The Greatest Gift You Can Give for Five Dollars

There is something that many people crave even more than their daily food.

This is most true in countries and areas of the world where people often wonder if that day they will eat.

What can this something be? Love? That is a good guess and is partly right, but is not the accurate answer.

Then is it world peace? It has something to do with that.

Is it their human rights that are often violated? No. Then what is it?

It is something that we in the US have in abundance, in fact overabundance. It is God's Word, the Bible.

I daresay that in most homes, even in the homes of casual Christians who rarely attend worships services, are over one Bible. In the homes of many of us in the Christian community, we own even more Bibles. Many simply use some Bibles to keep mementos in. It has been said that "The Bible is the best-selling but least-read book in the world." I don't know where the source got these figures but maybe he was talking about how much it is read compared to its brisk sales. In many parts of the world, it is illegal to own a Bible or read it. Recently, in North Korea, a number of people were reportedly publicly executed just because it was found that they owned Bibles! In that country, if found with a Bible, people can be sent to concentration camps to die, with family members. There is one reported instance of this. In China, so many thousands of people convert to Christ each day that there are probably more Christians in China than there are in America. Unlike in the US, in China, the demand for Bibles far exceeds the supply. In many villages, many people will tear up pages of one Bible and share it among many people! On my Newsfeed the other day, a video showed the very emotional reaction of Chinese Christians receiving copies of the Bible for themselves. Their excitement was obvious on their faces! Their response was like children opening up Christmas gifts for the very first time! People in the Third World treasure Bibles as they are often so rare and hard to get! In many countries it is much the same as in China. Some people groups do not even have a Bible in their "heart language." In many impoverished countries, people simply cannot access copies of Bibles because of economics or low literacy. Throughout so much of the world, to own a Bible is a privilege that they can only dream of.

The situation in the United States is much different, where copies of God's Word are super-abundant. We have many different translations, so many that we have disunity over which translation to use! We have Bibles for every age group. We have children's Bibles, teen Bibles, men's Bibles, women's Bibles, mom's Bibles, bride's Bibles and even Bibles for grandmothers. I have even seen a breast cancer awareness Bibles! Human nature being what it is, it is hard to treasure God's Word for what it is when it is so super-abundant. But in most of the Third World, things are totally different. And for just $5 a Bible, you can give someone on the continent of Asia a Bible that he or she will treasure and which will be a gift which will keep on giving as long as he or she has it. To make this happen, go here. Thank you!

An Open Letter to All of Those Who Were Raised In the Christian Church

Dear Friends,

This post is addressed to a certain group of people, namely, to all of us who were raised in certain denominations in Christendom here in the West.

I'm talking to all of us who were baptized or christened, usually as infants. I have witnessed many of these baptisms in many different worship services all my life.

I'm addressing all of us who were confirmed, who underwent confirmation instruction.

Like so many of you, I grew up and was led to believe that, because I was baptized as an infant (even out of human tradition), that I was "saved" and on my way to Heaven. Yes, I was confirmed, though I do not even remember that. Interestingly, my mom remembers it. She remembers how I had to recite the entire Luther's Small Catechism in front of the entire congregation.

Soon, after I was confirmed, like so many young people, I reduced my worship service attendance if not quitting it altogether. I was told, "You have had enough religion."

Soon after that, I was visiting my great-grandmother's house. I read the Bible and the Jesus I read of in the Gospels was much different from the Jesus that I learned about in my local church and even in some of the hymns that we sang. I came to believe that He was the "gentle Jesus, meek and mild." My Bible also showed Him to be confrontational, direct, bold, and unafraid to challenge the traditions of His day and Who stood up to phony religious leaders. He was assertive for God. I read the very hard-hitting material in Matthew 23.

No, I'm not posting this to knock centuries long, cherished Church traditions. I'm just making observations and I have done much research on what happens to many who were raised in congregations who use infant baptism and, later, confirmation, to introduce people to Jesus and the Christian faith. According to this research and my own experience and observation, I must cite a disturbing trend. It is this: Well over 70 percent of young people leave the Church sometime after they are confirmed to when they graduate from high school and get out from under parental authority. Only some later return, when they marry and have children.

This needs to stop. We keep losing our youth.

