The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology (Part 2)

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

In the book, Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult – How to Interest People Who Aren’t Interested, the author Nick Pollard states, “Suddenly it struck me: different people are different. Of course, it seems obvious now. But somehow I had missed it before. I had been searching for the one universal gospel presentation, that there is none. God doesn’t give us a ‘gospel presentation’ because there is no one presentation that is appropriate for all people at all times. There is one gospel, but the way we communicate it will differ according to the types of individuals we are seeking to help.” (102).

While Pollard is speaking about presenting the Gospel message in different ways so that individuals can understand it and accept it; it is a useful message in regards to theology. Theology has to present the truth of God in a way that individuals will not feel intimidated and shy away from learning the principles of the word. It is important to also note, when individuals have an understanding of truth, they are equipped to stand against the false doctrines that are presented to them as biblical truth. “It is true that taking advantage of accurate Bible teaching is an important part of the believer’s spiritual growth. Furthermore, the provision of Bible teaching is an undisputed ministry of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:11-16). At the same time, however, it is the responsibility of the listener to compare what is being taught with the Bible. To be sure this should be done in a spirit of humility but is should be done…We need to have a broad understanding and feel for the entire canon of scripture, its whole woof and warp” (Luginbill, 1, 2).



Another challenge that must be addressed by theology is cultural influences. This is not a new challenge for theology but one that takes on different characteristics based on the current culture. Probe Ministries addresses this challenge. On the website, http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/apologet.html, the author Rick Wade states, “Throughout the history of the church, Christians have been called upon to explain why we believe what we believe. The apostle Paul spoke of his ministry as ‘the defense and confirmation of the gospel.’ Peter said we need to be ‘ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you’” (1). This challenge also hinges upon the individual believer being equipped in the principles of the word. If one does not have a good grasp of Christian theology, one can begin to believe every whim of doctrine. So theology becomes a defense against the false beliefs of cultural influences. Theology can help individuals make sound decisions based on orderly information that explains different components of the faith. “Good, logical thinking is especially important for an apologist. On the one hand, it can help prevent us from putting together shoddy arguments for what we believe. On the other hand, it helps us evaluate the beliefs of those who challenge Christianity. Too often we stumble at criticisms which sound good, but which really stand on logically shaky legs” (Wade, 2). (COME BACK FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT)

Words of Encouragement

THE SPIRITUAL QUEST

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

What does the word “quest” mean – The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something, it is taking a search.

So to take a Spiritual Quest, we are being called to search ourselves to see where we stand before the Lord. This scripture says to us that for a spiritual quest to take place we must go to God and ask for his help. He is the one that knows what needs to be cleansed, removed, repented of, changed or renewed. Without a spirit life rooted in God we cannot take a place within the church, because we are not truly a part of the body, which is made up of blood washed believers living for the Lord. Nor can we work within our Spiritual gifts, which are given by God through his Spirit, if we are not allowing God’s Spirit full access and control of our lives. So in order to be part of the church or work with our spiritual gifts, we have to first start here, our spirituality. This quest then should lead us to ask some questions about ourselves in our search.

Is there something hindering my growth? – What gets in the way of me serving God completely? What is delaying or interfering with my growth? Are there some things that I should be doing but I am not and therefore I am not growing, as I should? And let me caution you. Do not say, “I read my Bible and I pray everyday” as if you have said some great thing. Those statements are all about you, and that is your reward. The real question we should ask is, Lord I read your word, but am I receiving a better understanding of you and your ways? Am I allowing you to speak to me through the pages and then am I applying what I have learned? Lord I pray, but do I come just giving you my “to do” list, or do I come to reverence you, honor you and be quiet to hear from you? Am I being what you wanted me to be today? These are the things we need to seek daily. The focus needs to be on God and not simply on us completing some spiritual task or “to do list”.

