THE PARABLE OF THE SINNER

Luke 15 presents 3 parables. That’s what I’ve always been told. The parable of the lost sheep. The parable of the lost coin. And the parable of the lost / prodigal son. Perhaps the most well know of these three is the last: the story of the prodigal son. This particular story is one of the very earliest Bible lessons that I ever learned. A bad son takes his money and squanders it. When he has lost everything and comes home, his brother is angry, and his father throws a party. Indeed much has been repeated again and again about this easily understood and dramatic human story.

However, I would contend that there ARE NOT 3 parables told in Luke 15; but rather, only one. That’s right. Only one. Don’t take my word for it. Just believe what Jesus himself said. In Luke 15:3, it is reported: “Then Jesus told them this parable.” It DOES NOT say, “Jesus told them these (plural) parables”. It then goes on to connect the 3 parts into a single lesson in verse 8 with the word “or”. Again the connection continues in verse 11 with “Jesus continued”. If the Master taught this as a single lesson with 3 parts, then shouldn’t we?

Now… hold on a minute… I know what you’re thinking. “What makes the difference?” Right? I would herein suggest that it makes a very significant difference. If we only focus on a single part of this lesson, we run the risk of completely changing the focus. We run the risk of breaking the story up into even smaller lessons. As a result the completeness of the whole lesson is reduced to some micro-lesson, which in itself may be a worthwhile lesson, but it just doesn’t fully reflect the point that Jesus was trying to make.

This parable (singular) is a parable about a sinner. It is The Parable of the Sinner. I believe that Jesus was completely devoted to sinners. Sinners were “his” people. They were the ones with whom he frequently dined. Again and again he demonstrated his attraction to those normally deemed to be the most “untouchable”. From an adulterous woman to the thieves, he was drawn to the sinner… and many times, they to him. It was typically the righteous religious types that most wanted to avoid him. Sinners, on the other hand, were constantly crossing paths with Jesus. This story is a magnificent story of how Jesus perceived sinners.

Part one, in verses 3-7, tells us about the Priority of One Sinner. Too much of the time, the Church prioritizes ministries based on volume. We believe that sinners can be saved “in bulk”. Our words betray us. “We had a dozen saved at our Church last Sunday morning!” I would argue, “No, you didn’t!” God doesn’t save dozens; He saved individuals. First of all, God alone knows the truth about what happened in your Church last Sunday. The only way that we can be even a little bit certain as to the truth of a person’s salvation is as adequate time has passed to be able to judge a tree by its fruit… and those that were “saved” in your Church last Sunday haven’t had time to produce any fruit. But that is not my point… my point is: People get saved individually; not in groups.

I believe that God is far less impressed with our gatherings of the “99”, than he is when we seek out the lone sinner and introduce him to the Savior. We must be very, very careful with our thoughts and attitudes about how God sees our “99”.

Part two is perhaps my favorite, for it describes the Process for Finding a Sinner. It is quite simply… “get dirty”. However, herein is another great danger; for we must get dirty without becoming contaminated. Notice what the owner of the coin did… she “swept”. And she did so very carefully. The mere idea of sweeping implies getting ourselves among the dirt. And “careful” sweeping even more so. When was the last time you did a thorough “sweep” of every nook and cranny in your home? You most likely found dirt you didn’t even know you had. Yes? So it is with the process for finding sinners. You will most likely find yourself standing in the middle of some dirt that you will be soon wanting to wash off. But… in the dirt is frequently where you find sinners.

Part three is about one thing and one thing only… it is about the Power (necessary) to Save. It is not about forgiveness (well, it is; but it isn’t). It is not about repentance (again, it is; but it isn’t). It is solely about the power of reconciliation to give life to the dead. It is the power of a father’s choice and his love. It is about the miraculous Power of God to Save.

Luke Chapter 15 is a story of how God sees sinners and to what extent he is willing to go to have the opportunity to demonstrate His greatest power of all – II Corinthians 5:17-19.

CALLED TO A "PLACE"

It has occurred to me recently that those of us involved in Christian ministry may have missed a very obvious lesson. And, in doing so, we have miscalculated the true value of that ministry. Again and again the Scripture clearly speaks to this matter, but we have somehow ignored the obvious and as a result have misunderstood "the call" to minister.

