Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Christian Post]

On Easter Sunday, Christians will proclaim the message at the heart of their faith — “He is risen” — and will affirm the hope that God will raise all the dead at the end of time. But this belief is deeply misunderstood, say scholars from varied faith traditions who have been trying to clear up the confusion in several recent books.

“We are troubled by the gap between the views on these things of the general public and the findings of contemporary scholarship,” said Kevin Madigan and Jon Levenson, authors of the upcoming book, “Resurrection, The Power of God for Christians and Jews.”

Debate about Christ’s Resurrection has focused on whether Jesus rose bodily from the dead after the Romans crucified him on Good Friday, or whether Resurrection was something abstract.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I believe in a actual resurrection.  The reasons are many. 1st, I wouldn’t follow a God who didn’t have power over death.  2nd, the disciples would not have gone to their death if they had really not seen Jesus.  The Muslims claim that Jesus was replaced by Judas on the cross but no credible scholars believe that.  Jesus was either a liar, crazy man or who He said He was.

I believe He is God.

Happy Easter.

I had the privilege of serving on staff at a dynamic church in Jacksonville, NC. Jacksonville is the home of Camp Lejeune. We met some extremely cool men and women who were sold out to God and our nation. I love the new Marine advertising campaign which says “We don’t take applications, only commitments.” That is so true of the men and women I’ve met who serve in all of the armed forces. They aren’t just there for a job, they are committed to serve.

I believe the church needs to adapt this slogan. My experience is that we have a lot of “safe Christians.” When is the last time you saw God do something that only he could do? How many times I have heard and seen people put God in a box? I’ve been guilty of this myself. How many times do we say no to ministry opportunities because we think it is impossible. Well last time I looked in Philippians 4:13 it says:

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

It doesn’t say I can do all things on my own. It doesn’t say we live on facts and figures. Too many times we say no to God before we ask what He wants! We are living a “SAFE CHRISTIANITY!”

I used to live like God could do everything and then I got complacent. But God has a way of shaking you up. It started last summer as my friend Mike Landrum and I began reaching out in our Samaria and started to see God move. Then I heard Craig Groeschel speak a dynamic message called “Practical Atheism” and I realized I was a practical atheist because I was talking about what God had in past tense and not what He was doing right then. I repented that day and decided I would no longer live that way.

Nothing about Jesus and God is safe. When he calls us he demands not just commitment but submission! Look at what Jesus said is involved in following Him:

Luke 9:23

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

The 1st Century Jew understood this meant 1 thing—DEATH! Taking a cross meant that a person was going to their execution. If Jesus were saying it today it would probably say, “take up your electric chair, lethal injection or firing squad.” Nothing about Jesus and living for Him is safe!

I get really bugged when followers of Jesus don’t even trust God. It bothers me when so called Christ followers don’t believe “God sized” stories or say it is just a coincidence! I don’t believe in coincidences! My God is bigger than me. If I understand everything then why would I need God? Then when someone lives a dangerous Christian life they get ridiculed for actually trusting God. I don’t get it.

In Matthew 14 Jesus was walking on the water while the disciples were in a storm.  All the disciples were scared to death but Peter asked Jesus to let him come to him on the water.  All the other disciples must have thought he was crazy.  But Peter is the only one who didn’t play it safe and got out of the boat.  Only Peter can say he walked on water!

I want to challenge you to get away from the safe, religious Christianity and get out of the boat and see God do amazing things in your life today!

What do you think?

[Christian Post]

Jesus Christ is the third most popular role model for children in Britain, according to adults surveyed in a new poll released Friday.

British adults were asked who they would want their children to look up to in a poll conducted by Opinium Research. Family members topped the list, followed by multi-millionaire entrepreneur and daredevil Richard Branson in second place, according to Reuters.

Jesus Christ came in third in the poll, being less popular among younger Britons than older citizens. Nearly double those over 55 years old chose Jesus as the best role model for children compared to those aged 18-34.

Read about it here.

[From me]

What does it say about society when relatives and a billionaire are greater role models for children than God almighty?

What do you think?

[AP]

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that God would punish Iranians if they do not support the country’s disputed nuclear program, state radio reported.

“The Iranian people openly announce that they will defend their rights… God will reprimand them if they do not do so,” state radio quoted Khamenei as saying.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I didn’t know God was pro-nuke.

What do you think?

[ABC News]

University of Oxford researchers will spend nearly $4 million to study why mankind embraces God.

The grant to the Ian Ramsey Center for Science and Religion will bring anthropologists, theologians, philosophers and other academics together for three years to study whether belief in a divine being is a basic part of mankind’s makeup.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I’ll save them 4 Million. I believe in God because I have a relationship with Him. I’ve seen God heal family members. I’ve seen Him provide for my needs and my family many times that just can’t be explained. I believe in God because He lives in me and when I’m obedient He lives through me. I’ve experienced God’s power in amazing ways in the last few months. I’ve seen Him consistently prove He is real. I believe in God because He is real and He lives in me.

Of course, they could just give me $30K and I’d be set for the year.

Why do you believe or not believe in God?