in shop windows and the thousands of twinkling lights in the streets, each church decorates its sanctuary in keeping with the style of the building. Here in Strasbourg giant tapestries depicting the nativity are hung in our massive Cathedral.  Smaller churches have simpler ways of decorating that are in keeping with the life of the congregation that worships there. Wreaths, trees, and manger scenes are common. So are decorations hand-crafted by the artists of the church.

A couple of weeks ago I was wandering around in a town known for its Christmas market. The setting was magical. As usual, I looked for the church. Entering the church, I saw that it was well-decorated and beautiful.  As I walked around the I was drawn to the nativity set near the front of the church. It was wonderfully done except for one detail: there was no baby in the manger!

What could the explanation be?

Because it was Advent, I thought perhaps the pastor was doing a sermon series and was adding figurines to the display one-by-one until he added Jesus on Christmas. But that made little sense after I thought about it for a moment because there were figures in the scene that appeared after Jesus was born.

There was only one feasible explanation: someone had come into this unlocked church and stolen Jesus! I had heard of this happening from time to time in displays that were outdoors, but never in a church. It made me both sad and a little angry. The thought that someone would steal the figurine of Jesus from a church was almost beyond my comprehension. I should not have been surprised. It's simply a reminder that just as Jesus was often not welcome when he lived on the earth, he still isn't welcome today.

Remember the whole story of the birth of Jesus. His early years were spent as a refugee in Egypt. Joseph and Mary were forced to flee because Herod was trying to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18). People have always been opposed to Jesus. They want him out of the picture. They do not want to acknowledge that he is the Son of God. If they could wipe all references to him from the pages of history they would. Stealing Jesus out of a nativity set is one symptom of this hatred of Jesus.

Usually, this eradication of Jesus is not so overt. It is subtle and quiet and takes place over many years. In the case of Christmas, it begins with the gradual emphasis on other things. Santa Claus, snowmen, and decorated trees are slowly pushed into the foreground. Jesus is slowly moved into the background. "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" replace "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Joy to the World." Every trace of the birth of Jesus slowly fades away.

As an example of this, I remember one time at Christmastime I wandered through several large stores in the USA, looking at Christmas items for sale. Among hundreds of items like tree decorations, figurines, wrapping paper and greeting cards, there was not one image of the nativity. There were not even any angels to be found. Jesus had disappeared from the celebration of his own birth. I am sure that the store owners would say that they wanted to avoid offending people. Christmas sales, they reason, would be better without Jesus being around to distract people. They may be right about selling stuff, but that does not mean that people are better off without Jesus.

Each of us must realize that if Christmas is going to be more than a family gathering, it will be up to us who know him to talk about him. Many people are vaguely familiar with the story of Jesus's birth, but it does not connect with their lives. They don't see the potential impact that it can have on their lives. Who will explain the implications to them? It won't be the merchants at the Christmas markets. It will be people like you and me sharing how Jesus has changed our lives.

Perhaps you are visiting the Christmas markets and notice an attractive nativity scene. Why not start a conversation not only about the beauty of the set but about the incredibly good news it depicts? Or you could share the meaning of Christmas with an immigrant family. Or you can read the Christmas story together before you open presents. However God leads us, let us be heralds of the gospel this Christmas. Let us be the ones that put the missing baby Jesus back in the manger.

It's All About Love Part 3

This is the third in this series entitled "It is All About Love."

Read the first in the series here.

Read the second in the series here.

In this series, we have seen that we were created to be loved and to love others. We have seen that love is the law of the kingdom of God. We have also learned that laws have punishments or they would just be suggestions. We learned that the punishment for violating the law of love was death and eternal damnation. This punishment seems, at first, to be excessive. This article will speak to why it is not excessive. It is perfectly rational.

Defining Love

Love is one of those words that is used so many times that it begins to lose clarity of meaning. When we speak of love as being the law of the kingdom of God, we need to have a degree of certainty about what we mean by the term love. The term love in the Bible in general means "to be full of good-will and act accordingly, to prize something above other things, to regard and watch over the welfare of someone, to take pleasure in something, to be unwilling to do without something." We can say that to love something is to esteem it to be of high value and to act accordingly.

For example, a mother loves her child. She places a high value on the child and will spend hours caring for the child because she loves the child. This is good and right. A husband loves his wife. He values her highly and cares for her. He delights in her happiness. This is also good and right. The child deserves the love of the mother. The wife deserves the love of her husband. They are worthy of love because of who they are.

Who is Most Deserving of Love?

The one who is most deserving of our love and affection is God himself. Every single one of his attributes is absolutely perfect. Justice, mercy, grace, knowledge, power, presence, and love blend together with perfect harmony. There is no more beautiful being in the universe. Nothing is more deserving of our love and affection than God. This is why the first law in his Kingdom is that we are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He is 100% worthy of our love. He deserves our love and affection because of who he is. He is to be prized above all things!

What About Us?

The second law in the kingdom, which he says is "like the first" is that we are love others as much as we love ourselves. How are these related to one another?

The Bible teaches us that men and women have incredible value. Genesis 1:26 says that we were created in the "image and likeness" of God. The Hebrew words used here mean that we were created to be similar to God and to represent God. We are not God. But we are similar in some ways. In Genesis 5:6 we are told that Adam and Eve had a son named Seth. Seth was the image and likeness of Adam. He was not Adam, but there was a resemblance to Adam.

