Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?

XSL 2012 Dirke speaking to Exec Directors

We live in One way Jesusa pluralistic society. Our neighbors, co-workers and friends come from many different religious backgrounds. They seem just as religious and moral as do Christians, if not more so. It seems the height of arrogance to think that Christians alone have the right religion and that everyone else is lost forever.

We live in a climate of relativism. The present pluralism and worldview of many is that truth, morality and religion are relative. According to this view, cultures and individuals subjectively construct ways of thinking and acting that give meaning to their lives. There is no objective truth.

“That may be true for you,” we hear, “but it isn’t true for me.” Truth is not discovered but personally constructed. Morality is a matter of “values”—that is, behavior that particular individuals or cultures value—rather than objective absolutes. Religion has to do with subjective choices and experiences that give meaning to a person’s life. Religion is perfectly acceptable—as long as it is kept private and experiential. But religious claims, doctrines and absolutes are out of line. Since religion is personal, “no one has the right to impose his or her religion on anyone else.” Such are the times we live.

Don’t all roads lead to Heaven?

Two Bible passages that can offend people are John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” And Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else; there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” These are two of many verses that assert the same truth. If different spiritual roads lead to the same destination then something is amiss. Somebody is wrong. All the religions may be wrong but they can’t all be right. And if they all are not right, then how does one discern the one that might be right from the ones that are wrong?

Different roads do not always go to the same destination. If you are trying to go to the Grand Canyon, heading north out of New York may allow you to experience beautiful scenery but it won’t get you to the Grand Canyon. Similarly, the world’s different religions will not get you to the same place.  In fact, they don’t even claim to be headed to the same destination.

The Christian “heaven” is quite different than other religions. In the Bible, heaven is referred to as a realm of eternal life in which the individual person survives after death in a state of perfect joy. It includes the belief that the body will be resurrected and all of our personality, memories and relationships will live forever without our sins and weaknesses. We will be able to know our loved ones and be in communion with Christ Himself.

In contrast, most Eastern religions—such as Hinduism, Buddhism and the Westernized New Age versions—reject the survival of individuals’ altogether. In Hinduism, souls are reincarnated until they are purged of their distinctions and ultimately merge all together into a vast cosmic oneness. Hinduism uses the metaphor, “when a drop of water falls into the ocean the individual drop ceases to exist.” The destination of Buddhism is “Nirvana,” meaning literally, “nothingness.” When after much meditation and personal sacrifice, the soul finally loses all of its desires and finds enlightenment; it will escape the bounds of this material world to experience Nirvana, “nothingness.”

Religions that believe in one God (monotheism) teach of an afterlife that has similarities to Christianity but is significantly different. Mormons teach that when you die you will be a god of your own solar system, giving birth with your wife to spirit children who will inhabit the planets in your solar system. Muslims teach the existence of a paradise in which inhabitants enjoy sensual pleasures, including those their religion forbids here on earth. Most orthodox Jews believe in an afterlife similar to how the Old Testament speaks, but many Jews today believe that life is final, with no survival beyond the grave.

Isn’t it unfair for God to condemn people who do not believe in Jesus?

It does not seem fair that God would condemn people to hell just because they do not know Jesus. Many people throughout the world have never heard of Jesus. It would be unjust for God to condemn them. And surely, as long as they are a good and moral person who follows another religion they should not go to hell but should receive an eternal reward.

This may sound surprising, but no one is condemned for not believing in Jesus! People are condemned for their sins! The Bible says that at the end time, everyone will be judged by their works. “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done . . . If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” –Rev. 20:12, 15. Everyone’s deeds are recorded in the books. It is on this basis judgment comes. But there is “another book,” The Book of Life, which records the names of those saved by Christ (Phil.4:3). Only those names will enter Heaven!

It is true that God would never condemn a good, moral person who has no faults. A person without sin has no need to fear God’s judgment. However, you and I both know that such a person does not exist. This is why Romans says, “None is righteous, no not one . . . All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Rom. 2:12-16. We are all in need of receiving God’s grace. No other religion extends grace to their followers, but rather, requires some form of human merit or display.

