A great many Christians are aware they should be actively sharing their faith.  But for too many of us, the task is daunting.  How do we begin a conversation about Christ and his gospel?  What will happen to our friendships afterwards?  What if the person with whom we are sharing our faith, asks questions that are too difficult to answer?  How do we actually lead someone to Christ?  Indeed, some of us have never seen someone come to Christ.  What is that like? While a great many of us believe we should be sharing our faith, but we also have to admit we are not.  And that leaves us with a problem.  The charge to do personal evangelism leaves many of us with guilt feelings.  Rather than seeing this as an opportunity, we are left with just another area in our lives we don’t want to talk about. I have good news!  Cornelius can teach us a very valuable lesson.  You do remember Cornelius, don’t you?  His story is found in Acts 10.  He was a Roman military man, stationed in Caesarea, where the Romans had their headquarters for their occupation of Israel.  The Acts text doesn’t tell us how, but Cornelius came to love the God of Israel.  There seems little doubt that he must have procured copies of the Greek translation of the Old Testament.  He, at some time, began to observe the Jewish times of prayer.  He also gave alms to the poor.  He must have attempted to be faithful to the 10 commandments.  He must have attended a local synagogue.  But he would not have been welcomed into a Jewish home.  In order for that to have occurred, he would have had to become a convert.  As a convert, he would have had to undergo circumcision, [...]

This now, is my 7th trip to Israel. Having come out of COVID-19 lockdowns (at least for now), allowed Back to the Bible Canada to host another Israel Experience. The size of the group was smaller than in past trips, due to many still not sure about the complexity of travel and the occasional security concern. But because I and the leadership of Back to the Bible Canada have been in Israel during such periods, we have come to know that the concern regarding security for tourists is overblown. A trip to Israel is safer than a trip to most major North American cities – although it takes longer to get to Israel! My thoughts around this present trip are taken up with the archeological finds in Israel that substantiate the history of the Bible. But they are also taken up in the gratefulness that all Christians must have toward the state of Israel. Israel’s commitment to archeological discovery is surely impressive. The emergence of the modern state of Israel, and the advancement of biblical studies cannot now be untied. Consider the findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were found in 1947, the year prior to the formation of the state of Israel. Bedouin boys discovered 10 jars in a cave (now known as cave 1. They were not then aware that 10 more caves containing scrolls were still to be found.) The boys found 10 jars. Only one contained 7 wrapped scrolls. Eventually, these scrolls were sold for a very modest sum to a dealer of Antiquities in Bethlehem. The dealer’s name was Kondo. Then the story gets interesting. A Jewish scholar from Hebrew University in Jerusalem was contacted. Professor Sukenik was the director of Jewish Antiquities. He decided to make the short trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. [...]

I have now, for many years, fought what I believe to be a losing battle. I am opposed to the idea that Christmas would be the high point of the Christian year. Rather, it should be Easter, but as we all know, Easter is a blunted celebration in most Evangelical Churches. Some now don’t even celebrate Palm Sunday. No special service is held for Good Friday. Easter Sunday itself becomes a special event, but it is a small matter when compared to Christmas. Anyone looking at the practices of contemporary church would rightly conclude that the birth of Jesus is more important than the death and resurrection of Jesus. Brothers and Sisters, this ought not to be! We need to celebrate Easter with a greater fervor than we celebrate Christmas, lest we lose the central tenant of our faith. During the council of Nicaea, in A.D. 325, the Christian leaders of the church faced this same problem. They were looking to magnify the celebration of the cross and the resurrection, and so, they instituted a period of 40 days prior to Easter. It would be a period of preparation. I write these words on Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of these 40 days of preparation. Ash Wednesday was historically a day in which believers, including those of the Protestant churches, would go to church. They would be reminded of several important Biblical truths. First, Genesis 18:27 tells us, “Abraham answered and said, ‘Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes,". Indeed, we are dust and ashes, and our lives are sustained and blessed by a God who considers the weakness of our frame. Second, the Old Testament frequently records times of repentance for Israel, in which they would repent in dust [...]

