Understanding the Gospel: Part 1 - We are Guilty

The pages of history are filled with brutal dictators who commit atrocities. Our newsfeeds are filled with stories of murders, terrorist attacks, kidnappings and genocides. Our financial pages are filled with articles telling of embezzlement, unfair trade practices, and price gouging. Our private conversations are filled with experiences of petty theft, violated trust, and malicious lies.

It seems that there are people who are filled with all types of depravity. They are inventors of evil, heartless and ruthless. They are evil and delight in murder. They are consumed with envy and jealousy and boast of their exploits. Their thinking is so twisted that they call what is obviously evil good. And they work hard to convince people to join them in their lifestyle. We look at these evil people and yearn for justice.

The Bible assures us that justice is coming. God is just. He will not let the wrong go unpunished. There is no "perfect crime" that will somehow go unpunished. Hitler escaped a human court by committing suicide. He did not escape God's court. Justice will be done.

Knowing that these evil people will be punished by God causes us to sigh with relief. "It is good that they will get what they deserve" Everyone wants the playground bully to be put in his proper place!

What if the news reporter examined your life? What evils would be exposed? Or worse, what if God examined your life? How will you fare on the day of God's judgment of your life?

• Are you a thief? Before you answer, "of course not", think about whether you have ever taken something that wasn't yours or used something without paying for it. For example, have you ever hopped on the tram without validating your ticket or taken a few supplies home from work? If so, you are a thief.

• Are you an adulterer? You are an adulterer if you have had sex outside of marriage. You are an adulterer if you visit a prostitute. In fact, you are an adulterer if you use the "services" of a prostitute "impersonally" by viewing pornography. 

• Are you a liar? If you have ever told a lie, you are a liar. 

When we start to examine our lives, we often begin by comparing ourselves with others rather holding ourselves up to the true standard of righteousness set by God. If we measure ourselves by the true standard, we realise that we are guilty and will fall silent.

The truths expressed so far in this post are drawn primarily from the first three chapters of the book of Romans. It is sobering to realise that we are guilty before God and are subject to His wrath. It is in this context that the gospel begins to make sense. No one is righteous. Not one. We all deserve wrath.

Evangelism Implications:

The book of Acts shows us how the early church went about doing evangelism. While they did not follow a script, almost every situation included the fact that we are guilty before God. hen Paul was in prison he was given frequent opportunities to talk to Felix, the governor who had charge over him. These were moments to talk about Jesus, yet Paul focused on reasoning with him about "righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment" (Acts 24:24-27). Paul understood that unless Felix understood his true condition, he would never understand the implications of the cross. Paul was willing to talk to Felix about judgment even though it made Felix uncomfortable.

One way to do this in an evangelism context is to ask whether the person thinks they are good enough to get into heaven. Almost invariably they will say, "I hope so." We can then tell them that the 10 Commandments are a test that one must pass and ask them if they would like to take it. If they agree, we can begin with the question, "Have you ever told a lie?" Almost everyone will admit that they have and then you can ask them, "What does that make you?" The correct answer is "A liar". That will make them uncomfortable, but it is important that they realise that they are guilty before God. 

Theological Basis:

Sin is any failure to conform to the moral last of God in act, attitude, or nature. We sin by committing acts (like lying or stealing) that violate God's moral law. We also sin by having attitudes that are contrary to his law. For example, we are not to covet things that are not ours (Exodus 20:17) and Jesus forbids anger and lust (Matt 5:22-28).  In addition, we are by nature sinners (Ephesians 2:3). This nature is inherited from Adam (Romans 5:18-19). In fact, we are so infused with sin that we are incapable of doing anything "good" that would warrant our salvation. We are dead in our sins (Eph 2:1-2). We are slaves to sin and unable to free ourselves (John 8:34). Even what we do that appears to be good is like a filthy rag in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6; Rom 3:9-20). The right application of God's moral law serves to expose our true condition (Romans 3:19-20). That is its purpose (1 Timothy 1:8-11).

Scriptures to Consider:

Psalm 51:1-5; John 8:31-36; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; Romans 1:18-3:31; Romans 5:1-21; Ephesians 2:1-5; 1 John 1:8-10

Part 2 is found here.

A Most Important Moment of the Day

When I look back at my Christian life, I realise that there have been many things that the Lord has used to steer my relationship with him. There have been books and seminars, retreats and conferences, conversations and music. Of course, one of the most important has been the commitment to attend regularly in a Bible-preaching church and become involved in its life. But there is something even more foundational than that.

