Allen Raynor Weblog: “Are You Settling for More or Less?”-Feb. 9, 2017

          I recently read a book titled Settle for More written by former Fox News Anchor Megyn Kelly.  The book, autobiographical in nature, shows how she has overcome a variety of difficulties and set-backs.  Set-backs and obstacles are common to all people, but the way we handle them is crucial.  In Kelly’s particular case, the untimely death of her father and the difficulties of career burn-out greatly affected the course of her life.  She was inspired one day while hearing Dr. Phil on television saying “The only difference between you and the person you envy is you settled for less.”  She goes on to talk about how that quote changed her life.  The key to getting from where you are to where you want to be takes determination and persistence.  But it also requires a person to pay a certain price; therefore it is necessary to weigh out how much we really want something. 

          In reading this book, and reflecting, I cannot help but make a comparison between this concept and the Kingdom of Christ and His church.  After pastoring for almost 22 years I can assuredly say I have seen overwhelming numbers of believers “settle for less,” in their walks with God, when they should only be settling for more.

          Everywhere I look it seems there are people pursuing their dreams and goals educationally, economically, in regards to their career, and in regards to their family.  People are adding to their personal collections of whatever they collect, talking about trying a new restaurant, saving for a dream vacation, and getting all their ducks in a row for retirement.  But how important are these things really?  Certainly, they bring us some level of happiness and that is fine.  However, I must ask, “How much do they matter in the long run?”  Everything at a garage sale was new at one time.  Furthermore, everything at the city landfill was also new at one time! Your old clunker probably was once a source of pride when you first drove it home.  Your new cloths quickly become old.  We tend to pursue things with very limited value with gusto while displaying a great deal of apathy about some things that really do matter, and matter a lot, like the Kingdom of Christ.

          I have observed many believers sadly settling for much less than God desires.  I grew up in church but I did not necessarily always want to be there.  In fact, I am confident in saying that I would not have gone most of the time had not my parents made me go.  But, there came a change in me in my late teen years when I really committed my life to Christ.  I could not get enough church.  I could not get enough preaching, teaching, or reading from the Scriptures.  The best way I can describe how I felt, and still feel, is that it is like an “unquenchable thirst” that I have now and have had for the better part of 30 years.  I have since built a decent size library of Christian books simply out of a desire to learn and know more about God.  It is very hard for me to understand how others are not reacting the same way I reacted when first coming to know Christ.  It seems I am constantly asking myself about others, “Do they really know Christ?”  I hope so, but their behavior and lack of desire for the things of God, sure makes it hard to tell sometimes.

          So many Christians fall into a comfortable groove of settling for less, even far less, than God desires.  C. S. Lewis wrote “God is not so much offended that we want too much as by the fact that we are satisfied with so little.”  Paul commends the church at Philippi to develop and keep a joyful attitude about Christ that motivates them to ever-increasing service, just as it had occurred in his life.  He writes “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me . . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)  Paul did not see this as merely for him, but he understood this thirst/desire for the things of God to be a hallmark of all Christians.  He goes on “Therefore let us, as many as are mature have this mind . . . Brethren join in following my example and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” (Phil. 3:15; 17)

          The modern day term “nominal Christian” is really a contradiction and would have really caused the Apostle Paul to scratch his head.  The word “nominal” means “Existing in name only; small; far below the real value or cost.”  Sadly, that is the best way to describe many who would claim the name of Christ.   Their brand of Christianity does not resemble the third chapter of Philippians, but instead the dictionary’s definition of “nominal.” Paul wrote to young Timothy “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

          In these difficult and morally challenging days in which we live, nominal Christians are unfortunately bearing testimony to their neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and extended families that there is little to “Christianity.”  It is just a moniker or title and means little to nothing.  They wear the name, without the changed lives.

            Many of the great martyrs of centuries past went confidently to their own deaths, proclaiming that “Jesus is Lord” with great boldness and conviction.  By contrast, many modern- day church members are melding with the world and treating church as little more than a back-up plan when they have nothing else to do.  I assert the gathering together of believers for church should be a top level priority.  Christ Jesus died for the church and will once again return for His church/bride.

          In Christ there should be no shame but a consistent and unmistakable motivation to only settle for more of Him.  Paul confessed “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Rom. 1:16)  Never settle for less.  In Christ, only settle for more!

