by Caleb Gordon | May 5, 2014
A community is strong when its families are strong.
There is an all out attack on the family. The devil wants nothing more than to see our communities fall apart and descend into chaos.
Ladies and gentlemen, our marching orders are here. Defend the family. Hold it as sacred. Fight for your spouse!
Do you remember standing at the alter looking into her/his eyes?
Do you remember saying those words ‘until death do us part!’?
Those words mean just that!!
They are saying simply this: I won’t leave until my heart stops beating.
How difficult is that?
Well, if you’re in the middle of a crazy marriage then those words are pretty difficult.
I want to give you a few things to put your marriage back on the path it needs to be on.
1. You HAVE to be in prayer WITH EACH OTHER!!! Dedicate time to pray together over everything, not just the big things. IF you pray over the small things, the big things won’t seem so big anymore.
2. Put your spouse’s needs above your children’s needs. I see so many marriages that focus so much on the kids, and because of that they fall apart. The maintenance that was needed to maintain the marriage was never done, because the children were the focus. Make your husband/wife the focus, and your kids will reap the benefits of that.
3. Read and study God’s word TOGETHER! Open your Bible and read it, listen to sermons together…it will bring you together. Here are some great resources/sermons I personally suggest to get you started studying God’s word.
4. Get connected in GODLY community! What does that look like? Typically that means going to a church where you are known, and you know people. I don’t mean just showing up on Sunday mornings. I mean investing your life in people. Letting yourself be vulnerable and exposed to people. Letting people pray over you, letting people keep you accountable.
If you do these four simple steps consistently, you will win in your marriage. You have to abide in the vine of Jesus Christ, and His word must be present in your life in order to go where He wants you to go. IF we do these four simple things, our country will see transformation. I can promise you that!
You CAN DO THIS!
by Caleb Gordon | Apr 22, 2014
We live in a culture that is obsessed with the idea of heaven.
We live in a culture that is always wanting to know about the after life.
We live in a culture that has big questions about what happens when our hearts stop beating.
Instead of looking to the Bible for the answers we are looking elsewhere for answers to the tough questions.
Last week, a movie came out called Heaven Is For Real. It sounds really, REALLY exciting, and full of hope.
The basic idea is that a young boy has a near death experience and then tells his parents he went to Heaven where he saw family member’s, received a halo and wings (but gave them back because they did not fit.) He also claims to have seen the Holy Spirit who was described as being sort of blue.
Stories like this pull on our hearts strings, and we might even get a little teary eyed about the idea of it. But the problem with all of this is that it’s UN-BIBLICAL.
In 2 Corinthians 12: 1-4 it explains further: “I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.“
Did you catch that? ‘…and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.’
That’s right, God does not allow people to go to heaven then come back and talk about it.
In fact God was so serious about this topic he gave Paul a ‘Thorn in the flesh’ to keep him from talking and boasting about what he saw.
Why?
Because man is sinful and can make it all about themselves (which this book and movie do) and not about JESUS!!
Read the text: 2 Corinthians 12: 5-7 “I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”
This is troubling enough, but what is really concerning is that the producer of the movie is saying some very troubling things.
He was on a national radio program the other day and said he got a phone call and was told that 40 people gave their hearts to Jesus as a result of watching this film. MAN, THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!! Right?
Well once again…the issue is that his statement goes against the grain and fabric of the scriptures. There is NOTHING in the film that show a man, woman, boy, or girl that they need a savior, or that they need to be rescued from sin. It’s simply a story about a boy having a near death experience.
He also went on to say, ‘This film is not a preachy film whatsoever.’
Romans says something about how people are saved.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Rom. 10:14
That’s right in order to be saved you’ve got to be preached to. The WORD must sown in your heart.
We must be made aware of our sins. How is that done? Through the preaching of the law.
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. -Romans 3:20
You might say well Caleb, I was not preached to; some guy or gal walked up to me and started TALKING to me about Jesus…OK I’m going to place that in the category of preaching. If someone walks up to you and tells you what the Bible has to say about the topic of sin and salvation that’s preaching.
A movie about how a boy who thought he went to heaven is not a tool to be used to bring someone to Christ. Not a primary tool anyways.
I have already been told that I’m judgmental on this topic and that I’m limiting God in this whole idea.
To which I respond it’s not me that is limiting God, God has placed restrictions on himself as to how he moves and works. He chooses to use the preaching and teaching of his WORD to draw people to himself.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me” (John 6:44-45).
So am I saying not to go see the movie? NO! I’m simply saying that if you are going to go see the film don’t check your brain at the door. Think while you watch this film. Don’t get sucked into the anti-Biblical rhetoric of this movie. Simply go and watch this through the lens of fictional movies like Thor or Captain America.
I am simply saying that if you want to know what heaven is like READ THE BIBLE!
If you want to know about God, dive into the Word of God.
Don’t place your hope in a man’s ideas of what Heaven is or is not.
