This last weekend began with Harold Camping's much publicized, absolutely confident prediction that Judgment Day would hit the world at 6pm on Saturday, one timezone after another. (Why God would respect man-made timezones is beyond me.) It was sad to see how, by the end of the day, his adherents were so confused and disillusioned.
The weekend ended with the people of Joplin, MO, feeling like Judgment Day may have actually come. Unimaginable devastation from one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
What do theologically-irresponsible fear mongering and a truly devastating natural disaster have to teach us?
First, Camping wasn't wrong about Judgment Day happening, but about the timing and details of it. (I find it odd that his Judgment Day preceded his Rapture Day.) His irresponsible prediction only serves to further undermine belief that a real Judgment Day does await us.
Second, what happened in Joplin, as horrible as it is, pales weakly in comparison to what real judgment will be like. By no means would I diminish the horrible experience this disaster is for so many, but what grace saves us from is orders of magnitude worse.
I don't see what happened recently in Japan, Alabama, and Joplin as the direct result of God's judgment. They are, however, severe reminders that we live in fallen universe marching steadily toward instability, chaos, and eventual collapse. Our present world is incapable of hosting our eternal destiny.
We will eventually face our Creator, and He will either judge us based on our own righteousness or judge us based on the righteousness of His Son, imputed to us by faith. If judged by my own righteousness, I have only despair for a fate far worse than Joplin. If judged by the righteousness of Christ, I have only hope for a world that will never deteriorate, never break down, and never end.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Outreach Month
We have chosen May to be "Outreach Month" - a month that we focus on various outreach ministries that we are connected to. Our goal is to make us all more aware of what's going on in our own area, to pray more specifically, and to show that outreach is not all that scary, hard, or demanding. What is needed most is a willing spirit.
On May 1, we focused on Awana, an outreach held in our own church, reaching over 100 kids every week, some of whom do not regularly attend a church. Jim Riddle (the commander for the last 6 years) told us why it's worth the effort.
On May 8, we focused on Bridge of Hope, and EV Free church in Kansas City, KS, reaching many of society's forgotten citizens. Andy and Sarah Weichelt let us know all that they are involved in. Please remember "MegaDay" coming up on Saturday!
On May 15, our focus will be on Christ Community Downtown, a church soon to be planted in downtown KC. Bill Gorman will share the vision, and then share the Word.
On May 22, we will hear from Dan and Joy, missionaries visiting us for the first time in a while, and will share about their work in Central Asia.
On May 29, Dr. Bascom Ratliff from Hope Harbor will share what's going on right in our own building 3 times a week, and how we can reach out to their counseling clients. Also, we will hear from the Kenya 2011 Mission Team, who leave in about 6 weeks.
There are far more we could highlight, and we will on future dates.
Allow the Lord to put a particular prayer burden on your heart, and then be faithful to pray. We can't all be completely concerned with every ministry, so allow Him to direct you. Also, pray about ways that you can push the envelope and be involved in one of the outreach ministries Grace is involved in.
A big thanks to Tom Bender, our Deacon of Outreach, for putting "Outreach Month" together.
On May 1, we focused on Awana, an outreach held in our own church, reaching over 100 kids every week, some of whom do not regularly attend a church. Jim Riddle (the commander for the last 6 years) told us why it's worth the effort.
On May 8, we focused on Bridge of Hope, and EV Free church in Kansas City, KS, reaching many of society's forgotten citizens. Andy and Sarah Weichelt let us know all that they are involved in. Please remember "MegaDay" coming up on Saturday!
On May 15, our focus will be on Christ Community Downtown, a church soon to be planted in downtown KC. Bill Gorman will share the vision, and then share the Word.
On May 22, we will hear from Dan and Joy, missionaries visiting us for the first time in a while, and will share about their work in Central Asia.
On May 29, Dr. Bascom Ratliff from Hope Harbor will share what's going on right in our own building 3 times a week, and how we can reach out to their counseling clients. Also, we will hear from the Kenya 2011 Mission Team, who leave in about 6 weeks.