Am I dedicated to a relationship with God or am I more concerned with simply doing for him? – I do not want us to misunderstand this point. It is important that we are doing the things of God, but we want to be careful not to make what we “do” the goal or the prize of our walk. I may teach Sunday school but if I am not seeking daily to walk with God, to talk with him and to listen to his direction for me, then I become satisfied in what I do and I become stagnant. Have you become stagnant in your walk with God? Have you become satisfied that you sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, serve on a committee or two and therefore do not think there is anything else that needs to be done, as if you have arrived? God wants us to be open to him so that he can show us every area of our lives that he wants changed, to bring him glory. This is the ultimate goal of the believer, to praise God and to allow our lives full access to him so that he can be honored from our lives.

Are their things inside that need to be released so that I can go forward? – This can be hard for some, letting go. Are there past hurts that we are still holding onto that are keeping us from moving forward. Are you saying things like, “I would help with that, but the last time I offered my help, they didn’t want it?” or “I don’t do anything because of what this person or that person said of did to me?” Those are past hurts keeping you from being obedient to God. God calls us to release all those things to him because they hinder us. Or are you holding on to fears, afraid to let go and trust God in every situations and circumstance? Are you afraid to do that which God has already shown you he wants you to do because you think you can’t do it? If God has called you to it, he will see that you through it. We must search our hearts and ask God to show us what we need to release to him, so that he can move us forward.

Am I open to hearing God’s voice? – None of the previous questions will help much, unless we are open to hearing God speaking to us. He can speak to us through the pages of the Bible or in answers to our prayers. He can also speak to us through the encouragements of others, such as the Minister or Pastor’s message for example. But when you hear it, he wants you to become a “doer” of his word and not a hearer only. So ask yourself some really deep questions to find where you are in the Lord. And until we take this quest and begin to question where we stand, we will not find true peace or rest in the Lord.

This is a lesson that I did sometime ago, but I thought it would be worthwhile to present it. Look for the remainder of this lesson in the next few weeks.

The Week in Review

Are you a Coat Maker (part 4)?
South Suburban Church of God
May 17, 2009

Interceding Coat Maker

(Not interfering)Acts 9:36-41

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

What is interesting to me about this scripture is what Tabitha’s works did in the lives of the individual and then how that resulted in her rescue. Tabitha interceded on behalf of the widows. A widow represents a woman without any covering, no protection. The widow did not have her husband to take care of her and if Tabitha was taking care of them, they had no children to provide for them either. They were all alone. Yet, Tabitha provided them with a covering. And when this woman that had provided for others died, they quickly sought help, they turned to Peter one that had walked with Jesus. And he came and spoke life back into this woman, this coat maker, and this woman that intercedes.

What does this tell us today? There are some people that are without family. I’m not talking about physical family, but those that are on the outside of the spiritual family of God. They are uncovered and have no protection. They are in need of help. That is where you and I come in. Are we willing to make some covering and intercede on behalf of those outside the family? What happens when we are willing to give of ourselves and intercede for someone else is God often times use those same individuals that you intercede for, to intercede on your behalf. That is what God calls us all to be, interceding coat makers. Tabitha was willing to give of herself for these woman that found themselves without help. How often are we willing to intercede on behalf of others that we do not expect anything from? Oh we do things for those that we think will be able to pay us back or give us something, but what about those unable to give in return (so we think).

The beauty of this story is when Tabitha had died, the people rallied to present to Peter on her defense of why it was important for him to see about her. Did you know sometimes because you are willing to intercede on behalf of others, that when you find yourself in some situations that seem as if they will take the very “life” from you, others are petitioning on your behalf? They are saying to God, look at what she’s done for me? She’s shown me love when no one else did. He’s taken care of my needs when others turned their back on me, God see about his needs, her needs. And what does God do, he hears and answers and calls you back from that place of darkness that had you engulfed. That is why God is looking for you and I to be interceding coat makers one for the other, both for those within the family of God and those that find themselves outside of the safety, the covering of God.Today, I’ve told you about the wrong kind of coat makers and the right ones. But I cannot end without telling you this vital message. You and I cannot become the right kind of coat makers in ourselves or by our own power. How do we become the right kind of coat makers?(come back next week for the next installment)

The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology
Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

When individuals see the word theology, it may invoke the thought of biblical truths only available to a select group of people, not necessarily something that should concern the average man or women. However, every person has some belief about God, either that he exists and is worthy of ones obedience or that he does not exist, or some belief in between. Theology is relevant for all men as it helps individuals to understand God’s revelation of himself to mankind. Christian theology faces challenges as it tries to express biblical truth in a systematic way. A few challenges facing Christian theology today are ignorance of the word by believers, cultural influences, and unbelief in the accuracy of the Bible. How Christian theology combats these negative effects ensures the stability of the believer’s walk before the Lord.

