UPDATE #2

Just now, coming back in from my daily "walk-in-the-heat" program, I saw two empty taxicabs in the parking lot of my apartment house. They did not look like the taxis from around here. Then I saw their license plates said "Louisiana."

We will probably be seeing more and more "refugees" from New Orleans very soon. Although, since they may not be labeled "Louisiana" like these taxis, we may not know right away that they are refugees from the Katrina disaster. But we need to watch for them, in order to show them kindness.

Americans look out for each other.

UPDATE ON NEW ORLEANS:

Thousands finally reached the designated 'safe place,' the Superdome, yesterday. They have been outside, on a raised concrete platform, for 12-24 hours now, wondering when someone will come for them.

They see the air full of helicopters, but none are coming for them. Why not? Well, they are still trying to find people worse off than them. Just yesterday the helicopters rescued over 3000 people, plucking them out of houses where they were trapped, or up from the waters where they were floating, still alive.

The government has already called this the worst disaster to ever hit this country. We are also making effective, heroic rescue and relief efforts, the biggest ever for such a disaster. Yet it is so far from enough that appalling death rates are expected. And no doubt, still increasing.

This is not only a time for giving, but - as the governor of Louisana keeps saying - for prayer.

Pray for them!

RELIEF NEEDED NOW!

In New Orleans, the people who found 'ultimate shelter' in the Superdome, now are having to be evacuated. There is no water in the Superdome. Toilets are running over. Hot, no cooling system, dark. Getting these people out of their 'safe shelter' now has become an emergency. A convoy of buses will carry them over 300 miles to the unused Astrodome in Houston.

More and more water is flooding into the city. Hospitals must all be evacuated. Already, nurses are pumping ventilator machines by hand. Many dependent on ventilators to breathe will not make it.

Meanwhile, on the parts of freeways still above water, all kinds of people are trying to walk several miles to get out of the city. Old people, people with diabetes or heart conditions, sick people without medication. There is hardly any food left in the city, or drinkable water. Yet thousands are still there, without almost everything needed to stay alive, trying to get out.

Just as we would hope that others would come to our aid if we were trapped like this, we should come to their aid. Now! This is about as urgent as it gets. We should find a good outfit, and give to it today. They all will be running low on funds soon, given the size of this disaster.

My recommendation is the Salvation Army. It is just about the best out there (in addition to being one of the many good Christian Charities.) Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) or go to www.salvationarmy.org. Or if you prefer another organization, good. But - today is the day!

As the Bible says, "Give and it shall be given unto you."

REBUILD NEW ORLEANS IN ITS BOWL AGAIN?

It is early to consider this; but with some things, the earlier they are considered, the better.

What kind of sense does it make to have a city near the Gulf and its hurricanes which is the size of New Orleans, in a bowl 8 to 20 feet below sea level? If it does not make much sense, should it be rebuilt there?

We do not yet know how much of New Orleans will have to be rebuilt But we can guess that there will probably not be a single structure that has not been damaged. Each of these structures will have to be repaired, with either insurance or government money. Many will have to be essentially replaced. The cost will be so great that the government may have to bail out the insurance companies. Either way, we the people will be paying for most of the rebuilding.

We are happy to rebuild New Orleans! We would expect the same if such a disaster happened to our own cities. It is simply the right thing to do, and we will do it. Without complaining, I hope and expect. But if almost the entire city must be rebuilt, wouldn't this be a good opportunity to rebuild it in a different location, on higher ground? New Orleans has been a disaster waiting to happen for decades. Its being hit by a hurricane has been ranked as, I believe, the second largest natural disaster that could possibly hit the United States.

If we are going to spend the money and effort to almost totally rebuild it anyhow, why not build it in a location that is not in a bowl below sea level? Where we would have more hope of not having to rebuild it again after the next hurricane?

While the desirability of such a move cannot be determined until the damage is assessed, still, we will have little time to start looking at such a decision. The reason is that payments to start the rebuilding will start almost immediately, considering the need to get New Orleans back on its feet. The rebuilding money will be almost totally committed before long. Can we not at least look at moving this stricken, and still very vulnerable city before we start rebuilding it in a place which remains simply another such disaster waiting to happen?

THE BEST PROTECTION FROM NATURAL DISASTERS? PROSPERITY!

Watching the devastation from hurricane Katrina, and the rescue and restoration efforts afterwards, we should remember how much was lost in big natural disasters in other countries. The Tsunami tragedy less than a year ago; the recent floods in Bangaladesh; the earthquakes in Iran; and others. Especially, we should note how much less the loss of life and property is here during Katrina, and think about the reasons why.

The unavoidable answer is that in natural disasters, it is mostly national prosperity that makes the biggest difference. Early-warning systems, such as did not exist in many poor countries hard hit by the tsumanis. Preparation for disasters, with disaster-readiness equipment like generators for hospitals. Personnel already trained and drilled. Local and national teams already equipped to move in quickly, restore the most vital services such as power and water. Quick restoration of order, prevention of looting. Trained, well-equipped rescue specialists. Quick, excellent medical care for the injured.

Then the national means to rebuild, with really amazing ability and quickness, what was lost. Good insurance and financial help to assist that rebuilding. Plenty of people willing and able to do it. Then the ability to learn from each earthquake, flood, fire, hurricane or tornado, drought, how to better withstand the damage the next time. Then the ability to build that new knowledge into the infrastructure.

This may seem so obvious as to not be worth mentioning. But it is important to notice that it is prosperity that is key to preventing loss of life and property, and to restoring what was lost. Why? Because knowing the power of national prosperity to save lives and property helps us to understand that it is not purely selfish. Not at all. Building national prosperity is one of the most important things that we can to do save lives. It is also one of the most important things we can do to help the poor, since the poor suffer much more from natural disasters than the others.

It is also one of the very most important things that we can do to help the poor in poor countries. Everything we can promote to increase their national prosperity - capitalism, free trade, freedom from corrupt and thieving governments who steal from the country and increase its poverty, freedom from systems that stifle individual freedoms to start small businesses - all these not only help the poor in those countries rise above poverty. They also help save their lives in the next big natural disaster they have.