As news that war had finally broken out in Ukraine came to us, most of us were no longer surprised. Simply ignore what the news commentators were saying, and pay attention to what the Russians were saying, and it soon became clear. The decision to invade Ukraine had been made much earlier. As I now write this, the war is fully engaged. It would be shocking to me if there were any other outcome than a total Russian victory. I have been praying for Ukraine. I am a Mennonite. My ancestors moved to Ukraine in the 1790’s. My parents fled Ukraine in about 1944. I feel that my own history is in Ukraine. The image of Soviet tanks and military might in Ukraine is the image that has been left to me by my parents and grandparents. My grandfather was falsely arrested by the Soviets, falsely imprisoned, and then murdered. This happened in Ukraine. I feel as if my own blood lies in that land. As I hear of Russian tanks again rolling through that land, I feel as if I am again hearing the stories of my ancestors. I have a dear friend in Germany who has had a mission to Ukraine for many years. His stories about a fledgling Evangelical church in that country have brought great joy to my heart. In his last letter to me, my friend said that we will now find out whether the church there was built on sand or on the rock of Christ Jesus. For this reason, I have prayed all the more. All Christians should be praying for Ukraine, because we have brothers and sisters in Christ in that land. We need to express solidarity before the throne of God. Perhaps you, like me, have wondered what these events mean. [...]

For a reason I can't now remember, my Bible Study group got off topic, and began to discuss whether coffee should be allowed into the Sunday Morning worship service.  Perhaps you have had that conversation with someone and have either agreed or disagreed.  Apart from the discussion of splashed coffee on cloth seats or on the carpet, you might have agreed that the matter should be left entirely to the conscience of the individual.  Perhaps, you thought, this is where the conversation ends.  Since there is no Biblical mandate regarding such matters, the principle of individual freedom ought to be the governing principle. As a matter of fact, I have little to say about the issue of coffee, but I have noticed how difficult it is for many of us to concentrate on only one thing.  One of the miseries of my existence as a pastor, where those occasions where I was preaching, I sensed the conviction in the room, and at just the inappropriate moment, a cell phone would begin to ring or to signal that a text message had just come in.  Indeed, on one moment that I can remember, I once witnessed someone, not receiving a phone call, but actually making a phone call during the message.  Needless to say, I stopped, and allowed the person to finish their conversation. And so, the question of whether to bring coffee into the service pails in comparison to the case of whether we should bring electronic devices into the service.  As we all know, we don't just receive phone calls and texts on our phones.  Our phones frequently alert us when a news item is first known, when our favourite team scores in a game, and when a company has just released a new product.  Phones connect us to [...]

2 Timothy 3:2-3 warns about the dangers that lie ahead for the people of God.  Paul says, 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God Here is a list of 18 or 19 vices – depending on how you count.  I will not go over all of them, but it is fascinating to notice the bookends of this list.  At the front of the list are the “lovers of self” and at the back of the list are the “lovers of pleasure.” Everything in between is bracketed by these two descriptors. We can therefore conclude that the prime issue that leads to pride, arrogance, slander and the other negative issues Paul mentions is self-love.  We should also notice that the word “love” is used 5 times in this passage. Please note the lovers of self, those not loving the good, the lovers of money, the lovers of pleasure and then finally, opposed to all of this are the lovers of God. Furthermore, Paul adds the word, “heartless”.  Those who are heartless lack compassion for, or love for others.  And so, Paul’s intention becomes obvious.  He has begun by telling Timothy that in the last days, times of difficulty will arise.  The word for “difficulty can also be translated at “dangerous” or even “violent”  There is, says Paul, a dangerous road ahead for the people of God.  And then he tells Timothy why.  The great danger is in our affections.  It consists in what or whom we love. In the early 5th century, the great Christian teacher, Augustine of Hippo wrote a book entitled “City [...]

