Heaven’s Gate Closed to Smokers? Crazy but popular false teaching

Should we replace the cross with this as a symbol of our faith?

This evening I was shown a publication from yet another religious group in Romania that asserted that someone could not be a Christian “if there is a cigarette in his mouth.”
That anyone would assert stopping smoking is a condition of salvation is too sad for words. (The same teachers don’t even say stopping real sins will save you. I’ve never heard them say, stop sleeping with people you’re not married to and you’ll be saved. It’s always smoking with these guys.) The teaching that stopping smoking makes you a true follower of Christ isn’t anything like the gospel. It isn’t even a distant relative of the gospel message. It’s “another gospel which is really not another.” It is blatantly contrary to the gospel message. And while someone’s smoking habit won’t make me question his salvation, I certainly do doubt that these teachers are saved.
What’s worse is that this crazy false teaching is most prevalent in churches of the Baptist/Pentecostal/Evangelical persuasion–the people who are supposed to be preaching the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ, not through works. And the good work they require for recognition as a believer isn’t really even an issue of sin and righteousness to begin with. And they do make it the test of being a believer. Dozens of churches will not baptize a smoker or let a smoker become a member of the church. Someone’s smoking or not is often the ONLY arbiter of whether they are to be baptized.
I’m not promoting smoking. I have never smoked and I find it quite unpleasant to be surrounded by people who are smoking in the air I want to breathe. But the fact that “quitting smoking is necessary for being born again” is a false teaching should go without saying. Unfortunately, as a pastor I find myself having to say it to someone almost every week. And many of them don’t believe me.

Pictures from Michael W. Smith Concert in Romania

We were blessed with front row seats at a worship concert in Brasov, Romania, with Michael W. Smith Friday evening. Here are a few snapshots of the view we had from my facebook page. Highlights of the concert for me were Above All, Agnus Dei, Mighty to Save, Awesome God, Here I am to worship, and Save me from myself.

God is better

The reason we will be so abundantly blessed and filled with joy in eternity in heaven is because our whole existence will be centered around worship of Christ and enjoying His presence. The more we can allow our lives on earth to be like that, the more enjoyment of life we will have.
Problem is, we get so bogged down by other things that we think will be equally or more satisfying than fellowship with God. The biggest lesson I have learned in my own spiritual walk this year is how important in the fight against temptation to sin in our actions or our thought life is our realization that God is better. Fellowship with God really is better than wealth. It really is better than health. It really is better than comfort. It really is better than success. It really is better than others’ acceptance or honor. It really is better than the best foods, the most comfortable home, the most fun and exciting vacations, the most fulfilling jobs. It is better than being in charge. It is better than being talented or respected. Fellowship with God really is better than relief from pain and stress.
Fellowship with God is better than feeling good. It is better than satisfaction of sexual or other cravings. It is better than the joys we will receive, or believe we will receive, from taking any action of rebellion against Him or independence of Him.
Anything we do that decreases the closeness of our fellowship with God ultimately makes us less happy.
Because God is better.
Better than anything.
Better than everything.
Constantly reminding myself of that fact for the past month has actually made me more holy in my thoughts, words, and actions. The depths of my heart and mind are being transformed more into the likeness of Himself.
Because when I remember this truth, sin just isn’t nearly as tempting anymore.
God is better.
Glory to His Name!

Shine! — Verses for October 31st

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
–Genesis 1:1, 3-4

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
–John 3:19-21

For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.
–2 Samuel 22:29

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
–Isaiah 5:20

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
–Isaiah 9:2

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
–John 8:12

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
–John 12:46

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
–Ephesians 5:6-12

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, 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 5:14-16

…That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…
Philippians 2:15

I am sending you to them, to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
–Acts 26:17b-18

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
–1 Peter 2:9

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
–1 John 1:5-7

New Kids’ Bible Lessons from the “God Is” Video series

Here are the next two videos of my “God Is” series of Bible lessons for children, designed for Christian home-schoolers and families that want good gospel-centered videos to watch and discuss with their children. These two look at the topics of God hearing our prayers and of His being in control. Each video is about 7 minutes long and can be viewed high-def.
They are also available with the series as a whole in a YouTube playlist here.

