Sorry for the late posting but my computer has been sick for a couple of days.
I wanted to take some time to address the issue of Halloween and the problems it presents for Christian families. I risk receiving a flood of comments from parents that are on either end of the spectrum concerning their personal convictions regarding this day. Some feel their family has the freedom to participate in the traditional secular activities that surround Halloween. Others have deep convictions that their family should completely refrain from participating in activities on October 31. Hopefully, what I have to share will bring some light to the subject for both groups and everyone in the middle.
Halloween is clearly a pagan holiday. Its origins can be easily traced back to the pagan Celtic festival known as Samhain. I won’t bore you with all the history because that information is easily accessible to everyone. Even many of the seemingly harmless traditions and symbols of the day are rooted in pagan practices and represent evil occult activities. So, I do not believe it is appropriate for Christians to celebrate Halloween or participate in its traditions. Specifically, there a few “off limits” activities I believe families should avoid:
Traditional Trick-or-Treating
Wearing costumes that represent scary or evil people/things
Going to parties that celebrate the day
Watching scary movies
Decorating homes with evil symbols (witches, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, etc.)
However, Romans 12:21 says “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This is the guiding verse I would use when it comes to sharing my personal philosophy of a Christian’s response to Halloween. Maybe it’s my personality, but I am not very fond of passive resistance when it comes to the devil. I find it difficult to understand how turning off the house lights and cowering in the living room hoping no children ring the doorbell wanting candy can be seen as “overcoming evil with good.” James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” I am promoting an active resistance where we take the fight to the enemy and show him that he will not steal a day that God has ordained for His glory.
I see Halloween as a great opportunity to let the light of Christ shine during the darkest day of the year. I see it as an opportunity to do things that are good in Christ name on a day when there is evil going on all around us. I see it as an opportunity to take the spotlight off the devil and put it on God where it always belongs, even on October 31. I guess what I am saying is that there are many God-honoring activities Christian families can participate in that do not celebrate the day or follow its traditions.
That brings me to KidzFest. This is the Family Ministry’s alternative event to Halloween. Let me take the rest of this post letting you see why the church hosts such an event. As many of you know, the staff of First Baptist Church is very serious about following biblical principles and bringing glory to God in everything we plan by way of programming and events. Here are some specific reasons why I believe it is not inappropriate for us to have Kidzfest on October 31.
KidzFest is not an event that celebrates the origins and traditions of Halloween. It does not celebrate the day as a holiday rather it uses the day as an opportunity for God’s people to show God’s love on God’s property to families in our church and community. I believe it is a true alternative because the spotlight is on God and the motivation behind it is pure and not evil. Several of our people, including one LifeGroup, will be passing out Gospel tracks and doing personal evangelism during the event (allowing the Light to shine in the darkness).
I hear the question now, “What about Trunk-O-Treating? Isn’t it too much like Trick-or- Treating?” My answer is two-fold. First the origin of what we do started with churches. The idea is that we can give, in this case candy, with the love of Christ, no strings attached. This is unlike the traditional form that began from the pagan belief that leaving food or gifts for spirits would prevent them from playing tricks on people. Second, it gives us an opportunity to minister to our community. We are providing a safe and secure environment for families who otherwise would be taking their children door-to-door on our dark county roads. The safety aspect also extends to reducing the risk of children possibly receiving tainted candy and being exposed to sexual predation.
Finally, it helps the church maintain its witness in the community. Over the years we have seen large numbers of unchurched people attend KidzFest. I have seen first hand how our members have shown unconditional love to those families, especially the children. The kindness and gentleness that is expressed on that night is something God can and will use to speak to the hearts of these unchurched families. As an added benefit, as more and more churches host events like KidzFest, we are seeing a dramatic decline in the number of families participating in the traditional way.