The reason we need God’s grace is that contrary to most religions that teach some form of works to be acceptable to God in order to make it into heaven. Christianity is radically different.. The doctrine of grace by faith through Jesus is at the heart of Christianity and leaves no room for another road to heaven. Another uniqueness of Christianity is that no other religion is based on a historical figure, including Islam. Mohammad never claimed to provide the way to paradise nor a solution to sinfulness.

 What about those who have never heard?

What about people who die without hearing about Jesus? Do people who lived before Jesus was born, or heard false information about Jesus have any hope? YES—Precisely because the Christian gospel is the gospel of grace, people are saved by God’s grace and not by pronouncing the name of Jesus. Jesus died for the whole world (2 Cor. 5:14, 1 John 2:2).

We know that no one will ever be able to say they did not have a chance to respond to God’s gift of grace for the Bible says God wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Most come to faith in Christ through Christ-followers who share the good news of the Gospel. Others, through natural revelation, call out for the mercy of God to save them.

Romans 1:18-20 says everyone has enough knowledge of God to know moral right and wrong. If they are honest, they know they fall short of their own standards let alone God’s standards. Because Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross covers past, present and future sins, it doesn’t matter when or where one lived, if they admit their need for God’s grace and mercy, God will grant it, based on the finished work of Christ, even if they never knew anything about Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 3:25 “in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed . . .”  Paul goes onto explain why those prior to Christ (those in the Old Testament), were still saved even though they did not speak the name of Jesus.  They were saved or justified by God’s grace and mercy. They were looking forward in faith and they acknowledged their need.

In the same way today, even if someone might not know of Jesus, if they know they need God’s grace and mercy and that their own works don’t even meet their own standards, God will provide salvation through Christ if they call upon God.

The uniqueness of God’s grace vs. all other religions

If Jesus is one of many ways to Heaven, we have a contradiction. Such a position contradicts the Christian faith and changes the nature of God and of Jesus. Regarding Jesus, it makes him either a liar, saying He is the only way to God when He knew he wasn’t, or he’s a lunatic to think He is the way to God when He isn’t. Those types of people we put in mental institutions. But the life that he led, the miracles he performed, the lives that were changed and his resurrection from the dead are all historically documented. They point to the fact that he was not just mere man, but was as He Himself claimed, the Son of God, and Savior for the World!

Regarding God, to believe there are other roads to God denies His primary two character qualities: His holiness that requires grace and His love that demonstrates grace through Christ. There would be no point in Jesus needing to die for anyone’s sins. God’s holiness would not be needed if God were to accept people into Heaven who are good and reasonably moral. But the truth is that everyone, no matter how personally good and holy they believe they are must admit (if they are honest) that they have at times never met their own personal standards let alone God’s standards.  This is why the major monotheistic religions of the world would never agree to other roads leading to heaven because it tramples on the holiness of God.

Christianity, Islam and Judaism are the only religions that teach the holiness of God. In Islam, God is too holy to be personally known and experienced. This is why you are expected to practice Islam’s five pillars (Oneness of God & Mohammed is the final prophet; praying 3x a day; giving to the poor; fasting; and finally a pilgrimage to Mecca). But even if one does these five things, there is no assurance they will be in Paradise. Only if they die in a Jihad war for Allah are they assured according to their religion.

However, in Christianity God is personally known in Jesus as the Son of God. He provides the only atoning sacrifice that everyone needs. He is the unique channel of God’s grace and salvation. And one can be assured of heaven not because of their righteousness or good works, but because of their faith in Christ’s death for their sins. Jesus is exclusive and inclusive at the same time—the narrow way and the Savior of the entire world—the only way to salvation, yet available for all.

Ultimately every person in one way or another will stand before God and rather they have heard of Jesus or not they will need to call out for God’s grace and mercy. God’s grace is exactly what everyone needs. The fact that we can’t earn it or deserve it is what makes our salvation through Christ’s sacrificial death truly good news!

XSL 2012 Dirke speaking to Exec DirectorsDirke Johnson has a doctorate in Church Leadership and is a professor for the Ministry Degree program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He also teaches at Cru’s Institute of Biblical Studies and specializes in Leader Development, creating high performing teams. He has years of experience at ministering in urban cross-cultural and international contexts.