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor 

Allen Raynor Weblog: Re-Issue of “A Fresh Perspective on Failure”-Feb. 6, 2017

          Often a book I read inspires me to write a weblog summarizing the arguments made by the author.  This was the case after reading Erwin Lutzer’s book Failure: The Back-Door to Success.  Lutzer is the pastor of the historic Moody Bible Church in Chicago and, over the years, has become one of my favorite authors.  I encourage you to check out some of his many books sometime.

 

Allen Raynor Weblog: “A Fresh Perspective on Failure”

(May 31, 2011)

 

          It is natural for human beings to generally prefer success over failure.  The really tricky part though is determining, and then understanding, what really constitutes success.  In his book, Failure: The Back Door to Success, Erwin Lutzer explores the issues of success and failure and offers a slightly different take than the typical consensus that failure is bad and success is good.  He explores how success often is born, out of failure.  It is true historically, and it is still true today.

          Sometimes failure is merely a stepping stone to ultimate success.  In the words of Peter Marshall, “It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.”  Sometimes there is a bit of a “wilderness” wandering which must take place for us before we can really hear God speak.  Often the clamor and noise of the world and its subsequent distractions cause God’s voice to be drowned out to our hearing.  Sometimes He is speaking and we just cannot hear; other times He is not speaking at all and forcing us to wait for our own good and development.  Lutzer writes, “Often the doorway to success is entered through the hallway of failure.”(30)

          Was anyone ever called to be a failure?  Well there are a handful of Biblical characters that we could point to that would be failures in the eyes of men.  But these same characters were hardly failures in the eyes of God.  Was Noah a failure because he could not convince more people to get in the ark?  Was Paul a failure because he was ultimately martyred?  Was Hosea a failure because his wife played the harlot?  Was Stephen a failure because he was stoned to death?  Consider this discouraging assignment given by God to Isaiah.

‘Go, and tell this people: Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand.’  ‘Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and repent and be healed.’ (Is. 6:9-10)

Lutzer writes, “Isaiah was told in advance that the people would not respond to his ministry!  He was to preach only to provide a further reason for God’s coming judgment!”  Worldly success was very limited for any of the Old Testament Prophets.  In fact, as I have read a number of leadership books and church growth books I do not find much about the prophets.  The Bible is used, but not often the prophets.  Unfortunately, we have come to believe we know what success is and anything which does not look like the world’s version of success looks suspiciously like failure.  But is it really?

          Well, it might indeed be true failure, but it also might be the particular “class” in the curriculum of God’s school in which we are students.  About the time I was 1/3 of the way through my Hebrew course in seminary I was not only thinking about how I could get out of this “pressure cooker” of a class, I was thinking about filling out applications at Home Depot!  Suddenly wood screws, pipe fittings, and plywood was much more interesting than pronominal suffixes and sere yod’s!  One of my young sons at the time was looking at some Hebrew sentences I was attempting to translate and asked the profound question, “Daddy how do you read it when it is written like that?”  That was a good question, which I did not have a good answer for!  Every day of Hebrew class I felt like a failure.  I feared being called on by the professor to answer a question or, worst of all, have to go to the board and show my work in front of the class.  I realize now it was not true, but at the time I felt like I was the only student in the class who was lost and the others had a handle on things.  I ultimately came out of the class with a B+ but felt like I was swimming upstream the whole way!  I did not fail Hebrew – not even close – but I felt like I was failing the whole way through.  Sometimes we only feel like we are failing when we really are having some measure of success.

          Neither failure, nor the threat of failure, is necessarily a bad thing.  The threat of failure can serve to motivate and otherwise sharpen our actions with a precision which nothing else could do.  But failure can be painful.  How many painful lessons from childhood can we recall?  C.S. Lewis said, “Pain is God’s megaphone.”  In much the same way, failure is an important word from God.  Circumstances are one of a handful of ways by which He tends to speak to us.  Failure is not necessarily a bad thing.  Failure can work to make us better, failure in the world’s eyes may be unmistakable success in God’s sight.  True failure however, can even motivate us to get on the road to true success.  My advice would be, to use all your failures wisely in your pursuit of true God-ordained success!

