HOW TO CRITICIZE AND ACCEPT CRITICISM - (CHECK YOUR OWN AND BE GODLY WHILE POINTING OUT OTHER PEOPLE’S HALITOSIS.)

Have you ever noticed that when a friend or someone close to you has bad breath and you try to offer him a mint or some candy, they never accept it? I think this is because we are never very self conscious or want to avoid an embarrassing situation.

We all go through things like the uncomfortable feeling that our breath is not so fresh. Millions of dollars are spent by many people each year on mouthwash, mints, and other devices to protect colleagues, friends, and family from an offensive breath of a jaguar (as it is said in Brazil).

Keeping the breath fresh, however, does not always depend on a trip to the personal care sector of the local store. It may require radical treatment, even a surgical intervention! Whatever the cause of halitosis, the first step is to be prepared to discover your problem before it becomes a problem for another person. As disturbing as it may be, a friendly warning should be well accepted, coming or going.

This is also true of giving and receiving criticism. Recently a great friend noted that the worst defect in someone is one that the person himself does not perceive. Andre is right. My answer was that the solution would be to develop friendships that would enable friends to inform us about our faults and, us, theirs. Always the truth in love.

When I first arrived in Japan, someone from my congregation pointed out several flaws in both my preaching and myself. The funny thing was that the man had the worst breath in the parish! Instead of retaliating or trying to defend myself as I would in the flesh, I submitted to the Word. I looked at the old Japanese man and said, "If what you say is true, would you mind praying for me?"

Before we are harsh in judging our modern scribes and Pharisees, let us pause and look at our own legalism. Many of us Christians today go to church to find fault, gossip and critique. Warren Wiersbe, in his book Angry People, wrote:

An incident in the life of Joseph Parker, the great British preacher, illustrates this tragic truth. He was preaching at the Temple of the City in London. After the service, one of the listeners approached him and said: Dr. Parker, you made a grammatical error in your sermon. He then proceeded to point the error to the pastor, Joseph Parker looked at the man and said, "And what else did you get out of the message?" What an appropriate rebuke!

Last year while traveling abroad, I preached to a different cultural audience from mine, and I learned something new. I thought I was doing very well, but I was alerted to something I was not seeing. At the end of a Sunday morning service, a gentleman came to me, and said, "Reverend, I really enjoyed seeing your excitement and your Bible knowledge is really remarkable!" With that said, he handed me his business card with a note on the back: "You will lose the attention of the locals if you continue to shout and change your voice during preaching!" I was so angry! He burst my bubble! There I was, thinking I had rocked, and someone's telling me I'm wrong! (Oh Boy!) So I turned the card to see who he was, and on the other side was his name, the logo of a famous multinational company, and his position as Communication Specialist. Then I stopped and thought: this guy knows the subject; he applied the PPM on me! Something I had studied many years before, also long forgotten. PPM (Plus-Plus-Minus) is a technique for discussing or criticizing ideas. The basic rule: You must declare two positive points before declaring a negative point. This counteracts negativity, forcing the listener to focus first on the positive side of an idea. This practice is used in group dynamics. PPM encourages timid people to come up with ideas without fear of a barrage of criticism.

One of the rarest of management skills, and the most difficult to learn, is how to criticize constructively. Constructive criticism shows consideration for other people's feelings, invites suggestions, and attracts cooperation. When one can not find out how to criticize something constructively, the wiser thing to do is to keep one's mouth shut until one formulates a thought that exalts and edifies the criticized. Here's how Paul began the letter to Philemon: "All the good things that are in you, in Christ Jesus."

The criticism that begins by attacking and putting people in the position of having to defend themselves often transforms small problems into major offenses. Usually, the best way to start is with simple, friendly questions, questions that will give people the opportunity to explain their position without being offended and unaffected. Then, after listening carefully, suggest the changes you would like them to make; whatever they may be; and see what they think.

