This video is a little over 5 minutes but it is well worth listening to.  This is from Penn of Penn and Teller, who is a professing atheist.  Listen closely to his story and then I have a couple of comments to follow.  {Props to Chris Griggs for finding this.  I saw it on his blog, so I give him credit. }

1. Penn says, “How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that.”  WOW, what a challenge from an atheist!  If you really believe the truth then it is utter selfishness to withhold the truth from others.   They may not want to hear it.  They may not believe.  His point, though, is not their response but the nature of our belief system.  If we really believe the Gospel…eternal life…eternal condemnation…etc., then why would we ever hold that in unless we just don’t care about others.

2. Penn says, “This guy was a really good guy.  He was polite and honest and sane.  And he cared enough about me to proselytize and give me a Bible – which had in it a little note to me, not very personal but just ‘liked your show’ and so on.  And then like 5 phone numbers for me and an e-mail address if I wanted to get in touch.”  Demeanor is everything.  For this guy’s approach to make such an impact on Penn is further testimony to how many tims Penn has probably seen the ruder and harsher side of Christians.  We will make the most impact for Christ when we treat people like Christ did. Remember: The harsh words of Christ were reserved for the religious hypocrites who looked down on others.  When he addressed those who knew they were sinful, his approach was gentle and kind, while still being unwavering against sin.

3. Penn makes it clear that he was not converted or even thinking anything different after the dialogue.  He still “knows” that there is no God.  He still believes religion does a lot of bad in the world.  This encounter, though, gave him pause.  He relished ability to have an encounter with a Christian that was uplifting and not contentious.  He really felt cared about.  Do our encounters with those in the world result in the same thing?

Remember: A successful witness is sharing the truth (the Gospel and your story) in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the manner of Christ and leaving the results up to God.

This past Sunday, I started by my sermon series through 1 Corinthians (started two years ago and taken several detours since!).  I was in chapter 11, which is contextually about head coverings, but ultimately about doing worship God’s way.  Anyway, one of my members asked a very good question about one of the verses in this passage that I did not have time to unwrap in the sermon.  It states: “Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?” (1 Cor. 11:14-15)  This member has always been uncomfortable with men who have long hair and this verse appears to call it a sin.  In addition, this member has never really liked artistic or drama presentations of Jesus with long hair.  This is a great and legitimate question for those who want to hear the Word of God speak.  I give you my response to his question.

As with every verse in Scripture, it is imperative that we must take into account the context.

I do not believe that this verse is a command for men to keep their hair short for several reasons:

· This passage is not about the length of hair, it is specifically about women covering their heads (a cultural norm in Corinth) as they lead and take part in worship to show that they are submissive to the man (husband). When all 15 verses (2-16) are taken together, it is obvious that Paul’s is not intending to teach about hair length.

· In the context, the reverse would have to be said about women. If men can not wear their hair long, then women can not wear their hair short. You can’t have one without the other.

· The length of hair is subjective. Exactly how long is long? If it covers the ears? If it hits the neck? If it can be brought back in a ponytail? All of a sudden everyone has an opinion on what is long. Without a biblical guide (i.e. Under 2 inches below the ear is fine. Over 2 inches below the ear is too long.), how are we to determine the correct interpretation of length? I do think we could safely say that too long is when a man is trying to look like a woman (cross-dressing or transvestite).

· The devout Jew throughout the biblical days would let the hair on the sides of their head grow long, often in curls. In fact, Leviticus 19:27 commands it. Now as believers in Jesus this law does not specifically apply to us today; however, if it is wrong for a man to have long hair then why would the perfect God ever command it. Another example: Samson sinned when he had his hair cut.

So what is he saying? I believe Paul, in this context, is saying that we should celebrate the differences in men and women. In general, women do tend to have longer hair and men have shorter hair. This is just a general perception of humanity. God is glorified when, as women and men, we live out the uniqueness of His image within each of us. God does not have hair*, so His image in us cannot be related to hair. When men try to look like women or men try to look like men, then it is a disgrace. In that Corinthian culture, a man (gentile) with long hair most likely did indicate trying to look like a woman. I do not believe that is the case in our culture. Most men today who have longer hair are not dolling it up to look like a women. Cross-dressing is the furthest thing from their minds. Most women with short hair prefer the style and doll it up; they are not trying to look like men. NOW, when men try to look like women or women try to look like men, then they have crossed the line. That really is the sin or abomination.