In order to understand the challenges that theology faces, one must first comprehend the purpose of theology. In the book, Christian Theology: An Introduction, the author, Alister E. McGrath defines theology in this way, “The word ‘theology’ is easily broken down into two Greek words: theos (God) and logos (word). ‘Theology’ is thus discourse about God, in much the same way as ‘biology’ is discourse about life (Greek: bios). If there is only one God, and if that God happens to be the ‘God of the Christians’ (to borrow a phrase from the second-century writer Tertullian), then the nature and scope of theology are relatively well defined: theology is reflection upon the God whom Christians worship and adore.” (137). McGrath makes an observation that Christianity was introduced to a polytheistic world, where the belief in many gods was commonplace.

So theology had to distinguish the God of the Christians from the gods of the world. This is still true for today. Today, theology has to help individuals discern biblical truth against cults, and false doctrines. McGrath states, “Part of the task of the earliest Christian writers appears to have been to distinguish the Christian god from other gods in the religious marketplace…Theology was thus understood as systematic analysis of the nature, purposes, and activity of God. At its heart lay the belief that it was an attempt, however inadequate, to speak about a divine being, distinct from humans” (137-138).

Theology then, must attempt to speak about the truth of God for current generation, so that individuals can be equipped to stand against the detrimental influences of their time. Ignorance of the word of God by believers is one of those challenges that theology must address. Part of this ignorance is in the lack of study by the believer.

On the website, http://www.ichthys.com/readbible.htm, the author Dr. Robert D. Luginbill in an article titled, Read Your Bible: Protection against Cults – A Basic Christian Right and Responsibility states, “If we are to follow Christ and His teachings, we must learn about Him and about them. Our indoctrination or ‘discipleship’ in the truth must thus come from two sources: 1) reading the Bible for ourselves, and 2) accepting the authority of legitimate, prepared Bible teachers. But even (and perhaps especially) in regard to this second source for learning about Christ and His teaching, all correct teaching is ultimately and fundamentally derived from the Bible.
But how are we, as believers, to evaluate the correctness of what we are taught unless we make it a daily habit to go to the source of truth itself, for ourselves?” (3). The individual believer may feel intimidated by such words as doctrine, theology and the like because they seem to indicate one must have a “degree” to be able to understand such things. This may cause individuals to simply wait for others to tell them what is correct, instead of trying to test thoughts, or ideas against biblical truth. Part of this problem is due to poor instruction of both the individual believer and the teachers responsible for teaching the doctrine. This has caused individuals to see the Bible as irrelevant for today’s situations.

In the book, The Future of Christian Education – Educating Congregations, the author Charles R. Foster states, “For many young and older people the Bible has become irrelevant to their quest for meaning and purpose. The problem, however, is not the irrelevance of the Bible. It is the irrelevance of the ways we teach from the Bible…Part of the responsibility for the diminishment of hope must be traced to flaws in the educational ministries of our congregations. Church education no longer provides an adequate structure for communicating hope” (25, 120). Theology must be able to present the truth in a way that the average person can understand and incorporate into every day life. Theology also must be usable for the educating of teachers (Pastors, preachers, ministers, CE workers) who are given the responsibility of teaching the members of the body (come back next week for the next installment).

The Words of Encouragement

"Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. - Nehemiah 9:19-21



God quenches our thirst. In this scripture, Nehemiah is speaking of the goodness of God to the children of Israel. He is repeating the good things God had done. He has provided for the needs of his children in the desert. By day he provided a cloud and by night he provided the pillar. Meaning God was with them both day and night.

God gave his Spirit to direct the children. He gave them food and he took care of their needs. Even in their disobedience where they had to wonder for 40 years, he kept them. As I sat today to seek what to write about I thought about thirst.
 
