What the Other Guy is Thinking

The following is an article from thechristianpost.com written by Thom S. Rainer detailing the results of a survey of the seven most-common comments about Christians by non-Christians.

Just read it and think about it.

One of my greatest joys in research is talking to and listening to those who clearly identify themselves as non-Christians. Don't get me wrong. I'm not celebrating their absence of faith in Christ. My joy comes from listening to those who don't believe as I do, so that I might be better equipped to witness to them.

Over the past several years, my research teams and I have interviewed thousands of unchurched non-Christians. Among the more interesting insights I gleaned were those where the interviewees shared with me their perspectives of Christians.
In this article, I group the seven most common types of comments in order of frequency. I then follow that representative statement with a direct quote from a non-Christian. Read these comments and see if you learn some of the lessons I learned.

1. Christians are against more things than they are for.
"It just seems to me that Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other. They are so negative that they seem unhappy. I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time."

2. I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.
 "I'm really interested in what they believe and how they carry out their beliefs. I wish I could find a Christian that would be willing to spend some time with me."

3. I would like to learn about the Bible from a Christian.
"The Bible really fascinates me, but I don't want to go to a stuffy and legalistic church to learn about it. I would be nice if a Christian invited me to study the Bible in his home or at a place like Starbucks."


4. I don't see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.
 "I really can't tell what a Christian believes because he doesn't seem much different than other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously."

5. I wish I could learn to be a better husband, wife, dad, mom, etc., from a Christian.
"My wife is threatening to divorce me, and I think she means it this time. My neighbor is a Christian, and he seems to have it together. I am swallowing my pride and asking him to help me."

6. Some Christians try to act like they have no problems.
"Harriett works in my department. She is one of those Christians who seem to have a mask on. I would respect her more if she didn't put on such an act. I know better."

7. I wish a Christian would take me to his or her church.
"I really would like to visit a church, but I'm not particularly comfortable going by myself. What is weird is that I am 32-years old, and I've never had a Christian invite me to church in my entire life."

Do you see the pattern? Non-Christians want to interact with Christians. They want to see Christians' actions match their beliefs. They want Christians to be real.
In one study we conducted, we found that only five percent of non-Christians are antagonistic toward Christians. It's time to stop believing the lies we have been told. Jesus said it clearly: "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest" (Luke10:2, HCSB).

Satan is the author of excuses. There is no reason to wait to reach those who don't know Jesus Christ. We must go now. The harvest is waiting. And the Lord of the harvest has prepared the way.

Music for the Season

You've heard the same Christmas music over and over again on the popular radio stations since Thanksgiving.  How about something new?  In fact, how about something very old, yet music that proclaims the heart of Christmas - the Christ.  Tune in to Lutheran Public Radio via the internet.

Here is a promo video:

Jesus had a Wife???

Here we go again.
The press has released a number of sensational articles about this "find" in an ancient text fragment with supposed evidence of Jesus being married.
Haven't we rehearsed this before?

Here is a great article explaining what's going on from Dr. Jeff Gibbs of Concordia Seminary.  I will let Dr. Gibbs' article stand for itself.

"...What she has done will be told in memory of her."

Every year, Hope Lutheran Church offers a program called "Journey to the Cross" to the community. It is an opportunity to walk through the events of Jesus' last week in Jerusalem - from his entry to his resurrection. All five senses are involved as our members tell the story of the various characters who came into contact with Jesus.
Every year, I walk through it as well with my family, but this year something struck me. We were listening as JoAn played the part of Mary - the sister of Lazarus. She was describing how she (Mary) opened up a very expensive bottle of ointment made from pure Nard and annointed Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair while Jesus stayed with them in Bethany. (John 12:1-8) Matthew and Mark's account of the same story don't identify her as Mary, but add these words of Jesus:
"And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."
As JoAn retold and enacted this story, I thought of those words of Jesus. I also thought: Mary, and all the other cast of characters were just ordinary people caught up into, and privileged to be made players in an extraordinary chain of events surrounding God in-the-flesh, Jesus of Nazareth. They were privileged to be witnesses to the extraordinary and universe-changing events of Christ's Passion - his death and resurrection. Mary and those other characters would be absolutely amazed that we would still be telling and portraying their stories. Their stories have been told for 2000 years, and here we are today in the year 2012, still telling her story, just as Jesus said we would.
Thank you JoAn and all the others who have made "Journey to the Cross" possible. Thank you for continuing to tell and enact the story!

"I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you..."

I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:14)
“I have been waiting a long time for this moment. And yet it’s been just a moment from when it all began. There, in Eden, that garden that I made for them. It was so beautiful. But there is where my first people chose the wrong way, the way of death. I promised to crush the head of the one who led them astray, and that moment has come.”
“I have been waiting a long time for this moment. And yet it’s been just a moment from when it all began. This Passover meal was instituted just before my people’s redemption and salvation from slavery in Egypt. My people have been celebrating it every year for many centuries and it has all been pointing to this moment. This Passover, the Temple, the sacrifices, all of it, all of it has always been about me and has pointed to this hour, this moment. That Lamb we are eating tonight – that will be me in a few hours – the sacrificial lamb for the redemption and salvation of my people. “
“I have been waiting a long time for this moment. These are all my friends, my students, and soon I will be sending them out into the world as my ambassadors. I love them so much. There’s so much I have told them and shown them during the past three years. And there is so much they just didn’t understand. And there is more I want to tell them tonight. But time is short…time before it’s all over…and also before it just begins for them. Then, then all of them will understand. Yes, they will understand and will experience so much as they proclaim what they have seen and heard. Bringing me to the world will bring them so much suffering – and yet, so much joy. Just like what I have to do so very soon – so much unbearable suffering, and yet, so much joy. “
“I have been waiting a long time for this moment – when I give them my last will and testament – that I will be with them in this meal I am making new in this hour. This is how I will be with them until that moment when I return and when all things are made new. It is time. This is my testament for them…”
“Take and eat, this is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me…take and drink, this is blood of the new testament shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. Truly I say to you, I will not drink of it again until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

The State Overstepping Its Bounds

Today, Rev. Matthew Harrison, President of our Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, testified on Capitol Hill. It is rare for faith-based organizations to testify before Congress. But today was one of those days. He did so because the Federal Government is overstepping its bounds. Here is a video of his testimony:



The Founding Fathers of this great nation understood the dangers of government. That's why we have the Constitution and the Bill of Rights - to limit the extent to which government may enter the lives and consciences of the people. Many of our forefathers came to this nation for, among other things, the freedom to practice and live out their faith in the world. The government has overstepped its bounds with regard to making religious organizations pay for birth control for its workers, specifically, birth control medications that destroy the beginning of a new human life. The Church should be able to live according to its conscience. The United States Constitution says so. I love President Harrison's last quote of Luther - that there room in the conscience only for God, not the state.

I believe the big picture behind all of this is the desire of a generation to be able to have sexual intercourse with whomever they choose - without any responsibility or consequence of action. It has now become a cultural "ideal" to the point of legislating that "right." That is the driving force behind this. That generation's legacy will be thus: the demanding and legislating of "free love" to the point of destroying a culture for future generations.

Truly sad indeed.