Kanye Goes to Church

As I write, I'm playing the new Kanye album, "Jesus is King". In all honesty, I've never listened to his other albums. But, perhaps that's a good thing. I go in with a fresh mind. And, lyrically, it's certainly a Christian album.

I've only been reading positive reviews from Christians, and articles about Kanye coming to Christ, but my understanding is there is a lot of judgment and venom directed at him from believers going on as well.

I think that some of it is envy, or simply a distaste for his musical style. We're not used to people of wealth and fame truly coming to Christ. Yet, that may be the exact point of it.

Generation Z and late term Millennials are far from God. They need big influence and well known people to tell them about Jesus. They aren't listening to the traditional preachers and churches. And, while I'm certain Kanye has a lot of growth ahead, there's nothing to say he can't be used even in his state as a new believer.

I scoffed initially reading news about his church services, and figured it was publicity stunt or just another way for him to get attention. But, it appears now, it was genuine. And, he has had some pastors with good theological credentials around him. So, we can hope that he is discipled and grows in the faith quickly to speak God's truth to a generation in need.

This same thing seemed to happen when Justin Bieber also began going to church, and talking about Christ. Christians were the first to judge him. The first to doubt his faith.

"If they only see the wrongs, never listen to the songs
Just to listen is a fight, but you booked me for the fight
It's so hard to get along if they only see the slight
From the love of religion
What have you been hearin' from the Christians?
They'll be the first one to judge me
Make it seem like nobody love me
I'm not tryna lead you to Visas
But if I try to lead you to Jesus
We get called halfway believers
Only halfway read Ephesians
Only if they knew what I knew, uh
I was never new 'til I knew of
True and living God, Yeshua
The true and living God
(Somebody pray for me)

Those are lines in Kanye's new song "Hands On" and they expresses the sentiment I expect he will get at first. He is speaking of Christians judging him, not the world. And, he asks for somebody to pray for him. What reason could a fellow believer have to not pray for Kanye? I don't believe there is one.

Is it uncomfortable in some ways to see those who were completely of the world, come to Christ? It is. But, it should serve as a reminder that no matter how lost, not matter how dead in sin someone is, The Holy Spirit can still call them to faith and repentance in Christ. And, we were no better in our own sin before Christ's call, lest we forget.

If God needs to use Kanye or Bieber to reach the lost of our generation, who are we to question it? If God can convert Saul and other enemies of the faith to go on and do great things, why not the rich or famous of our time? We are a culture obsessed with celebrity, surely God is aware of this and can use celebrity as a means to further His kingdom.

And, what if we're wrong? What if it's a false conversion? Does that affect our ability to live daily for Christ? No, we are still accountable to God for our own lives, not the lives of others.

I'm praying for Kanye and Bieber, as the two I know specifically who have expressed Christ in recent times. I'm praying the conversion was real, and that they can bring people to Christ through their influence and music.

It's not about whether or not we like the particular music style. It's not about their past. If they are truly professing Christian faith, we need to support and encourage our new brothers in Christ.

Safety in Mexico

***This was originally written in 2016, to encourage mission teams who were declining trips to Mexico based on fears of safety. 

Since every year the same fears prevent more teams from going on Mission Trips to Mexico, it feels necessary to share now, and hopefully encourage churches to continue supporting Mexico through Manos Juntas Ministry (and others like Casas Por Cristo)

Begin original 2016 post here:

Mission teams from all over the US visit Mexico on trips throughout the year, and have no issues regarding safety. Many of these teams come from cities that are likely more dangerous than Rio Bravo, Mexico on any given day.

 If a trip is questionable simply because of safety, then allow me to offer some simple suggestions regarding the safety of your visit to help the community in Rio Bravo and its surrounding areas. First, a little background:

I met my wife on a mission trip through Manos Juntas with First United Methodist Church in Muskogee, OK, in July of 2006. Juliet Otero (now Byers) was the translator for our worksite. I was in college at the time, and had gone on the trip at the last minute to help as one of the sponsors for the youth. It turns out Juliet had been off work the week I was coming, and had been called in at the last minute for extra assistance. I’m not sure if she realized her reluctant agreement to come in on her week off would have such a long lasting effect on her life. 

We kept in touch after that week, and just under a year later, her fiancé visa was granted, and she came to the states to marry me. We were married July 7, 2007, nearly a year after first meeting her on the trip. 

Since that time, we’ve made over 20 trips across the border to visit family. I’ve probably spent a total of 150 days in Mexico. In all that time, and during all those visits, I have never felt that I was in any danger. And, there are a few reasons for that which I will outline here:


Don’t take unnecessary risks

Anyone visiting a new city or country should be aware of this line of thinking. Still, with the media blowing much of Mexico’s violence out of proportion, it can be easy to think the average traveler is at a higher risk than what the may actually be. I’m speaking of any unnecessary risk like going somewhere without the help of a guide. Or, going out alone at night. Most of the idea of this rule revolves around not doing things alone in an unfamiliar area.

Visiting Mexico is no different than visiting any other new location in the US for your first time. You should come knowing enough info about the area to be safe. You wouldn’t drive to Chicago for the first time without knowing at least a little bit about the best and worst parts of town. Similarly, you should only travel in Mexico to locations with which you can familiarize yourself.

In the case of missions work, you will always have people who are familiar with the area to guide. Do not venture out on your own, and do trust that those guiding you have lived there long enough to have your safety and best interests in mind.

For example, I’ve travelled to Rio Bravo enough that I know the layout of the town. I could get to my favorite taco stand, stop off at Manos Juntas headquarters and get back to Juliet’s house during daylight hours and not feel lost.

BUT, I don’t do that alone. No matter how comfortable I feel with the layout of the area, it would be an unnecessary risk to just go driving around on my own. I like to compare this to Paul’s saying in 1 Corinthians 10:23 when he states,


“I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial…(NIV)."

Though Paul is not talking about visiting Mexico in this verse, the concept can be applied. Just because I technically could get around Mexico on my own, doesn’t mean I should go wandering around on my own. And really this should never really arise regarding teams as they would always have someone from Mexico with them when venturing to restaurants or shops. Still, it can be a good bit of advice to keep.

Know your points of contact

Again, this comes down to common sense. I have family in Mexico. I have my wife, her parents and siblings all within about a 10 minute radius of the border crossing. For me, I know my contacts, and I don’t venture down without my contacts knowing that I’m coming. There wouldn’t be a surprise visit from Chris, because that would be unwise. Even knowing the relative safety of Rio Bravo, I’m not going to venture down there without telling someone I’m coming.

Mission groups will not usually have this worry because the points of contact are laid out before them well before the trip. Everything is organized and coordinated so that a representative of Mexico is with the teams at all times. This amount of control ensures the safety of teams and individuals associating with the ministry. A doctor wanting to come down for a day or two to help with a medical clinic will not just drive to Mexico on their own, pull up at the clinic and say howdy. They will call/email ahead, schedule a time, make sure someone can meet them, and go from there. Knowing and having points of contact within the area you plan to visit ensures your safety to a high degree.

So, if you know your contact points, and you don’t take unnecessary  risks, you’ve essentially given yourself the greatest guarantee of safety that can be had. What else could be done?

Don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself

I’m very aware when I am driving from the border to Juliet’s house in Mexico that I am out of place. It’s not an unsafe feeling, but more of an acknowledgment that I am the minority in this scenario. In some ways it is intriguing. Getting smiles and stares from the little kids when they see the “gringo” come through is enjoyable. On the other hand, one tends to be very aware of their minority status when visiting any foreign country.

So, what can we do to maintain safety when we already stand out? We can keep a low profile and not draw more attention than is necessary.

I’m fairly convinced the US visitors having problems with Mexico (be it the cartels or whatever) were probably drawing some sort of unnecessary attention to themselves. For example, when Juliet and I bought our new car, we wouldn’t have considered driving it to Mexico initially because we know that often the people in Mexico driving new cars are the types of people with whom we do not want to be associated.

When a mission team comes across, they are given instructions on how to behave during their stay so as not to draw more attention than is necessary. Everything else usually is common sense.

If you come to Mexico with your contacts lined up, and you don’t draw extra attention or take unnecessary  risks, then your stay will remain pleasant and completely safe. You are more safe in Mexico as part of a mission group than any other means of traveling to the country because the community is aware of these groups, and thinks on them very positively. You are providing for and meeting a need that stretches beyond the boundaries of just the neighborhood and individuals you meet. You are helping affect positive change in a community, and the community (it’s good and bad people) will recognize this.

We must also be careful from where we get our information, and in what context it is being presented. Though the border areas are often presented in a very negative light in the media, much of what we see here in the US is exaggerated specifically to make us fearful. That tends to be the goal of a lot of our news. Once one visits Mexico in the context of fulfilling God’s call to serve the community through missions, they typically realize there is no inherent danger in visiting Mexico. Manos Juntas  Mexico needs teams to move past the unwarranted fear, and step forward to help. So many people rely on the generous offerings of time and service to a community with many ongoing needs.

It is time to bring back the desire and the passion for helping our neighbors to the south. Let us walk in assurance of God’s protection on this blessed endeavor.

Ultimately, our worries about personal health and safety must be balanced with our necessity to do the will of God, and to fulfill His great commission.  I am confident when we are within the will of God, His protection surrounds us, and He will enable us to serve willingly, fruitfully and safely.

Spiritual Spankings

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

    nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and chastises every son whom he receives.'

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:5-11)

This is a mature topic for Christians. It probably won't make it into the pulpit on your average Sunday service. But, having dived into it honestly in our men's group tonight, I feel it's a good time to bring it up. I am working from a few notes I took from a great sermon by Mike Fabarez of Focal Point Ministries, from his "Our Fight with Sin" series Part 4.   < You can listen to it here.

When we come into struggle in life, the world's answer is usually to blame God, or something outside of themselves. "If I'm a good person, why is this happening to me?" they might say. Christians are not immune and face that same temptation. But, my goal for us as mature believers in Christ is to step back and truly assess what we're going through. And, rather than blaming God for our troubles, discover through prayer and thought, what the troubles we're facing could mean. 

I'll start by saying, it is possible as a Christian, that it is a sort of "Spiritual Spanking" - that is, God's discipline. If we are to sanctify ourselves from our point of justification in salvation, a little course correction can be necessary. Much like a parent would discipline their child when they've done something wrong, so too God may discipline us. After all, in Christ we are his adopted children, and as the verse above mentioned, what father would not lovingly correct his children for their betterment. But, this does not mean every headache you get is God punishing you. Or that it's an attack from satan. We must not take this to an extreme, but to its logical point based on the Word of God.

We'll get into what to do if we discern it is God's discipline, but let's cover a few other possibilities first, as that can help with our process of elimination when praying and thinking through the troubles and struggles we may be having. 

I'll state it here again, but the Christian life was never promised to be an easy one. In fact, it may often be the harder road. Christ said to take up our crosses, not our pillows, and follow him (as I've said before in other blogs). 

So, if we are experiencing a time of struggle or hardship, what are some possibilities that could be behind it? 

1. The World's Opposition: Are we experiencing hardship due to the opposition of the world/culture?

As simple as this first option seems, it is likely a pretty common reason for struggles. As professing Christians, our faith will put us at odds with the world and its ideas about right and wrong. And, if we're NOT at odds, we should examine our faith to be sure it is real. We aren't going to be at opposition with everyone day by day, but if we find ourselves leaning more towards what culture says is right, versus what God says is right, we may need a quick heart check. 

"Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Hebrews 12:3-4)"

The writer is saying here, not to grow weary in our struggle with the world's opposition. It's to be expected, just as Christ experienced it to the ultimate degree, shedding his blood. 

What can we do? We can rest in Christ, and know He has experienced the same. Just as He said- 

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19).

2. Sin's Consequences (Global): Are we experiencing hardship due to the natural consequence of our fallen world? 

How to Identify it: We understand that God cursed the world because of the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). And, though He made a way of redemption, the earth and all of us are still living under the curse. Sometimes our hardships may simply be born out of the fallen nature of the world we live in. There are some things out of our control, and it's not God punishing us, it's a product of a broken world. The Global curse of sin is that our body dies eventually, not discipline for something we've done in the immediate, just nature of the curse and fallen world. 

What can we do? We understand as followers of Christ that this world is not our home. We can rest in the hope of our future existence with Christ, in redeemed bodies that are free from disease and pain, in a world free from disaster and chaos, is His promise to us. 

