Matt's Blog

A couple of closing thoughts on the message series “blockbuster ENDINGS”.  I’m so PUMPED about the messages for the next two weeks.  If you have friends, family, or coworkers I think next Sundays message on 8/1 could make a huge impact especially if they are not Christ-followers.

Here’s a couple thoughts from the overall message series:

• Our view of WHY God gave us the Bible will directly impact how we respond to it.  Did God give us the Bible just so we could be informed? Or did He give it to us so that we would live changed lives because we know and love Him?
• Is Revelation a PUZZLE to be solved or is it a PICTURE that inspires us to love Him and serve Him with endurance?
• Would you find it surprising that the general writing genre of Revelation’s is symbolism – have your read trying to literally?
• I’m amazed at how “SPECUTLATION” (which is basically guessing) gets thrown around as if it’s true.  Also, I discovered that building “presupposition” upon “presupposition” can be dicey at best.
• Christians REALLY, REALLY have a hard-time saying, “I don’t know”.  Everyone loves answers.
• In researching Revelation I’ve found that through the centuries genuine followers of Jesus have had different opinions on the book of Revelation.
• It was interesting to discover that through out Church history those who’ve attempted to interpret Revelation have often done so through the LENS of their culture and time.  Views changed as civilization and culture changes.
• Please – I’m NOT trying to say there is no truth you and I can hold onto in Revelation.  There are some core TRUTHS in Revelation that will NEVER change no matter how we view it . Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and is the only and true way to salvation.  He’s coming back to conquer evil and Death.  Each and every person will give account and be responsible for the lives we lived.  Those who put their HOPE in Jesus Christ will get to be with God forever! Those truths NEVER change!
• Knowing “how” the End will turn out (Christ wins!) should motivate us to live such lives that Jesus is made famous to those around us.

May we as followers of Jesus NEVER be so obsessed with the future that we get sidetracked into neglecting the PRESENT mission God has given us TODAY!

My hope and prayer is that no matter what your view on Revelation is…that our love for God, Christ, and others will be reflected in our DAILY actions and deeds.

Popularity: 4%

This is the third post covering several issues (the Tribulation, the Rapture, the Millennium) that I couldn’t address in my current message series called “blockbuster ENDINGS”.  Today, I will be discussing one of the most debated and questioned parts of Revelation – the Millennium.  The Millennium is a term used to describe a 1,000 year period in which Christ and the saints rule over the Earth.  However, “Are those thousand years literal or symbolic?” is a question in which centuries of debate has as yet to answer conclusively.

The only place in all the Bible we can find the 1,000 year reign is in chapter 20 of Revelation.  “Most Christians have believed that this chapter refers to the same period as that depicted in many Old Testament passages describing the golden age of the Messiah.” (Revelation Four Views-by Steve Gregg)

There are THREE basic views about the Christian Millennium.

1. Premillennialism – Is a belief that the 2nd Coming of Christ will happen BEFORE His Millennial reign.  Jesus and the saints will rule the Earth for a thousand years.  At the end of that time the Devil will be loosed for a brief time and then the final judgment and the new Earth and new Heavens will come.
2. Postmillennialism – Is a belief that the 2nd Coming of Jesus will happen AFTER the Millennial reign.  This position holds to the ideal that church and Gospel of Christ will be so successful in evangelism that it will bring about this 1,000 years of relative peace on the Earth. (note: not everyone will be a Christian, but society as a whole will be Christian)
3. Amillennialism – Is the belief that the 1,000 years in Revelation 20 is a SYMBOL for an “indefinitely long period of time”.   This “indefinitely long period of time” covers the time from the first coming of Christ until His second coming.  Those in this camp “find most of Revelation 20 (like most aspects of Revelation) to be symbolic not literal.” (Revelation Four Views-by Steve Gregg)

My observations: I’m going to be honest here and it might offend some people so beware.  I can’t believe Christians spend so much time and energy arguing or trying to prove their view point is right.  With all the hurting people and needs of the world I think we could spend our energy more wisely.  Don’t get me wrong, I like learning and discussing theology.  I believe that followers of Christ should love God with their minds as well as their hearts.  However, all three views hold to the same basic tenants:  Jesus is coming back; Christ will rule;  The saints will be with Christ; and the devil is defeated and God wins!

