Bridge of Love Home Orphanage

A video of "Bridge of Love Home" an Orphanage in Dzan,

Yucatan, Mexico. This is where my brother Steve Fletcher

and his wife Martha are missionaries.

If you are looking for Team Missions opportunities and would like

to find out more about this ministry you can go directly to:

http://www.bridgeoflovehome.com/

Continue reading!

Have we been Judaized?

Recently I read an article by Andrew Strom called, "Return of the Judaizers?" In this article Strom points out some of the hidden dangers and extremes of what has become known as the "Hebrew" or "Jewish Roots Movement".

Now I don't believe it is wrong for Christians to understand and appreciate the Bible from an historical perspective, neither does Andrew Strom. Understanding the Hebrew and Jewish roots of those the Bible was written to or about is definitely important for correct interpretation or Biblical exegesis, especially of the New Testament. That is not the issue at heart. ----

According to Andrew Strom, the real issue at heart is the danger of adding to the finished work of Christ; At least with a certain segment of this movement. In this article he shares a story about a woman who was subtly caught up in following and depending on practicing the Torah as opposed to Jesus Christ because of the overemphasis of these Jewish roots. She didn’t stop believing in Jesus but she became “Judaized” by depending on her own efforts to obey the Torah, as opposed to the finished work of Christ alone.

As I read this article I began to think about how there is always a danger of being “Judaized”, not just through the “Jewish Roots Movement” but any movement, doctrine, or teaching that adds to the “gospel” message. Don’t get me wrong here. Doctrine and teaching is important and essential but there is always a danger of making a particular doctrine, even sound doctrine an end in itself, rather than a means to the ultimate end which is to know Christ in a personal and intimate way, and growing in His grace.

Take for example the imminent return of Christ and the rapture of the Church. Recently I had a discussion with somebody over this very topic and of course, we didn’t completely agree with our eschatology. At that point it would be easy for me to make my interpretation an “essential” truth to the Christian faith and become “legalistic” about it. But if I did that, would I not be adding to the “gospel” message. And if so, would I not be a “Judaizer” by requiring others to hold to this same doctrine?

Recently I read an article about learning to distinguish between “convictions” and “absolutes”. In this article the writer explains how important it is for Christians not to judge others regarding their own personal convictions. Saint Augustine stated, and I’m sure this is just a paraphrase, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, and in all things charity”.

It is my belief that as Christians, knowing what and why we believe is not only important and even essential, but in this endeavor we must always keep our faith centered in the finished work of Christ. If we do not we may also fall into the trap of being a “Judaizer”. Even John warned the Ephesian Church, which was doctrinally sound, not to forsake their first love (Rev 2:2-6). What was their first love? Was it the Church? Was it their “sound doctrine”? No, it was Christ and his finished work. Their faith had been solid in God’s grace as revealed in Jesus Christ and His cross (Eph 2:8-10). So how did they lose their first love? Most scholars believe that the Ephesian Church became haughty and prideful and turned away from depending on Christ alone.

Newsboys in their song called “In Christ Alone”, brings this message home.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

To conclude, I would like to challenge us to be on guard against becoming “Judaized” by adding to or overemphasizing our doctrine above our relationship with Christ.

Continue reading!

Where is the American Church?

Years ago while I was attending seminary, I heard this statement:

“Theology is concocted in Germany, perfected in England, and convoluted in America”.

Although this was said mostly in jest, I believe the point has an element of truth. The truth is, I believe, the American Church in many respects has lost its way and no longer speaks to the Christian community with the spiritual authority it once had, and in turn, the Church has also lost its voice to speak with any clarity to the culture at large. Is it possible that we are witnessing the "apostacy" that Matt, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, and Jude all warned would take place before the great tribulation and Christ's return?

To some this may seem like a rather scathing indictment; especially when there is so much good being done by the American Church on a massive scale. So much religious zeal, activity, and community involvement taking --- place among evangelicals of all denominations.

But with that being said have we lost our true mission and purpose as a Church? The real question we must ask is, "what is truly motivating us as American Christians?" Or to put it another way, "is the Evangelical Church's activity and "works" truly based on Biblical faith, and the Spirit of God, or is it based on something else?"

A.W. Tozer in his book “The knowledge of the Holy”, wrote that the Church is in a state of spiritual peril. He wrote this over 50 years ago and things have not gotten any better. According to him, “The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men. This she has done not deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge; and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic. The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us….With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence” (pg vii).

In the first chapter of his book he gives one major solution to this dilemma. In this classic book on the attributes of God, Tozer nails it on the head when he states that; “The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him-and of her. In all her prayers and labors this should have first place. We do the greatest service to the next generation of Christians by passing on to them undimmed and undiminished that noble concept of God which we received from our Hebrew and Christian fathers of generations past.” (pg 4).

In some small way at least, I hope that through this blog I may be able to fulfill this task. I don't claim to be an expert on the nature of God or his ways, and I must admit that there are times when I have questioned his ultimate sovereignty over his creation, and my own life in particular, but I have come to know that He has given us the answers that we so desperately need, through His word, and through His son Jesus Christ.

I believe that one of the primary tasks of any Christian is to not only have a correct "Biblical worldview" and a Biblical understanding of God's nature, but most of all to articulate and communicate that through our words and deeds, to the culture at large.

As I am challenged to "think rightly of God", as Tozer puts it, I hope to challenge others with my posts. I will leave this blog as an open forum and you can feel free to comment anonymously. Just be respectful and courteous.

Although the American Church is in a quandary, the battle has not been lost. I believe that if we would heed A.W. Tozer's words, the Church will once again regain its voice of clarity and authority to a lost and dying world.

Let us pray that the Church would once again be motivated by nothing else but the Grace, Glory, and Majesty of God, and rise up and sing with faith and boldness these words of Martin Luther's great reformation hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God":

"...and though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undue us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us". In the name of Christ Jesus or Lord. Amen!

Continue reading!