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

To some degree these first two possibilities are not completely in our control. They are more consequences of the world we live in. The struggle and hardship due to those possibilities is not discipline on us from God, but simply the nature of our existence in this life. Resting in God's promises to His people, and trusting Christ and those who have gone before us to be with Him is our best means of getting through struggles which originate from these. 

The next two possibilities are a bit more personal. 

3. Testing to Prove Your Faith is Genuine: Are we experiencing hardship as new believers as a means of testing our faith, and demonstrating that we don't forsake Christ when struggle comes?

"And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:4-8) 

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[b] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty" (Matthew 13:19-23)**

**The highlight colors correspond to parallel explanation of the parable.

This is a tough one, but it something every new Christian will deal with at some point in their walk. In fact, the newer one is to the faith, the more likely something is happening in their lives for this reason. When Jesus gave us the parable of the sower, and spoke of the types of ground in which the seed fell, he was speaking to this idea. 

Are we the seed on the rocky ground that hears the word with joy, but falls away when persecution arises? Will be curse or blame God? Will we give up and go back to our old lives?

Or are we the seed choked by weeds? Will we seek to ease our struggle with worldly things?

While not directly God's discipline, we could argue it's a means in which God can test the genuineness of our profession of belief in Christ. The believer who perseveres is truly in Christ. 

 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).

What can we do? We can persevere, and be in prayer and the Word in the midst of our struggle. We can lean on Christ, not our own understanding, and seek His peace in the midst of our pain. And, we can persevere, proving our faith is genuine. 

In some instances, the trials we face to test our faith, once proved genuine, prepare us to help others going through the same struggles. 

"... who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

This was the case when we experienced the miscarriage in 2013 (see, Joy Comes in the Mourning)

4. God is Training You/Preparing You for Something Bigger- Are we experiencing struggle much like an athlete may struggle in preparing for the big game (growing pains)? 

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).

This is actually the best reason for our trial or struggle because built within it is a hope that God has something great in store. That, even in the valley, He is carrying us through for a purpose. 

To use a sports example, this is God as our coach training us for the “big game”

Unlike #3, this isn't a test of our faith, we're already on the team "saved" and have proved genuine. 

Now it's time to prepare for the great purpose He has in store for us as believers in Christ.

It's to get us ready to bear fruit in trials and fire of the world. But, much like an athlete must train his body to absolute peak performance, so too, in pain and struggle, we train ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually, while God coaches us along. 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit"(John 15:1-2).

Pruning doesn't feel good to the branch, but it is to better the branch, and to allow it to grow and bear more fruit. Trials are not always painless, and pruning can hurt, but its ultimate purpose is to bear fruit in our walk with God, and for us to mature in our faith as we sanctify ourselves to become more like Christ. 

Remember, Paul was given a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him humble after what God revealed to him. He asked many times for God to remove it, but God did not, saying His grace was sufficient. And, while we can only speculate as to what this "thorn" was (probably not a literal thorn), we can understand that something that may be painful, has purpose in our walk with God and our growth. 

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Like a runner or athlete using ankle weights, the "spiritual ankle weights" may be something God uses to grow us and prepare us for our work in His ministry. 

What can we do? 

Recognize it's not discipline, it's training. Its goal is our betterment in Christ, and an increase in bearing fruit so that we become more effective witnesses. And, since we all have a talent and purpose given by God, it prepares us to use our God-given skills and abilities to further His kingdom. This type of struggle should be welcome, as it tells us something great is around the corner, and we're truly where God wants us to be. 