Some churches have the same type of discussion about pants. There are churches in our area who say it is a sin for women to pants. They don’t have a leg to stand on (pardon the pun). If we all dressed biblically, then we would all wear robes. They argue that pants make a woman look masculine. That’s simply not true. If a woman intends to look like a man, that is one thing; however, a woman can wear pants and still be 100% woman.

As far as the artistic renderings of Jesus, they all come from speculative imagination. We have no idea what exactly he looked like. He most likely did have long hair on the sides of his head (not necessarily the back or the top) because that was the common devout Jewish look of that day. No one ever criticized him for physically looking out of place in the Jewish community. Have you ever seen a painting of Jesus that had only curly locks on the side of his face and a yarmulke on top of his head? That is probably how he looked. Oh, and he wasn’t lily white either. Most artist conceptions we think about came from European artists. They were white people picturing Jesus in their own image (as we all tend to do). He wasn’t black either. He most likely had the same skin tone as other native Israelites of that day. He most assuredly was brown-ish.

Anyway, I am personally not a big fan of “long” hair on men. But that is my preference – obviously, look at my bald head! In my biblical interpretation, though, it is not a biblical right or wrong.

The title of this blog is a question that I have received many times in my ministry.  Actually, it is often not asked of me, rather it comes out in conversation.  I had a lady (a professing believer in Jesus)  in my office a few months ago who said that she was tired of living, but she did not want to take her life because she did not want to go to hell.  A lot of people assume or have been taught that the Bible teaches that if you commit suicide then you have sealed your condemnation.  Is this true?

This could be an incredibly long blog, but I really am trying to make this brief (I know some of you don’t believe that!).  Let me just give you the highlights.

There are thousands of reasons to not commit suicide.  Just to name a few:

• Killing is a sin; therefore, suicide is a sin.
• God is the Creator of life and the only One to authorize the taking of a life.
• The impact on one’s family is unimaginable.
• It is very selfish.
• As believer’s we have a hope that overrides desperation.
• God can provide better solutions than taking a life.
• God has a plan for our lives and suicide is certainly not in line with His will.

As I said, there are thousands of reasons to avoid suicide.  With so many legitimate, logical, theological, and biblical reasons to not commit suicide, why have portions of the Christian community tried to add condemnation to hell to the list.  I am sure that this false theological idea was the result of trying to convince people to not commit suicide.  Good motive – wrong method.  I desperately will try to dissuade someone from taking his or her own life, but I am going to do so with the truth not a lie.

There is absolutely no biblical support whatsoever that committing suicide automatically sends someone to hell.  People are destined for hell when they die without a relationship with Jesus Christ – they have not placed their faith in the Lord.  If an individual who has refused to submit to Jesus for salvation commits suicide, then, yes, he or she will go to hell.  If an individual who has surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ commits suicide then he or she is still covered by the grace of God, providing a forgiveness which covers all sins: past, present, and future.  Heaven is the inheritance of believers.  Look at the strong emphasis Jesus gives in His teaching found in John 10:28-30.  He is pretty emphatic.  Nothing can snatch a believer out of the hands of his Savior – not even the taking of his own life.

Some may ask, “Well, then what is to keep a believer from committing suicide.  After all, if heaven is as good as the Bible says it is, why not go ahead and leave this place?”  As I stated, there are a ton of reasons for not taking your life as a believer.  As believers we love the Lord and submit to Him.  As Jesus said in the garden, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”  My life does not belong to me anymore.  I have been crucified with Christ; I am not my own.  There is no circumstance or situation or emotion or trial that can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  As long as He wills for me to be here, I will serve Him with all of my heart – even being poured out as a drink offering.  It is not our right to choose our time to pass on to glory; that prerogative belongs to the Lord alone.  We can find victory in this life.  Until then, as Paul said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”  (Phil. 1:21)

We all agree that suicide is wrong, but let’s not confuse the issue by introducing unbiblical theology.

