Taking God’s word to lost souls takes courage

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 26, 2015

            Woven in and out of games, talent shows, swim time, and meal time is the theme of “Courage in Captivity” at a Kids’ Camp I am co-directing with another youth minister this week.

            What a thrill it is to see the light in these children’s eyes come on when they realize that just because they are young, that doesn’t mean they can’t be powerful and make a difference with God’s help. Just think about it. If an adult speaks a powerful lesson from God’s word, we kind of expect that. Yes, we may be motivated by what is said, but if a young child or a teenager speaks the same message with conviction, the impact can be so much greater on kids and adults alike.

            Perhaps that is why the apostle Paul said these words to young Timothy, his son in the faith, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).”

            At Kids’ Camp, we are trying to instill the kind of courage Paul was talking about when he told Timothy to teach others to not “abandon the faith” but to “labor and strive” and to “put our hope in the living God.” These New Testament teachings are just as important for us today. Just like in the first century, today’s “Jesus followers” are exposed to all kinds of false teachings and cultural norms that frankly take a lot of courage to teach against. This can be true especially regarding things we may have been taught at a young age, and things that have been part of our religious tradition so long that we have mistaken them for legitimate Bible doctrine. That is why Bible study is so important.  The Gospel writer Luke commends the Berean Jews for examining the Scriptures for themselves to see if the message Paul and Silas taught to them in the synagogue was true. This resulted in many of the Berean Jews and also Greeks having the courage to convert to Christianity (ref: Acts 17:10-12). By the way, teaching a Christian message in a Jewish synagogue took an amazing amount of courage on the part of Paul and Silas.

            Most of our Kids’ Camp “Courage in Captivity” lessons come from the Old Testament where four Hebrew teenagers we know as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken captive by the Babylonians. They were committed to God, and were even willing to die for their faith. They proved their loyalty to God by choosing His law over man’s law even if it meant losing their lives. In each instance, God pulled through for them. Even though most people today will never have to exhibit a life of “Courage in Captivity” in the strictest sense, reality is that we are, in fact, held captive in a broken world that needs to be shown the love of God through us. In John 17:14-18 Jesus said that even though His followers have been sent “into the world” just as He was sent by His Father, He also said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”  

            Please pray that God will give you opportunity to courageously make a difference in the life of someone who is lost and needs the love of Christ.  Have a blessed week!

The next generation of Christians is not a lost cause

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 26, 2015

            Graduation weekend is always filled with tears, laughter, anxiety, uncertainty, and relief.  And so I suspect this past weekend was no different for all those families in Fort Gibson and elsewhere who watched their graduate walk the stage.

            One of the most important questions ringing through every Christian parent’s mind as they realize the final high school bell has rung for their child is the question of “Where will my son or daughter attend worship services when they move away for college or work?”   We all hope and pray the spiritual seeds we have sown will take root.  In 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 the apostle Paul reminds us that even though we plant and water, it is God who gives the increase.  Still, every individual has a free will. Everyone has to decide whether they will walk with God, or oppose Him, and whether they will become a productive member of a church family, or go do their own thing.

            Over the last ten years, I have read dozens of articles that promote using technology as a way of getting the attention of today’s teenagers (aka: Generation Z) and the 20’s and 30’s crowd known as the Millennials.  It has been suggested that if the church wants to hang on to its younger generations, it needs to use more computers and electronics since their minds are already geared to learning that way. Really?  That’s all it will take?

            We all know our consumer-minded culture has seeped into how most people live out their faith. “What can the church do for me?”  That is the question so many people continue to ask generation after generation.  Nothing is new in this regard.  Millennials are not the first to have this consumer mentality as some have suggested.  Anyone who attended “church” back in the 1970’s remembers more than a few sermons with references to Burger King religion where people want to “Have it your way!” as the fast food slogan suggested.

