We live in a very crowded city that moves at a very quick pace. The Ferry gets so full we wonder if it might tip over. The Express Bus is often so crowded there seems as if there are as many standing as sitting. The Subway sometimes resembles a row of sardine cans with strap hangers packed in from end to end. For drivers, the Expressway often looks like more of a parking lot than a freeway. All this as we hustle and bustle from place to place in this thing we call the commute.
This overcrowding combined with the frantic pace has led to another interesting phenomenon. Many of us have developed an amazing eye condition. We are able to look right at people and not ever really see them. The technical term for this is “the glazed over look” or "Urban Eyes".
I have found myself sitting on a train or bus and looking straight ahead with all my thoughts to myself, really not seeing anyone. This eye condition is certainly helpful as a self-protection device. If we ever actually looked at someone we might get a “Are you looking at me?” from the subject of our gaze. That would of course be extremely awkward not to mention somewhat dangerous.
In the last few days for some reason I have been challenged regarding my eye condition. I have been reminded of the example of Jesus when confronted with the needy multitudes. It is said of him that “…When He saw the multitudes; He was moved with compassion….” (Matthew 9:36). I also remember His encounter with the rich young ruler. There it is said of Lord that “……Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” (Mark 10:21).
One of the more interesting narratives in the New Testament involves Jesus, the woman at the well and the disciples near the Samaritan city of Sychar. As the disciples went to town to find food, Jesus engaged the Samaritan woman in conversation about her soul. When the disciples came back it was apparent they had told no one in the town about Jesus. They had been too worried about their growling stomachs to notice anyone. They suffered from an eye condition very similar to mine.
Jesus confronts the disciples about there food obsessions. Then, with the whole town making its way to him because of the witness of the recently departed Samaritan woman, He gives his disciples a very poignant command. He says, referring to the oncoming crowd, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. (John 4:35)
The disciples needed to lift up their eyes and see the Samaritans as Jesus did. I need to lift up my eyes and see the people in our city as Jesus does. I suspect you may have the same need as the disciples and I have. The words that follow are to a song that would make a powerful prayer for all of us as I close this article. The song writer prays:
“Let me see this world, dear Lord, As though I were looking through Your eyes.
A world of men who don’t want You Lord, But a world for which You died.
Let me kneel with You in the garden, Blur my eyes with tears of agony;
For if once I could see this world the way You see, I just know I’d serve You more faithfully.
Let me see this world, dear Lord, Through Your eyes when men mock Your Holy Name.
When they beat You and spat upon You, Lord, Let me love them as You loved them just the same.
Let me stand high above my petty problems, And grieve for men, hell bound eternally;
For if once I could see this world the way You see, I just know I’d serve You more faithfully.” (Words and music by Mike Otto, Copyright 1979)
An Urban Christian
Dave Watson
Friday, April 08, 2011
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Build A Hospital
OF MOSQUES AND MEN
Last week I had a great visit from some friends of mine from Virginia. They wanted to see our fair city as most of out of towners do. So my wife and I, with our kids, trekked them into the city. One of the sites they wanted to see was ground zero so, of course, we took them there.
Ground zero is now a busy construction site and there is not really a whole lot to see. In spite of this, it still pains me to go there. It also still hurts every time I look at our beautiful skyline with the two missing pieces forever etched in my mind. I wish I could forget but I can’t. On September 11, 2001 we lost nearly 3000 fellow New Yorkers, we lost the symbols of our city’s wonder and greatness but we also lost so much more.
We lost our sense of security because it seems we can never really believe we are safe again. We also lost our innocence because we experienced an unspeakable horror. Those who did the deed and those behind it hoped and prayed to Allah that 50,000 of us would die and that our city would economically, socially and spiritually collapse. They wanted more than the towers, they wanted us. But for the grace of God, they would have gotten their wish.
Not content with the 1993 attack, the terrorists tried again and on 9/11 they succeeded. But they weren’t content with the carnage they caused on that dreadful day. They’ve tried again and again to do our country and our city more harm. In their thinking they should not stop until they have destroyed us or killed themselves in the process, because after all we are the great satan - the infidels against whom the jihad most be fought and won.
After our short visit to ground zero my friends asked me to bring them to the site of the controversial proposed “Ground Zero Mosque.” In less than a New York Minute we were there. When I stood at the corner of Park Place (the street where the Mosque will be built) and Church Street I was flabbergasted. Without exaggeration, this Mosque is being built at Ground Zero. If, on 9/11, you had been standing on the spot where I took my friends that day you would have met your Maker.
