This short 3-minute video is well worth your time, as J. Warner Wallace helps us understand how a sound, theistic apologetic actually points to the Jesus in which Christians believe.
Theism Or Christianity?
July 26, 2016 — Craig T. OwensLetters To A Birmingham Jail (book review)
July 26, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
It’s been fifty years since Dr. Martin Luther King wrote his amazing Letter From A Birmingham Jail. His letter was written in response to some clergy who had exhorted Dr. King to slow down a bit in his drive to abolish segregation. Now, fifty years later, some of our notable clergy members are responding to Dr. King in Letters To A Birmingham Jail.
Ten different clergymen—from different races, ages, and parts of the country—all responded to Dr. King’s seminal letter with gratitude, passion, and a unified voice for the twenty-first century church. Gratitude for Dr. King’s tireless trailblazing work, and for the indelible mark he made on each author’s life; passion for the church to rise up and fulfill its calling as a symbol of God’s picture of racial reconciliation in the world; and a united voice calling all Christians to follow in Dr. King’s footsteps, making the church look more like Heaven.
As a student of both history, leadership, and the church, Letters To A Birmingham Jail hit on multiple fronts for me. In the case of two of the authors, I got to witness Dr. King’s impact on both a father and son. In all the authors, I could see what a passionate, persuasive leader can do to change the attitudes and paradigm of an entire nation. Now, listening to these impactful church leaders calling us to fulfill the mandate of Jesus to evangelize “all nations,” I can see principles I can apply to my life, my community, and my church.
We owe a huge “thank you” to Bryan Loritts for dreaming up this book idea and pulling together such passionate and articulate voices from across our nation, to sound a unified and clear call to all Christians. I am confident that any one who desires to see the Church return to its apostolic roots will enjoy reading this book.
I am a Moody Press book reviewer.
Horatius Bonar On Spiritual Warfare
July 25, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
“The devil’s object in the present day is to persuade us that he does not exist, that we have to fight no such battle, that we need no sword nor shield, that we can do without anything beyond our own human power and skill.” [Ephesians 6:12]
“We must fight. There is no choice here. Whether we will or not, we must fight; for we are thrown upon a battlefield, and if we fight not, we perish. Woe be to the man who thinks there is no need of fighting now; that there is no danger and no enemy. Fight the good fight of faith.”
“satan persuades us that we can combat evil by the appliances of modern intellect and science and civilization. Let us beware. To try to suit religion to the spirit of the age, is to play into satan’s hands. Only divine weapons will avail in a battle with the powers of darkness.”
“Is the Christianity of our day of the lofty kind of which apostolic men have left us so bright an example? Is it not feeble, indolent, self-indulgent, second-rate? Is there in it anything of the presentation of ‘living sacrifices’ to God, which is our acceptable and reasonable service? Are we not seeking our own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s? Are we not feasting when the world is starving? Are we not at ease in Zion? Are we not sitting still and in luxurious comfort, when many noble and self-sacrificing ones amongst us are rushing into the toil or the war, and, for want of being supported by their fellow Christians, are sinking under the burden and heat of the day?” [Philippians 4:19]
“It is inner warfare. The 7th of the Romans is the description of this, the battle between faith and unbelief, between the spirit and the flesh. This war is private, solitary, with no eye upon the warrior; fought in the closet, on the knees, with the Bible as his weapon. …
“It is outer warfare. The enemies are legion; the world, with all its enmities, snares, pomps, pleasures; satan, with his principalities and powers; both of these in combination hating, persecuting, attacking. This is ‘the great fight of afflictions’ (Hebrews 10:32). Thus it is so far public, before men; ‘we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.’ …
“It is daily warfare. It is not one great battle, but a multitude of battles, constant warring: there is no intermission and no discharge in this war. The enemy wearies not, ceases not; nor must we. We wake to warfare each morning, and go out to warfare each day. Everywhere we find the enemy posted, sometimes openly, sometimes in ambush. The conflict is life-long, and it is daily. …
“It is warfare not fought with human arms. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. We do not war after the flesh. It is in divine strength; with the sword of the Spirit; clothed in the whole armor of God. …
“It is warfare in which we are sharers with Christ. He first fought the good fight, as the Captain of our salvation, the Lord strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle. The inner warfare indeed was not His, but all the rest was. He fought, when here, the same battles as we; and it is into His warfare that we are called to enter.”
