Called East

Withholding forgiveness?

Posted on June 1, 2016     Leave a Comment

It’s not often that I get direct and detailed feedback from sermons, most of the time it’s the usual; “Great sermon pastor! Very convicting! Challenging!” But this week I received direct feedback from something I said in a sermon at our missions weekend. Because I was convicted and challenged I thought it best to write this down for my benefit and yours.

My text was from John 20:19-23 and my main points were how Christians are forgiven by Christ, sent out by Christ and empowered by the Spirit for His mission. The trouble came with verse 23: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld”.

I believe this verse gives a great sense of responsibility in our evangelism. We must be discerning in our evaluations and understand the full anatomy of the gospel. There is no middle road, either you are forgiven, or you are not, and it all hinges on someones response to the gospel. Consider 1 John 5:12 “Whoever has the Son, has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”. 

It is not within our power to forgive anyone, I feel like that must be made absolutely clear. However, our authority…or should I rather say stewardship lies in the content of the gospel that was passed on to us. We can discern someone’s spiritual state based on how that person has responded to the gospel. In fact Paul had the authority to declare any false gospel preacher to be anathema. Then there’s this shocking Scripture in 1 Tim 1:19-20: holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme”. Yikes!

This means that there ought to be some kind of line drawn in the sand between truth and error. What this means practically is that we need to be careful, very, very careful in our judgments. Not to write off the doubting or struggling seeker, but also not to give false affirmation when there has not been a proper response to the gospel.

If we have any grammar Nazis reading this then it might be helpful to know that the words “they are forgiven them” and “if you withhold” are written in the perfect Greek form. It communicates a past completed action. Practically then, we have no right to say to someone who has responded to the gospel “You are not forgiven!” nor do we have any right to say to someone who has not responded to the gospel “You are forgiven!”. We affirm on earth what has already been confirmed by God. Along with that we must learn the lesson Jonah had to learn: “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.

In the sermon I used the real life illustration of when a man came to visit me to ask questions about God. I explained the gospel but this gentleman refused to accept that he has ever sinned. I then proceeded to use these words in my sermon: “I had to withhold forgiveness, not because I have the power to forgive, but because he did not see himself as a sinner before a holy God which is a critical aspect of the gospel”. I am willing to eat humble pie and say it was perhaps a mistake to word it this way. Perhaps some thought this was arrogant, unloving and not a gracious response, I do apologize. Preachers are human, I phoned a close pastor friend who heard the sermon and talked about it some more. I never, ever want to come across as  a Jonah, harnessing God’s compassion for myself and those I deem worthy. What a disaster of a missionary and pastor would I not become if that’s my attitude. I am willing to learn from this and so maybe to summarize:

The gospel is good news!

The gospel is for everyone!

Those who respond are forgiven, those who refuse remain condemned.

I must learn to be truthful and gracious in discerning where people are at.

I may not personally withhold forgiveness from anyone, but can warn people about the consequences of not surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

I am grateful to people who give me loving and pride breaking feedback. (You know who you are)

Jesus is not yet finished sanctifying me 🙂

What do you miss when you miss. “A Message for Busy Students”

Posted on May 13, 2016     2 Comments

Dear Busy Christian Student.

Varsity is a crazy season of life right? So much to take in, so much to do and learn. Exams, assignment deadlines, social events and of course…the hard drive filled with tasty SERIES EPISODES…”SSShhhh”. Perhaps for the first time there is so much more demand on your time, so much more pressure to perform and impress. The struggle is REAL and I feel you. There are always going to be things that will need to be sacrificed on the altar of university life but please don’t place God on there too! I’m here to tell you that skipping out on spiritual things and in particular; corporate worship, is hurting you, not helping you.

I know that it’s not simply a matter of getting your priorities straight. Sometimes there is a genuine emergency that prevents you from being in church. It does not mean you value that emergency above your relationship with God right?

