World Impact Ministries / Peter Youngren

Have you checked the bestsellers lists recently? Atheism has an audience in our nation. This could mean that the number of so-called atheists is on the increase, or that believers are buying books to find out what the atheists are saying. Two authors, whose books have reached considerable popularity, are Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. I have read enough of one of Mr. Hichens’s books to recognize he is re-hashing the arrogant thoughts of those who have defied God throughout the centuries. The Bible is clear that only the fool says in his heart “there is no God”. This does not mean that atheists are fools in all areas of life, but to deny a Creator in the face of nature’s splendor is utter foolishness.

Seeing, but not seeing, is a common problem. Christians see that Jesus carried their sins, but they still don’t see themselves righteous; Jesus bore their sickness, but they have a difficult time to see themselves healed. We see that Jesus has become our righteousness, redemption, wisdom and sanctification, but somehow we still look for all of the above. Out of one side of the mouth we say, “God has given us everything in Christ,“ and out of the other side we claim to be a very “needy people”. On the one hand we agree with Jesus that if we drink the water He gives we’ll never thirst again, while on the other we say, “Lord, I’m so thirsty for you”. Do you see the contradictions? Is this schizophrenic life normal Christianity?

If the current Christian scene were a football game, I’d say we are in the fourth quarter and if you look at the scoreboard legalism has an insurmountable lead over grace. This has been an ongoing battle for 2000 years; the legalism of the Pharisees vs. the unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor of God presented by Jesus. There is a line between those who uphold the traditions of men based on merits versus Jesus the friend and transformer of sinners. The Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15) dealt with this ongoing conflict where certain “Judaizers” wanted to lay more “burdens” on the new believers.  That time the truth prevailed, and it was agreed that we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  In Antioch, the same battle continued as Paul had to publicly rebuke Simon Peter and his spiritual mentor Barnabus because they were slipping into legalism instead of standing by the message of Christ alone and grace alone (Galatians 2).

Revolutions or reformations are not needed in every generation; it is only when things have gone so far that the very foundations of people’s belief systems need to be challenged. Martin Luther lived in such a time. The predominant Christian religion of his day was selling salvation and the forgiveness of sin for monetary gain in the market place. Are we due for another reformation, or as I often call it, a gospel revolution?

I have just about seen enough articles, teaching albums, etc. advertised under titles like “Greasy Grace”, “Crazy Grace”, or “Grace Gone Wild”. While I am sure that just about everything can be abused, even grace because the Bible says so. These three titles that warn against the grace message don’t have a clue and often have little or no knowledge of what the message is. Instead they build up a phantom and an attack that their imagination has created. It goes something like this: “Those who preach a radical message of God’s grace are people looking for a low commitment, a low level Christian life where anything goes because sin is tolerated (after all, Jesus paid for them).“ Often writers are connecting the message of grace with general moral decay in the church and in the world. I used to have this opinion of grace teaching myself only seven or eight years ago. I had never really heard the message but just assumed that people who would preach that all sin, past, present and future had been paid for by Jesus, couldn’t be doing anything good with their sermons, in fact they must be something negative (creating a license to sin).

I remember when I used to enjoy being called a fundamentalist or call myself a fundamentalist. That was back when fundamentalism meant, “Clinging to unchanging truths.” In that sense, I am still a fundamentalist, clinging to the unchanging reality of what Jesus has done through His death and resurrection and what He is doing in His present day ministry as our exalted King.

How are we saved, and what is the means of our salvation? Amazingly, much confusion exists among evangelical and charismatic Christians on this topic. A recent issue of Christianity Today heralded an increased acceptance of Calvinism, which prompted me to read a couple of books on this subject. Well, now I am even more convinced of the need to address the subject of salvation.

It is possible, at times, to read scripture after scripture and not really pause to discern what exactly it’s talking about. It’s happened to me a number of times. For example, Hebrews chapter four has an abundance of meat in it; so much so that one couldn’t possibly “eat” it all in one sitting. Have a look. . .

Christmas has started a bit different for RoxAnne and I. It has been an exciting year! I enjoy blogging and I sure enjoy your responses. I am writing from Timika, in the province of Papua, Indonesia. Last night we finished a Gospel Festival; and at the end of it I was swarmed by Muslims. They were hugging me, squeezing me, wanting to get close… it was awesome. I know they were not praising me; I was only basking in the overflow, so to speak, of what Jesus had done for them. They were only grateful to me because I had brought them a witness of the LIGHT. Now it is the day after and I am thinking back.