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor

Allen Raynor Weblog: The Tough Issue of Immigration-Feb. 2, 2017

          The issue of immigration has been one of the most difficult for Christians to fully come to terms with, seeing that it is not as cut-and-dry as are some other issues.  There are plenty of doctrinal and ethical issues that are quite clear from Scripture such as the doctrines of justification, the substitutionary atonement, the sinfulness of homosexuality, adultery, and drunkenness.  However, the multiplicity of issues related to the ongoing immigration debate in our nation are often treacherous waters to navigate.

          This is one of the few issues that, at least in part, defies the left and right.  There are some on the right that side with the left on this one and some on the left that side with the right.  Like all issues, it really should rise above politics and be decided by Scripture and conscience.

          We are a nation of immigrants.  The words engraved on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty read “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.    Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”  Between the years 1820 and 2010, the U. S. saw 80 million souls immigrate to America.  Fourteen million immigrated during the decade from 2001 to 2010.  But, as we know, immigration also has a dark side.  Buried within the statistics are millions of undocumented immigrants.  The latest estimates put those at around 11-12 million.

          The United States has proudly welcomed outsiders, but today there are a number of factors which have changed the thinking of a great many people.  Primarily, it is deeply held concern that the proper channels of lawful immigration have been set aside and there is little oversight to the whole process.  More and more illegal immigration is affecting the lives of average Americans in negative ways.  A combined study of U. S. governmental departments revealed that illegal immigrants were responsible for an extremely high number of crimes.  The study was based on a sampling of more than 55,000 illegal immigrants.  It was shown that there were almost 460 thousand arrests among this sample pool (an average of about 8 arrests per person) for drugs, immigration offenses, etc.  Fifteen percent of this sampling were arrested in connection with violent crimes including murder, robbery, assault, and sex-related offences.

          Now the advent of “Sanctuary Cities” is making it more difficult to enforce laws.  These cities have become havens for drug trafficking, murder, armed robbery, rape, etc.  Several defiant politicians, such as State Governors and City Mayors have proudly announced their defiance to comply with laws already on the books.

          David Jeremiah, in his book Is This the End?  Signs of God’s Providence in a Disturbing New World cites many statistics about the overall immigration problem.  In speaking about the financial, and other burdens, placed on our system by illegal immigration he writes “Dallas’ Parkland Hospital offers the second-largest maternity service in the United States.  In one recent year, sixteen thousand babies were born at Parkland, and 70 percent of them were to illegal immigrants at a cost of $70.7 million.  Because few of these patients speak English, the hospital now offers premium pay to medical employees who speak Spanish.  This need has forced the University of Texas and Southwestern Medical School to add a Spanish language requirement to its curriculum.”  This is just one tiny way illegal immigration is causing problems/issues in our culture.  Health care costs rise to cover the expenses of those who cannot pay.  Further, they rise to cover language training and enhanced pay for those who speak Spanish.  It is true across the entire spectrum of health care, and all social services.

          Believers are to be compassionate to immigrants.  After all, it is almost certain that either we, or our ancestors immigrated to this land we call America.  Immigrants are human beings with the same basic needs and dreams as we ourselves.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:26-27 “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”  Both the Old Testament and New Testament address the issue at many points, but there are some common threads which run throughout the texts that deal with immigration.  Most importantly, the people of God were to “assimilate” the stranger.  If a stranger/immigrant wanted to live among them God’s Word says they were to keep His statutes (Lev. 18:26, 24:16, Ex. 20:10, Num. 15:30) David Jeremiah writes “The message of the Bible concerning strangers in the land is clear; if they accept the national culture and work as participants in the national economy, they are welcomed and allowed full participation in the life of the nation.  If they refuse to assimilate and cling to their old laws, beliefs, and customs, their activities must be restricted for the good of the nation.” (David Jeremiah; Is This The End?; 50)

          God has always had laws that mankind were to respect and follow.  They should never be seen as merely restrictions for the sake of being restrictive but rather for our own protection and to help us see and appreciate the holiness of God.  Knowing the law teaches us the difference between right and wrong.  This is true of God’s laws and man’s laws.  Immigration is a good thing if it is done lawfully.  Millions have already gone through the process and are law-abiding American citizens which enrich our country in incalculable ways; however the millions of illegal aliens that have no intent of going through a process, nor have any intention of assimilating to our culture have no business being here and should go back to their country of origin or be deported.  There is a right way and a wrong way to go about all things.  God’s way is always the best and He gave a clear path in His Word for those who desired to be a part of His people.  God is a God of order and all things are to be done decently and in order.  Our laws in America also show a clear path to follow if anyone desires to be a citizen of our great nation.  As believers, our duty is to have compassion and point others toward that which is right.