The building of a Mosque here is not an issue of rights granted by our Constitution. It is not an issue of religious rights but it is an issue of doing what’s right. Clearly it is insensitive and it could be construed as being malicious. Please remember, for the Islamic terrorists, flying the planes into the towers was an answer to their prayers vindicating their hatred of America. Sadly and tragically this is the thinking of many in the Muslim world, even many who live in this country, even some who worship in this city.
If the Mosque is built, on Fridays (every Friday) and on holy days the call to prayer will go out and the faithful will gather and proclaim “Allah is great” in the shadow of one the greatest atrocities ever committed in the name of Allah. Just writing of it nauseates me. What is equally as bad is that many who pray on those days will be quietly giving thanks to their god for the devastation caused on 9/11 on that very block ---an event that they believe was an answer to their prayers.
Our President and Mayor have weighed in on this issue and they are wrong--- ridiculously wrong. I am sure that a great number of Muslims are peace loving people. I am also sure that far too many Muslims for our comfort have sympathies toward the radicals. Listen closely for unapologetic outrage from Muslim leaders next time Christian missionaries are executed like they were in Afghanistan last month. Tune in to talk radio, network news or surf the web when the next bombing or hijacking or senseless murder of innocents occurs in the name of Allah. As hard as you try, you will not find an unqualified condemnation. The best you will get is “Not all Muslims are like this”. What we should hear is that those who have done these deeds are contemptible and damned. That the perpetrators are not martyrs but murderers. What we get is a whole lot less.
The building of the Mosque at ground zero would not be a celebration of our pluralistic society but rather a supreme example of insensitivity and bad taste. I am not bigoted and intolerant for suggesting this project go elsewhere. To make this type of accusation toward me and others who feel this way is to be bigoted and intolerant. Over the last nine years, I have watched our city slowly move forward toward healing. I have been to the firehouses, I have spoken to the first responders, I have been to the yearly memorials. I don’t appreciate the horrific wound caused in the name of Allah being re-opened in the name of Allah. If those in the Muslim community genuinely want to promote healing they could learn a lesson from the Jews, the Catholics, the Lutherans, the Methodists, the Baptists and the Presbyterians, they could build a hospital.
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
Last week I had a great visit from some friends of mine from Virginia. They wanted to see our fair city as most of out of towners do. So my wife and I, with our kids, trekked them into the city. One of the sites they wanted to see was ground zero so, of course, we took them there.
Ground zero is now a busy construction site and there is not really a whole lot to see. In spite of this, it still pains me to go there. It also still hurts every time I look at our beautiful skyline with the two missing pieces forever etched in my mind. I wish I could forget but I can’t. On September 11, 2001 we lost nearly 3000 fellow New Yorkers, we lost the symbols of our city’s wonder and greatness but we also lost so much more.
We lost our sense of security because it seems we can never really believe we are safe again. We also lost our innocence because we experienced an unspeakable horror. Those who did the deed and those behind it hoped and prayed to Allah that 50,000 of us would die and that our city would economically, socially and spiritually collapse. They wanted more than the towers, they wanted us. But for the grace of God, they would have gotten their wish.
Not content with the 1993 attack, the terrorists tried again and on 9/11 they succeeded. But they weren’t content with the carnage they caused on that dreadful day. They’ve tried again and again to do our country and our city more harm. In their thinking they should not stop until they have destroyed us or killed themselves in the process, because after all we are the great satan - the infidels against whom the jihad most be fought and won.
After our short visit to ground zero my friends asked me to bring them to the site of the controversial proposed “Ground Zero Mosque.” In less than a New York Minute we were there. When I stood at the corner of Park Place (the street where the Mosque will be built) and Church Street I was flabbergasted. Without exaggeration, this Mosque is being built at Ground Zero. If, on 9/11, you had been standing on the spot where I took my friends that day you would have met your Maker.
The building of a Mosque here is not an issue of rights granted by our Constitution. It is not an issue of religious rights but it is an issue of doing what’s right. Clearly it is insensitive and it could be construed as being malicious. Please remember, for the Islamic terrorists, flying the planes into the towers was an answer to their prayers vindicating their hatred of America. Sadly and tragically this is the thinking of many in the Muslim world, even many who live in this country, even some who worship in this city.
If the Mosque is built, on Fridays (every Friday) and on holy days the call to prayer will go out and the faithful will gather and proclaim “Allah is great” in the shadow of one the greatest atrocities ever committed in the name of Allah. Just writing of it nauseates me. What is equally as bad is that many who pray on those days will be quietly giving thanks to their god for the devastation caused on 9/11 on that very block ---an event that they believe was an answer to their prayers.
