by Kevin Tillman | Jun 19, 2023 | Theology
“Many Christians have what we might call a “cultural holiness.” They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.”
Jerry Bridges
Comparison is so dangerous. I sometimes wish I could live out the Billy Madison movie. If I could go back to elementary school now I would be a rock star. Playground time would be dominated by this guy! Oh, and just try and take my milk money away. I’d be “the man”, because, well, I am a man. On the other end of the spectrum, I’m not sure I would fair so well with a group of Marines fresh out of boot camp. Actually, that’s a prideful understatement. I KNOW I wouldn’t fair too well. I would be completely owned in that scenario. I’m the same person, I’m just in two different contexts. I think this might be the struggle that we are seeing today. Our standard has dropped. We are in the game of comparison. Thoughts such as, “well, I know it’s not right, but compared to many of my other Christian friends I’m not so bad.” Or, how about, “well at least I didn’t ….”. The standard of holiness has never changed, it remains the same. Sure, we will never completely live up to that standard, but isn’t that the goal still? Yes, we live under grace and we are forgiven, but does that negate holiness? Yes, our holiness is only completed in the saving work of the cross, but don’t we have a responsibility to live holy lives? I say yes. It’s a fight everyday, I get that, but it’s a fight we need to stay in. At the very least we should make sure we are comparing ourselves to the right standard.
by Kevin Tillman | Jun 5, 2023 | Bible Study
Ever played that old kids game hot or cold? You know where you have an object in the room that you need to find. Someone else gives you the hints: “you’re warmer”, “oh you’re colder now”, “you are freezing”, “oh you are on fire, you are burning up”. So many Christians are living in the “getting warmer” stage. They are on the right path, but just not “there” yet.
Maybe you feel like that. You’ve tried so many times before. You’ve read the latest book. You’ve attended Bible Study and church faithfully. You’ve even experienced some change. But, then old ways creep back in. You start to feel like you can never change. Over time, you become frustrated and almost feel like giving up.
The apostle Paul can relate. In Romans 7:15-18 he says,
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
Paul admitted that complete victory was eluding him. He said “I have the desire, but I can’t carry it out.” I know you can relate to this. The problem isn’t, and never has been knowing WHAT to do. The problem lies in knowing HOW to do it. For those that have been around the church for any period of time, you’ve likely heard numerous messages on taking the next step. We love this, because it gives us practical steps to take. So, the mindset becomes, if I DO this, I will be on the right track.
Please don’t misunderstand me here. I believe these steps can be very helpful, especially for those new to the faith. It gives a very tangible thing to do. Here’s the problem though, these steps are most often will power focused. We are told to repent from our sins. That’s a good thing to do! We are taught to read our Bible daily. Once again, that’s good as well. Now pray daily. Cool, got it! Now also abstain from evil…. OK, that’s sounds obvious, but getting harder. Now, pray for those that persecute you. Love your neighbor. Love your enemy. Give your time. Give your money. Go to church. Disciple your kids. Spend more time with your wife. Volunteer at the soup kitchen. Stack chairs after church 🙂 … this list just keeps getting bigger and longer. Why? because we love the lists. When we start our journey with our list, we feel like the list is what will keep us going. Problem is, no one does it, at least not all of it. And even those that do, it’s only temporary. We don’t have the will power or stamina to live all of this out.
So, what’s the answer, because that sounds kind of depressing? Well, there is no “I” in TEAM, but there are two “I’s” in SPIRIT…. That actually has nothing to do with it, I just wanted to type that. Actually, it kind of does. It’s about the Spirit in us. The Spirit of God is the HOW we do it.
Listen to Paul in Romans 8:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
Spirit, Spirit, Spirit, Spirit … that’s what I see in that passage. I think I counted nine references to the Spirit of God. I love the last line: “Live by the flesh, you die. Live by the Spirit, you live”. Sure that’s my paraphrase, but that’s what it says. Christians often think that “living by the flesh” means “living for the flesh”, but it’s not just that. Living by the flesh doesn’t necessarily mean we are doing the big bad sins. It could mean living under your own power, or depending on yourself. If there is one thing I have definitely learned in my lifetime, it is that I am undependable. Oh sure, others wouldn’t say that. I mean, I show up when I’m supposed to. I do my job. I keep my commitments. That’s not what I’m talking about. I mean I’m undependable when I try and fix myself. My flesh, my will power just never finishes the job. I’m not alone here. No one is capable of this. God wired us this way. He made us NEED the Spirit.
