“The economy is sagging and the news is depressing.”  This appears to be the repeated mantra of many believers of our day.  Sadly, this has caused many people to reduce their giving to missions.  People who once gave faithfully to their churches mission program, are now giving little or not at all.

The result of this faithlessness is that many churches have had to reduce the amount of their missionaries support.  Some have dropped missionaries.  It is with grief of heart that pastors have had to notify good missionaries that their support would not be continued.

Should we just say, “Well, that’s the economy,” and hope it eventually gets better?  I do not believe that to be so.  The issue is not that the economy is bad, it is the faithlessness of God’s people.  We must believe that our God is bigger than the economy.  If He is not, then we have a much larger problem.

It is God’s will that the untold be told.  It is His will that the local, New Testament church carry out the work of world evangelism.  It is His will that people get saved.  Therefore, He is still able to fund His work.  His work need not be reduced because of a dip in the economy.  His work is not financed by the American economy but, rather, by His abundant riches and power.

Yes, it is a blessing to find some saint of God who says, “The economy has affected me, but my mission’s giving is still being fulfilled by God’s power!”  What faith!  What obedience!

As fundamental, independent Baptist, let us continue to challenge people to believe that God is much bigger than the American economy.  Let us encourage them to continue trusting the Lord.  For those who have made a Faith Promise commitment, let us encourage them that God knew the economy would go bad when He told them what to commit to.  It does not surprise God.  Herein lies an opportunity to trust God for what cannot be seen.

If we will continue to trust the Lord, we can continue to plant churches both in the United States and abroad.  May we continue to be faithful.

It is not my normal practice to post a lengthy excerpt from another man’s writing.  However, I recently read the book “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream,” by David Platt.  It is an incredible book that would challenge any believer in the realm of evangelism and world missions.  As with any book, there are parts that may be discussed and/or debated.  However, the thesis is well-stated.

In chapter four of the book, Platt deals with the subject of “The Great Why of God.”  Here is a excerpt that is worth reading. . .

____Begin Excerpt____

If you were to ask the average Christian sitting in a worship service on Sunday morning to summarize the message of Christianity, you would most likely hear something along the lines of “The message of Christianity is that God loves me.”  Or someone might say, “The message of Christianity is that God loves me enough to send his Son, Jesus, to die for me.”

As wonderful as this sentiment sounds, is it biblical?  Isn’t it incomplete, based on what we have seen in the Bible?  ”God loves me” is not the essence of biblical Christianity.  Because if “God loves me” is the message of Christianity, then who is the object of Christianity?

God loves me.
Me.
Christianity’s object is me.

Therefore, when I look for a church, I look for the music that best fits me and the programs that best cater to me and my family.  When I make plans for my life and career, it is about what works best for me and my family.  When I consider the house I will live in, the car I will drive, the clothes I will wear, the way I will live, I will choose according to what is best for me.  This is the version of Christianity that largely prevails in our culture.

But it is not biblical Christianity.

The message of biblical Christianity is not “God love me, period,” as if we were the object of our own faith.  The message of biblical Christianity is “God loves me so that I might make Him ––His ways, His salvation, His glory, and His greatness–– known among all nations.”  Now God is the object of our faith, and Christianity centers around Him.  We are not the end of the gospel; God is.

____End Excerpt____

Now that is powerful!

Normal Traffic in Seoul

During April 5-15, 2010, my wife and I had the privilege of taking a trip to Seoul, South Korea.  We visited the David Mitchell family, and they were more than gracious hosts to us.  While stationed at Fort Benning, the Mitchell became a part of our church family.  In 2007 that transferred to Yongsan Military Base in Seoul.  We look forward to having them come back to Georgia soon.