Many years ago… in a land far, far away… I was attending a Minister’s Conference. In attendance were several hundred pastors and their spouses. Also attending were missionaries and evangelists, along with District administrators and presbyters. These Conferences were always promoted as a time for ministers to relax and refresh themselves physically as well as spiritually. But… as can be the case with any large organization, what I observed was that it was also a time for showing off… for chest thumping… it was, at least in part, sadly little more than an opportunity for big-boys to see how far they could spit (some of you will understand that I cleaned this up a bit).

I watched over the years as time and time again honors and recognition were bestowed upon those deemed worthy. Ministers would be paraded across the platform… shiny plaques and trophies were given. Applause would be given from those below. But one particular event still to this day haunts my spirit. It really wasn’t an event, as such… it was nothing more than an introduction. And, before I get to the details of this "introduction"... here is the disclaimer... my point has nothing to do with the individual people who were (or were not) being introduced. I have no ill will toward any of the specific players involved... I too have been caught up in this deception and my prayer is this: Forgive us Lord for we know not what we do..."

Introductions are a moment when an otherwise very ordinary person can be lifted up in a manner that really exceeds the truth. If someone is going to be granted access to the dais, all others should be dully notified of the accomplishments that have made this person worthy… ordinary souls should be made to clearly understand that not just anyone can have such a high privilege.

A young and well known pastor was being introduced as a “great” church planter. He was being introduced as someone who “knew” how to grow a church. The problem was that I knew the “rest of the story”. I sat in my seat deeply saddened as I listened to the glowing recitation of the accomplishments of this young pastor. Why? Because the details of this story took place in a city to which I was very familiar… and, I knew there were a lot of details that were being omitted.

I knew that one of the initial “sparks” that lit the momentum of numerical growth came as a result of not a bunch of new converts to the Christian faith, but rather from a “split” (a group of disgruntled Christians) from a Church across town. A numerically small little church on one side of town seemingly overnight exploded with growth. The city was now made curious to see how it was that a tiny little building could suddenly… somehow… become packed. What was all the excitement about? The effect of “one Church’s loss becoming another Church’s gain” cannot be overstated. I dare say that this young pastor’s entire career is connected at least in part to the troubles of a Church in another part of the city, and his just happening to be at the right place at the right time to catch the exodus.

Please do not think that my comments are intended to diminish the hard and faithful work of this young pastor. I clearly understand the sacrifices of him and his family. Likewise, I think I understand that we must also fully acknowledge the larger work and timing of the Lord in bringing revival to a city. I am aware of many that were saved during the period of time in which this young pastor served that Church. To better understand my point... please read on.

I also knew that in attendance at the Conference sat an elderly pastor and his wife who had previously shepherded that little Church in that particular place. I knew this guy… this now forgotten and overlooked minister. He was one of the most faithful and godly men I have ever had the privilege to know. And now, as one minister was being given all of the credit for what had happened in this particular city… the elder minister, who had spent years preaching and praying and believing and helping… and doing all that a pastor can and should do, and yet never seeing any immediate result… this minister wasn’t even being given an honorable mention. No one seemed to know or care.

One man saw the victory in the realness of faith... the other experienced the victory in tangible, countable, reality. But, should either be commended alone? Were both men called to a place (a city), or neither? Or, was one called to a place, and the other just happened to be at the right place at the right time?

It has taken me too long to get to my point but here it is. I believe that in the Church today, we no longer care about the calling to a place. We no longer recognize the significance of what it means to being called to a “place”. We talk about being called to a “people” but seldom do we speak about being called to a “place”. And, therein, I believe is a root of a very ugly weed that flourishes in the Church today.

This person is called to “youth” ministry. That person is called to ministry to the homeless… to the military… to the prisoner… to the elderly. That’s all well and good, but where is the calling to a “place”? A geographical place? A spot on the globe?

When Jesus spoke to the disciples in reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, it’s recorded in the first chapter of Acts that he said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Likewise, the Apostle Paul was called to “Macedonia”. Notice that these are all “places”. In fact, does not the most widely memorized verse of Scripture say that, “God so loved the world”? Is not the “world” a place?

Some will argue with me that, since a place is not devoid of people, I am just playing word games. But, I would contend that there is a subtle but very powerful change that comes into our lives and our ministries when we recognize the calling to a “place” as opposed to a “people”. If we are called to a place, then we will be happy to minister to whoever is in that place. They can be rich or poor, trailer park tenants or gated community residents, university degreed or high school drop outs. They can be pimps and pushers or professors and professionals... black or white... white collared or blue... republican or democrat... and here is the important one… many or few! It will not matter, because we are called to a place!

