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Righteous

From the Hospital to the Battlefield.

September 27, 2013 by Michael Coughlin

“Quick, grab all the patients from the hospital and get them out of here. We have a war to fight!”

How would you react to a statement such as this if you were an attending nurse or doctor? Or what would you think if you were a member of the staff who knew the sickness and dis-ease of so many of the folks in your building?

Let me guess. There would be a sense of awe accompanied by disgust. The idea of dragging the sick into battle may not only seem unfair to them, but you would have to agree that it would unfair to the rest of the people in battle.

Imagine a war where you are on a side with people who clearly aren’t prepared for battle. You went through boot camp, years of training and have battle before under a more experienced commander. Now it is your turn. You are the leader and many people’s lives are in your hands. Would you knowingly bring men or women who you know were not equipped to handle the schemes of your enemy? Even little league sports coaches avoid that mistake, do they not?

Yet, that is what many of us do when we go into battle with other Christians – or at least we are expected to. People want to accompany me into battle who are not ready.

How often, dear Christian, have you been so excited that someone wanted to accompany you on your outreach that you allowed them to participate in a way in which they were not ready? But my problem is not so much with the faithful men leading teams. I have found that most teams led by mature men are functioning well and they properly screen participants.

Teams which are led by the immature, well, they are reading this blog anyway, so I can’t help them. If you find yourself leading teams and you realize you probably need leadership yourself, click here and contact me.

I once heard my pastor describe a church as “like a hospital.” I don’t remember exactly what he said, but the gist of the conversation was that there are people of varying levels of sickness and who are more or less recovered from the illness. People will have different levels of strength and need, and some will relapse.

The concern I have is this: I’ve had friends (and myself) who have been criticized for being too critical of others within Christianity. We are “too doctrinal” or focus too much on “holiness” and not enough on “love.” My frustration with this is that just because many of our actions mimic those of some pharisees, that doesn’t necessarily imply that our motivations are the same.

Let me put it to you this way. I know that many people will focus on doctrine and holiness and then you’ll find out later they are really adulterers and idolaters and you can explain away all their teaching as prideful, etc. These people are deserving of condemnation, as would I be if that were the case.

But my point is this: I am not one of those people, by God’s grace. I am a missionary in God’s army and when I go into battle, I am afraid that there are people who think that my attempts to develop others are errant. Out of love for those I exhort, and other faithful brothers and sisters who are going into the battle, I feel a responsibility to only bring people with us into the battle who I can trust can wield the necessary defensive and offensive weapons. We do not need things like friendly fire to hurt us, or mistakes which can be predicted due to lack of proper training.

Here’s my point. If you cannot take criticism when we are in a bible study, or you cannot be corrected when you preach in a church setting or give a devotion, or you refuse to listen to a brother’s exhortation or concern in a one on one setting, then you will not do those things on the battlefield of the war for souls. I love you and I wish the best for you. You may be a dear soldier who is now an amputee, or a baby, still in the neonatal unit.

You may even be someone who would be expected to be more mature by now. Maybe you were in battle before, with a different leader and you think you are quite decorated. But if you belong in the hospital because you are sick or injured, get that fixed before you leave. Get checked out by those who are qualified to evaluate your condition and whose very lives may depend on you someday.

These thoughts were inspired by a recent conversation with a good friend of mine. While we both love and wish to minister to saved sinners in the local church, my intention was simply to point out the necessity of spiritual growth and maturity and to defend the need for discernment (discrimination) in the realm of team building for outreach.

Filed Under: Gospel, Just me, Love, Open Air Preaching, Theology, Witnessing Tagged With: God, Gospel, Grace, Mercy, people, preaching, pride, Righteous, savior, Scripture, self-control

Quick Hitters: NorCal Fire, Bird Droppings & Holocaust Rage

September 9, 2013 by Michael Coughlin

Allow me to quickly draw your attention to a few important items.

First, if you have not registered for NorCal Fire and are able to attend, I highly recommend you consider it by clicking here.

Secondly, check out this enlightening and pointed post about a light topic – bird poop: So a Bird Pooped on My Head

Thirdly, if you have a check, check out Fred Butler’s several posts concerning the KJVO problem. This is a dangerous group, and you should know how to spot a member. Thanks in part to Fred’s teaching, I was able to pick one out this weekend!

And finally, let me preface the next section with a qualifier. I believe Adolph Hitler was wrong in what he did to the Jewish people and it was a horrible atrocity. Do not misinterpret what you are about to read.

I received this photo in an email today. The text of the email read: If you think you are having a bad day, I bet the person who wrote this would trade with you!

Picture going around in email.