In short: capitalism, free trade, economic freedom and freedom from oppressive, corrupt governments not only help the poor vastly more than handouts; they also help save their lives when the next huge tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters hit.

Handouts are important when disaster strikes. But they matter less than having reached greater national prosperity.

WORTH THE EFFORT TO CONVERT THEM?

Amazing that Arminians and 'Reforms' get along at all. We do, of course. But can't help noticing where we do part company, sometimes. One thing that stands out is the way our differences in doctrine sometimes can affect what we actually do about evangelism.

Many 'Reforms' do believe in evangelism, even practice it, although they believe that who will be saved is already pre-determined. Others think - openly or de facto - that it is probably a waste of time. For that matter, many Arminians seem to have decided it is a waste of time, since many apparent converts might not have converted after all, or won't last.

Is there room for agreement here? After all, as my old friend Juan Carlos Ortiz likes to say, these are the kinds of things we won't know for sure before we get to heaven anyhow, so why get out of sorts with each other here about them? (Well, that's not a real quote, but pretty close.) I think there actually is room for agreement.

It seems to me like a case where the storm may have taken out the bridge up the road. Some say it is gone. Others say it is still there. Which is the best we can do then, for the unwary traveler down the road - warn them that the bridge is out? Or since we are not sure it is out (it could still be there) just let them go on their way without warning? Surely the right thing to do is warn them away from the danger, even though it might be a waste of our time.

Just so, it would seem to me that we should do our best to convert all those we can. Perhaps it is a waste of our time. But then again - perhaps not. Perhaps it made the biggest difference of anything in their lives. After all, when can we know for sure? Upon our arrival in heaven, that's when! That could be too late for them.

The simple fact is that, on this earth and in this life, we simply have no way of knowing who is or is not chosen (per the 'Reforms') or (for weary Arminians) who is not going to work out very well after conversion. Not knowing ahead of time which is which could be an excuse for doing nothing. Or it could be a compelling reason to do our best to win a convert.

It seems to me that to follow the God who "gave up his only son" for us all, "who is not willing that any should perish," means to run after those who are perishing. What will we feel, a long time from now, if we could have, and chose not to? Surely, remorse only begins to describe it.

Can we not agree then, that all things considered, our most prudent, wise and highest course is to convert the most we can, when we can, and while we can?

GRANDKIDS MAKE THE WORLD GO 'ROUND

Last night I had the pleasure of picking up my grandson at the airport, as he came home on the way back to college from his summer job. We were all having a good time in the car when I asked him how it was to be home. "Good" he said. "I'm hearing my grandmother's voice from the driver's seat, just like always." Music to a granny's ears!

Later at the house, there were photos of him, his new girl and other new friends taken in front of lakes, waterfalls, pines, and nearby bears. Bears?? His hair was long, since he cut it himself. "Not many places to get a hair cut out there," he teased. And also not many where a cell phone would work either, as we learned.

He had a fine summer, working in a great national wilderness park. Starting as a dishwasher, he got promoted to cook for breakfast for staff, winning their hearts by inventing chocolate-chip pancakes. That got him a raise, then another promotion to cook-out cook, grilling steaks and Bar-B-Q in the deep forest, for weary trail-riding tourists at the end of their trail. A real change for a proto-academic, and a good time. He'll turn 20 in a couple of weeks.

One of my sister's grandsons just finished Basic Training in the army. He amazed everyone by just loving the army! Almost all the way through Basic Training too - could be a new record. And by his new-found addiction to letters; writing them and especially getting them.

Grandkids are such a marvelous invention. What a great idea! So much worth waiting for.

THE POOR AND THE GOSPEL

Is evangelism more important than helping the poor? Or is giving the hungry food more important than telling them about the good news of the gospel? Where should we come down between these two positions, seemingly at opposite poles?

In fact, what about all the other questions about the poor? Is helping them even commanded by God? If so, what is the Christian way to do it?

These questions are urgent, more than we realize. Still, right now I would like to take a pass on all them! Although I have written a book on them (which is in the process of being posted online), have started and run charities that helped some thousands of poor and have preached about the poor to some other thousands, I still want a pass, just a temporary one, on looking at them here. Instead, another matter concerning the poor and the gospel needs to be confronted.

The fact is, when Christians help the poor, they diminish what scripture calls “the offense of the gospel.” We often forget, but the gospel carries an offense. Plainly said, it offends people! It offends those who hear it. It even, God help us, offends us to tell others about it, at least until we do it enough that we notice less.

How can it be that such good news as the gospel would offend people? Let me count the ways.

One is that people who try to be strong and independent are easily offended by the gospel. That is because it says that none of us will be able to save ourselves by our own efforts, no matter how hard we try. Offensive! Aren’t we supposed to take care of ourselves and not be dependent on anyone else?

A big one is that Christians are supposed to live by a set of rules. And they sure look like party-pooping, bust-your-bubble, never-have-any-fun rules. Surely God does not expect anyone actually to live like that! Are you serious? What is he anyhow, some kind of control-freak? First, very few people would ever give anyone that much control over their lives. And second, if they did, it would never be to anyone who wanted them to live like that.

Another is that religion is thought to be no more than superstition, probably by a constantly growing number of people. They think science has disproved it.

Another is the damage that being a Christian can to do to your reputation and your prospects. You would lose respect. Seriously. It is true. It could hurt your career. That is true too. You can get sneered at. Laughed at. Ignored. Dismissed. Become invisible at important times and places. Kicked out of your family. Scorned. Passed over. Vandalized. Hated. Attacked. Even persecuted or killed, depending on where you are and when. All true.

No wonder people can get offended, even hostile, when some batty Christian thinks they might be a candidate for becoming as stupid as Christians are. And no wonder Christians inwardly shudder – no matter how much they may deny it or say that no, it is really something else that stops them – when the time comes to help save the life of the go-ahead-make-my-day unbeliever somewhere near them.