            Others have said churches could hold on to the younger generations by offering more opportunities for organized service projects. That is always a good idea. But there again, Millennials are not the first to be drawn to volunteerism and the idea of making a difference for all of humanity.  Some of the most servant-hearted people I know are between the ages of 60 and 90, and they don’t need someone to organize a project, take pictures, and print t-shirts to motivate them to serve.  It’s a way of life, and they attend worship to honor God and to build-up other Christians (Hebrews 10:24-25).

            I think what the wise Christian is really looking for in our fast paced society is for someone to simply teach them the truth in a spirit of love, and show them the truth in a spirit of love.  Those who do not want to be held accountable for their actions are not going to be faithful no matter how impressive the technology or what style of music is used during worship. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, no matter in what form, is where it’s at! James says it is not only important to have faith, but to live it (James 2:24-26).  Paul agrees, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes... the righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:16-17).”

            All these things being said, mature Christians must be vigilant, keeping an eye out for young visitors, and opportunities to get to know them better. One of the commonalities among Millennials who stay faithful in church attendance is a connection with older church members.  God bless you and have a great week!

The Bible can help you deal with life’s jolts

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 19, 2015

            There is nothing quite like the feeling of 120 volts of electrical current zapping my fingers!

            Even though I am pretty sure it is legal for a homeowner to replace an existing electrical outlet, I am not sure it is wise, at least for me. Any doubts I may have had about that have clearly disappeared. Yes, I saved some money by doing it myself. But the electrical jolt I received when I grabbed a hot wire was far more shocking than the cost of hiring a professional electrician, or at least an experienced “Do it yourselfer”.  

            Looking back on my painful yet eventual successful attempt, I did a lot of things right. I went out to my breaker box and found the switch labeled “hallway bath”. I turned it to the off position which turned out the lights in the bathroom. What I didn’t realize was that the outlet I needed to replace was actually connected to a different breaker.  Uh, Oh!  So, the wire I thought was safe actually had 120 volts running through it the entire time I had been unscrewing the plate and pulling the outlet from the wall.      The mistaken assumption on my part is what led to the shocking and almost conclusion of my “Do it yourself” project.

            I texted my buddy, Jerry P who had encouraged me to take-on the project. I let him know the undesirable outcome. His response was simply, “I shouldn’t tell you I had a good laugh. But I did! Experience is the best teacher.”  What compassion!  (not)  At least he went on to say that the same thing has happened to him. Somehow through my still throbbing finger, that knowledge made me feel a little better. Plus, Jerry came over and helped me find the correct breaker (which wasn’t even labeled) and finish replacing the outlet.  Still, I can’t get over the fact that I actually felt safe and confident even though I was really in danger and didn’t know it.

            Have you ever seen someone taking a dangerous turn spiritually, and you just wished there was something you could do about it?  It’s a helpless feeling to watch someone who has no relationship with God or maybe is spiritually immature, wandering around and not understanding why their relationships and life in general are constantly experiencing circuit malfunctions.  We all know people who go through their daily routines not realizing they are existing in a state of spiritual danger. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

            Christians have a responsibility to carry out the Great Commission of Christ. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).”

            The commands of Christ are pretty simple. Love God. Love others. Believe in Christ as the son of God. Obey his word.  The Bible says some will accept, but even more will reject.  Nevertheless, it is the message we will be judged by one day, and it is the message people need to hear so the events of judgement day will not come as a shock.

            Any Christian will tell you their faith does not mean a problem free life.  But it does mean that when life throws you a jolt, you can still find healing, peace, comfort, and direction from God’s word, a supportive church family, and His Holy Spirit.

              Have a blessed week!

The evidence shows Satan is real

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 12, 2015

            Historical and archaeological facts found in the Bible are the most accurate and authentic ever studied or discovered. The names and locations of cities and other landmarks listed in the Bible are right on target with everything we know of today. The Bible has also been a valuable resource for knowing about government leaders and world powers during ancient times. 