All quotes from Horatius Bonar’s book Light And Truth.
How To Escape Your Fears
July 25, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
Fear is crippling. Fear robs us of seizing opportunities. Fear cuts short the abundant life God desires for us to have. One definition of fear captures it well: F.E.A.R is False Evidence Appearing Real.
Oversized fears can turn into what psychologists call phobias. One website actually lists 543 unique phobias!
Where does this fear come from? Why are so many plagued by fears?
I believe the answer is found in this: fearful people aren’t looking far enough ahead. They are looking at their fears, and not the Champion of their fears.
King David knew what it was to have assassins stalking him, to be on the run for his life, to not know if someone was a friend or foe, to not even know where he was going to sleep at night. So he begins his second song of ascent with this thought: “If the Lord had not been on our side, here’s a list of really bad things that would have happened to us.”
Notice the “if” statements. David is not saying “if there were no God,” of “if God didn’t care for us.” In other words, David is clearly saying that God exists, and that God is for us!
I like this—Oh, blessed be God! He didn’t go off and leave us. He didn’t abandon us defenseless, helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs (v. 6, in The Message).
David is not telling us how to escape our fears, but to begin celebrating that we have already been freed from our fears!
We seem to think that satan and Jesus are still duking it out, that the outcome of the struggle is still up for grabs. I’ve got fantastic news: Jesus already won! He is already the Champion!!
We’ve flown free from their fangs, free of their traps, free as a bird. Their grip is broken; we’re free as a bird in flight (v. 7, The Message).
Speaking of birds flying free, J.B. Figgis wrote, “Do you find yourself asking, ‘But am I to step out onto nothing?’ That is exactly what the bird is seemingly asked to do, yet we know that the air is there and that the air is not nearly as insubstantial as it seems. And you know that the promises of God are there, and they certainly are not insubstantial at all” (emphasis added).
What fears plague you? Jesus has already set you free from that. The battle has already been won. You just need to find the promise of God in the Bible that tells you how He has canceled that fear.
Now begin to swing that promise like a sword at your fear every time it raises its ugly head! Stop being crippled by your fear, and lift your eyes up to the Maker of heaven and earth who has set you free!
Check out my full message on this song of ascent:
If you’ve missed any of the messages in this series, you can access the complete list by clicking here.
Poetry Saturday—God Is Sufficient
July 23, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
It is easy to love Him when the blue is in the sky, When summer winds are blowing, and we smell the roses nigh;
There is little effort needed to obey His precious will
When it leads through flower-decked valley, or over sun-kissed hill.
It is when the rain is falling, or the mist hangs in the air,
When the road is dark and rugged, and the wind no longer fair,
When the rosy dawn has settled in a shadowland of gray,
That we find it hard to trust Him, and are slower to obey.
It is easy to trust Him when the singing birds have come,
And their canticles are echoed in our heart and in our home;
But ’tis when we miss the music, and the days are dull and drear,
That we need a faith triumphant over every doubt and fear.
And our blessed Lord will give it; what we lack He will supply;
Let us ask in faith believing—on His promises rely;
He will ever be our Leader, whether smooth or rough the way,
And will prove Himself sufficient for the needs of every day. —George MacDonald
40 Questions About Your Religion
July 21, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
Dan Delzell wrote a very thought-provoking book—The Mathematical Proof For Christianity—which gives skeptics a lot of evidence to contemplate. As I said in my review of this book (which you can read here), this is a good book for Christians to read with a skeptic as a great conversation-starter about the Christian faith.
Dan also presented this list…
“The true religion is a match to all 40 questions:
- Which religion was started by a prophet who never did anything wrong?
- Which religion produces scores of people who speak out against injustice and work hard to correct it?
- Which religion fulfills hundreds of prophecies that were written down hundreds of years before the prophet fulfilled them?
- Which religion produces followers who have established thousands of hospitals, orphanages, and homeless shelters?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, empowers followers to turn the other cheek when being mistreated?
- Which religion began with a leader who died, but then came back to life?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, produces followers who do not judge others or look down on them?
- Which religion produces a tender love for God in heaven, rather than lingering fear and trepidation?
- Which religion do people turn to in tough times and when disaster strikes?
- Which religion has done the most to advance the rights of women?
- Which religion details historic events that are supported by plenty of archeological evidence?