Which leads me back to my overall premise for the series blockbuster ENDINGS, “Are we asking the right question?”  Do we get so caught up in the specifics that we get distracted from the main reason God gave us the book of Revelation (so we could be prepared & hold on).  My humble opinion is that Revelation is primarily about about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  God loves us and pursues us.  Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He’s coming back.  All wrong will be made right and humanity will be accountable for how they used their gift of life.  Death and evil are defeated and God and His people will be together forever.

Again, no matter what position you hold to my hope and prayer is that it causes you to love God and love others.

Popularity: 3%

Today’s post is a second in a three part series addressing the three issues (Tribulation, Rapture, and Millennium) I did not have time to cover in our message series called “blockbuster ENDINGS”.  You may want to read yesterday’s post first which will provide some background for this post as we look at the Rapture.

For those with none to little church background, the rapture is an event where followers of Jesus who are still alive on Earth are “caught up” in the air to meet Christ.  Depending on your overall view of when the 2nd Coming of Christ is will influence what you think about the rapture.

“The term rapture comes from the Latin word for the Greek term translated ‘caught up’. ” (Theology You Can Count On – Dr. Tony Evans)  In my research (by far not exhaustive) I believe the actual word “rapture” is not in the New Testament.  The belief for the rapture comes primarily from several passages: 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:39-41, and John 14:2-3.  1st Thessalonians 4:17 is the primary verse:  “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

OK, here’s where it get’s tricky.  Most all branches of the Christian faith believe that at some point those still alive on the planet when Jesus returns will meet Him.  The part that is in question and is debated is “when” it will happen and “where” Christ-followers will go?

Both the “when” and “where” question will be determined by what you believe about the 2nd Coming of Christ and His 1,000 year reign called The Millennium (will discuss this tomorrow).  Do you believe Christ returns before His Millennium reign?  If so, you as a group of people have 3 different views of when & where.

1. First view: Pre-tribulation – Christ will gather His followers to Himself and take us to Heaven where we will avoid the whole tribulation period.
2. Second view: Mid-tribulation – Christ will gather His followers to Himself and take us to Heaven and we will avoid the 2nd half of the  tribulation.
3. Third view: Post-tribulation – Christ will gather His followers to Himself and bring us to Earth after the tribulation has ended.

If you believe that Jesus’ 1,000 year reign is before His 2nd coming then your view typically would be:  That Christ followers will meet Jesus in route to His return and come back to Earth.

If you believe that Christ Millennial reign is symbolic for the time from His death on the cross until His return your view typically would be:  That Christ followers will meet Jesus in route to His return and come back to Earth.

My thoughts and observations:  My goal in this blog is not to sway you to believe what I do but to help you understand the different positions that Godly men and women have had over the centuries.  I used to hold to a very “American” and 19th century evangelical view of the rapture, but my view has changed over the years.  Like any other person I’m not fond of pain and would love to avoid “the tribulation” in any form.  However, in my journey with Jesus I’ve discovered that knowing “what’s” going to happen and “when” isn’t the most important thing.  While talking about “end-times” can be interesting and intellectually stimulating it can distract me from the real purpose of knowing I’m going to meet Jesus whenever He returns.  That purpose of knowing we will meet Christ when He returns is two-fold.  One, will you/I be prepared?  And two, in the middle of the harsh realities of life Christ promises to return and that you/I will get to be with him should inspires us and help us endure.

So no matter what you believe about the rapture, the real question is, “Does His promise of being together help you/I to follow Him better and to love Him more?”

Popularity: 7%

Hi…a couple of quick things.  First, WOW!  Do we have some amazing volunteers at SouthPoint Church!!!  Thank you for all you do to help make Sundays happen.  Second, sorry it’s been so long since my last post.  Life got busy, and I had to prioritize.

