Jonathan Falwell

Our Testimony Matters!

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 11:37:42 -0400

Our Christian Testimony Jonathan Falwell
What can Christians learn from the recent news of Herman Cain’s sexual harassment allegations while he served as the president of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s?
First of all, let me say that I have no idea if Mr. Cain is guilty or innocent of these charges. On the surface, he seems like an upstanding man and I hope the accusations against him are false.
My observation on situations like this is that they should remind us of several truths and necessities, especially in the Christian life. Let’s take a look at a few.
1. Guard your testimony at all times. D.L. Moody stated, “A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian … and most of all, his family ought to know.” Make your testimony a matter of constant prayer, asking God to work in you so that people always see Him in you.

1. Temptation is everywhere. No Christian is immune to temptation. You know what tempts you most and so does God. He is the only thing that stands in the way of our own self-destruction because many times, we are our own worst enemies. We all need to spend much time on our knees asking God to protect us from the temptations of life. Husbands and wives need to also pray for each other, placing all your cares on the God who wants to safeguard us

1. Temptation is often stronger than faith. We have seen many seemingly Godly people have moral failure. It is always such a tragedy. You know, if any of us get to the point that we believe our own hype or headlines, we are in trouble. Never forget that without Jesus Christ reigning in our hearts and lives, we are just one aimless thought away from falling. At Thomas Road Baptist Church, our motto, “Not I, but Christ,” simply must be the key to every Christian’s life.

1. When you gain prominence, Satan will work overtime to bring you down. Satan is our enemy and the Bible warns us how powerful and cunning he is. I imagine Satan loves nothing more than to bring down an influential pastor or pastor’s wife or other Christian leader. We are no match for him, my friends. Only Christ within us can protect us from the evil one who seeks to destroy our lives, homes and testimonies. Satan is not more powerful than God, but he is more powerful than you. Unless you are always clinging to the strength that is found in God. Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Meaning, with Christ, Satan is no match for us.

1. Embrace humility. Theologian A. W. Pink stated, “Growth in grace is growth downward. It is the forming of a lower estimate of ourselves. It is a deepening realization of our nothingness. It is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.” We are all equals in God’s eyes. We risk all when we start to believe that we are above the lowliest servant.

1. Surround yourself with Christian friends and/or loved ones. We all need encouragement and wise counsel. Ask God to encompass you with people who will: lift you in prayer; challenge you to grow in faith and knowledge in Jesus Christ; hearten your soul; and be concerned about your well-being.

Let’s close with two encouraging verses that give us a great promise: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverb 3:5-6, NKJV).

What We Believe Matters!

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:23:27 -0400

This week, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life released the results of a survey of African Christians that found one in every four respondents believing that sacrifices to spirits or ancestors can guard them against bad things.
“Many people also say they consult traditional religious healers when someone in their household is sick, and sizable minorities in several countries keep sacred objects such as animal skins and skulls in their homes and participate in ceremonies to honor their ancestors,” the Pew study found.
It is tragic to read that these people, shaped by tradition and folklore, have not been trained to believe that Christ, the Son of the living God, is all we need.
However, if we look here in our own nation, we see related problems. As a pastor, I can tell you that I often speak with people who are similarly affected by religious customs or family teachings or some other outside influence. As a result, their faith suffers because it is not completely based on biblical teachings. They are shaken because the foundation of their faith is not firm.
This is why it is incumbent on parents, pastors, Sunday school teachers — all believers — to ensure that we are teaching and following only the precepts of God’s Word.
The secular world scoffs at such teachings. Instead, they promote the principles of “inclusion” and “diversity,” even as it relates to faith. But as I’ve noted in past columns, if Christians are to include views that counter the Gospel of Jesus Christ our convictions mean nothing.
If we follow the world, we cannot teach the crucified and risen Christ as the sole way of redemption and eternal life. If we follow the world, we can no longer teach that the Bible is the infallible Word of God or that this world is the spoken creation of God. If we dilute these foundational teachings, we have no sure doctrine on which to stand when calling people to repentance and following Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul understood that people, even some Christians, will be drawn away from the Truth by these teachings that seek to weaken the Truth. He addressed this in an important passage we read in a letter to Timothy.
Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:1-5: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
I find such encouragement in these impassioned words. Paul is saying that we should not be discouraged by those who turn from God in order to follow the fashionable breezes of the day. Instead, we must hold true to the Word of God, which is as true and pertinent today as in the days when it was written, and continue calling people to salvation through the risen Christ. This is our ministry and responsibility.
Do not grow weary in well doing, friends. Remember that our God will never forsake us when we are carrying out His will for evangelism and compassionate defense of His Truth.
We never stand alone.

