Welcome!

For 5 years I was the pastor of Trinity International Church in Strasbourg, France. I created this blog with those people in mind. In mid-November 2018 I will become the Senior Pastor of Word of Life Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The focus of this blog will therefore shift, but I pray that people from the blogosphere will continue to find it helpful wherever they might be found.
The churches' websites includes recorded sermons for those who are interested. Click the links below to access them.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Physical Intimacy, What Does God Say? Part Two

This is Part Two of a series. Please read Part One first. 


God's Plan

In Part One of this series, we discovered that far from being offended by sex, God actually is the one who thought it up and designed us for it! Of course, part of his plan is procreation. But his intention is greater than reproduction. In his plan, sex is meant to help unite two people together physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a lifetime bond of commitment and love. It is designed to be pleasurable. His longing is for us to experience the fullness of his purpose for us. It is very good.

This Helps Explain Something

Because God is good and loving and has our best interests in mind, he not only describes his intentions for us, but he also lays down some rules. These rules, while at a particular moment may seem restricting, are designed to lead us to something greater. Rather than being the harsh laws of a cruel dictator, his rules are actually gifts of love that will lead us to most excellent place. If we violate the laws we will experience less that he desires for us and we will inevitably suffer the consequences. 

An Important Passage:

Hebrews 13:4 tells us that "marriage is to be honoured by all and the marriage bed kept pure." To honor something is to hold in high esteem and regard. This vision of unity in marriage with all of beauty is to motivate and inspire us in life. We are to keep the marriage bed pure and holy. The verse goes on to say that God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral

Two Key Words:

Adultery - This is the one of 10 Commandment fame: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." But what is adultery? Adultery is sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. Remember God's design: A man and woman enjoying unity for their lifetime. If one of them breaks that unity by having sex with another person, that relationship is adulterous. Adultery destroys marriages and ruins families.

Sexual Immorality is a the translation of the Greek word porneia. It is used for all sexual relationships outside of marriage. A standard biblical Greek dictionary defines it this way: illicit sexual intercourse including: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, etc., sexual intercourse with close relatives, or sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman. Sexual immorality is also sin. We are commanded to turn away from sexual immorality many times in the Bible. 

Why does God say this?

Remember, God takes this area of our lives seriously because it is important. He knows what is best for us. If we follow his commands we will discover that the result is beautiful. He wants us to follow him, trusting that he is wise and good. There may be times when the temptation is strong to break his commands, but cannot break his commands without first saying, "God, I know better than you do what is best for my life. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, I choose to reject you and your ways." That is sin. And God rightly takes this rebellion and rejection of him seriously. But there is another reason that maybe you haven't thought about.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7) 

This passage tells us that God wants us to avoid sexual immorality and practice self-control. But there is something hidden in these verses: we are not to "wrong our brother in this matter." What does that mean? Let's say Jean-Luc and Elisabeth are dating and decide to violate God's command and have sex. Jean-Luc is actually taking something that rightfully belongs to Elisabeth's future husband. He is wronging him. And Elisabeth is actually stealing from Jean-Luc's future wife. She is wronging her. Because of the high view of sex and marriage that God holds, he takes this theft extremely seriously.

If you have sex with your boyfriend, you might enjoy pleasure for a moment, but you are stealing something that is not yours. You are hurting someone who is not even in the room: their future spouse. You are hurting your boyfriend. And you are hurting yourself. Too many people are hurt too deeply for God to simply ignore sexual sin. This is why God says he will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral person. And he doesn't say it once. He says it from Genesis to Revelation. He is serious.

If "we love one another" and are "committed to each other" is it okay to have sex?

No. Sex is reserved for marriage. The Biblical view of marriage goes back to the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve were joined together for a lifelong relationship. This type of relationship is a covenant before God and others. A covenant is a commitment made to another that cannot be broken. Unlike a contract which can be broken if the other person fails to live up to the terms of the agreement, a covenant is a commitment to the relationship regardless of the what the other person does. Outside of that level of commitment, sex violates God's commandment. In other words, you really are not committed if you are not married. 

