Who are you?

"When we are finished with you, you will no longer be David Webb. You may not even remember who you are." This is a quote from the Bourne Ultimatum (watch clip below, then continue reading--yes, I spelled "ultimatum" incorrectly.)


Many former Christ-followers find themselves in the same place as Jason Bourne. They have made choices which have enabled the world and the lies of Satan to strip away in confidence in their true identity. The life which Christ gave them, the new birth which they experienced, the very life of Christ inside of them through the Holy Spirit, has been forgotten. They have spiritual amnesia!!

II Peter 1:9 tells us, "But if anyone does not have them (virtues and qualities mentioned in vv. 5-7), he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

A Christian has no excuse for being in this catatonic state. Peter tells us in verses 3 and 4, "God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these (God’s glory and goodness) God has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share his divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

A few months ago, I did a survey on Facebook. I sent an email out to all my "friends" who were in student ministry during the years I was in Tallahassee (1995-1999) and Dallas (2000-2004). I questioned around 30 former students. Some of the questions I ask were:

• Are your parents Christians?
  

• Growing up, did your parents teach/talk to you about faith and God?
  

• Do you still consider yourself a Christian?

• Do you believe in absolute truth?

• Do you attend church?

I have not crunched the numbers of the survey, but I would say that 25% of the former students do not believe in absolute truth. Four or five indicated they were no longer a Christian, and over 70% said they did not attend church!

Spiritual amnesia-what a horrible condition to be in! What a tragedy--to have experienced the joy and satisfaction of knowing Christ and to walk away from it.

Who are you?

A 3 Am conversation with myself

So, I'm asked to do the talk in our main church service a few weeks ago. That night, I'm awake at about 3am talking to God and thinking about what I'm going to say. Some of my best work is done during these sleepless times. Too bad I can remember most of the stuff the next day. And sometimes, the things I do remember, that I think are inspired at 3am, are actually crazy, disoriented thoughts from being caught in that mindless state somewhere between awake and asleep.

But one productive thought I think I had was a memory back to a sermon I heard in college from a guy named David Busby. Busby died quite a few years ago now. He had some strange disease. But he was an incredible speaker. The college I attend, an Independent Baptist College, was very conservative at the time. I believe they have mellowed out now. But back then, it was a place were a necklace on a guy or pants on a woman were big no-nos. Busby was a graduate of the school, and he was ask to do a week's worth of services. I remember, he comes in with longer hair than our school would allow for students and a style of speaking most of us had never heard before. He was authentic. He spoke in normal language, without all the Baptist jargon we were used to hearing from preachers.

He opened up the week with a powerful message about the Holy Spirit and built the series on that theme. The talk that came to mind that night during my comatose brainstorming session had to do with receiving from Jesus. Hurting, desperate, broken people, people tired of religion--come to Jesus and receive from Him. Jesus' words were "If anyone thirst, come to me and drink," from John 7.

I don't remember exactly how he said it, but to the shock of 2,500 stuffy Independent Baptists, he said sometimes about being to the point where we are so broken that all we can do is hold out our hands to Jesus and receive from him. Then he told a story about a women who was hurting and desperate, in the hospital. Busby said the Holy Spirit spoke to him and told him to tell her to stretch out her hands and just receive from Jesus. What? This was pentecostal to us! A minister of the gospel and his best theological advice was just to stretch out her hands and receive!?! We don't do that. That's pure emotionalism. What's next, telling her to speak in tongues?

But I think he had it right. In a religious world full of Marthas, we need to be Mary. Our churches are full of broken and hurting people, busy with God activity but often a stranger to the very God they are serving.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8

Unless I have some new 3 Am revelations, I think that's my message next Sunday. Reach out and receive.

Like a Child

A few days ago I was home in bed with a nasty stomach virus. I picked up my wife's Bible, which was on the nightstand next to the bed, and opened it. This note was inside. It was a prayer written by one of my children a few years ago.

As a father, my heart was moved and touched by the authenticity and honesty of the prayer. Although simple, as we expect a child to write, it was fresh, honest, and heart-felt.

Too often, we as adults fall into ruts and rituals when talking to our Heavenly Father. There is much we can learn from children.

Jesus said this about the children: “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." The disciples thought the children were a bother to Jesus. But Jesus used this as a teaching time for his disciples. We must become like children to enter the Kingdom.

God's Kingdom, according to Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy, is where what God wants done is done. Maybe like children who trust their parents, regardless of the perceived risk, we must trust God that His will is always what is best--for His glory and our joy. Like little children, we enter the Kingdom by doing God's will--even when it seems foolish.

Father. Daddy. I pray that I will be willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world in order to listen to Your voice. Allow me, through the Holy Spirit's power living in me, to know your voice and your will.

Father God, there has to be so much more to your Kingdom then following rules, being tame, blending in. Maybe some John the Baptist moments are in order. He had much to say about your Kingdom.

Jesus, I want to know you, and the power of your resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in your sufferings.

Amen.