- Which religion is based upon documents that are better preserved and more numerous than any other ancient writings?
- Which religion began with a prophet who is loved and even worshipped by millions of followers?
- Which religion has been around for thousands of years and continues to expand around the world?
- Which religion teaches that eternal life in paradise is a free gift through faith in its prophet?
- Which religion has millions of followers who experience tremendous peace as a result of their prophet?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, produces followers who are quick to forgive rather than to seek vengeance?
- Which religion offers the forgiveness of sins based solely on the goodness and sacrifice of the prophet?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, produces genuine humility before God and man?
- Which religion teaches that you cannot earn your way to heaven?
- Which religion produces men and women of justice who speak out when others are committing atrocities?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, lines up with the humble and compassionate attributes of the prophet?
- Which religion seeks to bring help to the hurting, comfort to the sorrowful, and encouragement to the downcast?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, produces genuine love, joy, peace, and patience?
- Which religion requires divine revelation in order to understand it?
- Which religion rules not by force, but by love, as demonstrated by the prophet?
- Which religion has produced the most freedom of religion in the world?
- Which religion turns man’s body into a temple where the Spirit of God comes to reside?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, has done the most to advance the rights of minorities?
- Which religion gives followers the grace to say ‘no’ to ungodly passions?
- Which religion produces people who long to improve the lives of those from other religions?
- Which religion cares as much for the unborn and elderly as it done for the youthful and strong?
- Which religion has done more than any other to help turn communities into places of freedom and safety for all?
- Which religion provides a personal assurance of salvation based solely on the sacrifice of the prophet?
- Which religion has a prophet whose name is used by many as a curse word?
- Which religion, when practiced correctly, produces followers who focus on their own sins rather than the sins of others?
- Which religion can turn a terrorist into a loving peacemaker?
- Which religion teaches that your works become ‘good’ in God’s eyes only after you accept the prophet through faith?
- Which religion will you wish you had followed on Judgment Day?
- Which religion is the answer to all 40 questions?”
To read some of the other quotes I shared from this book, please click here.
Thursdays With Oswald—Jesus Doesn’t Counteract satan
July 21, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.
Jesus Doesn’t Counteract satan
If all Jesus Christ can do is to run a parallel counteraction with what satan can do, His right name is “Culture,” not “Savior”; but His revealed nature was stated by the angel to Mary, and repeated over and over again, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.”
The slight views of salvation, the sympathetic drifty views that all Jesus Christ can do is to put in us a principle that counteracts another principle, will cause anyone who is got to the last limit to blaspheme God for a thing like that. It all comes from a flimsy, wrong view of sin. If that is all He can do, what is the good of calling Him Savior? …
It is sin that He came to cope with; He did not come to cope with the poor little mistakes of men, they cope with their own mistakes; He came to give them a totally new stock of heredity, that is, He came to implant into them His own nature, so that satan’s power in the soul is absolutely destroyed, not counteracted.
From The Philosophy Of Sin
For far too long, far too many people in church circles have bought into a lie. The lie is that Jesus and satan are fighting-it-out to see who will come out as champion. As though the outcome of the struggle was somehow in doubt!
Jesus has already won! He already holds the keys to death, hell and the grave. He already defeated satan. He is already Champion: King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
The only thing that is still in doubt is this: Will you allow Jesus to “implant His own nature” in you? Will you allow Him to be Champion of your life?
Chambers also wrote, “Sin is the radical twist with a supernatural originator, and salvation is a radical readjustment with a supernatural Originator.” Let the Champion Originator—the One who has already won!—implant a new life in you.
Right-Brain Leadership
July 20, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
I read a fascinating article in Influence, written by Mark Batterson, called “Right-Brain Leadership.” If you are involved in any type of speaking or teaching role, you should check out what he has to say about the power of creativity.
Here are some quotes I especially liked…
“Creativity is the natural, supernatural by-product of a Spirit-filled life.”
“Loving God with half your mind doesn’t cut it. Half-minded is no better than half-hearted. God wants to sanctify your right brain imagination so you can see visions and dream dreams.”
“Neuroimaging has shown that as we age the center of cognitive gravity tends to shift from the imaginative right brain to the logical left brain. That neurological tendency presents grave spiritual problems for leaders: At some point, most of us stop living out of imagination and start living out of memory. Instead of creating the future, we start repeating the past. Instead of living by faith, we start living by logic. Instead of going after our dreams, we do it the way it’s always been done.”