Some of the most terrifying, disturbing verses in Scripture consists of words from Jesus. They are addressed not to heathen, pagans or criminals, but to religious people: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven. MANY (emphasis mine) will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "

He was not just talking about false teachers here. I fear that He is talking to all of us who may believe that we are saved but who may be self-deceived, who may have been baptized, confirmed, recited a sinner's prayer, went forward in an altar call, made a "decision for Jesus" but who have not embraced Him as Lord from the power of sin. It took me quite awhile, after fits and starts, to let Him be God and Lord and as yet, many areas in my life are not under His Lordship.

Believe me, I pray daily for all those whose baptisms I witnessed over the decades as I have vowed to do during those events.

Statistics tell us that up to 70 percent of us in America list ourselves as born-again Christians. That figure would be very heartening, but for other figures. Some 4000 babies are killed daily by abortion. The divorce rate is just as high in the professing Christian community as it is among those outside it. And youth in the Church are almost as sexually active as those youth outside the Church. Isn't becoming a Christian supposed to make a difference in how we live?

I ponder the profound disconnect between us Western Christians and our severely persecuted brothers and sisters in Jesus throughout many Muslim countries and strongholds, in leftover Communist countries like China and North Korea, and in other restricted countries and hostile areas. These Christians' conversions are so real to them that they proclaim Jesus unafraid and are willing to go to prison for Him and die for Him. These believers take God seriously and being Christians affects how they live. Could much of the explanation be that in these parts of the world, the cost of being a Christian weeds out false professors such as are so often found in our Western churches, leaving genuine disciples and Christ-followers who take their faith seriously?

Yes, I was raised in the "easy believism" tradition. "Just believe in the finished work of Christ and you will get to Heaven." But as I ponder the high figure of those who call themselves born-again Christians, with all of our social ills and crimes (which are getting worse), I see a deep disconnect. Something is not right. No, true Christians are not perfect, and sin daily. I don't agree with the "Christian perfectionism" and "Altogether Christian" doctrines that teach that Christians can become sinless in this life. This is not taught in the Bible. But what is taught is that Christ-followers are always moving, however slowly, toward personal holiness and practical righteousness.

Based on my research and study of the Scripture, I have some ideas on how to remedy this problem: 1). Pastors need be freed from the fear of man, and preach and teach on the uncomfortable Biblical doctrines such as God's holiness, Hell, His judgment and the priority of personal holiness.

2). Pastors need to study the Bible and learn how Jesus evangelized, and clearly stress repentance and faith in their sermons. JUst because we live in "the age of grace" does not mean that the Law is no longer needed. Christ came to uphold the Law, not destroy it.

3). The main spiritual input happens in the home. Therefore, children's ministries and youth ministries ought to seek God about spending less money on programs and materials for children's and youth programs, and spend more money to teach and equip parents to raise their children to know, love and trust Jesus.
4). In ministering to children and youth, stress God's grace, repentance and saving faith in your instruction.

5). In small group ministry, seek God to find ways to make small group ministry more Biblical. Consider moving away from generational groups and work toward more inter-generational groups. We can learn from each other.

6). Seek freedom from the fear of man and introduce church discipline, with the aim being to restore sinning Christians or to awaken non-Christians to their need for God.

7). Pastors should end sermons by opening up the altar to people who want a touch from God or who have prayer needs.

Grace is free, but grace is not cheap. Even a casual reading of the New Testament reveals this. The New Testament writers discuss grace only in context of the Law. Implementing these measures will take sacrifice from all of us, cross-bearing and self-denial, but isn't that what we have been called to?

I'm sure there are other ideas, other than the ones above, but these are Biblical and may not only keep so many people from falling between the cracks, but may help solve some of society's problems and keep some people from slipping out the back door of our churches!

Love in Christ,

Lisa DeSherlia

Transcript of Paul Washer presentation (opens as a pdf on the podcast page in written transcript form)

The Rest of the Body of Christ

I assume that if you're reading this, that you have Internet access. Not just that, but I'm sure that you live in an area where practicing your faith is legal and tolerated, if not embraced. You probably meet with other believers in a church building, typically known as "going to church." You no doubt have access to a Bible and, in the US, you have access to Bibles in many different translations and for virtually any stage of life. In the West, we have access to numerous Christ-centered resources, including books, schools, congregations, and nonprofits. We affiliate with different denominations that go under the umbrella of Christian. In other words, in the West, with our legalized and registered congregations, we have what is typically called "organized Christianity" or, in Lutheran terms, the "visible Church"vs. the "invisible church." I wonder if you have ever wondered, What would it be like if we were like the first Christians in the Book of Acts, where they didn't register with any government, but met in house churches and faced persecution? And thrived in spite of it?

