Is Hurricane Sandy the Judgement of God?

    Should natural disasters be considered the judgement of God? There are some who argue, “Absolutely!” and others, “Of course not!” So which is it?
    It’s hard to deny that God used natural disasters in Scripture to get people’s attention, both in bringing judgement and in encouraging repentance. In Amos 4, Yahweh spoke to Israel through Amos and told them that he had sent hunger, famine, floods, storms and earthquakes to get them to return to him. Jesus said that in the end times, natural disasters would increase, and that they would be judgements from God.
    But we also learn in the Bible that some natural disasters are from Satan. Job was vexed by the devil’s use of nature. We also find in the Bible that some natural disasters just happened, as an outgrowth of a planet that has been degraded by sin. There is no indication as to who might be to blame for a lot of the weather and seismic related activities on earth.
    So what can we say about Sandy?
    When God made use of natural disasters in Scripture for the sake of judgement, he told them so. I think it was abundantly clear what was happening to those on the receiving end (i.e. the Egyptians). If God is going to do something like that as direct judgement, we wouldn’t have to wonder. I think the same could be said regarding prophesied end times judgements. Some say that natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity; others make a strong case for that not happening. The way these judgements are described both by Jesus in the Gospels and by John in Revelation, if we were experiencing the increase of natural disasters of the end times, I don’t think there would be any doubt.
    But God is sovereign and he intends to use everything for his glory, including hurricanes. And if we respond in ways that bring honor to him, even horrible disasters such as Sandy can turn out for our good. These things tend to, and ought to humble us. They remind us that we are very small and not in control. They ought to cause us to look outward and see the plight of others, reaching out and offering to help. They should bring humanity together, causing us to care for one another. But more important than anything, they ought to drive us to God. I think that was Amos’ lament in Amos 4:6-13. Though they were brought low with multiple disasters, they refused to return to their Creator and God. They continued in their sin and rebellion.
    I don’t know if Sandy is judgement from God or not. Maybe it depends on who you are. But I can tell you this, God wants this hurricane, as with everything else that happens, to be a force for good, to bring you closer to him, and others to know him.
    If nothing else, maybe this little reminder that life is fragile, as is everything in it, will be to our benefit. There is a much bigger world out there, beyond what we tend to think about. If Sandy blows away the clutter that is in the way of our relationship with God and other people, then that’s a good thing...judgement or not.

Is There a "Christian" Vote?

    This campaign season is getting old, isn’t it? Could you imagine if we lived in one of the swing states? Here in Illinois, the state is so overwhelmingly democratic that republican presidential candidates hardly have a chance. We see some commercials that are nationally televised, but not like places such as Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Iowa, or even Wisconsin. In some of the more contested counties of those states, campaign commercials are constant...and those communities just want it to be over.
    As Christians, what should our attitude about the political process be? Should we stay out of it altogether and leave it up to the world? Should we be hosting forums and debates, or maybe even endorsing candidates for office who best promote Christian values?
    Well, first of all, as a church, our mission is to connect people with God. Political involvement would only get in the way of that mission. While I have my own political views, I only share them publicly when Biblical imperatives and modern politics converge. I don’t focus on even those things during a political season as much as I merely teach on these subjects as they come up in the Scriptures we are studying. Here at The Bridge, it is our mission to connect anyone and everyone with God, regardless of their political persuasion. So I’d like to preach to democrats, republicans, libertarians, and independents indiscriminately. We are not going to limit ourselves to one political ideology when it comes to reaching out with the Gospel. Everyone needs Jesus, no matter who they are voting for.
    But as Christians, how should our understanding of Scripture guide us during election time?
    For starters, bear in mind that we do not live in a theocracy. This is not Old Testament Israel, and while most politicians, for the sake of votes, play lip-service to some kind of religious faith, we are not attempting to “vote into power” a representative of the Church. We are not voting to ordain elders, install a pastor, or even to make Jesus Lord over the country. We are voting to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. As followers of Jesus we would not expect those in this unbelieving world to mirror our beliefs and values.
    But should not our beliefs impact how we vote? Of course! Jesus has called us to be salt and light and we should work for the common good in our culture.
    So then, how do we do that when we vote? Of course I’m not going to tell you who to vote for...far from that. But I’d like to offer some help in how we can best represent Jesus in this fallen world in the act of voting.
    First, ask yourself what Biblical principles are at stake and what does the Bible say about these things. Be honest here. It’s easy for us to first identify the things that are important to us and then read into the Bible what we want it to say. With some of the issues at stake, there are apparent conflicting passages that could support either side of an argument. All Scripture needs to be considered in regards to any issue, not just "pet" passages that lend support to our opinions.
    For example, we can take from Jesus’ instructions to care for the poor and needy that government welfare spending should be a priority. But then we learn from 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that we should not feed those who are not willing to work. So what is the issue at stake, what does the Bible say about it, and does that even fit within what the Bible says the role of government should be? (Romans 13 indicates that the chief role of government is to protect the innocent from evil-doers).
    Once we understand what Biblical principles are at stake, from God’s perspective, what takes priority? I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago here. Just about everything being debated in the political arena is important on some level. But there are moral and religious freedom issues that ought to take precedent in the mind of Christians, as everything else tends to flow from those values.
    Something else to consider...are we wise in our political discourse? The Book of Proverbs teaches us that the difference between foolish people and wise people is that the foolish person is close-minded and you cannot tell him anything. The wise person is always listening and learning. Which are you? Do you have a blind loyalty to a political party or ideological persuasion and any discussion for you is simply aimed at convincing the person you are talking to? Is your mind so made up that you are unwilling to consider the other viewpoint?
    A good way to test this is by monitoring your attitude when in a discussion with someone who disagrees with you. Foolish people refuse to weigh the arguments of the other side (according to Proverbs). Foolish people will get angry and even spew judgmental and hateful comments against the candidate they oppose. Wise people will listen and are willing to admit it when their reasoning is questionable or even wrong. If nothing else, we as followers of Jesus ought to be taking the lead in civility, thoughtful discussion, and fair-minded debate.
    In a couple of weeks it will be over...for a couple of years––hahaha. As Christians, let’s strive to please and honor our God in everything. Let’s do that in the voting booth as well!