Go to the written Word for your foundation for your eternity.
You’ll sleep better that way.
by Caleb Gordon | Mar 5, 2014
I wanted to throw my hat into the ring of reviews of the “Son of God” movie that is currently playing in theaters.
From a production stand point, it was very well done. The acting is not bad at all.
Now from a BIBLICAL stand point, it was somewhat lacking.
I understand that there was some artistic license taken with this film, but honestly the things I noticed in the film were actually just NOT in the BIBLE whatsoever, and furthermore it portrayed a message that is not Christ or Gospel-centered.
#1. Jesus is not really portrayed as sovereign, which means he’s NOT God in the flesh. When Peter looks at Jesus and says ‘I will not betray you Jesus.’ Jesus looks at him with a giddy grin of excitement and says ‘REALLY?’ Then while hugging him, still smiling all of the sudden the music changes, and his facial expression changes from one of joy, to horror and surprise. Almost like he is being told by someone (I’m guessing God the Father) that Peter WILL betray him.
Even though they don’t say he’s not sovereign in the film it’s overtly expressed. This is truly anti-biblical. Jesus was GOD IN THE FLESH. He is sovereign. He knows the future, and he is not surprised by anything, especially our sin.
#2. Jesus took the Lord’s Supper with his disciples. This did not happen in the text. This is just simply wrong.
Luke 22:15-20
English Standard Version (ESV)
And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
#3. Mary rushes out and helps Jesus pick up the cross while on his journey to Calvary. This once again is not in the text, and expresses something else about Mary completely. It shows her giving him strength and encouragement. This looks and feels warm and fuzzy, but says volumes about the person of Mary.
Catholic tradition dictates that Mary is part of the monarchy of heaven, soliciting grace and mercy from the Lord on behalf of sinners, and covering sin by distributing from her Treasury of Merit. She became a co-redeemer with Christ in His suffering on the cross, and is now a co-mediator alongside Him in heaven—essentially an alternative avenue of access to God. She replaces the Holy Spirit in bestowing aid and comfort to believers. In effect, she becomes an additional member of the Trinity.
Read more about this here Exposing the Heresies of the Catholic Church: Mary Worship
#4. The Gospel was not present anywhere whatsoever in this film.
WHAT?
Yes, that’s correct. The Gospel is not explained. There is not a large emphasis on man’s sinfulness and how devastating sin is. Not much mentioned about of why Jesus came (‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’ ‘Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.’) All Jesus tells Peter is that ‘We’re going to change the world.’ There is no mention of a need to repent of your sins. All this film did was make you feel sorry for Jesus. And it made you really angry at the Jews, and religious leaders of Jesus’ day. This. Is. Not. The. Gospel. Feeling sorry for Jesus will not save you from your sins. Feeling bad that he was beat with a whip does not redeem you. Feeling bad that they nailed him to a cross is not going to reconcile you to the Father.
You must understand that you are a depraved, wicked sinner, and that Jesus is your ONLY hope. You must repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to reconcile and redeem you back to the Father. ( If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9)
You must believe with your heart and confess with our mouth that JESUS IS LORD!
(because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved Rom. 10:9-10)
This film was a great PRODUCTION, but a horrible misrepresentation of the BIBLICAL account of JESUS CHRIST, and therefore not a valid avenue of sharing the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ!
Hollywood fails AGAIN!
So how can Christians take a positive away from this film?
Those who know the BIBLE need to engage people and talk to them about the Gospel. If you do go see this film, have conversations with people about it. Tell them that they do have a deep need for a Savior, and that their sins do need to be repented of. Offer hope. Offer a plan. What is that plan? JESUS, the LAMB that takes away the sin of the world!
by Caleb Gordon | Feb 14, 2014
I have had many talks with different people about Jesus, the Bible, and life. For some reason, there is a widespread impression that biblical Christianity and the “Religious Right,” as it has been dubbed by opponents to the politically-conservative organized movement, are one and the same thing. In this piece, I wish to show that they are not.
In fact, I would argue that the “Religious Right,” or at least its image in society’s mind, has had an adverse effect on biblical Christianity.
“What?!” you ask.
Yes, I believe this movement, as typified and embodied most by people like Pat Robertson, have really hurt the cause of Christ.
How can I say that when the very issues on which they stand, such as against abortion and “gay marriage,” are Bible based? Just how has the “Religious Right” hurt biblical Christianity?
These two issues, which have come to define the “Religious Right,” I am afraid, have served to distract the Church from what we really need to be focused on, namely the Gospel. In other words, we have majored on the minors, to borrow a phrase.
For the record, I am against abortion and “gay marriage” too. I do not endorse these actions that are sins. But I am also against camping out on those issues alone and missing a chance to go after the heart of the matter, which is the hearts of people. For some reason, we want to camp here, and I tend to do it sometimes…but let’s go after the hearts of people rather than their current behaviors.