Global Persecution of Brothers and Sisters in Christ Today

Most of us Western Christians know that many Christians don't share our freedoms. We treasure our religious freedoms. We thank God for them and are happy that we are not suffering severe religious persecution. Severe religious persecution is defined as experiencing government oppression, which makes the practice of one's faith dangerous, resulting in heavy fines, imprisonment, even the death penalty. Severe religious persecution is defined as hostility from terrorist groups who issue threats, attacks, even atrocities against one for practicing a minority faith. So many nations all over the world, as in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, are dominated by Islam. Islam is that state religion in many nations, and Christianity is illegal; practicing it is dangerous. In many countries, Christianity is tolerated but because of "hot spots" created by hostile terrorist groups, severe persecution can be experienced by those of minority faith. In such countries, radical Islamists terrorize people, especially Christians. IN spite of the Cold War, some Communist nations exist, like China and North Korea. Vietnam is a stronghold of Communism and Buddhism; hence a book of Vietnamese persecuted Christians is titled BETWEEN TWO TIGERS. In many of these countries, the Church not only is existing, but is growing! In fact, Christians are said to by multiplying fastest in Iran, where it is illegal to be a Christian. So does religious freedom carry a hidden price?

The Modern Book of Acts

In the West, institutionalized Christianity is the norm. Our local churches register with the government, and receive tax-exempt status. We often speak of "going to church" and have to work at bearing in mind that in God's eyes, we ARE the church. Enemies against our Christian faith are powerful and real, but we often have trouble pinpointing these enemies. These enemies include materialism, the pleasure principle, and secular humanism. These enemies have crept into many of our local congregations and make it a daily battle to practice our Christian faith. Many of the Scriptural principles go against the grain of our materialistic, humanistic, pleasure-mad culture. In the East, where so many hostile groups and hostile groups prevail now, our brothers and sisters in Christ have no trouble identifying their enemies. They are forced to come 100 percent for Christ or deny Him. They are often forced into positions of choosing between Christ and their families, between Christ and their freedoms, or even between Christ and their own lives. Countless Christians throughout this century and today, willingly choose Christ above their families, or their freedom, or their very lives. Many of them cannot practice their faith openly; they meet in underground house churches, like in the Book of Acts. They so often show the level of faith shown by those early believers. Two Christian wives and moms are high-profile examples of this. Currently, Meriam Ibrahim, a wife and mother in Sudan, is imprisoned and on death row with both her two children, because she would not deny her Christian faith; she has been in prison for several months. This has reportedly reached US government attention. In Pakistan, over five years ago, Asia Bibi, a wife and mom, was declared guilty of "blasphemy" and sentenced to death for defending her Christian faith. They are only two examples; there are so many, many other brothers and sisters in Jesus who remain true to Christ at great cost to themselves and their families. During this century, millions of Christians have died for their faith. According to the late Richard Wurmbrand, 400 Christians in Muslim countries, daily, are killed for their faith. Persecution is said to separate true Christians from mere professors. Jesus told us to count ourselves worthy if we suffer for Him, to expect persecution, and in Scripture, persecution seems to be seen as almost a "rite of passage" or a "necessary evil." Therefore, who is blessed and most importantly, who did Jesus say would be blessed?

Our Response

The New Testament Book of Hebrews tells us that we are to "Remember our brothers and sisters in chains, as though suffering with them." This means that we are to educate ourselves about the "other part of the Body of Christ," pray often for them, speak up on their behalf, and follow their examples of faith under fire. I have created a new Facebook group where all of you with Facebook accounts, can join and get updates on specific persecuted believers and information on restricted or hostile countries. My new group contains updates that redirect you to several nonprofits that are dedicated to coming alongside with, strengthening, and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ in restricted or hostile countries. These nonprofits seek to empower these believers to serve Christ, and seek to win the persecutors of believers to Christ. I post prayer requests that empower you to pray and these Christians treasure our prayers for them.

If you have a Facebook account, will you join my Facebook group right here?

Christianity: One of Many Religions or Unique?

Which religion's God has revealed Himself in a Book that has endured for centuries?

Which religion's God has armed Himself, not with worldly power, but with love, kindness, grace, and forgiveness, in response to great evil?

Which religion's God has revealed Himself in three Persons who are unified as One?

Which religion's God has responded to our yearning for a "God with skin on" by becoming one of us?

Which religion's God has infinite hatred for sin, but infinite love for sinners?

