ALMOST A CHRISTIAN?
Easter Worship Service
27 March 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Acts 26
II. Scripture Lesson -- Acts 26:12-28
IIA. Background and Context
-- before we get into the passage this morning, let me give you a little background on what is going on in this passage
-- the Apostle Paul was the greatest evangelist mentioned in the Bible -- in fact, he wrote most of our New Testament -- but, he wasn't always like that -- he used to persecute and kill Christians until he was converted to Christianity on the Damascus Road -- after his conversion, he became an outspoken evangelist -- sharing the good news of Jesus to all he came into contact with -- over the course of about 16 years he travelled about 10,000 miles -- mostly by foot -- telling people about Jesus
-- even though Paul was a Jew who was converted, most Jews still hated Christianity just like he used to and they opposed Paul and his ministry wherever they could
-- towards the end of Paul's ministry, he went to Jerusalem to deliver a donation from the Christian churches in Asia to the poor in the city -- and while he was there, he went to the Jewish temple to take part in a cleansing ceremony
-- but, when the Jews saw Paul there, they got upset because they thought Paul had carried Gentiles into the holy sanctuary -- they started a riot and were about to kill Paul when the Romans stepped in and arrested Paul -- primarily for his own safety
-- when the Romans found out that the Jews planned to murder Paul and that he was a Roman citizen, they smuggled him out of Jerusalem at night to the Governor's palace
-- Paul was brought before Governor Felix to have his case heard -- but Felix didn't make a decision in Paul's case and kept him in prison for two more years -- shortly after that, Festus took over as Governor and in this passage that we are going to look at this morning, we see Paul's trial before the new Governor Festus and King Agrippa
-- so, with that background and context, let's look now at Acts 26:12 -- this passage opens with Paul sharing his testimony with Festus and Agrippa
IIB. Verses 12-18
-- this morning I am going to be reading from the New King James Version, because I like this translation of the trial better than the NIV --
12. "On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
-- vs. 12 -- "as I was occupied" -- as he was going about persecuting the Christians
13. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
14. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15. "Then I asked, `Who are you, Lord?' "`I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.
16. `Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
17. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
18. to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
-- vs. 17-18 -- God was going to use Paul to open the eyes of those living in darkness -- to help them see the light of Christ -- the truth of the gospel -- and to help them turn from the power of Satan -- from being held in bondage to sin -- to living with God
-- the word "gospel" means "good news" -- and here we see the good news of Christ clearly spelled out -- this is the reason why we are here this morning -- Jesus came and died and rose to life on Easter to offer forgiveness of sins and an inheritance with God -- in other words, Jesus came to free people from the bondage of sin and to make it possible for them to have eternal life with God in heaven
IIC. Verses 19-23
-- verse 19
19. "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.
20. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
21. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
22. But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--
23. that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
-- want you to see something right here -- in verse 19 Paul says he was "not disobedient" -- that means that Paul had a choice on that road to Damascus when Jesus appeared to him -- he could either be obedient by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and going out to witness to others -- or, he could be disobedient and turn his back on Jesus
-- at that time, Paul was probably the least likely of all those alive to believe and to accept Jesus -- he not only didn't believe Jesus was the Savior, but he was actively killing those who were Christians -- yet, he says that he made his choice there on that road and he accepted Christ
-- every single one of us here is faced with that same situation as Paul was that day -- we all have to make a choice whether we will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior or not -- the choice is up to us
IID. Verses 24-28
24. At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25. "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable.
26. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have almost persuaded me to be a Christian."
-- in this passage, we have been introduced to the four types of people in the world
-- first, there are the Pauls as he was when he set out on the Damascus Road -- these are the ones who hate Jesus and want nothing to do with Him or His followers
-- secondly, there are the Pauls as he was after his experience on the Damascus Road -- these are the ones who have made a choice to be obedient to God and to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior
-- third, there are the Festus' -- these are the people who don't believe in God or anything spiritual -- these are the ones like Jesse Ventura, the former Governor of Minnesota, who made fun of Christians and said they were weak and idiotic because they believed in God -- they think we're out of our mind for believing in a supreme being
-- finally, there are the Agrippas -- the ones who have some sort of spiritual belief -- who say they believe in God or some supreme power -- but who don't accept Jesus as their Savior -- they're not necessarily opposed to Christians -- they just don't believe
-- King Agrippa gave us a good description of what to call these type of people in verse 28 -- these are the "almost" Christians -- Agrippa says here that he was "almost persuaded" -- almost convinced -- by what Paul said -- he almost believed, but he wasn't there yet
-- which group do you belong to? -- you have to belong to one of the four groups -- there are no other choices
III. Almost Persuaded
-- well, since you are here this morning, I would guess that you are either a follower of Christ or someone kind of like Agrippa -- someone who is "almost" a Christian
IIIA. Almost a Christian
1. "Almost"
-- Let's talk for a moment about that word, "Almost" -- what does "Almost" mean?
-- the word "almost" means not quite there -- it means just slightly missing the mark
-- we often use the word "almost" in sports and in games and in school -- we say things like "I almost won" -- "we almost beat them today" -- "I almost passed the third grade"
-- it means close, but not quite there
-- but you know, no matter what we're talking about, "almost" doesn't cut it -- it means you failed, and you're just trying to make yourself sound better -- do you remember what you used to say as a kid when you were playing a game and someone said they "almost" beat you or they got close to beating you? -- "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades" -- in other words, "almost' doesn't cut it
-- and, if you think about it, the reason why "almost" doesn't cut it is because there's really no such thing as an "almost" anything, even though we say it all the time -- actually, you either you are or you're not -- either you won or you didn't -- you can't be "almost" pregnant -- either you are pregnant or you're not -- you can't be "almost" married -- either you are married or you're not
-- think about it like this -- a cloud is 100% water -- a watermelon is 92% water -- you could say that a watermelon is almost a cloud -- it only missed it by 8% -- but that wouldn't change the fact -- a watermelon is not and never will be a cloud
2. "Almost Christians"
-- so, what does it really mean when Agrippa says here that he was "almost" persuaded -- that he was "almost" a Christian
-- we've got to remember that the context of this passage isn't about grades or sports or games -- it is about the state of a man's soul -- to be almost a Christian is to be totally lost -- to be almost a Christian is to be on your way to Hell -- as Adrian Rogers says, "you're either a saint or an ain't -- there's no other choice"
-- an almost Christian is someone that is not saved -- someone who has never made the choice to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior -- they can look like a Christian -- they can talk like a Christian -- they can come to church every Sunday and know the words to every hymn -- they can be a good old boy or a good old girl -- but if they have not received forgiveness for their sins from Jesus, then they are totally lost
-- John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist denomination, once admitted in a sermon that he had spent the early part of his life as an "almost Christian " -- he said that he had the appearance of Godliness -- he followed all the rules -- he went to church -- he read the Bible -- he prayed -- he took communion -- he ministered to the poor and to chose in prison -- he gave to the church financially
-- but he had never actually received Jesus as his Lord and Savior -- he had never actually asked Jesus to save him and forgive his sins -- he had never trusted in faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross or in the power of the resurrection over sin and death
-- he looked holy on the outside, but he was not truly saved -- he was "almost" a Christian, just like King Agrippa
-- Jesus continually warned about the dangers of being an "almost Christian" -- in Matthew 13 He told the story of the wheat and the tares -- Tares were one of the curses a farmer had to struggle against -- they were a weed called "darnel" -- they were poisonous,and if you ate them it would cause dizziness and sickness -- so you didn't want them in the field with your wheat
-- but the problem was, when they were young, they looked just like wheat -- it was impossible to tell one from the other -- and by the time that you could tell the true wheat from the imposter, their roots had become intertwined and you couldn't pull up the tares without hurting the wheat -- so the owner of the field told the servants not to pull up the weeds but to leave them until the harvest at the end when they could be separated from the true wheat and burned
-- When His disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable, He told them that the wheat was the Christians and the tares represented those who did not accept Him -- the "almost Christians"
IV. Altogether Christians
-- so, what's the alternative to being an "almost Christian?" -- it is to be an "altogether" Christian
-- an "altogether" Christian is someone who has stood on the Damascus Road like Paul -- faced with a choice on whether to believe in Jesus or not -- and who has said "Yes" to Jesus --when this happens, an "almost" Christian is transformed into an "altogether" Christan
-- talking about transformation power reminds me of the story about a family from the country who went to New York City for a vacation -- they had never been in the city before, and everything was new and different to them -- one day, the father and his son were standing in the lobby of the empire state building -- they were trying to figure out what the closed elevator doors meant -- as they watched, an elderly lady with a cane pushed the button on the elevator and when the doors opened, she stepped on, and they closed behind her -- the man and his boy continued to watch and after several minutes, the elevator opened again and a beautiful young woman stepped out -- the father looked at his son and said, "Quick, go get your mother"
-- this father believed in the transforming power of the elevator, but an "altogether" Christian is somone who believes in and has experienced the transforming power of Jesus -- they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and just like it says in verse 18, their sins have been forgiven and they will live with Jesus in Heaven forever
-- an "altogether" Christian is characterized by three things: Faith, Hope, Love
-- Faith in Christ -- trusting that they will go to Heaven simply because Jesus died for them
-- Hope in Eternal Life -- hope in the resurrection because of the empty tomb on Easter morning
-- Love -- love for God and Neighbor as they bcome examples of the transforming power of Christ in their lives
-- what does it take to be an "altogether Christian" -- simply saying "Yes" to Jesus' offer of forgiveness and life
-- as it says in Romans 10:9-10 -- If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
V. Closing
-- many years ago, a man named Walter took his friend Arthur to see some land in the middle of no-where -- this was open ranch country where cattle were idly grazing.