Anti-Conversion Law in Canada If you haven’t heard it yet, clearly you have not been paying attention.  Bill C-4 was passed unanimously by all parties. As far as I know, no MP stood against it. This is now law. The Senate, I understand, has passed this in record time.  It is the bill that bans Conversion Therapy, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Before the bill came to the floor, Christians tried unsuccessfully to refine the wording. It was of no avail. Although there has been a therapy called “Conversion Therapy”, clearly this bill has done far more than target this seldom used practice. The bill specifies that Conversion Therapy is any practice, treatment or service designed to a) change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual b) change a person’s gender identity to cisgender c) change a person’s gender expression so that it conforms to the sex assigned to the person at birth d) repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour e) repress or reduce a person’s non-cisgender gender identity or f) repress or reduce a person’s gender expression that does not conform to the sex assigned at birth The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada says Justice Minster Lametti was asked if it would be legal for religious leaders to speak about homosexuality in a sermon.  After all, what is a practice to deter someone from repenting of homosexual expression?  Can that practice be a teaching, a conversation with a youth pastor, or a conversation in a family?  What if someone brings charges against a pastor for what he said in the pulpit?  Minister Lametti replied that was an open-ended exploratory conversation.  My perspective tells me that he meant “yes, but I don’t want to talk about that yet.” (I hope I am wrong.) It seems to me, [...]

New Year’s Resolutions aren’t as popular as they once were, but still, a new year does present us with opportunities to think of new beginnings.  I have noticed, that a great many pundits are hoping that 2022 is better than 2021.  But given the year has started with the surge of the Omicron variant, at least the beginning of 2022 will be a bit bumpy. But that leads me to ponder what it is that I hope for.  And I have been led to consider the words of 1 Peter 1:3–4. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” This passage is curious.  If I were to have written it, I would have said, “He has caused us to be born again through the atoning death of Jesus”.  Instead, Peter says we have been born again through the resurrection of Jesus.  That’s curious.  And yet, as we examine the passage more closely, we see that Peter talks about being born again to a living hope.  Again, that’s curious.  Normally, when we think of the new birth, we think about the miracle of regeneration.  Our old nature that resists God has been replaced by a new nature that welcomes God.  But Peter, speaks about a new birth to a living hope.  That is to say, not only does our new birth give us a new nature or a new heart, it gives us a new hope.  That hope, says Peter, is informed by Christ’s resurrection. Peter then goes on to speak about the nature of that hope.  He [...]

In a recent article, Christianity Today reported that most Americans, along with a great many confessing Christians don’t believe the Son of God existed before his birth in the manger.  The article began with the following statement: “Christmas is a celebration of a real event, according to most Americans.  Just don’t expect them to know exactly why Jesus was born and came to earth.” I have not seen a survey of attitudes in Canada, but I suspect they would be a great deal more depressing than those found in the USA.  While it is true that many Canadians put out lights at this time of the year, buy Christmas trees, purchase gifts for loved ones and have family gatherings (even amidst COVID-19), I suspect that only the confessing Christian even takes the time to remember the nature of the celebration at all.  But that should not make us shy about sharing the message of Christmas.  Christmas is a unique opportunity, afforded to each local church to proclaim the good news. The good news is that God loved a ruined and sinful humanity.  Of course, to most non-Christians in our culture, that message is not surprising.  As one skeptic was reported to have said, “Of course God will forgive us all His faults, that is His job.”  But Christians must not avoid such comments lest the message of Christmas loses its splendor.  God is not obligated to forgive, neither is that His job.  God is obligated to uphold justice.  God is obligated to defend His glory. Whenever we are asked what Christmas means to us, we need to respond in a way that gives glory to Jesus.  Why not start with John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word.”  We should not be shy to mention that Jesus is the great [...]