This year we have celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Azusa Street Pentecostal phenomenon. An October survey from Pew Forum on Religion and Public states that more than 40% of Pentecostals, in a majority of countries surveyed, indicate that they have never spoken in tongues. In the United States only half of Pentecostals have spoken in tongues. It was the experience of speaking in other tongues, just like on the day of Pentecost, which propelled the Pentecostal movement to the front pages of newspapers across the world 100 years ago. Of course no one has suggested that speaking in tongues has ceased among Pentecostals, not at all. In fact today, people from a wide range of denominations and backgrounds enjoy this gift.

The Apostle Paul, while giving his incredible “witness” to Agrippa in Acts chapter 26, makes a very interesting comment. He says “the king (Agrippa), before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.” Although this is possibly one of the best salvation sermons ever given (even though we do not know if Agrippa ended up receiving or not), that is not the focus of today’s blog. Rather I would like us to turn our attention to the last part of the verse where it says “this thing was not done in a corner”. What an absolutely wonderful criteria for whether or not something is true, right, godly! Throughout the ages, there have been two types of people: those who like to do things in the open and those who like to do things in a corner. The Apostle Paul makes it very clear that he favors those who like to do things out in the open.

One of the issues that prompts Christians to action is keeping “Christ” in Christmas. Every year as Christmas approaches, great concerns are expressed about nativity scenes at city halls and the lighting of Christmas trees or “Winter Festival” trees. I visited the UK last week. One of the Nov 7th articles in The Daily Telegraph (UK) headlined “Christmas stamps ignore Christianity”. The news item was triggered by the Church of England criticizing the Royal Mail service for featuring snowmen, reindeer and Father Christmas on its stamps, while ignoring religious art or the nativity scene.

These last number of weeks we’ve been camped in Corinthians, truly an inspiring and relevant book for 2006. This week we’ll select another small piece of scripture from 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Recently I was asked to articulate the purpose of this ministry in a single sentence.  The questioner pointed out that to many organizations this could be a trying, even painful process. It could be difficult for me because I have to consider a wide range of ministries we are involved with: the Celebration Church, World Impact Ministries, Celebrate Jesus International, Celebration Bible College, overseas Gospel Festivals, television ministry and International Pastors’ seminars. I could break down every one of those departments into other areas of activities. For example the Celebration Church is currently in three locations: Toronto, Niagara and Hamilton, each one presenting its own challenges and opportunities. 

“When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.”

“Those who know don’t speak. Those who don’t know speak.”

I don’t know how true these quotes are, but I like them nonetheless. One of the “read between the lines” doctrines in the Bible is that of Friendship(s). This sounds like a bit of shallow discussion but I have seen over the years numerous relationships based on numerous things: work, next door neighbor, family etc. However, how many sincere friendships do you have? How many people are in your life that truly know you and genuinely care about you?

I just spent five days traveling across the United States. Staying in hotels and having some free time on my hands I made it a point of watching a lot of Christian television. Something struck me very strange in program after program. The viewer is inundated with the preaching which claims we need victory?, breakthrough?, the next level?, etc. The preaching is quite obviously targeting born-again, spirit-filled believers. Are we really that needy? Or are preachers merely feeling a false emotion-based feeling of need?

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:15

I remember going to youth group when I was fourteen and the dreaded subject of witnessing would come up. The announcement was made that after the meeting we’d be heading down town to “witness”. I would rummage through my thoughts, pretending not to be scared out of my wits that I might run in to someone that I knew; trying to figure out how to look cool while doing it.

Jesus’ non-discriminatory approach.

Last weeks blog brought a lot of reaction. Thank you for responding whether you agree with my sentiments or not.

End-time prophecy predictions are a tricky business. Anyone remember Salem Kirban prediction books in the 70’s? What about a host of other prophecy teachers who foretold Jesus’ return in 1982, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2000 etc. All through these emotionally charged predictions I have been saying that Jesus’ return is not tied to a date on the calendar, but to a fulfillment of a condition the Gospel must first be preached.

Perhaps now more than any time in history there are more opinions, books and teachings on prayer than ever before. How to pray! When to pray! What to pray? Every angle of a believer’s prayer life seems to be covered. People brag about how much they pray; how many sermons or preachers have we all heard expounding on lengthy and extensive prayer sessions that last hours on end. Many times I’ve walked out of sermons feeling inadequate and almost borderline sinful over my seemingly lack of a prayer life.

Paul tells the Galatians, it can happen and quite easily at that.  The bewitching is in believing the oldest lie there is. “Yes, surely Jesus died for your sins.  His death made you righteous, but you must prove your love to him by doing things that are right.  You need to show God why he should keep on loving you.”  In fact, God’s love is extended unconditionally to everyone.  He loved us when we were enemies.

Have you been on the treadmill of faith? You are running as hard as you can in your pursuit of faith but not getting anywhere. Could it be that Christian preachers have made faith into something we manufacture by efforts of prayer and Bible study rather than a gift of God?

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18,19