-- Walter explained to Arthur that he had a dream for developing this area -- He told his friend that in time the area would be surrounded by restaurants and hotels and convention centers
-- but, He told Arthur, his plan would take all of the money he had, and he needed others to help develop the surrounding area and make his dream come alive -- He wanted his friend to have the first opportunity to buy into this project.
-- Arthur was almost persuaded to give Walter some money -- But he thought to himself, "Who in the world is going to drive twenty-five miles for this crazy project?" -- He said to Walter that he would think about it and make a decision later.
-- "Later on will be too late," Walter cautioned Arthur. -- "You'd better move on it right now."
-- And so Art Linkletter turned down the opportunity to buy up all the land that surrounded what was to become Disneyland. -- His friend Walt Disney tried to talk him into it. -- Art was almost persuaded, but in the end chose not to say "Yes"
-- Life's like that -- King Agrippa had the opportunity to accept Christ and become a Christian -- He was almost persuaded by Paul that day -- but he turned it down
-- Judas had one of the greatest opportunities in all history to become a follower of Jesus -- but instead, he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver
-- The two thieves who were crucified with Jesus also had the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life -- one accepted -- but, the other didn't.
-- Life offers all of us many opportunities -- We all have the opportunity to become followers of Jesus and to be a part of what God is doing in the world today -- we all have the opportunity to become an "altogether Christian" -- That choice is ours. Now.
-- what choice will you make? -- are you going to become an "altogether" Christian or are you going to remain "almost persuaded?"
-- let us pray
Thursday, March 31, 2005
WAITING FOR JESUS
Easter Sunrise Service
27 March 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to John 14:1 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
-- I want to share with you a story told by a pastor who had been very successful in his ministry -- his responsibilities as part of the church required him to travel all around the country -- usually on airplanes
-- one time, while he was on a long flight, the first warning of a problem came when the sign on the airplane flashed on reading "Fasten your seat belts." -- after a few minutes, the calm voice of the flight attendant came across the speakers and said, "We will not be serving beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence -- Please be sure your seat belt is securely fastened."
-- As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. -- a short while later, the flight attendant spoke through the speaker again -- "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."
-- And then the storm broke -- you could hear the thunder and the noise of the storm above the roar of the engines -- Lightning lit up the dark skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean -- One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
-- The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him -- He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed -- Some were praying. -- The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm
-- And then, I suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing -- She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat and was reading a book -- Everything within her small world was calm and orderly -- Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would open them and start reading again -- every now and then she would straighten her legs -- but worry and fear were not in her world
-- When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm -- when it lurched this way and that -- as it rose and fell with frightening severity -- when all the adults were scared half to death -- that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid."
-- The minister could hardly believe his eyes -- never had he seen such peace in the midst of a storm -- when the plane landed and all the other passengers were rushing off into the airport, the pastor hung around to speak to the girl that he had watched for such a long time -- he commented about the terrifying storm and how the plane was being knocked about and how the flight was so rough and so dangerous -- and then he asked her why she didn't seem afraid -- the little girl replied, "Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home."
II. Scripture and Application
-- the little girl's heart was not troubled by the fury of the storm because she trusted that her father would see her safely home
-- in John 14:1 Jesus told the disciples who were gathered with Him in the upper room to not let their hearts be troubled -- that they should trust in Him
-- you see, Jesus knew what they didn't know -- He knew what was going to happen -- He knew that there was turbulence up ahead -- He knew that the faith of the disciples was going to be tested
-- He had told them many times before that He was going to be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and that He would be killed and that on the third day He would be raised from the dead -- and now it was going to happen
-- and when it happened, the disciples were going to find themselves in the midst of a storm the likes of which they had never seen -- they had seen the arguments with the Pharisees -- the disagreements with the Sadduccees -- but those were just minor events -- through it all, the crowds had supported Jesus -- in fact, just four days prior the crowd had shouted praises as they had entered Jerusalem
-- but now, a storm was coming -- the crowd was going to turn against them all -- and they were going to be scattered and harassed and persecuted -- and Jesus would be gone
-- and so -- with a calm voice -- He spoke to them that night in the upper room and told them to not worry about anything they would face -- to not worry about the fury of the storm that was going to break around them -- but simply to trust in Him and He would see them through
-- look back at verse 1
1. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
2. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4. You know the way to the place where I am going."
-- in these verses Jesus continued to give His disciples the peace and the assurance they were going to need in the days ahead -- He told them that He was going to leave them -- He had to leave them -- in order to prepare a place for them in His Father's house
-- but, He promised, I will be back for you -- I am not going to leave you alone forever -- just trust in Me and I will bring you home -- He was wanting the disciples to react just like the little girl on the plane -- even though she was isolated from her father back in the cabin of the plane, she knew that he was making a way home for her through the midst of the storm
-- but then there was the ever practical Thomas -- verse 5
5. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
-- Thomas heard the warning of turbulence ahead and began to get scared -- he was apprehensive -- he was worried -- "we don't even know where you are going -- how can we know the way?" -- you kind of get the idea that Thomas wanted his own map so that if Jesus didn't come back, Thomas could get there on his own
-- I can sympathize with Thomas -- I'm kind of like that -- when I go somewhere, even if someone else is driving, I want to know where we are going -- I want to be sure that if something happens to the driver, I can get us there safely -- I can understand why Thomas cried out to Jesus, "what is the way?"
