Category: Theology for Life

Am I Good Enough?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment

This is the question lurking just below the surface in every human heart. Have I done enough? Do people accept me for who I am? Am I good enough?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most stunning message in history. It’s the message that God saves us by sheer grace, but it starts by telling us what we don’t want to hear. It tells us that we have come up short. That we came into this world needy, desperate, and hopelessly lost in sin. That we are by nature in rebellion against the God who made us. I know that sounds harsh. It flies in the face of our culture’s messaging and much of what we were told since we were little.

We’re told “You are enough,” “You have what it takes,” and “You’ve got this.” Apparently, we are mind-blowingly awesome in every single way just the way we are. Sound familiar? It’s interesting how often we have to tell ourselves (or be told) we are awesome. 

According to Christianity, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and we need to know how  valuable we are as God’s image bearers. But the Bible never encourages us to look within for a boost of confidence or tell ourselves, “I don’t need outside help.”

I recently saw a school sign that read, “It’s easy to forget, so here’s a little reminder: You’re Awesome!”

Isn’t it a little strange that we are so incredibly awesome, and yet we have to be told that repeatedly? (I also find it a bit ironic that when someone actually seems to believe this and starts boasting about how awesome they are, we call that person a narcissist). 

Brené Brown tells us, “We live in a culture of scarcity, of never enough. There is only one way out of scarcity – and that is enoughness. At some point we need to say: I am enough.” We look at that quote and think, Yes, I am enough. But somehow we struggle to believe it. If I really am good enough, smart enough, and have enough “enoughness”… why do I need to keep hearing this from people like Brené Brown?

The truth is that Brown’s counsel only leads to greater self-obsession, which is ultimately exhausting and joy-sapping. Self-validation is a weighty burden the human soul was never meant to carry.

I have a theory. I think the reason we crave words of approval is that deep down, we know the truth: Something is deeply wrong inside. I’m not everything I should be.

The Bible basically says, “Yes, there really is something wrong with you. Only…it’s worse than you think. But the good news is that if you can believe the hard truth about how bad you really are, you are finally ready to hear the good news of grace.”

The Bible tells us that hard truth we so desperately need to hear. Now, I’ll warn you, it can sting a bit to hear this for the first time. Just remember what Jesus said: “The truth will set you free.” You’ll be ready to receive the cure, only if you’re willing to hear the diagnosis.

On your own and apart from Jesus Christ:

  • You’re not righteous or good. (Romans 3:10)
  • You’re dead in your sins. (Ephesians 2:1)
  • You’re selfish by nature. (Romans 2:13)
  • You’re caught in a web of self-deception. (Romans 3:13)
  • You’re prone to bitterness, anger, and hatred. (Romans 3:14-17)
  • You don’t fear or revere the God who gave you life. (Romans 3:18)
  • You suppress the truth about God, because you don’t want to be accountable. (Romans 1:18)
  • And because of all this, you deserve the just and holy wrath of God. (Romans 1:18; Ephesians 2:3; John 3:36)

Ouch! But as much as that might hurt to hear, remember the Bible doesn’t create sin in our hearts; it simply shows us what’s already there. We will never look for the remedy until we understand we have a spiritual disease called sin, and this disease will kill us unless something drastically changes.

Very often, people new to Christianity and the church will hear this much and tell themselves, “Okay, if that’s true, I better change my act.” This is our default setting. We tell ourselves that if we have gone astray, then we must simply get back on the right path. If we have become morally filthy, then we must clean ourselves up.

The problem is that we are trying to atone for our own sins, and that will never work. What we need is the atonement of Jesus Christ. And until we know what Jesus went through for us, we will never understand how deeply God loves us. Without the cross, God’s love will always seem like a shallow idea rather than a soul-transforming reality.

The gospel explains that we could never be good enough, but Jesus was good enough for us. As the Son of God, Jesus lived the perfectly righteous life we should have lived. And He died the death we deserved in our place as our Substitute. 

The culture is constantly trying to build up my self-confidence, but confidence in myself is not the answer. My confidence is this: At the Cross, Jesus bore all my sins and fully paid for them. He endured the punishment that was coming to me. He paid the debt that I owed because of my sins. My confidence is His blood and righteousness.

Or, as Paul put it:

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

On our own, we could never be good enough. Only Jesus is good enough. And through faith in His righteous life and substitutionary death, we are forgiven of all our sin and reconciled to a holy God. God declares us to be as righteous as Jesus. This is the doctrine of justification. Faith unites us to Christ, and then His righteousness is imputed to us. Once we are in Christ, God the Father sees us clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 

I am not enough. Jesus is enough.

To be justified by faith in Christ means you are no longer looking to your own moral performance for your standing with God. You can be honest about your personal shortcomings and sins, because you stand righteous (or infinitely good enough) in Jesus Christ. Your confidence isn’t in your awesomeness; it’s in the awesome love of God.

But here’s the radical truth: God loved you and me when we were everything on the list above. You and I were once as lost as can be, and yet God loved us even at our lowest. Knowing this love personally will give you all the confidence you need to face life’s various challenges. God is now for you. Who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Rearranging Deck Chairs or Being Salt and Light?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for LifeLeave a comment

Many Christians are disheartened when they look around at how our American culture has become more secular and, in many ways, anti-Christian in everything from its views on sexuality to public policy. In this cultural moment, it’s easy for Christians to not only feel like outsiders, but victims. 