These are some of the many reasons I feel confident in believing the Bible when it comes to other questions that arise such as “Is the devil real?”  In short, yes!  The Bible specifically mentions “Satan” over 50 times, and that doesn’t even include all the other names listed such as Lucifer, tempter, murderer, father of lies, and so on. He is described as a created spirit being who has limitations, unlike God who has no limitations.

            The ancient Jews were known to take great care to preserve the integrity of the books of Genesis through Malachi. The writers of the New Testament books of Matthew through Revelation often quoted Old Testament passages including Genesis, which has been regarded as one of the most controversial due to its teachings about creation, the fall of man into sin, Noah and the flood, and God altering the languages of those constructing the Tower of Babel.  Nevertheless, the writers of the New Testament and Jesus himself placed high importance and credibility on Old Testament writings which are where many people, places, and things we read about in the New Testament were first introduced, such as the devil.  That is also one more reason I believe the Old Testament writing were more than good poetry.

            Jesus, a historical figure himself, written about by dozens of ancient authors, spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan. In Matthew 4 and Luke 4, the devil used the tactics of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to try to make Jesus stumble and fall into temptation. It didn’t work on our Lord, but that hasn’t stopped the devil from continuing these same tactics to tempt people today, 2000 years later. Those were also the same methods Satan used to tempt Eve some 6000 years ago according to the Bible’s timeline, which is the same number of years of recorded history we have available to us today.

            All the way through the Bible, temptation has always been basically the same (1 Corinthians 10:13) because the devil has always been involved in its formation. In John 14:30 our King, Jesus Christ, refers to the devil as the ruler or prince of this world. So, it should come as no surprise that the snares the devil throws in our path today still follow a fairly narrow blueprint.   “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 (1 John 2:16).”

            Just one quick conversation about evil in the world we live in today would be enough to convince most people that dark forces are a reality. But thank God, Christ overcame darkness, and if we commit our life to Him, we can too.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”

Have a great week!

A lax Christian attitude will lead to pain

by Barrett Vanlandingham

May 5, 2015

            Did you ever have one of those moments when you wished you could turn back time even by 5 minutes so you could make a better decision?  I’m sure we all have.

            I was walking barefoot in my backyard this past weekend picking up branches Lisa had just pruned. I knew there were little pointy sticks and stubbly things I needed to avoid. But because I didn’t want to take the time to simply put on shoes, and because my feet are partially numb due to nerve problems in my back, I kept cleaning up the yard without proper protection on my feet.  Smart, huh? I obviously knew I wasn’t wearing shoes, but because of the numbness in my feet, I had become a little lax in thinking about precautions.  I knew there were potential dangers, but I wasn’t really worried too much about them, at least until I got a nice big splinter in my left big toe. Yes, I felt it! Even with the numbness I realized immediately what had just happened.

            Christians can become lax in their faith and do the same thing spiritually. This can happen when either we let our guard down one too many times, or by making bad choices and getting by with it enough times that we think we are immune to the devil’s schemes.

            It happens all the time to good people who convince themselves everything is going to be okay when they head into the casino, or when they take another drink, or when they cheat on their taxes. Others find trouble by opening their mouth when they should have kept it closed, or when a married man or woman casually flirts with someone else. Exceeding the speed limit, driving carelessly, or texting while driving can also lead you down the wrong road in a hurry.  

            “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,² through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared (1 Timothy 4:1-2, ESV).”

            We are not immune to temptation. If we are not vigilant in our faith, we can convince ourselves that it is okay to behave as the world behaves. We can become just like those whose consciences are seared. We can become numb to the traps satan has set for us until it is too late.

            The sting of sin or even foolish behavior can have serious consequences in this life, and worse yet, in the life to come. God has blessed baptized believers with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) to guide and comfort us, and with the ability to stand up under the pressures of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Still yet, we would all be better off to listen and apply what Paul told Christians in Thessalonica, “Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thes 5:22).”

            1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

            Have a blessed week, keep your shoes on, and keep an eye out for those splinters!