If we go after the heart, we get the behavior eventually. As Tullian Tchividjian once said: “Legalism says God will love us if we change. The Gospel says God will change us because He loves us.”
We’ve bought the lie, hook, line and sinker, of a watered-down country-music gospel, which seems to say, “If you say ‘God bless America,’ vote for the conservative candidate and occasionally go to church, then you’re a Christian.'”
We automatically think that if someone says that they ‘have faith in God,’ that puts them on equal footing with true, Bible-believing Christians. That is not always the case.
If you don’t believe that the Bible is God’s Word, I’m going to step out on a limb and say that you are more than likely not a Christ follower.
If you don’t think your personal sin is a problem, and that Jesus died to shatter your personal sin–that you need to repent of said sin–then there is a good chance you’re not a true Christ follower.
If you don’t believe Jesus is God, there is a really good chance that you’re not a Christian.
If you believe that Jesus sinned while walking on the earth, there is a solid chance you are not a Christian.
If you believe you have to be a Republican (or a Democrat) in order to get into Heaven, there’s a pretty good chance you’re not getting in.
If you believe that just because you live in America, you’re going to Heaven, again, there’s a really good chance you’re not getting in.
The reason we have reports of 92% of people inside the churches thinking that they are saved when, in reality, they may not truly be His followers is because, sadly, we as the Church have done a crummy job of actually preaching and articulating the Gospel.
Too many of the teachings inside of churches are directed to private and personal morality by themselves (i.e. Divorced from the Gospel). Too many sermons focus on sex, marriage, finances and relationships, and how God has a great plan for those things I just mentioned, but leaving out the Gospel itself.
What our sermons today need to be focused on is what Christians have always needed to focus on: the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Chris! If we get that right, the other stuff will get fixed. If we get that wrong, then we have failed to get to the root of the matter.
We need to get to the root of the problems. The root of the problem is sin, and we need a Savior to rescue us from our sins. We need a LORD to come and take over our lives and set us free from the pit of slavery we are in.
When this begins to happen then things are really going to change. We must resist the temptation to preach a moralism-only based religion, which gets us no where and alienates the very people we seek to reach.
Jesus is the real answer to our problems; He is the only answer
by Caleb Gordon | Oct 24, 2013
Jesus did not die for the Rotary club, or any other organization. He was not ripped up, and beaten to save any type of organization or group in our culture today, other than the church!
So why is it that we as Americans invest so much of our time, money, resources, and talents into things that will make no eternal difference?
We have groups that are very nice groups, and do some great things, but in all seriousness God designs the church to do these things, too. Like feed and help the poor, help people get water, bring justice, etc. But the transforming thing about the church is that the Gospel is the CENTER of everything we do. Jesus is the focal point that makes the difference. Yet people don’t invest their time, money and talents in the church near as much as they do in other organizations.
Let me be clear. I’m not saying these groups and organizations are bad. I’m simply saying the church should be a Christians TOP priority when it comes to investing wealth and resources. So many people say, ‘Well there are a bunch of hypocrites at the church’, and I say YES, AND AMEN to that. But there are hypocrites at the Rotary Club, The Elks Club, The Boy Scouts, the Girls Scouts, and The Boys & Girls Club, yet no one makes a fuss about those groups. People say how wonderful and amazing these groups are. But when it comes to the church… well… it’s just something you do on Sunday mornings (if I don’t have anything else to do).
Look at what Jesus did for the church…
Ephesians 5:25-27 — “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
WOW! That’s big. He DIED for this organization. Why? Because it’s the MOST important group or organization on the planet. This is the group through which Jesus works.
So why is it that people invest MILLIONS of dollars, and man hours in all these other groups, but barley spend three hours a week in, at, and on the church?
Honestly, I think it’s because people don’t truly value the church. How can I say that? You will know what people find valuable in by what they invest their money, time, talents, and resources in.
The church is the ONLY origination that is doing something that will matter in 10,000 years. Yet CHRISTIANS still will allow other groups, places, and organizations to monopolize a majority of their time, talents and resources. What you did at the Boys and Girls club won’t matter in 200 years. Sure it’s a nice origination…but it’s not the BEST! That your kid could throw, hit, or kick a ball is not going to matter in terms of eternity. What will matter is if they REALLY knew who Jesus was/is. (Many don’t).
People will say that church is boring. Really? It will be as boring as you allow it to be. Read the book of Acts…they NEVER seemed bored to me. They lived in the light of this thing (the church) mattering.
Now, am I saying that you should stop helping at The Rotary (or any other group or origination)? NO!!! I am saying that the CHURCH should be at the top of a CHRISTIANS list of places that we invest our time, talent, and money in. Every other group should be number 2, 3 or 4.
Just think. What would YOUR church look like if your invested as much time, talent, and money as you did in all of those other places? WOW!!!
Not to mention…the reward would be ETERNAL in value. IS what you’re currently investing in going to matter in 10,000 years?
If your answer was no…then why are you investing in it now?
Plug into your church and do something that actually matters!