A friend of mine seemed to know God. There was something about him that seemed to radiate the presence of Jesus. He wasn't perfect. He wasn't one of those people with a naturally magnetic personality. Somehow the presence of Jesus seemed to be almost like a cologne. No, you couldn't smell it, but it was there. I asked him about it and he shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't know what I was talking about. So I asked him to describe a typical day.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

He smiled, and said, "Well, it begins with what I call the 'Morning Watch'". He could tell I was confused and he said, "In Psalm 5:3 it says, O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I direct my prayer to you and watch."

"Oh, you mean like having your devotions."

"Yes and no. If by 'having your devotions' your devotions you mean reading some devotional book or perhaps following a scheduled bible reading plan, then no. It may include those things, but the morning watch is different."

I was intrigued.

"The word "watch" means to look at, observe, or keep watch for something. I picture a watchman or lookout or guard. They are patiently observing. And in Psalm 5:3, the thing that the psalmist is looking for is the Lord himself. So the morning watch is a time of watching and looking for the Lord."

"Sounds a little weird. Tell me more. How do you do it?"

"Well, it begins with prayer. I usually pray, thanking God for the day and the opportunity to meet with him. Then I read a portion of Scripture. Usually not large a few verses or a paragraph at the most. I usually just read the next passage in a book...right now it is 1 John...but many times I read the same verses for several days in a row. And then I ask the Holy Spirit to teach me and show me how this applies to my life.

"And then I watch. I listen. I wait. And the Spirit frequently begins to speak to me. It isn't an audible voice that I hear with my ears. It is a spiritual thing. Hearing with spiritual ears is hard to describe. Sometimes I don't hear anything. But often I do. Sometimes it seems like a particular word or phrase is highlighted to my spiritual eyes. There is a sense of his presence being with me, and even if there is nothing profound that I am seeing in the passage, I have learned that the Lord is building something inside of me.

"I also pray. There are concerns I have that I want to talk to the Lord about, but in many ways the process is the same. I hold a concern before him and watch. I want know the direction of the Lord in my praying. I don't want to just mouth some appropriate words, but I want to understand God's heart regarding the situation. I am watching."

The conversation went on and we talked about many practical things that got me started on the way. Since then, I've learned more, but I am convinced that it is one of the most important spiritual disciplines there is.

Some questions:
Does it have to be in the morning? No. Sometimes schedules make first thing in the morning almost impossible. But there are advantages that must be seriously considered. First, it gives an orientation to the day. Second, it is usually the time when you are least likely to be disturbed or distracted. Third, there is evidence that it was a habit of Jesus (Mark 1:35).

What if I don't "hear" anything? Be patient. The Lord will teach you, but it takes time. Believers often fall into two categories. Some people are looking for an emotionally satisfying experience. They read a few verses, wait a few minutes, and are disappointed. Others are looking for intellectual stimulation. They read a few verses and don't discover some new truth and turn away. The Lord is seeking to build relationship. It will, given time, provide much more than a fleeting emotional experience or an intellectual head rush. It will give life.

Isn't discipline a lot like legalism? No. Legalism is a Christian life lived by rules rather than relationship. It is seeking to justify yourself or measure your sanctification based on keeping rules. Discipline and Disciple are closely related words. To be called to a spiritual discipline is not legalism. Believing you are holier than others because you haven't missed the Morning Watch in a month is legalistic thinking. Disciplining yourself so that the most important relationship you have gets the time it needs is simply wisdom.  In our rejection of legalism, we must be careful not to reject discipline.

Can I integrate other things like music? Sure, but remember that the purpose is to meet with God, not to be entertained or emotionally moved by our favourite music. I find that music with words distracts from the morning watch, but instrumental music sometimes helps to hide other noises that might catch my attention.

Isn't this mysticism? That depends upon your definition. If by mysticism you mean the seeking of nebulous spiritual experiences, then no. But if by mysticism you mean "that which is difficult to explain", then yes. It is difficult to explain how one hears or senses the Holy Spirit, but the Bible clearly teaches that it is an important part of the Chrisitan life.

