Author Archives: Glen

Why Are You Going To Church This Sunday?

Posted on by
Reply

In an April 18, 2011 article titled “What Americans Believe About Universalism and Pluralism,” the Barna Group released the results of a recent survey about this subject.  Universalism is the belief that everyone will eventually be saved and go to heaven after they die.  Pluralism is the belief that all religions are equally acceptable and valid before God.  The article contains a lot of interesting information but one sentence stands out in particular and is an indicator of the type of culture we are becoming:  “One-quarter of born again Christians said that all people are eventually saved or accepted by God (25%) and that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons (26%).”

If these statistics are even remotely close, then roughly 25% of all the people you see in church this Easter Sunday don’t really believe that Jesus Christ is the exclusive path to eternal life.  If universalism is true, then it doesn’t really matter what we believe in this life, does it?  Everything will work out in the end.  If pluralism is true, then what was the point of the cross?  Both of these viewpoints make Jesus Christ out to be one of the most foolish men who ever walked the earth.  Why die a horrific, torturous death nailed to a piece of wood, suffering in agony if the sacrifice wasn’t really necessary?

Universalism and pluralism stand in stark contrast to the Biblical claim that the cross was both eternally necessary and the exclusive provision of God’s salvation.  The death of Jesus Christ was either the complete payment for the sins of all mankind or it wasn’t.  If there are other valid means to eternal life, then the Bible is full of untruths or at best is a story about misguided individuals who trusted in Someone enough to unnecessarily lay down their lives for what they believed was the truth.

(Act 4:12)  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

(1Corinthians 1:18)  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ll side with the claims of the Bible on this one.  This Sunday when I sit in church focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I’ll know why I am there.  There is no ambiguity in truly worshipping a Savior who claimed to be God and claimed that “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)  There is no other way to appreciate the abounding grace of God.  This is what gives purpose to this Sunday and every other Sunday.  Better yet, this is what gives purpose to life itself.

Another Site Upgrade

Posted on by
2

Over the past several months, there have been a number of times when The Renewed Mind site has been difficult to load or just not working altogether. I apologize to any of you who had these problems. I finally decided it is time to switch site hosts in order to improve the performance. This upgrade will take place over the next 2-3 days. So you might find the site down a couple of times until this is complete. But I anticipate we will see a huge improvement. Thanks for bearing with us and thank you so much for reading The Renewed Mind.

Glen

Supernatural Peace To Overcome Fear

Posted on by
Reply

(John 14:1)  “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” 

I heard a missionary to a country in the Middle East speak this past Sunday. The level of stress his family endures on a daily basis is beyond what most of us could imagine. They struggle for survival in the midst of extreme spiritual darkness. In a country that has deep Biblical roots and all the conveniences of modern society, virtually no one has ever read or seen a Bible. Eight other families left the country after only two years on the field. His family has been there for four years. Peace in the midst of extreme adversity isn’t normal for most people. In Christ we can find supernatural peace.

On the eve of His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke these words in John to the disciples. He knew what was about to come the following day. In fact, two times in the preceding two chapters, the Bible tells us the Lord Himself was “troubled” as He contemplated the betrayal and death that were about to unfold:

(John 12:27)  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

(John 13:21)  When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

The word troubled in this verse comes from the Greek word tarasso which means “to agitate, to take away calmness of mind, to cause inward commotion.” In His humanity, Jesus was disturbed and clearly stressed to think about the disloyalty of a friend (Judas) and the resulting physical and spiritual pain He was to endure. This was the hour of His ultimate earthly purpose.

But even as His thoughts were bothered about these things, His concern and focus were turned away from Himself and towards the disciples. Jesus was concerned about the effect of these things on them! At the end of the preceding chapter the Lord had just predicted the betrayal of Peter. In fact, He knew all of them (except John) would abandon Him within the next 24 hours. Even in the foreknowledge of this, He was still concerned about the trouble in their hearts. This last discourse before the cross was setting the stage for their faithfulness in light of what was to come. Jesus had a supernatural focus and a supernatural peace in the face of adversity and He knew they would need it as well in the coming days.

(John 14:27)  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Paul wrote to the Galatians who were under pressure from those teaching a false gospel. They were bearing the stress of darkness surrounding them even in the church. In the book of Philippians Paul encourages them to bury themselves in prayer as they deal with the anxiety of life. After encouraging them to pray, he tells them

(Philippians 4:7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

You may be going through extreme pressure today just as the missionary family. You may be in a dark corner of this world where very little light is shining. It could be in the deepest jungle or in the middle of a modern city. God knows what you are going through. He felt what you are feeling. His thoughts are turned to you. His peace is there for you. I know it is easier to say this than to actually live it. Renewing your mind is the key. As His thoughts become our thoughts, His focus becomes our focus. As His love becomes our love we begin to turn our attention to the needs of others. We can see beyond our own circumstances and present peril. Then we are able to live with the supernatural peace He had in His darkest hour.

Renewed Thought –Real and lasting peace doesn’t mean we are separated from our circumstances. Real and lasting peace comes as we have the grace to think beyond ourselves and our circumstances.