I find it interesting, however, that Scripture never encourages us to play the victim card. Instead, we are called to see ourselves “overcomers,” who are always victorious in Christ (see Romans 8:37).

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:7, ESV)

Some renowned Christian preachers from the past have said things like, “Trying to make a difference in the culture is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” While we are called citizens of Heaven, we are still citizens of our nation. One truth does not cancel out the other.

Thank God that people like William Wilberforce, the Christian abolitionist who was instrumental in ending the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, didn’t take such a view. He believed that the God of Heaven had called him to take a stand for truth, justice, goodness, and beauty in the culture he inhabited. Wilberforce urged his fellow Christians to not shrink into the shadowy margins of society with a private faith, but to boldly and publicly profess their faith in Jesus along with all the implications that come with that.

Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and commanded, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

In his great book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce writes:

“What a difference it would be if our system of morality were based on the Bible instead of the standards devised by cultural Christians.”

Wilberforce was confronting those who want to claim the name of Christ, but deny that Christ’s Lordship has the power to transform both individuals and whole societies. He wondered why so many professing Christians seemed embarrassed by the Name of Jesus and would only be caught uttering His Name in the safety of a house of worship.

As I read Wilberforce, I feel like he’s talking to Christians today–like he’s talking to me! The same struggles with fear and shame that he addressed so boldly are found among churches today. Brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Consider how Jesus called us to take our personal faith in Him public:

“What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” (Matthew 10:27, ESV)

Knowing we would be tempted to keep our faith private, Jesus said:

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33, ESV)

Jesus was speaking to His twelve Apostles, but notice how Jesus uses words like “everyone” and “whoever” to make the point. In other words, speaking about Jesus publicly is not something reserved for trained evangelists or those gifted in evangelism. Jesus is saying that our willingness to speak His Name in public is an accurate gauge of our relationship to Him. I don’t know about you, but I want Jesus to acknowledge me before the Father. These words should motivate us to boldly take the next step of faith in our relationship with Jesus. When we do speak openly of Jesus, the response will always be mixed. Sometimes, we may feel like we did a poor job of representing our Lord or didn’t say everything we could have, but again, speaking of Jesus is something to which “everyone” is called. And we can depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the words we need (Luke 12:11-12).

Unless people hear the message of Jesus, their hearts won’t be regenerated. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17, NIV). If we care about cultural renewal, we need to first care about renewal of hearts.

Christians should not intentionally be antagonistic toward others. We should use wisdom and seek to listen well before we speak. At the same time, we should be known for both what we believe and Whom we believe in. Both visibly and audibly, it should be plain to others that we belong to Jesus.

Jesus told Paul, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10, BSB). He told the other Apostles, “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life” (Acts 5:20, BSB).

Jesus called us to be salt and light in a culture shrouded in spiritual darkness and decay. We are called to take our faith public, and above all, to live with hope. 

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live with hope in dark days. Help me be the light you call me to be by the power of the Holy Spirit. On my own, I know I have very little to contribute, but with Your enabling power, I can reach others and make an impact in my generation. May this generation experience a reawakening to Your power, wisdom, and love. I ask this in the mighty Name of Jesus.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Will Your Children Learn about Sex from You or the World?

On By Jason SmithIn Theology for Life, Why I Believe1 Comment

I love being a dad. Hardly anything in life gives me more joy than spending time with my kids, whether it be wrestling with them, playing games, cracking jokes, playing catch, or talking about life and God. Every parent has been given a divinely ordained responsibility to train up a child in the way he or she should go (Proverbs 22:6). That’s not always an easy assignment in a culture that is steeped in messages that contradict God’s good wisdom for life.

Perhaps nowhere is this need for godly wisdom more profoundly felt than in the realm of sexuality. Here’s the simple truth: as a parent, it is my responsibility to train my children to think about sex through the lens of biblical wisdom. Our children need to learn from us, at an age-appropriate level, that sex is a beautiful gift from God, purposefully designed for the marriage covenant alone. We shouldn’t imply that sex is gross or that all sexual desire is sinful. God created them as sexual creatures, and they are fearfully and wonderfully formed according to His design. Let’s remember that if our children don’t learn about it from us, they will still learn about it–only they will likely end up with a distorted picture of sexuality from the world.

Here’s the awesome thing about the Bible: God gave it to us, knowing exactly what we need to hear. So, even if we would rather avoid the subject of sex, God often brings it up.  God knows we need wisdom; that’s why He gave us the book of Proverbs. I have come to appreciate this book on a whole new level since becoming a dad, because Proverbs is packed with practical wisdom on parenting. 

Solomon even wrote much of Proverbs as a father speaking to his son. 

“My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen closely to my understanding.” (Proverbs 5:1, CSB)

This is a model for every Christian parent. You cannot leave training your children in godliness to someone else. And dads, God especially calls you to be spiritual leaders in your home (Ephesians 6:4). Your kids need to hear the gospel from you. You need to teach them the wisdom found in Scripture. Many dread the idea of having “the talk” with their kids because it sounds so awkward. Perhaps that’s because all the pressure is put on having a single talk. But as you pursue a relationship with your children as they enter puberty, you should initiate ongoing talks about sex, love, and relationships.