What causes us to be thirsty? When there is a lack within our bodies, our body triggers our need to drink. If that trigger is ignored, it does not go away, it simply gets stronger. What is so wonderful is when you are able to quench that thirst, to drink the water that will satisfy the body, you will be refreshed.
 
What I saw today as I looked at this scripture is God did not leave them in a desert place thirsting without something to quench that thirst. A desert place is a dry, barren place. Normally the heat is more intense and it causes the need for refreshing to be even greater.
 
What does this speak to you and I today? God knows about your desert places (either self inflicted because of disobedience or because God has driven you their to do something in you). Those places that should have you wasting away from need of a refreshing, a thirst quencher. Did you know when we are in our desert places nothing is going to satisfy but the living water, Christ. There is something in you that will trigger if you are in need of water. If we ignore it, it does not go away, it will become more pronounced.
 
God allows the Holy Spirit within us to be that which triggers to tell us we are thirsty, that we are not getting the proper amount of "Living Water" and when we ignore the signs, they do not go away, God just trys to get our attention even more.
 
Today, let us remember that like the children of Israel we have God with us. He is going before us by day and by night. He has not left us alone. He continues to provide for our needs. He provides our food (both natural and spiritual) and he is the water that refreshes our spirits. Let us find joy in knowing that God is with us and that he is the fulfilling that need in us.
 
Lord we thank you for all your provisions that are made available to us. We are unable to stand without you. We thank you for giving us the tools we need to continue and we will walk after you and seek your ways. God quench our thirst, for we thirst for you like the deer that pants after the waters, we thirst for you. God come and fill this thirst within us, give us the refreshing waters for our souls, Amen.

The Week in Review

Are you a Coat Maker(part 3)?
South Suburban Church of God
May 17, 2009

A Nurturing Coat Maker

1 Samuel 2:18-19
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

Hannah after she weaned Samuel, kept her promise and took him to the priest and dedicated him back to the service of the Lord. She said that as long as he lived, she would lend him to the service of the Lord. This might seem strange, if you remember the first part of this story. Hannah was bitter for wanting the Lord to give her a child and now she gives him away, that doesn’t make sense. As great as her desire was to have this son it was not greater than her desire to obey her promise to the Lord.

Even though Hannah gave Samuel to God, she did not remove herself from his life. Each year she come and brought him a coat. She knew that as he grew in stature his old coat would be too small and he would be in need of a new garment. She was aware of her son’s need, even though he was not in her immediate presence. We do not know how long she provided this coat, it may have been the remainder of her life or until he had matured and no longer needed her to bring him a coat.

What can we learn from this today? This lesson is bigger than what a mother does for her natural children, but how do we nurture those that are our spiritual children, those coming behind us? What Hannah did was ask God to fulfill her desire for a child, fulfill a dream and then she promises to give this son, this dream back to him for him to care for it. If you remember her enemy, her husbands other wife, continued to taunt her about how worthless she was because she didn’t have any children. But Hannah did not allow the enemy to keep her from seeking her help from God. Hannah in scripture came into the temple and fell to her knees and asked God for a child. She was so swept away in her request that the priest thought she was drunk. But she informed him that she was not drunk, but seeking God for something.

We were like Hannah. The enemy of our soul made it his business to taunt us and tell us we were worthless because we had no “life in us”, we had nothing to give to God. He told us we were worthless. But we came and fell before God and uttered to him the deepest desires of our heart, and said Lord save me from this hopeless condition I now find myself in. I have no life inside of me and without you, I will surely die. We asked him to change us give us a new life (this life wasn’t a physical child, but it was a seed of hope, it was a new dream, a new vision, a purpose). And then we promised God if you give me this new life, this new dream, this new vision, I will lend them to you for the rest of my life and for your service.

Those dreams that we have then are to be given to God just as Hannah gave her son Samuel to God for him to oversee his growing up. What are those dreams? Maybe somebody today dreams of starting a day care, or someone dreamed of mentoring or teaching or something else. The enemy has told you again and again, you that dream, that seed will never become a reality. Yet, you’ve sought God to bring it to being and when he does you promise to give it back. When you do, he wants to take that dream and use it for you to become a nurturer of the “spiritual” children he will bring through that dream. Hannah had a part in the process of seeing her dream grow. She created coats, which protected her son. Each year she went back and gave him a new coat. Why?