Our President and Mayor have weighed in on this issue and they are wrong--- ridiculously wrong. I am sure that a great number of Muslims are peace loving people. I am also sure that far too many Muslims for our comfort have sympathies toward the radicals. Listen closely for unapologetic outrage from Muslim leaders next time Christian missionaries are executed like they were in Afghanistan last month. Tune in to talk radio, network news or surf the web when the next bombing or hijacking or senseless murder of innocents occurs in the name of Allah. As hard as you try, you will not find an unqualified condemnation. The best you will get is “Not all Muslims are like this”. What we should hear is that those who have done these deeds are contemptible and damned. That the perpetrators are not martyrs but murderers. What we get is a whole lot less.
The building of the Mosque at ground zero would not be a celebration of our pluralistic society but rather a supreme example of insensitivity and bad taste. I am not bigoted and intolerant for suggesting this project go elsewhere. To make this type of accusation toward me and others who feel this way is to be bigoted and intolerant. Over the last nine years, I have watched our city slowly move forward toward healing. I have been to the firehouses, I have spoken to the first responders, I have been to the yearly memorials. I don’t appreciate the horrific wound caused in the name of Allah being re-opened in the name of Allah. If those in the Muslim community genuinely want to promote healing they could learn a lesson from the Jews, the Catholics, the Lutherans, the Methodists, the Baptists and the Presbyterians, they could build a hospital.
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
“Come Soar with Us”
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. - Hebrews 11:6
This past Memorial Day Weekend I was at my mother’s house in Massachusetts. My mom wanted to make us something special for breakfast so she whipped up some blueberry muffins for my family and I. The muffins looked perfect, but when you bit into them something was clearly missing. In her haste to make the muffins, my mom had left out the critical ingredient of sugar. The muffins didn’t taste bad just not as the recipe intended.
In the Christian life one of the most critical ingredients is faith. For our Christian life to be as God intended we must live as people of faith. Without faith, as the above text indicates, we can’t please God. In addition, it is through faith that we are actually saved according to Ephesians 2:8-9 which states “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In fact, all of the Christian life is lived by faith and not by sight, as we are told in
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Regretfully for many of us, faith (authentic submission and dependence on God), is often missing in our Christian walk. We recognize that we couldn’t save ourselves and thus we cried out to the Lord to rescue us. We now, however, think or believe that we can pull off the Christian life with a minimal amount of help from God.
The importance of faith to our everyday walk cannot be overstated. Hebrews 4:2 warns us of the danger of hearing the promises of God and not applying them by faith when it says, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” It is possible for us to know the wonderful promises of God and yet not benefit from them because we don’t mix them with faith.
Most super-strong glues come with two tubes in the package. The two solutions need to be mixed together to obtain a bond. One of those tubes has a strong adhesive in it. Unless it is in the compund the mixture won’t stick. In many ways faith is the adhesive, the epoxy that allows the promises of God to stick to us. If we don’t mix the promises of God with faith they are of no benefit to us.
Faith is so important to our Christian experience we can’t afford to neglect it. Beginning Sunday June 6th and continuing throughout the summer months we will be talking about faith from the book of Hebrews chapters 11 and 12. We invite our members and friends in the coming weeks to “Come Soar with Us” as we learn to fly on the wings of faith”. It is our hope and prayer that we as church family will have a faith-filled summer.
Blessings,
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
This past Memorial Day Weekend I was at my mother’s house in Massachusetts. My mom wanted to make us something special for breakfast so she whipped up some blueberry muffins for my family and I. The muffins looked perfect, but when you bit into them something was clearly missing. In her haste to make the muffins, my mom had left out the critical ingredient of sugar. The muffins didn’t taste bad just not as the recipe intended.
In the Christian life one of the most critical ingredients is faith. For our Christian life to be as God intended we must live as people of faith. Without faith, as the above text indicates, we can’t please God. In addition, it is through faith that we are actually saved according to Ephesians 2:8-9 which states “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In fact, all of the Christian life is lived by faith and not by sight, as we are told in
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Regretfully for many of us, faith (authentic submission and dependence on God), is often missing in our Christian walk. We recognize that we couldn’t save ourselves and thus we cried out to the Lord to rescue us. We now, however, think or believe that we can pull off the Christian life with a minimal amount of help from God.