Which religion's God has come seeking us even when we were not looking for Him?

Only one. Christianity.

I know that we live in an age where tolerance is the supreme virtue. All religions are now equally tolerated and honored. In the developed world, Christianity is looked at as just one religion among others. And, in a political sense, this is a good thing! We would not want to live under a dictatorship with a state religion. We would not want even Christianity to become a state religion. That would make us a dictatorship, the same as any Muslim country or as any remaining Communist country, like Cuba, China, and North Korea! Yet a case can be made for the uniqueness of Christianity among all other world religions. When measured alongside all other religions, Christianity stands out as one of a kind and in a class by itself!

What All Other World Religions Share in Common

I mean no offense to anyone who is a loyal follower of any world religion other than Christianity. I only present this to make a case for Christ and Christianity, and why you should examine His claims. My fellow Christians, we need to know why our faith is unique and we need to know what we believe. Now I know very little about most world religions. But I have a basic knowledge of them, enough to share what I believe all world religions share in common. First of all, all religions teach about placing faith in some kind of higher being. Or they teach placing faith in ourselves as "having divinity" or "finding our center in ourselves. The fact is, all religions teach some kind of faith to find meaning in this life beyond what it offers in a material sense. Even those religions that teach faith in ourselves teach this but that we are the objects of our own faith. All world religions teach one major thing. They teach that we are basically good and that we can work our way to salvation. They often differ as to what this salvation consists of and if there is even an afterlife. But, in some form or other, all religions teach "trying to live a virtuous life" and "good deeds as a way to salvation." Many world religions do teach about Jesus, but they always diverge in some way, from one of all the Biblical teachings. These religions consistently deny that Jesus is the the Son of God and the Member of the Holy Trinity. They teach that He was a man, a very good man, but still just a man. And all world religions claim that they can meet our deepest spiritual needs, even if they differ as to what these needs are.

What is the Problem?

On the face of it, it seems that this is a non-issue. But it is an issue to those of us who take Jesus seriously, including in John 14:6 where He made it stark-clear that He and He alone, is the only way to God the Father. Many people believe the teaching that "there are many paths to Heaven." This is totally contrary to Scripture, which bluntly tells us that only God, as He has revealed Himself in the Bible and by means of Christ, is the only way to salvation. From cover to cover, Scripture makes this clear. We cannot possibly misunderstand its meaning, unless we purposefully distort or deny its teaching. Yet if you take the time and trouble to check out His claims for Himself in the Gospels, you will see that Jesus more than has earned the right to make these claims. I believe that many people shun the claims of Christ and Christianity not because they are "not good enough" but because Jesus demands total commitment to Him, over everything else that we hold dear. The principles of Christianity are stricter than those of any other world religion, in one sense. The Christ of Christianity demands 100 percent commitment and it will cost us. But He also promises us all of His grace in this life, peace, and in the world to come, great heavenly reward. No other world religion makes such promises. So many world religions do make promises, the same ones Christianity makes. But do adherents see those promises become reality? One glaring example of a religion that fails its followers is Christian Science, which forbids followers to contact doctors and relies on home remedies. Because of that, many tragic, unneeded deaths have happened. We have heard of too many of such cases in the news. Another example are the Jehovah's Witnesses. Research tells us that they have the highest suicide rate of followers of any world religion. Can this have something to do with their being forbidden to celebrate even birthdays? Whatever their rules, all world religions teach their followers that following these rules will "save them." But can they?

What Shall We Conclude?

The Gospel of John is the ideal place to examine the claims of Christ. The Gospel of Matthew is also ideal. In the Gospels, you will find that Christ is the ultimate Way that God has revealed Himself to mankind. Only in Christianity has God come looking for us, in contrast to us looking for Him through good works. Only in Christianity has God personally involved Himself with us by becoming one of us through Christ. Only in Christianity has God displayed His power through grace and humility by means of Christ dying on a cross. Only in Christianity are we offered salvation as a free gift without having to work for it or to earn it in any way. Yes, we are asked to give all as Christians, but this comes AFTER we have received this free gift and in RESPONSE to receiving it. Only in Christianity are we offered a Person (Christ) as the way to holiness, rather than "trying to be holy" to get to God. It is ONLY in context of rejecting God's free grace in Christ, this this gift that cost Him His all, that we have the teaching of hell. Fellow Christians, whenever we get a chance and people show openness to wanting "something more" than what their religions or belief systems are offering them, we need to share our faith.

What do you think?