WOW! OK… so we got some attention with that last post about music. I think we really… wait for it… STRUCK A CHORD.
Here is a link to the previous Music Post: http://www.joshuateis.com/i-love-a-variety-of-christian-music/
There were so many questions and comments on the last post I thought I would post a follow-up. A few things I want to say…
Continue reading “I Love A Variety of Christian Music – Part 2”
Through servant evangelism we may open the hearts of those who may be closed to the gospel otherwise.
I. Living in a Post-Christian America
I am not a doomsday guy! In fact I am probably one of the most optimistic individuals you will come across. So when I say that we live in a post-Christian America I am not succumbing to pessimism and doubt. It’s just a fact. William McRaney says in his book The Art of Personal Evangelism, “The questions and issues for lost people have changed. I am not sure that we are listening to the questions any longer. Is it possible that in our efforts to communicate we are simply shouting our answers at a higher pitch?”[1] I believe he is right. In our culture we have moved beyond a time where everyone believes there is a God and just lacks the details on how to become a Christian. This is why programs like “The Bible” on the history channel are important. Though not every detail is completely accurate, it raises the awareness of the a Scriptures to a pop culture level and allows for a dialogue with some who may have been previously closed to the Gospel.
A legitimate question arises in the heart of a growing Christian when looking at the pastor and his tremendous responsibilities. Who pastors the pastor?
Perhaps it was the way I was raised. I can remember sitting in the back row of our church by my mother, holding a hymnal for her and I to share, and singing the old hymn, “Victory in Jesus.” I can remember my father singing in his morning devotional time, privately to the Lord, “I’ll say Yes, Lord, Yes.” In our home, we had Christian music playing constantly! Sandi Patty, Steve Green, Maranatha Music, the Gaithers, and the Cathedrals all filled our home with worship. I can still remember, as a young man, meeting The Florida Boys when they came and performed a live concert at our church.
I recently started following a guy on Twitter who wrote in his description of himself, “I pray that when I die, all of Hell will rejoice I’m no longer in the fight.” I thought that was awesome! For those of us who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of the Gospel and the pushing back of the gates of Hell, we are energized by the idea of evangelism and the possibility that someone’s eternity might change forever from Heaven to Hell. However, you’ve got to understand, if you are going to be in the fight, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty. Will McRaney Jr. says, “Dealing with lost people will cause us to get our hands dirty and sweaty just like tending to yard work. Part of evangelism is to clear up misconceptions and misperceptions people have about the gospel. Dealing with people and evangelism is often messy.”[1]
OK, I admit it! My iPhone is important to me. Not as important as my children, wife or Bible, but it does rank up there between Disneyland Tickets and Star Wars. (Which are both very important!) So I thought I would share with you all my top ten favorite apps. For those who care… Here we go…
Throughout history it is puzzling to see the church change its doctrine from one generation to the next. How does this happen? If the Bible clearly states a truth and the church believes the truth, how then does the church’s doctrine change?
Growing up in church, I often heard preachers talk about the flesh and the spirit. As I understood it, the flesh was bad and the spirit was good. I was not to live in the flesh, walk after the flesh, and enjoy fleshly things. Yet, this confused me, because I looked at myself and understood that I was just a guy made out of flesh. So, what is the Bible talking about when it uses that word, flesh?