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor 

Allen Raynor Weblog: Re-Issue of “The Changing Culture Down Sesame Street”-Jan. 30, 2017

          Since 2007, I have had the privilege of writing and sending out weblogs on various issues pertaining to Christian living, current events, and theology.  My intent from the beginning was to help God’s people think just a little deeper about a variety of issues.  Further, it was a way to stay in touch with people in previous churches I had pastored, friends, and extended family.  My original mailing list has more than quadrupled in size.  I hope these have been an encouragement to you.  As this year marks the ten-year anniversary of these weblogs, I am going to be re-sending some throughout the year, in addition to sending out new ones.  Thank you for your encouraging words along the way and letting me know how these have been an encouragement to you.

 

The following weblog is from November 16, 2009.  It is one that received a lot of feedback, because, I suppose, it is on a subject that hit close to home for many people!

 

Allen Raynor Weblog: The Changing Culture Down Sesame Street

(Nov. 16, 2009)

                                                                   

          Can you believe it? Sesame Street turned 40 last week!  I was one of the millions of kids who often spent my mornings watching the colorful characters engaging in banter, projecting moral and life lessons, and generally trying to teach kids how to make the world a better place.  When I was watching Sesame Street in the mid-seventies, the issues addressed were wholesome ones such as acceptance of other races, sharing, the value of friendship, and many other worthwhile things.  But, as the culture has changed over the past 4 decades, so has Sesame Street. 

          Children have increasingly become the targets for indoctrination by those with various agendas.  Gone are the days of universally accepted values based on a Christian worldview.  Replacing these traditional values is a secular system of thought proclaiming the highest of virtues as “tolerance” and/or “acceptance.”  If a boy wants to be more like his mother or if a girl wants to be more like her father it is ok.  If a girl has two mommies or two daddies, it is great!  Families are anything someone proclaims them to be.  The important thing is that there is love.  Unfortunately, the homosexual rights’ activists have captured shows like Sesame Street, and others to use them as tools in the advancement of their causes.

          In commemoration of the 40^th anniversary of Sesame Street, which began in 1969, DVD sets of earlier episodes are becoming available.  Interestingly enough, these DVD’s come with warning labels cautioning parents that these episodes are not for children.  Ironically, this children show’s early episodes are deemed not suitable for the current generation of children.  The reasons cited are that children are seen riding bikes without helmets; the Cookie Monster is seen gorging on cookies instead of the much healthier snacks he eats today, and Oscar the Grouch is portrayed as suffering from a personality disorder, displaying signs of depression, and is perhaps even suicidal!  I will agree that things do change over time in light of new information, but COME ON!  Political correctness is paralyzing us!  It is killing us!

          Our culture has evolved rapidly to a point that every small minority is given preferential treatment over and above the majority.  Sesame Street is far less of a trend-setter than it is a trend-follower.  It is a snapshot of what is going on in the public school system, through other television targeted at children, through children’s books, etc.  We have largely lost the freedom to be “us” anymore!  It is difficult to even have a frank and honest discussion about anything with anyone anymore!  You must fall in line.  You are welcomed, even encouraged to question or berate anything traditional, conservative, or Christian-oriented, but you are forbidden from questioning anything deemed to be politically correct or you will be maligned with venomous hatred from those on the political left.  Now, even honest, hard-working, traditional, God-fearing Americans are fearful of being unjustly labeled as racist, bigoted, or fanatically religious.  Their pseudo-solution to the problem is increasingly to be silent while liberals scream!

