Psalm 42:5

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Steve Foster

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5)

Sometimes the difficulties, pressures, and sorrows of life put us in an emotional funk that we can't seem to get out of. We battle our own thoughts and emotions and can't seem to win. Psalm 42:5 is a good reminder in such times.

1. Gain control of your "inner talk." The psalmist basically preaches to himself, addressing his own soul and challenging his own thought process.

2. Evaluate what you are putting your hope and confidence in. By asking, "Why am I downcast? Why am I disturbed?" the psalmist is rooting out the false idols that he has placed his faith in.

3. Put your hope and confidence in God alone. God is the only solid foundation and rock because God is the only One who is eternal and unchanging. Put your focus and hope in Him and remember His grace toward you demonstrated in Jesus Christ.

4. Choose to praise Him. The psalmist basically praises his way out of the pit. He chooses to sing. He chooses to be thankful. He chooses to rejoice in God's grace and salvation. We have to determine that our faith in God will guide our emotions…not the other way around.

So talk to yourself, place your faith in God, and choose to praise Him and be thankful for His grace today!

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Our Addiction to Sports

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Steve Foster

I love sports.

I remember one of the first NFL games that I watched as a child. I don't recall anything about the game but I loved the team with the "twirly helmets." I became a Los Angeles Rams fan from that day on…until they moved to St. Louis…and I realized that there were better reasons to pick a favorite team than twirly helmets.

Back then I had an LA Lakers plaque on my door, a Los Angeles Rams lamp, a Philadelphia Eagles bean bag, a Miami Dolphins trashcan, Florida State Seminole curtains, baseball and football cards all over my desk, an NFL blanket and pillow case on my bed, and a big Steve Garvey poster on my wall. (Steve Garvey was "the man" in my book…right next to Lee Majors…the 6 Million Dollar Man.)

I played sports, I watched sports, and I kept meticulous stats on all my favorite players. If I would have thought of the concept of fantasy football back then, I would have been a rich man today. My own six million dollar man.

I still love sports but I am finding myself asking the question "why?" a lot more as I get older. (Like why does hair grow less on your head and more on your ears as you age?)

Why do I love sports so much? And what makes them so popular, so obsessive, so addictive?

You can't argue with the fact that sports has become almost like a "god" in our culture. If money equals value, then it is obvious that we value sports and sports stars more than practically anything else. When a college's football coach is paid up to seventy times more than the college's professors (and worth it from a financial standpoint), then it speaks volumes about our passion/addiction for sports.

Let's face it, most people would rather see their favorite university win a national championship than have the highest graduate success rate.

Why?

I know sports can develop character…or at least expose it. Sports are fun, competitive, entertaining. I am not one to get on the bangwagon bashing sports. I have seen the positive effects of sports on my four boys. I have been able to teach valuable life lessons as they have had to deal with winning, losing, long practices, and unfair calls on the field.

And many famous athletes use sports as a platform to glorify God, encourage others, and do good in society.

So I am thankful for sports.

But I am also bothered by how much emotion that they can still evoke in me. Watching my team win (or a hated team lose) produces way too much joy in me and watching my team lose (or a hated team win) produces way too much discouragement. And playing a bad round of golf, especially when I lose to someone, can still make me want to throw my clubs…even if age and maturity have enabled me to not explode in anger but just to be irritable all day instead.

So what is it about sports that makes them so powerful, so emotional, so personal?

Here are my two theories:

1. Our Hunger for Significance.

We crave siginifcance. We hunger to feel important, to feel like our life matters, to be seen as strong and successful in the eyes of others. And sports gives us an arena in which to feel like we are accomplishing something significant.

The obtaining of gold medals, trophies, awards, plaques, and articles in the newspaper validate this sense of significance.

And if you can't feel significant by your own sports accomplishments, then you can pick a favorite team and get a sense of vicarious significance.

In my little world, when my team wins, I win. And I can buy the t-shirt to prove it.

Isn't it funny how serious we take sports? Sportscasters are some of the few people who still wear suits and, as they wax eloquent on the sports stories of the day, they give the air that they are really talking about truly significant events. Interview the sports star and he talks about the heart, courage, and perseverance of his team as if they just won the most significant battle in history.

However, when you step back, you realize that they are talking about a group of men dressed in colored jerseys that carried a little leather ball across a white line more times than another group of men dressed in different colored jerseys…or perhaps someone in that group kicked that little leather ball through the middle of two vertical poles more times than the other group's guy.

Funny indeed.

2. Our Hunger for Order and Meaning.

I think our obsession with sports tends to increase with the deterioration of our world. When life seems out of control, then sports become a nice outlet for a sense of sanity.

I know…sports and sanity do not readily seem to go together…but sports do offer a world in which there are defined rules, specific goals, and clear boundaries. And in the end, we know who the winners and losers are.

In some strange way, I think sports are man's way of trying to create a world of meaning.

Deep down we long to know the boundaries, to know what is right and wrong, to know that those who break the rules will be penalized, and to know that those who play well will win in the end.

In a world that often doesn't make sense, sports does. If even for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Maybe that's why Scripture doesn't condemn sports but actually uses them to point to higher truths.

We are runners in a race (Heb. 12:1). We are fighters in a fight (1 Cor. 9:26). We are athletes who need to compete within the rules (2 Tim. 2:5).

There are boundaries in life. There is signficance and meaning. There are winners and losers.

And there is One who has achieved real victory over our real opponents–sin, death, and Satan–through His sacrifice on the cross and the power of His resurrection.

And His name in Jesus Christ.

And I am so glad that I am on His team. 

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Government Can’t Fix This

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Steve Foster

"God isn't fixing this!"

This was the headline in the NY Daily News after another mass shooting in America. The angry headline was aimed specifically at the Republican presidential candidates who responded with prayer for the victims rather than with "tough talk" about gun control.

Regardless of one's political views, it is sad that we have reached the point that partisan, political attacks are the first response to a national tragedy. There are times to pause, express sympathy, offer prayers, and seek common ground rather than amp up the rhetoric and stir up anger.

This is one of those times.

14 victims are dead. 21 are injured. Countless others will have the rest of their lives impacted by the loss of a husband, wife, brother, sister, son, daughter, or friend.

If prayers are not appropriate now, then we have truly reached a state of callous coldness.

And great naivete.

The implication behind the NY Daily News is simple.

God can't fix this but government can…with a lot more laws and policies.

Is gun control a worthy debate? Certainly. If there are things that we can do to minimize access to assault weapons to those intent on violence, then by all means let's explore them. Will this solve all our problems and prevent all future tragedies? Certainly not. 

Access to guns did not create the hatred that mercilessly murdered 14 victims with the desire to kill more. These individuals were intent on violence and were planning and collecting as many different weapons as possible to make it happen.

Whether it is 9/11, the Boston Marathon bombing, or the recent Paris attacks, we must realize that more laws won't change the human heart.

Should government do what they can to punish evildoers and protect citizens? Yes. Should we do all we can to pass wise laws and policies? Absolutely. Should we acknowledge the growing realities of radical Islam, media violence, family and community breakdown, and moral decline? Definitely.

But we must also recognize our limitations and our need for God's wisdom, justice, and grace.

That is why we pray.

If people think that those who pray in such tragedies are naive, then they should consider their own naivete.

Sure…peace and love sound wonderful. But to think that just giving everyone a free education, a good job, and a bottle of Coke will create world harmony is living in a dream world.

We can't even get along with the people in our own family much less the person who lives across the street…or across the globe.

There is something desperately wrong with the human heart and no politician can change that.

There is also something desperately wrong with our world and no government can fix that.

Pass all the laws you want but you are not going to eliminate natural disasters, cure all diseases, tame all animals, stop all selfishness, heal all wounds, mend all families, end all wars, and abolish all death.

Who do we think we are?

God?

No, according to our world, He doesn't exist.

We have dethroned Him and tried to take His seat.

And then we wonder why our world is such a mess.

We mock God for not magically showing up to do our bidding and we attack those who have the audacity to offer hope in the midst of tragedy.

But what other real hope do we have?

If God can't fix this, then we have no other options. We are not the masters of our own fate. We are not the gods of this world. We are not in control. We are not immortal. We struggle with our own thoughts and emotions. We fight against our own wills. We are subject to the weakness and limitations of our own body.

We are mortal beings.

We desperately need Someone who can change our heart. Give us new life. Provide hope for a new world.

We need a God who is willing to enter our violent world and fix our own messes.

God is fixing this.

And He has already started…in a manger, on a cross, and out of a empty tomb.

In case we have forgotten, that's what Christmas is all about.

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A Culture of Anger

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Steve Foster

We have become an angry culture.

Just watch the news, follow social media, or read the comments that follow just about any article online.

It seems everyone is offended about something and eager to tell the world about it.

Certainly there are things to be angry about. We live in a sin-cursed world surrounded by sin-corrupted people. Life will be unfair, ugly, and unbearable at times. Evil exists. Violence abounds. Death is a reality.

In the midst of this world, anger is a natural reaction but it is not a solution.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19).

Anger simply does not get us where we want to go. It does not bring about the "righteousness of God." Anger at what is wrong does not make things right. Actually it makes things worse.

An angry man stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered man increases rebellion (Proverbs 29:22).

Anger is like fuel to the fire. It burns us up then destroys all those around us. That's why we are told not only to avoid an angry spirit but also to avoid those who try to stir up anger in us.

Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself (Proverbs 22:24-25).

Imagine if Solomon wrote this proverb in today's world of social media, 24 hour news, and talk shows. Have you noticed that most of our "news" is not meant to inform as much as it is to inflame? Have you noticed that much of social media acts to enrage us into crusades rather than engage us into conversation?

If feeding on these things makes us angry then it is time to change our diet.

Of course, I know the common retort.

"God gets angry. Jesus was angry. And anger in itself is not a sin."

Absolutely true.

Anger in itself is not a sin. It is actually a very needed emotion reflecting the very image of God in us. We often react against injustice and unfairness because deep down we know that life is not supposed to be this way. We know that there is a standard of righteousness that is being broken. We know that people should treat each other with love and respect. We know that evil is not supposed to win the day.