Just a few days ago, my wife and I received an email from a dear sister in Christ.  A tragedy had befallen her family, and she was asking for prayers.  But in the process of asking for prayer, she described her confidence and faith in the kind providence of God.  I was brought to tears. Mary (not her real name) holds a special place in my heart.  I can’t remember fighting so hard for someone’s soul, as I did for hers, so many years ago now.  She was then, oppressed by demons.  But in marvelous grace, the scriptures I quoted to her broke every stronghold, claimed her soul and delivered her into the loving arms of Jesus.  Here is a story unlike any I have known. Since those early days of her faith, I have watched as she has become a mature woman of God.  But I have also watched as she has suffered.  Once, it was the death of her brother.  Another time, an evil pastor attempted to abuse her.  Still another time it was her walk through serious illness.  And now, came this note.  Another tragedy.  I wept for her. But as Kathy (my wife) and I read her email, I was overwhelmed at how familiar she was in the scripture, how clearly she saw the providence of God, and how ready she was to minister grace to the hurting.  Her's is the kind of faith that burns brighter when the winds blow stronger. I have often marveled at this phenomenon.  To some, the reality of suffering leads them to question and even abandon God.  And still, to others, the very same reality grows their faith.  To put the matter another way, “what are those who lose their faith during suffering missing?” I think they are missing 3 [...]

It was back in the early 1970’s, that the then famous Psychiatrist, Karl Menninger wrote a remarkable book.  It was entitled, “Whatever Became of Sin”.  In many ways, what Dr. Menninger spoke about then, seems as if it could have been written yesterday. Menninger stated that our society has shifted sin from the individual to the society.  We are now angry with historic injustices.  Things like murder, war, slavery, rape, molestation and murder are now seen as the result of systemic injustices.  Thus, we have not come to terms with our own morality and the facing of our own consequences for our own sin.  Instead, we place the blame outside of ourselves. While it would certainly be interesting to trace the cultural move from personal sin to corporate guilt, it is far more interesting to see the theological move in liberal churches.   Carter Heyward, a liberal Episcopal theologian says that sin has to do with structures of evil in our society, so that, in the end, we all become victims.  I mention this because this representative view is the reason liberal churches rarely discuss sin. However, the lack of mention of sin, is also traced to some evangelical circles.  Here, God is seen as our therapist, rather than our savior.  God is presented as the one who helps us in our weaknesses, encourages us in our struggles, heals us from relational dysfunction, and gives us hope and joy.  Sin, damnation and judgment are rarely mentioned.  Yes indeed, whatever became of sin?  But in this case, how did it disappear from the church?  As a simple test, recount the 10 most popular songs you sing in your church, and ask, “how many of them mention my sin, my damnation, and my need for a savior? Contrast the liberal view and the [...]

I recently saw an article in “Christianity Today” entitled, “Christians and Muslim Leaders Agree on Legitimacy of Evangelism.”  I was intrigued.  The article began with the statement, “The world’s largest Muslim organization accepts that Christians will try to convert its members.  A new partnership with evangelicals seeks to ensure this does not lead to conflict.” The article went on to explain that the World Evangelical Alliance had recently signed a statement of cooperation with “Nahdlatul Ulama”, an Indonesian Muslim association which claims some 90 million members.  The outcome of the agreement acknowledged that both Evangelicals and Muslims will try to convert each other’s members.  Both sides agreed that the truth claims made by both religions should not be downplayed.  However, in the attempt to win each other, an agreement must be made not to weaponize such efforts.  That is, while there is strong disagreement between Muslims and Christians, both sides will agree not to enact laws or to persecute the other side.  Instead, they will learn to respect one another. I must confess that I have not read the agreement.  But if the agreement is as it appeared to be in the description CT gave of it, it is encouraging.  It would condemn extremism, national blasphemy laws and other measures seeking to persecute religious converts.  The agreement, said CT, would seek to create a model of “conciliatory Islam in opposition to trends immerging in the Middle East”.  Of special interest is that this agreement is being signed in Indonesia, which is the world’s largest Muslim nation. Will such an effort succeed?  I fervently pray that it does.  On the one hand, I don’t foresee the day when persecution for spreading the message of Christ will end.  Persecution against Christians who evangelize is on the rise, and not on the decline.  [...]