Today it is common to hear people say things like, "I wouldn't buy a car without taking it for a test drive" or "How do I know if we are compatible if we don't live together first?" People who think such things are really saying, "I am not sure if this person will satisfy me and make me happy so I better ease into the relationship." While it sounds wise, it is actually selfish. It demonstrates that the person will be committed to the relationship as long as the other person adequately meets their needs. For them, the other person is very much like a car. As much as they might "love" the car at first, but eventually the car will need expensive repairs and begin to rust. When it does, they will trade it for another car that they "love". Living together or having sex together rarely changes the basic orientation of the relationship. 

The commitment of marriage is different. Marriage is a commitment to love and care for the other person for the rest of their life regardless of whether they meet your needs or make you happy. Instead of being like a car that you "love", the other person is like your arm or your leg. If it causes you pain, you care for it. When it develops arthritis you protect it. You would never think of just cutting it off because it is a part of you. You are "one flesh". When a couple marries, they are making the most radical commitment there can be between humans. They are promising to love, care for, and be faithful to the other person regardless of what life brings. Through the stresses of child-rearing, the financial struggles, or the medical challenges, they promise that their commitment will hold firm. There could be an accident in the first year of marriage leaving their spouse paralysed and it would not matter, because they are committed to being there for the rest of their life.

Such a commitment is a big deal. It is to be made before God and witnesses at a ceremony called a wedding. Weddings do not have to be big elaborate events. It is the vows, after all, that are the most important part. Once those vows have been made before God and witnesses, then sex becomes a celebration of the marriage unity between you and your spouse. Understanding the importance of sex and marriage leads to a commitment to reserve sex for marriage. Outside of marriage sex is sin.


Wednesday, November 23, 2016

A Sobering Thought


Driving schools teach about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Billboards, Facebook posts, and our mothers warn us not to drink and drive.

Question: So why do so many people drive drunk?

Answer: They think they can handle it. 

They think that the alcohol isn't affecting their reactions or their judgment. They think, "It may affect other people, but I am fine. No problem. I've got this. I've only had a little to drink." If someone tries to take away their keys they become defensive and insist on driving, sometimes with tragic results.

But this post isn't about alcohol or driving under the influence.


Paul writes, "Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning" (1 Cor 15:34). 

Sin works like alcohol in our lives. Sin clouds our judgement. Sin muddies our perception. Sin changes our reactions. Sin causes us to become defensive when confronted. Sin damages our relationship with God. Sin damages our relationship with others. 

Let's take the example of the person who refuses to forgive and their unforgiveness has soured into bitterness. You probably know someone like that. Bitterness distorts their whole view of life. They are under its influence, but they will not admit it. They are sin-drunk.

We became Christians by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We experienced the forgiveness and cleansing that is available from Him. We've been taught and warned about the consequences of sin.

Question: So why do so many Christians live "sin-drunk" lives?
Answer: They think they can handle it.

They think, "Sin won't affect me. It isn't much sin. I can handle it." 
"My anger? No big deal." 
"My 'little' lies? Not a problem."
"My jealousy? I only want what is rightfully mine."
"My porn? I can handle it."
"My greed? It's only natural."
They think it does't affect them, but it does. Like the drunk driver, they are under the influence and are barely conscious of it. Their friends probably sense it. God certainly sees it. But they themselves are sin-drunk and barely notice anything is wrong.

Hebrews 3:13-14 warns that we may be "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" with devastating results. 

Dear Christian, are you living with sin in your life? It isn't a little thing. You are under its influence. It is affecting your reactions, your judgement, your opinions, your speech, and your decisions. It isn't improving them. It is making them worse. 

You are sin-drunk.

You know better. 

Sober up. Do what is right. Repent. Put away your sin and receive forgiveness from Jesus. Live in the true freedom and true joy that comes from Him.

Ephesians 4:17-24
2 Corinthians 11:3
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 John 1:5-10




Friday, November 18, 2016

Physical Intimacy. What Does God Say? Introduction

A Starting Point

We live in an information age. The amount of information at our fingertips is amazing and overwhelming. When we want to know something, a simple Google search yields thousands of results and we scan through the hit list looking for what we want. It can be a real blessing! At the same time, it can be confusing, because there are so many different opinions and voices giving advice that it can be difficult to know what is true. In addition, we have a tendency to listen to "experts" that confirm our ideas and tune out those that contradict our thinking. With thousands of opinions to choose from, it is easy to find people who agree with what we think or find rationalisations for what we want to do. It is a sometimes dangerous mix.