Photo by Hetty Stellingwerf on Unsplash

A Church of Many Languages

Juan quietly entered the worship service. Someone had greeted him at the door. They seemed friendly enough, but there were others coming in so the conversation didn't last long. His work had sent him to Strasbourg for a year from Argentina. The accounting problems at work were not difficult, because the company systems were in Spanish, but everything else was strange. Grocery shopping, getting a cell phone, setting up a bank account were all overwhelming. How was he going to make it for a year here? He felt alone. For the first time since he was a small child he felt like he couldn't handle things. Someone mentioned an English speaking church met in Strasbourg. His English wasn't very good, but it was better than his French, which he didn't speak at all. He hadn't been to church in years, but maybe he could meet some people who he could relate to. And maybe, just maybe, these people could help him understand the depths of confusion he felt inside.

The only reason Monique was there that morning was that a friend had suggested that it was a good place to practice speaking English. Monique's friend was excited about the church and kept asking her to come, but Monique kept saying that she wasn't interested in religion. Monique's parents had told her that churches were just interested in manipulating people for their money. The massive centuries-old church buildings in her home town of Strasbourg seem to confirm what her parents said. That's what surprised her when she entered the room. TICOS wasn't like any church she had ever been in. There were no ornate altars, stain-glass windows, or massive pipe organs. It was, well, plain. An older woman came up and introduced herself. Monique responded in English, but fumbled for her words. The woman smiled and said, "We can speak French if you would like." Monique shook her head and said that she needed to practice her English. They talked for a few minutes and Monique  relaxed a little and the English seemed to become easier. Then another English-speaker joined the conversation. After about thirty seconds the English was flying so fast that Monique was left alone with her thoughts as they continued, oblivious to the fact that she wasn't responding. She felt alone and desperately hoped that her friend would be arriving soon.

Language. Designed by God to create relationships. 

Languages. Designed by God to create division.

In the beginning God gave Adam and Eve some pretty simple instructions: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). This passage is filled with deep things that are worth exploring, but I want to focus on one thought: they were to fill the earth. God intended humans to spread out over the globe. As they did so, they would discover new things and adapt to different conditions. Deserts, tropics, mountains, and plains all lead to different lifestyles. And in each of these places God would be glorified. Then the rebellion happened. Adam and Eve sinned and plunged themselves and the world into darkness. Thorns and thistles became normal. Creation was subject to futility. The first murder happened almost immediately.

Still, the human race began to multiply and spread out, but this alarmed some people. Kids and grandkids were moving away to other places. It seemed that something had to be done to keep people together. So they decided to build a great tower that reached to the heavens. They desired the tower to become the central pole around which human existence turned to keep everyone close to "home". This was in direct violation of the purposes of God who wanted them to fill the earth!

The Lord stepped in and confused their language. All of us feel the effects of that! Differing languages create divisions between people. Naturally, they quit building the tower and formed groups based on common language. As a result of the confusion of languages, the people spread out over the the face of the earth. They moved to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Different cultures developed as humans filled the earth and subdued it.

The Church's Task

The clear mandate of the church is to take the gospel to all nations. That means that the Church must be able to cross over geographic, cultural, and linguistic barriers to reach people with the message of salvation. It does this in a variety of ways. Typically, it sends missionaries into new areas. These missionaries learn the customs and language of a new place and seek to tell others about Jesus with the goal of establishing churches.

A second strategy is to establish a church in a country using an international trade language. These international churches have a two pronged approach to reaching the nations. First, these international churches are usually established in cities that have a high "foreign" population that speak a common trade language. These foreigners are usually undergoing transition from their home country and are open to new relationships and as a result are often receptive to the gospel message.

Second, these churches seek to reach out to people from the host country. Frequently these churches are established in countries where the natives are resistant to the gospel. An international church is often attractive to those in the host country who are curious enough about other countries or want to practice the trade language. This openness to "non-native things" frequently indicates a potential openness to the gospel message. It is also attractive to believers in the host county that have a heart to reach those from other nations.  

The Problem of Language at TICOS

It is important for us to remember that language difficulties are part of life in an international church. People like Juan and Monique arrive almost every Sunday, and our mission to reach the nations means understanding how to deal with the language barrier.

Here are some guidelines to help us navigate these waters.

Focus on Jesus.
Being part of an international church is a special experience because what draws and binds us together is Jesus. Alliance President John Stumbo recently said, "We speak dozens of languages, but one language we all share in common: we speak gospel. We cherish and speak the good news of Jesus. Our heart language, our mother tongue that stirs us is the gospel of Jesus Christ." So focus on that all-important language of the gospel.