The importance of faith to our everyday walk cannot be overstated. Hebrews 4:2 warns us of the danger of hearing the promises of God and not applying them by faith when it says, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” It is possible for us to know the wonderful promises of God and yet not benefit from them because we don’t mix them with faith.
Most super-strong glues come with two tubes in the package. The two solutions need to be mixed together to obtain a bond. One of those tubes has a strong adhesive in it. Unless it is in the compund the mixture won’t stick. In many ways faith is the adhesive, the epoxy that allows the promises of God to stick to us. If we don’t mix the promises of God with faith they are of no benefit to us.
Faith is so important to our Christian experience we can’t afford to neglect it. Beginning Sunday June 6th and continuing throughout the summer months we will be talking about faith from the book of Hebrews chapters 11 and 12. We invite our members and friends in the coming weeks to “Come Soar with Us” as we learn to fly on the wings of faith”. It is our hope and prayer that we as church family will have a faith-filled summer.
Blessings,
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Why Have We Been Blessed?
Psalm 67:1-2 - God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah. That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Our text for today, Psalm 67, begins with a simple prayer for the mercy, blessing and favor of Almighty God. You and I have asked God for this many times just probably with different words. We say things like “Lord, forgive me for the way I acted today”, or “Dear Jesus, help me to get the raise I so desperately need” or “Lord, may the test results show nothing abnormal”.
These are all the legitimate prayers of God’s people in need. (A position, I might add, we are all in almost every minute of every day of our lives.) They are the normal petitions of the human heart. They are real prayers from real people.
When I ask for God’s mercy I am recognizing that I don’t deserve or earn what I am asking for, but because He is gracious and merciful I am asking for it. When I ask for His blessing I am admitting that what I can do for myself is woefully inadequate, so I need His help. Finally, when I ask for God to shine His face upon me I am asking for His grace, His unmerited favor. This idea is taken from the priestly prayer of Aaron over the nation of Israel in Numbers 6:24-26.
Praying for the mercy, help and grace of God is all well and good but we should probably ask ourselves a very basic question as we lift up these requests. That question, simply put is, “Why should God bless me?” The profound answer is found in verse 2 of this Psalm.
The verse says that the purpose of God’s blessing upon His people is “That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” So there you have it. God blesses us so that others may be blessed. God answers our prayers not just so our situation can be improved but so that His way might be made known on the earth and so that the nations might know about His glorious salvation.
I prefer to think that the only reason God answers my prayers is because He loves me. I want to believe that I am so important to Him that He blesses me just to bless me. If either of these were the only reason for the blessing of God it would foster an incredibly self-absorbed attitude in all of us. We would be constantly crying, “bless me, bless me, bless me” and “give me, give me, give me” as if God were some cosmic ATM with the password “In Jesus Name”.
Surely, God blesses us out of His concern for us, but His purpose and plan are much greater. He gives to us so we might give to others. He blesses us so that His ways, His salvation might be made known to all.
Let me suggest a very powerful, yet easy, exercise. Take a few moments to list as many blessings that God has bestowed upon you as you can think of. Take a minute or two to read over all of these blessings and then ask the Lord to help you understand His purposes for blessing you. Ask Him to show you specifically how His mercy and blessings upon you can be used to advance His kingdom and His agenda. In other words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
Blessings (with a purpose),
Dave Watson
The Urban Christian
Our text for today, Psalm 67, begins with a simple prayer for the mercy, blessing and favor of Almighty God. You and I have asked God for this many times just probably with different words. We say things like “Lord, forgive me for the way I acted today”, or “Dear Jesus, help me to get the raise I so desperately need” or “Lord, may the test results show nothing abnormal”.
These are all the legitimate prayers of God’s people in need. (A position, I might add, we are all in almost every minute of every day of our lives.) They are the normal petitions of the human heart. They are real prayers from real people.
When I ask for God’s mercy I am recognizing that I don’t deserve or earn what I am asking for, but because He is gracious and merciful I am asking for it. When I ask for His blessing I am admitting that what I can do for myself is woefully inadequate, so I need His help. Finally, when I ask for God to shine His face upon me I am asking for His grace, His unmerited favor. This idea is taken from the priestly prayer of Aaron over the nation of Israel in Numbers 6:24-26.
Praying for the mercy, help and grace of God is all well and good but we should probably ask ourselves a very basic question as we lift up these requests. That question, simply put is, “Why should God bless me?” The profound answer is found in verse 2 of this Psalm.
The verse says that the purpose of God’s blessing upon His people is “That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” So there you have it. God blesses us so that others may be blessed. God answers our prayers not just so our situation can be improved but so that His way might be made known on the earth and so that the nations might know about His glorious salvation.
