Memorial Day Underscores the Cost of Freedom

Today, as we enjoy Memorial Day, let us not forget to conscientiously remember those who while serving our country, died in war. Through their sacrifice, we in America enjoy the many freedoms we currently do. Let me be quick to add that I hereby acknowledge that not all military actions have been specifically aimed at defending our freedoms, but it is to this specific cause I speak in this post.

War is not something we glory in. It’s not a mandate from God. Rather, it is one of the consequences of the fall of man, occasioned by Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. For at that time, sin entered the world. One of the ways this sin manifests itself is through a lack of peace among the nations on earth. Accordingly, there are those in other parts of the world who are determined to take away the freedoms we enjoy in America, no matter what the costs to do so.

But we are even more determined to defend the freedoms we have. Many of our brave men and women of war have paid for the defense of our freedoms through their own priceless blood. You know the Bible says, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). One might argue that not all of those who died while serving in our armed forces entered the military with the intent of laying down their lives for others. Though that is true, all of them understood that their death was a real possibility.

For those who died in the defense of our freedoms, their lives have not been in vain because we are still “the land of the free.”

I know we will be enjoying Memorial Day by doing things such as having family gatherings, hanging out at the beach, being lazy around the house, whatever. I will be doing some of that as well. This is what freedom feels like. And I truly thank God for the liberties that we enjoy as a nation. But let us not forget the high cost of defending these freedoms. It has not been procured by money, but by the blood, sweat, and tears of the brave. And so, let us conscientiously reflect on and honor the selfless service of our men and women of war who have passed on. And let us pray for the safety of those who currently serve in our military that God will protect them and bring those who are abroad home safely.

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Eddie Long Allegations--Case Resolved; A Cloud Remains

The lawsuits brought by four men who accused megachurch Pastor Eddie Long of sexual misconduct will not go forward. The civil cases have been resolved out of court with all parties declining to discuss the details. The agreement reached this week brings to a quiet close what would have been, at the least, a humiliating experience for Pastor Long. The four men alleged that he abused his spiritual authority and coerced them into sexual relations when they were teens and affiliated with his ministry.

Pastor Long has denied the allegations all along, and vowed to fight them.

At least two thoughts come to my mind regarding the settlement out of court. For the first one, let’s assume that all of the plaintiffs and the defendant are bona fide Christians. In that scenario, the words found in 1 Corinthians 6:5b-6 apply: “Is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.” Though some Christians today may be unwilling to receive this biblical advice, it says that two Christians who have a matter to settle between themselves can do so within a circle of believers and outside the courts. That's not to suggest that only believers were involved in this mediation process, but I am simply saying that the approach taken to resolve the Eddie Long allegations is not what concerns me.

Rather, in this case involving Pastor Long, I believe there is something that speaks even more loudly than the passage above. It is found in Proverbs 22:1. It says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches….” As the pastor of a megachurch that once boasted a membership of 25,000, having a good name is essential. It should be preferred over great riches or anything else. Settling out of court was certainly convenient for Pastor Long, but sometimes the cost of convenience is higher than what we should be willing to pay. In light of Pastor Long’s insistence that he is innocent, the more prudent route would have been to defend the honor of his name.

As spiritual leaders, we cannot put a price on having a good name. It’s not for sale—for any price. May the spirit of this conviction rest upon the pulpits of America and the world. Because this legal matter was quietly brought to a close, without any fight on Pastor Long’s part to clear his name, he will move forward with his ministry, but he will do so ministering under a cloud—a cloud of wondering and possibly suspicious minds. For a spiritual leader of Pastor Long’s stature, that’s never a good platform upon which to lead. Those are my thoughts; I welcome yours.

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

We Can Have Fellowship with God!

Many people don’t regard God as someone whom we can have fellowship with. To some, the idea of that being possible may border on blasphemy. After all, He is the Creator of the heavens, the earth, and everything within them. How can the creature have fellowship with his Creator? The truth is, I would never suggest this idea on my own. But the Bible declares that we can have fellowship with God!