-- so Jesus replied in verse 6, "I am the way -- I am the way and the truth and the life -- no one comes to the Father except through me" -- in other words, don't worry, Thomas -- you don't have to know how to get there -- you just need to know that I am fully capable of getting you there -- I am the way -- you just have to trust in me
-- in verse 29, Jesus sums up His reason for telling the disciples about His death and resurrection -- He was telling them so they might believe -- so that when they were in the midst of the storm, that they might look past the storm -- past the lightning -- past the thunder -- to the sunlight on the other side
-- He wanted them to know beforehand that the cross did not mean the end -- that the tomb did not mean the final resting place -- that home was waiting on the other side
III. The Resurrection
-- on the Friday and the Saturday following the Last Supper, the disciples were in the middle of a major storm -- the Bible says they huddled together in the upper room praying -- not for the resurrection of Jesus -- but for their own survival
-- Jesus -- the one they followed -- the one they thought was the Messiah -- was dead -- He had been betrayed into the hands of the temple guards by one of their own -- and He had been beaten and whipped and finally died a cruel death on a Roman cross
-- when they rode into Jerusalem with Jesus on Palm Sunday, they had thought that He was going to restore the kingdom of Israel at that time -- they had thought that He was going to destroy the Romans who occupied their city and restore the worship of God -- but now He was dead -- and they really didn't understand all His words about being the Way and preparing a place for them
-- with the death of Jesus, their lives had changed forever -- Jerusalem -- the city that was so familiar to them was now foreign -- the people that they once called brothers now looked at them as strangers -- death waited at every door
-- they didn't know if the next knock on the door would bring the temple guards or another frightened follower seeking respite from a cruel dark world
-- for them, nothing would ever be the same -- all their dreams, their hopes, their desires -- were crushed when Jesus was crucified -- and for the past three days, it had been the same
-- the storm was all around them -- they were being buffetted back and forth -- and they didn't know if the sun would ever shine again
-- the only ones who dared to venture forth were the women -- the silent followers of Jesus who could come and go hidden in their dark robes and tunics -- the second class citizens who were regarded with little account and who passed by the temple guards with no notice
-- the Bible tells us that three of these women left the upper room and went to the garden tomb on Sunday morning to finish annointing the body of Christ with oils and fragrant spices -- and when they got there, they found something they didn't expect -- they found an empty tomb -- Christ was not there -- He had risen, just as He said He would
-- later that day, Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room and spoke words of peace to them -- He reminded them of what He had told them and strengthened their wavering faith -- in the midst of the storm they had begun to doubt -- but now that they had seen Him, they trusted Him completely and would never doubt again
-- He told them in John 20:29, "Because you have seen me, you have believed -- blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
-- we are gathered here this morning because we have believed even though we have not seen -- we trust in the words of Jesus -- we trust that He is the way and the truth and the life and that He will return for us just as He said
-- we are here because we know that He will see us through the storms -- we know that storms don't last
-- over the past few days we've been hit hard with major thunderstorms -- rain and lightning and thunder -- but they didn't last -- they went on past -- there was sunshine on the other side
-- and we know that there have been times in our lives when we've been faced with some pretty serious storms -- storms of sickness -- storms of death -- storms of accidents -- loss of jobs -- loss of homes -- financial problems -- but, we've always made it through
-- we know that there will be storms ahead -- storms are part of life -- you may be going through a storm right now -- Jesus didn't tell us that He would take the storms away -- He just tells us to trust in Him and that He will make a way for us through the storm
-- because of the empty cross and the empty tomb, we can face the storms of life with peace and assurance -- just like that little girl on the plane -- just like the disciples on Easter -- because we trust that Jesus is making a place for us and He is going to get us safely home
-- let us pray
Easter Sunrise Service
27 March 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to John 14:1 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
-- I want to share with you a story told by a pastor who had been very successful in his ministry -- his responsibilities as part of the church required him to travel all around the country -- usually on airplanes
-- one time, while he was on a long flight, the first warning of a problem came when the sign on the airplane flashed on reading "Fasten your seat belts." -- after a few minutes, the calm voice of the flight attendant came across the speakers and said, "We will not be serving beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence -- Please be sure your seat belt is securely fastened."
-- As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. -- a short while later, the flight attendant spoke through the speaker again -- "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."
-- And then the storm broke -- you could hear the thunder and the noise of the storm above the roar of the engines -- Lightning lit up the dark skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean -- One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
-- The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him -- He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed -- Some were praying. -- The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm
-- And then, I suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing -- She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat and was reading a book -- Everything within her small world was calm and orderly -- Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would open them and start reading again -- every now and then she would straighten her legs -- but worry and fear were not in her world
-- When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm -- when it lurched this way and that -- as it rose and fell with frightening severity -- when all the adults were scared half to death -- that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid."
-- The minister could hardly believe his eyes -- never had he seen such peace in the midst of a storm -- when the plane landed and all the other passengers were rushing off into the airport, the pastor hung around to speak to the girl that he had watched for such a long time -- he commented about the terrifying storm and how the plane was being knocked about and how the flight was so rough and so dangerous -- and then he asked her why she didn't seem afraid -- the little girl replied, "Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home."
II. Scripture and Application
-- the little girl's heart was not troubled by the fury of the storm because she trusted that her father would see her safely home
-- in John 14:1 Jesus told the disciples who were gathered with Him in the upper room to not let their hearts be troubled -- that they should trust in Him
-- you see, Jesus knew what they didn't know -- He knew what was going to happen -- He knew that there was turbulence up ahead -- He knew that the faith of the disciples was going to be tested
-- He had told them many times before that He was going to be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and that He would be killed and that on the third day He would be raised from the dead -- and now it was going to happen
-- and when it happened, the disciples were going to find themselves in the midst of a storm the likes of which they had never seen -- they had seen the arguments with the Pharisees -- the disagreements with the Sadduccees -- but those were just minor events -- through it all, the crowds had supported Jesus -- in fact, just four days prior the crowd had shouted praises as they had entered Jerusalem
-- but now, a storm was coming -- the crowd was going to turn against them all -- and they were going to be scattered and harassed and persecuted -- and Jesus would be gone
-- and so -- with a calm voice -- He spoke to them that night in the upper room and told them to not worry about anything they would face -- to not worry about the fury of the storm that was going to break around them -- but simply to trust in Him and He would see them through
-- look back at verse 1
1. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
2. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4. You know the way to the place where I am going."
-- in these verses Jesus continued to give His disciples the peace and the assurance they were going to need in the days ahead -- He told them that He was going to leave them -- He had to leave them -- in order to prepare a place for them in His Father's house
-- but, He promised, I will be back for you -- I am not going to leave you alone forever -- just trust in Me and I will bring you home -- He was wanting the disciples to react just like the little girl on the plane -- even though she was isolated from her father back in the cabin of the plane, she knew that he was making a way home for her through the midst of the storm
-- but then there was the ever practical Thomas -- verse 5
5. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
-- Thomas heard the warning of turbulence ahead and began to get scared -- he was apprehensive -- he was worried -- "we don't even know where you are going -- how can we know the way?" -- you kind of get the idea that Thomas wanted his own map so that if Jesus didn't come back, Thomas could get there on his own
-- I can sympathize with Thomas -- I'm kind of like that -- when I go somewhere, even if someone else is driving, I want to know where we are going -- I want to be sure that if something happens to the driver, I can get us there safely -- I can understand why Thomas cried out to Jesus, "what is the way?"