What Are You in Pursuit Of?

    An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.
    “Done!” says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.”
    The dean looks at them and says, “I should have taken the money.”
    Interesting retell of the King Solomon story. While I got a good laugh out of it, it is so far from the truth and illustrative of the lies of Satan and the worldly wisdom he has inserted into our thinking. Of course we know that professor would take wisdom over wealth...that’s a given. But there is something in all of us that still says, “I’d rather be rich.”
    But here’s the thing, being handed riches produces nothing positive. Psychology researcher Dan Gilbert points to a study that says lottery winners have the same level of happiness a year after winning the lottery as do paraplegics a year after losing the use of their limbs. It doesn’t make sense. All of us would chose the lottery over a debilitating accident. Yet research shows that it makes no one any happier.
    I know what you are thinking...you’d love to prove the research wrong.
    Wisdom on the other hand, is the ability to squeeze the most out of life with what you’ve been given. It isn’t necessarily intelligence. Some very intelligent people are also very foolish. But it’s using all of God’s gifts, including your mental and emotional faculties, for the purpose they were given to you, and thereby making the most out of life.
    In Knowing God, theologian J. I. Packer put it this way, “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.”
    Are you pursuing wisdom above all else in life (Proverbs 2:1-15)? The wisdom of God, being able to see all of life from his perspective, enables you to squeeze every bit of value from life, and to enjoy all that God has for you. It impacts the immediate to the eternal. It far outweighs wealth, beauty, or anything else that is temporary. It’s the belt of truth that Paul said we are to be wrapped in. It is revealed in God’s Word and and is unleashed when we apply that Word to our lives, our circumstances, our relationships.
    What are you in pursuit of at this point in your life? Career? Family? Financial security? Friendships? If wisdom is not at the top of your list, may I suggest that you drop it all in favor of wisdom. Once you begin to see life from God’s perspective, any of those other pursuits either take care of themselves, or they lose their luster.
    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10 ESV).

Do You Know Where You Came From?

My wife is a flight attendant and one of the perks of her job is that she gets to see many parts of the world, albeit, in short periods of time. She will sometimes have an extended layover (24 hours or so) in an interesting place and have the chance to get in a little sightseeing. On some occasions, if I’m able to take the time off and if there are available seats on the plane, I will travel with her and take advantage of the flight and the free accommodations in whatever 4 star hotel they put her up in.
     This last Monday, Linda had a full day layover in New York City, staying at a hotel just across the street from and overlooking the 911 Memorial and the under-construction new World Trade Center. So I joined her.
     Neither of us had ever been to The Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, so we elected to take the boat excursion to both. It just so happened that our daughter, Erica, had travelled to New York City with a friend that very day, so we met them on Ellis Island. It was a beautiful cool fall day, with the sun shining and trees in full color. But the real impact on me came from Ellis Island itself.
     I’ve known little of my family heritage past my grandparents. I knew that I came from immigrants from Germany on both sides of my family, but I didn’t even know who it was that immigrated. I remember my dad talking about his grandpa owning and operating a harness shop, but I didn’t remember whether that was in Germany or America. Then, a couple of weeks ago, my oldest son decided to try out the free month offered on ancestry.com and for just an hour, he did a little digging. He sent me a picture he found online of a man named Gabriel Ziegler, posing inside a shop that was filled with leather harnesses of all kinds. It was taken in Germany. He asked if the man might be family. Well, my dad’s middle name is Gabriel...I deduced that this was his grandpa. We learned then that my great grandpa, Gabriel Ziegler, closed his harness shop in the late 19th century, when he immigrated to the US through Ellis Island. He settled in southern Minnesota where he homesteaded a small farm and opened up a new harness shop.
  So once on Ellis Island, I went looking for him. Behind the great hall is a wall with many thousands of names etched in stainless steel, honoring those who registered their immigration on Ellis Island. And I found his name: my great grandpa, Gabriel H. Ziegler.
  I can’t say that it meant all that much to me, until we walked back into the great hall and registry room. The building has since been restored to what it had been when used for the millions of European immigrants who entered the country via New York. And looking at the photos from that time period, as well as seeing artifacts from many of these immigrants, I began to wonder what it was like for my ancestors who came here with very little, leaving all family behind with dreams of making a better life in this land of opportunity. I thanked God for giving Gabriel and others like him the courage to do what they did. We are the recipients of the risks taken and blessings passed on by those who blazed a trail before us.
  It has been said that a nation does not know where it is going unless it understands where it has been. And I think the same could be said for the Church. Getting a vivid picture of the sacrifices, passions, struggles and victories of the Church over the last 2,000 years will give us a better understanding of the mission before us. A great blessing of faith’s heritage has been passed on to us. Handing the baton off to the next generation, and doing so with continuity of mission and message will require a firm handle on our history. So let me encourage you, if you have not yet signed up for Junior’s Church history class to be taught on Monday evenings, sign up today. It will expand your appreciation for God’s work through the ages and increase your fervency for the future Church history yet to be written.