In John’s first epistle, he wrote the following: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). Let’s first define the word fellowship as used in this verse. It is derived from the Greek word koinonia (pronounced KOI-no-NEE-a), and it denotes that which is shared in common. The point is that we can have fellowship with someone only in the areas where we have common interests.

At times I find myself among a group of associates as they passionately discuss a current event about a particular sport that I have no interest in. As they get very emotional making their respective points I’m just there. They are having fellowship because they are discussing something in which they all have a common interest. Though I am among them, I am not experiencing fellowship. Similarly, many believers are that way with God. Because many or perhaps most of their interests differ from God’s, they experience little fellowship with God.

Remember that John the apostle who wrote the verse quoted above was one of the twelve who lived with Jesus during His public ministry. John makes it clear that he experienced fellowship with God and His Son, and furthermore, that he was sharing what he heard and saw while with Jesus to the intent that we might have similar fellowship. You see, one of the objectives of the Bible is to convey to us God’s interests. Then if we want to have or to increase our fellowship with God, we must bring our interests in line with His.

Let me give you couple of ways how our doing this will revolutionize our relationship with God. First of all, the more two people have in common, the more they like talking to each other. Communication flows freely when this is the case. Hence, the more we like the things God likes and the more we dislike the things He dislikes, as revealed in the Scriptures, the more intimate our prayer life will become. We will have lots to talk about and conversation will flow freely.

The other thing that happens is that the more God’s interests become ours, the more He interacts with them. What I am saying is that when we pray the heart of God to Him, He is all ears and He gets on board! Similarly, when our pursuits in life are driven by a desire to please God, He interacts with what we are doing. I am sure that when you pray and when you pursue your goals in life, you want God to participate. We can be assured that this will happen when our heart and His share common interests. That is the very essence of fellowship. So how are you and God these days?

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Troubling Observations Following the May 21, 2011, Prediction

As the world knows, Mr. Harold Camping declared that May 21, 2011, would mark the beginning of the end of this world. Though the day has come and gone without incident, the implications of what I observed during the week coming up to the doomsday I find quite troubling.

First of all, I am amazed at how seriously we took this guy. The Bible is clear that no man knows the day or hour that Christ will return (see Matthew 24:36). The very moment Mr. Camping vocalized his prediction and gave a specific date months in advance, an alarm should have gone off in our heads, and we should have regarded him as unworthy of our attention. But the reason his errant prediction resonated with so many people is that too many people are not grounded in biblical truth. That in turn means that when the Harold Campings of the future come out with their predictions, and believe me there will be more false prophets to come, multitudes will be deceived and get all worked up about nothing -- again.

A second thing about Camping’s prediction that I find troubling is that it invites mockery concerning the Lord’s return. Think about it. Here is a religious leader stating emphatically that May 21, 2011, would be doomsday. This same Mr. Camping was wrong in a similar prediction in 1994. So when we have religious leaders in positions of influence predicting the day of the Lord’s return, and each time the day comes and goes without incident, we occasion increased mockery of our claim that Jesus will return. This in turn can cause more people to take the matter less seriously, thereby increasing the chances that they will not prepare for Christ’s return.

Thirdly, when Camping declared that without a shadow of a doubt that doomsday would happen on yesterday, his faithful followers bought the prophecy and devoted themselves to getting the message out. Some of them reportedly quit their jobs. Of course, Mr. Camping was totally wrong, and at my writing of this post, he has quietly abandoned his dejected followers. I know some of them are devastated, and I don’t want to deepen the wound, but I have to ask the question: how gullible can people of faith get? Did his followers not look in the Bible themselves to see if the message they were proclaiming had any biblical basis at all? I regretfully conclude that one of the messages I get out of this fiasco is that no matter how ridiculous one’s message is, he will find loyal followers. How sad that is.

What Mr. Camping passionately proclaimed was not even close to the truth. What he said would happen did not happen. But this nonevent underscores the vulnerability of those not anchored in biblical truth. Thank God that He has blessed us with the Bible to guide us in the truth so we don't have to fall prey to error.

