Man Made Schemes

Why is it that we often think we can out think God and develop programs and procedures that are better than any that He could develop.

I am not suggesting that we should not think of new things and do them. We must be careful that whatever we do does not contradict what God says we should do. When He says that He will make us "fishers of men," then we should be sure that we are keep in the fishing business. While we were in the Philippines, we saw many different groups come and go. We had one basketball team that came and travelled around the country playing different basketball teams all over the place. These young men who came would take the half-time of the game and give their testimonies to the crowd and to the other team. They remained after the game and talked one on one with anyone who would listen. They were most effective in this method of fishing for men.

At the same time we had other student groups which came and were not nearly as dedicated to seeing their contacts come to Christ as they were interested in passing on their areas of expertise to the people. The basketball team were not trying to make new basketball players. One musical team seemed to be more interested in making better musicians. Incidentally the Filipinos were already superb musicians and could teach us a lot about being better musicians.

Programs rise and fall on the commitment of the participants. We can develop what I call a guru mentality very quickly. The successful person becomes a resource for all who want to become successful. That is natural, but it is also dangerous. The worst thing that can happen to a child of God is to receive adulation and then expect it from every follower who comes along. Many well intentioned leaders have fallen for the feeling that what they were doing came from them rather than from God.

The best program ever developed can fail when the one who is using it fails to understand that it came from God rather than from man. We have nothing to offer God and He has everything to offer us. We need to be constantly at His feet as we carry out His work.

Gimme that good feeling!!

Does the Bible teach a “feel good” religion?
We sing,
He lives, He lives,
You ask me how I know He lives.
He lives within my heart.
That is a “feel good” song. What happens when we have a bad case of indigestion? Will it seem as though the Lord does not live since we don’t feel so well.
Dr. Charles Ryrie once said that this hymn had terrible theology and it was much better to sing with the children,
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so.

The Bible is an objective foundation for faith. The Bible says that faith comes by reason, and that reason is based on the Word of God. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about our faith and enjoying it. That enjoyable feeling is not the foundation of faith, but rather it is the fruit of faith. This is in the same way that James says that we demonstrate our faith by our works. We don’t go to heaven because of our works, but because we are on our way to heaven we practice our works down here. The works are the fruit of faith in the same way that the good feelings are the fruit of faith.
It is possible to smile, cry, jump up and down, raise our hands, shout out loud, hug one another, give big amounts of money, work many nights in a homeless shelter, serve up soup at the rescue mission, and do many other things while still being straight on the road to a Christless eternity. When you come to know the Savior then it is possible to do all of those things as an evidence of your faith. In that case you will feel good about where you are. It is also possible to be going through very great trials and rejoice. That gladness is not the result of a live of wealth, health, and ease, but comes from a heart that knows that God is at work and the faithful God still is just that. He makes you feel good through the trials.
If that is a “feel good” religion, then that is what a believer has, but don’t make the mistake of making that good feeling the basis of your life in Christ. We can’t say, “something good is going to happen to you today,” but we can say that we know that “all things work together for good to them who love God and to them who are the called according to His purposes.” That is pretty good. Just think of it. You don’t just have the good things to make you feel good, but you have all things.