As we go about our walk with Christ, we will run into struggles. But, if we've already proved our faith genuine, we can have hope that what we go through now, if it is not discipline, is God coaching us and preparing us for something greater.

~~~~~~~~~~~

5. God's Discipline (Spiritual Spankings): Are we experiencing struggle as a consequence of unacknowledged sin or disobeying God's command for us? 

God has given us clear commands, and even in the New covenant after Christ, we have to follow those. Disobeying God, or the prompting on our hearts of the Holy Spirit,  just like any Sin, has consequences. 

Perhaps they're obvious and manifested right away. If you steal something and get caught, even as a genuine believer in Christ, you may not lose your salvation, but you will be in trouble with the law as a consequence. 

In that instance, we can know right away the consequence of our sin. 

However, if we are experiencing struggle in our lives, we must also consider if there is any sin or behavior we have not brought before Christ.

What can we do? 

Unlike the other possibilities for struggle in the Christian life, this can have a process for discerning it that looks different. 

First: Ask God sincerely and wait for answer. He needs and wants us to know the problem so we can adjust accordingly. 

A parent who disciplines a child doesn't keep the reason for the discipline secret. More than anything they want the child to understand the purpose in the discipline. In the same way, God wants to make it clear to us.

Second: If we truly are in Christ, God will make the answer clear to us. That is, as his adopted children, we will know if we have done something to cause God's discipline in our lives. 

And, we can then come to God in repentance, and experience the perfect grace and forgiveness found in Christ. The Holy Spirit is our resource here, sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, as it relates to us, God’s children. We have the Holy Spirit to let us know and to convict us when we've done something against God's clear commands.

Third: Make sure we are willing to receive the answer. 

If we do find that we've trespassed, and that what we are experiencing in our life is a consequence of this, be ready to accept this. We can't hide from God's discipline if we're truly his children. We will occasionally mess up, and while His grace prevents us from total loss of fellowship, He must, like a good parent, correct us and redirect us back to the right path. 

What should we pray? How about David's prayer to God for God to reveal to him if there was any unacknowledged sin or disobedience. 

"Search me oh God, know my heart, test me and know my thoughts, see God if there is any offensive way in me" (Psalm 139:23-24).

"Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live" (Hebrews 12:9).

If it is God’s Correction ...

THANK HIM - If we experience God's correction (and the Holy Spirit's conviction) our lives, it is our assurance that we truly are His children. 

Remember too that grace is not a license to Sin. We are forgiven and saved to be with God for eternity, but sinning intentionally because of God's promise of grace is a good way to invite some discipline. 

As Mike said in his message, "Our God believes in spanking!" 

IDENTIFY THE SIN

Is it something in our heart? Is it something we've omitted, or overlooked? 

CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

The Greek word, Homologeia, means speaking the same thing. In the case of our spiritual discipline, that means agreeing with God that what we did is wrong. No excuses, No rationalization, No trying to justify it. Just acknowledging we have sinned, and asking His forgiveness. 

The greek word, Metanoia, means to turn back on something, to repent of an action. So, we "turn back" on our Sin- we repent. 

"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

David's Psalm of Repentance-

"Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

    blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

    and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

    and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

    and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:1-4)

EMBRACE HIS FORGIVENESS

Believe God is a God who does what He says 

“If we confess he is faithful and just to cleanse your sins and cleanse you of unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The ultimate point here is that when a Christian, that is a believer professing faith in Christ as the only means to salvation (John 14:6), undergoes struggle, there are many reasons it could be happening. Yet, we must not overlook the fact that in some instances, it may truly be God's discipline. 

That doesn't make him "mean" or "a bully"- that makes him our loving Father. And, for me, it gives assurance and hope that if God is willing to course correct me, as painful as it may be, He truly has great things planned and cares about my life. 

When we come to faith in Christ, we are justified in the moment. But, if we neglect our on going sanctification, we are babies in the faith. We are still on milk, when God is calling us to solid food. 

There should be growth in our walk with Christ, we should bear more fruit, not less, as time goes on. And, because God wishes that all would fulfill their purpose which he has prepared for them, He will lovingly guide us towards maturity in our faith. 

For new believers, do not falter in your faith, but when trials come, let it strengthen and confirm that your faith is genuine. Testing will come for all who confess Christ, and though I admit I'm not always a fan, it seems the closer we grow to Christ in our walk, the more likely we are to experience attacks from the enemy as well. 

Don't let him snatch us away, but grow from it, and lean ever more into Christ. 

And, finally, as we mature in our walk, know that God will coach and train us, strengthen our spiritual muscles, and build our endurance, so that when we are ready, and not before, He will put in our path those circumstances which will lead us to our ultimate purpose in this life. A purpose which will use our skills and abilities to glorify Him, and to bring others into savings knowledge of Christ.

So, struggle is not a bad thing for the Christian. It is not always pleasant, but at the very least, it's a confirmation of the genuine nature of our conversion from death in sin, to life in Christ, and preparation to do great things for His kingdom! 

Be blessed friends! 

You can hear the original message from Mike Fabarez of Focal Point Ministries, which helped inspire this post, here: "Our Fight with Sin" series Part 4.