However, I still think that skipping fellowship with fellow believers because of university pressure is a bad idea, let me lovingly tell you why:

1. What will your habits look like after graduation? For every student struggling with exam pressure there is a worker struggling with boss pressure. For every exam being written there is a lecturer who has to mark it. Life’s pressures do not get any easier. If you as a student don’t learn to prioritize what is important now, how will you ever hope to do it in the future?
2. You cannot study effectively without breaks. It’s actually unhealthy and counter productive to study non stop. You need to balance your physical, emotional, social, spiritual and academic time properly. Be disciplined in the way you structure your time and pay attention to Hebrews 10:25 “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”.
3. When you are under stress or being distracted by other things the LAST thing you need is less time with God and His people. There is a risk that this can cripple your faith when you begin to put more value on your performance and status than on God.
4. Finally, consider some of the things you miss when you miss: Being under the Lord’s instruction through the preaching of His Word. Having your soul and mind revived and renewed through the corporate worship of God. The opportunity to encourage someone else and being a blessing to others with the gifts God has given you. The joy of knowing that you have decided to “Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus”. The testimony to your peers that God’s glory and honor is a priority in your life. The fellowship with other believers which is crucial to your spiritual growth.

Maybe that service you decide to miss, is exactly the service you need? Is it really worth skipping out?

Finally, let me give some Biblical examples, starting with Jesus: Luke 4:16 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read”.

What about the early church believers? Acts 2:46 “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts”,

Then a scary thought as it relates to our decision making: “Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap”.

I hope this was more helpful than condemning, my prayer is that God’s glory and renown will be first on your heart and that you will have much grace and blessing as you follow Jesus on the path of obedience.

For a helpful and encouraging article on the blessings of corporate worship please follow this link:

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-benefits-of-corporate-worship

Racism, South Africa and God’s Rainbow Kingdom Part 2

Posted on April 7, 2016     Leave a Comment

Sometimes I think back to a sermon I preached and wished I had said something different or extra. This is not because God’s Word changes but because sometimes we gain new perspective or a better method of application. Well, I think the same goes for blogs. 2 Months back I wrote about the fact that diversity is a thing to be celebrated, and relax I’m not changing my view of that at all. However, I think we can make the mistake of turning diversity into the ULTIMATE thing. Kind of like what John Piper said about missions. “Missions is not the ultimate thing, worship is”.

Let’s quickly read Revelation 7:9 again

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands”,

This is a very important verse in terms of celebrating diversity because it shows us what God is leading us towards BUT. We make a mistake if we think the main point of this passage is diversity, its not, the main point is a redeemed people who WORSHIP GOD.

So, worship and more precisely the worship of God is the ultimate thing, not diversity. Now why does this matter? I think it matters because it influences the way we do church and even which church we choose to belong to. If we make diversity the ultimate thing, we will be disappointed because there is no such thing as a perfectly diverse church. Also, it will become a big distraction in our worship of God, perhaps even become an idol. Our ultimate satisfaction will never come from diversity, it can only come from God. Also if diversity is ultimate we will be dissatisfied with church today because the church will only be made perfect at Jesus’ return. Is it not better to have our focus directed at God and look at church as a work in progress?

Maybe this illustration will help. Let’s think of diversity as a puzzle. There are many different pieces that will ultimately perfectly fit together. (Rev 7:9) But now the puzzle is incomplete. We can perhaps see something here and there but it’s still unfinished. Our hope is in the God who puts the pieces of this puzzle together, not in the puzzle itself. You follow?

Perhaps you are in a church that is not as diverse as you like. Or maybe you in a church that you don’t feel is transforming fast enough. Or you don’t like the style of the service? Too Western, too African, too whatever. (Remember people are always biased in their opinions) What do you think is the godly response? Change puzzles? Go from one imperfect puzzle to the next? Is there not a better way?

Of course if a church is completely off course and blatantly going against Scripture one should consider leaving. But I think we learn so much more, we become so much stronger and we will have so much more joy if we remain to be part of the long, messy and sometimes slow process of transformation. (Don’t be fooled to think there is any Church exempt from this process)

It does not happen overnight, and yes it is tough, but the master puzzle builder is at work. So lift your eyes above the current chaos to see the Glorious LORD.