Naturalistic systems cannot account for the value of humans. The best effort they can make is to say that our species has developed a social way of interacting that is good for the preservation of the species. After all, according to naturalistic theories, everything that exists is simply various combinations of elements organized by random chance. There is nothing to give one grouping of elements more value than another. There is no rational reason that a human has more value than a fish or a rock.

Furthermore, the evolution of the species would be enhanced by the quick killing off of those members of the species that are weaker or a drain on the resources of the community as a whole. Such ethical thinking easily can be used to justify euthanasia or even ethnic cleansing.

In the biblical worldview, we have something different altogether. Each person on the planet has been created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore each of them has incredible value! It is for this reason that loving one another is "like" loving God. Each person you meet is made in the image and likeness of God and is worthy of love even when their behavior does not deserve it. This is why Jesus said, "Love your enemies."

What About the Penalty?

The laws of every country vary depending on the severity of the crime. Stealing a car is punished more harshly than driving through a stop sign. Killing a mosquito carries no punishment while killing a person carries a severe penalty. Killing the head of the government carries a harsh penalty compared to killing a commoner. We see the logic in this. In fact, we are offended when the punishment does not fit the crime.

God is infinitely worthy and infinitely deserving of our total love and obedience. The law to love him is good, right, and just. When a person chooses to value something else more than God, he has committed a crime of infinite magnitude. Therefore the violation of the law to love God is worthy of infinite punishment. Anything less would be unjust.

In the same way, when a person fails to love another human being, they are saying that someone created in the image and likeness of God is not worthy of love. The violation of the second law is similar to the violation of the first law. It is also worthy of infinite punishment.

Is There a Way Out?

You may be worried. You have come to the conclusion that the law of love makes sense and you are guilty of violating it. Everyone has (Romans 3:23). The guilt that you have before God is real. And you cannot make it up through good living. How many good things do you have to do to make up for an infinite crime? It simply isn't possible. It is all about love, and you haven't loved the way you should.

Yes, and the Way is a Person.

But someone else has. And that person is Jesus.

No one exemplified the life of love more than Jesus. He obeyed the law of the kingdom without fault or error. Miraculously healing the sick certainly qualifies as a loving act! There is more that lies beneath the surface of his miracles. For example, in Matthew 14 we read about the murder of John the Baptist. This news came after Jesus had been rejected in his hometown (Matthew 13:53-58). Jesus and the disciples were tired both physically and emotionally. They needed a break. When Jesus heard about it, he and his disciples got in a boat go to a desolate place to grieve and be restored (Matthew 14:13). We've all been there. We are tired and frazzled and need to get away to recharge our batteries.

When they got to the desolate place, they discovered that a crowd of thousands of people had gathered to see Jesus. Instead of being annoyed or disappointed, Jesus is filled with compassion and heals those who were sick (Matthew 14:14). The crowd in this isolated place is the setting for one of the greatest miracles: the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21). Jesus wanted to be alone and instead is filled with compassion and ministers to thousands. It is what happens next that amazes me.

Immediately after the miraculous feeding of the crowd, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go to the other side (Matthew 14:22). The word translated "made" means that he forced or compelled them to get into the boat. He knew that they needed a break. He knew they needed some time apart from the crowds. Jesus would dismiss the crowds himself. Jesus must have been exhausted, but his compassionate love caused him to send the disciples away while he finished dealing with the mass of people.

Jesus exemplified living according to the law of love. He never violated it. He never violated ANY of the laws of the Kingdom of God.

He died anyway. If death is the penalty for the violation of the law of love, why did he die?

His death was a gift of love. John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that he sent his Son so that we might have eternal life. His Son died, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. Jesus said that the greatest love that could be expressed was to lay to down your life for a friend. And that is exactly what Jesus did. God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were sinners, guilty and living a selfish and self-centered life, Jesus died for us (John 15:13; Romans 5:8).

Jesus came to take the punishment for our failure to love God and one another. He came to bear the penalty on our behalf. Now, we have the opportunity to be forgiven and to enter into the love relationship with God that we were designed to have with Him. We were created to love and be loved by God and Jesus makes it possible.

So today we have the opportunity to change our minds and actions and become followers of Jesus. We can receive forgiveness for everything we have done wrong and Jesus will teach us to live lives of love.

What are you waiting for?

100 Things I am Thankful For

Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash

It is Thanksgiving in the United States. It's a day for giving thanks to God for the many blessings he has given. Americans typically gather with family and have a huge meal together. We're a long way from family and will be spending Thanksgiving with some friends in Paris. France doesn't celebrate this holiday, and it will be good to spend it with some other Americans.

To celebrate the Thanksgiving, I thought it would be good to sit down and write a list of 100 things that I am thankful for. It isn't going to be thought out or in any order. It will be stream of conscious type of thing. I've lived a number of years and have much to be thankful for. It will be interesting to see where this exercise takes me!

