Why the Bible should frustrate us

I love God's word. I love everything about it. I love the clarity of it, the power of it, and the security of it. I love how God's word can be preached, sang, memorized and discussed.
2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "All of God's promises find their yes in Christ". Of this Spurgeon writes,

It is with you...as it was with Jacob. You know Jacob lay down and went to sleep. And the Lord said to him, "The land on which you lie I will give to you" (Gen 28:13). Now, wherever you go, throughout the whole of scripture, if you can find a place where you can lie down, that is yours! If you can sleep on a promise, that promise is yours!


What a wonderful comfort it is to know that all the promises of God are applied to me! With that being said, the bible is easily the most frustrating book I have ever picked up. And of all of the biblical characters, Jesus is easily the most frustrating one. Take John 4:43 for example. "After the two days Jesus departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown)"
...then why are you going to your hometown? Go to Jerusalem! Don't waste your time in Galilee! Don't you know how tiny and insignificant Galilee is?

I think if I was Jesus' manager, the gospels would look a lot different. I would tell him how inefficient it is to pass through Samaria to get from Judea to Galilee.
"Jesus, stop talking to Samaritan prostitutes. If the Pharisees hear about this, your image will be ruined!"
"Jesus, don't say things like, Let the children come to me. Don't you know that the scribes will take what you say and twist it?"
"Jesus! Don't touch the lepers! If you get leprosy, this ministry will be over!"

Or how about John 7,
Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world!" (vv3-4)


"Wow Jesus, your brothers sure do have an unshakable faith in you!" Wrong again. Look what John writes,
For not even his brothers believed in him. (v5)
What do you mean they don't believe in Jesus? They basically just told him to be a missionary!

What about John 6 when Jesus teaches that people must drink his blood and eat his flesh or they will perish. "Jesus, could you perhaps water that sermon down. Tell a few jokes or something. We're losing people."


When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard teaching". (v60)


Jesus! We're losing them! Say something comforting! Say something funny! Say something poignant!

"No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father!" (v65)
Jesus, that is not comforting!

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him (v66)
Dangit Jesus! We lost them! Ok, time for damage control. Make sure the Twelve are still with you.

Then Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" (v67)
JESUS! Did you really just give your disciples the option to leave you? What are you doing?!

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed! And have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God!" (vv68-69)


Thank you Peter. Good answer. See Jesus, we still got some followers. Say something nice to Peter. Thank him for his faithfulness. Encourage him with some kind words. Tell him how much you appreciate his company...

"Did I not choose you, the Twelve?! And yet one of you is a devil!" (v70)
Oh wow...

By the way, I bet that was the most awkward silence ever. You think you've said some awkward things? No. Our Lord and Savior is the King of saying awkward things. Now at this point, I think I would throw my hands in the air and shortly thereafter turn in my two weeks notice. Last one, Luke 8:22-25. The disciples are on a boat with Jesus (who is sleeping) and a storm hits. Luke writes, "A windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger." (v23). Uh oh, a storm's coming. Pause. What are we supposed to do when a "storm" comes? Easy! We turn to Jesus. I learned that in Sunday school! I can tell the disciples never missed Sunday school by their response...

And they went and woke him, saying, "Master Master, we are perishing!" (v24)


Good job, disciples! Well done. When the storm hits, you run to Christ for protection. Now Jesus will wake up and triumphantly save the day!

And Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm (v24)


Boom! Just like we drew it up! High five, boys! Jesus to the rescue! Wait, why isn't this passage over? Oh Jesus is motioning like he wants to say something. He probably wants to congratulate the boys on their great faith. Quiet down Peter, let the Lord speak. He probably wants to give us a gold medal or something.

"Where is your faith!" (v25)
...another awkward silence

Jesus, I give up. They did exactly what they were supposed to do. A storm hit and they went directly to you. They didn't turn to a life jacket or to a raft or anything like that. They went to you. Why are you rebuking them? You asked them where their faith was? It was in you. Did I miss something?

Do you see how frustrating it can be to simply just read the bible? If you run through God's word, Jesus will trip you! But what's the point of all this? Is Jesus just trying to mess with us? No. He wants us to know him. He wants us to know that no ordinary man wrote this gospel. He wants us to know that no ordinary man wrote this biblical narrative. He wants us to know that he is no ordinary man.