At SouthPoint we have been in a sermon series called “blockbuster ENDINGS” (click on title if you’ve missed and you can listen via podcast) which is about the book of Revelation .  This past Sunday I said, “I would discuss three areas about Revelation in my blog that due to time I couldn’t cover in the message.”   For churched people, three things that get a lot of interest and debate are the Tribulation, the Rapture, and the Millennium.

Before starting I would like to gently remind us all that there are people who are highly educated (much more so than me) and who love Jesus that see these three issues differently.  This is not a “Salvation” issue; this is a “how” issue.  A great book that I’ve been reading and using is called “Revelation – Four Views” by Steve Gregg which I highly recommend.  My goal is just to set out the basic information and not sway you to believe what I think.  One verse to keep in mind when studying an issue like this is Psalm 131:1-3.

What we come to believe about the Tribulation, Rapture, and Millennium will usually decide by how we view the whole book of Revelation.  Here are the four basic views (thanks Steve Gregg).  Each has their strengths and weaknesses.

• Historic – Revelation covers the time from the Apostles through current and till the end
• Preterist – Most of Revelation was fulfilled in past (fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD) Basically chapters 1-18 fulfilled, chapters 19-22 not yet
• Futurist – Most of Revelation hasn’t happened yet and is to come.  Basically chapter 1-4 fulfilled, chapters 5-22 will in future
• Spiritual/Idealist – Revelation is about “transcendent principles and recurring themes” for all ages.

The Tribulation: Often when talking about the book of Revelation many theologians and preachers include what Jesus had to say on the subject.  This is often called the Mount Olive discourse which can be found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17:20-37 & 21:5-36.  Please REMEMBER when reading that the disciple ask 3 specific questions: “When will destruction of temple take place?”  “What will the sign of your coming be?” (note the disciples probably believed that when temple was destroyed Jesus would come back at same time) “What will sign of end of age be?”  Note that Jesus doesn’t identify which question or the order in which He’s answering.

The foundation for the view of the Tribulation for most protestant evangelical Christians comes from the Gospels and Daniel more than from Revelation.  Matthew 24:21-22 ^“21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. ²²If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” The secondary source is Daniel references to the 70 weeks (click on 70wks for quick overview).

Here are the 3 basic idea’s about the TRIBULATION:

1. The “Tribulation” HAS already happened.  The siege, destruction, and desecration of the temple by the Roman armies in 70AD
2. The “Tribulation” IS happening.  Christ-followers will experience suffering and persecution in every age.  The time from the Ascension of Jesus till His return is the Tribulation.
3. The “Tribulation” WILL happen.  The Tribulation is a specific 7 year period just before return of Jesus where the Anti-Christ rules and there is unprecedented persecution for Christians and the world comes under supernatural judgment.

My thoughts:

Are we asking the right question?  Does God and Jesus give us information so we can know it or so we can do something with it?  For me personally knowing the details would be great, however I don’t believe that’s the point.  I believe the point is Jesus tells you and I the TRUTH – if we follow Him there will be trouble.  But, there’s good news!  Revelation tells us the Christ overcomes and that every tear will be wiped away.

I personally agree with parts from all three of the ideas about the Tribulation.  I believe that the Book of Revelation was written to a specific audience (the Early Church) for a specific purpose.  So, yes I think that the destruction of Jerusalem was a “tribulation” for the church.   I also accept as true that through ages the Church has experienced persecution and that the sin of Mankind has brought about brokenness in the world.   Lastly, before Christ returns I assume that there world will have a season where humanity experiences the consequences of it choices and it will not be pretty.

In closing; no matter what your view is on the Tribulation my hope is not that we got it right but that we’re prepared when we meet Jesus!

Popularity: 4%

Let’s be honest…have you ever been out at a restaurant or Wal-Mart and seen someone you didn’t really want to talk to?  The person isn’t bad;  either they talk too much or you’re just tired.  So what do we do?  Well, (being honest) I pretend like I don’t SEE them and I just keep on going hoping they don’t SEE me.  That’s where the phrase  “turning a blind eye”  comes from.  That statement means you can SEE but we CHOOSE not to and act like we don’t SEE.