Here is the quick 100 off the top of my head:

1. Topping the list: Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. My wife, Janet, who for 33 years has cared for me in ways that still take my breath away.
3. My son Daniel and his wife Becky. I love hanging out with them and watching them put their faith into action.
4. My son Nathan. Loves Jesus passionately and follows him radically. 
5. My granddaughters, Addie and Lou...who have their grandpa wrapped around their fingers. "What the grandkids want, the grandkids get" is my rule.
6. My mom. She's my mom, that's why. She is one of the kindest people that I know.
7. My dad. I miss him terribly. His laugh, his wisdom, and his way with people. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of him.
8. My sister, Kristi. She makes me laugh and keeps me humble. Everyone with a little sister knows exactly what I mean.
9. My in-laws. Some people have difficult relationships with their in-laws. I am grateful that all my in-laws are wonderful people whom I love to get together with.
10. Strasbourg, France. This is a beautiful city. It's like living on a movie set.
11. Hot coffee.
12. The incredible leaders of Trinity International Church of Strasbourg. What a great group of people!
13. Worship music.
14. The challenge of learning French.
15. 2 bakeries around the corner.
16. Walking paths just outside the door.
17. The chance to spend 14 years living in the North Woods of Minnesota.
18. Memories of loons swimming past in the summer and snow blowing down the lake in the winter.
19. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the many trips with friends.
20. Campfires.
21. Fishing.
22. Books. The books I have read and the stack of those I haven't.
23. Skype. It makes being away from family bearable.
24. Sunshine.
    
25. Hikes in the Vosges.
26. Exploring castle ruins.
27. Tarte flambée.
28. Creme brulée.
29. Giggling children.
30. Watching geese flying south.
31. The crunch of leaves underfoot.
32. The silence of the woods in winter.
33. The Northwoods Revue.
34. Debbie buns.
35. Blueberry picking with friends.
36. The "miracle of the chairs" after church.
37. Potlucks.
38. The C&MA family.
39. Walks along the ocean.
40. Freedom.
41. High-speed trains.
42. The sound of melting snow.
43. The smell of a football.
44. Walks around the lakes of Minneapolis.
45. Balsam Store ice cream.
46. Any ice cream.
47. The experience of running marathons.
48. Chess.
49. The smell of turkey cooking.
50. 24/7 Prayer.
51. A well-worn Bible.
52. Memories of Release Time.
53. Greenway basketball.
54. Little league baseball.
55. Faithful friends.
56. Warm sweaters.
57. Flannel sheets.
58. Fires in the fireplace.
59. Blizzards (the storm).
60. Blizzards (the ice cream dessert).
61. Spiritual mentors. 
62. Prayer partners.
63. Answered prayer.
64. The smell of a pine forest.
65. Laughter.
66. Strasbourg at Christmas.
67. A vision trip to the Middle East.
68. Standing on Mount Nebo.
69. Airplanes.
70. The people I know who follow Jesus to the darkest and most difficult places.
71. The hidden prayer warriors...the heroes of the kingdom.
72. Pastors I have learned so much from.
73. The Christians that impacted my life when I was in university. You changed my life forever.
74. A comfortable place to live.
75. The smell of freshly mown grass.
76. Chocolate.
77. Holding hands.
78. That it is impossible to skip and frown at the same time.
79. The sound of ice coming off the lake in the spring.
80. A musical family.
81. The internet.
82. Living in place filled with history.
83. Walking Omaha Beach.
84. Ocean waves. 
85. Friends who fix cars and pull them out of snowbanks.
86. Being American.
87. Being Scandinavian.
88. Photographs full of memories.
89. Wood floors.
90. Faded blue jeans.
91. Chocolate chip cookies.
92. The howl of the wolf.
93. The feeling of paddling a canoe.
94. The sound of rain on a tent.
95. Wood carvings.
96. Church bells.
97. Sunsets.
98. The way water reflects the sky.
99. Northern lights.
100. Popcorn.

Well, there it is. A completely random series of things I am thankful for that was written as quickly as I could type. Some silly and some profound. 

You will note that I didn't name many people other than family members. That was intentional. The reality is that it is the people in my life that I am most thankful for. There are so many that I was terrified of offending someone by leaving them off my list. For example, right now I am blessed by being part of an International Church. I have friends from around the world and I am grateful for them all! Before that I was the pastor of a church in Nashwauk, Minnesota. Certainly I am grateful for all the people of the church, but also the whole Iron Range community that is so close to my heart. Before that, there were other churches, employers, and schools where I formed relationships for which I am thankful. To name them all would create a much longer list. If you are reading this, know that you are certainly on the list of people I am grateful for!

Looking back over the years, it is easy to give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings that he has poured out on my life. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

"The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."

Psalm 16:6

It's All About Love, Part 2

Photo by Joshua Fuller on Unsplash

This is the second in a series called "It's All About Love." The series begins here.


We were created for love. The desire to be loved and to love is built into us. We crave and are driven by a need for love. Our abilities and personalities shine the brightest when motivated by love.

Love is the law of God's kingdom. It is a foundational principle that is to guide the relationships people have with one another. "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:14). 

God hates it when we are not loved.

Photo by Tom Pumford on Unsplash

When the bully at school picked on you, God saw it and his heart was filled with anger. When you were the subject of malicious gossip at work, God heard it and was stirred. When the rude shopper pushed his way into the queue in front of you, God was watching and writing it in his book of remembrance.

When people did not value you enough to listen to you and you knew they were intentionally ignoring you, God knew. When people did understand you and then rejected you, God was filled with compassion. When people assumed the worst about you, God was not absent. In fact, God knows exactly how you felt. No one has been ignored or rejected more than Him.

Every time that someone treated you with less than love, God not only saw it, but it broke his heart. We will look more deeply into this in future posts. For now, it is important to understand that love is the law of his kingdom.

Laws without penalties are merely suggestions. The violation of the law of love is called sin and it carries a punishment: death and hell. Does this seem harsh? It isn't. We'll look at why it isn't in a future post but ponder for a moment that the punishments for violating laws vary given the gravity of the offense. God considers the violation of the law of love to be extremely wicked and will be punished accordingly. God's action of punishment is a demonstration of his wrath. God's wrath is his love in action against evil. Unlike human anger, God's wrath is always just and expressed with perfect timing.

