Redemption

"The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him" - Proverbs 31:1

Ever feel like there's no way God could redeem even the worst sins of your past? Consider this:

Jewish tradition holds that Solomon is "King Lemuel" of Proverbs 31, and what he writes is two poems divinely inspired by God (as implied by the word "oracle") which he received from his mother. Who was his mom? Bathsheba. So, what we have then is probably the most well known Proverb (at least to Christian singles!) originating from the most well known adulteress who was also an accomplice in her husband's well known murder. Talk about redemption!

Church Chat

The on-going debate over the progressive church movement won't disappear anytime soon.  Yet, while I appreciate healthy discussion and even some debate between Christians in the spirit of learning and growing together in the Lord, much of the recent discourse surrounding the discussion has often times lost almost all compassion and instead been laden with blatant, illogical condemnation.  Most vocal on the subject are those who would define themselves as being aligned with a "Bible-based", Reformed, or traditional church body.  Each printed holy hand-grenade lobbed by the pastoral leaders of this side garners cheers from their followers, thousands of retweets, and virally shared memes as another battle has been seemingly won in the effort to take back the church.  The reason this concerns me so strongly is because, doctrinally speaking, this is the side with which I most strongly align in matters of theology and Biblical study.  Yet, so many of the arguments, defenses, and even reasonings I hear used are unreasonable, irrational, and even illogical. Shouldn't we as Christians be better than this in the defense of any of our beliefs? One does more harm for a cause than good if he cannot defend or promote his position intelligently! I've come to the point that I refuse to even enter into debate on a subject or doctrine if the other party refuses to participate courteously, compassionately, and intelligently. Consider the following quote I recently saw posted on Facebook; published below it is my rebuttal:

"I don't think any church has ever been relevant to culture, to the human struggle, unless it believed in Jesus and the power of his gospel. If the supposed new church believes in trendy music and cool Web pages, then it is not relevant to culture either. It is just another tool of Satan to get people to be passionate about nothing." - Donald Miller

The logic of this argument is one of my biggest frustrations with the whole "engaging culture" debate. It seems as if Miller is using "belief" in two different manners within the same thought. If in regard to contemporary church styling he is using "belief" to mean "simply espousing the style as a non-fundamental preference", then he is essentially saying that to sing contemporary worship songs and to use the tools of social media is to reject Jesus and His gospel. And, in my experience, that usage of "belief" reflects what often seems to be the sentiment of more "reformed" or "traditional" Christians toward contemporary and progressive churches. Are there many churches that are a mile wide and only an inch deep? Yes, there are. However, this doesn't just exist in the progressive church movement, as I've also seen shallow, ineffective Christianity in traditional Baptist churches.  Horror stories abound regarding those traditional churches and the negative impact some have had for the gospel in the way they've handled their interactions with the secular lost. It is a HUGE generalization for one to say "you're progressive, thus you must not love Jesus as much as WE do." Without saying it, that sentiment is essentially declaring that a local body isn't seriously committed to the gospel and the Word, nor do they revere the Lord in worship unless their worship format aligns with the format preferred and prescribed by the person/people who made the statement. 

However, to try to see the best in the argument, if Miller is using "belief" consistently throughout, then he is correctly implying that a church's devotion can wrongly turn to how they do church and thus turn away from He who is the head of the church. Again, though, that same warning can easily be turned around on those "holier" brothers and churches who initially lobbed the criticism.  

Though it is my hope that the latter represents what the author was attempting to say, the former is often how such a statement is taken and reused. At any rate, regardless of one's position on the subject... If we are going to debate at all, let's do so using the brains God gave us.

Satan Clause

Christmas is arguably my favorite season of the entire year. I literally begin the Christmas countdown on January 25. And it brings out the best in so many people! Especially Christians. What better time to use our deep knowledge of the Word of God to debate and argue with each other over deeply theological matters like Santa Claus? Questions are annually presented by well intentioned men and women of God (all of whom I love, respect, and appreciate deeply) as to whether or not it is appropriate, or even biblical, for families to take part in the great tradition of Santa Claus.  I used to be rubbed raw by the naysayers who sought to sully and overthink my favorite season of the year.  However, I've recently come to the light and begun to see things from their perspective.  That's right, I have come to the conclusion that Santa Claus is truly, inherently evil.  Consider my thoughts in my recent post in a forum on this important subject:

"Hey all,

I'm just going to say that my greatest objections to Santa are numerous and thoroughly researched. I garnered these facts following the investment of $33,000 dollars in a Biblical studies education. I have studied Greek, am an expert on TULIP (the only student to ace the Calvinism exam), and thus feel qualified to rise to join this spirited debate. I have concluded after 5 years of training that Santa is inherently evil. Consider the following facts:

1) First and foremost, if you transpose the letters of his name, Santa spells Satan.

2) Both stake their existence on the masterful use of lies and deception.

3) Like Satan, Santa (the other great Satan) is clearly depicted as parading about in a red suit. Tradition and written accounts substantiate this.

4) Both individuals are destined for fire: one in hell, the other in your furnace.

5) Like Satan, Santa sneaks in when you least expect it and fail to maintain your vigilant watch.

6) In light of the Sandusky trial, old men who lurk in the night and know our children's daily routines ought to be unapologetically classified as class-A creepers.

7) Santa promotes an entitlement mindset and is therefore only aiding to usher in the end times and a one world government.

For this reason I, as suggested by the great Jerry Seinfeld, choose to celebrate "Festivus (For the Rest of Us)".

In Christ,

Brad Lowery

P.S. I'm risking my potential classification as a heathen monkey on the basis that you all know me and that God has instilled in us a sense of humor. Let's all enjoy this season and each other by "majoring on the majors and minoring on the minors. " God bless and Merry Christmas."

It's Your Life (Or Is It?)

Men, at times, need a humility check. I'm certainly no different and often find myself asking God's forgiveness for identifiable moments of my own male cockiness. One such humility check came today in Hebrews 1. Check it out:

"but in these last days he (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:2 ESV)

We live in a world that promotes individualistic idolatry. "You are your own person. Live for you." This mindset trickles down to influencing one's beliefs, morals, daily decisions, and even life ambitions. Authors and producers make bank in the self-improvement, self-help, and self-image market. Doubt it? Check out Joel Osteen, Oprah, and Dr. Oz.

The truth is simple and painful: this isn't YOUR life. I point out to students that if you create something, that "something" is yours. Hebrews 1:2 says that God created the world through Jesus. Even if you have not placed your faith and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior... you are still part of His creation. He planned the number of days you're going to live. Think about that. Your time on earth is limited and nothing you do can change that. What you do with that time is up to you. But that time was given to you by God, and He wants to make it the most exciting, fulfilling adventure you could ever hope for. He wants to take that time and make it supremely useful, helping you accomplish the incredible for your good and His glory. But that starts with realizing that your time on earth is a gift and that it is very short.

"What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14 ESV)

Make the most of your time today by first (if you haven't already) surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. We are all messed up and have broken God's commands. We deserve to literally rot in hell for it. As a result we all need a Savior, and placing your faith and trust in Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life is the only thing that will get you right with God. If you think that's harsh and narrow-minded, tough. It's the truth according to the Bible.

So the choice is yours. Get right with God or take your life into your own hands. But whether you realize it now or in eternity, you'll find out that it was never really "yours" to begin with.

How Did We Get Here?

It never ceases to amaze me when I look back at my life and see how I got here.  Born in Florida, grew up in my grandfather’s hometown in Connecticut, wisened up in Virginia where God wrestled me into college at Liberty University.  Between a Finance degree at Virginia Tech and a Bible degree at LU, I was torn!  But it was at LU that God seeded in me a passion for students’ souls and a vision for how to reach them with the gospel.  Needless to say, I chose to go with the option that would destine me to earn less than a day-laborer while costing me more than I first realized.  It brought a mother load of criticism from the clueless, can cause me the most frustration, and yet brings me more joy than I could ever receive from any other job.  And where did I end up? Serving Jesus in the town where I was born!  However, “The Call”, as we love to dub it in Christianese, is not the root reason I’m here.  Paul shows us the same thing in 2 Timothy 1:1.  He realized something that I can shamefully forget on a daily basis.  The reason any Christian leader is where he/she is in life is first and foremost because we were saved through Jesus Christ.

Do we really grasp the full, amazing, breath-taking, humbling reality of this?  The root reason for any of us being able to serve Jesus where God has placed us to serve… is due to the fact that God decided to deliver us and not destroy us!  If that realization doesn’t add/restore a depth and purpose to our day and fire in us a crazy passion for the souls we meet and serve… then take your Bible, close it, and smack yourself in the head with it or somethin' ‘cause you crazy! My brain definitely just flashed to this scene:

The incredible reality of the merciful salvation of God through Jesus needs to be what defines not just what we do today… but it needs to define the rest of our lives!  If we can keep this truth at the forefront of our minds like Paul did, I feel certain that we would not wrestle as much with a loss of passion, we would be hungrier for more of God’s Word than ever before, and we would be driven to do stuff the world sees as stupid if that’s what it takes to press the gospel into the hearts of the lost. 

So, do you grasp this? Do you realize with your heart and not just with your head that the reason you’ve been blessed to serve Jesus (the reason for that passion for lost people, that “Call”) is because God saved you?

Paul realized the root reason of his calling and it was what fired him up to press on even when he was in prison about to die! He says in 2 Timothy 1:11, “… I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” 

We cannot be powerful, world-changing leaders for Jesus if we are not driven by the heart-moving reality that we are saved.  That truth is what makes ministry a mission and not just a job.  Paul suffered greatly for Jesus.  He then told Timothy to…

“share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” – 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Are you willing to join in suffering for the gospel?

The only thing that will give us the courage and fearlessness necessary to plunge into the trenches and suffer for the cause of Christ is a deep gratitude for our salvation that resonates in our hearts every… single… day.

Holla!

Hey, I'm Brad: a 23 year old young guy coming fresh out of my first full year of learning the hard way... *ahem* I mean youth ministry.  A great combination of naivety with vision, passion, energy, and courage produces one thing: stories! And it's these stories that I hope encourage you whether you are considering a career in ministry, are just starting out, or have been in the trenches for a while.  I also hope many of y'all can learn from what I've already experienced in my short career. It's been a fun ride full of God's glory and provision. There have also been lessons I've learned the hard way and hope to not repeat! My prayer is that you can learn from my screw-ups and save yourself from having to endure so many bumps in your leadership career.  The highlights of youth ministry are what drive me forward and the misadventures are what drive me upward.  Through it all, God's hand has been visible and I hope He blesses you and your career with the same love and patience with which He's blessed mine.