Which Thief Are You?

thief on cross 

One engages the heart of God and one does not!

And Jesus, turning to one of the thieves next to him on the cross said, “Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.” – Luke 23:43

In this one statement, it has been considered by some the most surprising, suggestive and instructive incident in all the Gospels! From this one verse the concept of . . .

  • Purgatory is refuted – No waiting period to pay off sins.
  • Universalism is refuted – Not everyone goes to heaven, one thief does and one does not.
  • Soul sleep is refuted – Believers go into the presence of the Lord at death (Philippians 1:23)
  • Works salvation is refuted – Nothing is done to earn salvation by the thief who goes to Paradise.

But as important as each of those concepts are, there is something more practical that we can glean from this incident. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. In them we are shown two different effects the Cross elicits when confronted with the truth of Christ. One influences the heart of God and one does not. The German theologian Helmut Thielicke said, “He who has influence upon the heart of God rules the world.” So what is it that engages the heart of God?

Matthew writes in his gospel about the same incident but suggests that initially both thieves were saying derogatory statements against Christ, but after hearing Jesus pray for their forgiveness of sins & how he responds to suffering, there is a change of heart in one of the thieves. Jesus says to him in verse 43: “Truly, I say to you, today, you will be with me in paradise.”

The thief with a hardened heart wants immediate deliverance. In verse 39 he says to Jesus, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

  • He didn’t believe Jesus could give salvation, he wanted it, but not coupled with belief.
  • He wanted salvation for himself, but without having to change.
  • He conveys an attitude towards Jesus of: (1) What have you done for me? (2) Do what I want. (3) Serve me! It’s an attitude of self-centeredness, hard-heartedness with no acknowledgement of brokenness or humility.

Neither you, nor I, will ever engage the heart of God without belief (faith) and dependence upon God that carries beyond my capacity to control my life situations and outcomes.

The thief with a true sense of brokenness and humility responds to the hard-hearted thief in v. 40-41:

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Notice the words by the thief with belief:

  • “we indeed justly . . . deserve” – True confession of sin means I agree with God that my sin is displeasing .
  • “Do you not even fear God?” – He recognizes he is accountable to God for how he has lived his life.
  • “has done no wrong.” – He implies that Jesus is who He says He is, the Messiah, the holy one without sin!

 The thief continues in v.42, And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

  • His faith exceeds and preceeds the apostles – He acknowledges that Jesus will usher in a spiritual Kingdom!
  • “Remember me” – He doesn’t ask Jesus, what can you give me but he places himself at the mercy of God! He demonstrates Christ-dependence and not self-dependence.

 And the Heart of God responds in v. 43 when Jesus promises him more than he asks for and sooner than he expected!   And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Both thieves would have liked immediate deliverance but only one received it! One had a hard heart; the other a soft heart. One was self-focused; the other was Christ-focused. And only one engaged the Heart of God!

I may have put my faith in Christ and know Heaven is my destiny but it doesn’t mean I’m engaging the heart of God in my life at the moment. There are times that my life looks more like the hard-hearted thief rather than the soft-hearted thief. How about you? Which thief reflects your heart before God today? Can you trust God for your future? For the predicament you find yourself in right now? Can you trust God without knowing the outcome, even if it might not end as you would hope?

If you do, then you will engage the heart of God and He may not give you what you want but He will give you more than you ask and sooner than you expect!

XSL 2012 Dirke speaking to Exec DirectorsDirke Johnson has a doctorate in Church Leadership and is a professor for the Ministry Degree program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He also teaches at Cru’s Institute of Biblical Studies and specializes in Leader Development, creating high performing teams. He has years of experience at ministering in urban cross-cultural and international contexts.

God’s Waiting Room

 I do not wait well.  I don’t like red lights; I don’t like slow cars in front of me. I don’t even like sitting still. When I left home for the first time and moved into my dorm room in college it was excruciatingly difficult until I brought my rocker from home. I especially don’t like waiting for doctors. You walk in and wait to see the receptionist and then you sit back down (in the waiting room) and wait to hear a nurse call your name only to take you to a small room where you “wait” for the doctor to come. And then once he gives the diagnosis he says, “Wait here and the nurse will come and give you your prescription.” And so I wait . . . and wait . . . I swear they’re standing outside the room laughing and looking at their watch saying, “How long can we make this sucker wait.”