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Tithing and Giving in Church Down with the Economy

(Article first published as  Tithing and Giving in Church Down with the Economy on Technorati.

As the economy continues to struggle, most American houses feel the pinch, including God’s house. Still, more people tend to look to churches and nonprofit organizations for help during tough economic times. That means many of these ministries of help are being called upon to do more with less.

In light of the current economic downturn, a study released this month by the Barna Group, a private, non-partisan, for profit organization, explored how charitable giving has changed over the past two and a half years. Seventy-seven percent of Americans reported being personally touched by the state of the economy. About 28 percent said they were affected in a “major way.” These percentages remained about the same during the past 15 months, according to the study.

Accordingly, 30% of Americans have reduced their giving to church. Barna’s research project included studies done in November 2008, January 2010, and April 2011. Among those whose church giving declined, 24% stopped all giving to churches, according to the most recent study. Seventeen percent decreased giving by 20% or less; 7% by 20% to 45%; 17% by half; and 12% by more than half.

The church leaders’ favorite givers in church are those who tithe. They are those who give at least 10% of their income to the church. But there are less of those faithful givers these days. Over the past decade, the rate of tithing remained relatively stable, hovering between 5% and 7%, according to the Barna Group. But the current national rate of tithing is down to 4% of the adult population.

Church leaders must be careful how they respond to reduced giving to the Lord. Of particular concern to me are some of the high pressure tactics being used by some TV preachers to get more viewers to increase their giving. Some of these ministers give Christianity a bad name. I have certainly seen a significant increase in telephone and letter campaigning from a couple of ministries I have supported in the past. I have to assume that the return on investment into these intense campaigns is making such zealous efforts worthwhile.

Similarly, at the local church level, in an effort to increase giving, pastors must be careful to not make the message of tithing and giving their main focus. I have been in worship services where the financial appeal is about as long as the sermon. It is understandable that local churches need money to do the Lord’s work. Yes, even He has to pay. But predatory, self-serving, and manipulative schemes aimed at increasing cash flow have no place in the house of God—not even during an economic slump.

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

How to Keep the Faith

It’s one thing for us to come to the point in life where we believe that Jesus died for our sins and we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, but it’s something totally different to keep the faith for a lifetime. Sometimes in church we witness a person who starts his Christian walk with deep passion only to lose it some years down the line. The question is, how do we keep the faith for a lifetime?

Paul the apostle said concerning himself, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). And as we read about the life of this great apostle in the New Testament, we know he did not have an easy Christian life. He endured persecutions, imprisonments, beatings, and was even left for dead at least once. Nonetheless, by his own words, he finished his course, having kept the faith.

So let me share with you three things that I believe are essential if we are to keep the faith until the end. The first is that we must study our Bible regularly, preferably daily. You see, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). So as the Bible introduces us to new truths and we believe in them, our faith grows in these areas. Sometimes, however, the Bible does not introduce us to new truths; rather, it confirms things that we already know. In that case, the Scriptures reinforce our beliefs, thereby deepening our faith.

Secondly, to keep the faith, we must practice the things that we are taught out of the Word of God. If we don’t we will remain babes in Christ. The writer of the book of Hebrews chastised the Christians for not growing. He said they had been in the faith long enough to be teachers but were in need of one to teach them—again—the fundamentals of the faith (see Hebrews 5:12). He told them that the Christian who progresses from babes on milk to adults on meat is the one “who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (verse 14, NIV). Note the phrase constant use.

A third thing we need to do in order to keep the faith is to faithfully serve the Lord. This point brings me back to Paul the apostle. One of the reasons he was so steadfast in his faith was that he continued to be about Christ’s business. Paul was tested on every side, but he kept trusting the Lord to come through for him. This type of experience with God emboldened his faith. You can sense the apostle’s bold faith in the Lord in his epistles.

During my last pastorate, the ministry became hellish for me for several years. I had no idea of how I would make it through some of those times. But I kept pressing my way to serve the people of God as their pastor. The Lord brought me through every test. I experienced Him in ways I never imagined. In the end my faith became deepened dramatically.

