Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
(1 John 2:15-17 ESV)

Yet, in the beginning of the Bible when God formed creation, He said again and again “it is good”. How do we balance this tension of thankfully using and enjoying God’s gifts and yet not allowing our hearts to be led astray by loving created things?

This picture should really help you THINK about what actually being INDIFFERENT to the world's goods would be like.

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) gives us a solid understanding of how to balance this tension through indifference to the world. Ignatius grew up very wealthy, but after being injured in war he had a strong conversion experience and devoted himself to the Lord’s service. He eventually founded the Jesuits, a band of intense missionaries devoted to radical service for the Lord. The Jesuits all take a vow of poverty, both as a safeguard against the deceitfulness of wealth and as a help to enable them to minister to the poor. The Jesuit missionary movement was one of the more successful cross-cultural missionary movements. By the time Ignatius died there were over a thousand Jesuits in counties throughout the globe (I want to say 180 counties but I am having trouble finding my reference for that).

Here is the “Principle and Foundation” what the “Spiritual Exercises” – which Ignatius gave to the Jesuit Society as a basis for performing Spiritual Retreats that would shape and direct a person’s spirituality. Here is what he wrote:

The First Principle and Foundation

The human person is created to praise, reverence, and serve God Our Lord, and by doing so, to save his or her soul. All other things on the face of the earth are created for human beings in order to help them pursue the end for which they are created.

It follows from this that one must use other created things, in so far as they help towards one’s end, and free oneself from them, in so far as they are obstacles to one’s end. To do this, we need to make ourselves indifferent to all created things, provided the matter is subject to our free choice and there is no other prohibition.

Thus, as far as we are concerned, we should not want health more than illness, wealth more than poverty, fame more than disgrace, a long life more than a short one, and similarly for all the rest, but we should desire and choose only what helps us more towards the end for which we are created.

I love how this is worded, because it reflects the very words that the Apostle Paul instructed us with:

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
(1 Corinthians 7:29-31, emphasis added)

The Apostle Paul lived this out himself:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:11-13, emphasis added)

This word is desperately needed in our churches today. So much of what is called “missional” these days is really an excuse to love the world and call it love for God or call it mission. In our drastically wealthy society – with pleasures and comforts far greater than any time in history – we as Christians must constantly guard our hearts against “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things”. Ignatius’ approach informs how we can go about doing that.

Recently I had a talk with a friend who recently had a talk with one of his pastors about homosexuality. The pastor – a young guy who is newly a pastor – said that he still was not decided on the morality of homosexuality. This baffled me, especially considering he is in an evangelical church in a Bible-believing denomination. The Bible’s teaching on homosexuality is very clear. It is succinctly stated in 1 Corinthians:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV)

It says “do not be deceived” for a reason. Our enemy will try to make us believe that those people could inherit the Kingdom. But the Bible is clear, read Roman 1:18-32, 1 Timothy 1:10, Leviticus 18:22, and Leviticus 20:13. I cannot fully delve into this topic in this post. I understand it is a struggle and I love many of my friends who are themselves homosexual offenders. I yet must still stand firm that it is sin and requires repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ. For a more detailed discussion, see this sermon by my friend Pastor Cor. So from all this, we know that the relationship between Jonathan and David is NOT written to encourage homoerotic relationships.

So what is going on with Jonathan and David?

It happens quite suddenly in 1 Samuel. We don’t even know if David and Jonathan know each other. Then we read:

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
(1 Samuel 18:3-5 ESV)

This seems strange! There’s clearly an intimate relationship happening here. Why? Let’s look at the context. In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel is told by God to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, David. In 1 Sam. 17 David defeats Goliath – when neither Saul or his army were willing to fight – and wins favor with all of Israel. At the end of that chapter, Saul asks David “Whose son are you, young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite” (1 Sam 17:58).

Then look what it says right after this line. “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Sam. 18:1). AS SOON AS he finished speaking. So it seems that something David said invoked this knitting of Jonathan’s soul. Also notice the passive voice that Jonathan’s soul WAS KNIT, implying a force outside of Jonathan – namely the Lord.

David’s reply to Saul about being the son of Jesse a Bethlehemite was prophetic. One, it was prophetic in that it mirrored how God had declared that a son of Jesse would become king (1 Sam. 16:1). Second, it was prophetic in announcing that a Bethlehemite would be king, a foreshadow of the birthplace of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7).