It bears repeating: if they don’t learn sexual wisdom from you, they will get their ideas from a spiritually unmoored culture. Passages like Proverbs 5 are in the Bible because God does not want us to avoid the subject. He has something to say to us about sex.

“Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps head straight for Sheol.” (Proverbs 5:3-5, CSB)

Solomon uses a vivid metaphor for sexual sin (sex outside the marriage covenant). He says, “It’s like honey on the lips of a forbidden woman.” Honey tastes sweet in the moment. But “in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood.” In other words, what looks like and tastes like honey is actually poison. In the end, it will cut you like a sharp sword and take you straight to Sheol, the place of the dead!

The context here is a warning about a forbidden woman, because it’s Solomon speaking to his son. But it could just as easily be turned around. For every daughter of the King, the warning is about the forbidden man. Ungodly men can be seductive, too, by telling a girl what she wants to hear.

“Keep your way far from her. Don’t go near the door of her house.” (Proverbs 5:8, CSB)

The Bible is consistent about how to avoid sexual sin. Run. When you encounter sexual temptation, don’t stay put. Don’t loiter. Don’t keep staring at the screen. Don’t stay in that bedroom. Get on your horse and ride. Stay as far away as possible because your life depends on it. Paul tells young Timothy, “Feel youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). Don’t play games with sexual sin. The moment you smell sexual temptation, run away. 

Practically speaking, it would be good for dads to have frank conversations with their sons and moms to talk candidly with their daughters about the corrupting effect of sexual sin. It would be helpful to even read Proverbs 5-7 together, asking questions like, “Why do you think Solomon warns his son about sexual sin?” or “Why did he use that metaphor?”

Just as Solomon warns his son, God our Father lovingly warns each of us–no matter what our age–to flee from sexual sin, not play with fire. God’s rules on sex are for our good, and our children need to understand that.

What did godly Joseph do when Potiphar’s wife kept urging him to go to bed with her? Did he wait around and say, “Well, let’s see how much sexual temptation I can withstand”? No, he bolted in such a rush that when Mrs. Potiphar yanked on his robe, he didn’t go back for it. Joseph’s story in Genesis 39 is another great passage to read together with your adolescent children, especially since it frames the discussion around an engaging story.  

Regularly talk to your children about how, as followers of the risen Jesus, we have a distinct perspective on sex: Sex is God’s good gift intended only for one man and one woman in the marriage covenant. The three main purposes for sex are procreation, unity, and pleasure in the marriage relationship.

I have talked with many young men who never had conversations with their dad about sex, including those who grew up in a Christian home. And quite often, they have trouble seeing why things like premarital sex and cohabitation are harmful. But time and again, I have seen the devastating consequences of not taking sexual sin seriously.

I am so thankful for all the older, godlier men in my life, including my dad, who urged me when I was a teenager to fight for sexual purity at all costs. They warned me about the grave dangers Solomon is talking about.

Solomon says sexual sin will claim your health. This could be talking about STDs. It will claim your time. How much time has been wasted on sexual sin that should have been used for the kingdom of God? It will drain your resources (Proverbs 5:10). In other words, it will drain you dry and waste your hard-earned wages. It could lead to pregnancy, and abortion rates are much higher among unmarried mothers than those married. Sexual sin leaves a wake of heartache, infidelity, and divorce. Failing to take sexual sin seriously will fill you with regret at the end of your life.

At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction. I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my instructors. I am on the verge of complete ruin
before the entire community.” (Proverbs 5:11-14, CSB)

It’s hard to imagine a more disturbing image. Coming to the end of your life drowning with regret. Once again, we need to see that Solomon is warning his son in love: “Don’t be the sexual fool!”

For those who have engaged in sexual sin, you need to know there is grace, cleansing, and forgiveness found at the Cross of Jesus Christ. Praise God! But often, the consequences of our sin still remain in this life. This is why our children need to hear the truth about sex from their parents first.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

It Will Cost You Everything

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment 
In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples. (Luke 14:33, ESV)

In the 2001 animated film Shrek, we meet Lord Farquaad, the pompous, proud, and vertically challenged villain. In one of the best lines from the movie, Farquaad sends out his knights on a high-risk mission to rescue a princess from a dragon.

With great feeling, he tells them, “Some of you may die. But that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

The life Jesus Christ calls us to is radically different. Instead of expecting some kind of faux sacrifice akin to Lord Farquaad, Jesus demands a sacrifice that is personal and total. We’re called to surrender ourselves to Him and give our full allegiance to Him as the King who conquered death.

Jesus Himself came to slay the dragon and purchase His bride (the church) with His own blood. Almost every fairytale is just a dim reflection of the greatest story ever told.

Knowing Jesus made that ultimate sacrifice puts His demand on your life in perspective. In a world where you are encouraged to put yourself first, follow your heart, and live your truth, Jesus demands you deny yourself and follow Him. In fact, Jesus even said, “Unless you give up everything you have, you cannot be My disciple.” 

Notice that Jesus doesn’t tolerate the easy-believism so prevalent today that thinks of Jesus as a ticket to Heaven, but not as the Lord of our lives. Jesus asked that searching question, “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, yet don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). As the risen Lord, Jesus calls us to give up everything for Him, to lay it all down at His feet and say, “Okay, Lord. It’s all yours.” 