          Sesame Street is just one example of the many television shows which have largely lost their way and bowed to political correctness.  TV shows, too numerous to list have, one by one, cut themselves off at the knees because their writers, who are flaming left-wing liberals, are on the fringes of society having pushed and pushed and pushed to move their ideas into the mainstream.  As the old saying goes, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.”  These fringe people on the far left are, by far the most vocal, most militant, most organized, and most galvanized in their hatred of all things traditional, while those supporting traditional values have largely been silent.  Just a couple of weeks ago, Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest congregation in America was asked an easy question on ABC’s The View, in regards to homosexuality.  He actually answered the question correctly but he did so in such a sheepish and non-reassuring manner, I am not sure if I even believe in traditional marriage anymore!!!  Just kidding, but my point is that liberals have got their bluff in on us and why, I do not know!  They are taking over everything we have, one by one, while we, for the most part, stand by and watch!

         Isn’t it time “we the people” stand up for what is right again?  If you look at all the heroic acts which were done by brave men and women to found our country and preserve our country at various points, I think they would be ashamed and appalled at how we have let it simply drift into the hands of far left extremist.  God is not political, but what we do politically is a direct reflection of what, better yet Who, rules and reigns in our hearts.  I do not buy for a minute Jimmy Carter’s oft stated argument that politics and our faith are two completely separate realms.  They are inseparable.  As a good Okie boy, like myself, would say, either it is or it ain’t!

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor

 

Allen Raynor Weblog: The Beginning of the Trump Presidency In a Kingdom Perspective-Jan. 26, 2017

          Last week the 45^th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, was inaugurated into office.  His campaign, election, transition, and inauguration were all marked by tremendous controversy including a number of protests.  Nevertheless he is now the nation’s President.

          Love him or not, as Americans we have a long history of respecting the office, even if we do not agree with the office holder.  It was sad to see many Democratic Party members of Congress boycott the Inauguration because they deemed Trump to be, in their words “illegitimate.”   Inauguration Day is much bigger than the one being inaugurated.  It is, above all else, a celebration of the peaceful transfer of power from one person to another, quite atypical of what we have seen down through history, and even up to the present, in many parts of the world.

           Some Americans have not been overly concerned with who won the office, but others have voiced considerable concern.  When you care deeply about who wins, it cuts very deeply to lose.  I remember the first Presidential election of which I was old enough to remember when the candidate I supported lost.  While I had followed every campaign and subsequent election cycle since 1980, I was not disappointed with the outcome until in 1992 when George H. W. Bush lost to Bill Clinton.  I remember feelings of anger and bitterness directed toward third-party candidate Ross Perot, who I still believe cost Bush that election.   I remember not wanting to get out of bed the next morning and hoping it was merely a bad dream.  Nevertheless my theology shaped and formed by God’s Word told me that the Lord was still going to be in control when Clinton took office in January, every bit to the degree he had been in control during the 12 years of Reagan and Bush.  In 1996, 2008, and 2012 I had to dig deep once again to let my theology take precedence over my emotions.

          Sadly I see many “acting out,” even in some childish ways, because they did not like the outcome.  So as not to let Trump’s supporters off the hook, I see a lot of un-Christlike gloating and un-Christlike ridicule of Hilary Clinton, Barak Obama, and the Democratic Party in general.  Your feelings may be wrong and they may be right, however the real question is “How would Jesus act in the same situation?”  Would He enjoy a good dig at the other party or would be suggest we pray for those whose eyes were closed to the truth?  The answer is obvious.

          To be upfront and honest and provide full disclosure, I have a degree in Political Science and on the wall of my college dorm room above my desk hung top left – Richard Nixon; bottom left – Gerald Ford; Top right – Ronald Reagan; bottom right – George H. W. Bush.  Centered in between those four 8x10 glossy, signed photographs was a group photo of the four men taken at the dedication of The Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, CA in July, 1990.  I subscribed to U.S. News and World Report, The Dallas Morning News, voraciously devoured the daily news, listened to National Public Radio, Rush Limbaugh, was a member of the “Political Science Club” on campus, and when I had breaks from school I was reading books such as No More Vietnams, In the Arena, and 1999: Victory Without War, all by Richard Nixon. My goal was to go on to Law School and the University of Oklahoma and become an attorney.  I often told people in those days, there was a need for Christian lawyers.  It seemed like a completely justifiable pursuit in my mind.  But, looking back I now see God’s kingdom did not seem as big to me as it does now; further, in those days the kingdom of this world seemed much bigger than it now seems.