Does It Matter Who You Vote For?

    As a church, we are not involved politically. We believe that no church or religious organization should dictate to the government it’s policies and that the government is not to dictate to any church it’s activities. As a pastor, I do not speak out on topics that are solely political in nature, and I have never endorsed a candidate for office or encouraged people to vote for any candidate or in support of any political party.
    But there are issues of morality and Biblical truth that I have to address, in order to be faithful to the Scriptures. Sometimes, the responsibilities of the church and state converge. For example, a few weeks ago we focused on the problem of human trafficking in our weekend services. We believe this is a moral issue that needs to be addressed in the church and we encouraged our congregants to affect government officials to do something about this problem within their sphere of influence. It was the church that took the lead in addressing the moral issue of slavery in the nineteenth century. And there are areas within the political arena today that the Bible addresses, and therefore, we must talk about in the church and be the salt and light in our culture that Jesus has called us to be.
    Few political seasons have had such important Biblical and moral issues up for debate in the political arena. While I have my views regarding foreign and fiscal policy, and many of those views are derived from my understanding of Scripture (i.e. the immorality of unbridled debt, protection of Israel, handouts to those unwilling to work), I do not speak out publicly on these subjects. But there are two issues in the world of politics that I believe address the heart of our nation, issues that the Bible is clear on, and issues that God cares about. Because of that, every Christian should also care about these things.
    When it comes to fiscal policy, overspending, creation of jobs, taxation, and all the rest...these things do matter. I would never deny their importance. But the undergirding of any society has to do with life and death itself, the protection of religious freedom, and the sanctity of the family as the bedrock of society. These things matter far more in the long-range direction of a nation, then anything else addressed in the political arena today.
    For decades, these foundational pillars have been eroding in our society, but never under assault as they are currently. As one evangelical leader recently pointed out, never before has a classic party platform in the American system, adopted Romans chapter one as it’s party platform. But with a wanton desire to destroy the sanctity of marriage, redefining it to include what God calls an abomination, along with a wholesale disregard for human life in unlimited abortion, even to the moment of live delivery, now adopted as fundamental beliefs of a major political party. These are indicators of an inability to distinguish between good and evil. Since Romans 13 says that the purpose of government is to protect good people from evildoers, I have to wonder how politicians who cannot tell the difference between good and evil can do that. And the follow-up question is, how can followers of Jesus support, promote, or even endorse in a voting booth, a candidate who calls good, “evil” and evil, “good.” Regardless of one’s foreign policy or fiscal views, can we with consciences shaped by God’s Word, vote for candidates who are pro-abortion and endorsing gay marriage?
    I am one who believes that America’s greatness lies chiefly with the blessing of God. We were born in an attempt to find freedom for worship. We became a nation in the midst of a Christian revival. We were built upon the Protestant work ethic, derived from the Bible. With all of our flaws, we have fought for morality, for decency, and for freedom. God has blessed us as principles in his Word have been implemented, our Bill of Rights derived from them.
    But will God bless a wanton disregard of his revealed principles for life, freedom of worship, and family. As we fail to protect the most innocent among us from gruesome abortion practices, celebrate the immorality of unnatural unions (while closing down Christian adoption agencies that place children only with married heterosexual couples), and force religious organizations to violate their Biblically induced principles to follow abortion mandates by the state, will that blessing continue?
    Creating jobs is a big deal for whoever is in power this next time around. But in my mind, it does not compare to these major moral issues of our day. When it comes to these things, the Bible tells us what matters to God. Then we have to ask, what matters to you?