Jesus taught us to love our enemies. But sometimes, the Psalms seem to teach the opposite. What are we to make of this? Psalms 1-41 is called Book One in the Psalms. All but 3 of these 41 Psalms are said to be authored by David. Most likely, it was David himself who not only wrote them but compiled them and produced them as a hymnal for Israel’s worship. Later, as time went by, further compilations were added to Book One. The Psalter was expanded until it reached the form we have today. Book One forms a curious collection. The first Psalm has no statement of authorship but begins by commending the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. They are described as those who will be condemned in the judgment. The enemies of David are a constant theme in the first book. Psalm 3 begins with the words, “O LORD, how many are my foes!” Psalm 4 addresses evil slanderers who try to make David’s honorable name into a shame. Psalm 6:8 says, “Depart from me, all you workers of evil.” Psalm 7 begins with the words, “Save me from all my pursuers.” Any casual reader of these Psalms will find a repetition of the theme of enemies who seek to crush David, and who do not fear God. Psalm 10 is especially filled with images of the wicked. The wicked convince themselves they will not meet with adversity. Their mouths are full of cursing. They sit in ambush, waiting to murder the innocent.  They seize the poor and crush the helpless. They tell themselves that God has forgotten their deeds and they will never have to face him in judgment. In many ways, persecuted Christians will take comfort in these words. They will learn [...]

I recently read an article from the Pew Research Center.  If you don’t know, the Pew Research Center advertises itself as a “nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world.”  They go on to say, “We conduct polling, demographic research, content analysis, and other data-driven social science research.”  The field of research includes everything from politics to science and technology as well as religion and public life.  The Pew Center is considered to be a benchmark standard by many other organizations. For this reason, when the Pew Research Center speaks about religion, Evangelicals are well served to listen.  And that is why the article from August 31, 2020 caught my eye.  The headline read, “Half of U.S. Christians say casual sex between consenting adults is sometimes or always acceptable.”  Headlines such as this should make every Pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, and Elder lookup. Let’s consider 3 reasons why this might not be as shocking as it might seem.  1st, anyone who is even slightly awake will notice how sexually explicit material is multiplying.  Furthermore, the same Pew research indicated that among those who are religiously unaffiliated, 84% said that casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable.  If the respondent indicated they were either agnostic or atheist, that number jumped to around 95%.  Given that the numbers of unaffiliated continue to rise and that the unaffiliated hold the levers of influence in culture, we can see that their influence has had a great deal of impact upon the church. A 2nd reason why the Pew Research data is unsurprising is that the title, “Evangelical Protestant” has become an increasingly vague term.  In many cases, researchers simply ask respondents to identify themselves.  I don’t think the Pew Center asked the “Evangelical Protestants” [...]

The word is “catechism”. You may have heard of the Westminster Catechism or the Heidelberg Catechism. You might also be aware that the reformers placed a great deal of emphasis on catechizing both adults and children. However, most modern evangelicals have never learned a catechism, and many are unfamiliar with the term. Why is that which was once considered basic to church life, now largely absent? So, what is a catechism, and why should we remember them? A catechism is a manual for instructing new believers into the Christian faith. Children’s catechisms are used to make sure that children understand all the major doctrines of the faith. Furthermore, catechisms are usually arranged in the form of questions and answers. And so, the Westminster Catechism’s first question is, “What is the chief end of man?” To which the proper answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” The Heidelberg Catechism begins by asking, “What is your only comfort in life and death?” To which the proper answer is, “That I am not my own but belong with body and soul, both in life and death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ….” Then the second question. “What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort?” The answer is, “First how great my sins and misery are; second how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance.” The catechisms would go from there, to asking questions regarding all Christian areas of belief and practice. Those being catechized were required to demonstrate mastery over it all. The criticisms leveled at catechisms have been that all the answers are memorized. Do these answers actually reflect the living faith [...]