Surely we can agree that there is an offense to the gospel. Yet there are a couple of ways to diminish that offense. One is to live out the gospel. That alone – let’s face it – very seldom brings people to Christ. But it keeps us from driving them away. When they see us not living out the gospel, they are quick to spot us as hypocrites and to turn even further away. It is a case of “See, I thought so.”

The other way is helping the poor and afflicted. Now, quick, before someone else brings it up – no, that does not mean Christians should help the poor as a propaganda ploy, using them as tools to help convert the rest. Certainly not! That would be offensive to God.

But when Christians, as the church or as Christians, give real, truly compassionate help to the poor and afflicted, and are seen doing so, it does soften the offense of the gospel. It does help correct the public image of Christianity. It does show, better than words, that contrary to all the horrible, untrue images of Christianity, there are other, nobler, loving and truly admirable marks of a Christian. It makes many stop and think. Others revise their views when they see the love of Christ made so visible by action. Many are more ready to give Christianity another look, even a hearing.

Remember in the “Sermon on the Mount”, how Christ said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

As it turns out, what helps us get an audience for the gospel is not our resume, or achievements, or personality, or wonderful way of about talking about the gospel that causes our light to shine so that people will glorify God. No, it is our good works!

What qualifies as good works? The Bible describes them as helping the poor, the afflicted, the broken-hearted and the oppressed. (Take a good look at the Old Testament version of Matthew 25, in Isaiah 58:6-12; or Isaiah 61:1-2 or Luke 4:18-19, Jesus’ first recorded sermon.) When others see Christians doing these things, they begin to look at Christianity differently. And they become more likely to glorify, not us, but God. All that helps lessen the offense of the gospel.

Then people are more likely to be open to hearing the gospel, and to accepting Christ when they do. Good works alone can never substitute for hearing the gospel. But they often help get it a hearing.

What MUST I Do To Be Saved?

“WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?”

So cried out the jailer to Paul and Silas, haven fallen trembling to his knees, when he found that although an angel had opened all of the doors of the jail in the night, the prisoners were still there. And they answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (NKJ, Acts 16:30-31) If he must do more than that in order to be saved, would they have not so have told this earnest and distraught questioner?

When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, only to hear, for the first time in human existence, “you must be born again,” Nicodemus, in shock, asked Jesus, “How can these things be?” Then Jesus went on to speak the best-loved words of instruction and assurance that we know: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:1-18) If more than belief were required, would not Jesus have said so?

Apparently for emphasis and clarity, Jesus said essentially the same thing over and over, four times in a row, in verses 15, 16, 17 and 18. Could he have been more clear about what was required for salvation? Would he have left out anything that was absolutely essential?

In the case of Cornelius (Acts 10 and 11), when Peter said to him and his household simply that “whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins,” (Acts 10:43) while he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard. This was taken by Peter, and later in Jerusalem by all the disciples, as incontrovertible evidence that they had indeed been saved. Yet “believing in Christ” was all they were told to do to be saved at that point, and presumably, all they had time to do before the Holy Ghost fell on them in the split second before Peter finished his sentence. No more than the minimum of “believing in him” could have happened, at least at that point in time.

Jesus said in John 6:37, “him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,” requiring nothing more than coming to him. In John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone that seeth the son and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” And in John 6:47, again, “Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” None required more than believing.

When Peter began his great sermon on the day of Pentecost, he declared that the day foretold by the prophet Joel had arrived, in which “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This passage was also repeated, for the third time in the Bible, by Paul in Romans 10:13. The only standard it requires for salvation, “calling upon the name of the Lord,” is probably the most minimal standard in scripture. But that it is repeated three times in the Bible by Joel, Peter and Paul, underscores its importance and certainty.

Yet Peter ended that same Pentecost sermon by commanding his hearers, some of whom were apparently among those who consented to the killing of Jesus, in Acts 2:38, “repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Here, repentance and baptism were, at the very least, commands. Were they also requirements for salvation? If they were, then how was the jailer of Paul and Silas saved, without being required either to repent or be baptized? How were Cornelius and all his household saved instantly, according to the witness of the Holy Spirit and all the disciples, without having even a second to either repent or be baptized? How was the unbaptized thief on the cross able to be with Jesus that day in paradise? We can only conclude that repentance and baptism are important commands and much to be sought after and hoped for. But that they are not absolutely required for salvation.

In the passage that led Martin Luther to salvation, “For by grace are ye saved, through faith, not of works lest any man should boast,” only grace is required for salvation. In fact, Luther made this his motto, and the great cry of the Protestant Reformation: “fide sola” or “grace only.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Luther soon added another “only; “escritura sola” or “scripture only” as the sole authority for Christian belief and doctrine, rejecting the Catholic authority of tradition, and even the authority of reason, when contrary to scripture. We still hold to these foundational positions. So we look to scripture only, and not to our reason, for the answer to foundational questions such as “what must I do to be saved?” And even though our ability to reason insists that there must be more, our final authority is always scripture.

Then why do we so yearn that all should repent, and should even be required to do so? It is because we know its great importance, how crucial it is for the Christian life. Yet, if it is not absolutely essential for salvation, there will be some who are saved without it. For these, we must work to make repentance a part of their discipling. Not everything to be hoped from Christians will occur in the instant of being born again, or even soon after, unfortunately. That is why Christ called us to be, not merely evangelists, but disciplers as well. (Mt.28:19-20.) “Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” cannot be done instantly, like taking a pill. It requires time spent in teaching.

For myself, repentance was absent. I was so God-struck, so smitten with his love and the joy of it (even though in prison,) that repentance never occurred to me as a part of it at that point in time. It did come later, but not at first. My own experience is that repentance is life-long. How could it not be, when we are sinners, always with something new to repent of? And when we remember, with sorrow that is essentially inconsolable, because, even though God forgives us our sins, the harm we have done to others still is not undone? (If only we had early knowledge of what remorse is really like, how devastating it can be, we would try so much harder to avoid the sins that cause it!)