Kathy and I greatly enjoyed the trip.  The ten days with the Mitchell family were days of great fellowship, great food, and great learning.  It was both education and inspirational.  One cannot visit such a massive city without being struck with the great need of the city.  Seoul is one of the world’s largest cities, with approximately twenty-four million people in its metro area.  The mass sea of humanity, that we encountered this week, was one of great need.  The influence of the false religions was apparent everywhere.  There were evidences of Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism and others.  There were many Presbyterian churches, but they are of the neo-evangelical, contemporary style.  They preach a weakened gospel that promotes infant baptism, denies eternal security, and lacks any form of biblical separation.  The need for fundamental works is very great.  While it is true that the people of North Korea live in both physical and spiritual darkness, it is still true that spiritual darkness also envelops South Korea.  Both Koreas need the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was a great blessing to also visit the work of missionaries David and Joy Lewis.  Brother Lewis has been supported by Lighthouse for a number of years.  He has served in Seoul for almost eleven years.  His ministry is to the American military at the Yongsan Military Base, which is located in the heart of Seoul.  We were in the services at Yongsan Baptist Church for two Wednesday and one Sunday.  It was my privilege to preach both services on Sunday, April 11.   It was also a joy to see a Philippine lady follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.  She was publicly baptized, even though it meant receiving criticism from her family.  She will, most likely, be renounced by her family.  Yet, she chose the way of Jesus Christ.  What a joy it was to be there.

Thursday, April 8th,  was a day to be remembered.  While on a trip to Seoul, Korea, my wife and I had the privilege of participating in an USO sponsored trip to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).  What a trip!  This is the zone created by the Armistice of July 1953, in regards to the Korean War.  This was a cease-fire agreement signed by North Korea, the U.N. and the United States.  (South Korea refused to sign, because they wanted unification).  The DMZ was established as a buffer around the MDL (Military Demarcation Line), and is in the area of the 38th Parallel.  This line is the dividing line between North and South Korea.

As we begin to approach the DMZ, security was noticeably increased.  Upon arrival at the south entrance of the DMZ, the tour was taken over by the military of the JSA (Joint Security Area).  The JSA is purportedly comprised of ROK (Republic of Korea) soldiers and U.N. soldiers.  However, the “U.N.” delegation is mainly United States.

The tour continued into the heart of the DMZ.  We arrived at the MDL, and the border of the two countries.  As we entered the main building, we were brief on what would happen after we exited the rear of the building.  Upon exiting, we would be able to see across the border into North Korea.  We were warned to stay with the group, and not to attempt any communication with the North Korean guards, either verbal or non-verbal.  Any gestures could be considered a threat by the NK.

As warned, we were heavily watched by the N.K. guards.  Although they were a distance of about two-hundred yards away, it was clear that they were monitoring our movements.  We were escorted by armed soldiers into the “Conference Building.”  This is a small one-room building that is in the rear of the main building.  This building is perfectly divided between North and South Korea.  The border runs directly through the middle of the building, with an exit on both ends.  The purpose of this arrangement was so that both countries could set at the negotiating table and still remain in their country.  Prior to entering this building, armed guards insured the North Korea exit door was secure.  A ROK soldier was then posted at the door to insure no one accidentally opened the door into N.K..  While in the building, we were permitted to cross the line into North Korea.  Although it was within a building, it was still North Korea.

Upon exiting the building (on the Republic of Korea side), I gazed into the country of North Korea.  Even the landscape and terrain revealed the despair of this country that is shrouded in darkness.  One man, a ruthless dictator, has established a country that lives in physical and spiritual darkness.  He has completely isolated his people from the outside world.  They are not permitted to know what the rest of the world does.  He has kept the people of North Korea from hearing the message of hope that is offered by Jesus Christ.  As I thought upon these things, I could not help but weep.  Millions of souls are perishing, due to the iron-fisted rule of Kim Jung IL.

Pray for the Lord to open the door into North Korea, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ may be given to those in that country.

This video is well worth watching.  It will stir your soul.

Synopsis

Great Christian Revivals – the Welsh, Hebridean and Evangelical Revival – Evan Roberts, Duncan Campbell and John Wesley. Great Christian Revivals is an emotional, inspirational and upl… Great Christian Revivals – the Welsh, Hebridean and Evangelical Revival – Evan Roberts, Duncan Campbell and John Wesley. Great Christian Revivals is an emotional, inspirational and uplifting account of some of the greatest revivals in church history. Set to a historic soundtrack, including Parry’s Jerusalem, the viewer is taken on location to witness the actual places where many special outpourings came to pass. Drawing upon archive information, the stories of these Christian revivals are brought to life through the testimony of those who witnessed the events first-hand. Using computer animation, historic photos and depictions, the events of the past are weaved into the present, as the old and new are blended together to bring the stories alive. Discover in a brand new light, the amazing accounts…