-- so Jesus replied in verse 6, "I am the way -- I am the way and the truth and the life -- no one comes to the Father except through me" -- in other words, don't worry, Thomas -- you don't have to know how to get there -- you just need to know that I am fully capable of getting you there -- I am the way -- you just have to trust in me
-- in verse 29, Jesus sums up His reason for telling the disciples about His death and resurrection -- He was telling them so they might believe -- so that when they were in the midst of the storm, that they might look past the storm -- past the lightning -- past the thunder -- to the sunlight on the other side
-- He wanted them to know beforehand that the cross did not mean the end -- that the tomb did not mean the final resting place -- that home was waiting on the other side
III. The Resurrection
-- on the Friday and the Saturday following the Last Supper, the disciples were in the middle of a major storm -- the Bible says they huddled together in the upper room praying -- not for the resurrection of Jesus -- but for their own survival
-- Jesus -- the one they followed -- the one they thought was the Messiah -- was dead -- He had been betrayed into the hands of the temple guards by one of their own -- and He had been beaten and whipped and finally died a cruel death on a Roman cross
-- when they rode into Jerusalem with Jesus on Palm Sunday, they had thought that He was going to restore the kingdom of Israel at that time -- they had thought that He was going to destroy the Romans who occupied their city and restore the worship of God -- but now He was dead -- and they really didn't understand all His words about being the Way and preparing a place for them
-- with the death of Jesus, their lives had changed forever -- Jerusalem -- the city that was so familiar to them was now foreign -- the people that they once called brothers now looked at them as strangers -- death waited at every door
-- they didn't know if the next knock on the door would bring the temple guards or another frightened follower seeking respite from a cruel dark world
-- for them, nothing would ever be the same -- all their dreams, their hopes, their desires -- were crushed when Jesus was crucified -- and for the past three days, it had been the same
-- the storm was all around them -- they were being buffetted back and forth -- and they didn't know if the sun would ever shine again
-- the only ones who dared to venture forth were the women -- the silent followers of Jesus who could come and go hidden in their dark robes and tunics -- the second class citizens who were regarded with little account and who passed by the temple guards with no notice
-- the Bible tells us that three of these women left the upper room and went to the garden tomb on Sunday morning to finish annointing the body of Christ with oils and fragrant spices -- and when they got there, they found something they didn't expect -- they found an empty tomb -- Christ was not there -- He had risen, just as He said He would
-- later that day, Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room and spoke words of peace to them -- He reminded them of what He had told them and strengthened their wavering faith -- in the midst of the storm they had begun to doubt -- but now that they had seen Him, they trusted Him completely and would never doubt again
-- He told them in John 20:29, "Because you have seen me, you have believed -- blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
-- we are gathered here this morning because we have believed even though we have not seen -- we trust in the words of Jesus -- we trust that He is the way and the truth and the life and that He will return for us just as He said
-- we are here because we know that He will see us through the storms -- we know that storms don't last
-- over the past few days we've been hit hard with major thunderstorms -- rain and lightning and thunder -- but they didn't last -- they went on past -- there was sunshine on the other side
-- and we know that there have been times in our lives when we've been faced with some pretty serious storms -- storms of sickness -- storms of death -- storms of accidents -- loss of jobs -- loss of homes -- financial problems -- but, we've always made it through
-- we know that there will be storms ahead -- storms are part of life -- you may be going through a storm right now -- Jesus didn't tell us that He would take the storms away -- He just tells us to trust in Him and that He will make a way for us through the storm
-- because of the empty cross and the empty tomb, we can face the storms of life with peace and assurance -- just like that little girl on the plane -- just like the disciples on Easter -- because we trust that Jesus is making a place for us and He is going to get us safely home
-- let us pray
Terri Schiavo Dies
CNN and other news outlets are reporting the death of Terri Schiavo this morning. Her parents and family are with the body and are in prayer, the report states.
Now, the question arises, "What will be the end result of this situation?" Will it just result in an increase in living wills, discussions on the talk show circuit for a couple of weeks, and a couple of relatively meaningless bills from Congress concerning the right-to-die and the right of families to have a say in the death of their loved ones? Or, will it mean more?
As I noted in an earlier post, this case has significant implications for sanctity of life issues in this country, most notably on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, but also touching on abortion and stem-cell research. The question is, "What should we, as evangelical Christians, do now?"
I think that we should keep in mind the Apostle Paul's admonitions that our struggle is not against flesh and blood and that we should not wage war as the world does. The legislation of morality will not result in the transformation of lives or culture. If you want to see proof of this, just look at the Bible and Paul's discussions in Romans on the Law. So, while we should be supportive of any legislation that does come out of this situation, we need to keep in mind the one thing that can result in lasting change -- the power of the Risen Christ!
Here's what I feel we should do to build on the momentum of this issue:
1. Pray and keep on praying. True change, whether in an individual or in a culture, can only come about through the working of the Holy Spirit. We need to pray that God uses this situation to open the minds of those involved and to help them see past the political rhetoric of both the right and the left and to the bigger sanctity of life issues involved.
2. We need to encourage and initiate dialogue with others on this issue, most notably with those of different persuasions. While we know that others won't be changed by our words alone, through our words they may be introduced to the Savior who can effect change in their lives.
3. We need to reach out to those involved in sanctity of life issues on both sides and not react in a hostile manner. My heart was broken by the news that some who purported to support Terri Schiavo had expressed an interest in having her husband killed. My heart has been broken by those who react with violence against abortion providers and with harassment of women who have abortions. Our reactions should be as Christ. We should recognize that these people were all people who Christ died for, and we should strive to reach out to them in Christ's name, loving the sinner while hating the sin and the sin nature that drove the action.
Will this case result in anything lasting? Only God knows and only time will tell. But, even though Terri has passed away, we can rejoice at the fact that she was apparently a professing Christian and is in the presence of our Lord and Savior at this time!
CNN and other news outlets are reporting the death of Terri Schiavo this morning. Her parents and family are with the body and are in prayer, the report states.
Now, the question arises, "What will be the end result of this situation?" Will it just result in an increase in living wills, discussions on the talk show circuit for a couple of weeks, and a couple of relatively meaningless bills from Congress concerning the right-to-die and the right of families to have a say in the death of their loved ones? Or, will it mean more?
As I noted in an earlier post, this case has significant implications for sanctity of life issues in this country, most notably on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, but also touching on abortion and stem-cell research. The question is, "What should we, as evangelical Christians, do now?"
I think that we should keep in mind the Apostle Paul's admonitions that our struggle is not against flesh and blood and that we should not wage war as the world does. The legislation of morality will not result in the transformation of lives or culture. If you want to see proof of this, just look at the Bible and Paul's discussions in Romans on the Law. So, while we should be supportive of any legislation that does come out of this situation, we need to keep in mind the one thing that can result in lasting change -- the power of the Risen Christ!
Here's what I feel we should do to build on the momentum of this issue:
1. Pray and keep on praying. True change, whether in an individual or in a culture, can only come about through the working of the Holy Spirit. We need to pray that God uses this situation to open the minds of those involved and to help them see past the political rhetoric of both the right and the left and to the bigger sanctity of life issues involved.
2. We need to encourage and initiate dialogue with others on this issue, most notably with those of different persuasions. While we know that others won't be changed by our words alone, through our words they may be introduced to the Savior who can effect change in their lives.
3. We need to reach out to those involved in sanctity of life issues on both sides and not react in a hostile manner. My heart was broken by the news that some who purported to support Terri Schiavo had expressed an interest in having her husband killed. My heart has been broken by those who react with violence against abortion providers and with harassment of women who have abortions. Our reactions should be as Christ. We should recognize that these people were all people who Christ died for, and we should strive to reach out to them in Christ's name, loving the sinner while hating the sin and the sin nature that drove the action.
Will this case result in anything lasting? Only God knows and only time will tell. But, even though Terri has passed away, we can rejoice at the fact that she was apparently a professing Christian and is in the presence of our Lord and Savior at this time!
Monday, March 28, 2005
The Terri Schiavo Case -- How Far Can It Go?
As I write this, Terri is in her ninth day without food and water. As I'm sure most of you know, Terri Schiavo suffered a condition about 15 years ago, possibly related to an eating disorder or to cardiac problems brought about by an eating disorder, which resulted in the loss of oxygen to her brain for 10 minutes. The doctors and her husband maintain that Terri is in a persistant vegetative state (PVS), and thus has no chance for recovery. Her parents and immediate family say that Terri's condition could be improved with rehabilitation and that she is not in PVS but that she actively engages them with her eyes and responds to their voices.
