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The gospel of Jesus and technology

Posted on October 16, 2015 by | Comments Off on The gospel of Jesus and technology
© Pamela Hodson Dreamstime Stock Photos

Image © Pamela Hodson Dreamstime Stock Photos

Technology is all around us and can be a very powerful tool, increasing our productivity or even expanding the reach of the gospel. It can also be a great distraction, often keeping us from being as productive as we possibly could be throughout the day. Earlier this morning as I was on Facebook taking a break from grading exams, I and an acquaintance of mine began discussing whether the Lord would approve of Christians linking the gospel of Jesus and technology. Folks, keep in mind that I have never been to Bible college or any seminary. I simply began studying the Bible the way that I studied for the various exams in graduate school. In other words, I approach the Bible with an understanding based on common sense and that the Bible says what it means.

Jesus and technology – an implied understanding

Within the Bible there is no mention of the use of contemporary technology such as television, radio, Internet, or even text messaging. We all have seen the postings on Facebook that tell us that if we really love Jesus we will post something on our wall or share it (and I can tell you this, posting a picture of a cross or of some artist’s interpretation of what Jesus looks like does not mean the person sharing it is a Christian). Yet, various radio ministries have been in existence for nearly a hundred years. In fact, KHJ-AM Radio which began broadcasting in April 1922 (the three-letter call sign was the initials for Kindness, Happiness and Joy, a part of the Immaculate Heart Radio Network founded in the early 1920s) was the first FCC licensed Christian broadcaster in the nation. From those humble beginnings of early mass communication, the gospel of Jesus has expanded its reach as new mediums for mass communications have become available. With each new development, there are men and women who feel led by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel using the latest developments in mass communications technology. In fact, even in the days of the disciples, the gospel of Jesus and technology have always had a close relationship.

Within the book of Acts, it is recorded that Jesus told His disciples: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). As they heard Jesus charge them with spreading the gospel message to the uttermost parts of the world, there had to have been a feeling of being given an overwhelming challenge. In our era and with the use of modern technology, today’s Christian can actively participate in the spread of the gospel to those uttermost parts of the world. Even this website is viewed in eighty-six countries – more countries than I could ever visit in one lifetime! Whether it is through a website such as this one, a YouTube channel, or through a simple text message, technology can and should be used to expand the reach of the gospel.

Jesus expected the disciples to use whatever means they had at their disposal to spread His gospel. Paul wrote, And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15) as a testimony to the most obvious means of sharing the message of Jesus – the feet of the believer. The other way the disciples possessed is stated by John, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:13). One involves being there in a literal presence, sharing the gospel by presenting to a specific audience. The other is to send the message of the gospel to be presented by some other indirect means of presentation – such as the writing of this letter by John. With either case, we see the gospel of Jesus and technology working together to reach the lost. It reminds me of the verse, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

Technology does not excuse us from personal evangelism

While it is possible to reach others for Jesus through Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, our use of technology does not excuse us from our responsibilities of personal evangelism. After Jesus’ resurrection, He met with the remaining eleven disciples and he charged them, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). The disciples were given the personal responsibility to go out and to share the gospel with all they would come across. Our personal evangelism efforts must be sincere. Each of us have a story of what the Lord has done for us; without any great training, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29). The book of John tells us this woman at the well, after meeting Jesus and realizing she was in the presence of the Messiah, went out and immediately brought others to Him.  She had experienced the saving grace of Jesus and wanted all around her to experience the same peace, joy, and forgiveness she enjoyed. 

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The just shall live by faith

Posted on September 14, 2015 by | Comments Off on The just shall live by faith

bible_and_candle_krx5 In the book of Hosea there’s a verse that reads, Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein (Hosea 14:9). As I was doing my personal Bible reading and study on Friday, there was a phrase that caught my eye, “and the just shall walk in them.” I immediately thought of the verse that the Holy Spirit laid upon the heart of Paul as he wrote, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17).

The Bible speaks of being just and sets the standards

I decided to do a key phrase search of the Bible using “just shall” as a starting point. What amazed me is that there are seven verses with that exact phrase; three of them are found in the New Testament. Of all the verses where this phrase is used really stands out: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him (Hebrews 10:38). This is one of the first standards we must have when it comes to our faith in Jesus. Even Jesus warns us of splitting our loyalties: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). There have been times in my own life that I’ve tried to serve the Lord while at the same time trying to appease the world. Instead of fully understanding or even attempting to understand what the Lord would have me do, I didn’t realize God had placed a higher standard on me than even my employer had: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Colossians 3:23). When we simply accept, by faith, that everything we do, whether it be for our children, our spouse, or even our employer, we should have the attitude that we are doing it for the Lord. It then becomes clear that “good enough for government work” simply doesn’t measure up to the standard of the just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38a).

