Symptoms of a Double-Minded Person

James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus, twice used the expression "double-minded." What is the meaning of this term? And more importantly, how do you know if you've got this condition? Here are two symptoms of double-mindedness.

The first symptom is unanswered prayer. James bluntly states, "let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7)."

Instability is the second symptom. James says the double-minded person is "unstable in all his ways (James 1:8)." He "is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6)." 

What do you do if you suffer from double-mindedness? Tomorrow, we will look at the cure for double-mindedness.

The Definition of Double-Minded

Perhaps the clearest example of a double-minded person is found at the base of the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus met the father with a demon-possessed son. The distraught man admitted, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)." Double-minded refers to a condition in which an individual literally has two souls. Part of them believes God, and part of them doesn't. Sometimes they walk by faith, and other times they walk by sight. The double-minded fluctuate between godliness and worldliness. 

A simple test will indicate whether you suffer from double-mindedness. Be sure and check back tomorrow as we look at those symptoms. 

A House of Worship

Recently my wife and I visited New Song Baptist Church in Memphis (see picture below). I spoke to about 15 people who met in the front room. My wife played the piano for them.

Can a church meet in a house?

Here are two biblical perspectives.

First, no where in the New Testament was there a formal church building erected solely for the purpose of Christian worship. Yes, there was the temple, but that was for Judaism, not Christianity. There were synagogues, but they too were for Judaism, not Christianity. In Ephesus Paul met in a rented building, but it was not constructed for worship, it was a school. 

Second, the New Testament contains numerous references to Christians meeting in homes. 

• Romans 16:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, "Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house."
• Colossians 4:15, "Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house."
• Philemon 2, "To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer . . . and to the church in your house."
• Acts 16:15 & 40 suggest that Lydia the seller of purple opened her house for the young church in Philippi.
• Acts 20:20 says Paul taught "from house to house."

There are probably other references in the New Testament that tell of believers gathering in houses for worship, but these verses give you the gist. During the rise and rapid expansion of the first century church there were no formal church buildings, only people's homes. 

I am not saying that formal church buildings are wrong. I am saying that worshipping in houses is perfectly legitimate, as my wife and I can attest to from our wonderful worship experience with the beautiful believers who call themselves New Song. 

Courage and Wisdom

Young people tend to have courage. Older people should have greater wisdom. Put them together and you create a powerful team.

Isn't it sad though that there is so much segregation in the church? The young people do their thing while the senior adults go their way. I don't believe this is the way God intends.

If you want to grow as a Christian seek out someone from another generation. Team up with someone outside your demographic. You will enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship that will enable both of you to do more for the Lord. As the Africans say, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." 

This pattern of older and younger is seen in scripture.

• Moses and Joshua
• Elijah and Elisha
• Paul and Timothy

If you agree, go make a new friend today and discover what amazing things the Lord will do through your new partnership!

Seven Metrics of a Strong Church

How do you know if a church is strong? Some used to point to the three B's: buildings, budgets, and butts in the seat. Thankfully, today many realize a church may be big but not healthy.  So what is the proper scorecard for the church?

Here are seven metrics from the church in Antioch. The Antioch church is often considered the greatest church in the Bible, greater even than the church in Jerusalem. 

1. Strong churches promote Jesus (Acts 11:20). How many times each week does your congregation share Jesus outside of worship? EVANGELISM
2. Strong churches minister cross-culturally (Acts 11:19-20). How many people groups, other than the predominant culture, receive ministry on a regular basis from your church? MISSIONS
3. Strong churches experience supernatural power (Acts 11:21). How many people got saved and baptized last month? PRAYER
4. Strong churches work with others (Acts 11:23, 25, 27). How many times in the last six months did your church invite other leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers) to minister to your people? LEADERSHIP
5. Strong churches make disciples (Acts 11:26). How many new believers is your church currently taking through a process toward Christ-likeness? DISCIPLESHIP
6. Strong churches give generously (Acts 11:29-30). Last month, how many dollars, volunteer hours, and leaders did your church give away? STEWARDSHIP
7. Strong churches serve others (Acts 11:28-30). In the last three months, how many Spirit-led (out of the ordinary) plans did your church complete? MINISTRY

The De-Glamorization of Missions

For many people, the idea of taking a mission trip involves getting on an airplane and flying to an exotic place somewhere around the world. This is high adventure and quite romantic. Feel the excitement of carrying Jesus to a distant place! But is this really missions?

Going to the ends of the earth is certainly part of our missionary assignment. But the same Lord who said we are to go to all nations also said we are to go next door. 

"In Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" is what the Lord said. 