Perhaps, if we look to the meaning of the word “repentance”, literally “turning” or in the Greek original, “metanoia”, it would assist our understanding of this issue. We think of repentance as it should be, a godly sorrow for our sins, a real grief and turning away from them. But is simply accepting Christ not also “turning?” Is it not a turning from death to life? From unbelief to belief? From rejecting Christ to accepting him? In each instance, the most basic kind of turning possible? In this most basic meaning of the word, widely accepted at the time of writing the scripture, does not every one who “turns” to Christ also minimally “repent” then? Even if such “repentance” does not, at least at first, reach the level of “godly sorrow” that Paul hopes to find?

Then why, in the passage from John Wesley recently quoted, without comment, by my good friend Shane Raynor in http://www.wesleyblog.com/, does Wesley apparently suggest that repentance is essential for salvation? It might be because in Wesley’s time, there was a much greater awareness of what sin was. The danger of hell and its horrors was also much more believed, and more present in common thinking, than it is today. So, perhaps in Wesley’s wide experience (and have many brought more souls to the Lord than he?), this was the pattern he commonly encountered at the point of conversion.

The pattern today, I can tell you from probing individual discussions with hundreds, is very different. Christian pollster George Barna also statistically confirms what I found. That is, not only is there almost no thought about hell or belief in it. There is also almost no real consciousness of sin. There is also the untaught conclusion that “I am OK with God.” The wide belief – even among believers! – is that since God is love, he forgives everyone for everything. No one is not forgiven, saved or not. No one goes to hell – except for Hitler and a few others. There is seldom the understanding that although God’s love is unconditional, his forgiveness is conditional.

Most Americans – again, even many converted believers – actually believe in a “works” salvation. That whether they go to heaven depends on whether they have been good. Their standards for themselves are pretty low, too. They think God keeps a balance sheet with “good” and “bad” columns, and that as long as the “good” column has more items in it than the “bad” column, they are OK. And each of them thinks they are doing pretty well so far. (Amazing, right? But true.)

The task of the evangelist, with today’s Americans, is convincing them they are sinners, and that is why Christ had to die for their sins. If they are not convinced of being a sinner, they will see no need for Christ. So in that minimal sense, they at least acknowledge being a sinner, and that they are helpless to save themselves without Christ, at the point of their conversion. In the eyes of God, who accepts us even when our reasons for coming to him are less than ideal, that is apparently enough. If “by their fruits ye shall know them” is the test, then there is ample proof from many that such conversions were indeed real.

The evangelist today, then, may not see a pattern of real, sorrowing repentance at the time of conversion that would probably have been the typical pattern seen by Wesley and those of earlier times; but does see the understanding by the convert that the convert is a sinner. Well, then, we must start with what we face in our times, and share Christ as best as we can. After all, that is what Luther, Wesley and many others did in their times.

Repentance by our converts, then, must be more our goal than what we can immediately expect or require. After all, did not the disciples decide not to require gentile Christians to observe Jewish ceremonial law, except for two minor ones, deciding “not to lay anymore on them?” Just so, we should not stand in the way of anyone’s conversion by unthinkingly “laying on them” more than is required by scripture, in order to be born again. Once born again, the Holy Spirit indwells them. Then the would-be discipler will have the assistance of the Holy Spirit, whose function is to “lead them into all truth.” Without that assistance, they may never come to the truth that they need to repent. And without being born again, they will not have the Holy Spirit.

So – first, salvation. Then, instantly, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then, though often far too slowly, being led into all truth. But still, first things first!

YOU GOTTA SEE "THE GREAT RAID"

Yesterday I saw “The Great Raid.” I cried, and actually clapped and cheered, more than once. And I thought “This is one the best movies made in many years.” Powerful and moving, it tells the true story of how a large campful of American POWs were rescued, from behind Japanese lines, by a small band of Army Rangers and some valiant Filipino guerrillas in World War II. It is based on eyewitness accounts in the books, “The Ghost Soldiers” (which I own) and “The Great Raid on Canabatuan.” Documentary film is inserted throughout the film, most memorably during the credits at the end when the actual released prisoners are shown leaving the camp, then arriving to cheering crowds in San Francisco.

This combines three great parallel stories of WWII in the Pacific. One is the Ranger’s raid to free the POWs. One is the endurance and courage of the POWs. And one is the incredibly courageous Filipino resistance, including an American nurse in the capital, who all risked life and torture every day to smuggle medicine and food to the sick and starving POWs. The nurse, Margaret Utinski, (portrayed by Connie Neilson in a bravura performance) was eventually captured and tortured. Later she was given a medal by the U.S. Congress.

In the prison camp, Joseph Fiennes (of “Shakespeare in Love” fame) gives what may be the best performance of his life as the fictional Major Gibson. When asked how he achieved such skeletal thinness for the role, he said “I just stopped eating.” The story of the toughness, courage and dogged tenacity of the weakened prisoners and the brutality of the guards is gritty and historically authentic, powerfully moving without being sentimental.

The raid itself was carried out with only a few hours of preparation by Rangers who, though well-trained by the maverick Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci (Benjamin Bratt, the cop from “Miss Congeniality”), had never fought in a battle. It was known that the Japanese killed all prisoners rather than letting them be freed by the advancing U.S. army. Two large camps were only 30 miles away from the fast-moving U.S. front lines. Word came down to get there fast and set those prisoners free before they were executed. With only 48 hours to go, Col. Mucci gives the job of planning and leading the raid to young Captain Bob Prince (James Franco of “Spiderman.”)

The untried Rangers, assisted by the Filipino guerrillas they first met when they were literally on the way there, sneaked through Japanese held territory all the way to the camps. Nearby Filipino villages risked their existence (whole villages were often wiped out as punishment) by providing carts for prisoners who could not walk. The Rangers had to cross an open field in front of the camp in daylight, before hiding in a ditch near the fence until dark.

