Oh, bummer.

“Neither,” you say, “I stand with the Declaration of Independence & Thomas Jefferson. That’s good enough enough for me.”

He says: “So you stand with the rebels?”

You say: “No. (Are you deaf?) I side with Thomas Jefferson & the Declaration of Independence. The end.”

He says: “You drink too much.”

His reasoning is simple: by siding with Jefferson & the ‘ole Declaration, you are adopting it’s stand regarding the English & rebels. There’s no way to side with a declaration without taking a stand alongside what said declaration declares to be true.

In our day and age, it’s popular to adopt an “anything goes!” approach to doctrine. When we talk about specifics of the Christian faith – such as God’s sovereignty, man’s depravity, local church, eternal security – I frequently hear people say something like:  ”I don’t take a stand either way. I believe the Bible & love Jesus. The end.”

That’s awesome that you believe the Bible and love Jesus. However, you must realize the Bible takes a firm stand regarding a plethora of specific doctrines. While the Bible doesn’t force us to adopt names (Calvinist or Arminian! Trichotomist or dichotomist!) nor defend the bitter fighting surrounding different declarations of faith (You abdominal heretic!), the Word of God does encourage us to dig down deep into the specific doctrines it teaches.

Paul was overjoyed to tell the Romans:

“Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you”. (Romans 6:17)

Knowing where you stand regarding the specifics of God’s Word is healthy. It’s also a sign of growing up. Hebrews 5:11-14 admonishes us not to be “dull of hearing” by contenting ourselves solely with the “first principles of the oracles of God”. Instead, we’re supposed to have our “senses exercised” as we dig into the “strong meat” of God’s Word. Sure, this might require tougher chewing and at times it’s hard to swallow, but strong meat strengthens our discernment, helping us “to discern both good and evil”.

Before you skirt the issue by saying “I stand with the Bible,” stop a moment and ask yourself: Does God’s Word draw a line? If so, on which side does the Bible stand? And then double-check you’re on the same side.

The question is, “What’s holding you back from being more dedicated to the cause of Christ?”

Simon and his brother Andrew were fishermen in the sea of Galilee. They were meeting their family’s needs and providing fish for the local marketplace. That’s a good thing. But notice what happens when Christ calls them.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:17,18

The same account in Matthew 4:20 says, “They straightway left [their] nets, and followed Him.”

Let this sink in: they walked away. They had been fishermen from a young age, their father having taught them the trade. Society expected them to be fishermen. They expected it of themselves. But when Christ called them, they were able to walk away.

Today, there are young men who could do much for the cause of Christ but they don’t, because they can’t walk away from their videogames.  They can’t walk away from wasting their money on the newest gadget, the newest iPod, iPad, laptop, HDTV screen, the latest fad. There are young women who could do much for the cause of Christ but they don’t, because they can’t walk away from their fairytale movies & silly stories. They can’t walk away from being dreamy and living life superficially. There are dating couples who could do much for the cause of Christ but don’t, because they can’t walk away from each other. They can’t walk away from the bliss of romance and having someone to hug. There are parents who could do much for the cause of Christ but don’t, because they are tied down with work & pursuing a specific lifestyle. They can’t walk away from trying to be like ‘the Jones’ even at the cost of debt. There are church-goers who could do much for the cause of Christ but they don’t, because they can’t walk away from the ease of being a ‘benchwarmer’. And there are hundreds of young people who find they can’t walk away from being addicted, accepted, lazy or online.

Do you feel like you can’t walk away? You feel that way because you can’t. You can’t do it alone.

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

It is possible to walk away. It is possible to dedicate your time, money, mind & life to the cause of Christ. Ask yourself, “What keeps me from praying more? Studying more? Volunteering more at church?” Guys, ask yourself: “Why am I pursuing what I’m currently pursuing? How do my current objectives have a direct effect on the thousands who have never heard the Gospel? And what keeps me from trying to meet that need? Why is it the other guy who is missionary-minded and concerned for the lost world? Why not me?”

What’s keeping you back from setting “your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Col 3:2)”?

So Samuel went and lay down in his place. I Samuel 3:9

We need more young people like this, who are willing to serve God ‘in their place’. No matter how monochrome your life may be, it is your place. It was God’s Hand that set you there. Your parents may be ungodly, your resumé may be shallow, your education may be wanting and – while your friends are off getting married – you may be the most single person in a 100 mile radius. Yet, are you aware that this is where God has placed you? Or perhaps do you lie down at night kicking against the pricks?

Young Samuel knew his place. Personally, I find his early responsibilities (opening doors, keeping the fire) quite boring. But it was where the Lord had placed him and he was content in it. He knew his place and served God in it.

For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

Modern Christianity – in an attempt to become more accepted – has adopted the fashions & flavors of a rotten, decaying culture. The idea is: we’ll look like the world, sound like the world and smell like the world but guess what? We’ll be full of yummy honest-to-goodness Christian purity on the inside! What you see on the outside is only packaging and doesn’t matter. God looks on the heart anyway.

Paul disagrees:

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1Th 5:22

If it looks like the world, don’t hang around. The very appearance of evil should turn you off. No sheep in its right mind wears wolf clothing to be accepted by the pack.

If you’re having trouble figuring yourself out, try this: just be Him. God’s plan is that we be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8.29).

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory. II Cor 3:18

Instead of figuring ourselves out, we should be more preoccupied with being changed into the image of the Lord. And here’s good news: there’s a Manual.

So stop trying to be you. Start trying to be Him. After all, isn’t that the point of decreasing so He may increase?

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him. Titus 1:16

Nowadays, Paul would be accused of labeling or legalistic judging. But his words echo true regardless.

We should look at those who deny God and admit: “Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed” (Luke 16:26). We aren’t two peas in a pod. Wise Amos asks the question: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) He isn’t defending a nose-in-the-air, holier-than-thou crusade; he’s explaining that the ‘buddy system’ doesn’t always work. Light and darkness don’t mix.

If you are trusting in Christ as your Savior, He has transformed you into a new creature & called you to purity. Don’t be surprised if you feel uncomfortable around unbelievers. Be surprised if you don’t.

(Bonus: Pastor Doug Wilson touches on the topic.)

Let me break it to you: you’re gonna die.

Death is such a taboo subject. People pretend it’s not there. “Eww, make it go away!” If you talk to a speeding driver about death, he’ll slow down. People assume that death always slows us down and no one wants to be slowed down. Death is discouraging right?

I disagree. Death should motivate us. It should encourage us. Here’s why: if I’m aware my time is limited, then I better get busy making the most of it, shouldn’t I?

But how do you make the most of it? Christ made the most of life & death this way:

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Rom 5:10

Are you spending your life helping others be reconciled to God? What are you waiting for?

[photo by peterszvoboda]

It’s easy to understand why this man was so willing to follow Christ to the ends of the world (v.18). His eagerness to serve reminds me of the young people of today. My peers and I have this eager zeal to be passionate missionaries. We’d be thrilled if the Lord called us to devote our lives to Africa, Haiti or the slums of India.

Christ’s answer might surprise. Verse 19 says:

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home…

Be a witness at home. Be a light among your family & friends. They know you better than anyone. Show them what has changed and Who made the change in you.

This is a challenge for my generation. It’s so difficult (and boring) to be a Christian at home. My home knows my shortcomings. But if I don’t have a genuine testimony at home, what good is my testimony abroad? What would we think of Christ if He healed the lame, cured the blind and yet fussed with His parents? Would we listen to His message of salvation if He was bitter towards those closest to Him?

Still fired up to sacrifice your own dreams in order to do great things for God? Good. Let it show at home. Africa, Haiti and the slums of India will wait.

Studies show that the glow of our computer & television screens are tripping up our internal clocks. I think they also play a part in bringing our self-motivated, focused sense of purpose to a halt and plunging us into a pond of shear boredom. Our videogames and smartphones can give us a false sense of purpose and a real sense of pointlessness.

That’s not healthy, especially for our spiritual lives.

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep…And Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14)

If you want to serve the Lord, there’s plenty of work to do. But we gotta wake up first. We gotta wake up from the nonplused stupor in our high-speed, heading-nowhere lifestyles. Wake up to the shortness of life. Wake up to the reality of lost souls. Wake up to a God Who will give you work if you make yourself available.

The world has a sweet message. A message of acceptance, “come as you are,” “we’re one big happy family”. There are no absolute affirmations, no cardinal truths or sins, no definite word on God. Everyone recite together now, “Judge not so that ye be not judged.” Or, “God is love”.

The world has a sweet savor. There’s glamor on TV and buildboards. It glows with attraction. The music is sweet, the movies are sweet, the ever-changing fashions are sweet. Everything is glazed over with sugar. Eat it, drink it and be merry.

Like bees, we are attracted to our blossoming culture and bright flowery society. It makes us buzz with excitement.

Yet, God calls us to be salt. And that changes everything.

The world looks at us with a sour expression. SALT? He’s called you to be SALT? How can something so bitter mix in with a world so sweet?!

They’re right. How can we? Some of us spend our whole lives testing new theories but the truth is: we can’t. We weren’t meant to mix.