I came across an article this week on Rick Warren.  He is everywhere.  He has sold 30 million Purpose Driven Life books.  He is all over the globe.  He is scheduled to do the invocation at the inauguration of President-elect Obama.  He has taken on many social causes, vowing to work with anyone who wants to remedy the AIDS crisis or fight against injustice.  He has recieved criticism.  Is he watering down the gospel?  Is he pushing a social gospel?  Read this article and then my comments.

Rick Warren

It is so easy for some people to sit on the sidelines and criticize those who are actively pursuing faith by putting it into practice.  If ministry doesn’t fit in a simple box, for many people, then they reject it.  Biblically, what is Warren doing wrong here?  I love what he is doing.  If he is doing it for the fame or recognition then that will all be made clear in the end and he will  be accountable.  However, he has never given any indication that I have heard or seen that would suggest that.  He is simply using his platform and influence to promote the gospel through serving others.  Now, social ministry without the gospel is empty and temporary, at best.  But the gospel without social ministry is a mere academic exercise.  Jesus used the hybrid and so should we.  Minister to physical needs as a pathway to meet spiritual needs.  Again, I don’t see where Warren has in any way watered down the gospel.  He is just showing faith at work.  Is that not the biblical model?

As far as his comments on fundamentalists, it is all about semantics.  What is a fundamentalist?  My view is that a fundamentalist is one who holds strongly to the fundamentals of the faith.  The world’s view seems to be one who is arrogant, narrow-minded, and intolerant.  I don’t blame Warren for trying not be associated with that perception.  I don’t want to be known for that either.  But I am a fundamentalist by my definition.  We are to be gentle in our demeanor. (Galatians 6:1)  Yes!  Call a sin a sin!  But do so in a way that bursts forth with love and the good news that there is a Savior: the solution to the sin problem.  That is the Jesus way.  If anything, Warren is more of a fundamentalist than the academic fundamentalist because he actually believes that when  Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me,” He actually meant for us to serve the least of these. (Matthew 25:40)

[I have been actively working to try to expand and engage my circle of influence.  I wanted to share with you today some news from a mission field where the true gospel is outlawed.  For safety, I intentionally left out the name of my friend and the country he is in.]

I got a newsletter from one of my great friends who is doing some unbelievable ministry behind enemy lines.  My buddy is actually teaching at secular university in a communist country.  He raises his own support to go, but the university has invited him to come back for the past three years.  He uses this teaching assignment to build bridges to the gospel…bridges that are otherwise non-existent in this communist country.

So what is he teaching?  Business?  Economics?  No.  He is teaching: New Testament, Bible, Writings of Paul, etc.  How in the world would they allow this?  Not only do they allow it, they beg for it.  Why?  Because the communists in that country want what they have seen as prosperity in the West.  I know in our economic times today this may be hard to swallow, but we are still viewed as a very prosperous country.  They link our prosperity with Christian values.  They don’t want the cross, mind you, but they want what comes economically with Christian ethics.

Now (possibly temporarily) the door is wide open for my friend to boldly proclaim the truth.  It is true there are scoffers and those who ridicule from their atheistic perches.  But no one is telling my friend to leave.  So he keeps teaching…the truth…behind enemy lines.  And there are those who are tuning in.  There are seekers.  They are asking questions.  They are pondering the ramifications of the truth…the gospel.  Consider this one student:

One student recently came by my office with her Bible in hand.  I had assigned only a few chapters from Genesis, but she could not stop reading.  Mesmerized by His Word, she wanted to know more about this God.  So, I spent two hours answering her questions about His justice and mercy.

And the reach of this ministry could not be greater.  Read this excerpt from his newsletter:

Our young brother “Jacob” continues to mature in wonderful ways.  He came to faith just last year, but he is already taking a leadership role in his house church [this would be an underground church since natives are not allowed to practice evangelical Christianity]. He is a brilliant science major, and the faculty have groomed him for doctoral study.  As a research scientist or professor, his Christian influence could ripple throughout this culture for generations.  God is fulfilling the vision for our mission: evangelize the nation by evangelizing its leaders!

That is awesome!  My friend is doing this in a communist country.  Why are we not more proactive in using our gifts to evangelize our circles of influence in this free nation?  Come on laborers!  The harvest is ready!