The discussion typically goes something like this: "I just feel like all... or at least most... churches are basically the same. So it doesn't really matter what we do as long as we're basically on the same page."

In spite of the various objections one might make to that statement, the thing that strikes me is the idea of just basically doing things right. I agree that there are some fundamental ideas to Christianity that are more basic than others, and I agree that those ideas are broadly similar in many churches within christendom. My consideration is not so much focused on the idea of similarities or differences, but on the problem of basically doing Christianity.

As a society, we tend to dislike complexity. We usually end up in it accidentally, but we prefer things—especially ideas—to be simple. And so we idealize boiling away the more complex elements of something to pursue it in only its most basic form. But consider a couple of questions. Will I be invited to join a professional orchestra because I can basically play the violin? Will I be recommended for continual promotions because I've basically done my job? Will I be promoted by others as a candidate for political office because I've basically understood the political system and the issues that need repair?

When we decide to be a disciple of something, we devote ourselves to learning it and practicing it with excellence. Why, then, would we choose to basically be a disciple of Jesus? Why would we not pursue him with all the care and attention and excellence that he deserves? Why would we not want to learn more than just being basically what God wants us to be?

- Dan Lankford, evangelist

When an organization or group wants to advertise their product or services, one of the first rules to follow is: "Be true to yourself." If we advertise a product in a way that is inaccurate, it can lead to lawsuits when people experience the real thing. If we advertise a group in a way that is inaccurate, people are inevitably disappointed and turned off when they experience the real thing.

When we represent something publicly, we must know what we want to represent and do it accurately.

In a way, we are called to be walking "advertisements" for Jesus. I don't mean to say that we are out to sell him to the world—most of the time, when people try to sell Jesus, they end up selling out for Jesus. But I do mean that our lives show people a picture of him in hopes they will like what they see and buy in for themselves.

The questions we need to ask ourselves are these: "Do I know Jesus well enough to give an accurate representation? Do I know what he's really like, or do I just know how I would like him to be? Will my representation of Christ leave people disappointed when they really get to know him? How can I be a better witness to his goodness today?"

"You are the light of the world... let your shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven."  (Matt. 5:14,16)

- Dan Lankford, evangelist

I watched an interesting show this past week. It was called “Brain Games,” and the particular episode showed the typical reactions people have to being mistreated by someone else. Typically, if someone is unkind to us, we will be frustrated and look for an opportunity to take revenge in some way. But the experiment also showed that if someone is exceedingly kind to us immediately after we’ve experienced unkindness, we are far less likely to seek revenge or payback on anyone.

As I watched that, I couldn’t help but think about the Holy Spirit’s exhortation for Christians to “let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5). If this were truly the way we lived our lives, we could expect to positively impact the lives of others. Christians should be the first ones stepping into the world to show exceeding kindness. We are the ones whose holy book says, “when you give to the poor…” and, “let your speech always be gracious…” and, “do not repay evil for evil.” We are the ones whom God has called to live like himself. And if he was willing to make the enormous sacrifices it took to show kindness to the people who had rejected him, should we not also be willing to swallow our pride whenever we can and show kindness in the world?

The striking thing about this whole idea is that my decision to show kindness to someone will likely impact the next person he meets as well. I do not mean to say that all the world’s ungodliness can be undone if we will all just be nicer, but it is worth noting that compassion is contagious. It will almost never happen on accident, but it does tend to spread if someone is purposefully showing kindness.
So let’s make a determination to be kind this week. Let someone over in traffic. Go visit one of our homebound members. Learn your waitress’s name and ask about her day. Give to the poor.

A little kindness goes a long way.

- Dan Lankford

"...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  (1 Thess. 5:18, ESV)

I'm pretty sure that most of the times I've talked about that verse, I've thought more along the lines of, "But what about when the situation is difficult?" In doing that, I'm pretty sure I missed the main point of the teaching.

• How many times has God done something for me that he didn't have to do? And how many times have I neglected to thank him for that?
• How many times has God given an extravagant level of ease and luxury in my life? And how many times have I worried that I would lose it... rather than thanking him for it?
• How many times have other people—my parents, my church, my spouse—been unbelievably kind to me? And how many times have I taken that for granted—assumed that I had deserved that from them anyway?

How many times could I actually give thanks to God or another human being every day if I would only be humble enough to actually appreciate how blessed I am?

- Dan Lankford

This past Sunday morning, as we studied Ecclesiastes 1 in the adult class, we were confronted with some sobering realities. The realities that much of life is out of our control can be a frightening thing for us, and this is one of the great challenges of Christianity.

Part of the uniqueness of God's plan comes from the fact that it asks us to overcome by relinquishing control. Typically, we think we will gain the upper hand by controlling all the other hands. And so we look for ways to mold our lives so that they meet our wants and satisfy our cravings. And yet, it is when we acknowledge that we'll never have perfect control... when we acknowledge that only God has that much power... when we acknowledge him as a perfect God who will faithfully meet all of our needs... It is then that we are able to relinquish the reins and live by our faith in him. "This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for part from him, who can eat or who can have enjoyment?"  (Eccl. 2:24-25)

- Dan Lankford

In the 1920’s, a British publishing group called “The Thinker’s Library” produced a number of essays and magazines supporting two ideas. Firstly, they entirely backed Charles Darwin’s theories of macro evolution. Simultaneously, many of the same writers spoke of the racial supremacy of Western Culture and Westerners because we were supposed to be “more evolved” than other cultures. Those ideas of racial superiority fed the Holocaust mentality, even though there was no real science to back them up. The views were bogus and harmful to humanity in the long run, even though they were held by the prevailing intellectuals of the day.

One modern writer recently pointed out that those atheistic philosophies aimed to show that the secular West is the model for a universal civilization, and atheism is doing something similar today. They are simply using different vehicles. Where the ideas of evolutionary secularism used to give cause for extolling the sins of racial prejudice and mass murder, the same ideas are used today to extoll the sins of homosexual behavior and many other perversions of the God-ordained family order.

What does it mean for Christians? Among many other things, it means that Christianity is not dying! It means that God is alive, and so is the faith! While the philosophies of the world come and go, Christianity continues to stand on the same principles upon which it was founded. Where other religions—Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam—morph over time because they must necessarily adjust their core values to the needs of their people, Christianity continues to change people because we must necessarily conform to the core values of holiness.

It is important that Christians realize this. As the world’s voices grow louder and more adamant that secular, human-focused thought is the only right way to live, Christians may stand with a quiet confidence in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Gamaliel, a Jewish rabbi in the time of Paul, once spoke up for the apostles. Their lives were being threatened for teaching about Jesus. And while he might have been on the wrong side of understanding the situation, he wisely gave this prophecy about Christianity: “…if this plan is the undertaking of man, it will fail. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrown them. You might even be found to be opposing God!” (Acts 5:38-39, ESV).

Have no fear, brothers and sisters! Our God cannot be overthrown by mankind! No worldly philosophies, no Supreme Court rulings, and no level of immorality on TV can stop the power of the risen Savior! People may leave the Lord, but the Lord will not leave his people. Jesus promised that the gates of Hell would not prevail against his plan. Let us view the world’s attacks with the confidence that for all the changes of life, God is alive! And so is the faith!

- Dan Lankford