Modern Day Judases

When I was a student studying for the ministry, I wore rose colored glasses concerning the pastorate.  Naively, I assumed that being a shepherd was mostly preaching, teaching, evangelizing, and discipling unlearned yet hungry sheep. Of course, I realized that the ministry would be punctuated with the occasional funeral, wedding, and discontent sheep, but overall, I assumed that all people in a church had a strong desire to grow.  Now, having been senior pastor for a whoppin’ eight months, I have realized maybe things are a little different than I thought.  Yes, much of my time is spent studying God’s Word (of which I love) and the vast majority of God’s people that I minister to, have a desire to grow.  But I seem to have either forgotten or ignored the fact, that there will be Judases along the way.  Before everyone thinks I am being too hard on others, let me explain that I think Judas has kind of gotten a bad rap.  Yes, he did betray our Lord and Savior; and yes, Jesus did say that it would have been better had he not been born.  Sure, he cared not for the poor and was a thief.  But really, could I have ever been accused of those things?  Have I ever betrayed my Lord by being ashamed to proclaim his name?  Have I ever cared not for the poor?  Have I ever stolen and been a theif, at the very least been covetous.  Please don’t misunderstand me, I don’t for a second believe that Judas was a believer or that he actually got saved on his death gallows, but Christian churches are full of Judases.  Judas was a pretender; and I am sure that at times he was very sincerely trying to follow Jesus.  So many “Christians” pretend to follow Jesus in churches today, they go to worship meetings, they maybe even attend a midweek prayer service or a Bible study.  Sometimes they may even give gospel literature out, but they have never truly surrendered their life to Jesus Christ.  I do not believe that Judas was some maniacle, diabolical, sinister evil genius (at least not anymore than every other sinner, of which we all were or are).  But I do believe that Judas was caught up with the hype of Jesus and “Christianity” but never had the power of God in his life.  He did what the unregenerate do; he lied, stole, and sought to please himself.  I have encountered “Christians” (only God knows if they are truly regenerate) who claim to be a disciple, but really live just like they always have lived.  Individuals with whom there doesn’t seem to be any real growth.  These faith-fakers, or pretenders are content to “follow” Jesus until it costs something they are unwilling to pay. 

So how do you handle these pretenders, these “Judases” in our churches?  The comfort I receive in all of this, is that Jesus little congregation of 12 had at least one pretender fooled most everyone. . .everyone but Jesus.  So how did Jesus handle the pretender in the midst?  Well, we know that he compassionately gave him ample opportunity to repent–at least three and a half years.  Even when Judas betrayed him with a kiss, Jesus called him friend.  He also clearly confronted Judas with the Truth.  Jesus did not pull punches, he told Judas that he knew he would betray his “Master.”  He did not gloss over Judas greatest sin as traitor, but even told him that it would have been better had he never been born.  Not for Jesus’ sake, but for Judas’ sake, it would have been better.  Jesus also let Judas go.  Sometimes in our churches, we have a hard time letting the pretenders go, because we are afraid that they may spread rumors about us, or maybe they have deep pockets or are influential with others.  Judas had fooled all of the disciples, with his pious antics.  Obviously, he was respected enough to be the accountant.  The patience and firmness of Jesus is a rebuke to me.  How often I would respond to those who would pretend with the extreme response in both aspects.  Either to “loving” and neglecting of confrontation.  Or too confrontational without giving adequate opportunity for them to repent.  May the pretenders learn from Judas. . . it doesn’t end well, and may the believer learn from Jesus to be patiently confrontational with sin. 

“Lord give me the patience to handle the pretenders and the wisdom to confront them with your Truth”

Moab Vacation

A couple of weeks ago, we were able to take the family down to Moab, UT for a little vacation.  We hiked a lot of the trails in Arches National Park (kids are a lot heavier on steep slickrock) and had a great time, here are some pictures to enjoy. 

 

Arriving in Downtown Moab

At the Visitor’s Center getting info and postcards for Arches

First hike was Park Avenue

typical hiking with Carter-Mom is going one way. . . so he goes another.