When someone hurts us our natural tendency is to try to even the score. We want to hurt them back. The realization that violations of the law of love will be punished by God changes the equation completely. They won't get away with it. God "has our backs"! This is why Jesus encourages us to turn the other cheek and love our enemies (Matthew 5:38-48). Paul puts it this way, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, “f your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:19-20).

The fact that God will judge the evil in the world allows us to forgive and even have compassion on those who hurt us. We know that they will be punished. We can trust that justice will be done in the matter. Perhaps not in the time that we like, but eventually justice will prevail. The evildoer will not get away with it regardless of how powerful they are or how clever they think they are. We are free to love.

That only deepens our problem.

The love of Jesus captures our attention, but it also reveals our faults. We are not like him! Created to love others, we have not loved. Perhaps we feel like we are more loving than others. We haven't hit anyone. We haven't robbed a bank. We pay our taxes. But then Jesus makes the standard clear:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire" (Matthew 5:21-22).

The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love. In a civilized society, people learn that politeness helps them to get what they want. "Please" and "thank-you" come rolling off their lips. They open doors for others. They carefully watch the way we act. They want to be "good people." The outward appearances look great and have been polished to a fine sheen. Jesus will have none of it. His words are like a  like a sledgehammer of love working to expose their true condition (Matthew 23:23-27).

The reality is that each of us stands condemned because of our actions. We have not loved others. We have violated the law of the kingdom of God. Suddenly, the reality of the wrath of God on evildoers is not comforting, but alarming. Because we are guilty. We justly deserve the wrath of God.

That is the real reason people push Jesus away.

This insistence on love and the punishment of the violation of the law of love are the very things that cause people to push Jesus away. People desire to be loved. They like the idea evil is punished. But then they realize that but they have not loved. They have done evil. The blazing light of Jesus's love exposes their own lack of love. It exposes their anger, impatience, and selfishness. They prefer the shadows where their evil deeds cannot be so clearly seen (John 3:19).

God's love and goodness are exactly the things that demand that he punish those who violate the law of love. Imagine that someone raped and murdered your daughter. The criminal is brought before the judge and says, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." Would we consider the judge to be good if he said, "That's okay. Just don't do it again." No! We would say that the judge was not just. We would want him removed from his position. The good and just judge must render a just judgment. In the same way, the goodness of God demands that violations of his law of love be punished.

We might agree with this view of the judge when it comes to a murdering rapist, but what about "lesser" violations of the law of love? Shouldn't there be leniency? Does every violation of the law of love merit death and hell? The answer is a very reasonable "yes." The rationale is simple, and it will be the focus of a future blog post.

It really is about love.
We all want a better and more just society. We all want to live in a society that is grounded in love and caring for one another. This describes the kingdom of God. The hope of our societies cannot be grounded in our political institutions, our universities, or economic theories. The hope of our world needs to be grounded on Jesus Christ, who came to show us how we can live in the kingdom of God...the kingdom of love. 

It Is All About Love - Part 1

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Life can seem complicated, but it really is not complicated at all.

We must begin with the right understanding regarding the reason for our existence. We were created for love. We were designed with the deep need to be loved and to love others. We cannot avoid this nor will we ever be fulfilled apart from this. It is hard-wired into us.

A moment's reflection shows this to be true. When we think about our families and how we would like them to be, our basic desire is for them to be places of love. When we think about our professional lives we would like the work environment to be filled with compassion and love for one another. No one likes to be hated by the people they work with! At the restaurant, we want the evening to be one filled with love and careful service. Even at the prefecture, we yearn for the experience to be one of being cared for rather than being treated with disdain.

We were created to be loved. We crave it. We long for it. We pursue it. It is part of how God designed us.

Not only are we created to be loved, we are created to love others. Our personalities and abilities shine the brightest when they are motivated by love for others. We were created to be the loving co-worker or boss. We were designed to be a loving family member and neighbor. We are intended to live lives of love. There is something deep within us that yearns to be a blessing to others. This, too, is part of how God designed us.

Churchill at Place Kleber for the
opening of the Council of Europe.

This impulse is seen in the young people of today. Many of them are seeking to live lives of service to others. They want to see a direct connection between what they are doing and the improvement of society. But this impulse does not just exist in the young. We live in a city that demonstrates a concern that governments treat their citizens with care and respect. It was the wizened older leaders who began the European Institutions here in Strasbourg. They, too, wanted to create a more loving world.

We were created to be loved and to love others. That is why love is the law of God's kingdom. "Owe no one anything except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (of God)" (Romans 13:8).

In an age that claims to want to build a just and fair society, it is ironic that we have rejected the One who came to show us the way into the kingdom of love. This is in part due to the legacy of a corrupt church. The Church gained political power, was corrupted and over time lost its moral authority. Europe and the West need to rediscover Jesus. Jesus gives us the "in the flesh" picture of what it means to love. His teachings ring with clarity about the nature of love and its impact on life.

One of the greatest things that we can do for people is to introduce them to Jesus. For those that want to improve society, have a successful life, or live a life filled with love, there is no better mentor. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of God...the Kingdom of love. He can show each of us what true love looks like. He will show us what it means to be truly and perfectly loved.