Jonathan appears to hear from the Lord. We see this in 1 Samuel 14 in how God uses Jonathan and his armor bearer to scatter the entire Philistine army. So when David spoke those prophetic words about his father Jesse, Jonathan responded to God’s will behind that. And what was his response? Love for God’s chosen one and submission to God’s chosen authority. Jonathan was the rightful heir to Saul’s throne (1 Same 20:31). But instead, he hands over his robe, his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt to David (1 Sam. 18:4). David is not a poor scrub, his Dad owns sheep and probably land; Jonathan is not simply giving a handout. There is something bigger happening here. Jonathan is abdicating his rightful claim to the throne to David by giving him all the outward signs of his position. We later see Jonathan support this decision by telling David that he will be King (1 Sam. 23:17) and even risking his life to save David (1 Sam. 20:30-33).

What’s the Lesson Here?

Rather than being an example of homosexual sin (which is choose to love the world’s pleasures over God, see Romans 1:24-27), Jonathan is an example of humble, holy submission to the will of God. Jonathan could have loved the world and sought after his own power and glory. Instead, Jonathan loved God and God’s chosen king, forgoing his own rights in order to give God the Glory and give God’s king the power.

This is also a prophetic foreshadowing of John the Baptist, who likewise would abdicate his own influence in order to allow God’s chosen King, Jesus Christ, to take his proper place (John 3:28-30). Like Jonathan and John the Baptist, we should be willing to say in our hearts “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), giving God the glory and not seizing it for ourselves.

This three-part separation was first used by John Calvin in Geneva. There are two reasons behind it:

1) It is modeled after God’s offices as our ruler

For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver;
the LORD is our king; he will save us.
(Isaiah 33:22 ESV)

God is Lord. The Bible is clear: “the Lord is King Forever and Ever” (Ps. 10:16). God is the ultimate power over all nations. Therefore, our own government of the nations should be modeled after God’s government. God Himself demonstrates three separate areas of government: lawmaking, judging, and ruling.

2) It tries to limit the power of sinful men

“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
(Romans 3:10-18 ESV)

This three-part separation of powers has at its core the understanding that men are sinners and thus their sinful nature must be put into check and their power must be limited. Despite the fact that our humanistic culture assumes men are good, we still greatly benefit from this separation of powers in our government and even in public corporations.

Don’t knock your foundations

With the growing rise of socialism and atheism in this country, there is a growing hatred of Biblical Christianity. This hatred is foolish on many levels, but especially in how it attacks the very foundation that this country stands on. When we throw out all the assumptions and values that formed the basis of our governmental structure (such as limiting man’s power because of his sin) then those foundational assumptions will crumble and the benefits of this government which we have long enjoyed will be taken away. Even today we’re seeing a rapid centralization of power into the executive branch, with the president slowly acting more like a monarch than a limited manager. This will have terrible repercussions.

Thankfully, God is my King and His Kingdom will never be shaken.

The first time I really learned about Mormonism was when I was jumping on my friend’s trampoline when I was in 7th grade. Why I remember that day specifically so clearly (vs. all the other days of childhood), I don’t know. I grew up with a number of Mormon friends in school and on my sports teams. I was hanging out with one of those friends. I remember him explaining the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to me. I asked him if Mormons are Christians. He said, “no, we’re Mormon”.

About a year ago I had a similar experience. I was walking through the park near our house and two young guys were talking to people, one had a name tag that said “Elder Simpson”. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were trying to talk to the North Central University (a Christian University) students. I asked them if they were Christians. They said, “no, we’re Mormon”. He then proceeded to describe why Mormonism is different than Christianity and why they are there trying to convert Christian University students to Mormonism.

Why this distinction? Because one of the primary tenets of Mormonism established by Joseph Smith is that they are the ONLY True Church, meaning all other “Christians” are not of the true church but are all “lost in Apostasy”. If you ask any educated Mormon, they will tell you that Christians do not go to the same place as Mormons when they die, but rather go to a different level of “heaven”. Clearly, in their own belief Mormons and Christians are different. Here’s a paper by an “Elder Oaks” from lds.org clearly laying out how Mormons and Christians are different and how Christians are in apostasy.