Just the numbers alone would make the Great Raid incredible. All prisoners were rescued, with just one prisoner death, and one Ranger death. Twenty Filipino irregulars also died at a bridge, holding back the Japanese from reinforcing the guards at the prison camp. But over 800 Japanese died; all the camp guards plus hundreds at the bridge.

It is a stand-up-and-cheer, bowl-you-over kind of movie that leaves you wanting to see it again. Yet most reviews are terrible, and attendance is low. Why it that? Two reasons.

Most reviews are terrible because, as can quickly be seen in most of them, the liberal reviewers are so viscerally opposed to the war in Iraq, the Bush administration, and the very idea of “Just Wars” of liberation, that they trash this movie because it is so effective in showing the reasons for such wars. Still, truly professional reviewers like Roger Ebert, liberal or not, give it high praise (see at http://www.rogerebert.suntimes.com/.)

The other reason is that the movie was poorly publicized, because of the war mounted by Eisner of Disney (the one responsible for changing the Disney image from family-oriented to smut-friendly) against Henry Weinstein of Miramax. Weinstein approved this movie right after 9/11 for immediate release. But like a lot of Miramax movies, it was kept on the shelf by Disney. Ebert explains in the following quote (which also suggests he is no fan of the war in Iraq):

“It was completed by 2002, but like a lot of Miramax inventory sat on the shelf (Miramax won a “shelf award” at the Indie Spirits one year for the quality of its unreleased pictures). Now that Disney and Miramax are going separate ways, Miramax is releasing a lot of those films in the final months of its original management. ‘The Great Raid’ is perhaps more timely now than it would have been a few years ago, when ‘smart bombs’ and a couple of weeks of warfare were supposed to solve the Iraq situation. Now that we are involved in a lengthy and bloody ground war there, it is good to have a film that is not about entertainment for action fans, but about how wars are won with great difficulty, risk and cost.”

What a shame that such a movie gets caught between an anti-war campaign from leftist reviewers, and the Eisner-Weinstein battle! A truly great movie is being missed by millions who would love it.

The word needs to go out!

ABNORMAL - ER, PRE-BASIC - DISCIPLING

First, using “Abnormal” to describe this kind of discipling was a mistake, because it sounds like something bad. (It meant statistically abnormal, outside the “normal” range of the statistical majority or “norm.”) Actually “Pre-Basic” is a much better description of the kind of discipling needed outside the majority of cases.

Statistically, some 80-85% of Americans have some kind of vague belief in the Christian God, and some kind of vague belief in the truth of the Bible, or most of it (according to George Barna, the Christian pollster.) This majority can start with “Basic” discipling, because they already have accepted at least the bare basics of Christian belief.

The other 15-20% of Americans lack even these bare-bone basics of belief. So they cannot start at that point, but must begin further back, at a pre-basics level. Pre-Basic discipling utilizes everything used in Basic discipling, plus many other things.

This 15-20% minority typically start as frank unbelievers in Christianity. They might have belonged to another religion, or have been agnostics or atheists. But somehow, in some way, they came to Christ. (More on “Pre-Basic” evangelism another time.) Now they need discipling. What is likely to be different?

For one thing, they may be more hostile, more on-guard. They may have been very hostile to Christianity before conversion. A lot of that may still be with them. They may also have felt a repugnance, a strong distaste for Christianity and everything associated with it. They may be in real distress about the fact that they converted, even though they do not want to go back. But they may be aghast at all they have given up, and at losing still more in the future. And feeling very wary and uncertain about what comes next. Feeling, in short, “What have I done?” and “Now what!” and “Don’t push me!”

If they came from another religion, at least they started with the assumption that there was some kind of God, so the change is less drastic than for an atheist. But they still have many more problems than someone with bare basics of Christianity. For instance, their families may be in grief and anger about their leaving their religion. Their minds are full of unanswered questions about the differences between the old and new religions. They will be making major adjustments, for years. Neither they nor the discipler know what all of them are, or will be. Their disciplers will need to seek out the good books and resources that they are likely to need, ahead of time. Then as their questions come up, the discipler can point them to a more expert resource on the subject. (If they came from Satanism or something similar, that is a very special case. Fortunately, there is a lot of expert help in that area too.)

The change from agnostic or atheist to Christian is the most drastic of all. These converts are often still in shell-shock because of the huge size of the change they just experienced. They also will be going through significant changes for years to come, as they continue to work through all the implications of such a complete reversal in world-views. Their questions can range from scientific to philosophical to underlying assumptions to lifestyles to historical to standards of evidence. No discipler will come already prepared to address all their questions, especially if they are more learned or expert in some areas than the discipler. No matter. The discipler still needs to start hunting out the best resources on questions they may have, long before they ask, in order to know where to look, or to point them, for answers. Because those questions are coming!

For instance, when I converted from agnostic to Christian, it was actually a two-step conversion. (Read in www.outoftheironfurnace.blogspot.com, Ch. 11. Scroll down about 4/5 of the way.) First, a heart-change, when I realized God was there. But then, a purely intellectual process that took two years, before I accepted Christ. That was because I declared war!

I loved it that God existed and he loved me. But I hated Christianity. So I did everything I could, questioned everything possible and raised every objection I could think of, hoping against hope that he was not the Christian God. I did this on my own turf, the scientific thinking I taught and had been taught. And on my own turf, he beat me. (Must be a lot smarter, right?) The way that happened was for every question or objection I raised, an answer would come in just 2 or 3 weeks. I was getting more and more alarmed, being driven more and more toward Christianity, and leaving finger-nail marks all the way down the cliff.

On the day I was finally convinced, against my will, that Jesus was who he said he was and the only way to God, I gave in and accepted him as Lord and Savior. It was a miserable day, too. I hated it. (Read in www.outoftheironfurnace.blogspot.com, Ch. 13, last 5 paragraphs.) Not because I was in “Ise” (an isolation, or punishment, cell) but because I lost the battle and had to surrender. And because all I could see was how much I was giving up. Right then, it looked grim. I did not know about all the good stuff that was coming later. I just knew that I could never consider myself honest again if I did not admit I had been wrong and he was right.