What about the pastor who is called to Podunk Hollow, West Virginia? What about the one who is called to pastor the people of Rusted Bucket, Arizona? I have heard for over 20 years the phrase: “Oh, that city has great potential.” What do we mean by that? What about the unlucky Pastor that is called to a city out in the middle of nowhere? A city with very little “potential”… whatever “potential” is.

I once heard it said that the evangelistic vision of the Methodist Church many years ago was to plant a Church everywhere there was a Post Office. That’s what I’m talking about here. They didn’t first weigh the “potential” of a place. If it had a Post Office, that meant there were souls to be won in that location. It didn’t matter if the cows outnumbered the people. There were people in that place that needed faithful, loving Christian ministry. It didn’t matter that there would never be enough people in that place to form a congregation with enough resources to properly fund a full time pastoral ministry. What mattered was… Would there be a pastor willing to serve faithfully in that place… the place where he was called to go?

When will we (especially we who call ourselves the Assemblies of God) stop evaluating pastoral success by the size of congregations and paychecks? We say that we don’t, but our actions betray us. I’m longing for the day when I go to an Assemblies of God Conference and the keynote speaker pastors a church of 20 people in Boondoggle, Louisiana. I long to hear from someone who has been faithful in the hard places… who has been faithful in the tiny, overlooked speck on the map places… Why have they been faithful? What has kept them going? Because that is where the Lord called them to go. I long to once again hear the song sung, “I’ll go where you what me to go, dear Lord…”

A JEWISH JIHADIST AND CHRISTIAN INFIDELS

In our world today there are those who believe that the killing of infidels is appropriate behavior. They believe that they will be blessed of God if they take the life of those who fall away from the truth. There are those who follow a system of religious law that not only sanctions, but in fact demands that unarmed and defenseless unbelievers be sought out and killed. The followers of this radical theo-political mixture of religious and civil law are called Muslim Jihadists. Jihadists carry out their extreme murderous actions with very little if any rebuke from the more centrist Muslims who follow a less lethal variation of Jihad.

Of course, most western Christians are shocked and repulsed by the actions of Muslim Jihadists. We interpret “honor killings” as barbaric and criminal behavior. We conclude that these armed religious zealots are, at the least criminals, and at the worst soulless animals without consciences. Many have determined that those who, in the name of God, and in obedience to the dictates of their religious faith, kill defenseless infidel men, women and children, have themselves crossed an invisible line beyond which redemption cannot be obtained. Simply put: we have put Jihadists in a class of un-savable people. They cannot be saved and the only logical response is to destroy them.

If we truly believe this, then we must conclude that the Apostle Paul should have been sought out by early Christians and killed… For, Paul (known by the early Church as Saul) was a Jewish Jihadist. With the blessing, sanction, and the written religious/legal authority to do so, Saul was no different than the modern day Jihadists that flew airplanes into the Twin Towers on 9/11. He pursued unarmed and defenseless Christian Infidels, including women and children, and had them killed. Motivated by religious zealotry, Saul was no different that Osama Bin Laden… And yet… The Lord saw fit to knock Saul off his horse onto the hardened dirt of the Damascus Road, and offer to him the gift of redemption… the gift of eternal life!

Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond decree?
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light…

The early Church was very unwilling at first to accept this new Convert to Christianity. No doubt! Can you imagine what would happen if Osama Bin Laden showed up somewhere claiming to have converted to Christianity!!!??? I will be completely honest with you… I would personally have a lot, and I do mean A LOT!!, of trouble with this. Yet, that is exactly what the early Church was expected to do… Allow a Jewish Jihadist into the fellowship of the Church.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me…

Am I suggesting that if Bin Laden was captured, he should not be prosecuted? Absolutely not! He should be prosecuted and punished… The question is not should Bin Laden be held accountable, but rather, why was Paul not prosecuted for his participation in the murder of Christian Infidels; for, both men are guilty of the same crime.

A POLITICALLY CORRECT MOMENT OF SILENCE

About 10 years ago our Nation took a direct attack on our homeland. In the days that followed that horrible day, we were advised by our President to, “return to normal” as quickly as possible. I remember the shock that I felt when we were told to “take a vacation to Disneyland”. I believed then and continue more so still today to believe that was the worst advice we could have been given.

Yesterday, as I watched the news unfold about the terrible assassination attempt upon U.S. Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords, which left 6 people dead and more than a dozen injured, I was once again shocked, saddened, and even angered by the response of the leaders of our Nation.