This case has been debated heavily in the media and in the courts for over 2 years, with the most of the media attention occurring over the past four months. Now, as Terri lays in her hospice room in the final stages of life, the media has shifted its attention to trying to convince their audience that Terri does have PVS and, as a result, is in no pain, despite the fact that she is receiving a morphine drip for the pain.
Concerns have been raised over why this case should have gotten such attention from the public, most notably from elected officials at the state and federal level. What could possibly be the ramifications from this situation? Where could this case lead in the future?
Our country has always struggled with the issue of the sanctity of life. We have had a horrific track record in regards to abortion, the murder of unborn children. We have had public debate on the merits of embryonic stem cell research, a technique that also eliminates the life of unborn children. Now, we see an increasing interest in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
What is the problem with this? Right now, the issue is the right of a person to decide to take their own life, with most of the current laws limited to persons who have been diagnosed with a terminal disease. However, as the case with Terri Schiavo shows, it is a short leap to move from the terminally ill to the disabled. Terri is NOT terminally ill. She has not been on life support. She was merely being offered food and water through a feeding tube, a common practice in hospitals today for thousands of patients, some of whom are NOT classified as PVS by the doctors.
Hence the danger -- if they can remove her feeding tube merely because she is disabled (not terminally ill, but brain damaged), why can't they remove the feeding tube of any disabled person? And then, once we cross that line, why not encourage the euthanasia of the disabled or the mentally retarded? In some of the countries in the Netherlands, disabled infants or those with mental retardation are routinely killed by doctors, sometimes without the parent's approval or knowledge. With the Terri Schiavo case, we see that we may not be far behind.
Consider the article that was published on Med Page today by Peggy Peck, entitled "Does Terri Schiavo feel pain?" The article goes to great pains to prove to readers that persons in a PVS state do not feel pain in a conscious sense, but only react to stimuli through a pain response called "nociception." The article states that "Pain, as well as suffering, requires consciousness, which is lacking in a person in a persistent vegetative state, says Dr. De Georgia. "
O.K. Lets assume that this statement is correct. But what is more frightening are the following statements:
"Dr. DeGeorgia says that a patient in a persistent vegetative state can experience arousal, meaning that the patient's eyes may be open and the patient may laugh, cry or appear to track someone who is in the room.
"And that is what can be confusing for people, especially relatives, he says. "For example, a patient in persistent vegetative state will grasp your hand. In fact if you put anything into the patient's hand, the hand will grasp it. But this is a very primitive reaction. A newborn baby will grasp your finger, but there is no consciousness."
"It is consciousness that determines whether one can "feel" pain in the sense that most people understand when they talk about feeling pain.
"Pain, on the other hand, is the recognition of nociception by the nervous system, which sends the impulse to regions of the brain where consciousness exists. In the case of a severely brain injured person - one in a persistent vegetative state - those areas of consciousness have been destroyed, and as result "they don't 'feel' pain.""
Did you catch the implication of the argument over consciousness that was being made here? The author says that a "newborn baby will grasp your finger, but there is no consciousness." Terri Schaivo has had her feeding tube removed because the doctors say she is in a PVS, she has "no consciousness," and she experiences no pain or suffering. But, the same article says that newborn infants have no consciousness. So, it is not a great leap of reason to assume that we could easily end the life of newborn infants in the same way, because they should not have the capacity to experience pain or suffering either.
Now do you see the implications of the Terri Schiavo case for this country? It is not about just one person. It is about the sanctity of human life. It is about not only the terminally ill, but about the disabled, the mentally retarded, and the unborn. And, it may just be about newborn infants as well.
As I write this, Terri is in her ninth day without food and water. As I'm sure most of you know, Terri Schiavo suffered a condition about 15 years ago, possibly related to an eating disorder or to cardiac problems brought about by an eating disorder, which resulted in the loss of oxygen to her brain for 10 minutes. The doctors and her husband maintain that Terri is in a persistant vegetative state (PVS), and thus has no chance for recovery. Her parents and immediate family say that Terri's condition could be improved with rehabilitation and that she is not in PVS but that she actively engages them with her eyes and responds to their voices.
This case has been debated heavily in the media and in the courts for over 2 years, with the most of the media attention occurring over the past four months. Now, as Terri lays in her hospice room in the final stages of life, the media has shifted its attention to trying to convince their audience that Terri does have PVS and, as a result, is in no pain, despite the fact that she is receiving a morphine drip for the pain.
Concerns have been raised over why this case should have gotten such attention from the public, most notably from elected officials at the state and federal level. What could possibly be the ramifications from this situation? Where could this case lead in the future?
Our country has always struggled with the issue of the sanctity of life. We have had a horrific track record in regards to abortion, the murder of unborn children. We have had public debate on the merits of embryonic stem cell research, a technique that also eliminates the life of unborn children. Now, we see an increasing interest in euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
What is the problem with this? Right now, the issue is the right of a person to decide to take their own life, with most of the current laws limited to persons who have been diagnosed with a terminal disease. However, as the case with Terri Schiavo shows, it is a short leap to move from the terminally ill to the disabled. Terri is NOT terminally ill. She has not been on life support. She was merely being offered food and water through a feeding tube, a common practice in hospitals today for thousands of patients, some of whom are NOT classified as PVS by the doctors.
Hence the danger -- if they can remove her feeding tube merely because she is disabled (not terminally ill, but brain damaged), why can't they remove the feeding tube of any disabled person? And then, once we cross that line, why not encourage the euthanasia of the disabled or the mentally retarded? In some of the countries in the Netherlands, disabled infants or those with mental retardation are routinely killed by doctors, sometimes without the parent's approval or knowledge. With the Terri Schiavo case, we see that we may not be far behind.
Consider the article that was published on Med Page today by Peggy Peck, entitled "Does Terri Schiavo feel pain?" The article goes to great pains to prove to readers that persons in a PVS state do not feel pain in a conscious sense, but only react to stimuli through a pain response called "nociception." The article states that "Pain, as well as suffering, requires consciousness, which is lacking in a person in a persistent vegetative state, says Dr. De Georgia. "
O.K. Lets assume that this statement is correct. But what is more frightening are the following statements:
"Dr. DeGeorgia says that a patient in a persistent vegetative state can experience arousal, meaning that the patient's eyes may be open and the patient may laugh, cry or appear to track someone who is in the room.
"And that is what can be confusing for people, especially relatives, he says. "For example, a patient in persistent vegetative state will grasp your hand. In fact if you put anything into the patient's hand, the hand will grasp it. But this is a very primitive reaction. A newborn baby will grasp your finger, but there is no consciousness."
"It is consciousness that determines whether one can "feel" pain in the sense that most people understand when they talk about feeling pain.
"Pain, on the other hand, is the recognition of nociception by the nervous system, which sends the impulse to regions of the brain where consciousness exists. In the case of a severely brain injured person - one in a persistent vegetative state - those areas of consciousness have been destroyed, and as result "they don't 'feel' pain.""
Did you catch the implication of the argument over consciousness that was being made here? The author says that a "newborn baby will grasp your finger, but there is no consciousness." Terri Schaivo has had her feeding tube removed because the doctors say she is in a PVS, she has "no consciousness," and she experiences no pain or suffering. But, the same article says that newborn infants have no consciousness. So, it is not a great leap of reason to assume that we could easily end the life of newborn infants in the same way, because they should not have the capacity to experience pain or suffering either.
Now do you see the implications of the Terri Schiavo case for this country? It is not about just one person. It is about the sanctity of human life. It is about not only the terminally ill, but about the disabled, the mentally retarded, and the unborn. And, it may just be about newborn infants as well.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Still He Walked
| The Daily Encourager - Powered by InJesus |
| Subscribe Unsubscribe Change E-mail View Archive Still He Walked David Langerfeld Mar 22, 2005 |
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... his heart was broken,
But still He walked.