This means that we choose to find our identity in Christ, first and foremost. How you understand your identity is so important, because if you know who you are (or better yet, know whose you are), you can know what you should do. To give up everything for Jesus means that every aspect of your day should fit your identity in Christ. How you view your relationships, your career, your church, your money, and where you turn for rest, should all be shaped by Jesus.

If you’ve never thought of your relationship to Jesus as something that requires sacrifice, that should raise a red flag. Jesus emphasized repeatedly that there is a cost to following Him. Yes, there are rich rewards, both in this life and the next, and we certainly don’t want to minimize that. But if you’ve never felt like you had to give something up for Jesus, then you’ve missed something essential.

When Jesus called four fishermen to follow Him, we’re told that “they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11, ESV). While Jesus won’t necessarily call you to leave your career, He does call you to surrender it over to Him. In the same way, Jesus called Levi (also known as Matthew the tax collector) to follow Him as a disciple. This meant leaving behind his tax booth, which represented his livelihood and opulent lifestyle. But Luke tells us: “And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (v. 28). 

To reiterate the cost of following Him, Jesus gives two examples: a building project and a battlefield.

He says to the crowds:

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:28-33, ESV)

How foolish, Jesus says, to start constructing something you aren’t committed to finish. And who would engage in a war without considering what it will take to win?

Have you counted the cost? Are you willing to put everything on the line for Jesus–even your own life?

It’s important to ask yourself some honest, gut-level questions: 

Is there anything I’m not willing to give up for Jesus? 

Is there anything in my life that I’m prizing more than Jesus? 

Is there a sin I’m unwilling to repent of?

Am I giving Jesus time for communion with Him?

To live as His follower is to enter into His joy. Following Him will cost you everything, but the reward for following Jesus is beyond compare.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, following You is the greatest joy of my life. It’s an adventure of faith, and it’s exciting to see all the ways You are at work in my life and the lives of those around me. If there is anything in my life standing in the way of deeper intimacy with You or faithfulness to You, please reveal that to me by Your Holy Spirit. In Your Glorious Name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

What Did Jesus Look Like?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments
Image by Perezrps

Recently, I was reading a Bible storybook to my 5-year-old son, Ryan, that was filled with realistic pictures of Jesus in various scenes from the Gospels. Jesus was portrayed talking to the crowds, holding a child in His arms, and walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

“Is that what Jesus looks like?” Ryan asked.

“Well, He probably looked something like that,” I replied. “But we don’t really know what He looked like.”

Several years ago, I remember talking with a lady at my church who told me she had a portrait of Jesus on her wall that she loved dearly and brought her closer to Him. I wasn’t sure how to respond to her at the time, but it did get me thinking. Why doesn’t the Bible give us a clear description of Jesus’ appearance? 

Naturally, many of us have wondered what Jesus really looked like while on earth. I’ve noticed that artists throughout the last 2,000 years have tended to portray Jesus looking, well, a lot like themselves.

Medieval Europeans depicted a very European-looking Jesus. Indians painted Jesus looking very Indian. Interestingly, the most robust description of Jesus’ appearance is found in Revelation 1 and is filled with apocalyptic imagery. For example, John describes Jesus with a two-edge sword coming out of His mouth (Revelation 1:16). 

In Isaiah’s prophecy, we learn that Jesus had a beard the soldiers tried to pull out and that He didn’t look particularly attractive or majestic while on earth (Isaiah 50:6; 53:2). But that’s about it.

Interestingly, Scripture acknowledges that we don’t know what He looks like and that’s okay.

Peter writes, 

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV)

When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, they needed Judas to help them pick Him out with a kiss of betrayal (Matthew 26:48-49). We can conclude from all this that during His days on earth, Jesus looked pretty much like any other first century Jewish man. There was nothing especially appealing about Him. It’s not as though He hovered six inches above the ground everywhere He went. If you were to glance at Jesus, you wouldn’t suspect there was anything special about Him.

After the risen Jesus appeared to Thomas, the previously skeptical disciple cried out, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus not only receives Thomas’s worship, but He pronounces a blessing on those of us who believe in Him without seeing Him.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29, NLT)

If, like me, you have been tempted to think it’s unfair that you aren’t able to see Jesus in the flesh like His first disciples did, you should consider Jesus’ words. There is a unique blessing on us who believe and love Jesus while not seeing Him yet. One day, we will see Jesus face-to-face. And believe me, I look forward to that day! But until then, we can trust that God knew what He was doing in not telling us what Jesus looks like.

At one point in the Gospels, Jesus asked His own disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” There were lots of opinions going around. Just like today. But then Simon Peter stepped up and said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-17, NIV)

Notice what Jesus says here. Peter was right about Jesus. He is the Son of the living God. He is totally unique and unlike anyone else who has ever walked the planet. But God the Father had to reveal this to Peter. It wasn’t obvious just by looking at Him. 

And that’s good news for us. We might think we are at a huge disadvantage here in the 21st century. We don’t get to see the physical Jesus walking around like those first disciples. But think about it. If God had to supernaturally reveal Jesus’ identity to Peter even when Jesus was standing right next to him, then that means He can do that for us, too. But why did the Father need to reveal this to Peter? Because it’s always a spiritual encounter when you come to know who Jesus is.