Sometimes it feels that way with God. David says in Psalms 37:7, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” I’m not sure I’ve ever waited patiently for anything in my life. But I have found my impatience can get me in trouble and can create a lot of unnecessary stress which only increases my doctor visits. This thought struck me in a new way as I was studying the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.

My pastor of many years ago made the interesting comment that he thought the greatest miracle in the story wasn’t Jesus supernaturally multiplying the fish and the loaves but it was the people who sat down patiently waiting for the food that wasn’t there. He had in mind the impatient church folk who fight to get to the head of the lines for the after-service church dinners. The disciples could tell that the people were tired and hungry, notice their comments: “the hour is late. Send them away [to] . . . buy themselves something to eat.”  Mark 6:35-44:

 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 
37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 
38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.42 And they all ate and were satisfied. .
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

God provides and He provides abundantly, if I wait for Him. I’m sure there were people who were in the crowd who had gotten hungry and who had left to go get some fast food (Bagels to go) or whatever Israel’s equivalent might have been. But in their attempt to satisfy their legitimate needs, through the normal expected means, they not only missed an amazing miracle but they likely missed out on an amazing meal.

What are you impatiently waiting for? Where are you inclined to take matters into your own hands? There seems to me to be a fine line between waiting patiently in the Lord and taking proactive steps of faith. I’m not sure I distinguish them well. But at its core, whether it is an intentional wait—in faith—or, if its take action—in faith, either way, it must reflect a dependence upon God for the solution (whatever it may be) without a manipulative attempt at my own pre-determined solution to the problem. I don’t want to presumptively act like Abraham did to produce an Ishmael unnecessarily. But I also don’t want to passively sit on my hands and fail to act. I want to be like Nehemiah was when he learned of the condition of walls in Jerusalem. But even Nehemiah waited in prayer and never took action until the king made a way for him. And Nehemiah took that opportunity as from the Lord.

Lord, help me recognize my own desired pre-determined solutions and help me truly seek your perfect will for I know YOUR solutions will satisfy more fully! So Lord, help me be patient to wait for your hand of opportunity, but Lord, could you do it a little faster!

XSL 2012 Dirke speaking to Exec DirectorsDirke Johnson has a doctorate in Church Leadership and is a professor for the Ministry Degree program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He also teaches at Cru’s Institute of Biblical Studies and specializes in Leader Development, creating high performing teams. He has years of experience at ministering in urban cross-cultural and international contexts.

The Biblical Root of Racism

root

The Biblical Root of Racism

Racist! Few labels are hurled in today’s rhetoric that packs such a combative punch. The knee-jerk reaction to the charge of racism is immediate denial. No one wants to admit to racism. It has become viewed as one of society’s most evil sins. And for this reason I have found it counterproductive to ever use the word as a label, even if it might be true. In fact, I’m going to make the radical suggestion that as Christ followers we opt for a biblical term that strikes more at the root of the problem.  I hope to show how this root of racism can affect us in two ways: (1) The attitude in which we confront biblically those who practice racism and (2) The knowledge of how the root of racism affects us all.

Racism is real

The existence of racism is real and ugly, whether it’s expressed in a personal encounter or as a structural societal reality. In whatever form it is manifested it is evil because it devalues, demeans and strikes at the core of a person’s personal worth and identity. An identity created in the image of God.

Though the Bible doesn’t use the term “racism” as we use it in America, the effects are everywhere. We see the intentional and systematic degradation and oppression of one people group over another group beginning in the first book of Genesis. And by the time Jesus appears in the flesh the Jews were subjugated under Roman rule and were deemed “less than” by their oppressors. The Samaritans of Jesus day had become their own people group expressly because of the Assyrian domination foisted on them 700 years earlier when they had to intermarry and adopt the Assyrian culture. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans. But Jesus never addressed racism in the same way we speak of it today. Neither did the disciples or any of the biblical writers. They certainly had plenty of examples to point to and had personally experienced a degree of racism themselves. But the charge of racism never appears.

