Steve Cordle’s Blog

As I promised, from time time to time over the next few weeks I will take a shot at answering a few more questions which were submitted but not pulled from the fish bowl the weekend of “You Asked!” While I won’t use a countdown clock this time, I will still try to stay concise and brief!

Question: How do we know if a person that has died, did not attend church but prayed sometimes, made it to heaven?

    In short, we really can’t know one way or the other. We are not given that knowledge by the Lord, which should keep us from making statements one way or the other about another person’s eternal destiny. We do know that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), so when we know someone who has lived and demonstrated their faith it gives us great comfort at the time of their death. But ultimately a person’s spiritual destiny is in God’s hands alone. We shouldn’t make assumptions about a person’s eternal destiny based on their church attendance record. We can share our faith, pray, and then leave our loved ones in the hands of a loving God.

Question: My husband was widowed after a 17 year marriage, who will he be married to in heaven, me or her?

    Neither. In Matthew 22 Jesus was asked this very question (except with 7 wives!) by the Sadducees who didn’t believe in the resurrection. He replied “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”

    This indicates that in eternity our relationships change. I don’t believe the depth of our relationship with our spouses will decrease, but rather all relationships will become perfect. We will know and be with our spouses, but we will also be in perfect community with others. And the Bible says the center of our attention will not be our spouses or relatives, but rather the glory of the risen Jesus. And Revelation uses the image of the marriage feast of the Lamb for heaven - that is, we the Church are the bride of Christ.  

We had our first-ever Q & A sermon format last weekend, and I think it went well! 

Over 125 cards with questions were submitted - and I was impressed with the quality of the questions! They ranged widely, from personal pastoral issues to biblical interpretation. Since I didn’t look at them ahead of time I was wondering if I would regret the experiment, but in the end I think it was helpful to those who listened. 

Now that it is over I took a look at all the questions, and again was impressed with their depth and breadth. Someone suggested I answer via blog some (not all 125!) of those which didn’t get picked over the weekend, so I will give that a go in the coming weeks. After all, since I don’t have to answer live-on-the-spot, it should be a lot more relaxing!

From time to time I will include a journal entry from my SOAP (devotional) time; here is a recent one:

Scripture: Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the world of God boldly.”

Observation: When persecution broke out, it created a crisis for the church. Peter and John, their leaders, had been arrested. They might have lost their lives if things went badly. When Peter and John were released, they returned to their brothers and sisters in Christ, who immediately went to prayer. 

Instead of cowering and asking God for safety and an end to the persecution, the believers asked that God be glorified and for the power to proclaim the name of Jesus even more boldly. (Acts 4:29)

AFTER they prayed, God shook the place and the people were empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

Application: I need to be a praying pastor, not just a pastor who prays. Especially during times of turmoil, my prayer should be centered on the power to proclaim Jesus, and to mobilize others to pray. During these days, our church needs to be a praying church, not just a church that prays. Ministry is not ultimately about refining a better system, it is a matter of doing the fundamental things consistently: like hearing from God and acting in faith. 

Prayer: Lord, enable me to speak your word boldly. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous wonders to allow the gospel of Your servant Jesus to be proclaimed with power. 

With the election fast approaching, it is clear that we need to pray for our nation. In case you wondered whether prayer for a nation makes a difference, I would like to pass on part of an email I received from a prayer network:

“Patrick Joshua is the Director of the National Prayer Network and a father figure to the prayer movement in India. He shares they story of God’s intervention in India in 2004 in response to the fervent, united prayers of HIs people. At that time, political forces had mobilized with the intention of turning their nation in a direction that would make it almost impossible for Christians to share or practice their faith. Those forces had the momentum and the numbers as the Christian population is a minority (6%). The situation was desperate. Many thought it was impossible.

So they turn to the God of the impossible and began to pray. In cities and states across their nation, a movement of united, fervent prayer arose, but with a unique focus. They weren’t praying for particular candidates or political parties. Instead they were praying for the person of righteousness, the person of God’s choosing, to be elected in every elected office. Right up until the day of the election every poll and pundit predicted the election would be a landslide for those who were opposed to the gospel. When the votes were counted, however, the results revealed a different story. In district after district those candidates and political allies who opposed the gospel had been soundly defeated. At a national level they were out of power. The press and the pundits were stunned. No one saw it coming.

So what happened? It seems God heard the cries of his people and touched the hearts of the voters as they went into the voting booths… This was seen most dramatically in the states and regions where prayer was the most concentrated and fervent. In one of those states, laws that restricted the advance of the gospel were immediately repealed.”

Our national situation is different than India’s of 2004, but still the lesson is clear: prayer, fervent, concentrated, intensive prayer, will make a difference on a national level.

I invite you to join with me in praying for the Lord to raise up righteous leaders (on all levels) and to heal our land. 