I prefer to think that the only reason God answers my prayers is because He loves me. I want to believe that I am so important to Him that He blesses me just to bless me. If either of these were the only reason for the blessing of God it would foster an incredibly self-absorbed attitude in all of us. We would be constantly crying, “bless me, bless me, bless me” and “give me, give me, give me” as if God were some cosmic ATM with the password “In Jesus Name”.
Surely, God blesses us out of His concern for us, but His purpose and plan are much greater. He gives to us so we might give to others. He blesses us so that His ways, His salvation might be made known to all.
Let me suggest a very powerful, yet easy, exercise. Take a few moments to list as many blessings that God has bestowed upon you as you can think of. Take a minute or two to read over all of these blessings and then ask the Lord to help you understand His purposes for blessing you. Ask Him to show you specifically how His mercy and blessings upon you can be used to advance His kingdom and His agenda. In other words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
Blessings (with a purpose),
Dave Watson
The Urban Christian
Friday, January 15, 2010
Crisis in Haiti
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in the republic of Haiti has left the Capitol city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas devastated. Because Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, and least able to help itself, this disaster is more tragic than any words could describe. The pictures that we have seen over the internet and on our televisions tell only a fraction of the story. The damage on this Caribbean Island of over nine million people has been described as “Biblical” in proportion.
You, like me, have probably asked yourself why God would permit such a natural disaster to happen. I will readily admit that I don’t know exactly all the details of God’s master plan. I also am quite sure that it is not because of a curse on Haiti because of a pact with the devil, as a certain televangelist has alleged. The referenced pact is disputed by many. In addition, if it did occur (it was supposedly made in 1791) it is ludicrous to think it would somehow be binding on the people of today. In addition, we do well to remind ourselves that numerous founders of the United States of America were alleged to be Free Masons; a secret organization that many feel is at its core, demonic. Are all our problems to be blamed on the past sins of a few?
At times like these I remind myself that we live on a fallen planet. Romans 8:22-23 tells us that the whole creation groans and travails for the redemption of God’s people. We also note that the book of Revelation speaks of events far worse than this. Thus, I tell myself that in a broken world everything is broken. Haiti’s woes sadly illustrate this point to the max. This doesn’t mean that God could not have prevented the earthquake. But for reasons we won’t know this side of heaven, He chose not to.
It seems far too easy for me from this distance to say we must trust Him. I pray my Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ will, by God’s grace, be able in this dark hour to claim His promise in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. I pray that they will be comforted by the words of Romans 8:38&39 which tell us that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because we are now focused on Haiti it might be good for us as believers to inform ourselves about this small country that shares an island with the Dominican Republic.
Haiti was founded via a slave revolt against the French in 1804. It had been France’s richest colony. It has had a difficult history marked by exploitive and tyrannical leaders. The most recent of these leaders were the Duvaliers (Papa Doc and Baby Doc) who ran the nation from 1957 to 1986. In 1994 the United States helped the country to hold democratic elections. It has valiantly struggled in recent days to put aside the dismal past and develop a hopeful future.
Haiti is primarily a Catholic country, though freedom of religion is one of it tenants. Along with their Catholicism many Haitians practice Voodoo, a development of West African Spiritism. Thanks to God’s grace and recent evangelistic efforts, evangelical Christians now make up over 25% of the population. There are presently nearly 500 evangelical missionaries working in Haiti in a variety of vocations from healthcare to church planting.
Still, why would God allow this to happen? I don’t claim to know the answers to that question. Allow me, however, to suggest a few things we know right now that God would want us to do.
1. Pray for Haiti. It is now on our spiritual radar screens. We should be praying for our brothers and sisters there and hurting as they are hurting. We should be praying for the missionaries there and the unbelievable task before them. We should be praying for many to find Christ in the wake of this disaster. We should be praying for the relief these people so desperately need. We should be praying for the stability of the country and the government, especially President Rene Preval.
2. Give for Haiti. They need our money in addition to our prayers. Truly if having given to the least of these we have given to the Lord, so having given to the restoration of Haiti we have given to the Lord. In the next few months, our church, Calvary Chapel will have a fund that you can give to. All monies received will go to a ministry or ministries that will provide physical relief and a spiritual message to these hurting people
3. Go to Haiti. Let’s get serious. In the next few weeks we’ll be making you aware of short term ministry opportunities with reputable agencies. If enough of us are moved by God to go we will form our own team and go together with one of the agencies.
