Who chose who?

Today I was flipping through my five TV stations and I stopped for a minute on the "Lamb Broadcasting Network," the local charismatic Christian station. There was a young guy being interviewed about his youth minsitry. He was saying some sound,Biblical things for a while until he started speaking of "who chooses who" between God and man and how a love relationship "relies on the ability of choice."

I agree with him that "forced love" is not true love. Only when both parties in a relationship freely love the other, is it truly a love relationship. My problem with this guy's argument lies in his assumption that sinful humans, in and of themselves, can choose God at all! Let me show my point with Scripture.

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:7-8

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

Galatians 4:3

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,

Romans 6:17

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Romans 6:6

The heart is deceitful above all things, desperately sick; who can understand it.

Jeremiah 17:9

I think its very clear from the Bible that man, in and of himself, will never choose God, have faith in God, or submit to God. These verses present a problem for those who think that a man or woman's will is the determining factor in their salvation. I am not saying the human will is not involved in or crucial to salvation. I will comment on that later tonight after I cook dinner.

Struggles and Desires Part 1

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the houstetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

-Matthew 10:27-28

I've never had my life threatened for my faith in Christ, but I have experienced the fear of entering possible life threatening situations in ministry. More common (and more rediculous) in my experience is the fear of the disapproval of man. These words of Jesus correct me and encourage me.

First, I see how silly any type of fear toward man is. Jesus makes very little of man's ability to kill the body with lack of power over the soul. On the other hand, Jesus magnifies the power of him who can kill both body and soul, namely, the power of God the Father.

What is Jesus' reasoning here? Certainly Jesus had in mind the vapor-like frailty of the human life and the mind boggling eternal life in heaven or eternal destruction in hell of the soul. I think Jesus understood that this life is only a blink of an eye compared to eternity. 50, 60, 80 years of life on earth is absolutely nothing in comparison to eternity. I imagine Jesus was thinking as Paul later did that, "to die is gain" and "my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." Jesus knew the joy that his disciples would have in His glorified presence. All this to say-If someone kills you for your faith, so what! If someone ridicules you or thinks lowly of you for Christ's name, so what! I have God on my side!

Secondly, I hear Jesus saying "be bold in ministry." He says to speak the message of the Gospel and all the Bible in the clearness and vulnerability of the day, and shout it out loud on the rooftops so that all may hear. Have no fear in the ministry of the Word.

Yes, the church is like sheep in the midst of wolves. We will be hated by all for the name of Jesus. But let us never back down. This was an address to the church not just the church staff. Let us all find our role in ministry and persevere in it.