When it comes to sex and relationships, there is no shortage of messages and experts giving advice. In general, our movies and entertainment glorify sex and see it as a wonderful thing for consenting adults. Our grandparents and great-grandparents probably thought that sex was reserved for marriage.  We, filled with desire, seek release and wisdom. Where do we turn? Who is speaking the truth? Are we looking for truth or a rationale to do what we want?

These are important questions and I hope to provide point in a direction that you will follow to sort through them.

There is Wisdom to be Found if We Look

God has spoken and he has given us everything we need to live a happy and fulfilled life in relationship with him. It is my contention that the Bible is God's inerrant Word and it will give us all of the wisdom we need in this area of our lives. This wisdom goes deeper than a list of commands or rules. Instead, it deals with our desires and the depths of our longings and provides loving guidelines regarding sexuality. Because He is the all-knowing God, his wisdom is perfect and right and good. Because he is loving, his guidance always has our best interests in mind.To ignore what he says is to claim to be wiser or smarter than God!

God's wisdom is found in the Bible. We owe it to ourselves to carefully study what the Bible says. As we study, we need to be constantly aware of what we are dealing with: God's Word. It is deigned to renew our thinking. It will challenge us and sometimes seem contrary to the culture around us. So as we approach our study, we must be certain that we realise that God is all-knowing and loving. Obedience to what he says is always the best path regardless of how difficult it may seem.

Over the next several weeks I am going to write about sex and relationships with the intent of spelling out what the Bible teaches. Consider me to be a helpful guide, but the real important work should be done by you. That's why I have included a list of the primary passages that deal with sex and relationships along with a list of definitions of the common biblical words. It is important for you to become familiar with them. Do your own study!

Why do I say this?
Our minds learn things from our environment. Our opinions
and values are shaped by the things that we focus on. We need
to consciously decide to listen to God and allow him to transform
our thinking. That's what it means to not be conformed to the
pattern of this world. See Romans 12:1-2.

Because there are many voices that are clamouring for your attention. You need to discover for yourself what God says. He is the wisest and most loving counsellor you will ever have!

I will warn you that much of what the Bible says goes against our culture and currently fashionable thinking. It is important for you to realise that this has almost always been the case. The dismissal of what it teaches has been going on for centuries because people would rather do what they think is best. This usually involves rejecting the wisdom of God. In effect, they claim to be wiser than God. Frequently this is placed in terms like, "society has evolved" and "God wants you to be happy". Sound familiar? This desire to jettison or adapt what the Bible says to make it more agreeable to our way of thinking has been around a long, long time.

This thinking has also influenced many churches. Wanting to make God "acceptable" to a "modern and sophisticated" audience, they cast off any part of the Bible that doesn't fit with current cultural trends. It is popular. "God is love" becomes the mantra and the rationale behind rejecting his wisdom. It is a human-centered way of thinking rather than God-focused. In other words, it is a way of thinking says that our human ideas are smarter than God's ideas.

Because this thinking has infected some churches, it important to study the Bible for yourself. You may find it to be odd at first because it is different than what world around you has taught you. It may be different than what you heard a religious leader say. Keep at the study. There were come a "eureka!" moment when the beauty of God's design and purposes take your breath away.

The Bible has always been counter-cultural. It is powerful. It's wisdom will inform and transform our lives and as a result our culture. So carefully study the Bible for yourself. Listen to what God has to say.

I'll share with you the fruit of my study, but I encourage you to look up each passage I mention. Look at the study page and dig into the Bible for yourself!


God Has a Plan

Let's begin by debunking a myth: God is not against pleasure. Often people think that God "doesn't want us to have any fun". Nothing could be farther from the truth. He thought up tastebuds and strawberries. Our world could be black and white, but God invented the colours of the rainbow. He invented sex. It was his idea!

In the opening chapter of the book of Genesis, we read that God created mankind male and female. Created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were made for each other. He blessed them and he told them to have children. Lots of them. "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." That's a lot of kids! Now, if you don't know where babies come from, stop reading this and ask your parents! My point is that holiness and sex are not opposites. Sin was not yet part of the picture and still sex was good. In fact, at the end of the day that created man and woman and told them to be fruitful and multiply God declared that what he had done was not only good, it was very good (Genesis 1:26-31)!