He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger...his heart broke,
But still He walked.
Was he scared? You and I would have been
So his humanness would have mandated that he was. He felt alone.
His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered
And he knew that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting
At him, throwing rocks at him and mocking him and he knew
That because of him, they would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.
The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through
The crowd. The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,
The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet
Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.
Loudest of all was the still small voice inside his
Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",
And God's heart broke.
He had let his son walk.
Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead he asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive. Alive with
The limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.
When I forget how much My God loves me,
I remember his walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
I remember his walk.
When I need reminded of how to live like Christ,
I think of his walk.
And to show him how much I love him,
I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
And I walk.
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The Value of Weakness
Have you heard about the Wisconsin Quarter issue? It turns out that when they minted some of the new collector edition Wisconsin quarters, there was a mistake in some of them. There is only supposed to be one leaf growing out of the left side of the stalk. But, some quarters have an extra leaf, some pointing up and some pointing down. Coin collectors prize such mistakes and inconsistencies. They are paying up to $500 for those two-leaved Wisconsin quarters.
I was thinking about that the other day, and at first it struck me as odd that something that was a mistake and a flaw could have such value. But then, as I thought some more, I realized that this is actually a biblical concept.
We become valuable to God when we recognize our flaws and our weaknesses. Our flaws and our weaknesses force us to recognize our own human failings and to depend on Him and His power in our lives. Our flaws force us to depend on Him and to turn to His perfect love.
God told the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore (Paul says) I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
When the world tells you that you are weak or flawed, rejoice. Because through weakness comes the power of God.
Have you heard about the Wisconsin Quarter issue? It turns out that when they minted some of the new collector edition Wisconsin quarters, there was a mistake in some of them. There is only supposed to be one leaf growing out of the left side of the stalk. But, some quarters have an extra leaf, some pointing up and some pointing down. Coin collectors prize such mistakes and inconsistencies. They are paying up to $500 for those two-leaved Wisconsin quarters.
I was thinking about that the other day, and at first it struck me as odd that something that was a mistake and a flaw could have such value. But then, as I thought some more, I realized that this is actually a biblical concept.
We become valuable to God when we recognize our flaws and our weaknesses. Our flaws and our weaknesses force us to recognize our own human failings and to depend on Him and His power in our lives. Our flaws force us to depend on Him and to turn to His perfect love.
God told the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore (Paul says) I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
When the world tells you that you are weak or flawed, rejoice. Because through weakness comes the power of God.
NBC's "Revelations" set on the Book of Revelation to launch April 13
(As reprinted in Prophecy News Watch Update from a New York Times Article)
In times of turmoil, people often turn to religion for aid and succor. So, too, it seems, do the networks. Suffering from a "Friends"-less prime-time lineup and generally lackluster ratings, this spring a beleaguered NBC is finding God - and delivering him to viewers - in a six-episode series based on the apocalyptic prophecies laid out in the Book of Revelation.With a premiere set for April 13, NBC's "Revelations" follows the efforts of Sister Josepha Montifiore, a globe-trotting nun played by Natascha McElhone, and Dr. Richard Massey, a Harvard astrophysicist (and religious skeptic, of course) played by Bill Pullman, to determine whether the end of the world is indeed near.
Along the way, the investigative duo encounters all manner of unexplained phenomena and bizarre characters, including a brain-dead girl who appears to be channeling the spirit of Massey's murdered daughter, a virgin-born infant believed to be either the son of God or the spawn of Satan, and the powerful Satanist, Isaiah Haden (Michael Massee, in a performance so flesh-crawling you start to wonder about the actor's immortal soul), who ritually sacrificed Massey's daughter.
From the get-go, it is clear that "Revelations" will be a far cry from the inoffensively ecumenical brand of spirituality typically found in prime-time offerings like "Touched by an Angel," "Highway to Heaven" or "Joan of Arcadia." "We felt what needed to be done is a television show that expressed itself as Christian," said Gavin Polone, an executive producer of, and the driving force behind, "Revelations." "We're very clear about that here. The words 'Jesus Christ' or 'Christ' are used three times a minute."
Nor will it share the shiny, happy tone of those generally uplifting series. Its New Testament source material, after all, features a judgmental, unambiguously sectarian God who has vowed one day to destroy mankind - or at least all non-Christians - in a wave of plague, famine, pestilence and war. And since early in development, the series' writer and chief creative guide has been David Seltzer, whose last foray into biblical prophecy resulted in the 1976 apocalyptic horror classic "The Omen." Early in the first episode of "Revelations," an ominous bit of biblical text fills the screen: "And the Sun will turn to Darkness and the Moon will turn to blood. ... For in one hour is thy judgment cometh."
But it is precisely the edginess of the program, along with its overt religiousness, that its creators and NBC hope will intrigue both believers and nonbelievers alike. "In tumultuous times like those we live in, apocalyptic buzz is always on the rise - as is spirituality," said Kevin Reilly, the president of NBC Entertainment, who greenlighted the series. Or as Ms. McElhone put it: "I defy anyone to say they're not interested in the questions that are being asked here."
Certainly, the widespread interest in, not to mention the tremendous profit potential of, religious-themed pop culture was evident even before "The Passion of the Christ" took the movie world by storm a year ago. Dan Brown's 2003 novel, "The Da Vinci Code" (the overwhelming popularity of which Mr. Reilly says first got him "thinking in this arena"), combined murder-mystery suspense and historical speculation about the machinations of the early Christian Church. Even more relevant to "Revelations," the "Left Behind" series of novels, based on a Christian-fundamentalist interpretation of end-times prophecy, has sold in the neighborhood of 50 million copies since its debut in 1995.
Mr. Polone says his personal interest in religion and Armageddon stems from a long-ago summer spent at an evangelical Christian youth camp, where he was encouraged to read Hal Lindsey's apocalypse-themed treatise "The Late, Great Planet Earth." "It scared the hell out of me," he said.
But as an adult he found the entertainment industry was wary of such issues, a phenomenon that he and others attribute to cultural bias. Lili Zanuck, who directed three episodes of "Revelations," recalled that in pitching the project, Mr. Polone argued that "there's a whole audience out there with these interests that we don't really address in Hollywood." Ms. Zanuck added, "In our community, we do sometimes forget the whole rest of the country.""I don't think most people in the entertainment world understand that this is a big deal," she said.
As for those who do understand, they may have their own reasons to shy away from religious themes: depending on which poll you consult, between one third and one half of Americans identify themselves as biblical literalists, and no one wants to risk alienating them by taking liberties with their beliefs.
To help avoid such backlash, the creators of "Revelations" say, they took great pains with all the biblical aspects of the series. "Everybody wants to make sure no rock has been left unturned," said Bill Pullman. "They're looking at everything - the credibility of every character, each choice." Scripts are reviewed by a theological consultant, as will be all marketing efforts, Mr. Reilly said. And Ms. Zanuck said each scriptural citation is checked against multiple versions of the Bible. And David Seltzer, cast members say, has become a man obsessed with the details.
Ms. McElhone said, "There have been a lot of people making sure that we walk the line on this." Still, the series creators admit that while biblically inspired, their story does takes plenty of liberties. "We're telling a fictional story," Mr. Seltzer said. "It's not a religious tale." Most notably, the entire series rests on the premise that the two lead characters can somehow forestall the final clash between God and Satan - an interpretation anathema to most end-times literalists.
"It may make for interesting tension and fun drama," said Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the "Left Behind" books. "But I don't know any serious theologian who thinks that humans can delay anything that God desires to do." Mr. Jenkins nonetheless expresses optimism that "Revelations" will focus people's attention on Christianity and help "keep the conversation on the table." "It's a conversation we like to have, about prophecy, God, Jesus," he said.