Let this truth be emblazoned across your heart: Only God can reveal to us that Jesus truly is the eternal Son of God. 

“All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27, BSB)

No wonder there are more opinions on who Jesus was than anyone else in history. Because until the Father shows you His glory, He’ll just be another guy.

When I talk to others about Jesus, very often they are skeptical to believe He really is divine. And I know that I can’t convince anyone that Jesus truly is God. But as they read His Word, the Holy Spirit can open their eyes, and the Father will reveal Jesus to them. That’s what I pray for, because it’s a supernatural revelation. So, right now, if you believe that Jesus really is the eternal Son of God, you can thank God for opening your eyes.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Charlie Kirk, Evil, and the Hope of Jesus Christ

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life, Why I Believe3 Comments
Photo courtesy of First Freedoms Foundation

One of the most common objections to Christianity I hear is the problem of evil. How could a good God allow so much evil in His world? I think it’s good to think through this question as believers. It will inevitably come up as you interact with others about spiritual things and seek opportunities to tell others about the hope of Jesus Christ.

Let me first say that there is something very right about that question. It assumes evil is real. That may not sound too profound, but it’s the common ground we all have to deal with. Some things are truly evil. It’s not just that I don’t like certain things or that I get disgusted by certain things. There are some things in this world that are objectively and unambiguously evil, and we all know this, even if our worldview doesn’t have a basis for saying it.

This last week, the world witnessed true evil. Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old Christ-follower and popular conservative with a massive social media following, was murdered with a single bullet. The event shocked the world. In fact, I’ve talked with many people who have said they were shocked, but not surprised. 

I think what people mean is they are morally shocked by the act of cold-blooded murder, but intellectually, they know evil is sadly abundant in the world, so they aren’t all that surprised. I want to affirm the rightness of being morally shocked by the evil of murder. It is sadly the case that we are so inundated with news about murder, war, gang violence, and school shootings, that it would be easy for us to become calloused and forget how heinous each act of murder and violence truly is. 

Charlie Kirk was an outspoken Christian. He was very vocal in his views, so his name and his online presence were well-known. Many people sharply disagreed with Charlie’s views, and he was constantly on the receiving end of mockery, insults, outright hatred, and death threats for him and his family. And he was shot in broad daylight while debating college students in his trademark fashion that made him so popular among conservatives. All of this helps us understand how shocking his murder was. 

But I hope that we can see what is often lost in the noise: every murder is a violation of the sixth commandment. Murder is unequivocally evil, because every human life bears the image of God and has inestimable worth in God’s eyes. The Bible doesn’t offer a pat answer to the problem of evil or give us a clean explanation for the origin of evil. The fall in Genesis 3 explains the origin of human evil and the brokenness of the world, but the absolute origin of evil (Why did Satan rebel?) is not provided. This is likely because evil is ultimately irrational and incomprehensible. 

We aren’t called to fixate on evil, but to think about things that are lovely, pure, true, and beautiful (Philippians 4:8). We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God who so lovingly and graciously gave up His life to rescue a world ensnared in the darkness of our own making. 

So, while the Bible doesn’t offer a thorough explanation of evil, it does give us the resources for calling something evil and then finding hope in a purely good God.

We know evil is evil because of its contrast with a perfectly good God. God alone is the standard of absolute goodness, and it’s only by looking to Him as our fixed reference point for all reality that we can see what evil, by contrast, looks like. Those who say evil makes no sense if God is real need to consider how calling something “evil” could make sense if there is no God. Every time you call something like murder evil, you are assuming a standard of goodness. You are saying, “This (murder) is wrong, because it does not conform to that which is good, true, and beautiful (protecting and honoring each human life as sacred).”

If your worldview has no room for God, then on what basis are you calling something “evil”? If we are just the product of a natural, blind, irrational process with no divine Mind behind it, we can talk about survival of the fittest, but not the arrival of moral absolutes. It is only because there is a transcendent Authority on good and evil that we can step back and call something unquestionably “evil.” But the Christian hope gives us more than a basis to call evil what it is; it offers us Jesus Christ as the redemptive hope for a lost world.

In one talk he gave in 2023, Charlie said, “Here is the gospel in four words: Jesus took my place.” Charlie recognized that he was a sinner in need of a Savior, and that Jesus and His sacrifice are the only hope for forgiveness and eternal life.

Jesus, too, was outspoken in His views on God, morality, and truth, and Jesus, too, was murdered graphically and publicly. 

What made Jesus unique, however, is that because He is the sinless Son of God, His death had the power to ransom evil people from their self-destruction and deliver them to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18-19, ESV)

Jesus took our place. He laid down His life to suffer the consequences of the evil you and I have done, but because He is Lord, He took it up again and rose to life. Jesus called people to repent and believe this good news. Outside of Jesus, we each have to deal with the judgment our sins deserve, and it’s only in Jesus that love will overcome hate. 

May the death of Charlie Kirk spark a revival in our nation, with countless turning to Christ in faith. What man intends for evil, God intends for good (Genesis 50:20).