He can give us the wisdom to know how to love. Often his wisdom will run counter to what we have been taught. Frequently we will be challenged to grow in our ability to love. We will discover that often what our culture tells us is loving actually damages relationships. By following Jesus we will become experts at loving others. We learn that only by being truly and fully loved can we love others (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-8).

There are some astounding truths that come from the fact that God's Kingdom is a kingdom of love. We will look at some of them in posts to come.

Together with Jesus

Our recent church retreat had as its theme: "Together with Jesus." The theme meant more than simply spending time with one another. A full version of the theme of our retreat would have been "together with Jesus we will welcome people from all nations, inviting them into a liberating and transformative relationship with Jesus Christ, discipling and equipping them to be good and faithful servants wherever God may send them." 

Welcoming people from all nations

The Lord has called us to be an international church. That means that we need to be intentionally welcoming people from the nations of the world. Most churches consider themselves to be friendly, but that is usually because the regular attenders all know one another. They think the church is friendly because that is where all their friends are!

It is more difficult to find a church that is truly welcoming to newcomers. Perhaps you have visited a church where the people seemed completely uninterested in the fact that you were there. It happens sometimes. It is rare to find a church that embraces people from different cultures, nationalities, or languages. But that is exactly what God has called us to do as a church.

How do we do that?

First, it has to be seen as an act of worship. One key response to the love God has poured into our lives is love for other people. It is an act of worship to walk across the room and greet someone.
Second, we must realize that it is no accident that has caused someone to cross our path. God wants to do something in their life! He has brought them here for a purpose and we want to help them find out what it is.

Third, welcoming others is a discipline. Think of it like exercise. Any exercise is difficult at first, but over time it becomes easier and our body actually begins to enjoy it. Just like exercise though, it is easy to find excuses not to do it.

In welcoming others we need to make sure that there are "open spaces" on our lego wall. Sometimes we place caps on our wall that prevent other legos from being attached. These caps may be the excuses we have for not welcoming others or habits of ignoring those with whom we do not have long-established relationships. We must realize that these caps limit our growth in our relationship with God.

Inviting them into a liberating and transformative relationship with Jesus
TICOS believes that it is important for people to discover a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There is no greater act of love than introducing someone to Jesus. While many of the people who join us already have a relationship with Jesus, it is not uncommon for atheists, Muslims and Buddhists to come to our services. Whoever they are, we invite them to start or deepen their relationship with Jesus.

We also believe that this relationship liberates and transforms lives. We don't "accept Jesus" and consider that the pinnacle of the Christian life. It is the starting point. As followers of Christ, we are called continually to be changed into the image of Christ. We are supposed to grow. Like a young child, there may be spurts of incredible growth and other times where the growth is more subtle. If a child stops growing, there is something wrong!

One of my favorite questions is, "What has Jesus been teaching you lately?" As disciples of Jesus, we must be continually learning from him. The lessons that he teaches, when truly learned, are transformative. A healthy relationship with Jesus causes us to grow!

Discipling and equipping them to be good and faithful servants
Jesus called us to make disciples of all nations. We want to disciple people in the ways of Jesus. We believe that one of the signs of a healthy follower of Christ is service. Too often we see Christians who are self-centered. They have a "me and Jesus" mentality which is a sure sign of immaturity. Jesus himself provides the model: we are to serve one another. As a church, we want to be models of this servant lifestyle, and also call people to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to live a life of loving service.

Servants can be more effective if they have certain skills. As a result, we enjoy teaching people practical ministry skills. When it comes to practical things in the life of our church, we are happy to teach and train people. It is part of our calling!

Wherever God may send them.
Unlike almost any church you have ever been a part of, we recognize that many people will be a part of TICOS for a short time. It may be a matter of months or years, but they know that they will be moving on one day. And that can be hard.

Loving others makes us want to cling to them. We build a relationship with someone and watch them grow in their relationship with Jesus. We see them become skilled in ministry and then they tell us they are going to leave. We beg them to stay. We scour our connections looking for a job that would enable them to remain in Strasbourg.

A deeper love for others carries us to another level: love that insists that God's will is best. As an international church, we know that people will be leaving. We recognize and rejoice in the fact that God is going to use them somewhere else. It is part of being involved in God's end-time push to reach the nations of the world. When God calls someone to leave, love helps us pack their boxes!

Together with Jesus, we are a local church with a global impact!

Don't Go Alone

One of the greatest lies that the enemy sows is that "Good Christians can handle anything." Like all lies, there is an element of truth that forms a tempting and attractive covering on what is really a deadly poison. We buy a motivational poster that reads, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and place it on our wall. That is a biblical truth (Philippians 4:13). We look at the poster as we put on our hat and head out to face the day. While some days are better than others, we survive each day and the truth is reaffirmed.

But it is a partial truth. Ironically, it is sown next to another truth: the promise of the fruit of the Spirit. Scripture promises that the outworking of the Holy Spirit in our lives will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We understand that fruit takes time and like a gardener in the springtime we eagerly await the germination and growing of these "Spirit-fruits." We set our minds on cultivating them in our lives. We work at being patient and loving. And on good days we are fairly successful. We are kind. We are gentle. We exercise self-control. It seems easy.

Then there are the hard days. Sometimes it is easy to define what makes them difficult. Our boss is unreasonable or we receive devastating news. But more often it is often the hard days are mysterious. Every comment bothers us. Our children are a nuisance. The service in the restaurant seems bad. The tram is too full. The list goes on with endless variety. What doesn't change is the expression on our face.