I am almost finished reading a book on Critical Race Theory. I thought that since so many are talking about it and that I know so little about it, it was time for me to get educated. And so, I have been plowing my way through definitions as well as angry accusations. Do people whose skin color is white have a built-in societal advantage that they unintentionally exploit to their own advantage? Are people of color constantly being marginalized. Is the concept of Critical Social Justice Theory compatible with historic Christian belief and the sufficiency of Scripture? These kinds of conversations tend to be polarizing. Various Christian leaders who in all other areas would be on the same side have found themselves at odds with one another on these matters. Some large denominations in the U.S. are now actively engaged in discussions on this matter. Fault lines between the various positions are opening up. I don’t intend to address this issue in this blog. Furthermore, at this stage in my reading, I don’t feel qualified. But I am wary of movements that tend to divide believers. If there must be divisions among us, let them be divisions that are at the heart of the gospel. Ephesians 2:11-22 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It begins by addressing Gentile believers. Paul reminds them that at one time they were called, “the uncircumcised”. At one time they separated from the hope of the messiah and were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. They were strangers to the covenants that God had made with the chosen people and had no hope of finding a promise of inclusion in the people of God. But then Christ came. Paul says that he broke down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile. [...]

For most Canadians, the Southern Baptist Convention is off of our radar.  It is because it is an American denomination with very few churches in Canada.  But the Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant Denomination in North America and accounts for some 21% of evangelical protestants in the U.S.  Since I try to pay attention to what is happening in the churches today, the Southern Baptist Convention often catches my attention. The Southern Baptists recently had their annual meeting.  This year, among other things, they approved a resolution encouraging all of their churches to “permanently” disqualify individuals who have committed sexual abuse while in the pastorate.  While they believe in forgiveness and reconciliation of ministers who are involved in sexual abuse, they recommended that they should never again serve as a lead pastor.  Former President of the convention, James Merritt said “We’ve got a big job ahead of us as pastors, I believe, to rebuild credibility and trust in the community.”  Nathan Finn, who is chair of the resolutions committee agreed.  He said that returning offending pastors to the pulpit “weakens the credibility of the entire office of the pastor”. As I read those comments, my mind was taken up in Daniel 6:4–5. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Daniel’s political opponents wanted to dig of political dirt against him in order to disqualify him from office.  As they met to [...]

News of the recent discovery of 215 graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School has shocked the nation.  The residential school system forcibly took Indigenous children from their parents and placed them into schools designed to assimilate them into the dominant “white” culture.  The abuse of the children was overlooked.  Children were routinely neglected and mistreated.  Families were coerced into compliance.  Disease and death were rampant in the schools.  One letter recently discovered from the Kamloops School where the bodies were found was a letter to the parents at Christmas.  The letter stated that the parents would have the privilege of having the children spend Christmas with them.  The idea that parents enjoying their children for Christmas was a privilege granted to them by the school is almost incomprehensible in Canada.*  There can be no wonder why deeply hurting and abused children tried to run away.  We are still awaiting a full investigation as to what caused the deaths of so many children. Some time ago, my wife and I were on a motorcycle trip together.  We ran into another couple, also on a motorcycle trip, sitting at a coffee shop.  As is often the case among fellow motorcycle enthusiasts, we began to talk.  This couple was a first nations couple, who began to open up and tell us about their experience in the residential school system.  The man said he so rebelled, that he eventually ended up in a youth penitentiary.  He told us that his experience in prison was his first taste that there could be a better life than that which was in the residential schools.  I will never forget that conversation.  The prison was so much better than the residential school! My point in writing this article is not to recount the tragedy of this sad [...]