Jesus alone is the only hope for a lost and dying world, and because He is King, a glorious day is coming when all will be set right.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Who Is Discipling You?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment 
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Who are you following? Although many cultural analysts have pointed out that the younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials, like me) have a low view of authority, I always feel the need to question that (please note the irony). Jokes aside, it’s largely true that our culture has a suspicion of institutions and authoritative figures. On the other hand, as congenital sinners, we all come into this world with a rebellious aversion to authority–namely God’s (see Romans 1:18-25)! 

However, it’s also true that everyone still has an authority they look to for guidance. It may be a parent, a professor, a coach, a mental health professional, or whomever you’re following right now on X or YouTube. 

While Christians generally speak of discipleship to Jesus, everyone is a disciple because everyone is inheriting a worldview and way of life from others. To be a disciple is to be a learner or student who sits under the teaching of another. Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40, ESV).

A disciple adopts the thinking and way of life of his or her teacher. Whether it’s subconscious or not, everyone is being discipled by someone. Some people are discipled by their phones or by Google. Some people are discipled by their peer group. Others by their favorite author.

We are all being guided and formed by those to whom we listen and receive instruction. Usually, our discipleship is informal and hardly acknowledged. A teenage boy who constantly listens to music that is degrading to women is being discipled to think a certain way that will lead to certain attitudes and behaviors. 

It’s unavoidable, because it’s part of our wiring as image bearers of God. We were made to live under authority. Contrary to popular thinking, there’s no such thing as a totally autonomous individual. Those who think they are most liberated from all authoritative constraints are generally the most blind to the ways their peers and their culture have formed their life and thinking.

Enter Jesus. When the Son of God visited this planet, He knew how you are wired and that you need instruction for living. He didn’t merely come to heal us (but thank God, Jesus is a humble and gracious Savior).  Jesus came to teach us the truth. 

While standing before Pontius Pilate, He gave the good confession:

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37, ESV)

Jesus came to open our eyes to the reality of God as a holy and loving Father. He proclaimed an authority that transcended this world: the kingdom of God. He called people to deny any claims to autonomy, take up their cross, and follow Him unconditionally. Most importantly, He was crucified for our sins and rose again, demonstrating He truly is King and the way to eternal life. And He gave His Holy Spirit to all who trust in Him, to unite His people as the church, and empower us to follow Him together as His witnesses.

Jesus said that to hear His words and put them into practice is to build your life on a solid rock (Matthew 7:24). No other foundation for life will do. 

So, are you living as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Have you repented of sin and wrong thinking? Have you yielded your life to Him, received His forgiveness, and embraced His call on your life?

If you don’t follow Jesus, you will follow someone.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Work: Blessing or Curse?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments 
 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15, ESV) 

In the beginning, God created us to work. Wait a minute. Does that sound right to you? God created us to work?

Sure, that’s not the only reason God created us. He created us to know, enjoy, and love Him and others. But, yes, God did in fact create us for work.

It’s unfortunately common for many people–including many Christians–to view work as a curse rather than a blessing. Work is thought of as a necessary evil. Something that gets them the paycheck so they can do what they really want. You can hear it in the statements “Thank God it’s Friday!” and “I’m livin’ for the weekend!”

When you think of work as drudgery and curse, you won’t take delight in your 9 to 5 job. You won’t see how your work connects to a larger purpose or is part of what gives life meaning, because you don’t think of it as part of your created design.

Let me say something that might sound a bit radical. Work is less about earning a paycheck and more about living out your God-given purpose. Yes, I understand that the paycheck is important, that we need money to feed and care for ourselves and our families. And I’m not saying earning a lot of money is inherently evil. But I am saying that your work is about so much more than increasing your cashflow. Work is a blessing.

Think about how this perspective can transform your life.

If you work 40 hours a week for 40 years (pretty typical for many people), that is 80,000 hours of your life at work. So, how you view work really matters.

It all begins with seeing who God is. 

When Genesis was written, other cultures at this time had their own creation stories. And in the Babylonian creation story, the gods basically get tired of working and then one of them has the bright idea of making man to be the little slaves that work for the gods, apparently so that the gods can relax on the heavenly beaches with mai tais and sunglasses.

But notice how different the story is in Genesis. First of all, work is not drudgery for God. God delights in His work of creation and calls it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Then God rested on the seventh day from His work and blessed it (Genesis 2:2-3). But God wasn’t done working.

Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17).

And when God creates man, He tells him that one of his great purposes is to do this honorable work of cultivating and developing His garden.

 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15, ESV) 

The ancient Greeks and Romans viewed work as a necessary evil. Aristotle even famously said that some people were made to be slaves who worked and others were made for the higher life of philosophy and contemplation.

“The whole Greek social structure helped to support such an outlook, for it rested on the premise that slaves and [craftsmen] did the work, enabling the elite to devote themselves to the exercise of the mind in art, philosophy, and politics.” (Leland Ryken, Work and Leisure in Christian Perspective, 64)

In stark contrast, the Hebrews believed that work is part of our royal dignity as image bearers of a God who works. The Bible presents work as one of God’s blessings for taking dominion of the world He’s made for us. Again, Adam is put in a garden called “Delight” (Eden) “to work it and keep it.”

At this point, the world was perfect (well, almost perfect because he doesn’t have a wife yet). There was no curse because sin had not yet entered the world. Adam is in paradise, and he’s working. We might assume work is the result of the curse, but work is a blessing, intended for honoring God and loving others.