“Uniqueness if God’s gift to you. Creativity is your your gift back to God.”
“What to say is content. How to say it is creativity. Part of my calling as a writer and as a preacher is to say old things in new ways. I think that’s precisely what Jesus did with the parables. Most of them are no more than 250 words, but hear them once and you’ll remember them for ever. Jesus was the master of metaphors.”
“The brain processes print on a page at 100 bits per second, but it processes pictures at a billion bits per seconds. That means that a picture isn’t worth a thousand words; it’s worth 10 million.”
12 Quotes From “I Stand At The Door And Knock”
July 20, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
Corrie ten Boom was an amazing woman! To experience the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, and still retain such a sweet, godly spirit is indeed a miracle of God’s grace. This beautiful spirit of hers come through loud and clear in her book I Stand At The Door And Knock (you may read my book review here). Below are just a few of the many quotes which I highlighted as I read.
“You see, if you and I want to be used, we needn’t rely on ourselves, because it is the Holy Spirit who does it. And that is why we can be at peace in our day-to-day lives. The fact that we wish to be used is a gift from the Holy Spirit in itself.”
“A piece of good advice is to forgive anyone immediately—and I mean immediately— if they say or do something against you. Then the devil won’t have a chance to keep a shadow in your heart.”
“Holiness can bring about a new conflict. We need to take care. The devil wants to lead us into the energy of our inner selves. Preaching yourself, relying on yourself, boasting about your faith, taking pride in your own experiences. And then the devil will say, ‘Revel in your own experiences.’ But that is not right. You should not rely on your past experiences. It may strengthen your faith, but holiness is living out the Jesus Christ living in you.”
“Imagine, when I had a watchmaker’s shop, you came to me and you bought a gold watch with a gold strap. Imagine that when I wrapped it up for you, I removed the gold strap and hid it. When you came home, you saw that you only had a watch. What would you do? You would say to everybody, ‘Don’t ever buy something from Corrie ten Boom; she doesn’t give you value for money.’ If you and I do not give ourselves entirely to the Lord, we do not give Him the value He has paid for us on the Cross. We were bought at a very high price. That Cross was horrendous. It was an extremely high price to pay for you and me.”
“In my short-sightedness, I thought I had to do everything with my own power, according to my abilities. But everything depends on Hisability, Hispower.”
“The devil may laugh at our plans. He smiles when we are up to our eyes in work. But he quakes when we pray. When we are faithful intercessors he often says to us, ‘Shouldn’t you stop? You have been doing this for such a long time, and can’t you see, the Lord doesn’t listen.’ But he is a liar. Not one of our prayers is lost. … satan laughs when we try hard. He mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”
“While I was imprisoned during the war, I knew the Morse code, but it didn’t really help me. What actually supported me was every text and every Christian song I knew by heart. Learning Bible texts and Christian songs by heart is a preparation which we can all do today.”
“Lord Jesus, please forgive us that we so often live a life poor in You, while You suffered so heavily on the Cross so that we would become the King’s rich children. Holy Spirit, open our eyes. Give us a vision, an understanding of our wealth.”
“Religion is no security. The Antichrist will be very religious. A world religion will develop, and he himself will become its god.”
“Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.’ Our citizenship is in heaven. We are heaven dwellers. Our home is there.”
“The Bible says, ‘Be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18), which means not only do I have the Holy Spirit, but also does the Holy Spirit have me?”
“We should not rely on our capacities, but on God’s capacities. We shouldn’t draw from our limited resources, but from His immense power.”
I will also be sharing some of Corrie’s quotes on Twitter and Tumblr, so follow me there for more great content.
Charles Spurgeon To Christians: Don’t Be Afraid
July 19, 2016 — Craig T. Owens
“Poverty, you may walk through my door, but God is already in my house, and He has chosen me. Sickness, you may intrude into my life, but I have a cure standing ready—God has chosen me. Whatever occurs in the valley of tears, I know He has chosen me. Dear Christian, do not be afraid, for Jesus is with you. Through all your fiery trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety. He will never forsake those He has chosen for His own. ‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you’ (Genesis 26:24) is His unfailing word of promise to His chosen ones who are experiencing ‘the furnace of affliction.’” —Charles Spurgeon
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