The coat of yesterday would not suffice for today. What Hannah was doing was establishing a relationship with her son. She had to be discerning to know what he needed and before he asked, she was ready to give it to him. Like Hannah, God wants to give us some spiritual charges. They will be granted to us because of the dreams we have asked him to fulfill in our lives. We must seek godly wisdom so that we can discern what they need from us. God requires us to be coat makers that “nurture” the growth of those coming behind. In doing so, we are in fact making disciples. Jesus nurtured his disciples so they would be ready to take this world for Christ. We are preparing the priest of God for the task of today, which translates into the world of tomorrow. Hannah was making a coat for her son, who would stand before God to minister to the people. Those individuals that God has given to us to nurture need us making some coats for them so they can continue to grow into the vessels of honor he has ordained for them to be.

What does it mean to be nurturing? A nurturer is one that helps in the development of others. They encourage others to be all they can be. They foster those things in individuals that will help them to grow to be vital parts of God’s plan. They cultivate the lives of those around them. They help by either planting seeds into lives or by watering the seeds already planted. A nurturing coat maker is one that is determined to help others grow. They are determined to be like Hannah, a coat maker that gives through the life of their spiritual charge until they have matured and no longer need you to make them a coat (come back for the next installment).

The Week in Review

Cultural Trends (part 2)
Written April 11, 2006 (posted 9/28/09)

One of the most disheartening ways that television influences culture is how it has changed the message of God. The image of some of the evangelist or televangelist gives the watcher a false image of what worship looks like. People have gotten comfortable with television serving them. One can watch television and receive a message or a feel good encouragement that really does not always call for change, involvement or decision. When these same individuals go to church, they go with the same idea of going to be served. “We now live in a consumer-oriented society where we no longer ask ‘What can I do to help?’ but ‘What will this job (or this church) do for me?’ People come to our churches asking ‘Do I like this pastor? Do I like this choir? Do I like this youth program? Do I like these people?’ And asking most of all, ‘Will this church meet my needs?’ It rarely crosses anyone’s mind to wonder whether or not he or she can contribute something or be used to meet the needs of the kingdom in the context of the local church” (Stowell, 21).

The other way that television confuses the message of Christ is in the doctrine taught to the listener. The images of some of the televangelist show one of “flashy” cars, clothes and jewelry. This can be a damaging image to combat for the average pastor or minister, because people are looking for the speaker that “looks” the part. Stowell states, “The platform of purpose focuses on power, and instead of urging the shepherd to become a celebrity reminds him that he is but a conduit of the power of God to His people…The quickest way to wear ourselves out in the ministry of proclamation and to want to ditch the whole assignment is to do it for our own glory and gain” (258-259).

The media, especially television, has a substantial influence on the culture. The television shows and even the commercials all point away from God and his truth. The pastor, minister or preacher must combat these influences. They must resist first the influence on themselves and then on their messages. If a messenger is to be successful in today’s culture, they must be grounded in the truth of the Bible. John MacArthur, the author of Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically states, “In the ministry, pressure to compromise, to mitigate the message, and to avoid offending sinners will always exist. However, the preacher’s job is to expose sin, to confront the lost with the hopelessness of their condition, and to offer the cure for their wretchedness in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ” (18).

To sum it up, the church leadership is responsible for teaching the members and equipping them to fight against the cultural messages of our day. “The church leader must see to it that God’s people continually devote themselves to the study and practice of the Word of God…The Holy Spirit in His sovereign wisdom gave biblical principles that can be applied during all ages to all cultures. The rest is up to Christian ministers” (MacArthur, 59, 63).

Work Cited

MacArthur, John, et. al. Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005.

Stowell, Joseph M. Shepherding the Church. Chicago, IL: Moody Press. 1997.
Wright, Carl Jeffrey. God’s Vision or Television? Chicago, IL: Urban Ministries, Inc., 2004.