Jesus goes to Galilee to prove that he is jealous for the praise of his people. Jesus speaks to the Samaritan adulteress and embraces little children because his love has no racial, gender nor age barriers. Jesus touches the lepers because he has power over illnesses and has compassion on the hurting. Jesus knows that the reason behind his brothers wanting his fame to be spread throughout the world is because what they really want is their small town to be put on the map. They will ride the curtails of their miracle-working brother to fame and prosperity. Jesus refuses to water down his message because it is he who draws people to himself. Jesus is reformed in his theology. He preaches the truth and those whom he foreknew and predestined, he will also call. But he will call them "his way". This is why Jesus was not impressed with Peter's response. It is because Peter's faith did not originate within Peter. "Did I not choose you?" And lastly, Jesus rebukes his disciples for their lack of faith because they failed to realize that he alone is bigger than the storm.

"Who then is this?! That he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?" (Lk 8:25)


Clearly, the "Master Master" of verse 24 is not the same Jesus of verse 25. Their view of Jesus had changed. They knew he could get them out of sticky situations but they had no idea that sticky situations are actually subject to him. "He commands even winds and water, and they obey him?" (v25)

Not only can Jesus calm the storms in your life, he is the one who endorses and prescribes them. Jesus is greater than your circumstances. Where was their faith? Their faith was in a weak Jesus. Perhaps Christ might ask us the very same question, "Where is your faith?" The goal of the bible is that you would say, "Wow. Who is this Jesus?!" Who is this Jesus, that even my sinful heart obeys him. Who is this Jesus, that even my wallet loves him? Who is this Jesus, that even my anxieties are cast upon him? Are you in a storm? Is Jesus with you? Good. I would rather be with Jesus in a Tsunami than without Jesus in Hawaii on the beach. I pray that you would be frustrated with God's word and in so doing, have your view of Jesus stretched.

He who calls you is faithful, he will surely do it.

What is God's Love Language?

Let's face it. No Christian friendship is complete without some sort of reference to the 5 love languages. We're curious to know the specific love language of our friends and potential significant others. We're so curious in fact, that we devote time and energy into figuring it out. Have you ever played the guessing game? Have you ever caught yourself making complex theories based off of random observations? Guilty. We could just ask, but it's far more fun to figure it out on our own. Perhaps that's just the detective in us. We love the mystery! If only our subjects, I mean, our friends, were easier to read, we would know how to make them feel special! If only their actions and words lined up perfectly. Then we could follow that trajectory into a crystal clear understanding of what their love language is. Unfortunately, people aren't that easy to figure out. I admit, this makes the quest all the more exciting but why don't we apply this endeavor to God? Have you ever wondered what God's love language is? It's actually much easier to figure out. God's word and God's actions always line up. Our God is consistent (Heb 13:8). 

So what is it? Is it touch? No, can't be. God is spirit (John 4:24). Quality time? Well, he does tell us to seek his face (2 Chr 7:14). Words of affirmation? The Psalmist does seem to shower the Lord in praise (Ps 103:1-5). Gifts? God does tell us that he loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7). Ah, it must be acts of service. Wrong. Deuteronomy 28:47 seems to suggest that God is more concerned about our hearts than our acts of service. So what is it? I'll give you a hint. Read this next sentence very carefully. God loves and is loved the exact same way. Let's look at his word and see if it becomes clear.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" - Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life" - John 3:16

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him" - 1 John 4:9

"This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his only son to be the propitiation for our sins" - 1 John 4:10

"Abraham, now I know you love me, seeing that you did not withhold your son,  your only son from me" - Genesis 22:12

"Husbands, love your wives, like Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" - Ephesians 5:25

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us" - 1 John 3:16

Do you see it? Do you hear this theme beating like a drum throughout all of scripture? It's there. Ever-present, unwavering and absolutely breath-taking! God's love language is sacrifice! 

Only until we have a deep grasp of the gospel will we have a proper understanding of love. To put it in the negative, we will be incapable of producing genuine love and affection until the cross has become the central force in our life. "We love because he first loved us". How has he loved us? By sacrificing his own son for all who would turn to him in faith. Surely Abraham understood this. When asked by God to take his son, his only son, the son whom he loved, and offer him up as a burnt offering on the mountain of Moriah, Abraham answered the call with obedient faith. Surely, God is trying to show us something. Have you ever wondered why Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his only son? I think it was because Abraham had a greater treasure.