Perhaps the worst of all sadness came as I watched one of the most prominent political figures in America stand before the cameras and microphones, and with much drama and posturing, suggest that we all have a “moment of silence”. Moment of Silence???!!!!!??? A MOMENT OF SILENCE!!!! OF POLITICALLY CORRECT MOMENT OF SILENCE!!!!!!!!

I felt outraged. I felt pure contempt for the gutless admonition to “be silent”. If this politician had any courage at all, she would have led us in a loud and desperate prayer to the only God that can save our Nation… to the God of the Christian faith… and to him alone. Not Mohamed… Not Buddha… Not Krishna… But to the Creator God of us all… to the God that the Declaration of Independence declares has bestowed upon us unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This “moment of silence” was not prompted out of respect for the dead and wounded. It was prompted out of political fear and expediency. Some of you will say that I should not judge the motive of this person’s heart. Perhaps… But, I would point out that they did not suggest that we bow our heads and our heart for a moment of silent prayer… But rather, that we pause for a generic, anemic, impotent moment of silence. In order to not offend the Christ-less constituency… the Muslim, the Atheist, the Humanist demographic that has returned her to Washington time after time… We were asked to participate in a moment of politically correct silence.

Our Nation has entered a new era. Without a serious and sincere return to the Christian Scriptures and the God that inspired and led our Founders to establish a new Nation built upon the Biblical principals of Freedom and Personal Responsibility, we have no hope. But, I am encouraged this day, as I witnessed Christians praying… as I heard their tearful cries… as I watched aged Veterans, with tears in their eyes, pray for a spiritual revival for America… I have hope this day that there may be a way out. Join with other Christians and Pray. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Pray.

I have this morning, and will again, pleaded with those Christians, whom I am so blessed to have the undeserved opportunity to lead, to pray… not silently, not timidly, but boldly and unafraid… Go to the God of Heaven… Go to our Lord and Savior, Jesus… and, in prayer call out, and call out loudly for him to Save our Land. Please… please… be silent no more… Pray as if our Nation, and your Safety, and your Freedom depends upon it… For it does.

DANGER AHEAD

For what seems like hours, I stood in the middle of I-75 in Toledo, Ohio waving my arms in the air and shouting. Actually, it was closer to 30 minutes, but for those 30 minutes, time seemed to stand still. To the hundreds of passengers in the cars, trucks and buses that moved to avoid hitting me, I must have looked like a raving lunatic. Drenched from the rain - waving my yellow raincoat in the air instead of wearing it.... What a crazy sight it must have been.

Our entire family was packed into our SUV as we made our way back to Michigan from a visit with family in Indiana. It was one of those dark wet nights when driving was difficult at best, dangerous at worst. We had already stopped once earlier to help a stranded young motorist along the Toll Road. As we neared the Michigan border, we rounded a long blind curve in the Interstate roadway. A large concrete barrier wall on was on the left and a continuous steel guardrail followed the right side of the road, but the dividing lines on the pavement were lost beneath the water and darkness of the night.

Suddenly, I noticed stationary running lights of a semi-rig high above and immediately ahead in the middle lane of three. I began to brake... hard... and moved quickly to the right. Fortunately, at that moment there was no traffic preventing me from making such a sudden shift of lanes. Then, just in front of the semi tractor, I saw it: a mini-van, filled with people, had lost control on the wet pavement, slammed into the concrete barrier, carreening then into the traffic lanes, coming to rest sideways in the middle lane with no lights on. The only thing standing, for the moment, between the mini van and certain death were the lights of the big-rig parked in the middle traffic lane between the van and oncoming traffic.

I turned on my emergency flashers and pulled off on the narrow shoulder next to the guardrail. I ran back with my son-in-law, Jimmie, and discovered a terrified but unhurt family in the van. I could hear the rush of unsuspecting traffic coming upon us. Jimmie began to help the children out of the only working door. I left him behind as I began to run as hard as I could and as far back toward oncoming traffic as I could. Removing the most visible thing I had, my bright yellow parka, I began waving it as a warning at buses, trucks and cars coming at me at freeway speeds. But all, it seemed, to ignore my frantic warning. I was standing in the middle of the freeway, risking my own safety, but my warning was not being taken seriously. Drivers, unknowledgable and unable to see the danger looming directly ahead, sped past me as if they had no concern for my strange warning.