JD Payne, missiologist at the Church at Brook Hills, said if a Christian would go to all the cost, trouble, and danger of traveling to a faraway place to share Christ, but not share Christ in his own community it would be a case of "missional malignancy." Strong words! But perhaps necessary for those who have swallowed the romantic notion that missions is always "over there" and never "right here."

• Missions is the Good Samaritan helping the man in the ditch.
• Missions is Jesus taking time with children.
• MIssions is Philip on a country road, talking to a stranger.

Jesus said, "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"

So, by all means, keep buying those plane tickets. Go! Go! Go! Just remember missions is not a seven-day trip out of town, it is a lifefstyle lived 365 days a year.

Law, Liberty, License, and Love

Every Fourth of July churches across America extol our political and spiritual freedom. Here is a brief summary of the freedom we have in Christ.

1. Law: the purpose of the law is to show us our sin and need for a Savior.
2. Liberty: once a person trusts Christ as Savior they are set free from the law and its obligations.
3. License: our freedom is not for the purpose of self-indulgence.
4. Love: God sets us free so we can serve others in love.

"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith" Galatians 3:24

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty, only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" Galations 5:13

Let freedom ring!

God's Finishing School

In times past, wealthy aristocrats in America would send their daughters to "finishing schools." These schools, located primarily on the east coast, taught young ladies etiquette in posture, dining, conversation, and all other matters of refinement necessary to be a proper young lady. 

The Lord is working on us Christians too. God's plan for us is to make us more like His Son Jesus Christ. 

In order to accomplish this transformation the Lord has to knock off our rough edges. And to do so, the Lord sends us to finishing school also. His school is not sophisticated or elitist. God's finishing school involves trouble. Through difficulty and heartache God polishes us. James 1:2-4 tells us to rejoice when we go through trials because patience completes us, perfects us, and matures us. The Greek word "finish" is found twice in verse 4.

Herein is one major difference in the mature Christian and the baby believer. Predictably, the young Christian moans and groans and whines and cries when they go through trouble. But the mature Christian is full of faith. They say things like, "I am sure God is teaching me something. Somehow I know this will work out for good. I'm trusting Jesus in this trial."

Have you ever seen a polished stone come out from a rock tumber? After being tossed and turned in the tumbler the stone emerges smooth, shiny, and attractive. Take heart child of God, that's what the Lord is doing to us. We are in His finishing school and when this topsy turvy thing called life is over, we will emerge victorious looking just like God's Son, Jesus Christ. So don't complain when you have troubles, instead rejoice.

3 Attitudes about Cross-Cultural Missions

There is a lot of talk to today about race relations. But the more I study people and history the more I realize things don't really change. Throughout ancient history there have always been conflicting opinions surrounding this volatile topic. In the first century, people in Palestine debated whether Jewish Christians and Gentiles Christians could co-mingle. Here are 3 attitudes from then, that are still with us today.

1. Some people oppose cross-cultural missions. See Acts 11:1-3.
2. Some people allow cross-cultural missions. See Acts 11:18.
3. Some people encourage cross-cultural missions. See Acts 11:23

Thankfully, attitude number three prevailed in the church in Antioch. A multi-cultural, missionary church then changed the course of Christianity and the world (see Acts 13:1-3). Will you and your church be the next history changing congregation?

Loving the Unlovely

The Bible makes it repeatedly clear that we are to love other people. We are to love our neighbor as ourself. We are to care for the widow, orphan, stranger, and prisoner. In both the New Testament and Old Testament God emphasizes the primacy of love.

This command is easy in some situations. Loving family and friends for example is natural and almost effortless.

However certain people irritate us and we find it difficult to love them. We know the clear biblical teaching about love, but some people test us.

What is the solution? Should we avoid them? Should we pretend we like them? Should we try harder to muster up some kindness toward them?

The best solution is to admit our deficit and import love from Jesus. Galatians 5 explains that our old "fleshly" nature is hateful and contentious. But the fruit of the Spirit is love. 

1. We must admit our inadequacy. "God I don't love this person. I don't have affectionate feelings toward them. You know my heart God, I can't fool You."
2. We must appropriate God's love. "God you are loving. Please fill me with Your Spirit and love this person through me. You do in me what I cannot do. I yield to You Heavenly Father. Live and love through me I pray."

An example of this is found in the nation of Japan. This tiny island nation does not have any oil of their own. Since there is no place to drill for it in their own land, they have to import all their oil from outside. This is a picture of our lives. We are not naturally loving. All love we get must be imported from God.

As we acknowledge our weakness and trust God to live through us we discover supernatural love flowing for even the worst of people. This is the only way to love some people.