Do not require an immediate decision if it is not necessary, or if there is still substantial disagreement. Ask them to think about it. Tell them that you will also think about it. Later, if you still believe in the changes you want to make, join them again. Explain that you have thought carefully and still believe the idea is worth trying. Tell them that you have an obligation to give them a fair shot, and you are counting on them to do the same.

Another important point; when we have to criticize or question someone's actions or ideas, let's always look at his or her face. Discussing affectionately with the person involved produces bonds of tenderness. Talking openly to those we criticize is more honest and elegant than talking behind their back. Do not let him or her hear your secondhand criticism.

Do not write or say anything you do not subscribe to below. If you get a negative and anonymous rating, ignore it! If they are not willing to sign your name, it is not worth reading. Do not give importance to anonymity. Anonymity is immoral. A pastor received anonymous note with nothing but the word "FOOL!" written on it. The next morning he entered the church and said, "I've received many scraps without signatures before, but this is the first time I have one where someone forgot to write the note and only signed his name!"

For many of us, just hearing that someone said negative things about what we said or did can trigger acute emotional distress. It is as if the accusation, no matter what the merit, immediately penetrated our defenses, causing substantial damage to our self-esteem, that is, our vanity.

When we respond to criticism in a biblically correct way, we will no longer need to be victimized. We can experience firsthand one of the great promises God gives us in Scripture:

Every tool that is prepared against thee shall not prosper, and every tongue that shall rise up against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn; this is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and his righteousness which is from me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54.17)

Accepting criticism

Criticism is always difficult to accept, but if we receive it with humility and desire to develop our character, we can obtain the profit of piety. How not to accept the peppermint balloon? Only a fool does not profit when he is reprimanded for his mistakes.

When criticized, we should ask ourselves if the criticism contains any truth. If the answer is yes, we should learn from criticism, even if it does not have the right motivation and right spirit. Here are four suggestions:

(1) Listen to your friends - Face the matter immediately, and take it to God, asking him to remove all resentment or desire from criticizing. What's more, let him teach you the lessons you need.

(2) Check Your Breath - Remember that we are all great sinners and that the one who criticized us does not even know the beginning of our problems.

(3) Take the mint - If you have made a mistake or committed a sin, humiliate yourself and honestly confess to God and anyone you have hurt.

(4) Wash your mouth - Create a daily habit of willingness by learning again that you are not infallible and that you need the grace and wisdom of God every moment of the day to continue on the right path.

When we are criticized, let us accept what is true and act accordingly, making us stronger people.

Now as to him that is sick in the faith, receive him, not in strife with doubts. For one believes that one can eat everything, and another who is weak eats vegetables. He who eats does not despise what he does not eat; and he that eateth not, let him not judge what he eateth; because God received him for his sake. Who are you, who judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. But he will be steadfast, for God is able to sign him. Romans 14. 1-4

When your critic's nose is completely wrong ...

Recently, a friend confided a "case." (And here I tell the world with the commitment to show the miracle but no, not the saint.) After a visit to the bathroom, when he bent to lift his pants, his tie and badge were accidentally dipped in the toilet before flushing, thus soiling his badge and tie without him noticing. Do not ask me how. As he continued through the day, he made several accusations about the breath or body odor of other people, only to then realize that the stench coming from himself. Sometimes people criticize and make comments as a way to deal with their own faults and shortcomings. Sometimes people comment and campaign for critical remarks, just out of sheer evil in their hearts.

The prophet Nehemiah was doing an effective job of rebuilding the destroyed walls of Jerusalem. His determined team was on schedule to complete the task in less time than expected. He had enthusiastic support from the vast majority of his people. However, Nehemiah was also the target of vicious criticism.

Two local residents, Sambalat and Tobiah, despised the Jews and mocked the wall. "Even a fox could knock him down," they said. When Nehemiah refused to intimidate or be distracted by this ridicule, Sambalat and Tobias expressed a dissatisfaction in his letter, and called for a meeting to discuss his objections.