At that point, I was still hostile to the “institutional church” and “churchy” things. I was offended by the way Christians sang, talked, and thought. I had a poor opinion of preachers. Considering myself pretty strong and independent, I did not want to get involved in “group” things with other Christians. My hope at that point was to keep it just between God and me, without having to go any further than that. In short, I was not a very appealing candidate for any discipler to take on. There are probably many more like that.

Whatever ex-agnostic or atheist you might deal with as a discipler may have come through some such difficulty, because it is so hard for us. We have just arrived from very far away. Be patient. We eventually will probably come around. We’re more stubborn, and more insistent on our questions being addressed. And that process may go on for many years after conversion, well after the basics of discipling have been learned and are being practiced.

My discipler turned out to be Prison Chaplain Clifford Olsen. He had just the two qualities I needed most. First, he was persistent. It took him at least a year to get me into a prayer group. He just kept talking about it, every time I saw him. Second, every time I had a burning spiritual question, I could drop by his office and tell him. The same thing always happened. He would say, “Here, this is just what you need,” pull a book off the shelf and give it to me. He never missed. It was always just what I needed. (He also did not have to make the case himself, but let someone more expert do it.)

In dealing with such converts, it is of greatest importance to have an idea of the kinds of questions they might confront, and to be ready to come up with an expert resource on it quickly, because they usually are ready for it right then.

It is even important to anticipate questions that they may need to ask, but don’t. For instance, one day Chaplain Olsen handed me a book I thought I didn’t need. It was “The Genesis Flood” and concerned evolution. I told him I didn’t need it; that evolution was not a problem with me. That my acceptance of evolution did not affect my faith in any way. But he knew that it was likely to be a problem in the future. So he persuaded me to read it. Again, he anticipated correctly; it would have troubled me at some point, not too far in the future.

With Pre-Basic discipling, then, learning about expert resources to answer the questions they will have is what is most different from Basic discipling. Still, these converts also need every bit of what is offered in Basic discipling, as much as anyone. Be persistent with them. Do not let them off the hook, and do not be discouraged. What they badly need, once they are willing, is exactly the same Basic Discipling that everyone else needs.

Above all, don’t be intimidated by them. They need you more than either of you may know. Most of your disciples will not be so much trouble. Still, some of these more difficult disciples, such as C.S. Lewis, have eventually brought great gifts to Christianity. In discipling, you just never know. But you can be sure that every convert you disciple will be a gift, in one way or another, to the Kingdom of God and also, some day, to you.

BASICS OF DISCIPLING

Discipleship is trying to grow in Christ by obeying his commands. It takes: 1. Knowing why we should obey them; 2. knowing what they are; 3. Being willing to obey them; and 4. once willing, finding the strength.

Knowing why is the easiest, since Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Since he said the greatest commandments were first, to love God with all our hearts, souls, strength and minds, and second, to love our neighbor as ourselves, we know that our first task is to love God. And loving him means that we will try to keep his commandments.

To know what the commandments mean, we must know the scriptures. We must also understand them as best we can, sorting through all the disagreements.

Being willing is an enormous step, needing constant renewal.

Being able takes more strength than we have. It also takes knowing where to find strength, and using the help God has provided.

God has given us what we need. Those who can explain why we should obey him. The Bible to tell us his commandments. And the Bible, prayer and the church to help us find the willingness and strength to obey. It is up to the disciple to use them. It is up to the discipler to point the way.

The things needed for discipleship are like the hand sketched below. (From “Basics of Being a Christian.”)



The hand and wrist are “Obedience to Christ” and the fingers and thumb are the enablers of obedience. Two fingers for Bible – “alone” and “together.” Two fingers for prayer – “alone” and “together.” And the thumb as the church. For teaching and instruction, primarily Bible and church. And for willingness and strength to obey, all three.

After 3 decades of one-to-one evangelism, and both one-to-one and group discipling, here is how I have used these for making and growing disciples.

Prayer “alone” should be a discipline. However much one prays during the day, there should also be prayer at the same time every day. As a rule, that will be the most productive of our prayers.

Prayer “together,” usually in small prayer groups, is experienced in powerful and different ways. I have seen many times more healings from group prayer than from individual prayer. Jesus said “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” and “If two or more of you shall agree on earth as touching anything, it shall be done for you.”

Why should we be surprised at the power and nurture of praying together? I myself was surprised by finding my first prayer group (though in prison – see http://www.outoftheironfurnace.blogspot.com/, Ch. 16) to be the most up-building, nourishing Christian experience I ever had.

The difficulty in praying together is about praying out loud. Most people would rather not. They feel they cannot pray flowery, fluent prayers like they hear in church. But the cure is quick and easy. Just start off telling them everyone is going to pray in turn, but only one sentence, even if all they say is “thank you God for a beautiful day.” Soon they will be doing it, and will even save their most earnest prayer request for that time. (The reason for praying aloud is simple: it is so the others pray for the same thing at the same time as the one praying.) Everyone needs a regular prayer group.

Bible “alone” is simply disciplined reading of the Bible. (Also, memorizing special parts of it.)

In the strongest church I ever knew, the pastor had almost the whole church reading the Bible all the way through once a year, every year. I have seen bigger churches, but never stronger.

In most Bibles, that takes only 3 pages a day, or about 15 minutes a day. You are “inputting” the Bible into your mind. Soon parts begin to pop out just when you need them. After several complete readings, you begin to know it so well that you can usually say accurately when something is not in the Bible. (My mother read hers through over 100 times. I stopped counting after my 41st time.) Repeated Bible reading is not a substitute for studying it; but done this way, it is powerful for growth.

And why should that be surprising? The Bible, even alone, can convert, disciple and correct, as “powerful as a two-edged sword.”

Bible “together” means studying with a teacher. Not as theology, or Bible origins, etc., but for what it says and what that means. (As a pastor, I tried to always stay in Bible classes taught by others.)