In Matthew 5:15-16 Jesus said “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Even if you do not plan on coming to KidzFest, let me encourage you to let your light shine on October 31. Give out Gospel tracks to the children that come to your door, host a non-Halloween party and invite unchurched neighbors to attend, or do something good like visit a nursing home. I cannot help but believe God will be pleased when his people “overcome evil with good.”
If you want to direct questions to me about the contents of this article please send them to me via email, so I can respond.
Love to all,
David
Thursday, October 30
Tuesday, October 21
Marriage: The Key Ingredient
Over the past couple of decades, I have counseled with a large number of married couples that were seeking biblical advice on how to either improve or repair their marriages. While I have found that marriage problems, and the biblical solutions to those problems vary, there are typically some key ingredients missing when Christian marriages begin to falter. In order to provide better counsel, I have intentionally looked for common issues that come up when couples share with me their daily relational difficulties. Today, I wanted to disclose what I believe to be a key, if not the key ingredient, that must be present in any fulfilling and God-honoring marriage. Sadly, I have found that his ingredient is too often missing among Christian couples. That ingredient is grace!
As Christians, we love to talk and to sing about God’s grace. We love to read books about it and hear sermons about it. We celebrate the fact that salvation itself has been offered to us through the free unmerited and undeserved favor of God. It is truly amazing! However, do we as joyfully imitate this wonderful attribute of God as we sing about it? What I have observed in struggling marriages is that many times a husband and wife are not willing to extend the same free and unmerited favor to one another that God has extended to them. When grace is absent, performance based acceptance and self-centered attitudes prevail which will eventually destroy a marriage.
What does grace practiced between a husband and wife look like? First of all, needs will be met and goodness will be expressed unconditionally. When grace is present, needs are not met based upon whether a spouse earns it or deserves it. Showing goodness is not dependant upon the possibility of the gesture being reciprocated. It is done solely as an act of obedience that glorifies God by reflecting His nature and character. Romans 5:6 says “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” When Jesus came to earth He came to glorify the Father by expressing goodness to us through meeting our most significant need, our need of salvation. He did this while we were His enemies dead in trespasses and sins.
Listen to the condition we were in when God extended His grace to us “you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Eph. 2:2-3) Jesus died for uncaring, self-absorbed, and wicked people like you and I who instead deserve God’s wrath. How could we withhold goodness from our mates or refuse to meet their needs because they sometimes do not treat us the way we believe we deserve? Grace requires us to show goodness to our spouse by meeting their needs regardless of merit.
Second, grace in practice always includes forgiveness. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” There is nothing we can do in our own effort to earn or gain forgiveness and acceptance from God. It is only through faith in the shed blood of Christ that we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Should we not as freely extend forgiveness to our mate when they wrong us? Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Are you harboring unforgiveness towards your spouse for something they have said or done? If so, grace requires that you grant them the same undeserved pardon that God, through Christ, has granted to you.
Expressing grace in marriage can only happen when a husband and wife completely depend upon the supernatural ability that comes through their surrendered relationship to Christ. It isn’t easy, but it is required. Graciously, with what God requires He provides the desire and the ability to accomplish for our good and for His glory! “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 4:15)
As Christians, we love to talk and to sing about God’s grace. We love to read books about it and hear sermons about it. We celebrate the fact that salvation itself has been offered to us through the free unmerited and undeserved favor of God. It is truly amazing! However, do we as joyfully imitate this wonderful attribute of God as we sing about it? What I have observed in struggling marriages is that many times a husband and wife are not willing to extend the same free and unmerited favor to one another that God has extended to them. When grace is absent, performance based acceptance and self-centered attitudes prevail which will eventually destroy a marriage.
What does grace practiced between a husband and wife look like? First of all, needs will be met and goodness will be expressed unconditionally. When grace is present, needs are not met based upon whether a spouse earns it or deserves it. Showing goodness is not dependant upon the possibility of the gesture being reciprocated. It is done solely as an act of obedience that glorifies God by reflecting His nature and character. Romans 5:6 says “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” When Jesus came to earth He came to glorify the Father by expressing goodness to us through meeting our most significant need, our need of salvation. He did this while we were His enemies dead in trespasses and sins.