There’s a number of things that distinguish Mormons from Christians as well. Mormons reject the Trinity as defined by the Nicene Creed and instead believe they are each separate beings. Mormons reject salvation by faith alone by grace alone and instead emphasize a salvation through their own efforts, thus minimizing what Jesus did on the cross – you won’t see any crosses in Mormon churches. Mormons also believe God is a created being, once finite like ourselves, which is completely different from the infinite, self-existent, all-powerful creator God that Christianity proclaims. Here’s a great FAQ on “Are Mormons Christians” from the Gospel Coalition.

Are individual Mormons true believers? That depends on the individual. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches things that are contrary to God’s truth found in the Bible (see this link for examples), which makes it very difficult for a Mormon to become a believer. Nevertheless, I see no reason why some individuals can, by the grace of God and despite that bad theology, clearly see their need for a savior, be born again, declare Jesus as Lord, and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead (John 3:3, Romans 10:9). I have Catholic friends who “venerate” Mary (which I think is idol worship) yet who seem to have the Holy Spirit and rely on Christ’s atoning death. But is every Mormon a true believer? I think not, just as I would say there are many who attend Christian churches that are not either.

So why the sudden push to think that Mormons are Christians? Here’s my theory: Politics. Joseph Smith himself ran for president (well, he wanted to be King, but president was a start). Nine other Mormons have made campaign bids for president. There is even a whole book about the Mormon quest for the presidency.

From the outset, Joseph Smith believed that establishing a Mormon based government in America would be part of the second coming of Jesus Christ. He even established a ”council of 50″, with himself as King, separate from the church which would rule the world (see this article about that). This Mormon vision is called “Theodemocracy”, read the Wikipedia article about it. Here’s an interesting Opinion piece in the NY Times about the Mormon quest for political power.

Just in case you didn’t draw the conclusion, gaining political power in America is indeed a fulfillment of the prophetic vision for America entrusted to the LDS church by its two earliest leaders (Smith and Brigham Young) who they venerate as prophets. Would a Mormon president suddenly try to force this vision upon America? By no means, that would indeed be foolish and would meet an end like Joseph Smith did. I’m sure a Mormon president would try to be a good politician in order to pave the way for future Mormon politicians. But how this influence and power will be used in the future? Well, I think it would be foolish to assume that the prophetic vision is not in view!

So why suddenly is the question being raised if Mormons are Christians, when traditionally the distinction has been made clear? Here’s my theory: Politics. The Mormons cannot win a republican candidate without the Christian Right’s support. So the language of distinguishing Christians from Mormons has been muted. And hundreds of millions of dollars were poured into the “I am Mormon” campaign to convince the American public that Mormons are normal people… or normal Christians. And crazily enough… it seems to be working.

Again, if you haven’t read it, here’s a great FAQ on “Are Mormons Christians” from the Gospel Coalition.

I actually own this t-shirt. "Communist Party" over at threadless.com

Recently I had a great conversation with a new friend from Eastern Europe.  Really great guy and I loved talking to him and hearing his stories.  We were discussing a lot of the history and politics of the region, especially the Balkans.  He comes from a country that adopted a socialist government during his lifetime.  He had something interesting to say about socialism (I am summerizing):

If you are part of a church, you have people who help you and care for you.  It is helpful to be a part of a religious community.  There are advantages because people will help each other, like with their business or with their family.  They have privileges by being a part of that group.  But what about people who don’t believe in God?  They don’t get those privileges.  Socialism provides a way for those people – all people – to get help as well without being a part of a religious community.

In essence, what he said was that he wanted to receive love (care, provision) without the obligation to love God or love neighbor.  He sees the value of church community, but wants to gain the privileges without belief in God or without any actual community.  This is dangerous (I’ll tell you why below).  Basically, this means he wants all the benefits but without any obligations binding him – as following God or participating in a community both challenge our ability to be self-determining (in socialist thought this is called “Free Association”, which is a super fancy word for “being selfish”).

How does Socialism Kill Love?

Socialism (which is a very loose term given its broad meanings now-a-days) seems to uphold love as it seems to care for all people and to uphold the equality of humans.  We see this in “socialist” countries today where free and equal access is provided to almost everything.  But this destroys love.  Here’s a few examples:

Socialism kills love by removing people from one thing they need most:  community. In the past, people would receive help through friends, neighbors, and especially family.  This put a lot of pressure on an individual to strive for harmony with those people.  They also had to care and love others in return, as community is always reciprocal.  Community is HARD.  It is difficult to retain relationships, especially with family.  But people had to do the hard work because those people were their support network.    But with the socialist government, you have no need to make the painful adjustments often needed to find and build real community.  The need is gone.  Now people just get an anonymous check from a government without having to talk to anyone, without anyone giving it to them in love.  You can move away from your parents, never talk to your neighbors, and not have any genuine friends and yet be fine in life.

