by Greg Tidwell

Too many people are looking for a church that pleases them rather than a church that pleases God. When the standard of excellence in the church is "what I like," there is a horrible tyranny of selfish pursuit. People deceived by this approach think they are being liberated, but they are really being enslaved.

Freedom through Obedience

True freedom can only come through submission to the will of God. Having a standard for truth beyond our own selves is the only way we can have the freedom to function as we ought.

As long as we place our preferences as the standard for Christian faith, we are enslaved by a system which binds us tightly. Understanding the will of God, however, provides a context within which we can be free. As Jesus told his followers, "... If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31,32). In the words of the old Shaker hymn: "'Tis the gift to be simple; 'Tis the gift to be free; 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be ..."

The law of God facilitates our freedom as persons in the same way traffic laws facilitate our freedom to travel from one side of town to another. Without these laws to regulate us, driving would be encumbered, not liberated.

Freedom through Truth

The difference between self-centered verses God-centered approaches to religion is like the differing purposes of a projector and a flashlight. A projector casts an image with the purpose of fooling your senses into believing something is present which really is not. However engaging the image may be on the screen, it doesn't really exist. A flashlight, in contrast, reveals reality through illumination. When I go hiking through the woods, can you imagine how useless my flashlight would be if, instead of revealing the truth about the path ahead, it projected a fanciful image of whatever I chose to see at that moment? A projector is appropriate for entertainment, as it is dealing with fantasy. A flashlight is appropriate for illumination, for it reveals reality. God, in His grace, has provided illumination through Scripture. "Your word is a lamp to my feet," the Psalmist writes, "and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

The Bible does not exist to titillate our flights of fancy, but to inform and direct us in accuracy. This truth is a light which frees us from the darkness of sin and the enslavement of eternal death. In the truth of Scripture we are free to be the people God would have us to be.

by Mike Benson

Folks in deep south probably think that the Weather Channel has something against them. It appears as though the gulf states are facing yet another violent hurricane. First it was Charles, then it was Frances, then it was Ivan (a category 5 storm with winds in excess of 156 m.p.h.), and now it is Jeanne.

This recent series of atmospheric events serves as a metaphor for life. While you and I try to pick up from the effects of earlier tempests, yet another one looms on the horizon (cf. Job 1-2). Impending emotional pressures look to drench us like a driving rain. Additional stresses promise to surround our hearts like rushing flood waters. Our spiritual resources are already depleted, and the thought of facing yet another climatic assault seems impossible.

So how do we prepare for Ivan when we're still reeling from his siblings (Psalm 55:8)?

It sounds simple, but it's profound. Remember that no storm is stronger than the Savior. Our personal hurricanes are never beyond His divine control.

The Psalmist wrote, "For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea ... He calms the storm, so that its waves are still" (Psalm 107:25, 29; cf. Psalm 83:15; 135:7; 147:18; Job 26:12; Matthew 5:45; Mark 4:35-41).

Dear friend, are you facing another hurricane in your life? Don't try to "ride it out" yourself. The wind and the waves obey the Lord's will. Let Him take charge (1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 78:26). He can handle Jeannie and her family.

by Barry Newton

Could these be some video clips from your neighborhood? Surrounded by her shopping treasures, she could not take her eyes off of her new picture perfect manicure and pedicure. She was feeling great for the moment. Buried deep beneath a wave of consumerism-induced euphoria glimmered the thought, "now they will have to like me."

From around the corner, a husband and businessman drove home. While his eyes guided him home, his mind wandered far way to a coworker. "She is just so beautiful." Slowly he traced the shape of her face and smile in his mind.

Several houses down, quietly she sat slumped in the darkness of her curtain entombed bedroom as an endless tape played over and over in her head. Deep and powerful feelings welled up into tears which slowly wandered down her cheeks.

Across the street, a young man felt the terrible, crushing power of self-loathing. He kept asking himself, "Why can't I be better?"

Is such a neighborhood rare? What would a tell-all video of your life look like? What low points would you want deleted?

It is sobering to realize God has watched every moment of our life's video tape. Not just our bodily behavior, our thoughts have also lain naked before his gaze. So perhaps it seems all the more astounding that he can love us. It is here we discover unconditional love.

If you have never felt unconditional love before, consider this. God knows who you are. He knows the fears. He knows the failures. He knows the insecurity and doubts. Yet, God loves you, not because you performed well, not because you are better than others, not because you are popular, rich, dependable, intelligent or fun to be with. He loves you because you are his child who has been made in his image.

God's love for you is much greater than just a feeling. While we were guilt-ridden, undeserving, and an enemy, love made a commitment-decision. God chose to act in the only way possible for us to be healed, forgiven, and granted life. Through Jesus' death, God offers us unconditional love.