For those, like myself, who started out with disdain for the “institutional church,” repentance is needed. The church brought Christianity down to us. The church preserved the Bible for us. Christ died for the church – “loved the church and gave himself for her.” Who are we, then, to disparage the church? The keys of the gates of heaven are given to the church, and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Who are we, then, to underestimate her?

We see her with all her warts. But she is so strong that nothing and no one has ever been able to wipe her out. The church is the bride of Christ, his gift to us, our major source of strength. The Bible commands us “not to neglect the gathering of ourselves together.” Just as a flaming stick taken out of a campfire will lose its fire long before the campfire dies, but catch fire again when put back into the campfire, so we too need the flame of the church. We are not meant to function alone, but together in the church. We are to build it up and help it evangelize and disciple.

Someone led us to the Lord. Someone discipled us. It is our turn to do the same.

(Next time – Abnormal Discipling)

DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT INSTANT

No one becomes a disciple in one step, at the moment of conversion. Evangelists should learn not even to expect it.

Many converts have no clue that there is such a thing as discipleship. Most are reluctant, but will respond to persistent efforts to disciple them. Like the rest of us, they grow in the Lord by stops and starts. But a shepherd can help them grow. (Evangelists soon become shepherds too.)

Still, almost as if to keep us from discouragement, some converts are instantly at least willing to become a disciple. Some even hunger for it. A few even disciple themselves, whether anyone helps them or not. (But to such, God often sends a helper.) How we wish the others were more like them!

Discipleship simply means following Christ. It is the only way to grow in Christ. More specifically, discipleship consists of trying to obey Christ’s commands. (See the “path of obedience” in the sketch below.) (From "Basics of Being a Christian")



No one becomes totally obedient in an instant. Actually, we never achieve full obedience to Christ in our lifetimes. Even basic commands like baptism and repentance may not be obeyed right away. But that does not mean there was no conversion, only that better discipleship is needed.

What brings spiritual growth is trying to obey Christ. Think that is easy? Nothing is harder! It goes against our very nature, which is to sin. Obeying Christ means trying not to sin (and after a few hard knocks, trying not to even think about a particular sin – which can make not doing it a lot easier.)

How does trying to obey Christ make us grow spiritually? It builds spiritual muscle, because it is hard. Because – like at the gym – strength grows by working against resistance. As C.S. Lewis said, it is because swimming upstream is so hard that it strengthens us more than floating downstream. Sinning is floating downstream. Not sinning is swimming upstream. The struggle itself is what brings the strength, patience and wisdom we need for the hard times in life. We gain faith too, from seeing that God was always with us in our struggles.

Fortunately, our God gives second chances. He has a plan for each life, though we are seldom exactly on it. Each time we are willing to try again, he makes a way. Discipleship is how we do it.

So discipleship requires, at minimum, two steps: First, being saved by unearned grace. Second, the beginning of discipleship; a long, long path of trying to obey Christ, with another chance after each failure, as long as we live.

(Next time – “Basics of Discipling”)

(Soon after: “Normal and Abnormal Discipling”)

(Soon after that: “Basics of Evangelism”; then, “Methods of Evangelism”)

A REAL HOT SHOT

Today I was being my usual workaholic self. While still in bed, I was inspired about something to write for my blog. Without eating, coffee, washing, dressing or anything, I got on my computer and started typing. And typed until I finished, a few minutes ago. (I will post it on the blog later today.)

As soon as I finished typing, I realized that I was in my nightie, unwashed and unfed. Undrunk even, without having drunk my morning coffee. And so much, so much to do and so far behind on everything.

So I became the most efficient whirlwind my years permitted. Multi-tasking, planning, organizing, working against the clock, I zipped into the kitchen, started a 3-minute egg, water for coffee, etc. When the egg-water started boiling, I set the timer at 3 minutes for a soft-boiled egg and took the timer with me as I ran off to weigh, interrupting myself twice to write “eggs” on the grocery list, and then to get my glasses so I could see my weight.

The timer rang, I ran into the kitchen, grabbed the egg-pot, poured the boiling water off the egg into the sink, and – there was no egg in the pot! I forgot to put it in. So – looks like I’m a real hot shot. One of those rare ones who really have it all together!

And why am I writing you all this? Full disclosure. People have a right to know with whom they are dealing.

WHAT ABOUT CONVERTS WHO DON'T GROW?

Are they even saved? Sometimes we wonder. Is coming to Christ, without going any further, just inoculation against ever being a disciple? When people see Christians who do not live a Christian life, doesn’t that turn some people away from Christ?

If converts never become disciples, is it even worthwhile to bring them to the Lord? After all, the Great Commission (Matt. 28) commands us to make disciples. Converts are not even mentioned. But obviously, no one can become a disciple without first converting. A disciple is one who grows in Christ. Yet no one can grow in Christ who is not already “in” Christ.

When we lead someone to Christ, there is no way of knowing whether they will ever go any further. Since we are “to make disciples,” we have a responsibility to help them grow beyond salvation. Obviously, they start as spiritual babies – just born again, a new creature. They will remain babies if they do not grow into disciples.

Just who are these baby Christians? They may be the ones Jesus spoke of as “the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.” But he also said that even though John the Baptist was the “greatest born of woman,” that even these “least” were greater than John.

They may also be the ones Paul wrote about with exasperation, because they only wanted spiritual milk and were not ready for spiritual meat. They also may be those he meant when he wrote that at the great judgement, those with works “of stubble” would see their works burnt up; yet that they themselves would be saved, even though as by fire.

Having gone through the “narrow gate” of salvation, they want to go no further. The sketch below (from "Basics of Being a Christian") shows them as clustering together just inside the narrow gate. They avoid the path of obedience to Christ, where discipleship is grown.

It is easy to imagine them in baby clothes for life, gray hair sticking out of baby caps, each with a ticket to heaven in hand. They chose the cheapest ticket, thinking they would get a lot while giving very little. But it is the worst ticket. The best ticket is for the path of discipleship, where the blessings and the strength for life’s troubles are found. Also where the very good life Christians have on earth is found. Perhaps not wealth and health, but for certain, love, joy, peace and contentment, just for starters. They settled for just admission, when everything in the whole kingdom was available.