          In the years since then I have come to understand that the politics of this world and the ways they are generally practiced are illustrative of the depravity that is in the human heart.  Most political issues turn into judicial issues where courts decide who has the greater standing on the basis of law.  However, increasingly over the last several years, court decisions have been arrived at, more and more, not strictly on the basis of law, but upon political pressures, political correctness, and exclusively secular-based reasoning.  What we have is a battle of wills that are being settled in courts of law because they cannot even begin to be settled anywhere else. It was Alexis de Tocqueville who wrote in his classic work Democracy in America in the 1830s “There is scarcely a question in America that does not turn sooner or later into a judicial one.”  If only he could see us now!

          So where does that leave us?  Is it time to give up?  I would assert that as believers we have every reason to be optimist.  Not because of something as unimpressive as the outcome of any election or a ruling handed down by the Supreme Court or a vote in Congress, or any other mundane, routine, largely predictable occurrence, but as Scripture says “Rejoice because your names are written in Heaven (Luke 10:20).”  The short-term forecast for believers shows storms ahead, but the long-range forecast shows very pleasant conditions.

          It would be a mistake to put too much stock in anything of this world, because this world is passing away with all its lusts, but instead we need to lay up our treasure in Heaven where the various elements do not and cannot destroy.  However, we do not need to be so disengaged that we fail to be the salt and light Jesus taught us to be.  We need to stand boldly for what is right and stand just as boldly against the things that are wrong.

          Prayer is the first thing we must do.  If you cannot bring yourself to pray for the leader of the free world then I wonder what things you might be praying for instead.  Prayer changes things.  Prayer is the constant act of submitting ourselves to God and acknowledging our utter dependence on Him.

          Believers, or anyone else, can rejoice we live in a free country, and we can even rejoice about the outcome of the 2016 election and Trump becoming our President if we desire.  However, we must be careful to remember this is an earthly office with a flawed human being in it working within a flawed system, along with other flawed people trying to govern some 319 million flawed people.  But it does make perfect sense that we would all turn to a perfect God for help and guidance.  So be careful to not make the new presidency out to be more than what it really is.  I appreciate the instructive words of John MacArthur in his January 17 monthly letter.  He writes “We must never mistake changes to the political landscape as some sort of monumental spiritual achievement.  Nothing that happens in the world either aids or hinders the building of God’s kingdom – He depends on nothing and no one to accomplish His purposes.  In fact it has always concerned me when Christians view the political tides as somehow shaping redemptive history, or as posing a threat to – or enabling opportunities for –the church’s advancement.”  MacArthur has it right.  God is much, much bigger that the small things of this world. 

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor

Allen Raynor Weblog: Recommended Reading from 2016 (Pt. 3) (Dec. 15, 2016)

          Most all believers know that an atheist claims to not believe in God’s existence, but beyond knowing that, few have really worked through and wrestled with their arguments.  Most believers are taught the atheist is wrong – end of story.  But it is fruitful to hear, and try to understand, their arguments.  They are much simpler to refute by the average believer than one might think.  In The Atheist’s Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs, Norman Geisler and Daniel McCoy present atheistic beliefs in the atheist’s own words.  Geisler and McCoy do not spin or even do that much critique but instead quote many leading atheists extensively and expose conflicts between their, frequently contradictory claims.  Those claiming to be “atheist” are on the rise, therefore the average believer needs to become more familiar with this position in an effort to defend the Word of God.  Another great apologetics work I read this year was The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller.  The book is an outline of Christian belief and answers the major objections that are frequently leveled against Christianity. 

          Cultural engagement is not an option for Christians.  We are not only losing the culture war in America, but we are losing, bit by bit, our religious freedom and it will only get worse.   The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has begun publishing a series of simple, straight-forward books to address the biggest issues of the day.  I read the newly published The Gospel & Religious Liberty by Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker.  We must fight for religious liberty or we will wake up one day and realize we no longer have it as the luxury we once knew.  The culture is finding new, and often creative ways, to try and silence the church.  The church in America is under ever increasing attack.  How should we respond?  Moore and Walker’s book is a great tool to help believers answer that all-important question.  I also read The Gospel & Racial Reconciliation from the same series by Moore and Walker.  It is insightful and helpful when it comes to understanding the problems we face in the area of race relations and offers Scripture-based solutions.  Race-relations have become a big issue in recent years and Christians need to know how to address it with biblical truth and grace.