Photo by Alex Iby on Unsplash

We want to cry, but we know Christians are supposed to be joyful so we plaster a smile on our face and tell everyone we are fine. We want to slam the door in someone's face, but we know that Christians are supposed to be kind so we open the door instead. We are supposed to be gentle so we refrain from punching someone while we inwardly seethe with anger. We pretend to be confident, but we are scared to death about the future. We become experts at pretending.

We try to fake the fruit of the Spirit while inside we are full of rage, bitterness, jealousy, depression, and envy. Satan is thrilled as he watches us wither on the vine. True joy has long disappeared from our lives. We are merely surviving rather than experiencing the abundant life Jesus came to give us. The partial truth has caused us to swallow a lie. We are sowing to flesh rather than the Spirit because we think we can handle it "with Jesus." We've bought the lie and its poison is killing us.

What is the lie?

Think about the sentence "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." How does Christ strengthen you? If you are like me, your quick response is "the Bible and the Holy Spirit." It is a good answer. It is a right answer. It is also incomplete. And the incompleteness makes it a deadly answer.

We think that if we are mature we can "stand on our own two feet" (with Jesus' help, of course). We easily accept the idea that maturity equals independence. This appeals to our pride. The missing piece of the answer is that Christ also strengthens us through other believers.

The sentence "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" needs to be read in context. In its larger context Paul is writing a thank-you letter to the Philippians. The Philippian church has sent a gift to him while he is in prison. He thanks them for their partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:3-7). The struggles he was facing were well-known to them. They were not hidden. He thanks them for their practical gift. He assures them that because of Christ he is doing alright because he has learned to be content with little, but he is not saying that he does not need their partnership! He rejoices in it and is greatly encouraged by it. He is not alone.

In fact, Paul writes to the Corinthians about the struggles that he had faced in the Roman province of Asia. "We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself" (2 Corinthians 1:8). This trial caused Paul to depend more fully on God. Notice that he says, "He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You must also help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many." (2 Corinthians 1:10-11).

Paul knew that one of the keys to doing "all things through Christ who strengthens me" was the partnership and prayers of other believers. They were knit together by the Lord in the bond of fellowship. This fellowship was marked by prayer. Paul prayed earnestly for others. He asked them to pray for him. He would be firm in rebuking the idea that we were somehow to live the abundant life without the partnership and prayer of other believers.

Putting It Into Practice

Asking for Prayer
One of the biggest steps that many people could take in their walk with Jesus is simply asking someone to pray for them! Asking for prayer breaks down our pride and gives the opportunity for the Lord to act in response to our humility and the prayers of others.
This is one of the major reasons that we have developed the Prayer and Care ministry at TICOS. Every Sunday there are people in church who are facing difficulties. Some Sunday it will be you. You may be a struggling with sin. You may have a financial problem. You might have a health issue or emotional struggle. Perhaps you simply want more of Jesus in your life. Whatever it is, prayer is part of the answer. Our Prayer and Care ministry is there to pray with you. Do not be afraid (or too proud) to ask for prayer!

Developing Partnerships
We have fellowship with one another through the gospel (1 John 1:3). Deep relational fellowship must be intentionally cultivated over time. It doesn't just happen. I've always attended church regularly (even before I was paid to do so!). Sunday morning worship is an important time for the body of Christ. But I've found that it isn't enough. I have been involved in life groups my entire Christian life. These groups have met regularly (usually every week) to talk, study the Bible, and pray together. Over time, the people in these groups have gotten to know me and I have gotten to know them. They know the ups and downs of my life. They've taught me, encouraged me, and corrected me. They've imparted wisdom. They've made me laugh until my stomach hurts. They've hugged me when I've suffered loss. They are "partners" with me. We "do life" together. They have had a tremendous impact in my life. That's why I think life groups are so important.

So let me encourage you to ask the Prayer Team to pray for you.  Be a part of a life group. These are key ways Christ will give you strength to "do all things."

Don't try to do the Christian life by yourself. It doesn't work that way.

On Listening to Sermons

God has ordained that the preaching of the Word be an essential part of the life of the church and an important part of our Christian life. So how can we get the most out of listening to sermons?

What is at stake?
It is essential to understand what is supposed to be happening during the sermon. It will give us important clues to how to approach listening to sermons. Fortunately, Paul gave some instructions to a young pastor named Timothy about what he was supposed to be doing as a preacher. These instructions can help us figure out how to benefit from listening to even a "below average" preacher.

Paul tells Timothy to Preach The Word (1 Timothy 4:2). The topic of the sermon is to be the Bible. The preacher is to help people understand what it says and how to apply it to life. Paul tells Timothy to do his best to rightly handle the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). There is depth in the Greek terms which Paul uses here. The phrase "Do your best" means to exert oneself with diligence and effort. The phrase "rightly handle" was used for cutting fabric in sewing clothes. Timothy is to do his very best to "rightly cut" the Scriptures. This takes both skill and patience. So we should expect the sermon to make careful use of the Bible and accurately explain what it means.

Paul firmly grounds the preaching subject in the Scriptures because the Scriptures are able "to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 3:15). Paul insists on the careful study and application of the teachings of the Bible. Salvation...heaven and hell...are at stake in this matter of preaching. He explicitly says so in 1 Timothy 4:16. Preaching is serious business and not to be taken lightly by either the preacher or the listener. Paul warns that people will prefer to listen to those who do not preach the truth of Scriptures and will wander away from the gospel. It will sound good and be popular but will lead to damnation. (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The word "preach" means to herald. The herald is the town crier raising his voice with the message of the king. It is not the message of the herald voicing his own ideas or opinions. It is the message of the king that is being joyfully announced. That's why the preacher-herald must study carefully to make sure that they have the message right. The listener must be diligent to listen carefully to what God is saying through the ministry of the Word because the Word points the way to salvation. Preaching is Scripture-based and Christ-exalting.