Paul, in explaining the purpose of faith in Jesus, wrote, But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11). Paul is explaining the meaning of a verse written by the prophet Habakkuk: Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4). What the Old Testament prophet is telling us is the very same thing John the Baptist was trying to teach those who listened to him: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). Our faith comes in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ; this is what the verse in Habakkuk means – our souls are lifted up by nothing that we do of ourselves. It does not come from inside us but comes from the Lord. Because of this, the just – those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior – the Lord lifts up our souls. We are no longer weighted down by the wages of sin.

So, the three standards that seemed to be the most obvious to me are: 1) Once we become a born-again believer, we are to forsake any standard but the ones set by the Lord. 2) We must accept that anything we do we are doing it for the Lord. Anything else would be like having two masters. 3). Realize that our faith and our walk are to be a product of what Jesus has done for us through the gift of salvation. When we adopt these three scripturally based standards, we become liberated from the constraints of the world: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36). We become the servant of only one master, performing all of our responsibilities to one set of standards, and are able to keep a clear conscience as we live from day-to-day.

And the just shall walk in them…

The verse I shared at the beginning of this entry, Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein (Hosea 14:9), has another standard that we often miss in our day. Hosea essentially asks the reader questions about who is wise and will understand – and then provides the answer. He tells us that those who are just will not only understand the teachings of the Lord, but will also understand they are right and will do what has been taught. Jesus taught this very concept during His earthly ministry: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46). It doesn’t do any good to call ourselves Christians if we are unwilling to live by the principles and standards that Jesus sets before us. What I take from this verse is that if I am going to call myself a follower and disciple of Jesus then I must be willing to live according to His plan.

Continued on next page.

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It’s just a building and NOT the church

Posted on July 13, 2015 by | Comments Off on It’s just a building and NOT the church
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Sanctuary of Gospel Light Baptist Church 06/17/2015

At some time in the life of any congregation there will be something happen to the church building. My current home church, Gospel Light Baptist Church, is no exception to this statement. June 17th started out like any other day. Being a Wednesday, I had already made plans to be at the church a little before the evening midweek service so I could print out the weekly prayer lists. Around ten o’clock that morning, one of our church couples that cleans the church called me and told me that the ceiling had collapsed in our sanctuary. A few minutes later, the pastor’s wife sent out a call to all our members cancelling Wednesday night service. Not only had the ceiling collapsed in the sanctuary, but throughout the church building there was a heavy layer of dust, insulation, and debris coating nearly every surface. The first thing that came to my mind is that while it is sad that our sanctuary was destroyed, it is just a building. No member was there when it fell – a miracle within itself.

Soon after, a local television began running a story about the damage to our sanctuary. While the report really didn’t mention a lot of details, it did pique the interests of many within our community. Nearly every member has been asked a variety of questions about what has happened and our congregation’s plans to rebuild. Just as other members have been asked, I have been asked how other members handling the collapse of our “church” ceiling. At first, I responded as anyone would – sharing that how I believe that the Lord had his hand on the entire situation. Then it dawned on me that many of the people who were asking me were equating what happened with the church building as actually happening to the “church.” There is a scriptural distinction between the two. What happened to our sanctuary happened to just a building. The church – the local assembly of born-again believers that meet in that building are what is important.

In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he writes, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house (Philemon 1:2), he is clearly making a distinction between the church and the building where it meets. This is not the only time the distinction is made within scripture. Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossus has a similar salutation, Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house (Colossians 4:15). In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul writes, The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house (1 Corinthians 16:19), again highlighting the relationship to the body of believers and the place where they meet. Even in Rome, there was a church meeting in the house of a believer: Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ (Romans 16:5). Each of these verses clearly show the church as not being a certain building or place but a group of local believers meeting together to worship the Lord, exhorting one another, and praising God.

Just a building 2The ceiling that once was in our sanctuary had been there for fifty years. It held its place over many weddings, baptisms, and other events that were special to nearly three generations of members. As you can see in the photograph to the left, it was made of beautifully crafted tongue in groove planking – and we took great pride in how beautiful our sanctuary was. But as much as it meant to so many people, it was not the church but just a building where we met. If you go to any church meeting across our country, you’ll discover that among the faithful, the church isn’t a building but a family. A family of born again believers who come together to do those very things Christians have done since the days of the apostles: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25), Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19); and to Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).

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