We were designed to live in a garden not a jungle.

But Scripture tells us: Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Yes, be angry at injustice, at unfair suffering, at the temporal triumphs of evil. But don't let that anger simmer for more than 24 hours. Don't let it take root in your heart. Don't let it dominate your thoughts. Don't let it dictate your life.

God knows that we can't handle the fires of anger without it soon consuming us. So He tells us to trust Him, to hand over our anger to Him, to know that He is just and He will avenge. Sin, evil, and death will not triumph in the end. Thus we can overcome evil with good rather than with hatred (Romans 12:17-21).

But let's be honest. Much of our anger is not "righteous indignation." It is often selfish vindication. We are an angry culture because we are a culture with an unhealthy mixture of entitlement, self-gratification, and depression.

We think we deserve more, we want more, and we are depressed that what we have doesn't satisfy.

So someone is to blame, someone has to pay.

The angry person is the discontent person. The irritable one is the miserable one.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel (James 4:1-2).

There are wars in the world because there are wars in our hearts. We don't get along with others because we can't get along with our own self.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24)

The restlessness of my heart is not to drive me to anger. It is to drive me to Jesus Christ.

He is my Savior. He is my rest.

And He is the only source of hope and peace in an angry culture. 

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Syrian Refugees and Christian Tension

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Steve Foster

The longer I live the Christian life, the more I realize that it is a life often lived in tension. We live in the "in between" with two opposing but complementary biblical principles serving to keep us balanced.

I have felt that tension recently with the debate regarding Syrian refugees.

On one side, concerned Christians call for open-handed compassion along with open hearts and open borders. On the other side, equally concerned Christians call for tighter screening, security for citizens, and an awareness that evil, often disguised in sheep's clothing, does exist in this world.

Whichever side one falls (or leans to), there can often be disdain and mischaracterization of the other.

This particular issue is amplified by our unique position as Christians in this nation. We are both members of the body of Christ (the church) and a vital part of the governance of this nation (the state).

The church-state distinction is a tension in itself for the believer. We are both citizens of heaven and citizens of a nation. We are commanded to honor our leaders and obey the laws of this nation (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17) but also to remember that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth loyal to the lordship of Jesus Christ first and foremost (Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:16-20).

The purpose of the state is different from the purpose of the church.

The state has one primary job description in Scripture: to punish evildoers and to give incentive for proper behavior (1 Peter 2:14). The state wields the "sword" of temporal punishment, protecting citizens and preserving peace by executing wrath on those who would seek to destroy the nation or harm lives within the nation (Rom. 13:4)

The church, on the other hand, has a different job description: to make disciples of Jesus Christ by living exemplary lives, showing love to one another, and preaching the gospel of salvation in Christ alone (Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Peter 2:11-12).

As Martin Luther noted: God has ordained the two governments: the spiritual, which by the Holy Spirit under Christ makes Christians and pious people; and the secular, which restrains the unchristian and wicked so that they are obliged to keep the peace outwardly.

For the Christian in America, we must think in both spheres–church and state–at the same time. We have the challenge that a Christian involved in any form of civil government would face: How do I both lead well as a protector of the citizenry and serve well as a follower of Christ?

I have often seen Christians take verses and exhortations aimed at the church and try to apply them to the state. Turning the other cheek is a challenge in a Christian's personal relationships. It is does not make for a tenable civil government.

When the state tries to act like the church, it ignores the reality of sin and the dangers of evil. In seeking to show "compassion," it actually encourages evil behavior.

Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

Yes, mercy has a place in civil government but it must never be at the expense of justice. A just judge must punish evil. A just military commander must be ready to destroy a nation's enemies. And a just leader must protect his people from those bent on harming others. To pretend otherwise is to pretend that one lives in a utopian paradise rather than on a sin-impacted earth.

On the other hand, when the church acts like the state, it is equally destructive. Instead of offering mercy and grace to those who need Christ, the church projects condemnation and self-righteousness. Yes, within the church, there is a necessity for leadership, accountability, and discipline but humility and grace must still take center stage.

When church and state are separate but working in harmony together, a society experiences its greatest measure of peace on this earth.

So back to the issue at hand.

When it comes to the Syrian refugees…and many other political issues confronting this nation…the Christian must think and live in tension.

As a voice in the state, the Christian must seek the peace and protection of the citizens of this nation. Law. Justice. Security. Military strength. These are the words of a vital, sustainable, effective government. They should not be disdained by Christians mistaking the state for the church.

As a voice from the church, the Christian must at the same time seek to do good in society, welcome the stranger, show the compassion of Christ, and share the message of Christ. Grace. Mercy. Charity. Moral strength. These are the words of a vital, growing, beautiful church. They should not be ignored by Christians mistaking the church for the state.

It's not an easy tension but it is a necessary one.

It's a tension that stretches us, humbles us, helps us grow.

If you don't feel the tension, then open your ears to hear the perspective of a brother or sister in Christ who may see things differently. And then join them in prayer for wisdom, strength, and unity as we seek to follow His Word and shine His light in this darkened world.

That's what it means to be the body of Christ.

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