4. Learn from Haiti. Sometimes when we read the Scriptures and end times prophecies we look at it as a fairytale. Sadly, the disaster in Haiti illustrates the fact that immense devastation can occur in a very short time. This should sober us as it relates to what the Bible says about the end of the age.
5. Care about Haiti. It is my prayer that this horribly tragic situation will cause us to turn our hearts to this nation and its people.
Dave Watson, An Urban Christian
You, like me, have probably asked yourself why God would permit such a natural disaster to happen. I will readily admit that I don’t know exactly all the details of God’s master plan. I also am quite sure that it is not because of a curse on Haiti because of a pact with the devil, as a certain televangelist has alleged. The referenced pact is disputed by many. In addition, if it did occur (it was supposedly made in 1791) it is ludicrous to think it would somehow be binding on the people of today. In addition, we do well to remind ourselves that numerous founders of the United States of America were alleged to be Free Masons; a secret organization that many feel is at its core, demonic. Are all our problems to be blamed on the past sins of a few?
At times like these I remind myself that we live on a fallen planet. Romans 8:22-23 tells us that the whole creation groans and travails for the redemption of God’s people. We also note that the book of Revelation speaks of events far worse than this. Thus, I tell myself that in a broken world everything is broken. Haiti’s woes sadly illustrate this point to the max. This doesn’t mean that God could not have prevented the earthquake. But for reasons we won’t know this side of heaven, He chose not to.
It seems far too easy for me from this distance to say we must trust Him. I pray my Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ will, by God’s grace, be able in this dark hour to claim His promise in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. I pray that they will be comforted by the words of Romans 8:38&39 which tell us that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because we are now focused on Haiti it might be good for us as believers to inform ourselves about this small country that shares an island with the Dominican Republic.
Haiti was founded via a slave revolt against the French in 1804. It had been France’s richest colony. It has had a difficult history marked by exploitive and tyrannical leaders. The most recent of these leaders were the Duvaliers (Papa Doc and Baby Doc) who ran the nation from 1957 to 1986. In 1994 the United States helped the country to hold democratic elections. It has valiantly struggled in recent days to put aside the dismal past and develop a hopeful future.
Haiti is primarily a Catholic country, though freedom of religion is one of it tenants. Along with their Catholicism many Haitians practice Voodoo, a development of West African Spiritism. Thanks to God’s grace and recent evangelistic efforts, evangelical Christians now make up over 25% of the population. There are presently nearly 500 evangelical missionaries working in Haiti in a variety of vocations from healthcare to church planting.
Still, why would God allow this to happen? I don’t claim to know the answers to that question. Allow me, however, to suggest a few things we know right now that God would want us to do.
1. Pray for Haiti. It is now on our spiritual radar screens. We should be praying for our brothers and sisters there and hurting as they are hurting. We should be praying for the missionaries there and the unbelievable task before them. We should be praying for many to find Christ in the wake of this disaster. We should be praying for the relief these people so desperately need. We should be praying for the stability of the country and the government, especially President Rene Preval.
2. Give for Haiti. They need our money in addition to our prayers. Truly if having given to the least of these we have given to the Lord, so having given to the restoration of Haiti we have given to the Lord. In the next few months, our church, Calvary Chapel will have a fund that you can give to. All monies received will go to a ministry or ministries that will provide physical relief and a spiritual message to these hurting people
3. Go to Haiti. Let’s get serious. In the next few weeks we’ll be making you aware of short term ministry opportunities with reputable agencies. If enough of us are moved by God to go we will form our own team and go together with one of the agencies.
4. Learn from Haiti. Sometimes when we read the Scriptures and end times prophecies we look at it as a fairytale. Sadly, the disaster in Haiti illustrates the fact that immense devastation can occur in a very short time. This should sober us as it relates to what the Bible says about the end of the age.
5. Care about Haiti. It is my prayer that this horribly tragic situation will cause us to turn our hearts to this nation and its people.
Dave Watson, An Urban Christian
Friday, March 13, 2009
Money Matters
The news media and political pundits have been throwing around terms like socialism, communism, and capitalism with quite a bit of regularity lately. With the hope of clarifying some things, I begin my article with some simple definitions
Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one of your cows and gives it to your neighbor.
Communism: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for your share of the milk, but it's so long that the milk is sour by the time you get it.
Capitalism: You have two cows. You lay one off, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when she drops dead.
I’m not sure if these definitions adequately describe for us these governmental and financial systems. Truth be told, most people are more concerned with whether or not they can make ends meet than with the definitions regarding their economic systems. However, I am sure that the Scriptures give us sound advice regarding our finances no matter the economic system and no matter the economic circumstances we find ourselves in.