I’ve talked with a lot of business owners over the last few years. And one of the recurring trends is the lack of young people with a good work ethic, who are committed to doing quality work. This lack of motivation tells me that many people simply have a warped view of work.

Genesis 2:15 teaches that from the very beginning God intended for man to work and cultivate the ground and make something of the world he was living in. These two words “work” and “keep” are the same Hebrew words used elsewhere to describe the vocation of the priests. Well, what did the priests do? They worked in the Temple and led the people in worshiping God.

Here’s the idea. God created the whole cosmos to be His Temple. From the very beginning, God intended to dwell with His image bearers in a world He created. Man and woman would walk in fellowship with Him and glorify Him, even as they developed the world into a civilized paradise. 

Do you know that you can worship God through work? And when you rely on Him, you can see work as a way of loving your neighbor. Whether you are a teacher, attorney, engineer, firefighter, homeschool mom, store clerk, pizza delivery guy, or police officer, when you see your work as part of God’s grand plan for caring for His world, you can actually take joy in even very demanding work. When I worked at a hospital, I asked a nurse what she liked best about her job. She said that “Every nurse knows how hard it can be,” but that even on very hard days, she knows she’s serving people and that gives her work meaning.

Also, keep in mind how high a view of mankind the Bible has. We weren’t created to be God’s little minions, slaving away in drudgery. God’s calling on our lives is much, much bigger than that!

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:3-8, ESV)

God didn’t create us to be His little slaves. No, God creates human beings and puts all things under our feet. And He then invites us to partner with Him in making something of this world. We should see work as a gift–a privilege, even–where we get to partner with God in creating civilization by cultivating the planet He made to be our home.

God cares about your work. And I’m not just talking about your 9 to 5 job. Being a full-time parent is God-honoring work. Cleaning your home is God-honoring work. Scrubbing toilets is God-honoring work. Why? Because you are bringing order out of chaos, and that is what God does.

Prayer:

Father God, help me enjoy the work you have given to me–even the menial tasks that can feel like drudgery. Help me see how my work is connected to how You care for the world You have created for us to dwell in. When I clean the gutter, mow the lawn, serve food, or wash the dishes, help me take pleasure in bringing order out of chaos. Give me joy in my work in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I would love to hear from you.

What Hope Does God Offer Families of Flood Victims?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life4 Comments
Photo by Patrick Keely via Reuters

This last Friday (the 4th of July), flash flooding devastated central Texas. As of this writing, there are 104 confirmed deaths, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp outside Hunt, Texas. My heart breaks for the grieving families. As a husband and father, it’s difficult to imagine what they must be going through right now. Their sense of loss must be unbearable.

In times of tragedy, people ask, “Why would a God of love allow something so terrible to happen?”

I don’t even want to pretend I have an answer to that question. While the question is often asked, my response must be, “I don’t know why God allowed this particular tragedy.” Some things must be left to the inscrutable wisdom of God.

But here’s what I do know. I know that God is not a cold and distant God, unaware or uninterested in what happens in our life. In fact, I have spoken with many people who have told me that it was right in the middle of tragedy and devastating loss that God drew near and made His presence more real to them.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

Somehow, in the midst of all the tears and heart-wrenching grief, God Himself comes near in love. He enfolds the crushed in His arms of compassion. 

“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, NLT)

Ultimately, it is the love of Jesus Christ that can bring healing to our deepest wounds. Although no answer to the “why” can ever bring a daughter or a sister back, it can help to know that our God knows what it’s like to live in a broken world under the curse of sin. When we wonder if God cares about our misery, consider Jesus, who clothed Himself in human flesh and walked this planet alongside the hurting, the broken, and the dying. He Himself experienced the grief of losing His dear friend, Lazarus. 

Consider that Jesus didn’t turn away but gazed into the eyes of Mary as she wept for her dead brother. He saw those mourning and felt the deep pangs of emotion stirring in His perfect soul.

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. (John 11:33, NLT)

Jesus wasn’t merely disturbed; He was angry. How can the Son of God be angry at something in the world He created? Jesus felt a keen sense of anger at what sin and death have done to this world of human beings He created. His compassionate heart longed for the day when He would put all things right, when every tear would be wiped away and death would be no more and His creation would be made new (Revelation 21:4-5).

According to the Bible, it is not God but man who brought death into this world, but Christ’s empty tomb proves that death does not get the last word. 

“Just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.” (1 Corinthians 15:21, NLT)

Does God care about the flood in Texas? Does He see those parents mourning the loss of their little girl? Beyond question, He does. If you look at the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, you can know that He endured the agony of sin’s curse at a level we could never know in order to redeem this world from that curse. And one day, He will accomplish the final defeat of death, “the last enemy” to be destroyed (v. 26).

I invite you to pray with me for those grieving families.

Father God, You alone can bring the comfort we most need in the midst of devastating heartbreak. Show Your unfathomable love to those grieving families who were devastated by the Texas flood. We can’t understand why, but we thank You for the great love proved by the Cross. And we thank You for the hope of the resurrection of Jesus. May countless people turn to Your merciful heart in this time of deep loss. In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I would love to hear from you.