So what is your Isaac? What do you hope in? What good thing competes for first place in your heart? Watch out. God tells us to be willing to sacrifice that. The litmus test for idolatry is sacrifice. If you didn't have "x" would God be more than enough for you? If not, I would encourage you to look to Calvary. I would encourage you to pick up the pages of scripture and read how the Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Now look at what the man did..."in his joy he sold (sacrificed) all he had and bought the field" (Matthew 13:44). There are some things we need to love less. However, idolatry simply reveals that we need to love God more. I pray that you would understand the love language of God and be changed by it.

He who calls you is faithful, he will surely do it.

Does Grace make us Lazy?

Thinking is crucial in the Christian life. Pondering, meditating and mentally wrestling with complex concepts can be some of the most enlightening and worshipful times with the Lord! One of my favorite subjects of meditation is the course of my life. If God would've told me 3 years ago that he was going to send me to DC to share the gospel with college students, I probably would have never prayed the patented, "Lord, I want to be the person you want me to be" prayer freshmen year. I didn't think God would actually take me seriously! I thought perhaps he wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer or maybe even a...oh I don’t know, small-business owner. But a missionary? An evangelist? A full-time minister of the gospel? No way. That wasn't my plan. That's not what that prayer was about! Yet, 3 years, 2 disciples and 3 majors later, here I am raising support to go into full-time ministry in Washington, DC. Moral of the story: be careful what you pray for, God may actually take you up on it. My life will never be the same because of that prayer.

As a young, single guy in my 20s I realize that I have an awful lot to learn. We young people (particularly us men) radiate youthful ignorance. So I'm thankful for older men who provide wisdom, support and often times rebuke when needed. Funding your ministry by Scott Morton has been incredibly helpful in thinking through the support raising process. Near the back of the book, Morton has included a great deal of scripture to help us young guys (and perhaps some older/more experienced guys and gals) develop a biblical understanding of support raising. The one that has recently captured my thoughts is 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10.

Perhaps a little background of this church might be helpful. Have you ever noticed how much this book is preached in America? ...neither have I. Why not? I hear a lot of sermons on Romans and John but not much love for 2 Thessalonians. I think it's because the premise of the letter is something that we Americans cannot connect with. Matter of fact, they struggle with the very thing we need to embrace. The Thessalonians were under the impression that Christ was coming back, like...tomorrow! Chapter 2 begins with Paul writing,

"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed...for that day will not come until the rebellion comes first"

 Or in other words, "Relax guys, put away your pitchforks and take a shower...Christ isn't coming back for a while." Perhaps it could be said that the Thessalonians had an over-realized eschatology whereas we have an under-realized eschatology. All that means is that they think about the end times too much whereas we think that Earth is our permanent home and as a result we give very little thought to eternity.

Now why highlight this? What's the point of all this eschatology talk? ...and what in the world does this have to do with support raising?! Well it seems that in the bible there seems to be a biblical principle stating that our beliefs dictate our behavior and our behavior demonstrates our beliefs. Therefore, if our dear friends in Thessalonica believe wrong, they will in turn behave wrong. Next question: How are they behaving? One word: Lazy. They figure, "If Christ is coming back tomorrow, why work? Why be financially responsible? Why take a shower? To heck with hard work, I'm ready for heaven!" Unfortunately, Paul bursts their bubble by challenging their belief system in chapter 2. Now in chapter 3 he addresses their behavior. Verse 7 says, "We were not idle". Verse 8 continues, "With toil and labor we worked night and day". Finally in verse 10 he exclaims, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat!"

Easy Paul! What about grace? What about the gospel? What about the Acts 2 community that we learn about at every single Christian conference? I mean, one of the reasons I love being a Christian so much is because of all the free stuff I get!

However, I think this stems from a false view of grace. Grace does not negate personal responsibility nor does it contradict the Acts 2 community. As a matter of fact, I think Paul is striving to protect the Acts 2 community in this passage. How can you have all things in common if you can't afford to buy anything? How can you sell your possessions if you can't buy possessions in the first place? Deeply embedded in the Acts 2 grace philosophy is the necessity of hard work. This is why Christians ought not to be lazy. Laziness ruins community! Now here's where support raising comes in. Ministry is now my job. Support raising is part of my job and in a very real way, if I am unwilling to work, I cannot eat. I'm challenged to view writing letters, making phone calls, setting up meetings and making appeals as "going to work". This is how God intends for me to provide for myself and Lord-willing a family someday. Through the gospel we learn that grace produces an attitude of devotion to hard work. I pray that you would work hard in response to God's grace.

He who calls you is faithful, he will surely do it.