I recently finished up Pastor Tim Keller's book "The Reason for God". This is a great book that I began reading a year ago, never finished, and re-read this past month. Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. In his book, he outlines several of the objections to Christianity and Christ that he has heard in his years of ministry. In the book he presents his apologetic arguments against many of these beliefs that are held by skeptics in society. I found his book to be an excellent book on apologetics, and quite frankly, one of the best books I've read on addressing the main tenets of the Christian faith.

Among the tidbits I read from the book was Keller's definition of the problem of sin. I, like most, often am guilty of filing the "problem of sin" into a series of wrongs or "don't do's". And sin certainly applies to those "don't do's" in our life. However, Keller correctly argues that the "problem" of sin goes much deeper than this. Sin is foundational in man's quest for his own identity apart from God. The first of God's Ten Commandments is to "have no other God's before me". Therefore, the problem of sin is often a problem of idolatry - or worshipping things other than God. I think that this is a signficant problem - even in many Christian's lives. Sadly, we are all at times guilty of putting things above God - even good things. According to Keller, "...the primary way to define sin is not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship with God." (p. 162) Therefore, as Christians who understand the need for repentence, we must recognize our need to repent not only of the things we do that are apart from God's will, BUT also to repent of our own selfishness, our desires for other things above God, and for striving to build up our own identies instead of God's.

"Lord, please forgive us"

I just read a great teaching by Ray Comfort called "Hells Best Kept Secret". You can access and read this teaching here. I strongly recommend that you read this teaching. (If you haven't already - perhaps I'm the slow one and everyone has read this already). Ray Comfort is an evangelist that has paired up with Kirk Cameron (childhood star on the TV show "Growing Pains" and actor in recent Christian movies such as "Fireproof" and the "Left Behind" series) to lead an evangelism resource and training ministry called "The Way of the Master".

Ray's influential teaching called "Hells Best Kept Secret" is a message to the church and the saints on the true method of evangelism: the use of God's law (the ten commandments) to convince nonbelievers of their need for salvation. Ray argues that the church today has adopted the "life enhancement" method of sharing the gospel. Instead of preaching that nonbelievers are in danger of an eternity in hell without God as result of their unrepentant sin; a majority of modern day evangelism focuses to convince people that Jesus will make their life better and more fulfilled. And he does do this (and will); however, if a person isn't convinced that they NEED Christ's salvation as forgiveness for their sins FIRST, they will have a hard time on the journey of the Christian life. The Bible says that all believers will face persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Therefore, it a believer isn't joyful of their salvation because of what they know that Christ spared them from (God's judgment and an eternity in Hell), then they are in danger of falling away from the faith and not trusting God when times are tough and persecution comes. Therefore, it is imperative that as we seek to share the gospel, according to Ray's teaching and the teachings of the Bible - that we speak to people about how they've broken God's law and need His forgiveness. Only when you've convinced someone of God offering them a free gift of having spared them from a penalty that we all deserve (as we've all broken God's law) will that person become an authentic follower of Christ. Sharing the gospel and only focusing on grace and life fulfillment (and not first on repentance) is not sharing the true gospel. God's grace in salvation is equally important in the gospel message - but it follows the true repentance of a person for breaking God's law and the need for forgiveness.

That's my summary of Ray's teaching, and I agree with him. You do see these patterns in some of today's evangelism, and Ray's teaching is centered on the biblical model of evangelism. Please share your thoughts (and read the article if you haven't).

For my first post, I thought it was appropriate to draft my faith journey. I came to knowledge of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at a very young age, so young that I don't even remember my exact age (likely 4 or 5). I remember my Mom reading to my brother and I one evening and explaining to us the need for salvation from God through His Son, Jesus Christ. My parents served a wonderful Christian example in my life, and I thank God for their leadership and commitment to Christ that they evidenced in their lives (and continue to do so). Over the years, I have reaffirmed my faith in Christ and the acceptance of His free gift of salvation many times, through repentance from sin, acknowledging that He is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for my sins in my place, and that he is truly Lord of my life!

However, I must confess that my faith journey through my teen, college, and young adult years at times was a little stagnant. I really didn't challenge myself much in my faith in those years. I wasn't growing in my relationship with God, and it most certainly showed in my life. Only recently have I felt a deep passion for God's Word and discipleship - a deeper passion than at any point in my life. Which brings me to a large reason for this blog. Even if no one other than me ever reads this blog, I still desire to regularly articulate my thoughts on the Christian life, on the issues of theology as well as issues of the day. I also seek a closer walk with my Savior, and hopefully, through careful thought and journaling of these topics, the Lord will provide me with more knowledge and understanding.

I find the more reading, studying, and thinking I do on the things of God, the more questions that I have. I feel myself questioning and pondering the things of God that I used to take for granted and assumed I had a handle on. Part of me feels a little troubled in doing all of this questioning, while the other part of me is starting to realize that this is, in a way, the essence of one's walk with God. We don't have all of the answers. No theologian or biblical scholar has all of the answers. We are mere men, created in God's image. God is God. And I believe that God takes joy in our seeking Him, in our questions, and in our humble submission to Him and His will in our lives. Acknowledging to God, regularly, that I don't have all of the answers, that I desire to know Him and His will, that I need Him to make it through the day, that I desire his companionship and whatever wisdom he chooses to reveal to me - all of these things I believe only strengthens the relationship.

I love the newly found passion I have for learning and studying the things of God, and I thank God for it. I regret letting so much time in my life pass by seeking the things of this world instead of things of God. However, God is always faithful, and he's always been faithful in our relationship. He created me, He sustains me, he's forgiven me, he sacrificed His Son for me to pay the penalty for MY sins. How could I not want to know more about HIM?! How could I not want to pursue God more and more each day, to know Him and His Word, to seek to obey His Word, not out of obligation but out of thankfulness, honor, praise, and gratitude for what He's done for me. And how can I not talk about what God has done for me? How can I not speak about the relationship that I have with Him? Whether it be complete strangers or my closest family and friends (whom both, I hope, will dialog with me on this blog) - how can I not talk about my relationship with Christ, my journey in faith with him, and my desire to truly "Live His Word".