As we scan the headlines on the worldwide web or in the local newspaper we need to remember that the Bible speaks to our world and to our personal situations.
As we read “Stock Market loses 50% of It’s Value Since Last Year” we are reminded of Proverbs 23:4-5 which admonishes us, “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
Biblical Headline: The only thing we can count on in regard to money is that it will fly away.
As we try and get our arms around “401K’s Causing Many to Reconsider Retirement Plans”, we note Matthew 6:19-21 - “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Biblical Headline: Our treasure must be in heaven not on earth.
It is alarming to read “Unemployment Could Go Above 10%”, therefore, we must embrace Matthew 6:25 & 33 - “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?.... But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Biblical Headline: We’ll have what we need as we put Him first.
It is somewhat apocalyptic to see, “California Drought May lead to East Coast Food Shortages”. Therefore, we must be find comfort in the words of David in Psalm 37:25 - “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
Biblical Headline: God will take care of His children.
Sadly we read, “12% of Borrowers Behind on Mortgages or In Foreclosure”. We know from Proverbs 22:7 that, “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.”
Biblical Headline: Understand the consequence of debt.
It is troublesome to be informed that, “Decline in Charitable Giving Hits Non-Profits”. In this light we must live out 2 Corinthians 8:2-3 - Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
Biblical Headline: God wants us to be generous in spite of, not because of, our circumstances.
Finally, it may be true for some that “Individuals in Depression Over Recession”. However, this need not be the case for us. We can claim Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’. So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”
Newsflash: What we have or do not have does not define us. God’s presence in our lives is what makes the ultimate difference.
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one of your cows and gives it to your neighbor.
Communism: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for your share of the milk, but it's so long that the milk is sour by the time you get it.
Capitalism: You have two cows. You lay one off, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when she drops dead.
I’m not sure if these definitions adequately describe for us these governmental and financial systems. Truth be told, most people are more concerned with whether or not they can make ends meet than with the definitions regarding their economic systems. However, I am sure that the Scriptures give us sound advice regarding our finances no matter the economic system and no matter the economic circumstances we find ourselves in.
As we scan the headlines on the worldwide web or in the local newspaper we need to remember that the Bible speaks to our world and to our personal situations.
As we read “Stock Market loses 50% of It’s Value Since Last Year” we are reminded of Proverbs 23:4-5 which admonishes us, “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
Biblical Headline: The only thing we can count on in regard to money is that it will fly away.
As we try and get our arms around “401K’s Causing Many to Reconsider Retirement Plans”, we note Matthew 6:19-21 - “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Biblical Headline: Our treasure must be in heaven not on earth.
It is alarming to read “Unemployment Could Go Above 10%”, therefore, we must embrace Matthew 6:25 & 33 - “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?.... But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Biblical Headline: We’ll have what we need as we put Him first.
It is somewhat apocalyptic to see, “California Drought May lead to East Coast Food Shortages”. Therefore, we must be find comfort in the words of David in Psalm 37:25 - “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
Biblical Headline: God will take care of His children.
Sadly we read, “12% of Borrowers Behind on Mortgages or In Foreclosure”. We know from Proverbs 22:7 that, “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.”
Biblical Headline: Understand the consequence of debt.
It is troublesome to be informed that, “Decline in Charitable Giving Hits Non-Profits”. In this light we must live out 2 Corinthians 8:2-3 - Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
Biblical Headline: God wants us to be generous in spite of, not because of, our circumstances.
Finally, it may be true for some that “Individuals in Depression Over Recession”. However, this need not be the case for us. We can claim Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’. So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”
Newsflash: What we have or do not have does not define us. God’s presence in our lives is what makes the ultimate difference.
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
Recent Prophecies
A recent posting on the blog of Rev. David Wilkerson has caused a great stir among believers and non-believers alike. In his blog, Wilkerson warns of coming social unrest that will result in riots and fires. He attributes these to America being under the wrath of God. He tells us that "God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations."
Those who have responded to this blog have tended to fall into three camps. There are those who completely reject Wilkerson as having no credibility and write him off as a kook. I assure you, that is not the case. He actually has a bit of a track record in the prophecy arena.
Others have completely embraced his recent words almost uncritically. Wilkerson's words are taken almost as Gospel. This group would believe that Wilkerson is, after all, a man of God in touch with God. Thus, what he says must be accepted and we must be careful what we say against him because the Scripture says "Touch not the LORD's anointed or His prophets."