As a white male who is part of the dominant culture in America, I have the privilege of taking advantage of my whiteness without even being aware of it. I may never have become aware of my white privilege had I not married an African American woman, raised three beautiful daughters who identified with the black community and was an associate minister at a predominantly black church, living in the inner city of both Detroit and Minneapolis.

I know what it is like to enter a restaurant and wait to be seated only to have to leave because of the color of the one standing next to me. I know what it’s like on numerous occasions to have my wife attempt to write a check and be turned down, only to approach the same clerk a few minutes later (not knowing that we were married) and to accept my check which also had her name on it. I have seen my wife followed in stores merely because of the color of her skin. On separate occasions my wife and children while driving have been randomly stopped by police hoping to find an illegal substance for an arrest. My daughter, while parked with her African American male friend outside our house had a policeman knock on her passenger window telling her she needed to leave and go home (not because it was a bad part of town, but because he thought it was too good for her). When she told him that this was her home the officer said she was lying. With great pleasure she got out of the car, took the keys from her purse and waving bye to her friend and the officer, she entered our home. This is just the tip of the iceberg of personal experiences. So racism is not an abstract construct. It is not an excuse for those with a victim-mentality. And yet, if we settle for racism as the culprit we will miss the real enemy.

What is racism?

What creates tension and makes racism charges so volatile and confusing is that racism is often defined differently.  The majority of racism definitions agree that racism is prejudice and discrimination fueled by perceived biological differences that rank groups of people as either superior or inferior. However, there are several variations. Some definitions only include intentional forms of discrimination based on race, ethnicity or nationality.1 Others include any behavior or belief based on cultural stereotypes.2  One view defines racism as prejudice plus power while another view says if the culprit is in a perceived subordinated power position, racism cannot be leveled.[3][4] Another says if discrimination occurs without malicious intent one is not committing racism.  And so goes the semantic tug-of-war: “Yes you are.” “Oh no I’m not.”  

The biblical writers do not play that game. In fact, we do not see them leveling any charges that sound like our isms and phobia’s of the day: chauvinism, sexism, ageism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, Islamophobia, you name it the Bible will not minimize the root issue with surface labels.

The root

The deficiency in using the label “racism” and all the isms is that they are too shallow and too simplistic. Each label is symptomatic of a much deeper root problem. Our definitions of racism can be selectively chosen to point out the offenses of others and yet protect ourselves from personal guilt. I find an eerily similar attempt by the lawyer who approached Jesus in Luke 10:25 when he asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus counters, “What is written in the Law? How does it read?” The Lawyer correctly answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . soul . . . strength . . . mind and your neighbor as yourself.” But the lawyer’s next words reveal his true heart.

The gospel writer, Luke, discloses his motive, “Desiring to justify himself,” the lawyer asks, “Who is my neighbor?” But Jesus chooses not to give a definition that can be easily slid around. He describes in parable form the behavior of what love looks like to a neighbor. And rather than the Jewish priest or Levite, it is the Samaritan that shows extraordinary kindness and even the lawyer admits that the Samaritan is the real neighbor.  Jesus point was that our neighbors are whoever we come in contact with whether we think they deserve it or not—in other words, everybody!

The lawyer’s attempt to justify himself reveals more than a misunderstanding of “loving your neighbor.” It exposes a heart that chooses to judge who is worthy of love and who is not. But God has not given us that prerogative. God has tied our love for Him to how we love our neighbor. And just as we cannot choose to love “some” of God, we cannot choose to love “some” of our neighbors. This is why Jesus commands us to love our enemies (Luke 6:27)—which may include those we deem racist.  But if I am honest, I am the lawyer and you likely are too! Everything within me cries out to justify myself. I want to redefine what love should be to those who are my enemies. I want to redefine who my neighbor is. I want to redefine what is and is not racism. But racism and all the isms are merely symptoms and not the root. They are fruits of sin but not the root of my sin.  In my heart of hearts is a natural draw to self-righteousness. And this self-righteous attitude, though often undetected by the natural eye is at times undetected because of my own hard-heartedness.