Discussion with Joni Eareckson Tada

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:20:52 -0400

I sat down with Joni Eareckson Tada last week to talk about how to trust God in the midst of an uncertain future. She shared incredible truths from which we can all learn. Click here (or on the photo) to watch the video.

When The World Was Perfect

Fri, 9 Apr 2010 20:23:37 -0400

Following the creation of our world, and the worlds beyond what we can see or imagine, this planet existed free of pain or sorrow or tragedy.
There were no grieving miners’ widows who would never again see their husbands alive. There were no storm-torn communities where people had lost virtually everything they owned. There were no innocent babies born with terrible diseases.   There were no veterans who had lost their limbs defending freedom.   There were no AIDS orphans living in the streets. There were no drive-by shootings, school rampages, serial killings or suicide bombings.
The world was simply perfect, a spoken miracle of Almighty God.
Today, that world is largely unbeautiful in many ways. As I recently reported, I returned last month from a Christian outreach mission to Guatemala where I saw things that I could never hope to adequately describe in this communiqué. The images of that journey have burned themselves into my mind and I am often haunted by them. It is life changing to see people in utter, seemingly hopeless, poverty.
I, like most others, find myself asking: Why must people suffer in this way?
Unlike the atheist who comes to believe that there is no God after he sees this planet of misery, I have taken the contrasting road, believing with all my soul that there is a God and that He cares for us beyond measure.
So why doesn’t He reach down and stop the suffering?
The answer lies largely within us all.   We, humans, long ago were as perfect as this world. Adam and Eve lived harmoniously with God. But they traded their sinless environment for knowledge and sin entered into them, forever altering how they (and we) could relate to the sinless God.
Sin has been a part of every life since that day.   Romans 5:12 tells us, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men.”
Sin is our choice.   Most people don’t intend to sin, but it is a part of us and is often irresistible.   Other people revel in sin and wickedness and the world suffers for it.
We know from II Chronicles 7:19 that sin impacts our fellowship with God in a collective way: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”   Our nation would not look like it does today if God’s people were living out this passage.
Sin not only separates us from God, it allows suffering and evil to come into our world. Even though God always wants to restore that once perfect fellowship between man and Himself, sin prevents it.
We are left to exist in a world that increasingly rejects God and evil grows. Just this week I read that a London nurse lost her discrimination claim after she was moved to a desk job solely because she refused to stop wearing a necklace bearing a cross. Many in our world cannot tolerate even the most basic expression of faith. In our own nation, we see constant, petty discrimination against Christians, all in the paradoxical name of “tolerance.”
But there is hope, my friends. The book of Hebrews offers us a great promise in chapter 13:5-6. It states, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:“The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
That world from long ago, where humans had unspoiled fellowship with God, will come about again. To those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will spend eternity in His glory. The suffering we endure here—and yes, it is sometimes terrible suffering—will be no more when we enter into His everlasting Kingdom in glory. He is our helper, a very present help in our time of need.
Jesus paid the price for our salvation through His own suffering on the cross, but as we celebrated a few days ago, His resurrection paved the way for eternal life with Him all who will believe. That is the hope of all believers who suffer. It behooves us all to ensure that those we know and love have made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ in their lives.

Dave Ramsey

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 20:27:09 -0400

I spent the morning with Dave Ramsey. It was the first time I’d met him. What a great guy! Very impressed with him and his entire organization. I spoke to his staff for devotions then we filmed a segment for an upcoming sermon series
entitled, Back to Life: Getting Your Life Back When Your Finances Are Challenging!
I’m excited about the series. Along with Dave, we will be hearing from Joni Eareckson Tada, Tim Clinton and John Ortberg. Series starts on April 11.