I was reading in my 1yr Bible this morning, and I was struck by the fact that God sees! In Genesis 29:31 it says, “When The Lord SAW that Leah was not loved…” God did something.  In Matthew 9:36 it says, “When He (Jesus) SAW the crowds He had compassion on them…” God did something.  In Psalm 11:4 it says, “He observes the sons of Men: His eyes examine them.” God does something.

Now, you might be thinking, “Duh” of course God SEES and then responds.  It’s not the fact that God SEES that struck me.  It’s the fact that 5x’s in the first 10 chapters of Genesis God reminds US that WE are made in HIS image.  And here’s the question I asked myself this morning…

Do I see and then respond, because God created me in His image or do I pretend I can’t see so I won’t be inconvenienced? I wonder how many people you and I come across everyday hope to be seen but for whatever reason we “turn a blind eye”?

On the front page of the News today is a TRAGEDY of a massive earthquake that ripped through Haiti and leveled parts of that country! I wonder how those who follow Jesus will respond? I know the economy is tight, and that we can’t do EVERYTHING, but we can do SOMETHING!

I think partnering with a great organization like “Bright Hope” (please visit their web-site) is SOMETHING all of us can do – to SEE other human beings who are also made in the image of our Creator.

May both you and I SEE well today and all of our tomorrows….

Popularity: 10%

The other day I was headed to the library, but I went the wrong way.  What happened was I had a million things on my mind and I unconsciously made the turn I normally take almost everyday – it just was NOT in the right direction.  Have you ever done something like that?

The truth is life is a lot like that.  We have the urgency of the “daily grind” in our face and sometimes when we stop and look up in our lives we ask, “How did I get here?”  The great news is God knew we would struggle with this and He gives us some excellent instruction in Psalm 90:12

I recently read a fantastic book that I highly recommend called “The Principle Of The Path” by Andy Stanley.  A couple of statements from the book I wrote down in my journal.

• “Are there DISCREPANCIES between what I DESIRE and what I’m DOING?”
• “It’s NOT intention but direction”
• “Each ACTION is a step that leads SOMEWHERE!”
• “In light of my past experiences and future hopes what’s the WISE thing to do?”

So here are a few questions that might be worth asking yourself before the New Year

1. Where do I think God would want me to be RELATIONALLY with others next year?
2. Where do I think God would want me to be PHYSICALLY next year?
3. Where do I think God would want me to be EMOTIONALLY next year?
4. Where do I think God would want me to be INTELLECTUALLY next year?
5. Where do I think God would want me to be SPIRITUALLY next year?

Lastly…to end up where we hope to be we must answer this SIMPLE question: What SMALL steps in the direction I want to go do I NEED to take?  May you end up where God wants you to be at the end of 2010.

Popularity: 10%

Thanksgiving…

-A day off

-Good food

-Time with family

- Black Friday

All of these can be good things, but sometimes it hard for us to celebrate because “life-happens” and we may not experience Thanksgiving the way we had hoped.

I was talking with a friend the other day on the phone.  He has some serious health issues with his heart that he was telling me about.  Then he said something that shocked me.  He said, “I’m grateful it because it could be much worse.”  He went on to share how he’s run into other people whose pain and affliction is much more severe than his.

This got me thinking…instead of focusing on what isn’t going the way I want maybe I could be thankful for what blessings I do have.

So I wanted to share a couple things I’m thankful for:

1. God didn’t leave me the way He found me (and if you know me, you should be grateful too)

2. My stunningly beautiful and amazing wife and daughters – all who make my heart smile.

3. For the friends that like me even when I’m unlikeable

4. I have a job I love

5. My basic need are met – food, shelter, and clothing

I’d love to know what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Popularity: 11%

No one likes a bad deal because it leaves us feeling cheated.  A bad deal means you paid more than you should have and got less than what you wanted.  When we get cheated we don’t like the people who took advantage of us.

Confession time – sometimes I cheat others.  You see the Bible says, God despises unfair scales (not weighing fairly or a double standard).