Nehemiah's response was classic. He basically said, "I'm doing an important job and I do not have time to hear your complaints." This was not arrogant-it was clever. It was not irreverent - it was the wisest use of his time.

In my time as pastor, I had to learn to deal with criticism. In my younger years, any disagreement would bring me down. Friends and family spent considerable energy caring for my wounded ego. But eventually, experience and Scripture helped me deal with criticism more effectively.

Perhaps some younger Christian leaders can benefit from some of the lessons I've learned.

All effective leaders are criticized. If you are at the front line of the battle, you will probably be hit. It's that simple. We are involved in an intensified spiritual warfare and the enemy becomes increasingly malicious and stingy. One gets the impression that if the world only proves that Christians are false, they will feel justified in their unbelief.

If you dare to speak the truth of God or try to lead the people of God, you will be attacked and labeled as zealous, hypocritical, or foolish. Be safe! Hang on cowboy, for the bull is tough! Or as my brother would say, "Stiff upper lip, Danny, be British! Oswald Sanders, in his classic book Spiritual Leadership, suggests that maturity is moving from thin skin and hard heart to a soft heart and hard skin.

Consider the source. Is it a small, mean person who's complaining or someone you respect? If it comes from someone you have in high regard, evaluate carefully. Perhaps the Lord is using them to point out a blind spot in your life or work. However, if criticism comes from a Sambalat or Tobias of insignificant mind, then it is not worth the time and effort to answer it.

Evaluate the objection. If the review has any validity, receive it gracefully and make the necessary adjustment. If it does not, ignore it and move on.

If during a dream, you are going to the bathroom, wake up! That is a trap! It's the same trap, responding to petty criticism. The critic is too angry to hear reason. They just want to vent. It is a waste of time to respond to grossly false criticism, and generally gives more validity to objection than it deserves. And the one who gets dirty when you wake up is you!

Keep your focus on the ultimate goal. Do not murmur and grumble about critics. This takes your mind off your primary responsibility. Do not let Satan distract you from what needs to be done.

Our task is to please Christ, not men. His is the only opinion that matters. People are so fickle. The same people who criticize you today may be singing your praises tomorrow.

Find a way to get it out of your mind. If I can not get a criticism out of my mind and it is affecting my mood or distracting me, I write exactly what I would like to say without any concern to be kind.

However, I do not immediately send this communication unattended. I wait a day or two and never finish sending it in its original form - and rarely mailing it.

But, venting my feelings in a letter, I took them out of my head and entered the computer screen. So it's easier to forget and focus on the task at hand again.

Get bolder. The temptation is to become timid and completely avoid controversy. That's what the enemy wants! But Jesus warned: "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words shall be ashamed of the Son of man, when he shall come in his glory, and in that of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9.26)

Do not let the intimidating tactics of the enemy intimidate you. Speak the truth in love, but speak the truth. King David exhorted, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalm 107. 2)

First-century Christians were threatened with prison and death if they continued to speak about the resurrected Jesus in public. They did not back down or become more cautious. They prayed: "Now therefore, O Lord, look upon their threats, and grant unto thy servants that they speak with all boldness thy word; While you stretch out your hand to heal, and to do signs and wonders for the name of your holy Son Jesus. And when he had prayed, the place where they were gathered was moved; and all were filled with the Holy Spirit, and boldly proclaimed the word of God "(Acts 4.29, 31).

Give thanks to God for the persecution. Jesus exhorted us when persecuted to "Blessed are ye, when they revile and persecute you, and tell you all the evil against you for my sake. Rejoice and rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted the prophets which were before you. "(Matthew 5. 11-12) When we can praise God and be thankful for all the criticisms, we know that we are growing in spiritual maturity and following in the footsteps of prophets like Nehemiah.

When criticism comes in the form of accusations of something you've done in the past, remember something that my dad says when he gets criticized. "Both God and Satan reminded me of my past sins, your criticism, is the third time I hear about my mistakes, what side does your criticism come from?"