There are far more we could highlight, and we will on future dates.
Allow the Lord to put a particular prayer burden on your heart, and then be faithful to pray. We can't all be completely concerned with every ministry, so allow Him to direct you. Also, pray about ways that you can push the envelope and be involved in one of the outreach ministries Grace is involved in.
A big thanks to Tom Bender, our Deacon of Outreach, for putting "Outreach Month" together.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
I Can't Change How I Feel
The death of Osama bin Ladin is historic, worldwide news. It would be very hard to find someone who is not aware of it, and equally hard to find someone who doesn't have an opinion about it. I've been involved in more than a few discussions on how we should respond as Christians.
Should we rejoice over the defeat of a mass murderer? Should we ever rejoice of the death of someone who, just by being human, was born in the image of God? Can we separate out rejoicing over justice from how we feel about the death of this man?
Many have quoted Proverbs 24:17-18:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Or the Lord will see it and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.
Others have quoted Ezekiel 18:23:
"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord God, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?"
Others have repeated a misquote from Martin Luther King, Jr. There's plenty of opinions and debate out there.
I know how I should feel - sorry for the loss of a soul, grateful that God's justice will always prevail. But I can't change how I feel.
I don't want there to be glee, but there was some (at least initially) when I first heard the news. I have too much joy that he's gone and too little grief that he could have been completely forgiven. He could have been my brother, which would have been the happiest ending.
I think that part of the glee comes from my own false opinion that I'm better than he is, that he deserves punishment, but I don't. Another part of my glee is that I was so mad about what he has done, and I wanted him to experience what he inflicted on others. But even on that account, his one death does not make up for the thousands he took, and the thousands of families he grieved, so there's no satisfaction here for me.
I'm no more deserving of heaven than he was. It's not my job to see that people pay for their sin. Revenge consumes the revenger.
As I sort this through, I'm just completely grateful for the grace God offers in Christ to forgive me of my sin. All the things I wanted bin Ladin to experience, I deserve. So, I weep a little realizing the depth of my own sin, and how amazing it is that God offers us a way to enjoy eternal blessings even now, instead of suffering the same condemnation my ugly heart secretly wishes for the bin Ladins of the world.
Lord, save me from my own evil joy, and give me Your heart for the lost.
Should we rejoice over the defeat of a mass murderer? Should we ever rejoice of the death of someone who, just by being human, was born in the image of God? Can we separate out rejoicing over justice from how we feel about the death of this man?
Many have quoted Proverbs 24:17-18:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Or the Lord will see it and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.
Others have quoted Ezekiel 18:23:
"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord God, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?"
Others have repeated a misquote from Martin Luther King, Jr. There's plenty of opinions and debate out there.
I know how I should feel - sorry for the loss of a soul, grateful that God's justice will always prevail. But I can't change how I feel.
I don't want there to be glee, but there was some (at least initially) when I first heard the news. I have too much joy that he's gone and too little grief that he could have been completely forgiven. He could have been my brother, which would have been the happiest ending.
I think that part of the glee comes from my own false opinion that I'm better than he is, that he deserves punishment, but I don't. Another part of my glee is that I was so mad about what he has done, and I wanted him to experience what he inflicted on others. But even on that account, his one death does not make up for the thousands he took, and the thousands of families he grieved, so there's no satisfaction here for me.
I'm no more deserving of heaven than he was. It's not my job to see that people pay for their sin. Revenge consumes the revenger.
As I sort this through, I'm just completely grateful for the grace God offers in Christ to forgive me of my sin. All the things I wanted bin Ladin to experience, I deserve. So, I weep a little realizing the depth of my own sin, and how amazing it is that God offers us a way to enjoy eternal blessings even now, instead of suffering the same condemnation my ugly heart secretly wishes for the bin Ladins of the world.
Lord, save me from my own evil joy, and give me Your heart for the lost.
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