Socialism kills love by undermining generosity. Love is, in essence, giving of one’s self (John 15:13).  The Bible says that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:5).  Generosity is always WILLFUL, it is a choice.  Socialism removes the need for giving and replaces it with involuntary means such as taxation.  So instead of volunteerism (generosity with our time), socialist countries require civil service.  All of this robs people of their ability to freely express love in giving of their time, talent, and treasure.

Socialism kills love by robbing people of their dignity. We have young children and as they get older we experience them wanting to do more and more on their own.  Why?  Because an essential part of personhood is the ability to do things ourselves.  Part of my job as a parent is to encourage them to do things themselves.  Often I could do it for them much quicker, but they get upset because it takes away their ability to do it themselves.  There’s an ancient Biblical concept called “gleaning” which is just like this.  ”Gleaning” required farmers to harvest in such a way as to allow some extra to be available for the poor – such as widows, orphans, and sojourners (immigrants) – to harvest some for themselves (see Lev. 19:9-18).  Gleaning was NOT a hand-out but rather a “hand-up”, giving vulnerable peoples a chance to do something themselves and provide for themselves.  Socialism is the complete opposite.  People are provided for irrespective of what they do.  Poor people are basically told “you are poor so you need the state to support you”.  We see this in America with the large number of families who have been on welfare for three and four generations.  I have friends like this.  When you talk to them, they have no concept of the ability to provide for themselves.  I read about a survey of kids in poverty in Arizona that found that the majority of kids did not even know what a “job” was because no one in their family had ever worked.  This is a complete and utter removal of human dignity.

Is socialism against Christianity?

Christianity is all about love:  the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ who died for our sins so that we could again be in loving relationship with God and with other people.  Socialism must be against that if it is against love, right?  More than twice as many Christians were martyred under socialist and communism governments in the 20th century than in all the previous 19 centuries combined (see article All War, All the Time by George Weigel).  Far more than Jewish people who were murdered in the holocaust.  Today, most current socialist governments are not resorting to violence but rather other means to under-ride the church, making it irrelevant and supplanting its role in society with the State.  One elderly Swedish woman I met, who uplifted her socialist Swedish government, said that churches are needed just like mental homes are needed.  However, later she said that Sweden will eventually “wake up” to see the light and get rid of all religions altogether in favor of using our minds to improve ourselves.  Beyond the very obvious opposing ideological stances between Christianity and Socialism, the proof is more in the outcomes.

Love does not come by living our selves

Socialism is a creation of man to uphold self-centered desires for self-determination.  This is living for ourselves.

When I got home last night after talking to my Eastern European friend, God brought me to this verse:

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Cor 5:14-15)

As followers of Jesus Christ we die to ourselves to live for God because Jesus died for us.  In return, God loves us by giving of Himself (such as His Holy Spirit and His Word the Bible) and His People (the Church) to uphold, care for, and love believers in Jesus Christ.  That is the true path of love.

Music is big in drug culture. It is indeed viewed as a spiritual thing. That’s one reason Matisyahu has made it so big (beyond being amazingly talented), because he blends a spiritual element into his music. But in that culture it is so much more about the sound and not the lyrics. Like how Matisyahu sings in “King without a Crown”:

You’re a slave to yourself and you don’t even know
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you’re trying to stay high, bound to stay low

And yet in the audience at his concerts, many (if not most) of the people are drunk and/or high on something. The lyrics don’t land, they don’t really move or change anyone.

In my own drug-abusing days, I listened to a ton of music. I especially loved Sublime. I dig the So Cal surfer sound. But these days, I can barely listen to any of them because the words and the plot of the song are so terrible (as demonstrated by how their lead singer died of a heroin overdose). But back in my own pot smoking days I loved it for the sound and sang along happily with the diabolical lyrics.

Music is so much more powerful to me nowadays, because the lyrics have real meaning. My joy and satisfaction now come from God, so lyrics that point me heavenward and are a true reflection of my heart’s desire to worship draw me closer to Him. There’s great, moving power there, something completely unmatched by “secular” (meaning “this-age” focused rather than God-focused) music.