I could not agree more. You see, anyone whose attitude toward God is one of “God owes me anything at all” is a hellbound sinner for his sins against a holy God. The worst atrocities committed by men cannot even compare to the wrath a creative and intelligent God can and will unleash against the ungodly. This poor holocaust victim most likely is suffering far worse at the hands of the Creator to whom he did not give due glory than he ever suffered in this world.

This brings me great distress. God is so easily tossed aside because of “evil” in this world. Yet those who hate God because of the existence of evil cannot even explain evil without contrasting it to God’s goodness. Look, the point is that no matter what happens in this world, God is the one who you need to rely upon. And if you believe God owes you any kind of comfort, pleasure or relief from evil, you are mistaken and have not truly trusted in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

The question is, dear Christian, do you ever find yourself believing that God owes you more than you’ve been given? Do you even notice your own complaining spirit?

I can assure you, your suffering is likely less than the person who etched this phrase and that you deserve far worse? Think of the Christ who opened not His mouth to His accusers, that he might take punishment he didn’t deserve on your behalf.

This is about recognizing that even in the worst moments in this world, lost sinners still need to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord. To many, this doctrine is reprehensible. If you are one of those people, you do not love God, but the god of your own imagination.

Filed Under: Gospel, Just me, Love Tagged With: Forgiveness, God, Gospel, Grace, Love, people, pride, Righteous, savior, Scripture, sin

The Master of Disaster?

July 27, 2013 by Michael Coughlin

Read this insightful post on pyromaniacs from Phil Johnson. Don’t worry, it will open in a new tab. (Don’t forget to come back!)

Click Here.

In summary – Phil uses the story of Jonah to point to the fact that often what appears like disaster in our life or the life of another is being used by God for a greater purpose.

Not to 1-up Phil, but to add to his post, it continually occurred to me that Jonah’s story was also used in the New Testament as a type of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Matthew 12:39-40 ESV

39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

So next time “things are tough,” take heed. Avoid complaining (Ph 2:14) and consider the glory of God revealed through Jonah’s seemingly unfortunate circumstances.

Filed Under: Theology Tagged With: God, Righteous

What Causes You to Sin?

July 11, 2013 by Michael Coughlin

What do Mentos, Diet Coke and the Bible have in common? More than you may think.

The topic of Mentos and Diet Coke came up tonight. I recalled a teaching I did one summer in regard to this experiment. As most people know, there’s a way to make Diet Coke explode by dropping Mentos into it. The science behind it is actually remarkable, and I learned and showed experimentally that it does not work with fruity Mentos. A quick internet search will yield plentiful results.

So I took everyone outside and I had a bottle of pop and I let a kid drop a pack of mentos into the 2 liter. It erupted and everyone was like, wow.

Then I took another bottle of pop-colored-liquid, and let the kids drop mentos in again. This time nothing happened. Boo Hoo.

Then I took everyone inside and I explained what had happened.

First, consider James 1:14-15

ESV 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

I explained that one of the bottles had pop in it, and the other bottle had colored water. I explained how in each case, the pop looked similar externally, the same outside agent was added, but in the latter case – the substance, or the makeup of what was inside the bottle was not such that it would react with an eruption with the very same external stimulant.

I then related this to our sin, particularly anger. I pointed out that we cannot blame others when we sin because we are tempted, but rather, as James says, we are lured and enticed by our own desires.

So it is possible for someone to have outside stimulants which are introduced into their lives – and regardless of the outside influence – men will either sin or not sin, erupt in anger or remain in control – based on what is in them, not what is introduced from the outside.

Now, I don’t like to present people with a problem and no solution. So I then offered Psalms 19:12

ESV 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

I suggested to everyone there that they pray to the Lord to help them with their hidden sin of their heart. The sin they would only be aware of if they had opportunity introduced which evoked the sin. But our God is merciful and Good. We shall not even know in this life the number of times He protected us from our own evil before we had opportunity. But praise to Him for this wonderful gift.

Filed Under: Theology Tagged With: apologetics, Bible, Mercy, pride, Righteous, Scripture, self-control, sin

5 Minutes of God’s Goodness

June 21, 2013 by Michael Coughlin

My good friend (and one of the best preachers/teachers I know), Tony Miano – retweeted this challenge from Geoff Kirkland on Twitter:

TRY THIS: take 5 minutes & write out (or type out) ALL the ways that God's goodness has manifested itself to you! Get started… #Thank #God

— Geoffrey Kirkland (@GeoffKirkland) June 21, 2013

Now I’ve got the timer feature on my Android set for five minutes. Let’s see what happens. Ready…go!