          Country music fans will enjoy Country Faith: 56 Reflections from Today’s Leading Country Music Stars compiled by Deborah Evans Price.  The format of this book is, singers share their favorite verse and what it means to them; particularly how it has helped and encouraged them along the way.  There are many heart-felt insights that are highly applicable to every-day life.  We enjoyed reading through this book during our family devotion time in the evenings.

          Whether we like it or not, homosexuality is an issue that is not going anywhere.  Believers have struggled to respond to a rapidly changing culture.  Some are sadly compromising on the issue in ways that the Bible does not support, while others are rigid and dogmatic and even unloving toward persons struggling with this particular sin.  Where is the right balance?  Glenn T. Stanton’s book Loving My LGBT Neighbor: Being Friends in Grace & Truth helps us understand how we can build healthy friendships with members of the LGBT community for the purpose of winning them to Christ.  The book does not compromise on biblical truth concerning issues of sexuality, but it does offer a slightly different approach than other books on the subject of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism.  I believe this is a much needed book for most believers.

          Over the past few years I have found commentary survey books very helpful.  This year I enjoyed reading through Old Testament Commentary Survey: Fifth Edition by Tremper Longman III.  I had read an earlier edition and have also read the New Testament equivalent by D. A. Carson.  When you prepare to study a book of the Bible, there is no shortage of commentaries available and it is overly optimistic to assume they are all good.  These summary books give a very brief critique of available commentaries on the various books of the Bible.  These are must-haves for all pastor’s libraries, but laymen also may find them helpful.

          In 1958 John Stott’s book Basic Christianity was first published.  Since then more than 2.5 million copies have been sold.  The book is a true classic.  The book covers such basic topics as “Who is Christ?”  “The character of Christ,” “The resurrection of Christ,” “The death of Christ,” “Salvation in Christ,” “Becoming a Christian,” “Being a Christian,” and much more.  The book is simple and basic, in one sense, just as the title indicates; however it is actually quite thought provoking and challenging.  It first challenges the non-Christian with the explicit reality of lostness in which they are living, then moves to the claims of Christ which are substantial and then to certain realities that should always be present in the lives of believers.  It is this latter part that especially gets challenging for Christians.  This is a book all believers should read.  Further, it is a very good choice of a book to place in the hands of a non-Christian or to place in the hands of a new believer.

          There are several short books, mainly by popular authors, that examine the Christmas story.  I have read many of these through the years.  One of the latest, which only came out this fall, is Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ by Timothy Keller.  Keller’s approach is a little different than most of these type books.  It is actually quite pointed and challenging along the way.  It certainly caused me to think deeper than I have while reading other books on this similar subject.  Reading this book will likely help you to better understand Christmas.  I think Keller is one of the best contemporary authors and would recommend your reading anything of his you come across.

 

I hope you find this year’s recommendations helpful and enjoyable!  Merry Christmas to each of you!  Thank you for reading my weblogs these past 9 ½ years, and for your positive feedback.  You are greatly appreciated!

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor

Allen Raynor Weblog: Recommended Reading from 2016 (Pt. 2) (Dec. 12, 2016)

There are a multitude of books available on prayer and all have some value if read and applied.  However, few books on the subject really get to the heart of the matter.  Timothy Keller’s book Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God is perhaps the best book I have read to date on the subject of prayer.  It is easy to read, yet highly profound.  He draws heavily on the writers of the past such as Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Owen, Edwards, Muller, and many more, while using contemporary illustrations and applications.  Prayer is not an act/work we perform, but rather a way of living.  As we live in close fellowship with God, we work hard to grow closer to Him and Keller covers many ways by which this may be accomplished.

          One of the saddest realities of parenting for many Christians, is to see their children act, in varying degrees, like the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable.  Many parents, and grandparents, weep because one they love, and one who knows better, has succumbed to the allure of the world and its ways.  Many well-meaning parents and grandparents are saying and doing the wrong things as they work to try and remedy the problem.  Sadly, in many cases they are pushing their loved one further away and making the situation worse.  In his very helpful book Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong?  What Do I Do Now?, author Phil Waldrep explores the pattern in the Lord’s parable and what we can learn and apply to our situation as we long for that day the prodigal returns home.