The Bible goes on to say that Eve was made from Adam. She was to be a "helper fit for him." And when Adam saw her he delightedly cried out, "At last! This is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone!" The Lord then tells us "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh." The creation of Adam and Eve serves as the model for God's intention for all of us. Just as Adam and Eve were united by God and became one, so we are to be united to another and become one with them (Genesis 2:18-24). Sexual intercourse is a part of this oneness. More than a biological act, there is a spiritual component to it as well (1 Corinthians 6:16). Adam and Eve enjoyed this relationship. They were "naked and unashamed" (Genesis 2:25). This is the pattern for us: A man and woman united together for life celebrating and experiencing union through their sexual relationship with one another. Sex is not inherently sinful. In the Garden of Eden it was completely without sin.


The Genesis story continues and Adam and Eve disobey God. They break the only command and eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree had been placed there out of love, for the Lord knew that true relationship must be based on choice. For Adam and Eve to have real love  for God, the possibility of rejecting him needed to exist. Unfortunately, they chose rebellion, thus destroying the relationship they had with God and having incredible consequences on their relationship with one another.

Genesis 3:7 tells us that after they ate of the tree "the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths." Their sin impacted their marriage. Where once there was innocence and joy, now guilt and shame dominated the day. The married couple hid themselves from one another. Sin made their relationship complicated and difficult. The Lord tells them that there will be consequences for their sin. Increased pain in childbirth and thorns and thistles will be the result of labor. Just as significant, the relationship between men and women will be difficult. Adam will seek to rule and dominate Eve. Eve will seek to devour Adam. Adam's initial "pre-Eve" desire for companionship remains, but now their relationship...including sex...has been become complicated by sin.

I left out another character in Genesis 3: Satan. Satan sought to destroy the relationships in the Garden of Eden. He hates God. And he hates those who are made in God's image. So he spun web of lies that appeared to make sense to Eve and to Adam. But they didn't get what he promised them. The fruit of listening to Satan rather than God was destruction. It did not make their lives better. Sure, they now knew what the fruit tasted like, but the cost of the that knowledge was devastating to them. Satan's character has not changed: he still seeks to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Neither has God's character: he still seeks that we would have a full and abundant life. Satan still whispers in our ears. Listening to him rather than God still has devastating results.

One of the most common lies that Satan uses is that listening to God regarding our sexuality will result in our "missing out" of something wonderful. Satan will tell us that God does not know best. That God does not what us to enjoy ourselves. That his plan is out-of-date and incompatible with life today. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. God wants us to fully enjoy who he created us to be. When it comes to sex, he knows the best path toward that fulfilment: using and expressing our sexuality the way he intended.

Think God doesn't understand the pleasure to be found in sex? Consider that there is anentire book of the Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that is a celebration of wonder of the physical union of a husband and wife. It is beautiful. It is pure. It is bliss.

Just listen:

You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace. 
How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! 
Your lips drip nectar, my bride; 
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. 
A garden locked is my sister, my bride,
a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates
with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, 
 nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,
with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes,with all choice spices—
 a garden fountain, a well of living water,
and flowing streams from Lebanon.  
- (Song of Solomon 4:9-15)

How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O noble daughter!
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
the work of a master hand.
Your navel is a rounded bowl
that never lacks mixed wine.
Your belly is a heap of wheat,
encircled with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns
twins of a gazelle... 
- (Song of Solomon 7:1-3)


So Why Did God Do This?


So is there a reason beyond procreation, union of husband and wife, and pleasure that God created us as sexual beings? Amazingly, the answer to that question is "yes".

Throughout the New Testament we read about what theologians call the "mystical union." Don't be afraid of the word "mystical" here. They use it to refer to something true and experienced, but ultimately indescribable. Perhaps the related word "mysterious" would feel safer to some than the word mystical. We read that Jesus is in us and we are in him (John 17:22-23; 1 Cor 1:30, etc.).

The pure overwhelming love that God designed to experience in marriage is a foretaste and a picture of something greater: our relationship with Him. Paul writes in Ephesians 5 that when he describes the marriage relationship he is also describing the relationship that the Lord has with us. We are the bride of Christ. He designed marriage to be a reflection of the depth of love, devotion and intimacy he desires to have with us. Charles and Joyce Penner, in their wonderful book The Gift of Sex write, "It would seem that the total way in which two people get involved with each other in a sexual experience is a symbol of the way in which we can be intensely involved with God. We are totally open and vulnerable with each other. God would have us give ourselves to him with the same abandonment."