The Bible points to the power of music in drawing us to God. Not only is there a whole book about songs (Psalm), but it calls Christians to address one another in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” in order to point each other to God (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16). In 1 Chronicles 25, it says that the musicians “prophesy” with their instruments, demonstrating the importance of music in pointing people to God (which is what prophecy is for, see Rev. 19:10). Even Jesus sang hymns to God (Mark 14:26).

In reflection of that I thought I’d share a testimony from a musician I enjoy who points me to God with his music. He’s a former drug-dealing, rave-going, pot-smoking Rastafarian hippie named Shawn McDonald.

Here’s his testimony:

Here’s a song I like. I really identify with the lyrics in so many of Shawn’s songs.

And I lay down my life
And I put it before You
all that I am is in your hands
and I’m not gonna question why you’re so faithful
Why that You give me the blessings that You have
Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown
to lift You up unto the throne
You are my God, You are my King
To You I give, I give You everything

 

All I need is Your love
To come and fill this heart of mine
My heart is a desert that has gone dry
And I need Your love to carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by

I wanted to paste the summary of a Biblical theology of calling I wrote for a class over 3 years ago. Looking back, I had only been a believer for a year and a half, but I’m surprised by my own writing!

Calling in a Biblical Sense

By far my favorite calling is Elijah putting his coat on Elisha, then Elisha breaks his yolks, put them to flame, and boils his oxen over it in order to serve up a great meal to everyone! That's my kind of celebration of a calling!

The Bible pictures two types of “calling”, which have drastically different meaning. The first call is God’s calling to salvation, which is tied with election or predestination.  These are described in passages such as Romans 8:28-29 and Ephesians 1:5.  This doctrine is often divided into general calling – the gospel call to all mankind – and effective calling – the instance when God calls an individual to follow Jesus (See Grudem’s Systematic Theology 692-693).

A second idea of “calling” is more in-line with what our culture typically describes as our “calling in life”.  The Bible clearly shows many men who God “called” into serving Him, an action different from the effective call to salvation.  The Bible is filled with the stories of men such as Moses, Nehemiah, and Paul who were called to specific tasks for the purpose of glorifying God.  Today, “calling” is a particular concern for those entering into ministry because it may reflect whether God will bless that pursuit.

(At this point, the paper pulled out a ton of passages and analyzed them one by one. I don’t have room for that, so here’s the summary)

Types of calling

Many men were called into a particular ministry (ex: preacher, prophet).  Other times they were called to perform a specific task (ex: John writing Revelations), which may be given to a person who already had a vocational calling from God.  As with Abraham and Joseph, sometimes people are called to be set-apart by God for later purposes.

Nature of Calling

Sometimes God’s calling makes a lot of sense based on our position, our skills, or our origins.  Ezra, descendent of Aaron, was a clear choice for rebuilding the temple.  John, an apostle of Christ, was a natural choice for conveying God’s Revelation.  Aaron was Moses’ brother, clearly destined to support Moses’ ministry.  Solomon, although not the eldest, was at least an heir to the King.  Samuel was a servant of God under the chief priest and a natural successor as spiritual leader.

A man’s calling does not always make sense.  Anointing David – a shepherd boy – as king did not make much sense.  Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac.  Hosea was told to marry an adulterous woman.  Jonah was sent to proclaim repentance in a foreign, hostile city.  God sometimes calls men to do things that appear to the outside to be outrageous or sinful.

Also note that God does not always call the people who would appear to be naturally called.  Eli’s sons – the natural successors – were not called, but Samuel was.  Adonijah was the natural successor, but Solomon was called.  Paul – a persecutor of the faith – was called to preach while many other faithful disciples were not.

Ways of Calling

God called multiple men directly, whether through his Spirit or by an audible voice (ex: Noah, Paul).  God calls some by using an angel as the messenger (ex: Gideon).  God also uses Godly, “called” men to bring other men into service (ex: Samuel and David, David and Solomon, Moses and Joshua, Moses and Aaron).  Many times God gives men a heart to serve Him and then directs their path with supernatural guidance and blessing (ex: Ezra, Nehemiah).

The Lord often speaks to his called directly, either to give the call or confirm it.  However, this does not negate the task of those already called to call in others to replace them, assist them, or engage in another ministry.  God will confirm calling; elder men should not be afraid to seek the Lord’s guidance and to call men boldly to the Lord’s service.