Balancing Rock-A pretty cool formation

Double Arches is one of the most spectacular of the arches in the park.  I spent a lot of time just climbing around here, there were lots of people though and so Bonnie took Carter and Lucas back to the car–Carter likes to climb up really high and we were a little worried about him. 

This one is called Turret Arch.  Carter did a lot of climbing since Lucas was sleeping in the car.  Several times I had to grab him before he headed up the side of a pretty steep climb.  He is fearless. . . except he’s afraid of the ghostlight. 

The Windows Arch (North and South windows) looked like an old man with a big nose in the middle.

The Delicate Arch is the most famous of the Arches in Utah.  Old license plates had a picture of the Delicate Arch on them. 

Every time we came across the rock cairns that marked the trail, Carter wanted to “fix them.”  So on the way back, Carter and I took a lot longer getting down so he could help future hikers be certain they could find their way.  Bonnie and Lucas got tired of waiting for us so they headed down. 

The hike to Delicate Arch was three miles roundtrip.  It wouldn’t have been so bad except that a large part of it was up some steep slickrock.  Having a kid on your back makes that somewhat exhausting.  But the view was well worth it. 

An Unseen War

Recently our church family has been going through very difficult attacks by evil forces in this world.  As a Christian, I believe that all such attacks are a result of Satanic influences, worldly philosophies, and completely depraved flesh (Eph. 2:1-3).  But never in my life has it seemed like so many of God’s people in one church were under attack.  I can speculate that God is going to greatly use this church and therefore the matrix of evil (world, flesh, & Devil) have stepped up their warmongering, but really I have no idea why this is going on.  I do know one thing about the Inter-mountain West, though, that might help explain some of this to me. Orthodox doctrine in historical Christianity is relatively new out here.  Like many mission fields, the presence of a true Gospel witness has been long absent.  Within the past 50 years we have seen front-line missionaries starting struggling works all across the region (there is still a lot of places that need a work though).  Those church families have fought and fought to remain in existence, but sadly some have not.  There are some, however, that have remained faithful. Now, through the ups and downs, we may finally see a light at the end of this dark tunnel.  I am privileged to have grown up out in this region (Cody, Wy) as a Christian. Like many mission fields, the night is darkest before the dawn.  Maybe this unseen war fighting for the souls of men and women has intensified because the light of the glorious gospel of grace is about to spring forth as the sun rising over the majestic Wasatch mountains.  Maybe the forces of evil, led by Satan, sense the power of the Gospel as it penetrates the long, cold darkness that has been covering this region for so many year.  And like the last snow-drift in the spring, those forces are holding on for dear life.  I can speculate all day as to why oppression and darkness seems to deepen within this portion of the United States, but one thing I do know, God’s Word and prayer is the answer.  God will accomplish what he desires with His Word.  Prayer-the only action we humans can do that somehow affects the heart of God-will accomplish what He desires.  I was recently reminded of Ezra who was “ready to teach the people” but when he saw their darkness and sin, he fell on his face and began to weep and pray.  The Bible says that while he was praying, a multitude came up behind him weeping, praying, confessing!  He was a “ready scribe in the Law of the Lord,” but before he could even preach a word, the people responded by the Spirit of God.  God used the humble prayer of one preacher to reform Israel. Maybe God could use my prayer to bring an awakening to the Inter-mountain West.  If you are a Christian concerned about the Gospel piercing the darkness of Salt Lake City, would you join me in praying for God to bring an awakening within this religious, yet morally bankrupt city? 

God be with you!

The Boys in ‘08

Well, I promised that I would put some more pictures of the boys when I got them on my computer, so here they are.  They are so fun, and also a handful.  Bonnie stays so busy all day, just trying to keep up with them.  She is such a good wife and mother.  I am so blessed to have such an awesome family.

It’s nice to have Aunt “Cookie” here to play with the boys.

Carter is supposed to be eating his breakfast.

Bonnie and Lucas Allen

Lucas always looks suspicious.

Overall, they are cute guys that love to have fun.

Am I Elected?