Are they any help to us at all in growing the kingdom? To some extent. For one thing, they are still available for discipleship. Some of them will eventually try to grow. We just cannot predict which ones, or when, or how many. God knows, and he is not through with them yet.

For another, as Jesus said, “he who is not against us is for us.” At least they are no longer adding to the numbers of our enemies. They will stand with us sometimes when it counts, in Christianizing our culture and country. At the minimum, they have been neutralized from enemy to non-combatant. If they are not fighting on our side, at least they are not fighting for the other side either. That can make an important difference.

Is it really worth our time and trouble to lead them to Christ, without knowing whether they will become disciples? Well, if we saw them drowning, most of us would jump right in to save them, not even hesitating because of the risk to our own lives. How much more, if we have a chance to snatch them from the very gates of death and hell, would we not do so? If we could see that fate for them as clearly as we could see someone drowning, it would be the easiest of choices. God’s gift of life is what we bring them.

When Paul wrote Philemon about his runaway slave Onesimus, who had come to Paul in prison and been led by him to Christ, Paul wrote of Onesimus as his son, “whom I have begotten in my bonds,” meaning that Onesimus was Paul’s son in the Lord because he had converted him. He asked for freedom for Onesimus, reminding Philemon that he owed his very self to Paul, since Philemon also was Paul’s convert. Leading people to Christ means that they do owe us their very lives (though ordinarily this would never be mentioned.) There can be no reason whatsoever for neglecting to lead anyone to Christ that we can, even though they may never make it to discipleship.

(Next time – discipleship is a two-step process.)

GUYS, YOU REMIND ME OF MYSELF

(For my good friend Shane Raynor at www.wesleyblog.com, Joe Carter at www.evangelicaloutpost.com, and those who commented there)

All this angst over how offensive some evangelistic methods seem. How conversion is pointless and maybe even harmful if the convert does not grow much in Christ. Just like you, I’ve had those concerns too.

And then I’ve had my comeuppance. A street preacher (anything more offensive than that?) who humbly agreed his method was off-putting – but who found it hard to quit when he was making around six converts a day. The publisher of Crossway books, but also of tracts – who told me they had files and files of letters from strangers led to the Lord by their tracts. Users of EE I knew personally who grew their churches from 1200 to 4000 in one case, and from 125 to over 4000 in the other, each in 5 years. In pagan California yet! This kind of information can be pretty upsetting when you already know these things just don’t work.

The toughest thing in evangelism, of course, is getting past that first time. It’s like jumping off the high board. The first time is pretty scary. The second time, not so bad. Then you’re on your way. Or like learning a totally new sport. At first you’re so awkward that you’re embarrassed to be seen trying. Stop then, and you’ll never get any better. But keep trying, practice, learn, do it over and over and over, and you get to be a lot better. Evangelism is like that. Truth is, almost any method works, once you develop some skills with it. But until then, it is universally embarrassing even to think about.

My very first time, in prison, was Rita. Horribly humiliating. Served me right, too. (See www.outoftheironfurnace.blogspot.com, Chapter 16. Scroll down about 1/3 of the way.) Here is how it went:

“Chaplain Olsen told us (our prayer group) about a woman named Rita. She was coming up out of quarantine into the shop. He wanted us to look out for her. That settled it. Rita was going to be my target. She would be the one I would “witness” to about Christ.”When she started work in the shop, I went up to her during the morning coffee break. She was sitting at her machine. This was already getting hard. I stood beside her. “Hi!” Big smile. “I’m Gerry!” She looked up at me. “Hi.” I’m Rita.” Another big smile on my face. “Uh, uh, Chaplain Olsen said you’d be coming up out of quarantine.” Still looking up, Rita was puzzled. “Yeah?” I am thinking frantically, how will I do this? “Uh, uh, he wanted us to get in touch with you.” “Oh.” She was questioning with her eyes. ”Now I had to say something about Christ. But I could not. OK, I’ve got to say something, even if it’s just about the chapel! I tried. “Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,--do you need anything?” She looked up dead at me and demanded, “Are you saved?” And left me standing there about two inches high.”There was no way I could have brought myself to use the word “saved.” She had no problem. What kind of chicken was I?”

Yet not so much later, after more experience: (Chapter 19)

“When we (in our prayer group) compared our experiences in witnessing, they were amazing. For myself, once I started the process of talking to someone about coming to Christ, I found it was affected very little by me. Sometimes I made the most wonderful, fluent presentation, and it flopped. Other times I stammered and stumbled all over myself, but they came to Christ anyhow. Soon we learned, that when we felt an urge, to just start talking about coming to Christ, and see what happened.”Where we were seemed not to matter. I led people to Christ standing in the line in the dining room. (We had to stand in line a long time.) I led people to Christ on the exercise yard. I led people to Christ standing in the line to the rest room in the shop. I led people to Christ in the rest room standing between the last booth and the nearest basin. Since I counted, I know that there were 19 of them by the time I left prison. (My memory was so bad that I kept a list — I was terrified of forgetting the name of any of them.)”

When seen from the outside, most evangelism seems so off-putting. But after you do it awhile, you see it is so different.

Eventually, after much experience, you become like a hunter, a fisher. When an encounter starts, with you praying fervently and silently, you now have almost an instinct about when and how to move to make this rescue. There is a sense of furious, dark forces pulling all-out in the other direction, and you feel an implacable, burning rage toward them. It really is not a struggle between you and the other person, but a fight for their life against great evil. Truly a battle “not of flesh and blood, but of principalities and powers,” as you come to see eventually. Then the relief, the huge joy of seeing them win through! It makes you understand why the angels dance when they see it. There is nothing, nothing like it.

Don’t miss evangelism. You were made for it. Your future children in the Lord await you.

(Next time – what about converts who don’t grow in Christ?)