So, maybe you’ve been crawling around your whole life as a Christian worm. You’ve been working hard at becoming a Christian butterfly. You know you are supposed to fly, but you just can’t ever seem to get off the ground. I leave you with this advice: Give up! Quit trying! Go back on the ground (maybe even on your knees) and ask for God’s Spirit to overtake you. Ask Him to help you fly. The problem has never been knowing WHAT to do, it’s always been knowing HOW to do it.
You’ll fail again at some point, because that’s what messy Christians do, but don’t fear, God’s Spirit will keep you flying. He’ll give you butterfly kisses and little white flowers all up in your hair (sorry couldn’t resist a little Bob Carlisle reference).
by Kevin Tillman | May 29, 2023 | Theology
What exactly is Shavuot? Simply put, it is the fourth of seven Feasts of Israel. Shavuot is Hebrew for “weeks”. This festival is also known as the “Feast of Weeks”, because it occurs 7 Sabbaths and one day from Passover, or 50 days (thus the Greek translation of “Pentecost”). Shavuot is Pentecost, Pentecost is Shavuot. Same day, two translations.
But, what is Shavuot? It was a summer harvest celebration. Grain offerings were presented as an act of thankfulness. What is not mentioned in the Bible, but is in Ancient Jewish rabbinical teachings is the significance of the day. Fifty days after the Passover (escape from Egyptian slavery), was the monumental event of the giving of the Law. (Charlton Heston anyone?). Important to notice is that this day was a remembrance for the foundational giving of the law. This feast was instituted well before the time of Jesus, and is still celebrated today by Jews.
Imagine this: It’s first century AD. The disciples are gathered with 120 others in the Upper Room. The day is Shavuot. It’s the day of remembrance and thankfulness for the law. But this year is different. Fifty days ago their Messiah had died (on Passover), was buried (on Feast of Unleavened Bread), then rose again (on Feast of First Fruits). Now, it’s the day of the fourth feast: Shavuot. There are many similarities in the events that happened on the day of Pentecost and the day the law was given on Mt. Sinai. At Sinai “a loud trumpet blast”, and “the whole mountain trembled violently”. In the Upper Room, “a sound like the blowing of a violent wind”. Both occurrences saw a visible fire. Both occurred on exactly the same calendar day (Shavuot). In rabbinic tradition, when the law was given the soul of every Jew in all of history was present, and each person heard the law in their native language. At Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given, “each one heard their own language”. Of course they did!
At Sinai, 3000 people lost their lives for worshipping the golden calf false idol. At Pentecost, 3000 lives were saved. So, Pentecost occurred on Shavuot. It’s amazing how God gives us such a perfect timetable. It’s all rooted in the festivals and in plain sight! God is so good!
by Kevin Tillman | May 22, 2023 | Church Leadership
“I want to find a church that loves me for who I am.”
“I’m looking for a place that won’t judge me.”
“I need a church that will love me and my family and help us feel appreciated.”
There is really nothing inherently wrong with the above statements. One might notice the focus on self. The quick answer is to tell someone to look for a place they can serve, and not just a place that serves them. That sounds good, and it is correct, but we have to be honest, we do live in an individualistic society. Whether we admit it or not, we all desire to be in a church where we belong, where we feel appreciated, and that loves us.
But, as church leaders, how far do we take this? Are we to offer the best user experience we possibly can? Well, yes, we should … But, I ask again, how far do we take this? What if the “who I am” of the person is completely contrary to God’s Word? What if the person needs judging? (And yes, we are CALLED to judge other believers … another blog, another day). What if the family is in complete shambles and needs help?
