Pursuing the “Already Gone”

I just finished reading Already Gone by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer. Having heard about it for some time now, it was not the alarmist, reactionary and extreme book that I expected to find (although it does read a little like a 190 page commercial for AIG). On the contrary, I found a very reasonable and passionate plea to refocus the church on the entirety of God’s Word and thus win back our younger generation through the sincerity, holiness and relevance that would naturally follow. I highly recommend this book to all, but that is not the purpose of this article.

In addition to finishing this book today, my Bible reading took me to Psalm 78 where we are reminded of God’s command to Fathers to teach their children about God’s command so that they can teach their children. The focus of all this teaching is found in verse 7, “so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” Setting our hope in God implies to me (at least in part) that we are confident in His relevance and sufficiency. We are to equip our children to be confident that God is the answer to the questions they have. With the book in my mind, and this verse before me, I was compelled to consider whether or not I intentionally do this with my children and all those who I am responsible for. Do I merely talk about God, or do I teach why I place my hope in Him and why they can do the same?

The thought that is racing through my mind is that we should be systematically teaching the Bible in a way that confronts the material that is being presented through every other medium. It is safe to assume that all secular media, entertainment and education is at best not promoting a Christian worldview and many times they are, in fact, undermining it. The challenge I find before me this morning is to faithfully and intentionally live and teach the Word in a way that confronts, not hides from, the issues that are constantly facing us today. Whatever the ultimate solution to the challenge that is before the church today, it has to begin with individuals devoting themselves to a life of godliness based on a hope in God and the authority of His Word. I pray that this might increasingly become my focus, and that you might join me.

Random Thoughts on the Death of Osama bin Laden

I am not the most informed (nor interested) person when it comes to matters of news and politics, but when reports of the death of Osama bin Laden begin to surface even I take notice. This was the case yesterday as I found myself following these reports with interest until confirmation was given by our president. As the hours passed, I also began to take notice of something else – something that was of far greater interest to me. What I noticed was the enormous reaction to this news and what began to trouble me was the joyful and celebratory attitude that I was observing from fellow Christians. While I am neither politician nor writer, I feel compelled to make some comments about these things and I pray that they will be taken in the sincere and well-intentioned spirit in which they are written.

I suppose I should begin by saying that I am not opposed to this government-led execution of a criminal and terrorist. I have read the sentiment equating the actions of our government with the actions of bin Laden himself and while I won’t take the time to debate this, I think that it is a ridiculous argument. The execution of one guilty of murder is a mandated function of human government (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-5) and in bin Laden’s case, justice has been served.

The Bible says, “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers” (Proverbs 21:15). The troubling thing to me, though, is in the nature of this joy. As I read this verse I cannot help but notice that it is the righteous that receive joy when justice is done. This is significant because a righteous person is not finding joy in someone else’s misery or punishment, but in the fact that God is receiving glory through the manifestation of His character. To find joy in the death of even a wicked man goes against God’s own declaration in His Word. Ezekiel 18:23 says “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

While it is perfectly acceptable to be glad that bin Laden is no longer murdering and it is proper to rejoice in justice for the glory it brings to God, we should evaluate the motives behind our joy. We must also remember that God finds pleasure not in the demise of the wicked, but in their salvation. We are commanded to go into all the world preaching the Gospel and making disciples (Mat 28:19-20). While most of us have never had the personal opportunity to share the Gospel with a man like bin Laden, to rejoice that he is dead and in hell is a direct violation of and contradiction to the evangelistic heart that all Christians must have. Rather than rejoice in his death, I am challenging myself to pray for his fellow terrorist to turn from their wickedness and experience God’ s mercy and love. Will you join me?