Listen to the condition we were in when God extended His grace to us “you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Eph. 2:2-3) Jesus died for uncaring, self-absorbed, and wicked people like you and I who instead deserve God’s wrath. How could we withhold goodness from our mates or refuse to meet their needs because they sometimes do not treat us the way we believe we deserve? Grace requires us to show goodness to our spouse by meeting their needs regardless of merit.
Second, grace in practice always includes forgiveness. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” There is nothing we can do in our own effort to earn or gain forgiveness and acceptance from God. It is only through faith in the shed blood of Christ that we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Should we not as freely extend forgiveness to our mate when they wrong us? Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Are you harboring unforgiveness towards your spouse for something they have said or done? If so, grace requires that you grant them the same undeserved pardon that God, through Christ, has granted to you.
Expressing grace in marriage can only happen when a husband and wife completely depend upon the supernatural ability that comes through their surrendered relationship to Christ. It isn’t easy, but it is required. Graciously, with what God requires He provides the desire and the ability to accomplish for our good and for His glory! “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 4:15)
Thursday, October 9
Personal Life Lessons
As I write this article, my family and I are preparing for a much needed vacation at the beach. We like going to Gulf Coast beaches this time of year for several reasons. It is still warm but there are much fewer people, traffic problems, and distractions to deal with. We can truly relax and enjoy spending uninterrupted time together.
You probably really don’t care too much about my vacation plans, but I wanted to share an important event that will take place while my family is together next week. This event has already begun to stir up memories and cause reflection on my part. The event that has caused me to wax nostalgic is the celebration of my youngest daughter’s 21st birthday! I am so glad that our family will be away together to celebrate this milestone in Annissa’a life. It is almost incomprehensible that my baby girl is turning 21.
As I think back over the years that Sherron and I have spent raising our children, I have memories of good times and not so good times, times when I felt like a great parent and times when I felt like a complete failure as a parent. Despite those failures, God has been faithful to see my family through difficult times and to show us that He is in control and works all things together for our good. With that said, I wanted to share a few things that I have learned as a parent. This is not an exhaustive list but it does represent some of the major lessons that I learned, often times “the hard way.”
First of all, as the head of my home, I would have more often made the right decision rather than the expedient or popular decision. I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s conviction and the inevitable consequences that come from not standing firm when facing family and cultural pressure. Thankfully, I can only remember a handful of times that I allowed this to happen. But, even after the passing of several years, those few times are still painful to remember.
Second, I would have been much more vigilant in filtering what came into my home through television and media. While Sherron and I were more diligent than most other parents we knew, I don’t think we went far enough. I am glad that we were parenting during the early days of internet and video game popularity. Today, if a parent does not stay informed and alert, some really bad things can creep into their home. As a side note, where did the idea that children in the home have a right to privacy? I don’t know where the idea came from, but I have spoken with many Christian parents that are reluctant to snoop around and see what their children are watching on television, looking at on the internet, and playing on their video game system. My advice is to get over it, and find out where Satan is trying to invade your home and the lives of your children then close the door tight!
Finally, I wish I had understood how closely my children were watching my daily walk with Christ and how much influence it would have upon them. I know there were times that this influence was very positive, but there were also times it was not. Children watch and learn from their parents. When they see inconsistency between what their parents say and what they do, children recognize it and typically imitate it. Early on in my Christian life, just prior to becoming a parent, my assumption was that if Sherron and I kept our children in church everything would be alright. However, I later came to understand that nothing could take the place of my personal involvement in their spiritual development and the model I set before them to follow.
Well, I have covered some of these same issues in other articles, but thank you for allowing me to be a little more personal. Maybe that is what I like so much about King David in the Old Testament. He set a great example, but like me, many times the example he set was how not to do things. If anyone can get some encouragement or insight from my mistakes, then to God be the glory for allowing it to happen.