I am studying Ephesians chapter one in our worship services.  I am so overwhelmed with the grace of God in choosing to adopt me, so that like Paul, I can’t help but get excited as I ascribe praise upon praise to my wonderful Savior.  Of course those who study theology know that these verses are so hotly debated and have been for centuries.  The choosing (election) of God coupled with the will of man has confounded thinkers and theologians and has led some to proclaim “I know the answer” while most of us scratch our head and wonder if we will ever know the answer.  I believe that there are two fundamental mistakes we often make in trying to understand this rich doctrine.

First of all, I cannot find anywhere in Scripture where the doctrine of election is presented as an explanation of salvation.  I see nowhere this precious doctrine dissected into its various parts in an effort to explain it.  Instead, I see the gifted writers God uses (mostly Paul and Peter) using the election of God as a cause for praise and exaltation of God.  Maybe we get so sidetracked trying to fully comprehend the choosing of God, that we lose sight of the purpose He has in revealing this truth to us-the purpose of his saints humbly falling before him in unworthiness extolling praise because of the greatness of our sovereign God. 

Second, the most common (In my opinion) misunderstanding of this doctrine comes when an absurd logical leap is made proclaiming that “If God chose those who would be saved, then he chose some individuals to be condemned.”  In reply to this illogical leap I must say that is found no where in Scripture.  But I think the real misunderstanding does not lie in incorrect theology, but in wrong anthropology.  That statement comes from the worldly philosophy that attempts to lump all mankind as basically good with the right to be chosen.  That philosophy views people as residing in some kind of morally neutral pot, waiting for God to pick some people up and place them in the redeemed category, and God to reach into the morally neutral pot and place some people in the condemned category.  The problem is that people are not in a morally neutral pot! People are already in the condemned category because people are naturally bad.  Instead, it is as if God were reaching over to the condemned group and picking people out of destruction and misery of sin–sin which we so freely choose, constantly.  It is not about condemning individuals, it is about God choosing to show mercy. 

Do I fully understand the election of God?  No and if you can figure it out, you’ve done one better than the Biblical writers, multitudes of church fathers, great theologians, and my contemporaries; however, I can bow my need to my awesome Savior who, because of His work, chose me from before the foundation of the world. 

New Years pictures

We went to Wyoming for a New Year’s celebration.  Too bad both boys were sick.  Carter had a little bit of pneumonia, and Lucas had a really bad cold.  I will post some pictures of the best boys in the world to try to boost my hit count on the blog. 

Carter helping fix eggs for breakfast.

Grandma is very patient with her little helper.

With Lucas sick, this is the one picture we have of him halfway happy.

I can’t believe we ate that Jello salad Carter “helped” to make.  Had I seen this picture before dinner it might have changed things.

Grandpa always wears Carter out. 

I know most of these are of Carter.   There are two reasons for that: 1.  Lucas was sick and grumpy the whole time.           2.  Carter is a camera hog.   I will post some pictures of Lucas that we recently took when I get them from the camera.

“But I have prayed for you.”

In Luke 22, I can almost sense the anticipation of the disciples.  They probably did not understand all that was going on, but they knew something was in the air.  Jesus is giving his last words before they would forsake Him.  The disciples are trying to find out who would betray Him, and with the anticipation of the “coming kingdom” (or so they thought) there is bickering over who would be the greatest.  Not a very pleasant picture of discipleship in these last moments.  Jesus turns to Peter and tells him that Satan desires to sift him as wheat-to use him for evil ends.  Possibly one of the most comforting passages in the Bible that demonstrates our Lord’s care and compassion is the next phrase.  Jesus says this to Peter, “But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail: and when you are converted, strengthen, your brethren.”  What an awesome Truth in God’s Word that the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of glory and of righteousness, personally, specifically, and compassionately prayed for Peter.  Of course the passage goes on with Peter arguing this point only to be told that he would deny Christ three times before the rooster crows.  Where would Peter have been, if Jesus had not prayed for him?  Where would I be if the Lord of Heaven and earth were not in heaven today, praying for me-interceding on my behalf as the Great Mediator between God and man?  Peter would sin; he would blaspheme, but he would also turn from that sin and boldly warn the followers of Christ in I Peter 5:8-10 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. . . but the God of all grace,, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while, make you complete (perfect), establish, strengthen, settle you.”  Peter knew firsthand the sifting of Satan, as well as the all-encompassing grace of God in restoring him.  And the prayer of Jesus is answered in the warning of Peter.