The selective judging practiced by the lawyer is what is referred to in the book of James as breaking the royal law. The word James uses to describe this root sin is partiality. It is to pre-judge (prejudice) and to show favor based on external distinctions. Some translations call it being a respecter of persons. It is discriminating or positioning one person or a group of people in a more favorable status than another group. And such a transgression is no light offense. Read what James says:

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. . .  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:8-13 ESV)

I like how the Expositor’s Bible Commentary puts it. “The commandment to love one’s neighbor is called the “royal law” because it is the supreme law to which all other laws governing human relationships are subordinate. It is the summation of all such laws. The one who keeps this supreme law is doing right. The right course of action is contrasted to v.9 where partiality is identified as committing sin. Therefore, the right course of action is to show favor to everyone.”5

We as Christ followers are to show favor to everyone because we have received God’s grace (God’s unmerited favor). So we who receive such favor are expected to speak and act by dispensing to others the same favor we have so freely received. This is what James calls operating under the Law of Liberty. This is also described by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:13:

“For you were called to freedom, brothers, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

To show partiality is to be a respecter of persons by putting one type of person or group over another and it violates the Law of Liberty. It is a form of playing God by making ourselves a judge. The danger is if we function as judges of others, then God will use the same measurement of judgment on us. James says judgment is without mercy. I don’t know about you, but its mercy that I need and mercy is what others need, even those who are committing racism (partiality).

Attitude to confront

Whether I have committed racism or not, could be argued by what definition one uses. But what cannot be argued is if I have shown partiality. Whether it is thinking of myself as “better-than” or behaving in such a way that reflects I am a respecter of persons regarding social status, political associations, station in life, religion, denominational affiliation, personality differences or affinity associations, then I have committed partiality and most likely you have too. Knowing this, we confront our brothers and sisters when they transgress the royal law—humbly—with full awareness of our own self-righteous, partial nature.

The Apostle Paul says we are to restore in a spirit of gentleness. (Gal. 6:1)  That gentle spirit begins when we first recognize and admit that we have committed partiality ourselves. We do not stand in judgment over the transgressor. We stand with them as a fellow brother or sister to bear with them (Gal. 6:2). I cannot correct with gentleness unless I have recognized that I am in as great of need of God’s grace and mercy as the one I hope to correct.

Yes, God wants us to speak up and address ethnic/racial inequities and injustices. And there are times and places where public protests and demonstrations are warranted. It’s worth noting that the effectiveness of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s was not only tied to their non-violent approach but also to their intentionality to expose the “partiality” of rights and privileges granted to the dominant culture at the expense of African Americans who were denied the same privileges.

So when we speak up, let us speak with gentleness, recognizing our own self-righteous tendencies. And rather than level the racist charge, sensitively and compassionately help others see where “partiality” is being practiced. God’s judgment will be more effective than any labels we can throw at people. So let’s do all we can to compassionately correct. For mercy triumphs over judgment! And oh, how I so need God’s mercy and I bet you do too.

 

 

XSL 2012 Dirke speaking to Exec DirectorsDirke Johnson has a doctorate in Church Leadership and is a professor for the Ministry Degree program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He also teaches at Cru’s Institute of Biblical Studies and specializes in Leader Development, creating high performing teams. He has years of experience at ministering in urban cross-cultural and international contexts.

Endnotes

1     Reilly, Kevin; Kaufman, Stephen; Bodino, Angela (2003).Racism : a global reader. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-0-7656-1060-7

2  “Racism” in R. Schaefer. 2008 Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity and Society. SAGE. p. 1113

3   Operario, Don and Susan T. Fiske (1998). Racism equals power plus prejudice: A social psychological equation for racial oppression. Pp. 33-53 in Jennifer Lynn Eberhardt and Susan T Fiske (eds), Confronting racism: The problem and the response. Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc.

4http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/1075/160Only White People can be Racist”: What does Power have to with Prejudice? Pooja Sawrikar and Ilan Katz

5  The Expositors Bible Commentary (vol. 12), “James.” Pp. 179-180 commentary by Donald W. Burdick. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981).