So in closing, if we want to keep a vibrant faith until the end, we must be students of the Word of God, we must put into practice the Word of God, and we must be faithful in serving the Lord. Paul the apostle modeled this life for us and in the end he had an awesome testimony about himself. With the Lord’s help, we can do the same.

Copyright ©2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Presbyterian Church Passes Vote to Allow Openly Gay Clergy

(Article first published as Presbyterian Church Passes Vote to Allow Openly Gay Clergy on Technorati)

On Tuesday, the Presbyterian Church (USA) approved Amendment 10-A, which allows openly gay men and women in same-sex relationships to be ordained as clergy. According to the denomination, the debate over ordination standards has been a struggle for much of the past three decades. In fact, a majority of the church’s regional bodies, or presbyteries, defeated a similar measure to allow openly gays in the clergy just two years ago.

To pave the way for openly gay clergy, the previous amendment containing “the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness” has been done away with. The revised amendment which was approved does not specifically mention gay clergy, but it removes the abovementioned requirement for fidelity between a man and a woman and the requirement for chastity for those who are single. This language has been replaced with emphasis on the “candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office.”

The recent decision of the Presbyterian Church (USA) follows that of several other Protestant denominations that have reversed their position on openly gay clergy. And I believe that over time, we will see even more Christian denominations following this trend of ordaining openly gay ministers. This I say not because we have some biblical mandate or precedent to do so because that is not the case. Rather, I believe it is because on several important fronts, the Christian church has allowed society to drive its agenda where the Scriptures should have. For the Bible teaches that the church is the light of the world (see Matthew 5:14-16), and not the reverse.

I also find it interesting that the Presbyterian Church (USA) removed the requirement for fidelity and chastity from its ordination standards. This should be a fundamental requirement for the clergy.

Of course, not all Presbyterians welcome the recent vote. In a church-released letter regarding the approval, it was acknowledged that, “Reactions to this change will span a wide spectrum. Some will rejoice, while others will weep.” Furthermore, it is anticipated that some congregations within the denomination will leave as a result of the vote. A smaller denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, does not ordain women or openly gay clergy.

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Maximizing Your Christian Growth

In my life, I want to maximize the returns on all of my investments. This is even true about my efforts to grow as a Christian. But how do we get the best bang for our buck in this area?

First of all, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” the Bible says (Matthew 4:4). That’s because each of us is both a physical and a spiritual being. The needs of these two dimensions of our being are completely different. For our physical body to grow properly, it requires water and the right kinds of food. For our spirit to grow properly, we need the Word of God.

But have you ever noticed how two people can attend the same church, hear the same preaching and teaching, but grow at totally different rates? You see, our Christian growth is not only a matter of our being exposed to a regular diet of the Word of God, but also it is a matter of the mindset that we have toward the Word of God we are exposed to. Hence, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” the Bible says (1 Peter 2:2).

The word sincere in this verse means undiluted or unadulterated. You see, if a newborn baby is to grow properly, he needs wholesome milk. It contains the nutrients his body needs, and milk, as opposed to solid food, is easy on his delicate digestive system. By contrast, if that milk is diluted with too much water, even though the baby may consume the same amount of liquid as before, he will not grow properly because the nutritional value of the milk has been severely compromised. This is the idea contained in the verse above.

Also, notice that this verse instructs us to desire the sincere milk of the word. This one word brings us to the important subject of our mindset. My observation as an evangelist and a former church pastor is that many churchgoers cannot or they are not willing to stomach the undiluted version of the Word of God. They want something extremely watered down. They want preaching and teaching that do not challenge them, preaching and teaching that do not disturb their comfort zones.

I submit to you that this kind of attitude is not conducive to effective Christian growth. If we come to hear the Word of God, and we have the attitude that we are only willing to hear what God has to say in certain areas, but the others areas are not up for discussion, there’s a limit to how much spiritual growth we will experience. We cannot be selectively obedient to the Word of God and still experience optimum Christian growth. We cannot have areas of our life that we deem off-limits to God.