Atheists have ideas of what a true Christian should look like - and they are surprisingly close to God’s expectations! That is what I concluded as I read a recent book featuring an atheist who goes to church and read the reviews for a movie made by an atheist. 

Recently I read the book “Jim and Casper Go to Church”. Jim (the Christian) takes Casper (the atheist) to several well-known churches and asks for his reaction. One of the frequent objections Casper has to various churches is that they seem to promote a faith that says all you need to do is say you believe and that’s it. Now, as followers of Jesus, we understand that we are saved by grace and not by our good deeds. But Casper saw there was something wrong if the faith we say we have by grace doesn’t translate into a tangible response. Hmmmm, sounds like the book of James to me….

Bill Maher is now making headlines with his new movie about religion. His goal is to convince people to be atheists. It is interesting to note, though, that in a newspaper article he contrasts the easy-believism of most American Christians with the commitment of the 9/11 terrorists. He says those who flew the planes into the buildings were at least true believers because they acted on what they believed, whereas most Americans just say they believe and don’t act.  I am not a Bill Maher fan, but I find it fascinating that he and other atheists are basically expecting we Christians to show our faith by actions non-believers wouldn’t likely take. 

I think that is what God expects too.

In my last post I shared some perspective on the financial crisis: as Christ-followers we have the changeless inner core of a relationship with Christ and the chance to participate in his work in the world. Now, are there specific steps a Christ-follower should take in this situation? I believe there are, and those steps are the same steps we have promoted at Crossroads for years through the Good Sense financial seminar and other messages. 

In the late Spring I spoke on “Financial Peace in Uncertain Times” — and we are going to repost that message on the web soon. 

In essence it says we are to follow the basic principles of managing money in a Christ-honoring way. As John Wesley put it: 1) earn all you can 2) save all you can, and 3) give all you can. That applies at any time, but especially in uncertain times. 

1. Take the chance to earn as much as possible. Maximize your income without losing sight of your health (physical or spiritual) or family.

2. Then save all you can. For too long Americans have spent more than we make, and it has caught up with us. Instead of borrowing for what you want, save for it. Have a “nest egg” — and even though you may put that egg in another place, and even though what you saved previously is smaller, saving is still important. 

3. Give. 10% to the Lord is his benchmark, and he promises blessings in the midst of it. Especially in uncertain times, I want to keep the supernatural blessing of God on my life. 

You can check out the full teaching online or request the CD. And watch for the next edition of the Good Sense financial workshop — and take courage as you practice God’s money management principles. 

Earlier this week, as the markets tumbled into panic, I sent an email to a friend of mine who works in the financial industry. He gave me permission to share it here:

I prayed for you today as you deal with your clients and the continued fallout of the markets. On the phone you tossed me the question about whether I had anything to say by way of perspective. I am certainly not a financial guy, but let me share a few thoughts. 

I believe that the Lord is fully in control of all that is happening now. I believe he is doing something in the nation and in the world. As I said in a message recently, the god of this age (materialism) is being shaken and shown for the idol it has always been. At the same time, what we are experiencing has been brought on by human sin: war, and the crisis brought on by greed at all levels, people trying to have what they haven’t earned, political power plays, etc.

A pastor I respect named Bob Roberts recently blogged these thoughts:

“Our self-centeredness and greed have now come full circle and we are paying for it. It may take a generation to fix this — probably will. This will require a new approach — one that requires a new kind of person — which requires a new kind of parent. Adults aren’t made overnight — they require a good solid 20 years of being poured into by their parents — another 20 years of learning to succeed and fail at the same time to get to a point of significant leadership in their 40’s. Financial success can come quicker, but not maturity and depth of character. 

I’m not sure a ‘President’ can lead us out of this — we need a Ghandi or Mandella or something we haven’t seen yet. BUT, Peter Drucker once said, “Those who handle change best are those with an unchangeable inner core.” I think he’s right. Wars, economies, and other things have come and gone, been up and down, but people who know who they are stay stable and don’t panic with the whims of society.  Their hope is not in power or money - but truth and relationships. 

How do you feel today? It is an indicator of where your hope is.”

____, as a follower of Christ, you have access to a changeless inner core: a standing in Christ and the power of a life yielded to him. At the same time, I know you are working with clients from all kinds of backgrounds and it will not be practical for you to speak to their anxieties and the impact on their lives by pointing them to a changeless inner core they might not have. But truly they have no other choice than to face the reality of the moment — and I hope more people will seek to know the God who provides us that changeless inner core. 

I was in southern Africa earlier this year. It is a poor place; the average income is $750/year. There is much happening there that is not what God desires: half the people are without the most basic medical care, poor education, etc. However, there is also life there. People value relationships and the church in MZ has doubled in the last 8 years as people seek God. My point: when compared to human history past and current, we still have so much, even after a market crash. We are not in danger of starving, but we might have to keep working longer instead of retire. We can still have our bodies cared for even though it is the soul that matters eternally and the relationships in our lives that matter most. 