      

Dirke’s blog: Going from RESOLUTION to Godly RESOLVE?

What Does It Take To Stop You?

New Year’s resolutions roll off lips with ease this time of year. A few months later they are long forgotten. What has God’s Spirit prompted you to do this coming year? Your faith is measured more by what it takes to stop you rather than what you attempt. Luke says Jesus “Set His face” for His final journey to Jerusalem. Jesus knew what God had for Him (the Cross and the resurrection) and he was not to be denied.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face [Godly resolve] to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-56 ESV)

The intentions were right, the plans were made but Jesus’ journey was not without a setback. He and his disciples attempted to stay in a village but were not permitted (v.53). The disciples wanted Jesus to retaliate (v.54). Rather than rebuking those who did not receive Him, Jesus rebuked his disciples (v.55). He admonished their lack of perspective. They let their feelings affect their response. Jesus demonstrated what our response must be when we encounter obstacles. “They went on to another village (v.56).” We do not let frustrations or hurts at the hands of others keep us from moving forward to accomplish what God has put before us. Good intentions die unless executed. Set your face to do what God has called you to do, expect obstacles, don’t stop. Go to another village!

 

Dirke has his doctorate in Church Leadership and is a professor for the Ministry Degree program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He also teaches at Cru’s Institute of Biblical Studies. He specializes in Leader Development,  creating high performing teams and has years of experience at ministering in urban cross-cultural and international contexts.

Dirke’s blog: Why Wait till Christmas?

She was sitting in the doorway to the mall.  I just assumed she was about to ask me for money… just like most of the tattered dressed, ashy faced, too much drama for TV people I saw begging ‘round there all the time.  I expected a story about how she needed money for the bus or. . .

 (Spoken Word is a rhythmic expression mixing poetry and prose. This is not written for grammar purposes but for oral presentation). Written & presented by my daughter, Danelle at the Minneapolis Gospel Sounds, Holiday Concert

 WHY WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS?

She was sitting in the doorway to the mall.  I just assumed she was about to ask me for money… just like most of the tattered dressed, ashy faced, too much drama for TV people I saw begging ‘round there all the time.  I expected a story about how she needed money for the bus or food for her four kids at home because daddy just got locked up, she was about to be evicted and all she needed was my $4.97 to help her out. So I looked in my pocket for a couple of ones ‘cuz I thought I just broke that 50… see, she was lucky, I was in the Christmas spirit.  It only comes around once a year and you have to take advantage of the Christmas cheer.  Peace, love, and goodwill… Still, as I prepared to hand her over a couple of ones and a coupon for a free can of soup… I was surprised how she looked at me.

There were no smiles, no joy, her demeanor held sadness heavy in her eyes, peaceful, but pained by more of the world than I cared to know. She surrendered a spirit of sincerity…So I put the ones back in my pocket and offered her a 20. She reached for my hand and closed it… didn’t take the money.  She held my stare and said, “Why wait for Christmas, when I ask for you every day?” About to tell her this was the first time we’d ever met… but I started to understand what she meant.

Christmas trees, Nativity scenes and Christmas caroling; A season for everything lovely. This is the time for charity and giving.  Toys for Tots drive, homeless shelters sing songs next to Salvation Army’s ring bells to the tunes of our generous donations because it’s Christmas time and the tax returns are right around the corner. Cornerstone charities collect coat bundles and food baskets for needy children as if their greatest needs only come once a year.

This is the time where our homes are filled with love, our disagreements are put on hold because it’s not about ourselves during Christmas—it’s about others, it’s about giving, it’s about a Love so great it lived for us, died for us, and lives for us again.  But it takes too much to live like this more than once a year.  So our celebration waits for Christmas—to renew our spirits, to love, to give, to cherish.

The woman let go of my hand and stood to leave.  And as she left it wasn’t her voice that would speak and repeat…“Why wait for Christmas when I ask for you, when I call for you every day?—when my blessings are abundant…when my grace is overflowing… and when my love is everlasting.  What if I waited for Christmas?” But I pleaded with the Lord… “I didn’t hear you calling me.  When did you ask for me?” And the Lord replied, “I tell you the truth… whatever you did not do, for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45