The Fear of Death and the God of Life

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments 
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25, BSB)

The fear of death has long plagued humanity. It’s a universal dread that hangs over the whole world. It’s the knowledge that one day, we won’t wake up. One day, our loved ones, our family members, our favorite pet, all those we treasure most in life, will no longer be here. That’s a sobering thought.

And the fear of death is one that humans have tried to deal with from the beginning. How do we escape this fear? What hope do we have? What answers and assurance are there for us?

In his Gospel, the Apostle John wants us to see that the only remedy for the fear of death is the God of life, whom we meet in Jesus Christ. That’s why John puts so much focus on who Jesus is. He knows that nothing else matters if we get Jesus wrong.

God doesn’t want you to live your whole life in fear of death. He wants to give you the assurance of life found in Christ.

John 8 narrates a high-octane dialogue between Jesus and His biggest critics, the religious leaders of Israel. Jesus makes some astounding claims, calling these leaders “slaves to sin” and saying the devil is their daddy.[1] As you can imagine, those comments didn’t sit well with them.

These religious leaders figured, “Well, we can fight fire with fire!” So, they come back with this attack:

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” (John 8:48, NIV)

Calling Jesus a “Samaritan” was supposed to be a racial slur, but that’s not the thing that bothered Jesus. However, calling the holy Son of God “demon-possessed” is outright blasphemy. So why would they do that?

See, it was so hard to deny that something supernatural was happening with Jesus. Even the Jewish Talmud concedes that Jesus was doing some kind of supernatural deeds, but they attribute them to satanic sorcery. Some Jews today still believe that Jesus was in league with the devil.

In fact, Rabbi Daniel Asor, not long ago said, “Jesus was a false prophet, for he acted only through sorcery. He himself is the embodiment of Satanism.”

But today, that’s a minority opinion on Jesus. Most people today think of Jesus as a kindly “Mr. Rogers” type of guy who was just a great example of love and compassion. People like Madonna and Justin Timberlake have worn T-shirts calling Jesus their “Homeboy.” Oprah Winfrey has said that she finds Jesus to be an “inspiration,” and Brad Pitt has said that he “respects” Him. That sounds pretty safe. Who wouldn’t want to get on board with a Jesus who is there to cheer us on and left an example of love and kindness?

Now, it’s true that Jesus was full of love and compassion. In fact, no one else comes even close. But what if this view of Jesus is so watered down that it’s not even recognizable when we look at what the real Jesus said and did?

There’s a sense in which people like Brad Pitt say they “respect” Jesus because it allows them to stay a safe distance away and avoid the biggest truth about who Jesus claimed to be. But Jesus doesn’t merely want to be respected or inspire us to be nice. He came into this world making the most earth-shaking claims imaginable. So, to downplay what Jesus actually said is to ignore the real Jesus.

See, who Jesus really is matters because if Jesus claimed to be God 2,000 years ago, that claim still stands today. If it was true in the first century, it must be true in the 21st century.

So, Jesus sets the record straight.

“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” (John 8:49-51, NIV)

And here Jesus makes an enormous claim. “Whoever obeys [or holds to or commits themselves to] His Word will never see death.”

Jesus is referring to spiritual death: separation from God. He’s speaking in the same sense as when John earlier said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”[2]

Jesus is saying that He alone holds the answer to the timeless question of our mortality.

Many philosophers have made the case that the fear of death drives nearly all human behavior. Even when we’re not conscious of it, it’s there under the surface, shaping the way that we approach all of life. Some have said that philosophy itself is the mind’s way of trying to transcend the looming specter of death.

But of course, it’s not just philosophers that have tried to overcome the fear of death.

Here’s what the Bible says. Jesus died for us, “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV).

Interestingly, people have tried all sorts of ways to get around death, to stave it off, and avoid it. But God calls us to confront the reality of our own death, so that we will be prepared for what comes next. So, here’s a question: How often do you reflect on your own death? Most people try to avoid the subject as much as possible.

If you were to ask the Bible, “Why do we die?” The answer is that we were never meant to die. Death is an enemy and a foreign invader into God’s good world (1 Corinthians 15:26). It’s here because sin is here (Romans 5:12). When our first parents rebelled against God, death made its first entry. That’s because when you rebel against the God of life, death is the result. This fear of death tells us that things are not as they should be. And people have come up with all sorts of ways to try to deny death.

Believe it or not, there are those today who have the hope that through medical advancements, like stem cell research and nanobots, they will be able to avoid death altogether. The logic goes something like this: We know that death is caused by certain diseases, disorders, or bodily malfunctions, so all we must do is find a cure for every disease and disorder, and we will be able to live indefinitely.

The first Facebook president, Sean Parker, has boasted: “Because I’m a billionaire, I’m going to have access to better healthcare… I’m going to be like 160 and I’m going to be part of this, like, class of immortal overlords.”

He’s not the only one talking this way. In a recent TED talk, British researcher Aubrey de Grey claimed that through nanobot technology, “the first human beings who will live to 1,000 years old have already been born.” As it turns out, the search for the mythical fountain of youth has continued even in the 21st century.

But at the end of the day, I have to say, it’s all incredibly foolish. There’s only One who can save you from death, and I assure you, it’s not nanobots! It’s the One who called Himself “The Resurrection and the Life.”

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

[1] John 8:31-44

[2] John 3:36, NIV