As some speak of another Great Depression, here is what one observer reminded us how far from that we really are:

“Unemployment currently is at 6.1% — during the Great Depression it was at 25% Between 1979-1982 it was at 10.8% Between 1989-1992 it was at 7.8% 

Growth declined during the Great Depression by 13%. It was down 7.8% between 1979-1982, down 3..0% between 1989-1992, but is only down 0.2% through 2007. 

Prices during the Great Depression fell by 10.3% They went up by 13.3% during the early ’80s and by 6.1% between 1989-1992. Today prices through August were up 5.4%. With falling gas prices that should see a decline. 

The largest point decline in the market’s history came on Sept. 29, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points. The largest percentage drop came on Dec. 12, 1914, when the market declined 24.39%”

You know the finance stuff better than I do, and I am not trying to say our 401ks will be peachy by next year. If our bar of what is acceptable in life is the Dow at 15,000, then life will be untenable for a long time. I am just saying that is not the bar. If we look at the wide-angle view of our material well-being in the light of history and humanity it looks much brighter than focusing on the market drop over the last 12 months. Even more, what matters most has not been taken away: our purpose for life on this planet, our value of relationships, our ability to hear from and know God and his eternal perspective — it’s all in place and maybe a little closer to the surface right now. 

It’s about time I got back to posting here! I’ve had a good summer of vacation, ministry, reflection, and… I turned 50!

How does it feel to turn 50? Well, it’s different than how I imagined it would be when I was 30! Then it seemed like 50 was so…mature. Or settled. Or old. I really don’t feel that way! I’m sure my body isn’t quite as elastic as it used to be, though I feel truly thankful I can jog, play softball, basketball, and generally feel good.   I want to use the health and strength as strategically as possible for the Kingdom.

I haven’t done a lot of looking back at this milestone. So far I’ve tried to do what God asked me, and even though I could have done better at it, I am content in the knowledge I am investing my days in what matters most: Kingdom expansion. (That’s not the same as being a pastor - because I believe every person can be extending the Kingdom in whatever place and domain they find themselves in. It’s just that for me I know I am to be a pastor.) I think that in many ways I am beginning to hit my stride, thanks to God’s grace.

So, it’s been fun eating the chocolate cake Linda made, but now it’s gone and it’s time to eat right again. (Now there’s a curse of being 50!) But it’s been a good first 50.

I have had a lot of evangelism training, much if it helpful. There seem to be 2 schools of thought:

Approach # 1. Share the Gospel; any way, any one, just let the word be known. This is the approach taken by those who describe winning the whole coach cabin to Christ on their airplane flight home. It’s inspiriting, but rather intimidating. It’s hard to argue with (you mean we shouldn’t always share the Gospel?).

    This is the approach used by many in the developing world who are experiencing church planting movements: those movements are characterized by a massive scattering of the “seed” of the Gospel. Some of it takes hold and there is growth.

Approach #2; earn the right to be heard. Build relationship before sharing the Gospel, so that those who hear it will be prepared to receive it and not shut you down. This is the approach taught in most American evangelism training. Again, it seems to be a good idea to me!

Which is the right way?

Well, first off, I am in favor of any way of sharing the Gospel. Like one famous evangelist said when criticized “I like the way I am doing it better than the way you are NOT doing it!”

It seems to me that approach #1 is best when beginning a new church or ministry, and approach #2 is better when seeking to win a specific person (your neighbor) to Christ. #1 is about scattering the seed and hoping some falls on good soil, which is what you need to do when starting a church. #2 is great when seeking to break up the hard soil of a specific person’s heart. At that point you are not seeking to win “someone” to Christ, you are seeking to win “that one” to Christ.

There is no single way to evangelize, but each approach has its most effective application according to circumstance and mission.

For those of you who have asked: here’s what I’ve read in the last couple of weeks:

Chasing the Dragon - the story of Jackie Pullinger’s ministry in the slums of Hong Kong; an inspiring tale of following Jesus and what He can do through one who trusts.

Search and Rescue - by Neil Cole; great stuff about the “why” and “how” of evangelisitic Life Transformation Groups.

Tortured for Christ - by Richard Wurmbrand; the classic by the Romanian pastor imprisoned for 14 years by the Communists; gives us a view of living the faith from outside our protected Western environment, one lived by many across the world. This launched Voice of the Martyrs ministry.

Reason for God by Tim Keller. This is an outstanding book which challenges the comfortable skepticism of our age; forcing real and critical thinking. This is a great book to give to anyone who is seeking or doubting. It uses a respectful tone but incisive reasoning.

Water from Deep Wells by Gerald Sittser - a review of spirituality fgrom the earliest martyrs to the moderns. It wasn’t bad, but promised more than it delivered.

 Which is the best? It dependsd on what you’re looking for: Jackie Lullinger for inspiration, Tim Keller for equipping.