Many people eek out lives in quiet desperation, longing to be truly loved. We already have been loved. When we have known what it is to be truly loved, we can become equipped to love ourselves as we ought and then pass it on.

"In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if in this manner God loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:10,11).

Postscript: Through Jesus' death, God offers us unconditional love. For those who reject his unconditional gift to be declared righteous, God's love will be powerless to save them from his righteous judgment.

by Stan Mitchell

"Sing to me of heaven as I walk alone Dreaming of the comrades that so long have gone In a fairer region, 'mong the angel throng they are happy as they sing that old, sweet song" (Ada Powell, 1914).

Singing those words always brings a sardonic smile to my face. I lived in a communist country for years, so the word "comrade" has taken on a completely new meaning. The man in the street was "Mr. so and so." Politicians and dignitaries were: "Comrade so and so." Hence we rejoiced at the famous deeds of "Comrade Castro," "Comrade Mao," and so on. By the way, do you know what the abbreviation for "comrade" is? In our official newspapers we learned that it was "Cde.", as in "Cde. Stalin."

Of course the meaning of "comrade" in the dictionary is one who shares with you under difficult circumstances, in your struggles, side by side.

It was hard to reconcile that with the shining new Mercedes Benz that crowded you off the road, chauffeur-driven by "Cde. so and so." When you had to queue in long lines for bread and rice at stores while Cde. so and so's wife went to Harrods in London on regular shopping sprees. She hardly seemed like your comrade.

All of which is to say that the comrades the song speaks of were our comrades, serving God on earth, sharing our tears, our hopes, and our work. Unlike the communist party hierarchy, we remember the real comrades, our brethren and fellow laborers, who served God side by side with us in the kingdom.

"Greet Pricilla and Aquilla, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me" (Romans 16:3).

And one day, as the song says, we will see our comrades again.

by Richard Mansel

Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was recently released on DVD and VHS. Gibson is certainly to be commended for making a fine film with so much depth. Controversy has surrounded this film, as any Christian could have predicted. Jesus made it clear that he would divide nations, homes, and hearts with his life and message (Matthew 10:32-36).

As a religious film, it contains some inaccuracies, such as when it combines events or gets them out of order. Moreover, Gibson includes several Catholic legends which are not found in Scripture.

That said, it is a very strong, moving experience. I left the theater tingling and speechless. Around me, everyone looked stunned and many tears were being shed. Gibson has brought us the most touching depiction of Christ's suffering in film history.

Some aspects really touched me and made me think. Visuals have a very powerful impact. Snapshots in the mind are far more tangible than that which we hear or read.

First, Satan's presence at crucial times in Jesus' suffering illustrated the reality of his evil intentions. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that he is actively involved in pulling us away from God. In the film, Satan watches Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and later during his suffering at the hands of his killers. During the scourging, Gibson added a thought-provoking scene. Satan appears to caress a baby before the eyes of Jesus. I think his purpose was to emphasize Jesus' agony. Jesus begged that the cup of suffering would be removed from his mission (Matthew 26:39). Yet, he said, "not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42, NKJV). God let him endure this wrenching pain for the redemption of our sins (Romans 5:6-8). Satan wanted Christ to think that God had abandoned him, and by contrast, that Satan's "child" was safe in his arms, being loved and caressed. Satan wanted Christ to turn on his Father in anger.

The underlying themes of the film are the inner turmoil of its characters and the power Christ had to touch people's hearts. Judas is portrayed as a tortured soul that -- after his betrayal of Christ -- is haunted by demons representing his inner war of conscience. It is a disturbing reminder of the nature of Satan's attacks.

Throughout, people who came in contact with Jesus were moved by him. Soldiers refused to participate in the arrest, physical abuse, and crucifixion because they were mesmerized with his words and actions. The message is that anyone who comes to Christ with humility will be changed.

The violence that has become so infamous is certainly brutal, but it had to be in order to be accurate. Isaiah prophesied that he would be "stricken" and "afflicted" and "led as a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:4-7). Jesus suffered excruciating pain on the cross. Jewish historian, Josephus, said that the crucifixion was "the most wretched of deaths."

It is a film with a powerful message. Some are put off by the added elements, others by the thought of seeing a portrayal of Jesus and others by the subtitles. Yet, I can certainly recommend it with the aforementioned explanations.

Christ went to the cruel cross to die for our sins. Three days later, as prophesied, he was resurrected so that he could prove his divinity and defeat the last enemy, death (1 Corinthians 15:26). Over the next few weeks we will be discussing the cross and the resurrection.