On a walk with a group of Boy Scouts, we learned to deal with the critiques in life, the misgivings of the stingy and the challenges of the great and mighty as we sang a marching song that said:

Coconut break, coconut break,
on the slope of the mountain,
Boy Scout,  you break your coconut,
and then go back to work.

Believe me if you will
what on top of that hill
has three meters of sausage,
running after a dog.

Coconut break, coconut break,
on the slope of the mountain,
Boy Scout, you break your coconut,
and then go back to work.

I went down the Sugar Loaf hill, 
seized on a string,
I risked my life,
but I saved the Scout Girl.

For you to talk to me,
Wash your mouth with coconut
For your mouth is smelling
something like a vulture's gut

Coconut break, coconut break,
on the slope of the mountain,
Boy Scout, you break your coconut,
and then go back to work.

Let them criticize, at first we break the coconut, but then, we go back to work.

DCG

The Truth about Supermen and Super Christians

If Superman and Mighty Mouse got into a fight, who would win? The boys asked this in the hit movie Stand By Me, by Rob Reiner, 1986, but there was no conclusive answer. Searching the Internet, I found some interesting answers.

A fan of superheroes said: "Mighty and Super are synonymous, so if you have (Super) (Man) and (Mighty) (Mouse) you can cancel the" super "and powerful, which leaves you with Man and Mouse. Of course the man usually wins, but the mouse can win 2/10 times. "

Yet another reader posted, "Let's just say that, by the argument, Mighty Mouse's power level was on the same level as Superman's. All Superman would have to do was keep the fight long enough for Mighty Mouse to burn his electric pill. So the MM is just an ordinary mouse. "

"The Mighty Mouse is so superior, he has its own song. Then he would beat Superman enough to make him to say “Uncle!”." Said another...

Some other fans commented, "I do not think Mighty Mouse can move on its own."

Corey Feldman, in portraying Teddy in the film, said: "Superman is a real guy. Mighty Mouse is a cartoon. No way a cartoon could hit a real guy. Stupid question Vern. "(I always stay on Teddy's side.) Superman! I love the fact that Teddy said he's real. He's real! (Oh, Boy!)

Even the wisest of the boys on those train tracks could not get it right! Their arguments were all flawed. They thought Superman was real, so it was not even a cartoon.

Lately, I have seen many of these kinds of comparisons and faulty questions about Christianity. Many today, are fighting over who is a better Super-Christian or a Super–Pastor. They debate over the “who is who” title in the evangelical arena and the one which, can get more likes in the extra-biblical gospel doctrines. There seems to be a continuing competition to see who is right. In the end, the question we ask is who will win in a fight, and the wisest answers we can give is an argument against the reality or authenticity of many godly men and women who live, learn, and teach about Jesus as the true head of God’s church.

A member of my church recently posted a picture showing a bunch of different superheroes from different universes sitting with an image of Jesus and the phrase "That's how I saved the world..." written under it, as if Jesus were speaking with his superhero friends.

Another popular post I saw on Facebook was a video of many superheroes bowing and showing their respect for the cross. I have a problem with that. It is not just the breaking of the second commandment, but it is the fact that we are comparing Jesus to fairy tales or comic book heroes.

Although these childlike comparisons seem to be popular today, we can see in church history that they have always been present in our midst.

AN OLDER SUPERHERO
The Church loved the radical Super-disciplines of Simeon. They admired his austere lifestyle. He was canonized as a saint in the Coptic Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Cities fought for his body so that sacred relics could be parceled out from his remains. Shrines were built around his last pillar, which ruins’ remain to this day not far from the modern city of Aleppo.

Some years after the beginning of the 5th century AD, a 13-year-old Turkish shepherd developed a zeal for Christianity while reading the Beatitudes. About a year later, he entered a monastery and began practicing these extreme forms of self-deprecation that he was asked to leave. For a year and a half, he locked himself in a small hut from which rumors spread that he had spent a whole Lenten season without eating or drinking. As the fame of their superpowers spread, crowds began to visit this renowned Holy Superman (as Robyn would say) to seek his prayers and advice.

But many people stopped their contemplations. Then Simeon decided to climb up on a tower among the ruins of an ancient city, where he could escape even more from worldliness and temptation. There he lived - five feet off the ground for many years until he began to build higher towers. He spent his final years in a 20-foot tall tower in his constant desire to prove his devotion to God through his punitive lifestyle to his own body. Reverence for Simeon grew. He inspired many imitators committed to seeking holiness and purifying their worldly temptations.

I'm talking about Simeon Styllite; who is just another example of our human tendency to turn Paul's admonitions into the small church in Colossae completely upside down. Simeon and all who followed him were great examples of believers who had only "a partially learned Christ." They understood something of Jesus Christ, but they failed to see the full truth about him and the obvious implications of trusting in Christ. This is the main theme of Paul in almost all his letters; those whom he writes have to be a little savior. In the same way, many of us too are often making Christ, something smaller than he really is.

In our day and age, all you need to do to see this problem is to search the religious sites and gospel pages to be impressed by the ingenuity of the people who send money to support the modern Phrygian gurus, promising health and wealth and blessings of life in exchange for financial sacrifices. They are teaching a half-hearted Christ, leaving their followers open to all sorts of religious teachings that "sound" right while they are anti-Biblical and deeply sinister.

Paul's concern with the small congregation at Colossae was that they knew Christ only partially. Then he writes to draw them back to the fullness of their union with Christ. He writes in Colossians 2: 9-10, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. " You need no teaching that insists on adding other things to your faith to get any personal feeling of "fullness". But the Colossian gurus offered what appeared to be simple solutions to such felt needs.

LIVING A SUPER-BELIEVING LIFE (Colossians 2.16-19)
There seemed to be only certain things necessary to gain fullness-certain simple and capable disciplines that needed to be exercised. And we are all very naive. Evangelical Christians always seem to be looking for a quick and easy way to experience greater spiritual wholeness. "Fullness" was one of the keywords of propaganda for first-century gurus, just as "higher life" or "true spirituality" or "holiness" or "winning walk" became modern keywords of the evangelical market of our days. Here in this text, we have an idea of the kind of super spiritual discipline that can be sold in the Lich Valley in Paul's day.

BEVERAGES, JUICES, DIETS AND DAYS (Colossians 2.16-17)
The first higher life program on the menu involved keeping diets restrictive and celebrating certain days. Dietary restrictions and observance of the days of fasting and feasting ruled the lives of the Jews. The Mosaic Law contained no drink restrictions (other than a prohibition against drunkenness), suggesting that this was not an entirely Jewish set of sacred rules. However, it seems that the gurus were teaching restrictions on kosher foods and Jewish feasts and fasting days as a means of improving one's Christian experience. Remember that just a few centuries before the time Paul wrote, Jews were willing to die instead of eating an impure diet or skipping a feast or a day of fasting.

The social pressure of these passionate diet and day advocates would have been enormous. "Besides, what harm could it do? Maybe this will improve my religious experience. " We may think in our day about social pressures in militant evangelicalism to maintain a certain set of political beliefs, or to educate their children in a certain way, or to use only the "best" Bible translation (whatever it is in your church circle). Weather or not someone can clap their hands or use humor for the Biblical exposition.

The checklists for more complete Christian experiences are endless today. Some advocate "biblical diets" and natural healing remedies as part of the improved spiritual experience. The damage is not in things or in the programs themselves. If you like essential oils and the Daniel Diet, it's good for you! The evil lies in accepting the subtle idea that anything or any program can bring you a fuller spiritual life than you already have in your union with Christ.