In fact, his biggest concern about the show may have more to do with art than theology: if religious entertainment is "cheesy," he said, with cheap special effects or bad acting, the fad will flop and Hollywood will move onto the next new thing. But if projects like "Revelations" are well done and become popular, "my hope," he said, "is it will keep the media interested in the topic and maybe they'll eventually get closer to the kind of stuff we do."
As the air date approaches, there seems to be a growing sense among those involved that "Revelations" will be judged on more than just its entertainment value. Mr. Pullman says the realization hit him this holiday season, during a trip home to visit his family.
"I come from a pretty small town in western New York State," he explained. "One day I was out dealing with this guy who had some old tractors for sale, and he said to me, 'Well, I don't pay much attention to Hollywood, but that movie 'The Passion of the Christ' did some important work.' I'm suddenly thinking: 'Wow. We're going to be part of that. People will either say we didn't help their cause or we kind of did. We're going to become part of the discussion about what everybody's agendas are.' "
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(As reprinted in Prophecy News Watch Update from a New York Times Article)
In times of turmoil, people often turn to religion for aid and succor. So, too, it seems, do the networks. Suffering from a "Friends"-less prime-time lineup and generally lackluster ratings, this spring a beleaguered NBC is finding God - and delivering him to viewers - in a six-episode series based on the apocalyptic prophecies laid out in the Book of Revelation.With a premiere set for April 13, NBC's "Revelations" follows the efforts of Sister Josepha Montifiore, a globe-trotting nun played by Natascha McElhone, and Dr. Richard Massey, a Harvard astrophysicist (and religious skeptic, of course) played by Bill Pullman, to determine whether the end of the world is indeed near.
Along the way, the investigative duo encounters all manner of unexplained phenomena and bizarre characters, including a brain-dead girl who appears to be channeling the spirit of Massey's murdered daughter, a virgin-born infant believed to be either the son of God or the spawn of Satan, and the powerful Satanist, Isaiah Haden (Michael Massee, in a performance so flesh-crawling you start to wonder about the actor's immortal soul), who ritually sacrificed Massey's daughter.
From the get-go, it is clear that "Revelations" will be a far cry from the inoffensively ecumenical brand of spirituality typically found in prime-time offerings like "Touched by an Angel," "Highway to Heaven" or "Joan of Arcadia." "We felt what needed to be done is a television show that expressed itself as Christian," said Gavin Polone, an executive producer of, and the driving force behind, "Revelations." "We're very clear about that here. The words 'Jesus Christ' or 'Christ' are used three times a minute."
Nor will it share the shiny, happy tone of those generally uplifting series. Its New Testament source material, after all, features a judgmental, unambiguously sectarian God who has vowed one day to destroy mankind - or at least all non-Christians - in a wave of plague, famine, pestilence and war. And since early in development, the series' writer and chief creative guide has been David Seltzer, whose last foray into biblical prophecy resulted in the 1976 apocalyptic horror classic "The Omen." Early in the first episode of "Revelations," an ominous bit of biblical text fills the screen: "And the Sun will turn to Darkness and the Moon will turn to blood. ... For in one hour is thy judgment cometh."
But it is precisely the edginess of the program, along with its overt religiousness, that its creators and NBC hope will intrigue both believers and nonbelievers alike. "In tumultuous times like those we live in, apocalyptic buzz is always on the rise - as is spirituality," said Kevin Reilly, the president of NBC Entertainment, who greenlighted the series. Or as Ms. McElhone put it: "I defy anyone to say they're not interested in the questions that are being asked here."
Certainly, the widespread interest in, not to mention the tremendous profit potential of, religious-themed pop culture was evident even before "The Passion of the Christ" took the movie world by storm a year ago. Dan Brown's 2003 novel, "The Da Vinci Code" (the overwhelming popularity of which Mr. Reilly says first got him "thinking in this arena"), combined murder-mystery suspense and historical speculation about the machinations of the early Christian Church. Even more relevant to "Revelations," the "Left Behind" series of novels, based on a Christian-fundamentalist interpretation of end-times prophecy, has sold in the neighborhood of 50 million copies since its debut in 1995.
Mr. Polone says his personal interest in religion and Armageddon stems from a long-ago summer spent at an evangelical Christian youth camp, where he was encouraged to read Hal Lindsey's apocalypse-themed treatise "The Late, Great Planet Earth." "It scared the hell out of me," he said.
But as an adult he found the entertainment industry was wary of such issues, a phenomenon that he and others attribute to cultural bias. Lili Zanuck, who directed three episodes of "Revelations," recalled that in pitching the project, Mr. Polone argued that "there's a whole audience out there with these interests that we don't really address in Hollywood." Ms. Zanuck added, "In our community, we do sometimes forget the whole rest of the country.""I don't think most people in the entertainment world understand that this is a big deal," she said.
As for those who do understand, they may have their own reasons to shy away from religious themes: depending on which poll you consult, between one third and one half of Americans identify themselves as biblical literalists, and no one wants to risk alienating them by taking liberties with their beliefs.
To help avoid such backlash, the creators of "Revelations" say, they took great pains with all the biblical aspects of the series. "Everybody wants to make sure no rock has been left unturned," said Bill Pullman. "They're looking at everything - the credibility of every character, each choice." Scripts are reviewed by a theological consultant, as will be all marketing efforts, Mr. Reilly said. And Ms. Zanuck said each scriptural citation is checked against multiple versions of the Bible. And David Seltzer, cast members say, has become a man obsessed with the details.
Ms. McElhone said, "There have been a lot of people making sure that we walk the line on this." Still, the series creators admit that while biblically inspired, their story does takes plenty of liberties. "We're telling a fictional story," Mr. Seltzer said. "It's not a religious tale." Most notably, the entire series rests on the premise that the two lead characters can somehow forestall the final clash between God and Satan - an interpretation anathema to most end-times literalists.
"It may make for interesting tension and fun drama," said Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the "Left Behind" books. "But I don't know any serious theologian who thinks that humans can delay anything that God desires to do." Mr. Jenkins nonetheless expresses optimism that "Revelations" will focus people's attention on Christianity and help "keep the conversation on the table." "It's a conversation we like to have, about prophecy, God, Jesus," he said.
In fact, his biggest concern about the show may have more to do with art than theology: if religious entertainment is "cheesy," he said, with cheap special effects or bad acting, the fad will flop and Hollywood will move onto the next new thing. But if projects like "Revelations" are well done and become popular, "my hope," he said, "is it will keep the media interested in the topic and maybe they'll eventually get closer to the kind of stuff we do."
As the air date approaches, there seems to be a growing sense among those involved that "Revelations" will be judged on more than just its entertainment value. Mr. Pullman says the realization hit him this holiday season, during a trip home to visit his family.
"I come from a pretty small town in western New York State," he explained. "One day I was out dealing with this guy who had some old tractors for sale, and he said to me, 'Well, I don't pay much attention to Hollywood, but that movie 'The Passion of the Christ' did some important work.' I'm suddenly thinking: 'Wow. We're going to be part of that. People will either say we didn't help their cause or we kind of did. We're going to become part of the discussion about what everybody's agendas are.' "
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Wednesday, March 23, 2005
BACK!!!
Well, I'm back. I have been out for several weeks -- traveling and working at several Walk to Emmaus events. I hope to be back up and posting by Thursday of this week, and hopefully won't have any long lapses again.
While I don't have time to post a longer comment about the Terri Schiavo situation, I just read that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear the case and reinsert the feeding tube, meaning that Terri's life will end -- by Government decree -- within the next week or so. I believe our country has just taken its first steps down a slippery slope of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide that will lead us even further into a moral morasse. Recent cultural events, such as the Best Motion Picture for 2005, "Million Dollar Baby," demonstrates that this is a growing area of concern.