But the person who comes to church and who studies the Bible at home and says, “I want to hear from God. I don’t care what area of my life He wants to talk to me about, I am all ears and all heart. I am ready and willing to receive His instructions and make the necessary changes in my life, however painful they may be." This is the person who has the right attitude toward the Word of God, and he will experience optimum growth as a Christian.

Copyright © 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Mother’s Day Reminder: It Does Us Good to Honor Mom

(Ariticle first published as Mother's Day Reminder: It Does Us Good to Honor Mom on Technorati)

I am writing this post two days before Mother’s Day. In its present form, Mother’s Day received national recognition on May 9, 1914. On that day, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the first national Mother’s Day as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war. Today, however, this holiday recognizes mothers and motherhood, in general.

Most children owe a lot to their mother. I know that’s true for me. My father and mother separated before I was a teen, and afterward my father moved 700 hundred miles away, never to return. Before he died, he visited my hometown a couple of times for funerals, but I did not so much as recognize him when I passed him by. My mother never married again. She raised all eight of us, and she was both mom and dad to her children. Perhaps your feelings about your mother are not as fond, or maybe they are even fonder. I am sure that for some of you, thinking on your mother causes feelings of rage and hurt for justifiable reasons.

One thing that disturbs me is the amount of disrespect some children today show toward their parents. Sometimes in public, it’s hard to tell who the parent is and who the child is, if you went strictly by how one talks to the other. This is so different from the days of my youth when even our adult neighbors could discipline us when we got out of order and our parents were not present. Many of the adults today are afraid to confront the teens and young adults of this generation.

God blesses us when we honor our mother. This is not just for the children only but also for husbands as well. “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner …so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (1 Peter 3:7, NIV). Honoring the children’s mom must be important to God if the husband’s disobedience in this area can hinder his prayers.

Similarly, children, ‘”Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with promise—“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” ’ (Ephesians 6:2-3). How many youths, do you suppose, believe that their longevity and quality of life are tied to honoring their parents? Really, it's only right for us to give honor to whomsoever honor is due. So let me close by honoring all you mothers out there; may peace, blessings, and health be yours this Mother's Day.

Copyright ©2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

The End of the World—What the Bible Says About It

Several months ago, I wrote a post on Harold Camping, an influential Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Stations, Inc., who has predicted that the end of the world will begin on May 21, 2011. His followers have been all over the country getting the word out and placing hundreds of billboards to warn the world to make preparations for the Lord’s return that will precede the doom of this world. Many have found Camping’s message disconcerting, and there is increasing anxiety out there as we approach the May 21 date. Accordingly, I want to share several biblical truths about end of the world—or more accurately, the end of this present age—that we should bear in mind.

First, the Bible does declare that such a day will come. For instance, Jesus’ disciples, responding to something He had just said, requested, “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3, NIV). For the remainder of Matthew 24, Jesus proceeded to answer their question. He makes it clear to them that there will be horrific signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth prior to the end of this world.

Secondly, the Bible teaches that the strange things that will be happening on earth will serve as signs that we are approaching the end. “When you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door,” Jesus said (verse 33). We have certainly been seeing some terrible signs on earth lately (the Gulf oil leak, the Haiti earthquake, the Japan nuclear disaster, tsunamis, uprisings in numerous Arab countries, etc.). As bad as these have been, the Scriptures indicate the worse is yet to come.

Thirdly, the Bible teaches that for everyone who places his or her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He will come back for them, prior to the end of this world. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven….and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV)! Please note that this verse refers to everyone who has died but who became a Christian before dying, as well as all Christians who will be alive when Jesus returns. This event is what we refer to as the rapture.

Finally, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). Harold Camping is not the first religious leader to try his hand at predicting when the Lord will return and when the end of the world occur. Interestingly, this same Harold Camping predicted the end of the world would occur in 1994, and was wrong that time. My prediction is that he will be wrong again. Nonetheless, the truth remains that the Bible declares the end of this age will occur one day, and the burden of that reality is that we don’t know when it will happen. “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (verse 44).

Copyright ©2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.