It Is Not Always Fun
Paul says that Scripture is designed to make us complete and equipped for everything that God has called us to do (2 Timothy 3:15-17). He explains that it does this through four different means:

• Teaching: the laying out of doctrine, precepts, or instruction.
• Reproving: the correction and confrontation of false ideas and doctrines. 
• Correcting: the straightening up of lifestyle; the correction and confrontation of wrong behavior.
• Training in righteousness: the education and development of godly character and lifestyle.

Paul tells him to preach the Word and explains what that looks like: reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and training (1 Timothy 4:2). This is not always fun in the way that tickles our ears and feeds our sinful passions. It is absolutely essential for the health, wellbeing, and salvation of our souls. Drinking deeply of the Word brings life. Our souls crave the Word. Our sinful nature does not. The faithful ministry of the Word will benefit our souls if we allow it to soak into our lives.

Good Listening is Important

Given what is at stake during the sermon, we must be diligent to pay attention to what is being said. We are not to automatically accept everything that the preacher says. Far from it! Paul warns that false teachers will infiltrate the church and attempt to lead people astray (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Instead, we are to be like the Bereans. The Bereans listened to the preaching of the Word and then examined the Scriptures to see what was being proclaimed was true. Because the preaching lined up with Scripture, many of the Bereans believed and were saved (Acts 17:10-12). Good lisenting is not passive, but an active responsibility of every believer.

Strategies to get the most out of every sermon.

Pray Before, During, and After the Message

Before:

For your preacher: Pray that he would be diligent in study and prayer as he prepares the sermon. Pray that he would encounter God afresh in his study. Pray that he would see clearly how to apply the text. Pray that Sunday morning he would preach the Word with power.

For yourself: Pray that you would be hungry to hear what God says through the preaching of the Word. Pray that Sunday morning would not be a rushed blur of activity getting to church. Pray that you would not be distracted from hearing.

During:

For your preacher: Pray that he would have liberty in preaching and that the heralding of the message would have the effect God intends. Pray that Christ would be exalted.

For yourself: Pray that you would hear what God is saying to you.

After:

For your preacher: Pray that he would be refreshed and renewed. Most preachers are exhausted by Sunday afternoon. Pray that he would apply the sermon in his own life.

For yourself: Pray that you would have the diligence to remember and apply the Word. Where the Word challenged your understanding, pray that you would carefully examine the Scriptures to see if what was preached accords with God's Word.

"Ignore" the Messenger

This takes a moment to explain. Sometimes we don't hear the message because we have a problem with the messenger. Perhaps we don't like his voice or his mannerisms. Perhaps his style of delivery or his accent is a distraction. Perhaps we think his clothes are wrong or he is too skinny or too tall or has bad hair. Ignore it all. The sermon is not a TV talent show. It is a moment to try to hear the message of God. Fight through whatever you find personally distracting about the messenger's delivery so that you hear what the Word of God is saying.

Fight to Limit Distractions

Our minds are so prone to wander! Good preachers do their best to keep our attention, but we must work to keep them focused on the message. 

Sit near the front. I find that sitting near the front helps me listen. The fewer people between me and the preacher, the better. I am rarely distracted by the people behind me. At concerts and sporting events the "best" seats are in the front where you can really see and hear everything. Where do you think the best seat is in the church service?

Turn the cell phone off. Cellphones are great because we can have the Scriptures with us wherever we go! But for many people, the temptation to be distracted is simply too great. There are the "holy distractions" like checking to see what our favorite internet preacher said about a subject or looking up different translations. Then there are the "unholy" distractions like the SMS from the person three rows back wondering if you want to go to lunch. Even on silent mode, our phones constantly call for our attention. Consider using a paper Bible instead. If you don't want to carry one, they are available on the table near the door.

Consider who you sit next to. Some people are "fun" to sit next to because they are constantly seeking to entertain us. The whispered comment that causes us to giggle may be fun in some settings, but the sermon is too important for those kinds of distractions. One of the reasons that we have a children's ministry during the sermon all year round is because we want parents to be undistracted during the ministry of the Word.

Take Notes

Simply taking notes and writing down the main ideas of the sermon can be a tremendous way of focusing our minds on what is being said. It also helps us remember what was said.

Watch Your Attitude
It can be easy to become critical. A critical attitude can be deadly because it is an almost certain sign of pride. It evaluates the "performance" of the preacher rather than listening to what God might be telling us.

Ask Yourself a Question
What is God saying to me through the Word? How does it apply to me? Is it affirming or correcting what I believe? Is it encouraging my godly behavior or am I convicted of my sin and need to repent? Is there a promise to cling to? What is the central thought that is being conveyed? How would I summarize the passage and the message?

Talk About It
One of the best ways to focus and sharpen our listening skills is to talk about the passage and the message after the service. I am not suggesting that after church we should criticize the message each week (although I do think that pastors are well served by having a selected team of people have input into their preaching). Instead, make it a practice to talk about what encouraged you or challenged you in the message. Such conversation helps drive the biblical truths deeper into our hearts.