Racism, South Africa and God’s Rainbow Kingdom

Posted on February 23, 2016     Leave a Comment

South Africa is hurting. In the past few months there has been numerous incidents of racism, discrimination, anger, and violence throughout our beloved country. I have felt it and I have friends who feel it, one of my friends commented that it is difficult to navigate the racial divide as a Christian, this is true! So this morning I was asked by another friend to write something positive. I thought about this and wondered where to even start, at the same time I thought that God might use this insignificant blog to bring about something good, even if it’s just for one person.

One of my friends shared a Facebook post regarding the language policy at the University of Pretoria. “Groups of people want Afrikaans to be removed from the University”. The angry and hurtful responses to that post was depressing to read. My friend shared this post, asking people to think about this whole rainbow nation idea.

I am sure many of us are thinking this whole rainbow nation thing is a pipe-dream. Nelson Mandela famously said: “Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld – a rainbownation at peace with itself and the world”.

But oh how sin destroys any notion of peace and unity! We read the news…Penny Sparrow calling black people monkeys, T-shirts saying “Kill Whites”. Whites calling blacks criminals and idiots, blacks saying whites don’t belong and should go back to Europe. These are but a few examples of MANY incidents of racism.

What does a black Christian person who loves his/her heritage do? What does a white Afrikaans Christian person who loves his/her heritage do? I have black, and white friends who I love deeply and I long to give them Biblical truth, and as we know real Biblical truth is never easy. So here goes.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come”.

You are familiar with this Scripture right? What does it teach about your identity? You are in Christ! Your primary identity as a Christian is NOT English, Afrikaner, Zulu, Tswana, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Male, Female, or whatever else, you are IN CHRIST, a citizen of Heaven, promoting the most powerful kingdom in existence…God’s!

As a citizen of Heaven we have been freed from the need to fight for our own small causes, we are free to fight for a greater cause and a more worthy calling, the glory of God.

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves”.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”!

I said Biblical truth is hard right? Each of us ought to bring our hearts bare before the Lord. As soon as we fight to defend our rights without fighting to defend the rights of others we are selfish. As soon as I promote MY agenda to the detriment of others I am selfish. As soon as I see myself as better, more qualified, more equipped, more educated, more wealthy, more whatever, I am sick with sinful pride. Pray that God will help Christians honor this Word, looking out for the interests of others, seeing them as more significant than yourself. This is only possible if you fight for a bigger kingdom; God’s kingdom.

Notice also, it does NOT say count others more significant when they deserve it, or when they return the favor. Do it simply to honor God.

Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands”,

This verse gives me courage and strength for days like these. What does it tell us? #Racismwillfall

It will fall because God will make all things new, God will set up His new Kingdom, free from sin and its consequences. When I worship before the throne of God I will do so hand in hand with people from every nation tongue and tribe. I WILL NOT be in a little Afrikaans huddle, all the languages will be represented there, for God is Lord of them all.

Since God is leading us into that future, is it not necessary to promote this unity and inclusion wherever we go? Is it not necessary to shout on the rooftops RACISM WILL FALL! God will make all things new! Come to Jesus for true life and rescue from sin! Fight the bigger battle Christian!

One last verse to explain exactly how God abolishes racism.

Ephesians 2:14 “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility “.

Christ destroys the sin of racism through His own death on the Cross. Through Christ we are made right before a holy God, and we are made right between each other. I can truly say that I dearly love people who are different to me, not because I am by nature a nice guy, by nature I am actually not nice at all. But God has enabled me to love as I should because of His work of salvation on my behalf. If you are a Christian then this is your story too. Now go and make it known to the world.

I also call on churches to embrace diversity, even if it is difficult. Churches ought to demonstrate the vision of Revelation 7:9. I call on individual Christians to show love to those who are of a different race or culture. Why don’t you spend time with such people this week. Invite them over to your house, bridge the racial divide, be the salt and light God instructs you to be. Love, love, love. And remember that we fight on the winning side, ultimately #Racismwillfall.

P.S. Glad to be part of a Church movement where diversity is embraced and fought for. Join one and see God’s love in action.