Confirming the Call

God often confirms his calling.  Many times he will give a sign (ex: Abraham, Gideon) or will appear to them in a dream or vision (ex: Joseph).  Many men received confirmation by God revealing His glory to them in a vision (ex: Isaiah, Jeremiah, John).  Those called by others will often get a word from the Lord directly regarding their calling coupled with words of encouragement (ex: Joshua) or with more specific direction (ex: Moses and Aaron).  Many times God encourages the called with blessings or gifts (ex: Ezra, Solomon).

Jonah ignored his call but could not escape it.  So those who are called may not be able to avoid their calling.  However, we cannot definitively say that every time someone tries to avoid his calling God will still get him to do it (God does give people over to their sin. Rom. 1:24).

The Heart behind the Call

Most of the men God called already had some sort of relationship or understanding of God; indeed, many of them were actively seeking to serve the Lord (ex: Noah, Isaiah).  However, Saul (later King Saul) appears to not have been seeking God and the other Saul (later Paul) was actively working against the Lord, although he thought he was doing otherwise.

It seems that a Christ-like heart for God and his people is intertwined with his calling.  We see the Nehemiah’s heart for the Jews in Jerusalem (Neh 1:4) and Paul’s heart for the yet unsaved Jews (Rom 9:1-3).

Knowledge of the Call

A man should have some indication if he has been called, either through God’s direct guidance, through another Godly man, or through a supernatural heart for God and His people.

To other people, a man’s calling is usually made known by his actions, either through his ministry (ex: Jonah, Paul, Elisha), by his writings (ex: Isaiah, Jeremiah), or by the results of his actions (ex: Moses, Nehemiah).  Sometimes a man’s calling is not announced or made known until later (ex: Saul, David).

Unless you are the one who has conveyed God’s calling, there is little guidance in how to discern if a man is called without seeing the fruit of that calling.  Guidance from God through prayer and prophetic wisdom seem to be the best way to verify another’s calling.

Conclusion

God calls men into his service, either through direct revelation, through other men, or through a Christ-like heart to serve God and His people.  Those men should know that call and feel that call; if they are unsure, they should seek God for encouragement or for further validation of that calling.  It is okay to ask God for a clear sign.  It is okay to look at how God has made someone to find a calling; however, that is not always a clear indicator and God may call a man into something seemingly outrageous or may call a man who seems to be unfit for the job.  The fruits of their ministry will demonstrate God’s true calling.  Elders and prophets should follow God’s guidance in how to call others into ministry and how to support those who have been called.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
(Psalm 90:1-4)

He said he wanted Jesus. It was just a couple of years ago that we sat at a bench in the park. He told me about how sin had controlled his life. He said he realized how drugs and partying were leading to death. He said he realized the danger. He said he wanted Jesus to be his Lord and Savior.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
(Psalm 90:5-6)

He received the Word with joy and was seeming to grow in it. But it does not appear his faith had taken root, because when life did not go well he fell back to his old ways of sin. I tried to warn him. We scheduled meeting after meeting, but he never showed. He would call again, apologize, and promise to make it next time. It didn’t happen.

For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
(Psalm 90:7-9)

He called me in tears. It was the first I heard from him in a long time. He sounded broken. He felt life had fallen a part. I prayed that this might finally be how God has humbled him. He lamented all that has happened with his life and his relationships. I told him it was his own fault. I told him that his sin does indeed lead to death. I told him God will not help him if he continues in this path. I told him he MUST flee to Jesus. I prayed as I pleaded with tears. With all that warning, he did not repent. He blamed others, he blamed his actions, but he couldn’t see his sin.

The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
(Psalm 90:10-11)

Empty Seeking was all that I saw after that point. I talked to him a couple of times online. He said he wanted to find a church and seek Jesus. He said he wanted to talk to me more and choose life. But he did not seem to follow through.

So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12)

The Lord put him on my heart one day this week, so I went to his Facebook to catch up with him. The posts on his wall didn’t seem right. They were all talking about things in the past. He did like this, he used to love that. I kept reading. Realization slowly took hold, because it seemed so unreal. He was dead. I broke down in tears, overwhelmed. I don’t know all the details, but it doesn’t look like an accident. His friends all posted pictures of themselves out partying, pouring our beers in tribute or remembering times partying with him, all of them ignorant of how their own path is heading in the same direction. No one mentioned details of what happened. I don’t know what happened, but it wasn’t an accident.

Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
(Psalm 90:13)

He was murdered. Not by human hands, but by our spiritual enemy. “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Only faith in God can save us (1 Peter 5:9). Did he trust in Jesus to save him? I don’t know. I pray with all my heart that he did.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
(Psalm 90:14-16)

The war is real, although very few of us live as if it is. The scripture tells us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12). Satan is after all of us. He is using every means possible to kill us. It might be partying, it might be seeking riches, it might be self-indulgent entertainmentism, it might be living a moral life without God. Whatever it is, Satan is trying to kill us, to get our flesh to love this world instead of God.

But Jesus came to free us! “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

The War is Real. CONSIDER THAT. And may your life never be the same.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
(Psalm 90:17)

“Think of your death today, till you can gladly say, To die is gain because of Christ. Then live & love while you have breath.” – John Piper

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:1 ESV)

I smoked pot for a number of years. I slowed down my habit not because of any moral issue, but out of practical considerations because it hindered my greater goal of working hard at getting rich. I finally quit smoking pot in January 2007, two months after I became a Christian. That last time I took a few puffs off a joint and – since I had not smoked in a while – got quite stoned. After watching a movie with my friends I left to go home. I remember sitting in my car in the parking garage outside my friend’s apartment. I started driving and then I stopped. I pulled over and hear God clearly say:

“What are you doing? Why are you doing this? I have something so much better for you. You don’t need this. I am so much better than this. Trust me.”

It was not the voice of condemnation, but a voice of loving admonition and invitation. This has led me to my understanding of what is wrong with drugs (and what is so great about our God!).

What’s Wrong with Drugs?

If you have been around people who are high or drunk, you have observed one thing: they are selfish. What is wrong with smoking pot (and other forms of intoxication)? Well the Bible talks about drunkenness, but I don’t think that’s the real issue. The real issue is a self-focus.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self…
(2 Timothy 3:1-2 ESV)

People on drugs focus on themselves or focus myopically on things around them. We call this “losing inhibitions”. I call it “stop listening to God”. God’s voice (and His law) is our conscience (Rom. 2:15). People who are high or drunk stop hearing from God and their conscience, and are cast headlong into sin. Why? Because they become so incredibly self-involved and self-focused that their mind cannot even allow anything else in. Being in this state is detrimental to them and detrimental to everyone around them and detrimental to society at large. This way leads to death.

What’s the Answer? Jesus

People do drugs for a reason. Some people are escaping their past. Some people are escaping their present life. Some people are escaping themselves and their faults. Some people are escaping this world. All of them are trying to find joy, contentment, and peace.

Here’s the truth: in your sin you will never find joy, contentment, or peace. There may indeed be fleeting pleasures. No matter how high you get today, you’ll eventually come down and you still will have to deal with life. Your sin is separating you from God and from other people. Your sin is what is robbing you of joy, contentment, and peace. Only Jesus can take away your sin, because the wages for your sin is death and only Jesus has paid it fully (on the cross).

God told me to stop smoking pot because He had something better for me. He was right. There is no greater joy than that found in a relationship with our Creator. There is no greater contentment than that comes from faith in a loving God in control of every single detail of existence. There is no greater peace than that which Jesus Christ gives us, knowing that this life is but a breath but perfect peace will come and we’ll leave with Jesus forever in that peace.

You are smoking pot and doing drugs because you know your life is empty. You know there is a hole in you that you cannot fill. You’ve tried lots of things – drugs, sex, porn, entertainment, drinking – and none of them were ultimately fulfilling. And yet you go back to those same empty wells to try to drink. I know, I was there for many years. And I am here to tell you: it is foolish! Repent of your sin and turn to Jesus!

For the Lamb [Jesus] in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 7:17 ESV)

In my experience, there is only one surefire way to do this kind of evangelism (or any kind of evangelism): live as if the Kingdom is a reality. This is what I mean by that:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:44-46)

Be willing to sell it ALL for the pearl! Your car, your house, your clothes, your appliances... everything.

If you live like that, others will notice. If you live like that, those close to you will realize your citizenship is not here but in heaven. If you live like that, your family will see that God is to be our treasure and not this world.