Headed for sun and fun,
David
You probably really don’t care too much about my vacation plans, but I wanted to share an important event that will take place while my family is together next week. This event has already begun to stir up memories and cause reflection on my part. The event that has caused me to wax nostalgic is the celebration of my youngest daughter’s 21st birthday! I am so glad that our family will be away together to celebrate this milestone in Annissa’a life. It is almost incomprehensible that my baby girl is turning 21.
As I think back over the years that Sherron and I have spent raising our children, I have memories of good times and not so good times, times when I felt like a great parent and times when I felt like a complete failure as a parent. Despite those failures, God has been faithful to see my family through difficult times and to show us that He is in control and works all things together for our good. With that said, I wanted to share a few things that I have learned as a parent. This is not an exhaustive list but it does represent some of the major lessons that I learned, often times “the hard way.”
First of all, as the head of my home, I would have more often made the right decision rather than the expedient or popular decision. I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s conviction and the inevitable consequences that come from not standing firm when facing family and cultural pressure. Thankfully, I can only remember a handful of times that I allowed this to happen. But, even after the passing of several years, those few times are still painful to remember.
Second, I would have been much more vigilant in filtering what came into my home through television and media. While Sherron and I were more diligent than most other parents we knew, I don’t think we went far enough. I am glad that we were parenting during the early days of internet and video game popularity. Today, if a parent does not stay informed and alert, some really bad things can creep into their home. As a side note, where did the idea that children in the home have a right to privacy? I don’t know where the idea came from, but I have spoken with many Christian parents that are reluctant to snoop around and see what their children are watching on television, looking at on the internet, and playing on their video game system. My advice is to get over it, and find out where Satan is trying to invade your home and the lives of your children then close the door tight!
Finally, I wish I had understood how closely my children were watching my daily walk with Christ and how much influence it would have upon them. I know there were times that this influence was very positive, but there were also times it was not. Children watch and learn from their parents. When they see inconsistency between what their parents say and what they do, children recognize it and typically imitate it. Early on in my Christian life, just prior to becoming a parent, my assumption was that if Sherron and I kept our children in church everything would be alright. However, I later came to understand that nothing could take the place of my personal involvement in their spiritual development and the model I set before them to follow.
Well, I have covered some of these same issues in other articles, but thank you for allowing me to be a little more personal. Maybe that is what I like so much about King David in the Old Testament. He set a great example, but like me, many times the example he set was how not to do things. If anyone can get some encouragement or insight from my mistakes, then to God be the glory for allowing it to happen.
Headed for sun and fun,
David
Thursday, October 2
A Puritan Perspective
The Puritans emerged in England during the mid-sixteenth century. They were Reformers from a number of religious groups that were frustrated with the slow progress of the Reformation in the Anglican Church. Their movement essentially began out of a desire for more purity of worship and doctrine within the church and a desire to encourage personal holiness in the lives of Believers. The Puritans had an unshakeable confidence in God, a fervent commitment to His Word, and exhibited lives of steadfast devotion to both. From the pens of such Puritans as John Bunyan, John Owen, Thomas Watson, Stephen Charnock, and Jonathan Edwards have came some of the most important works of Christian literature and volumes of in-depth writings on biblical doctrine.
I mention the Puritans because it is said that they had a “theocentric” (Theos- God; centric – centered) worldview. They related everything in their lives to the nature, character, and purposes of God. William Ames, another Puritan writer, expressed this God-centered worldview with these words, “Men live to God when they live in accord with the will of God, to the glory of God, and with God working in them.” Their ability to step back from every physical, emotional, and spiritual issue and gaze upon it from God’s vantage point is a quality for which every Christian should hunger.
