APOLOGETICS: What right do we have to say what is right or wrong for anyone? Doesn't God say not to judge others?

True, God is the judge. And we have NO authority to decide what is right or wrong for anyone. But we do have authority, standing solely on the Word of God, to proclaim the truth of His Word (in fact, we are commanded to). And we let His Word be the final and absolute authority on what is right and wrong, in ALL matters, and in ALL lives.

THE GOSPEL CHANGES HOW WE PRAY FOR OTHERS

Because we know that any knowledge of the truth, or revelation of Christ, resulting in a transformed heart and a transformed life, comes from God, starts with God, and can only happen through the grace of God and work of the Holy Spirit, and because we know this is the ONLY thing that matters in life, we pray THAT for the people we love. Because we know Christ, and Christ alone, is better than anything this life has to offer, we pray that those we love would get Christ, NOT Christ AND _____. CHRIST. PERIOD. We pray they would know Christ, would WANT Christ, and would see such worth and treasure in Christ that any other dreams, goals, plans or pleasures in this world would seem worthless in light of Christ.

the best day of my life

Lately I've been thinking about how the best day of my life will certainly be the day that I die. Not because I have some morbid fascination with death, but because for me, dying is ALL gain. Sometimes I think about that day. I think about how I will surely feel bestowed with much grace on that day. Yes, grace that covered my sins and sealed my fate for eternity. But also the graciousness of God on that very day... to decide to end my struggle here, so I can start living the glorious life I was intended for and that was planned for me before the beginning of time. To think that at some point, God will say, "Ok, enough here. Today you get to come home." What grace!

let not this treasure lie by you neglected

Reading about the life of Jonathan Edwards. His grandson writes of him: "He studied theology, not chiefly in systems or commentaries, but in the Bible." I believe today we have such a tendency to read a commentary about scripture, rather than digesting it ourselves. We are lazy, and it's just too much work to actually study something, ponder it, think of it, and meditate on it. Perhaps this is one of the great blind spots of our generation: that we are satisfied to read someone else's interpretation... someone else's meditation, instead of dwelling on the very words of God, and letting His Spirit teach us. As well thought out as another's words may be, I think we may be missing something completely when we dismiss the study of God's words themselves. As Edward's advised "Be assiduous in reading the Holy Scriptures. This is the fountain whence all knowledge in divinity must be derived. Therefore let not this treasure lie by you neglected." Could it be that we are gaining a head knowledge of Scripture, without the God-inspired revelation that comes from dwelling on His words alone, and for that matter, simply spending time with Him. To put it practically, I wouldn't read an email from my mom about my sister, and feel like I had just conversed with my sister.

the gospel and me

I'm currently going through the membership class at Brook Hills. Homework this week was an amazing exercise that guides you through writing out the gospel in your own words, and your testimony.

The Gospel Is:

God created everything to glorify himself. In his justice he must judge sin. In his grace, he has provided a way for us to glorify him despite our sin. Instead of submitting to the will of the God who intimately created us, we think we know what is best for us. Anytime we choose something other than God, we defy the authority of God in our lives and sin. Christ, completely without sin, died in our place and paid the penalty that was due us for our sins. His sacrifice satisfied the requirement of the law, so that we could be righteous before a holy God. We are completely unable to reconcile ourselves to a Holy God on our own. Our only hope is faith in Christ. One day we will stand before a holy God who will look on us and either see sin worthy of eternal punishment, or the blood of Christ making us worthy of eternal life.

My Story:

I had a difficult family life growing up. I desperately wanted to break free from that, and make a better life for myself despite it all. I was very independent, and driven to make the life I wanted for myself. I wanted a great family, a successful career, and security in my finances. I wanted my kids to grow up doing everything a normal all-american kid gets to do... something I never got. Basically, I wanted the American dream. I grew up in church. But I was completely blind. I saw Jesus as a means to an end...heaven, blessings on earth, etc. I tacked Jesus onto my existing life to make it better. I invited him to join ME, and thought this made me a christian. God began working in my heart about 2 years ago through some extremely difficult family circumstances. I started seeking him truly for the first time. Then in the last year, as I read many books, God began opening my eyes. I realized how blind I was. That I had been incapable of understanding anything on my own. And that it was only by the grace of God that I didn't stay that way. He began revealing himself to me, and for the first time, I could see. I realized how precious it was that HE had chosen to be gracious to ME. That he had chosen to reveal himself to me, and had chose me to be one of his children. I knew I did nothing to warrant it. It was all his grace. I discovered a God who is worth everything. And that to have Him, he asks from me just that: everything. I decided that he was worth it. I realized I could never be righteous on my own before a holy God. I realized that I desperately needed a savior, and I found that in Christ. Everything changed. I knew following Christ meant drastically changing my life and the path I was on, and FOLLOWING him instead. I knew my goals and dreams and desires had died, and were replaced with his. My desire is to spend my life for Christ. For his will and purposes in this world. And ultimately, my desire is for Christ himself. I want to use my life for the glory of God. Whatever that means for my life, by God's grace that's what I want to do. How this looks right now in my life is radically changing how I spend my life and my resources. My husband and I sold our dream house in San Diego, 2 months ago, and moved to Birmingham, AL to become a member at Brook Hills. We felt God calling us here to be taught and equipped, and become part of the ministry Brook Hills is doing throughout the world.