I can continue in the faith today, because I know that my mediator has prayed for me.  I know that he is ever before the throne of grace pleading his righteousness on my behalf; praying for my protection from the evil one, praying for me!

Ephesus in 2008

One of the greatest parts of full-time ministry is spending hours in God’s Word in preparation for proclaiming His Truth.  One of the amazing graces about preaching the Word of God is how Christ stirs my own soul and strengthens my spirit before I even utter a word to the congregation.  I feel a passion when I preach; it is not something I must “work up” though.  Instead, God ignites my heart with the sparks of the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, as it grinds against my flint-like soul. .  I am excited to be starting a series of preaching in New Testament Letter to the Ephesians.  This letter written by Paul is one of my favorites in the entire Bible mostly due to the style in which God gifted Paul to present inspired Truth.  How God directed the Apostle to take us to the heights of the heavenlies in presenting the graces we have in Christ through His Divine Calling; then he begs the reader to “Walk worthy!” of this calling.  Following this, he writes in an almost painfully practical way reminding the reader how one must walk with our relationships in light of the glorious calling of God. 

 And all this was written to a church in a town much like my current residence.  A place where the economy, tourism, religion, culture, and lifestyle all unite under the banner of one zealous religion-the religion of Artemis.  A place where the temple is the central part of the city, where people come from all over the world to see the “greatness” of this religious figure, where religious zeal reigns, but not according to knowledge.  And it is here, Paul spends more time building the church than any other place.  Here in the hotbed of religious ardor, a fledgling church springs up from a handfull of misinformed saints, a couple of tent-makers, and some converted pagans.  Through trials, tears, and blood God built His church in this difficult environment.  One individual once commented, ”If God can build a church in Ephesus, He can build one anywhere.”  My heart’ prayer and passion is that God would build a great work in Salt Lake City that would turn the city on its head, just like He did before in Ephesus.  If you are new to Christian Joe and would like to know more of what God is doing in Salt Lake City, check out our church’s website www.graceutah.com  

Our First Snowfamily

Carter and I spent my day off this past Monday making “snowpeople.”  We had a blast!  My boys will only be this age once in their life.  With Lucas it is that precious stage of just being held all the time and with Carter that discovery age where every car that passes by is a “wow” and every snow flake that falls is “Look, snow!” and every Christmas light is “Cool, yites!”  I treasure the gift of my wife and sons dearly. 

Here are the boys-Carter and Lucas

It’s the Johnson Snowfamily!

The Goodness of God Part II

I am in awe and wonder over the phrasing of Romans 2:4.  What a tremendous truth to contemplate that the “Goodness of God leads you to repentance.”  To delight in the goodness of God is to delight in his merciful drawing of us closer and closer to repentance.  To despise the goodness of God is to ignore his mercy and grace and reject repentance.  How often the natural man has despised the goodness of God by scoffing at the plan of redemption, the gift of salvation.  In fact, verse 5 of this same chapter says that a hard unrelenting heart will treasure up for itself wrath against that day of wrath when God will reveal his righteous indignation and judment.  So here is the scenario-the natural man can repent of his sin and depraved way of thinking and cast himself fully on the goodness of God or can save up for himself wrath piled upon wrath.  Alas, the natural man will usually choose wrath over goodness. 

How much worse is it for the redeemed, the child of God who has bee adopted, who has been chosen and called, to accept the gift of salvation, calling upon the name of the Lord; to then despise the goodness of God in the work of sanctification.  God must and will chasten his child that dives back into the filth of the world having been given a new life and being a new creation.  But even in that chastening, it is still the goodness of God that would lead us back to the Savior’s side.  How wonderful and marvelous the great riches of God’s grace, that even when he must chasten his children, he does it out of goodness, that we might, because of his graceful goodness, be led back to this place of repentance (turning).  Surely the true believer must say, “God is good all the time, because it is his nature to be good.  He is good even when his hand is heavy.”