          Churches are struggling these days when compared with their former glory.  Efforts by some to try and reinvent church have largely failed.  Scripture teaches us to “return to the old paths.”  Further, what seems new is not really so new anyway, after all the wisdom of Solomon taught there is nothing new under the sun.  That is why the church of the Lord Jesus needs to wake up and experience true revival or renewal.  Charles Swindoll’s book Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal was challenging and enjoyable.  He writes to the church as a whole, as well as to pastors admonishing all to awake and get back to the basic tasks of believers such as exposition of the Word of God, church members being willing to be taught, sharing of our faith, discipleship, ministry, prayer, etc.  We have been seriously adrift for some time and we need to wake up!

          I enjoyed reading Thom Rainer’s latest book Who Moved My Pulpit? Leading Change in the Church.  This is a quick read with some good insight.  There is not a lot of new information in addition to what you would find in other books on the subject by Rainer, but it was helpful and, at points, entertaining.  I also re-read and taught through his book I Will: 9 Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian. It also, is well worth your time to read.

          John Piper has been one of my favorite authors for many years.  His depth helps me understand many subjects with more clarity.  His book Living in the Light: Money, Sex, and Power: Making the Most of Three Dangerous Opportunities shows the dangers of how these three alluring areas tend to trap us.  We have fallen for many lies and we have learned ways to rationalize our sins.  Satan distorts God’s gifts.  He cheapens them and makes them dirty and tells us we are not satisfied with the limits God has prescribed.  Piper helps the reader see, from the Scripture the goodness of God in these areas in a fresh way, as well as helping the reader face areas in his/her life that are not as pure as one might think.

          American education has undergone many major and minor changes over time.  But one thing is very clear.  God was once the centerpiece and now is out entirely.  Up until around the year 1900, The New England Primer was widely used to help teach children to read and understand the basics.  One will be amazed at, not only the saturation with references to God, but also the significantly more rigorous academic expectations of children and their learning.  This inexpensive book should be obtained and read by everyone, as we need to see how far we have drifted.

          This past spring I taught through the Book of Esther on Sunday evenings.  It was my third time to do so in the course of my years in ministry.  Among the commentaries and related books I used, which I would recommend, are The Message of Esther by J. A. Motyer from “The Bible Speaks Today Commentary Series.” Charles Swindoll’s book Esther: A Woman of Strength & Dignity from his “Great Lives from God’s Word” series, was also a great help.  The Queen and I: Studies in Esther by Ray Stedman shed a lot of light on the book for me.  The one however I would say do not miss when studying the book is Inconspicuous Providence: The Gospel According to Esther by Bryan R. Gregory.  This thoughtful and well-written book gives a tremendous background, and great insight throughout concerning God’s master plan.

          I greatly enjoyed preaching through the Book of Jonah during the summer of 2016.  This is the second time I have preached through the book in my ministry, but the first time I did not go into a lot of depth.  However, this time I took my time and spent 9 weeks.  Truly this book is a treasure trove that sheds a lot of light on several different truths such as God’s compassion, God’s forgiveness, God’s long-suffering nature, God’s determination to use certain people for his glory, God’s sovereignty, and God’s enormous love.  Additionally, we understand more about such negatives as rebellion against God’s will, and consequences for our actions from this book.  Also we gain a better understanding of hell and separation from God by studying chapter 2; also, Jesus’ comparison of Himself and Jonah and being in the belly of the fish/earth.  I read through 8 commentaries that were helpful in varying degrees but the two books I would recommend most for laymen are The Remarkable Journey of Jonah: A Scholarly, Conservative Study of His Amazing Record by Henry M. Morris; also Jonah: A Study in Compassion by O. Palmer Robertson.  Both bring home the teaching of the book in a straightforward, user-friendly way.  James Montgomery Boice has a couple of volumes which cover all of the Minor Prophets.  His section on Jonah was very good and extremely helpful in my study.  Also, I would give honorable mention to Billy K. Smith and Frank S. Page for their volume on Jonah in the New American Commentary Series (NAC).

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor