Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

by Ji-Sub Chung

One of the more popular pieces of jewelry is a cross. We can see just how pervasive it is through its appearance on the necks of rappers, singers, waiters, actors, strangers, friends, family, and maybe even you. Each of these people may wear a cross for different reasons. Some may choose to wear it to show a spiritual side; others may wear it as a fashion statement or simple keepsake. In biblical times the cross represented something offensive – something the average person avoided talking about. So what implications does this have for us?

The 19th century poet and hymn writer Henry Francis Lyte had convictions about the cross. His conviction enabled him to have the confidence to say to Jesus that he had taken up His cross. To Henry Lyte the cross would have been much more than just a chic piece of jewelry. The hymn that Lyte wrote, “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” was not written on the basis of hollow beliefs. Throughout the hymn there are theological and practical implications bursting from the seams. Due to his weak health (many report him suffering from tuberculosis), several common themes shine through: a prominent focus on the brevity of life, the joy in trials, the comfort of God, the dependence on Christ, and the bliss of heaven.

So what kind of convictions come from the cross? The cross is a reminder of what the Savior saved us from. Christ did not sacrifice Himself for any merit that we had. We were dead in our sin (Ephesians 2), we were the ungodly (Romans 5:6), and we were bearers of a deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). The cross reminds us that, like Paul, the only response we could have to the condition of our soul is “wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24). Then grace upon grace, we are reminded that it was Christ that washed, that sanctified, and that justified us out of our lives of sin (1 Corinthians 6:11). The cross also reminds us of the Savior Himself. Consider that Christ, the same glorious King that Isaiah saw in his vision of Heaven (Isaiah 6), submitted Himself to the will of the Father and did so to the point that “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). The Son of God willingly chose to be the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53). He chose to be mocked, derided, and insulted. He submitted Himself to the will of the Father. He lowered Himself to serve humans. He humbled Himself to die for us.

There is no end to the myriads of volumes that could be written about what the cross of Christ signifies to the believer. If we truly understand just how amazing the work on the cross was, then how could we ever run out of reasons to direct all glory and majesty and praise to Him? Our response should be to seek to praise Him, and praise Him not only through one or two things, but in all things. For Henry Lyte, hymn writing was one way to bring God glory. Is this not a natural characteristic of the Spirit-filled life that Paul describes (Ephesians 5:15-18; Colossians 3:16-17)?

Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, Show Thy face and all is bright.

The hymn begins by heeding the call of Christ in Luke 9:23 by declaring “I my cross have taken.” What are the implications of this statement? This implies that to lose everything, to have nothing, and even to perish every fond ambition that this world has to offer in order to follow Christ are the richest of conditions. What else could we need or want (Psalm 73:25)? Therefore, what matters to us is not the world and its opinions. The world responds to our confession like they have with Christ: rejection. Though the world may darken our days, the Lord is ever brighter still. Let us then challenge the onslaught of trials and troubles for our response is joy (James 1:2).

Man may trouble and distress me, ’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me; Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure, With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father, I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; All must work for good to me.

The second half of Lyte’s verse may be a bit confusing. So to make more sense of the 19th century wording, a 21st century translation could be along the lines of “harm will not bring me grief while God loves; it would be no joy at all if that joy were mixed with anything other than You Lord.” Our confidence is not in our earthly position but in our spiritual placement. Our comfort is not from having our best life now, but earnestly seeking the return on the Lord (1 Thess. 4:18). We have confidence and comfort knowing that our Father has divinely appointed trials that would aid in our sanctification, what else is there to fear (1 Corinthians 10:13)? In light of this, we are each called to challenge our own soul to remember the work of the cross.

Soul, then know thy full salvation Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station, Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee, Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee, Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

Haste thee on from grace to glory, Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee, God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Think about the Spirit that dwells within you, think about the love that the Father has for you, think about the Savior that died for you. In light of this how sweet do the delights of eternal paradise seem? Let us actively look forward to His return with full faith and propelled by prayer. Furthermore, the Lord will return soon and unexpectedly (1 Thess. 5:2); so let us keep firm in our earthly mission while “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:36-38). Let us await with joy the culmination of the work of the cross in the eternal presence of our King.