A third response is the "I don't know" approach. This, "I hope he's wrong but maybe he's right -- but I don't know so I'm going to freak out a bit" methodology probably is not that helpful. Certainly, there must be a more reasoned perspective.
Believe it or not, the Bible is very helpful in clarifying matters such as this. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 speaks to us as believers saying, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." A few words of explanation and application are in order.
Quenching the Spirit means "to extinguish a flame." We should not be those who simply pour cold water on something someone says is Spirit-led just because we don't like it.
Despising prophecy means "to look down on or ridicule." We should not reject out of hand a message someone claims to be from God just because it doesn't jive with our thinking.
Testing all things means that we "examine or take out for a test drive" the claims. We should not accept claims uncritically. Our testing should involve what we know about God -- our God sense; what we know about the Scriptures -- our Bible sense; what we know about the person -- our people sense; and what we know about what's going on in the world -- our common sense.
Holding fast to the good means that I "make my own that which passes the test, and believe it." We should not throw away the proverbial baby with the bath water. We must eat the meat and spit out the bones.
With these verses in mind, what do we do with David Wilkinson's recent prophecy? We can't dismiss it, we can't mock it or ignore it. What we can do is test it, throwing anything out that fails the test and believing and acting on what is found to be trustworthy based on our knowledge of Scripture, our knowledge of God, what we know about the speaker, and what we know about current world events. In other words, we should take seriously that which passes the test.
Rev. Wilkerson is not like the Old Testament prophets who spoke "Thus says the LORD." If anything, he is like those of whom Paul says "for we know in part and we prophecy in part" and "we see in a mirror dimly" (1 Corinthians 13:9 &.12) 1 Corinthians 14:29 says "let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge."
Because prophecy today is at best "in part" and at best, we see in glass dimly, it is necessary for what is prophesied to be judged, to be sifted through. Therefore we must follow through with the Biblical principles I have just outlined in evaluating Rev. Wilkinson's blog, as well as any others that may come our way.
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
Those who have responded to this blog have tended to fall into three camps. There are those who completely reject Wilkerson as having no credibility and write him off as a kook. I assure you, that is not the case. He actually has a bit of a track record in the prophecy arena.
Others have completely embraced his recent words almost uncritically. Wilkerson's words are taken almost as Gospel. This group would believe that Wilkerson is, after all, a man of God in touch with God. Thus, what he says must be accepted and we must be careful what we say against him because the Scripture says "Touch not the LORD's anointed or His prophets."
A third response is the "I don't know" approach. This, "I hope he's wrong but maybe he's right -- but I don't know so I'm going to freak out a bit" methodology probably is not that helpful. Certainly, there must be a more reasoned perspective.
Believe it or not, the Bible is very helpful in clarifying matters such as this. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 speaks to us as believers saying, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." A few words of explanation and application are in order.
Quenching the Spirit means "to extinguish a flame." We should not be those who simply pour cold water on something someone says is Spirit-led just because we don't like it.
Despising prophecy means "to look down on or ridicule." We should not reject out of hand a message someone claims to be from God just because it doesn't jive with our thinking.
Testing all things means that we "examine or take out for a test drive" the claims. We should not accept claims uncritically. Our testing should involve what we know about God -- our God sense; what we know about the Scriptures -- our Bible sense; what we know about the person -- our people sense; and what we know about what's going on in the world -- our common sense.
Holding fast to the good means that I "make my own that which passes the test, and believe it." We should not throw away the proverbial baby with the bath water. We must eat the meat and spit out the bones.
With these verses in mind, what do we do with David Wilkinson's recent prophecy? We can't dismiss it, we can't mock it or ignore it. What we can do is test it, throwing anything out that fails the test and believing and acting on what is found to be trustworthy based on our knowledge of Scripture, our knowledge of God, what we know about the speaker, and what we know about current world events. In other words, we should take seriously that which passes the test.
Rev. Wilkerson is not like the Old Testament prophets who spoke "Thus says the LORD." If anything, he is like those of whom Paul says "for we know in part and we prophecy in part" and "we see in a mirror dimly" (1 Corinthians 13:9 &.12) 1 Corinthians 14:29 says "let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge."
Because prophecy today is at best "in part" and at best, we see in glass dimly, it is necessary for what is prophesied to be judged, to be sifted through. Therefore we must follow through with the Biblical principles I have just outlined in evaluating Rev. Wilkinson's blog, as well as any others that may come our way.
Dave Watson
An Urban Christian
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