Of course, it is important to underline the word "symbolic" in that quotation because our minds go astray if we view the physical relationship of marriage as a literal representation of our relationship with the Triune God. It does, however, point to the intensity of devotion and the incredible delight and joy that is possible in our relationship with God.

So you can see that the God-designed purpose for our sexuality is glorious. It is to be expressed and delighted in the marriage relationship. It is pleasurable. It produces children. It unites a husband and wife physically, emotionally and spiritually. And it is a reflection of God's intended love-relationship with us. With all of these incredibly good intentions for us, is it no wonder that the Lord tells us what to do and what to avoid in order to experience all that he has for us? Is it any wonder that the enemy would seek to destroy the beauty of God's intention?

We will look at some of things that God says in the coming weeks. But we must always have God's vision for us in mind as we do.









Friday, November 4, 2016

The Trap - Part 2


In my last post I wrote about "the trap". It is a scheme of the evil one that ensnares many believers. He tempts the believer and seductively lures us into sin and then viciously attackers when we sin. It is a strategy designed to keep the believer from from following after God. 

There were two reactions to the article. Some people thanked me for exposing the trap. They realised that they had experienced themselves. One person even realised that the trap described exactly what they were experiencing. The image helped them get back on their feet spiritually and start walking with Jesus again. There was grace and forgiveness to to be found in Christ.

Others were concerned that I was somehow condoning sin the life of the follower of Christ. They reasoned that people would understand my article to think that sin was somehow okay and we should tolerate it in our lives. Nothing could be farther from the truth. "Sin is okay" is yet another trap of the enemy. It's a lie that he whispers to keep us from experiencing the freedom of a holy life. 

Two Key Truths

There are two key truths that Paul says make up a "sure foundation". They are both extremely important.

The first is this: the Lord knows who are his. 

The mystery of God's choosing is shrouded in his will. We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Eph 1). Jesus said that he knows his sheep and that his sheep know the sound of his voice. When we come to faith in Christ we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, who is guarantee of our inheritance.

If you have been born again by the Spirit of God, you have been adopted by Him. You are a son or daughter of the Most High.

You don't become a Christian by being born into a Christian family. You become a Chrisitan, in the biblical sense, by regeneration. You have to be born again. We experience several things as we are born again: repentance and faith. We repent of our sins and we believe the gospel. Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins and rose from the dead.

You will never be an more "his" than when you were born again. However, we need to remember that  regeneration (being born again) is, like physical birth, only the first step of a life with the Lord. And just as a baby grows and becomes like their parents, we are to grow and become more like Jesus.

That brings us to the second key truth:

Those who call on the Lord must turn away from wickedness.

We are called to live holy lives. Sin and rebellion against God are never okay. They diminish our fellowship with God, rob us of joy and peace, spoil our spiritual fruit, and damage relationships. We are called to be holy. We must remember that!

We are to put off the old man and put on the new. We are to get rid of sinful attitudes and actions. We are to learn to live lives of love. Read Colossians 3:1-14; Ephesians 4-5; 1 Peter 1:13-16. 

There is a great deception in the land: salvation without holiness. There are people who point to some past event and say to themselves, "I've got that heaven thing taken care of so I don't have to worry about that. I might as well 'enjoy life' and live like the devil!" Some point to their infant baptism and others to a "salvation prayer" at a crusade as their "get out of hell free" card. But in either, their true hearts are exposed: they are not saved. The redeemed desire to live lives of holiness! Don't be deceived: Those who call on the Lord must turn away from wickedness!

For those that build their lives on these truths the transformation can be amazing. Drugs and alcohol lose their grip. Greed turns into generosity. Anger into patience and gentleness. Despair turns to hope.

But sometimes we fall. When we do, the enemy wants us to believe that our sin has ruined our hope of heaven. That's the trap I wrote about.

But heaven was never based on our performance. We are saved by grace through faith. Our relationship with God is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. He died for our sins. He offers us grace and mercy.  From beginning to end, our salvation is based on grace. When we sin, we need to repent, receive forgiveness, and and continue to walk the highway of holiness.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
 (Hebrews 12:1-2)