The proper question then is not if you wear a cross or not. Rather, the question is: have you taken up your cross and left all to follow Him? If you have, then you need to live like it for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). The Christian cross is the symbol of the gospel. It shows the sinful heart, the holy God, the righteous punishment, the perfect Sacrifice, the infinite grace, and the eternal home. The cross needs to sink into our everyday thoughts and practices and if a piece of jewelry or hymn lyrics help you remember the cross so be it. May the glory of the cross permeate through your thoughts and actions for as long as you live.

Let Him That Thinketh He Standeth Take Heed Lest He Fall

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 1 Corinthians 10:12

It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, ‘I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall.’ ‘I have fervent love,’ says another, ‘I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.’ He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly to-day, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and His strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling.

Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him; and when that happy day shall come, when He whom you love shall say, ‘Come up higher,’ may it be your happiness to hear Him say, ‘Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.’

On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, ‘Uphold me according to Thy word.’ He is able, and He alone, ‘To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.’

3.14a

The War of the Wills

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Lately at Lighthouse, we have been engaging in some conversation about God-appointed roles in the church and home. Generally speaking, these discussions tend to revolve around gender. Is there a fundamental difference between men and women, or does God desire the complete equality of the genders even at an economic/functional level? While these discussions are important, we must not forget that the reversal of biblical roles is something that is going to be rebelled against at any level – not just between genders.

One arena where the assignment of biblical roles is constantly being threatened is in the home. But this threat is not merely between husband and wife. The battle for authority also rages between parents and children. I’m assuming that most people would agree that parents have authority over their children and are called to bring them up to maturity. However, practically it seems the roles are often reversed. Parents are constantly giving in to their children’s demands. Children are manipulative towards their parents and assume the place of authority in the home. Kids assert their wills to eat when they want, sleep when they want, play when they want. They fight to get their way at all costs. Strangely, we still call this parenting because the kids are generally taken care of – they eat, sleep, and have shelter. “Besides,” we reason to ourselves, “kids will be kids, right?” The sad reality is that even though kids are being watched after, “parenting” is not happening.

Colossians 3:20 states, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” The Bible teaches that children are to obey their parents, and not vice versa. From infancy, children are going to test these limits and cross the boundaries. I’ll never forget the various ways our baby girl attempted to bend rules and flirt with boundaries. We would tell her not to cross a certain line onto the tile floor. So what would she do? She would come as close as possible to the line without crossing over. Sometimes she would put her hand on the tile wondering if she could get away with it if the rest of her body remained behind the line. Once, she even put a book on the tile and sat on the book as if to say, “Hey, at least I’m not technically on the tile.”

In the home, children are constantly going to fight to gain as much authority as possible. They will do this through flattery, manipulation, tantrums, and blatant rebellion. Every parent knows this frustration, but many do not seek consistently to correct it. Parents give in to their children’s will in order to keep them quiet, not cause a scene, or spare embarrassment, and time and again children win the battle for authority.

What is much needed in the home is a movement back to biblical priorities. Children need to be instructed in the ways of God to understand the authority of their parents. And that instruction needs to be promoted and supported by helpful reinforcement and healthy discipline. Children simply don’t have the knowledge, wisdom, or experience to assume the authority in the home (though they often think of themselves as more mature than they really are). This order, however, is not only necessary for the health of the child, but for the glory of God. Parents need to remember what is really at stake. When children are taught and trained to obey their parents and submit to their authority, it is pleasing to the Lord.

What is encouraging for all parents is that it is never too late to start. Perhaps there is a pattern in the home of succumbing to the demands of your children. It isn’t too late to help your kids understand that greater structure, rules, and order are going to be implemented. Those rules will probably be tested, but with consistent application children can learn to submit to their parents and even do this with joy.

More than anything, we need to pray for the hearts of our children. Really what this comes down to is the manifestation of their sin nature. Children are little sinners doing what they are innately programmed to do. What they need is God’s saving grace to transform their hearts so that they can desire the things the Lord desires for them. Thankfully, the Lord often uses the spiritual example of godly parents. When things are difficult or frustrating with your children, persevere to show them patient, gracious, and loving authority. Lord-willing, they will see the example of their parents and will come to desire the same relationship with the Savior that their parents have.

Editor’s Note: Patrick was inspired by some previous articles by Al Mohler, and asked that the links be included:

Signs of Spiritual Maturity #11: Servant Mentality

by Elder Peter Lim

One of the things that people look for when they first attend a church is genuine care and community. They might even count the number of times that others initiate discussions with them and attempt to befriend them. Repeat visitors often judge a church based on how many people actually remember their names and maybe invite them to activities that will further integrate the newcomers into the community. These are not bad things of course and we all want them. However for the mature believer, their goal is not to be served, but to serve. Having this servant mentality was the point of Jesus’ instruction in John 13 as He exemplified this by washing His disciples’ feet. Both Galatians 5:13 and 1 Peter 4:10 mention how we are to serve one another. That was the purpose of spiritual gifts. Surely these thoughts are not new to any Christian. A mature believer who is visiting or looking for a new church to fellowship with will look beyond the surface and evaluate the hearts of the servants who are serving there. Here are some situations where immature and mature people behave differently (click to enlarge):

peter_table

Unfortunately, many have an entitlement mentality rather than a servant mentality. They would prefer to be served rather than to serve. Do you have an entitlement mentality? Take this quick test:

  • When groups of people are excused to stand in line at a banquet or wedding reception, do you get offended if your group is called to go last?
  • When the praise team is leading the church in worship, do you criticize the style of music because it’s not the style that you like?
  • When the sermon runs longer than usual, do you complain about the length rather than trying harder to pay attention (despite the difficulty) knowing that the pastor has worked hard at preparing the sermon and is passionate about this particular topic?

Few would admit that they have this entitlement mentality but these attitudes can be seen by their lack of service when opportunities are present. Spiritually mature believers consider it an honor to serve, rather than a chore. Of course it’s not a complete denial that service can be difficult, inconvenient, nor unpleasant. If serving was always fun, we wouldn’t need to be encouraged nor taught to do this by Jesus Himself. But this is exactly why this servant mentality is a sign of spiritual maturity; serving people is a desire of the heart despise one’s own selfish inhibitions because it reflects a heart which sees reality through God’s values rather than natural, fleshly values. His values call for us to humbly serve one another with no air of superiority over another because we are all fellow slaves. This makes us more like Jesus Himself since He came to serve rather than to be served.

When was the last time you actually served someone else at church? Is it hard to think of it? If so, it could be a sign that you are not taking seriously enough our calling as servants. In fact, the original Greek word for servant is actually better translated slave. Although it’s not popular in modern American society to call each other slaves, the Biblical understanding is that we are willing slaves of Jesus Christ. We serve Christ by serving one another and by serving His bride, the church. There are many opportunities to serve. To serve others, you can start by getting to know people more deeply so that you can find out how to help. To serve the church, you can look at our Sunday bulletins to see where the service opportunities are. One word of caution though, many opportunities to help are not glamorous. It may require much sacrifice on your part and faithful execution. Be careful what you ask for because you may end up getting it. Also, you may be challenged to stretch yourself in ways that you previously didn’t think you could. That is a blessing. Let’s make our church a living example of Christians who love to serve one another and labor hard for the Lord.

…And Pulled Her In Unto Him Into The Ark

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Genesis 8:9

Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns at length to the ark as her only resting place. How heavily she flies-she will drop-she will never reach the ark! But she struggles on. Noah has been looking out for his dove all day long, and is ready to receive her. She has just strength to reach the edge of the ark, she can hardly alight upon it, and is ready to drop, when Noah puts forth his hand and pulls her in unto him. Mark that: ‘pulled her in unto him.’ She did not fly right in herself, but was too fearful, or too weary to do so. She flew as far as she could, and then he put forth his hand and pulled her in unto him. This act of mercy was shown to the wandering dove, and she was not chidden for her wanderings. Just as she was she was pulled into the ark. So you, seeking sinner, with all your sin, will be received.

‘Only return’-those are God’s two gracious words-‘only return.’ What! nothing else? No, ‘only return.’ She had no olive branch in her mouth this time, nothing at all but just herself and her wanderings; but it is ‘only return,’ and she does return, and Noah pulls her in. Fly, thou wanderer; fly thou fainting one, dove as thou art, though thou thinkest thyself to be black as the raven with the mire of sin, back, back to the Saviour. Every moment thou waitest does but increase thy misery; thine attempts to plume thyself and make thyself fit for Jesus are all vanity. Come thou to Him just as thou art. ‘Return, thou backsliding Israel.’ He does not say, ‘Return, thou repenting Israel’ (there is such an invitation doubtless), but ‘thou backsliding one,’ as a backslider with all thy backslidings about thee, Return, return, return! Jesus is waiting for thee! He will stretch forth His hand and ‘pull thee in’-in to Himself, thy heart’s true home.

3.13p

Reflections from a Groom-to-Be

by Brian Song

I Do.

In a couple of months, I will be reciting those exact words in front of God and close family and friends. Those two words carry the promise of remaining forever faithful to my bride and loving her until “death do us part.” Unfortunately, this level of commitment is deemed too difficult by many in the world as many couples find it easier to co-habitate than get married. Yet as Christians, it shouldn’t be a novel concept, especially for those of us who attend LBC. Marriage should just be an extension of the commitment and love that we already show to God and His church. In the seven or so years that I’ve spent at LBC, especially my time in the Singles Ministry, God has taught me this important lesson and helped me apply the passion statement of LBC.

It all starts with God. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus commands us that, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” We are called to love God with our entire being. At LBC, we have a steady diet of preaching and teaching to help us learn about God and his character. In my small groups, I was constantly challenged to love God and make Him a priority in my work and grad school life. This experience is definitely not limited to those of us who are single. But being a single definitely freed me up to take advantage of all the opportunities to learn. I had more “free time” and was able attend as many church activities as I could and spend more time in prayer with Him.

Continuing on in Matthew 22, Jesus also commands us that, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Being committed to loving others was not always an easy task for me. Like many in my stage of life, I preferred to spend my free time doing things that pleased me. But over the years, I’ve learned that by serving others, my love for people, God, and His church grew. A couple of years ago, I was blessed with an opportunity to serve the Singles Ministry as a small group leader. Through this experience, God taught me that committing to love others often requires sacrifice. Again, being a single guy allowed me to fully commit to them and the needs of my other brothers and sisters in the ministry. Whether they needed me to counsel them through personal struggles or just wanted someone to hang out with, I was available for them.

As I get ready to transition out of Single Life, I know God will continue to deepen my understanding of these truths and help me apply them in marriage. As you live your life, have you said “I Do” to the Lord? Just like marriage, this is a life-long commitment. Let us all endeavor to passionately love God and people every day.

The Honor of Motherhood

by Pastor Patrick Cho

This past Sunday (on 5/12) we celebrated Mother’s Day at LBC and took some time away from the Book of James to study Paul’s remarkable statement in 1 Timothy 2:15, “Yet she will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Paul’s point is to direct his readers’ attention to God’s amazing grace towards women by providing a means for them to have great dignity and honor. This “salvation” was granted because of the indignity that resulted through Eve’s deception when she became a transgressor. God’s highest calling for a woman is for her to serve her family – to be a helper for her husband and instrumentally to raise up the next generation in the Lord. This is given for her good and as a blessing.

I’m afraid that the more time passes, the more our culture will drift further from the loving counsel of God’s Word. Such a message about a woman’s high calling sounds antiquated and even barbaric to contemporary ears. Popular culture scoffs at the idea that a woman’s highest calling is to be in the home caring for her family. If God was a loving God who cared for men and women equally, wouldn’t He give to both genders complete equality, not only in value but also in function? The answer to that question is obviously no. The Word of God was written as God’s loving counsel to men. The instructions He has given to bring order to the home and church are driven from the fact that He is a God of love, and yet gender role distinctions are clear from what we read in the Bible.

Certainly it is challenging to go against the grain of contemporary thought and even to be mocked by the masses for holding to such a seemingly outdated concept. The rest of society believes it has promoted justice by rejecting God’s plan for men and women, but how is going against the God of justice promoting true justice? Perhaps the reason these principles are difficult is not so much because of God but because of our own hearts. Rather than trusting that God’s sovereign plan is best for us, we would rather challenge Him and hold to our own belief of what is best.

The church should rise up in celebrating God’s roles for men and women. We ought to celebrate our differences and glory in the roles and work to which God has called us. This is not just the “Lighthouse way.” It is so frustrating to hear people reduce it to that. “So-and-so is only a stay at home mom because that’s the way Lighthouse is.” How unfair and belittling this opinion is when a mother is seeking to devote herself to the Lord and be a God-honoring mom, and others believe it is simply to conform to an institution. This isn’t Lighthouse’s way. It’s God’s.

Some have asked about single moms. How do these principles apply in their unique contexts? I agree that the context is unique and challenging. In the plans and purposes of God and because of the fallen nature of man, some God-fearing women are put in the position to raise their children on their own. In some ways, they are asked to serve as both mother and father. Of course this necessitates that these moms find work outside the home. But I also believe it places a greater responsibility and obligation upon the church to care for these ladies. God has graciously given us a church family where we can mutually encourage and serve one another, and in the absence of a father the rest of the church family can help to fill that void in a child’s life. Praise God that single moms are not abandoned by God and left to fend for themselves (cf. Mark 10:29-30). At the very least, the members of the church ought to pray for our single moms that the Lord would strengthen them to persevere through the difficulties of being a single parent.

I’ve already heard that this past Sunday’s sermon has sparked some helpful conversations and challenging meditation. I praise God for that. He is a good God who knows what is best for us. Let’s continue to lean on His wisdom to direct us and guide us and trust that His understanding, goodness, and justice far exceeds ours. And in light of Mother’s Day, thank you to the moms of Lighthouse Bible Church who strive for excellence in raising up the next generation to love and fear the Lord.

Why Sit We Here Until We Die?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 2 Kings 7:3

Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. ‘Nothing venture, nothing win,’ is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, ‘Who can tell?’ Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord’s mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your hand.

We have thus been talking to you on your own unbelieving ground, we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria’s deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell the King’s household first, and unite with them in fellowship; let the porter of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day.

3.13a

LBC Weekly SPARK – May 16, 2013

Dear LBC friends and family,

I hope you’re doing well and walking with the Lord. Last night, the single adults ministry looked at the topic of pride from Scripture. It is always convicting to reflect on this issue because pride is at the root of all our sin. Its focus is self – self-exaltation and even self-pity. It is when we refuse to live according to a God-orientation to our lives and instead set up a self-orientation that pride is at its height. Our pride says, “I am (or should be) the source, the accomplisher, and the benefactor of all that is good, right, or worthy of praise.” In other words, everything is from me, through me, and to me.

We need to strive to put our sinful pride to death. Instead of having ourselves at the center of all that we do, say, and think, we need to learn what it is to have a God-orientation to our lives. As we put off pride and arrogance, let’s put on humility and love. Consider this week how you can serve God and others.

There are many opportunities to be involved in one another’s lives and to encourage each other in the faith. Please read below for more details!

In His grace,

Pastor Patrick

Here are this week’s announcements:

  1. Tonight’s Bible Studies. Tonight is the last meeting for LKC and Grace Life for this term. Both ministries will be meeting at 6:30pm at the church. LKC will be having a Parents Night. Those who are in Grace Life and not a part of LKC are encouraged to come together for a time of informal fellowship and food. Bring some yummy food item to share!
  2. Men’s Breakfast. There will be a men’s breakfast this Saturday, May 18, at 7:30am, at the church. The men’s ministry is currently walking through a series on the theme “Leadership: Being the Man God Called Me to Be.”
  3. Membership Class. Our next membership class meets Saturday, May 18, from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and Sunday, May 19, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Attendance at both sessions is required. If you’re interested in becoming a member or learning more about membership, please contact Pastor Patrick (pastorpatrick@gmail.com).
  4. LBC Anniversary Banquet. Praise God for His grace to our church for 14 years of ministry! We will be having our annual banquet on Saturday, May 18, at 4:45pm, at the church. Come dressed as you would on Sunday for service.
  5. Mission Bowl Pep Rally. We will be having a Mission Bowl Pep Rally on Sunday, May 19, at 4:30pm, at the church to cheer on our men’s and women’s Mission Bowl flag football teams. Come out to show your support!
  6. Mission Bowl Tournaments. The Men’s Mission Bowl Tournament will be on May 25, and the Women’s Mission Bowl Tournament will be on June 1. The tournaments will be held at UCSD’s Muir Field.
  7. All Church Photo. We will be taking our 2013 all-church photo on Sunday, May 26 immediately after service. Parents, please be sure to get your kids from their classes as soon as service is over to be able to take the photo. The parking spaces near the church entrance will need to be cleared to take the photo.
  8. Vacation Bible School. VBS this year will be from June 24 to 28. The theme is “The Kingdom of God,” and registration is open to any elementary (1st to 5th grade) and preschool age children (beginning at age 4). The cost for elementary school age children begins at $150, with a $10 discount per (elementary school age) child of the same household. The elementary school age children will meet from 9:00am-5:00pm, and can participate in the field trips. The cost for preschool age children is $50 per child. The preschool age children will meet from 9:00am-12:30pm. Registration costs increase by $10 on June 2, and $20 by June 23. If you have any questions, or would like to receive a registration form, please contact Josh Liu (liu.joshuac@gmail.com).
  9. Summer Missions. Please be in prayer for our Argentina summer missions team as they get ready to minister in Tucuman. The trip will be from July 10-18. More information is forthcoming.