Likewise, this is true in the spiritual realm. Being absolutely certain of the dangers that lie ahead, Christians should be willing to do as much as possible to warn those who, being unaware of the life or death peril ahead, are racing toward the impending doom of a Christless eternity. Fortunately, everyone on the Interstate that night escaped uninjured. However, the outcome will not be the same for those who ignore the warning of the Scriptures. The Bible is very clear about this matter. One need look no further than perhaps the most memorized and widely known verse in the entire Bible: John 3:16. The truth is there; those who reject Jesus Christ will perish. It is our job to do everything we can to warn those who are heading into peril, to call out into the darkness of the spiritual night, “Jesus saves!”

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SKEPTIC

I respectfully submit to you, sir, that the possibility exists that you are right. You say there is no God, no Jesus, no Savior, no need to be saved from sin’s penalty and power. You say the Bible is not to be believed, that it is irrelevant, and you can even point out what you believe to be its errors and contradictions. Well, perhaps you are right. But… We’ll never know, you and I, at least not until we both pass beyond that inevitable event in out lives called death.

In the mean time, you are free to believe that I am a fool. You are free to believe that my hope in Heaven is in vain. But, you’ll never know for sure, until we both are gone from this world; will you? You see, I know that there will, with absolutely certainty, come a day when each of us will die. It is then, and only then, when we both, you and I, standing at the Gate of whatever awaits us after we die, will find out which one was right, and which one was wrong.

Before then, that is to say, before we both die, you have nothing to gain and I have nothing to lose. We are both free to live however we want... we may believe whatever we want. We can both roll the dice. If it turns out in the end that you were right, I have lost nothing. But, if you were wrong, and I was right...

Rest assured of this: I will never give up… until perhaps after I’m dead. Then, Mr. Skeptic, I will meet you on the sands of that distant shore that separates this life from the next. I will not quit ‘till I have exhaled my last breath of polluted earthly air, and inhaled my first breath of rarefied Heavenly air. Catch up with me there, my skeptic friend. If I was wrong and you were right, I’ll slap you high 5’s and declare you the winner. What a proud moment for you. You can claim braggin’ rights, and we will go do whatever dead people do. But… If I was right, and you were wrong, I will have gained Eternal Life and you will have lost it all. I will have won the Great Wager, and you will have lost everything.

Some will recognize this as Pascal’s Wager. Atheists love to excoriate Mr. Pascal’s great gambit, but to my mind, they do so at their own peril. The Bible declares: A fool says in his heart, “There is no God”, and I’m no fool. My mind is made up. My heart is steadfast. My peace has been made. I am resolute.

The question will remain before us. Time will tell which of us is the winner. I’ll see you on the other side. Until then, “Be well.” As for me, I will not throw away my confidence. It will be richly rewarded. I will persevere. I will not be counted among those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

THE CHILDREN'S BIBLE

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. Impress upon / diligently teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up... Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates - Deut. 6:5-7,9.

Answer this question: Why was there so much emphasis placed upon
parents specifically and those in authority generally to teach... to diligently teach... to impress upon the minds and hearts of children the Holy
Scriptures? Think. “You’ll never get it, but try anyway.” Take a moment and think. “Good try, but that’s not what I’m looking for.” Why was it clearly the responsibility of the adults to see to it that the children were taught the laws and principals of God’s Word Take a guess. Are you ready for the answer? It’s really simple. There was not one child in Deuteronomy chapter 6 that could read! Think of that for a moment... Think some more... Not one child could read.

You ask, “So what?” Well, my friend, if those boys and girls were not taught the Scriptures correctly and accurately both in words and in actions by their parents, they would never have the opportunity to learn it. As a matter of fact, there are only two times in the entire Bible that the written word addresses children and both times are found in Paul's epistles and they both say the same thing: Children, obey your parents. - Eph. 6:1, Col. 3:20. That is the only thing children are commanded to do. The Children’s Bible is basically 4 words in length. Everything else... EVERYTHING else they are to hear, see, and learn from Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa - Deut. 4:9

Our only conclusion can be: The Bible was not necessarily meant to be read as much as it was meant to be lived and demonstrated. Certainly, I would never suggest that children not be allowed to read the Bible. But I would suggest that maybe, that is not how God would have intended for them to learn it. Up until a few hundred years ago, children learned the Scripture from the adults in their lives. Giving the Bible to children and expecting them to be successful adults is the same thing as giving someone the flight manual to an airplane and expecting them to be successful pilots. Some things in life are best learned under the careful tutelage of someone both knowledgeable and experienced in the craft. We have told boys and girls to read their Bibles while we fail to live its principals before their eyes and then we wonder why they fail to get it. We have perhaps done them the worst disservice of all by giving them the gift of reading without likewise giving them the gift of our example.