This is how the kingdom spreads. How do I know? Well for one, I’ve experienced it as people close to me have come to Christ. But two, Jesus told us so:

He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
(Matthew 13:33)

Leaven spreads by contact, slowly but dominantly. In my experience, when I live as if the Kingdom is real, the Bible is true, and Jesus is Lord and Savior, then people around me are pointed to God, with unbelievers coming to have faith and believers turning with greater passion to the Lord.

Many Christians live as if the pearl is highly valued, but they are unwilling to sell everything they have to buy it. Other Christians are content to find the treasure in the field but just to hang around the field instead of selling everything to make it their own. This is a lack of faith, and everything that does not proceed from faith is sin (Rom. 14:32).

So what does it really look like to live as if the Kingdom is a reality?

• Act as if Sin is Sin. We must not make light of sin but rather are to “abhor what is evil” (Rom. 12:9). This means striving to “keep ourselves unstained from the world” (James 1:27). It also means being incredibly humble with our own sin struggles. It means being repentant of sin, willing to acknowledge and confess sin, and striving to walk by the Spirit and put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh. This also means being radically forgiving when people win against us (Matt. 6:12). Since those who are close to us will see our sin more, our treatment of sin is one of the greatest witnesses we have of the Kingdom and of what Jesus did on the cross.
• County worldly things as insignificant and of lesser value. The more we treasure our stuff, the less we show the reality of God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom costs all we have, if we hold back a little, we show it to be less valuable. Aninias and Sapphira sold property to give to the church but held some back, and God struck them down dead (Acts 5:1-11). Jesus told us to “not lay up treasure on earth” (Matt. 6:19) but to give freely (Matt. 5:41-42) and to use our worldly wealth to gain eternal friends (Luke 16:9). The Apostle Paul tells us to “buy as though [we] had no goods” (1 Cor. 7:30) and that “we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (1 Tim 6:7).
• Be passionate about Jesus and not worldly things. As I’ve written previously, people learn what we are passionate about. If you are more passionate about a sport, a book series, a TV show, your job, politics, or anything else more than Jesus, it will show and make His Kingdom seem less valuable. As my 80 year old friend Eunice says: “we should be talking about the Lord“. What we talk about reflects what we are actually passionate about.
• Take Up Your Cross and Follow Him. As you seek to radically obey what God calls you to do and you die to yourself, others will see that. To the world it looks like death but in reality it is life and it makes a bold statement that life is found only in God’s Kingdom and in our King Jesus Christ. If you are following God, people SHOULD (at least occasionally) think you are crazy and SHOULD tell you it is “unwise” to do what you are doing, because the things of God are foolish and crazy to the world (1 Cor 1:20, 1:27).
• Name the name of Jesus. The false secular “reality” makes Jesus a byword. He cannot be named at public schools or in the workplace. But He MUST be named. If you are abiding in Jesus, every time someone asks you “How are you doing?” is an opportunity to bring up God’s powerful intervention in your life.
• Pray as if Prayer really works. Enough said really. Your prayer life reflects the level of your faith in what God can or will do. At very least, be praying for these unbelieving people in your life!
• Have a consistent, well-informed, and strong Biblical worldview. In other words, “do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). We should read our Bibles and hold strongly to the truths evident there. We can say that “the Bible is true” but living as if it is true means the Kingdom it tells about is also true. So we must hold fast to truths such as: Jesus really did live, die, and be raised to life; the Bible is true and our source of truth; all people have value and worth and the color of their skin does not change that; life starts at conception and abortion is murder; there is truth and all truth comes from God; sexual immorality (homosexuality, premarital sexual activity, extramarital sexual activity) is always contrary to God’s will; Christians are called to be separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:14-18); Christians should obey authorities (including the speed limit); sin leads to death; Heaven and Hell are real and Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven; men and women are equal in value but have different roles in life, family, and church; children are valuable to God; the government cannot and should not dictate what we believe; God is always in control; God created everything (so time plus chance evolution is an evil hoax); etc. Being firm and unwavering in these types of Biblical commitments, especially in the face of ridicule, is what shows off the truth of God’s Word and God’s Kingdom.
  (If you have a question about any specific item in that list, leave a comment or contact me and I’ll be happy to link you to scripture on that topic. I understand many churches teach things contrary to this list. I would say that you should read the scriptures yourself and you will likely find many things you’ve heard to be unBiblical.)

And above all the things I have to say, I would exhort you to boldly LISTEN TO GOD AND OBEY. God will guide you in what you should be doing and how to have faith in Him. God will do it, trust Him!