With this in mind, I wonder how the Puritans would perceive the typical Christian of today? Or better yet, let’s insert the above average tithing, serving, mission trippin’ First Baptist Church member instead of the typical Christian. I think they would see some very dedicated people compared to the modern norm. According to their own sanctified standards however, I believe they would be able to point out areas in all our lives where we fall far short of truly having a theocentric worldview. What if a Puritan was able to follow us around during a typical day? And, what if he was given permission to whack us with a stick when we responded to a trial, made a decision, or failed to fulfill a responsibility from self-centeredness? Many of us would end up in the emergency room before nightfall! Plus, I think most of the Puritans I have read would enjoy the opportunity.
When a theocentric person faces an unexpected trial that has the potential to shake their world and leave them overtaken in worry, their response will be to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3) When that person is tempted to make their spouse pay an emotional price for hurting them in some insignificant way, their response will be “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph.4:32) When they are faced with family pressure to spend their money and time on weekends of entertainment rather than investing some of those resources into Kingdom work, their response will be, “Will a man rob God?” (Malachi 3:8). I could keep going but you get the point.
To close, let me share J.I. Packer’s comparison of the Puritans and modern evangelicals, “They were characteristically cautious, serious, realistic, steady, patient, persistent in well-doing and avid for holiness of heart; we, by contrast, too often show ourselves to be characteristically brash, euphoric, frivolous, superficial, naïve, hollow, and shallow.” May God grant that we rise above these things Packer says are characteristic of Christians today! May we never be satisfied with a shallow and superficial relationship with God or a hollow form of obedience to His Word! May we develop a theocentric worldview that helps us more passionately pursue personal holiness and persistence in well-doing! My challenge is that we prayerfully examine our lives and allow God to reveal any self-centeredness that exists and replace it with God-centeredness.
I mention the Puritans because it is said that they had a “theocentric” (Theos- God; centric – centered) worldview. They related everything in their lives to the nature, character, and purposes of God. William Ames, another Puritan writer, expressed this God-centered worldview with these words, “Men live to God when they live in accord with the will of God, to the glory of God, and with God working in them.” Their ability to step back from every physical, emotional, and spiritual issue and gaze upon it from God’s vantage point is a quality for which every Christian should hunger.
With this in mind, I wonder how the Puritans would perceive the typical Christian of today? Or better yet, let’s insert the above average tithing, serving, mission trippin’ First Baptist Church member instead of the typical Christian. I think they would see some very dedicated people compared to the modern norm. According to their own sanctified standards however, I believe they would be able to point out areas in all our lives where we fall far short of truly having a theocentric worldview. What if a Puritan was able to follow us around during a typical day? And, what if he was given permission to whack us with a stick when we responded to a trial, made a decision, or failed to fulfill a responsibility from self-centeredness? Many of us would end up in the emergency room before nightfall! Plus, I think most of the Puritans I have read would enjoy the opportunity.
When a theocentric person faces an unexpected trial that has the potential to shake their world and leave them overtaken in worry, their response will be to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3) When that person is tempted to make their spouse pay an emotional price for hurting them in some insignificant way, their response will be “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph.4:32) When they are faced with family pressure to spend their money and time on weekends of entertainment rather than investing some of those resources into Kingdom work, their response will be, “Will a man rob God?” (Malachi 3:8). I could keep going but you get the point.
To close, let me share J.I. Packer’s comparison of the Puritans and modern evangelicals, “They were characteristically cautious, serious, realistic, steady, patient, persistent in well-doing and avid for holiness of heart; we, by contrast, too often show ourselves to be characteristically brash, euphoric, frivolous, superficial, naïve, hollow, and shallow.” May God grant that we rise above these things Packer says are characteristic of Christians today! May we never be satisfied with a shallow and superficial relationship with God or a hollow form of obedience to His Word! May we develop a theocentric worldview that helps us more passionately pursue personal holiness and persistence in well-doing! My challenge is that we prayerfully examine our lives and allow God to reveal any self-centeredness that exists and replace it with God-centeredness.
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