Be sensitive.
Language skills vary widely. It is important for us to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of other people. Try not to assume that others are understanding. Seek to engage them in conversation. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a great rule to follow.

It is a balancing act.
An international church operates in a common trade language (English at TICOS). However, there are many people in the church who speak other languages, and it is common for people to form subgroups based on their native language. Relationships in those subgroups often form quickly because of common culture and language. At the same time, the relationships in the church must be intentionally international. The common trade language helps make that bridge possible. It is important that the overall culture of the church reflect all subgroups, not just one. As a result, it is important for all of us to bend in our preferences so that other groups are welcome.

Laugh alongside.
Laughter can go a long way to drawing people together. When someone makes a funny language mistake it is hard not to laugh, but make sure you are not laughing at the person. After explaining what is funny, you could tell your own story of making an embarrassing language mistake.

Don't take it personally.
Native language speakers can easily lose those who are learning a language. And often we do it without thinking and are often unaware of it. When that happens, and you find that you no longer understand the conversations around you, don't take it personally. The enemy will try to make you feel rejected, unimportant or even angry. Don't let him. In all likelihood the people were not intentionally being rude. They were not rejecting you, you were simply experiencing the separation that language causes.

Learn who speaks what language.
As you get to know people in the church, learn what languages people speak. That way when someone new comes in and you discover that they speak Russian, for example, you can introduce them to other Russian speakers. You will also know who to ask for help translating from one language to another.

Love.
An attitude of loving others helps overcome the isolation that language difficulties brings in the church. There are people who we have problems communicating with that we can still relate well with because we know that we care about one another. So seek small ways of communicating concern for one another. It could be as simple as a smile or an offer of a cup of coffee. Love builds one another up!

Give thanks.
One of the best things that you can do is give thanks to God for the people in the church. Thanksgiving builds love for one another and love helps transcend the language difficulties that exist in an international church. 

A Spiritual Exercise to Try

One of my favourite coffeehouses in Strasbourg is Oh My Goodness! The friendly baristas who know how to make a good cup of coffee, the groups of friends enjoying conversation, and the steady stream of people walking past the large windows make for a convivial place to spend time.

Newcomers are often surprised to see a jar filled with little slips of paper on each table. Curious, they pick out a piece of paper and read what it says. Each slip of paper contains a question designed to get conversations going, particularly between people who are just getting to know one another. The people at OMG realize that a coffeehouse is as much about talking as it is drinking coffee. Like I said, they know what they are doing!

Sometimes our conversation with God needs to have a "slip of paper" to get us started. Perhaps our normal "routine" just isn't working. That's when I sometimes turn to an idea that someone shared with me many years ago. Perhaps it will work to get your conversation with God flowing some morning this week.

Simply take a piece of paper and write one of the attributes of God on the top. Then begin writing sentences that begin with, "Lord, because you are (fill in the attribute of God), I _______________. Try to come up with 5 to 10 sentences for that attribute of God.

For example, "Lord, because you are ever-present, I know that you are with my family wherever they go." "Lord, because you are ever-present, I can be certain that you will be with me today at work." "Lord, because you are ever-present, you know the awful thing that happened yesterday."

I find that this easy exercise gets my mind and heart focused on the Lord in a fresh way. Then when I pick up my Bible, the Holy Spirit seems to speak more freely. Suddenly, I am talking to God with a freshness and enthusiasm that wasn't there a few minutes before. Try it! You may find that your conversation takes on wings like it does when talking with friends at Oh My Goodness!

The Four Basics

In the book of Acts we read that the church devoted themselves to four things.
These four things are a part of every healthy Christian's life and, by extension, every healthy church. If they are not a part of our lives, we are not experiencing everything that God wants us to enjoy. What are these four things?

The Apostles' Teaching. 
One of the primary responsibilities of the apostles was teaching others about Jesus and the gospel. They eventually wrote down four biographies of Jesus (the gospels), a history of the early church which provides a model for us (Acts), a series of letters addressing theological and lifestyle issues (the epistles) and a book dealing with the last days (Revelation).
The believers were hungry to know these things, and were passionate about passing that knowledge on to other people. They studied together, they listened to the teaching of the Bible, they measured everything against God's Word. This was both a personal and a relational activity. In other words, devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching was something that they did by themselves, but also with other people on Sundays and during the week.
Implications:
We must make the Bible a priority in our lives. We must read, study and meditate on God's word. We should consider memorising it. The fact that we have a Bible app does not mean that we are devoted to studying and applying God's Word to our lives.
Possible Action Steps:
Schedule a time during the day to study and meditate on God's Word.
Join a TICOS Bible Study. Don't see one that works? Find a few friends and meet to study a book of the Bible together.
Memorize a book of the Bible. Here's how.
Commit to regular attendance at a Bible teaching church.