Here’s the bad deal I give, I judge others by what they do and judge myself by my intentions.  It’s not a fair measuring scale.  If I was honest it’s a double standard.  I’ve realized that I’m not alone, that most of  the human race struggles with this.

I wonder how different we would treat each other if we gave the same slack to others that we give ourselves.    What would happen to our anger issues if we put ourselves in the “other persons shoes” and gave them the same grace we’d want?

The saddest part of this truth is that I often cheat the people I love the most and who are the closest to me.  I’ve discovered GREAT NEWS…it doesn’t have to be that way.  It’s so simple, I just copy what God did.  Instead of giving me what I deserve He has poured out His mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

What if those who followed Jesus didn’t cheat?  What if we gave to others what we give ourselves and what God so graciously gave us – GRACE!

Popularity: 7%

I’ll never forget what the Taekwondo master instructor said that day.  It was a Saturday morning lesson, which Leah and I never take due to my schedule.

It just so happened that the founder of the Black Belt Academy was teaching that morning.  Leah and I had been learning something new called “form”.  “Form” is basically practicing specific Taekwondo moves and motions in a precise and slow rhythmical manner (think of a rehearsing a dance move by yourself).  To be honest I was thinking, “What a waste of my time.”  Then as the master instructor was showing us the proper way to do “forms” he made this comment, “Practicing form is not how you would fight.  It’s purpose is to help you learn balance and power.”

Then it hit me.  I’m and idiot (something some of you already know).  I wasn’t into practicing “form” because I proudly thought I know better than my instructor.  Me thinking that I knew better wasn’t hurting my instructor at all.  My attitude caused me to miss out on the benefit “form” is intended to provide.

How often do I miss out because I do life my way instead of God’s?  Why would you or I ever do that?  Well, if we’re honest it’s because sometimes we think, “God, I know better than you.”  We rationalize in our minds that God doesn’t understand.  He doesn’t know what real life down here on this messy Earth is like.  For me, I’ve discovered whenever I think I know better than God – I always lose out.

So today it maybe worth asking…what has the Master Instructor told us to do that we’ve blow off because we think we know better?  We might just be missing out.

Popularity: 6%

There’s an old saying, “Tell a lie often enough and people will believe it’s true.” However, believing a lie doesn’t make it true no matter how much we wish it did.  This has happened to me and I bet it’s happened to you.

Does the daily bombardment of images and messages on the web, the radio, on TV,  and in magazines reinforce truths or lies?  What might I believe to be true that may be a lie because I’ve heard and seen it so often?

I wonder how this reality applies to our thoughts about love, sexuality, and our image of the opposite sex?  When it comes to love, sex, and the opposite gender who should we go to for truth?  Who really has our best interest in mind?

For me, I’ve discovered that some things I thought were true that just aren’t.  I’ve learned and continued to learn that there’s a difference between being a male and being a man.  Is being man about our physical stature and endowment…is that what it means to be a real man?  Is man-ness summed up by the ability to get pleasure and please a female/s?  Is what happens in the bedroom the ultimate measuring stick for a guy or girl as a human-being (no pun intended)?

Is the portrayal of the modern female accurate?  Is she a strong intelligent woman by day – whose really a sultry sex-starved girl whose only desire is to be some guy’s toy?  Will she become like a puppy dog who will follow a man around and do what he wants as long as she gets satisfied?  Does she really deep down just want to be dominated and degraded by whatever actions a male decides makes him happy?

Is the picture of the modern male accurate?  The stress of life never bothers him.  He has time to be successful in his career and work out so he can sport that 6pack abs.  Not only does the stress of life and exercise not tire him, but he has boundless energy to be romantic at every turn with enough left over be an amazing father who helps with house work.  On top of that he doesn’t have to worry about the cultures picture of  “every guys a porn-star” image.  He’s not only patient, he’s a mind reader who can send his women into a physical bliss regularly.

Just wondering…does believing a lie help or hurt?  Does what we believe about ourselves and the opposite sex set us up to win in life?  Or do false expectations set us up for massive disappointment?

Find the truth…believe the truth…think on the truth.

Popularity: 8%