Well, where do I begin? My first thought was that God has gifted me to be able to type quickly, so I’m guessing I’ll get a longer list than Mr. Miano. 🙂

God has been so good to me in giving me life, and allowing me to know who His Son, Jesus Christ is. I was allowed to see some measure of the depth of my sin before He gave me new life. As much as I hate my old life, I am grateful for the experience and the perspective it allows me to have.

God has given me a bride and a love for her that is supernatural. I cannot explain how much I adore this woman and it has made me a better man. As well, God has blessed me with several children. I love my children so much – and they reciprocate that love to me and make me feel so humbled. God has been so Good to me to allow me to even know these people, let alone be their leader in the home.

God is Good to me because He has allowed me to know Him through His Word and has given me discernment and a love for sound doctrine. He has provided a pastor and a local church and freedom from most common types of persecution.

Generally speaking, He has spared me from poor health, He has prospered me financially and allowed me to enjoy some of the “finer” things this world has to offer. Although paling in comparison to eternity, it is also a testament to His Goodness. I do not take for granted the ability to see, taste, hear, touch and smell – nor do I account it nothing that God has made so many mundane activities enjoyable, like eating.

Well, there’s 5 minutes off the top of my head. Thanks.

Filed Under: Just me, Love, Theology Tagged With: God, Grace, Righteous

Quick Reminders About Discipline.

April 13, 2013 by Michael Coughlin

Here are some things that help me when I have to consider how to discipline my children. I added bold text to highlight the “take home” in each point for you if you’re interested in a quick list!

  1. Discipline is supposed to be about love for the child. My actions and methods must be tempered by a heart that dearly loves the child (or it will show). I need to make sure I am being loving.
  2. Discipline is about a desire to see him learn. Discipline is not the same as punishment which is retribution or revenge. Punishment is designed to make the offender pay for what he did, whereas discipline is from the Greek word for instruction and is intended to teach and correct. Discipline can include a form of consequence which is perceived as punishment, but the intention is different. I need to make sure my goal is the child’s correction, not simply that he suffer because he was wrong.
  3. Often my child offends me. When he does this, there is an added dimension, because not only do I want him to be corrected for his sake, but I sometimes have an angry or hurt heart. I need to be careful this does not cloud my judgment. Usually, this results in me going overboard in some way. I need to be honest about how I feel, and whether I am using that to fuel my thinking about the corrective action.
  4. The consequences should fit the crime. “No video games for two weeks if you interrupt one more time!” This is just silly, even just reading it. This type of threat comes from me when I am failing in one or more of the first three points. Kids know what is just and unjust (to an extent), so if I am unjustly applying way too much correction/consequences it will probably have a negative effect. This works both ways. If the bad action is great, the consequence must fit in that sense as well. If my kid steals, and I make him say “I’m sorry” – that doesn’t exactly fit the offense. Returning the item AND some other form of consequence is likely more fitting. Note: Patterns of offenses may require greater consequences for each offense to break the pattern. I need to be sure the consequences are reasonable for the offense(s).
  5. Side note: I also do not believe I should ever MAKE my kid say “I’m sorry.” What if he’s not? In that case, I’ve encouraged lying. Also, a true apology should come from the heart, so instead I would prefer to teach my kid repentance in my own life and encourage it in his own life. The natural outpouring of a repentant heart is to make amends and apologize for offenses. I need to encourage repentance in the heart toward the bad action, its effect on God and whoever else was offended.
  6. The discipline needs to be sensible for the child’s age, maturity, etc. I wouldn’t spank a 13 year old girl. I also wouldn’t ground a 5 year old boy for 2 months. Make it meaningful, but hopeful. So not only should there be a bad consequence for bad behavior, but good behavior should have a sense of a good result to shoot for. I can’t take away all food either, or deprive them of sleep. Some things, even though they may work – aren’t in the best interest of the child. That is one reason I don’t “punish” my children by making them miss AWANA. I feel that AWANA is one of the things that is designed to help them! Just because they enjoy an activity that doesn’t make it a good thing for me to take away for the sake of discipline. I need to consider if my discipline itself helps or hurts the child for whom it is intended.
  7. The discipline needs to be consistently enforced. If I say, “two weeks no video games,” it is paramount that I enforce that. Otherwise, the next threatened consequence will be balked at. In this way I actually hurt my own child by teaching him that consequence, even when promised, do not always occur. This attitude will also help me to not over-react and make ‘idle threats’ with which I will never follow through. I need to discipline myself to consistently enforce and follow through with good discipline.
  8. I need to consider if I am committing the same or similar offenses as a bad example to my child and if so, fix that or have a really good reason why it makes sense in one case and not another (which is possible).

Filed Under: Just me, Love Tagged With: discipline, Love, parenting, people, pride, Righteous

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