The Fellowship
The fellowship is the web of relationships formed when a person becomes a follower of Jesus. John wrote that one of the main reasons that he was telling others about the gospel was so that they might have fellowship together (1 John 1:1-4). The early Christians were not spectators who were satisfied by filling the room in support of their favourite platform performers. Instead they were to be committed to the people in the church. They bore one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). They spurred one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
Implications:
Western society tends to be individualistic and consumer-driven. We tend to view our church like a restaurant that serves us food we like rather than as a family we are committed to. God wants us to experience something that cannot be found anywhere else: fellowship. But that fellowship requires commitment and determination on our part. It is not like finding TV show that keeps us entertained, but it like having deep friendships with people that will challenge and encourage and be sympathetic towards us. It is based on a single common interest: Jesus.
Action Steps:
Make a commitment to a local church. Become regular in attendance at worship services and other church functions.
Seek to build Christ-centered relationships with the people of the church.
Seek to be an encourager of others in the church (Hebrews 10:25). This can happens most effectively when you know people well.
Go beyond being a spectator. Get involved in the church in order to build relationships. Seek to encourage and bear someone else's burden.

The Breaking of Bread.
Scholars are divided about the meaning of this phrase. It could refer to the act of celebrating communion together. Jesus "broke bread and gave it to his disciples." If so, then participating in the Lord's Supper is an important part of the life of the church. It is a means of focusing on the heart of the gospel: Jesus's death and resurrection. Certainly this is an important part of the Christian life!
I am more inclined to think that it refers to the simple act of eating together. Just a few verses later we are told that they "attended the temple together and broke bread in their homes" (Acts 2:46). The early Christians had one another over for meals together. What a wonderful way to get to know one another and to build relationships!
Implications:
Following Christ is not about simply attending church. It includes developing relationships with other believers. It is significant that they met in one another's homes. This meant that they were invited into the lives of each other in a way that eating in a restaurant just doesn't match. Most of the people in the church were poor. They did not have luxurious homes to show off. We don't need chandeliers and fancy seven course meals to do this. A table and a pizza will do. The important thing is a commitment to opening our lives and developing relationships with other believers.
Action Steps:
Invite some people over for a meal. It does not have to be fancy (but if fancy is your "thing" go for it!). Remember that the goal is getting to know one another. Eating together does that.
An idea: One couple hosted a regular "Spaghetti Night". They invited 8 people to their home on a Friday evening for spaghetti with the understanding that they would find the house "as is". They chose spaghetti because it was kid-friendly and easy to make. Because others frequently volunteered to bring salad or baguettes, the evening was spent enjoying friends rather then cooking.

The Prayers.
Prayer was a central part of the life of the church. Reading the book of Acts one is constantly finding references to the church praying passionately together. The epistles are filled with calls to prayer and examples of how the apostles prayed for others. Prayer is the finer-optic cable of communication with God. Prayer in the early church was an individual practice. People were committed to getting alone with God in prayer. It was also a corporate practice. They prayed regularly together. They prayed for one another. They prayed for the spread of the gospel. They prayed for the pouring out of the Spirit. Their prayer meetings were not boring "stare at the carpet" affairs, but the passionate crying out to God by a people filled with the Spirit commissioned to take the gospel to the nations.
Implications:
Prayer must be a part of our lives. This is not an option, and lack of prayer indicates that we are depending on ourselves rather than on God. Prayer needs to be one of the identifying characteristics of our lives. Simply put: we cannot live the Christian life without prayer.
Action Steps:
Make time to pray in your schedule. Yes, 10 second prayers can be powerful, but they are not enough for a vibrant life with Christ. Plan a regular rendezvous with God.
Find people to pray with. TICOS has a prayer meeting at 9:15 every Sunday morning downstairs. Join a life group that prays together as part of their gatherings.
Pray out loud when in a group. Perhaps you have a fear of praying out loud. Seek to overcome it. Break through that barrier so that others can agree with you in prayer. Praying out loud often has a side benefit of deepening our relationships with others.
Find a prayer partner. Find someone who you can meet with on a regular basis for prayer.