Global Warming and the Believer

One of the great concerns that forms the backdrop of our days is global warming or climate change. It is the basis of studies and journal articles. Movies influence us and talk shows educate us. Every now and then a scientist will argue that it is a natural fluctuation or that its causes are not man-made. They are usually shouted down or ridiculed.

Occasionally I am asked what my opinion is on the topic. As a pastor, I take a different approach than most people because I spend most of my time studying to apply the Bible to everyday life. I do a lot of reading about what is happening in the world so I can make these applications, but my focus is on the Bible. Based on that study, I believe that we have a responsibility to care for the environment. This belief is grounded in God's Word and not swayed by the latest series of articles trending in the popular press.

Let me say something we all agree with: Pollution is bad. A clean environment is good.

Scientists now believe that there is a link between the burning of fossil fuels and the warming of the earth. They may be right. If they are, we need to work hard to reduce the impact of fossil fuels. Even if they are wrong, it is still true that pollution is bad and a clean environment is good. So working to minimize pollution is a winner in either case. It is also an important part of a biblical worldview.

The Care of the Creation is Our Responsibility.
In the opening chapters of Genesis, God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility for caring for the earth. They were to have dominion over it (Genesis 1:28). They were to work it and keep it (Genesis 2:15). God entrusted the care of the earth to us. He has given us the planet as a resource to be used and He expects us to take good care of the planet rather than ruining it. We are to work the ground to grow food. God's Word does not condemn the building of houses and cities or the advancement of civilization, in fact, it is expected. We were given a universe to explore and study and delight in. It all reveals his glory. Given that we have been entrusted with the responsibility for the planet, it makes sense for us to be concerned about the environment as followers of Christ. The fact that even on good days the air quality here is "mediocre" should bother the thoughtful Christian.

True Science and Biblical Christianity are not in Conflict.
Science is that field of study which seeks to observe, discover, and understand the properties of the world around us. The sciences have advanced our knowledge of the physical world to an immense degree through systematic observation and experimentation. Far from being in conflict with Christianity, the discovery of new things in the Creation should result in glory being given to the Creator and a more careful and wiser exercise of our responsibility to have dominion over and care for the world with which we have been entrusted. Accurate and responsible scientific discovery is a blessing. The application of that knowledge can be a blessing or a curse. The unlocking of the atom produced both nuclear energy and nuclear bombs.

When scientific study points to harm being done to the environment by our actions, we must carefully consider ways to minimize that harm. Science can help us understand the implications of our actions. Science can find ways to reduce the amount of pollution caused by fossil fuels and can point to alternative energy sources that can be developed and implemented.

The Care of Creation is a Reflection of Love.
The ethics of the Bible are reflected in the ideals of love for God and love for your neighbor. This is where the Bible speaks loudest about our care for the environment.

Let's take the example of human waste. Science might supply evidence that it is healthier to have a latrine than to throw human waste into the streets. So love would dictate that I build a latrine. Science might then discover that improperly built or located latrines contaminate wells. Love says that I shouldn't build my latrine in a way that it can contaminate my neighbor's well. Love might also lead us to agree as a community to use scientific knowledge to build a waste treatment facility to handle all of our wastes. Goodbye latrines!

Love might also lead to clean water for the community. It might lead to working together to develop public transportation systems. It demands that we harness scientific knowledge in ways that are beneficial.

The Decisions Regarding Caring for the Creation are Complex. 
For example, consider the eco-friendly bicycle. How can we have our bicycle in a way that is good for our environment as well? Where should the iron come from to build the bike? Mining and making metal causes pollution. Does a city dweller's interest in a clean environment trump the interests of someone who lives and works in the area where the mine is located? What if they would prefer to have a job mining the ore on the nearby land and the city dwellers would like the "environmentally friendly" forest left undisturbed? How strict should the environmental regulations be on the operation of the mine? Most mines use incredible amounts of power equipment. What kind of energy should they use to mine the ore? Fossil fuels? Electricity (generated how?)?

Once we have the ore dug out of the ground, where should the steel mill be located? What type of regulations should govern its environmental impact? What about the paint for the bike? Don't forget that butyl rubber, carbon black, and silicon are needed to manufacture tires for the bike. Where will they come from?

Each step in the process of producing a bicycle can have dramatic environmental impacts. Legislation should be passed to ensure that effects of manufacturing are minimized. The trouble is that pollution control will increase the cost of the bicycle. What if the regulations raise the price of the bicycle to the point that I cannot afford one? If our nation passes tough restrictions, is it ethical to buy a less expensive bicycle from a country that has no environmental regulations?

The questions about a simple bicycle are endless. We simply cannot have a bicycle without creating an impact on the environment. Walking is less destructive, but the reality is that we don't want to walk everywhere we go. We want our bicycle. We want to fly across the oceans in jets rather than using wind-powered boats made out of renewable resources like they did a couple of centuries ago.

Questions of the environment and how we can best manage the resources of the planet are important matters for Christians to be talking about. Caring for the environment should concern us. Science can help us make intelligent decisions, but we must remember that there are no clear cut answers. It is important that anger and divisiveness not be a part of our discussion of these issues. We must seek to understand others and to voice our own opinions in a constructive way. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) should be evident in our lives.


The Care of the Creation is not the Most Pressing Problem.
The care of the creation is important. We should be concerned about it. But we also understand that there is a far greater crisis facing people than global warming: a Christless eternity. So let's be concerned about the environment, but let us also work to keep the most important thing our greatest concern. If we are more passionate about fixing the environment than we are about our neighbor's eternal destiny, something is out of balance in our belief system.