When are You Ready to Date?

by Hansol An

Recent events and conversations I’ve had have made me think that it might be a good time to discuss dating again. I gave a message on dating last year so some of what follows may be familiar to some but I thought it was time for a refresher.

The way the world defines love and the way the Bible defines love are diametrically opposed to one another. The world would have you believe that love is the fulfillment of your desires for intimacy, both emotional and physical. On the emotional side are feelings of euphoria, happiness, satisfaction, ecstasy, and excitement. When someone in a movie or on TV says “I love you,” aren’t they really saying “I love the way you make me feel right now?” But these feeling are often temporary or at the very least, understood to be conditional and subject to change. That’s why people say they can fall in and out of love. On the physical side we know that the world is often referring to sexual pleasure or passion. The term “making love” is very revealing of the way the world views love, basically reducing it to mean the same thing as having sex. The word “LOVE” is used too loosely in today’s culture. That’s why people date. They want this kind of love, all or in part, but only until it doesn’t suit their desires any more. Then they look for love in the next person. This pursuit of love is what we commonly refer to as dating.

The way that the Bible defines love, or God’ definition of love is clearly different. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a says,

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

Does that sound like the world’s definition? Does it say anything about your feelings? Does it say anything about your sexual fulfillment? The difference is that the world’s definition of love is all about satisfying selfish desires. God’s definition is sacrificial and puts your feelings aside for the sake of others and God’s glory. Jesus was the ultimate example for us to follow.

The world tells us that love is fleeting. You can fall in love and out of love very quickly. So if you’re in a dating relationship and you’re no longer in love with them, then dump them and move on. Who cares how many times you’ve said “I love you?” Who cares how many times you’ve kissed that person? Who cares? God cares because his Word says that love never ends. What does that tell us about the couple who proclaims to love each other, then breaks up? Was that really love? They probably genuinely felt something but only so long as it was convenient to them. Did their love bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things? Did their love never end?

We need to change the way we view dating and its goal of finding “love.” This can be challenging because dating is non-biblical, meaning it’s not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. So what should we do? As a believer how do we determine the goal of dating? Is it marriage? Yes, it is the vehicle in which most Christians pursue marriage, but we have to remember that whether it’s dating or marriage or anything else, God’s glory is always our primary purpose! We as Christians should not date for our own emotional or physical fulfillment, but to pursue the goal of God’s glory and His intention for a man and a woman: marriage.

If marriage truly is the goal of dating one should be ready for, or reasonably close to being ready for, marriage. As mentioned before, dating is not specifically addressed in the Bible, so no one can tell another how ready they have to be to date. No one can tell another how long the dating period should be. But marriage is addressed in the Bible and if marriage is the goal and not dating itself, it stand to reason that dating should be minimized. It shouldn’t be prolonged longer than necessary to confirm that marriage should be pursued between a particular couple. The longer a couple dates the natural inclination will be to begin to act like a married couple in emotional attachment, in physical expressions and in other ways. The danger is that the couple will give too much of themselves to each other, when they might not end up getting married. Until a commitment in made, there are no guarantees.

So the question you need to answer is: Are you ready, and mature enough as a believer, to fulfill your role as a husband or wife? Are you ready to forsake all others? Ladies, are you ready to submit your life to a man? Guys, are you ready to love a woman as Christ loved the church? These questions should be examined and carefully considered along with other biblical responsibilities of marriage before dating is even considered. Dating is a choice and ultimately, so is love. There must be a conscious consideration of what is required before entering into a relationship with the goal of marriage in mind. We are called to be set apart from the world and dating is one area where we can practice our distinctiveness in Christ.