While I don't have time to post a longer comment about the Terri Schiavo situation, I just read that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear the case and reinsert the feeding tube, meaning that Terri's life will end -- by Government decree -- within the next week or so. I believe our country has just taken its first steps down a slippery slope of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide that will lead us even further into a moral morasse. Recent cultural events, such as the Best Motion Picture for 2005, "Million Dollar Baby," demonstrates that this is a growing area of concern.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
You Might Be A Methodist If...
- You think John Wesley was the 13th Apostle.
- You think God's presence is strongest on the back three pews.
- You think "Amazing Grace" is the national anthem.
- Your definition of fellowship has something to do with food.
- You honestly believe that the Apostle Paul spoke King James English.
- You think worship music has to be loud.
- You think Jesus actually used Welch's grape juice and saltine crackers.
- You judge the quality of a service by its length.
- You ever wake up in the middle of the night craving fried chicken and interpret that feeling as a call to preach.
- You believe that you are supposed to take a covered dish to heaven.
- You have never sung the third verse of any hymn.
- You have ever put an IOU in the offering plate.
- You think someone who says "Amen" while the preacher is preaching might be a Charismatic.
- You complain that the pastor only works one day and then he works too long.
- You clapped in church and felt guilty about it all week.
- You are old enough to get a senior discount at the pharmacy, but not old enough to promote to the Senior Adult Sunday School; you think the only promotion after that is the cemetery.
- You are upset that Joshua brought down the wall of Jericho and think that the Board of Trustees should recommend that the church pay for it to prevent a general ruckus.
- You are upset that the last hymn in the new hymnal is numbered "666.
-- You sit while singing "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus"
-- you don't take Rolaids when your heart is strangely warmed
-- you know that a circuit rider is not an electrical device
-- "The Upper Room" is as essential to your bathroom as the toilet paper
-- you've ever owned a pair of cross and flame boxer shorts
-- you've ever sung a gender-inclusive hymn
-- tithing is encouraged but widely ignored
-- half the people sitting in your pew lip-sync the words to the hymns
-- the word apportionment sends a chill down your spine
-- you realize pluralism isn't a communicable disease
-- names like Aldersgate, Asbury and Epworth are familiar
-- you consider the monthly potluck a sacrament
-- the only church camp song you know by heart is "Kum ba yah"
-- you've ever attended an Annual Conference and actually enjoyed it
-- you have an unexplained yearning to visit Wesley's chapel in London
-- your church is named for a geographical location rather than for a saint
-- you've never heard a sermon on Hell and don't feel you're missing out
-- you realize that VBS isn't a sexually transmitted disease
-- your pastor moves every four or five years and you like it that way
-- your pastor responses to you with, "I hear you saying..."
-- there's at least one person in every church meeting who says, "But we've never done it that way before"
-- your congregation's Christmas pageant include both boy and girl wise men
-- you accept the fact that the hymn, "O For a thousand tongues to sing" has almost as many stanzas as tongues
-- you know that the Wesleyan Quadrilateral isn't a trick football play involving four lateral passes
-- you realize that the Book of Discipline is not a guide to getting you child to behave
-- you understand that an "appointment" has nothing to do with keeping a lunch date
-- you know "UMW" stands for United Methodist Women rather than the United Mine Workers
-- you know the difference between a "diagonal" minister and a "Diaconal" minister
-- "Good morning" has the status of a liturgical greeting in the worship service
-- you feel a twinge of guilt when you sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" with gusto
-- you say "trespasses" instead of "debts" in the Lord's Prayer and have no idea why
-- your annual conference spends most of its time debating resolutions that nobody reads
-- you'd rather be branded with a hot iron than serve on the Nominating Committee (or PPR, Trustees, Finance, etc)
-- you've ever sipped Welch's grape juice out of a plastic shot glass during Communion
-- the members of the Friendship class are always fighting among themselves
-- you realize that sprinkling, pouring and immersing are not ways of seasoning food
-- you're asked to donate money to a "special offering" every other Sunday
-- you pour over the Conference Journal with the same intensity you would read a John Grisham novel
-- you have to fight through a cadre of "designated greeters" to get into the sanctuary
-- when the worship service lasts for more than one hour the beeping of watch alarms drowns out the final hymn.
- You think John Wesley was the 13th Apostle.
- You think God's presence is strongest on the back three pews.
- You think "Amazing Grace" is the national anthem.
- Your definition of fellowship has something to do with food.
- You honestly believe that the Apostle Paul spoke King James English.
- You think worship music has to be loud.
- You think Jesus actually used Welch's grape juice and saltine crackers.
- You judge the quality of a service by its length.
- You ever wake up in the middle of the night craving fried chicken and interpret that feeling as a call to preach.
- You believe that you are supposed to take a covered dish to heaven.
- You have never sung the third verse of any hymn.
- You have ever put an IOU in the offering plate.
- You think someone who says "Amen" while the preacher is preaching might be a Charismatic.
- You complain that the pastor only works one day and then he works too long.
- You clapped in church and felt guilty about it all week.
- You are old enough to get a senior discount at the pharmacy, but not old enough to promote to the Senior Adult Sunday School; you think the only promotion after that is the cemetery.
- You are upset that Joshua brought down the wall of Jericho and think that the Board of Trustees should recommend that the church pay for it to prevent a general ruckus.
- You are upset that the last hymn in the new hymnal is numbered "666.
-- You sit while singing "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus"
-- you don't take Rolaids when your heart is strangely warmed
-- you know that a circuit rider is not an electrical device
-- "The Upper Room" is as essential to your bathroom as the toilet paper
-- you've ever owned a pair of cross and flame boxer shorts
-- you've ever sung a gender-inclusive hymn
-- tithing is encouraged but widely ignored
-- half the people sitting in your pew lip-sync the words to the hymns
-- the word apportionment sends a chill down your spine
-- you realize pluralism isn't a communicable disease
-- names like Aldersgate, Asbury and Epworth are familiar
-- you consider the monthly potluck a sacrament
-- the only church camp song you know by heart is "Kum ba yah"
-- you've ever attended an Annual Conference and actually enjoyed it
-- you have an unexplained yearning to visit Wesley's chapel in London
-- your church is named for a geographical location rather than for a saint
-- you've never heard a sermon on Hell and don't feel you're missing out
-- you realize that VBS isn't a sexually transmitted disease
-- your pastor moves every four or five years and you like it that way
-- your pastor responses to you with, "I hear you saying..."
-- there's at least one person in every church meeting who says, "But we've never done it that way before"
-- your congregation's Christmas pageant include both boy and girl wise men
-- you accept the fact that the hymn, "O For a thousand tongues to sing" has almost as many stanzas as tongues
-- you know that the Wesleyan Quadrilateral isn't a trick football play involving four lateral passes
-- you realize that the Book of Discipline is not a guide to getting you child to behave
-- you understand that an "appointment" has nothing to do with keeping a lunch date
-- you know "UMW" stands for United Methodist Women rather than the United Mine Workers
-- you know the difference between a "diagonal" minister and a "Diaconal" minister
-- "Good morning" has the status of a liturgical greeting in the worship service
-- you feel a twinge of guilt when you sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" with gusto
-- you say "trespasses" instead of "debts" in the Lord's Prayer and have no idea why
-- your annual conference spends most of its time debating resolutions that nobody reads
-- you'd rather be branded with a hot iron than serve on the Nominating Committee (or PPR, Trustees, Finance, etc)
-- you've ever sipped Welch's grape juice out of a plastic shot glass during Communion
-- the members of the Friendship class are always fighting among themselves
-- you realize that sprinkling, pouring and immersing are not ways of seasoning food
-- you're asked to donate money to a "special offering" every other Sunday
-- you pour over the Conference Journal with the same intensity you would read a John Grisham novel
-- you have to fight through a cadre of "designated greeters" to get into the sanctuary
-- when the worship service lasts for more than one hour the beeping of watch alarms drowns out the final hymn.
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