I’ve battled internally the role of my own shepherding over the years. My core personality is a people-pleaser. I want others to be happy, and if I’m honest, I want them to be happy with me. No one likes to be disliked. But, if you’ve been in ministry anytime at all, you know this is not reality. We live in a fallen world, and disagreements and misunderstandings happen. People are not always going to approve of me (or you). If you find yourself in a situation where everyone is agreeing with you, it might be time to question your leadership. That sounds harsh right? Sure we can get more agreement if we stay in the middle of the road. You know, don’t take too many hard stands, and if you do, make sure it’s an echo chamber stand. It’s easy to get an “amen” when you know that 99% of the people agree with you! We can get everyone to like us if we are always agreeable with everything, no matter what. But, that’s not authentic, and it’s not our calling … We are shepherds, and shepherds lead.
Taking a stand is tough. Doing the right thing is tough. What about the church member that is privately living in sin? I say privately, because if it’s public, it’s not as difficult to confront. But what if it’s private? What if you are called to talk to that church member privately? Your desire is truly to help and to restore. But, you are risking a lot by confronting. They can respond harshly. They can spread gossip. Meanwhile, you remain silent to the rest of the congregation out of respect for the person. What about the church member that is in a bad relationship? What about the ones that are harming themselves? Shepherding a flock is not easy if it’s done the right way.
Church leaders, it’s time we regain the boldness to which God called us. I’m not saying we go through the congregation slaying everyone over every sin and every issue. My people-pleasing personality would revolt against that anyway. But, I do believe we should be reminded that “our battle is not against flesh and blood”. I’ve been reminded this past week on several occasions that there is a very real spirit realm. As we “confront” people we are actually confronting “the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil”. We have members that are in bondage.
One word of caution: We have to make sure that we are ready spiritually ourselves! As we confront issues, attacks are sure to happen. There will be backlash from others, there will be misunderstanding. You might even risk your job. But, aren’t we called to be Christ’s representatives? Isn’t that what our calling is all about?
As I look ahead at my future days in ministry, I want to be a warrior that fights the dark forces. I would much rather be misunderstood and even disliked on earth, than to spend eternity not making a difference. I feel like I need to state an obvious here: I’m not saying we all need to be butt-heads and walk through our congregations being a human wrecking ball. We need to be agreeable and likeable people. We need to open our hearts and arms to everyone. But, we also need to be bold enough to call out sin when it’s there. We need to dig underneath the surface talk and provide honesty in situations.
True love doesn’t always agree. True love sometimes hurts. It hurts others, and it might even hurt us. But, truth heals.
My prayer: God help us to be “truth in love” people. I pray especially for younger ministers that are just starting. Help them be bold. God I pray for healing for our people. We live in dark times. Warfare is all around us. Families are being destroyed, addictions are at an all time high. We are more connected, yet less connected than ever. Help our churches to be more than just a gathering to help us feel better. I pray that our congregations become life-giving. Root out the deepest issues in us, your leaders first. Help us to become the warriors that you called us to be. Help us to know when to speak up, and when to be silent, when to confront, and when to console. We need Your wisdom, Your help, and Your power. Help us Lord … Amen!
by Kevin Tillman | May 8, 2023 | Bible Study
“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.” Mark 5:6
There’s nothing out of the ordinary about that verse. If you’ve been in church long, you’ve heard countless testimonies of people coming to a relationship with Christ, or returning to a relationship. But, what makes this verse so powerful is the back story. This guy was no ordinary guy. He lived in a cave. He was possessed by an impure spirit. He could not be bound, not even with chains. The Bible says that “no one was strong enough to subdue him”. “Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”
This guy was far gone. I’ve had some pretty bad days. I’ve strayed from God over the years in my own ways. I’ve done things my way instead of God’s way. But, I can honestly say, I’ve never lived on the outskirts of the city with chains wrapped around me. And, needless to say, I don’t think I’m so strong that no human being could ever subdue me.
“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.” I hear hope in this verse. This guy, despite being possessed by a whole Legion of demons, still had enough ability to recognize and call out to the only one who could help. No matter how far removed you or I feel from God, it’s not too far. We still have the ability to “run and fall in front of him”.
Another important note I see here, and I believe this is really important, is action. The man did the running to Jesus. Jesus did not approach the man. Jesus may come near, but he’s going to leave a step for us. We have to approach him. We have to fall on our knees in front of him.
What are your chains? What is binding you? Maybe you feel too far removed. You’re not! You’re never too far away from God. Run to him.