Video 1) God is… Listening:

Video 2) God is… Sovereign:

Teaching Grace

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”
–Titus 2:11-14
          The grace of God is not only a saving grace that has spared us of the hell we deserved; it is also a teaching grace.  When we first met Jesus we weren’t prepared for death, but we weren’t worthy of life.  Now, slowly but surely, the grace of God that instantly made us ready to die is making us fit to live.
         We start to notice our attitudes about sin changing.  The work of grace in us is beginning to crucify our flesh with Christ and make our spirits more and more alive in Him.  The ungodly passions to which our consciences were once numb suddenly prick our hearts and repulse us.  Sins that used to bring us temporal joy are not so tempting.  We’ve been taught by the grace of God to just say “No” to them.
         David Brainerd, a missionary of a past generation, who was also a very eloquent writer on matters of faith, told of an example of this happening in people’s lives.  He said the group to whom he was ministering was coming from a background with pagan ideas, rituals, and violent attitudes and actions.  But he found that preaching against their many sins didn’t produce many changes in the way these new converts saw the old life.  It was when he continually preached of the cross of Christ to them that their attitudes began to significantly change.  It is not law, but the saving grace of God that teaches us to view sin as God views it.
         This passage’s second benefit of traveling the Grace Superhighway is a fruit of the Spirit:  the self-controlled life.  Previously at the mercy of the flesh, we now find within ourselves a Power that is not of ourselves.  A Power to be different.  A Power to be upright and godly, even though we remain surrounded by the depraved world out of which we’ve just been saved.
         The third wonderful benefit of grace is eternity-mindedness and desire to be with Jesus.  Because of grace He is no longer our judge or accuser, but our friend.  We stop wanting to live for today and for this world, and become increasingly eager for His presence and His return, that His will may be done on earth just as in heaven.  This grace in us makes us long to worship Him and to live lives of thanksgiving for His redemption of us.
         The fourth benefit of our grace journey is another attitude change.  Not only does our desire to sin decrease, but we find in ourselves an eagerness “to do what is good.”  That eagerness wasn’t there before we knew grace.  Our previous attempts at good works were motivated by selfish desires; now we can truly do good as He enables.  We are now and forever His people.  His grace is purifying us, and our works are motivated by a newfound desire to honor Him and bring Him glory.
This written devotional is the planned topic for my message at church this Sunday.

God is… Holy – Kid’s Bible Lesson Video Series

As a missionary pastor whose family is now homeschooling, I wanted to make a resource available to Christian families who want good gospel-centered Bible lessons to show their children and discuss with them. This is the first video of my “God Is” series of Bible lessons for children. It looks at the topic “God is Holy” and seeks to help kids understand what “holy” means. The video is 7 minutes long and can be viewed high-def.

If you’re having trouble viewing this video, a duplicate copy of it can also be found on YouTube here.

The Tongue — Fire and Water

“And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself…. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God…. Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?”
–James 3:6, 9, 11 (NLT)

         There are two kinds of fire your speech can be:
         1) The tongue under God’s control speaks forth His praise and shares His word boldly, as at Pentecost, when they had tongues of the Holy Spirit’s fire to proclaim the good news of God’s wonderful salvation.  The fire of the Spirit-guided tongue is a fire that refines and convicts and warms the heart.  It blazes, but does not consume or destroy, like the fire of the bush God spoke through to Moses.  It provides light and guidance, like a pillar of fire leading those who hear your speech to the ways of God.
         2) The second kind of fire that your speech can represent is the destructive fire of hell itself.  This fire destroys the listener.  This fire is filled with lies, hate, and destruction.  Just a spark of it ignites a massive blaze that quickly runs out of control, leaving the one who spoke unable to undo the damage that has been done.  It turns a life and a home and a church into dead scorched earth in no time.
         Which of those two types of fire is in the way you talk to others?
         How would others who know you answer that question about you?


         There are also two kinds of water your speech can be:
         1) The first is fresh water.  It is living water.  It is the water of the Word of God.  It is a refreshing, life-giving stream that flows out of the mouth after springing up from a heart changed by God’s grace.  It is a river of love, of compassion, of comfort.  Its guidance tastes sweet to those who drink it.  This water’s quickness to forgive graciously douses out the fires of hellish tongues.  It brings strength to the weary.  All those who thirst for fellowship with God will be drawn to the streams from the tongue that produces fresh water.
         2) The second kind of tongue water is bitter.  It is dirty and filled with decay.  Rather than cleansing and bringing life to those who drink it in or bathe themselves in it, this person’s speech leaves others’ spirits filthy, infected, and sick.  Rather than heal emotional wounds, it causes them to fester.  It tastes terrible as it spews forth from the unguarded mouth.  Those who drink only the water from a bitter tongue eventually get dehydrated and die.
         Which type of water is in your speech?
         How would others answer that question about you?

         Perhaps you’ve seen examples of both kinds of fire and both kinds of water in your speech.  But the above passage from James warns us that such a contradiction ought never be so in our lives.  It simply doesn’t make sense for the same tongue to be sometimes fired up by the Spirit to proclaim His Word and other times be blazing with the fire of hell.  It makes no sense for the same tongue to be a blessing to listeners some of the time and a curse upon them other times.
         May we take this warning from the word of God seriously.  May we set our hearts on letting God tame the organ no man can tame: the tongue.  Then, by His grace, we will speak words that do not grieve Him so.  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”