The diets and days of the Old Testament were shadows cast in time by the body (substance) of the Lord Jesus Christ. "You do not need to look into the shadow," says Paul, "because Christ has come in all its fullness!" Paul sums up his commandment not to be judged by such things, "These are a shadow of things to come, to Christ ". It echoes the description of the author of the ceremonial law as a shadow of the heavenly realities (Hebrews 8.5).

I heard from Albert Mohler an illustration for this subject: "Many of you have already been away from the family. Maybe you took a picture of your family with you, and every now and then you would look at that photo. But when you came home, you could hug your wife and your children. Why do you want to hug and kiss the picture? "The types and shadows thrown back by Christ are just figures; you have the real substance of Christ.

LOOKING FOR ANGEL’S FEATHERS (Colossians 2.18-19)
"Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from which the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow... "  Then the program of the Phrygia super spiritual disciplines was a strict self-denial, perhaps in the order of Simeon Styllite. This kind of bodily torture probably made the sufferer worthy to enter the kingdom of angels and learn the deeper truths of the spirits who were there. Only the truly "self-righteous" practitioner was apt to receive the deeper truth of angelic beings, so said these false teachers.

In later centuries, the churches in this region persisted in the worship of the angels. The Synod of Laodicea in 363 AD condemned the practice. But in the ninth century, it was again considered pious to worship the angels; It was invented a tradition that the Archangel Michael had diverted a torrent and caused other natural disasters of the region. It makes you want to hit your head and ask, "How stupid can these people be?" The answer is the same as Teddy's: This is a stupid question, Vern ... "- As stupid as you and I when we put ANYTHING above the fullness of our union with Christ! 

All these forms of strict super-disciplines only gave the appearance of humility. Paul literally says that these gurus are "lacking in humble spirit and godliness" and are "being conceited by the mind of the flesh" (v. 18). Our sinful nature, our flesh, our old Adam is desperately drawn to keep all kinds of man-made rules that make us feel better about ourselves and offer us a super-sized spirituality.

Compare the gurus of "the most complete knowledge" with Paul, who was caught up in heaven where he heard things that one can not speak - obtaining the highest, fullest, and most profound knowledge (2Corinthians 12. 3-4). Then he writes, "And that I might not be exalted for the excellence of the revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to slay me, that I might not be exalted." (2Corinthians 12.7)

The flesh, the old Adam, loves to steal the glory of the work that Christ does in us. Imagine how much more do the false teachers, without Christ, loving the self-glory and worship of their followers seeking a fuller life through deeper knowledge.

That is why so many pilgrims of the fifth century traveled to seek Simeon Styllite; they thought he had the deepest and most complete truths. Why? Because he was an excellent self-sufferer, he certainly ought to have been more worthy of receiving great messages from God. But the doctrine of the fullness of Christ utterly obliterates the desire of the ancient Adam for spiritual glory. The fullness of Christ utterly obliterates the secret wisdom of supposed holy and insane men. If you are trusting in Christ, Paul says, "Let no one decide for you... "Because you are already filled with Christ. Thus, the whole Church grows with a growth that comes from God, not from human regulations and programs.

Paul wants you to know every time you listen to a teacher speak, there are three questions to ask yourself. First, ask yourself who is being exalted in the message? Does it draw you to the speaker, or does it draw you to focus on yourself, or force your heart's ears and eyes to Christ? Who is great, gracious and glorious in the message of this master? Second, what is the teacher NOT saying? Is there anything missing in the message? In Phrygia, what was absent from the message was the focus on the fullness and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, what is the effect of teacher education? The effect in Phrygia was that the gurus were full, but the body of Christ was not built to grow with the growth of God. Some, without any preparation, repeat teachings as parrots, causing a temporary impact that generates scourges and pains for many years to come. When a person calls himself a teacher, he has a source of dubious and often deceitful knowledge, and must be examined in the light of Scripture.

HUMAN OBVIOUS REGULATION (Colossians 2.20-23)
In the last three verses, Paul sums up the teachings of those gurus. First, it reminds us that these self-focused checklists are part of the elementary principles of the world. They are part of the satanic philosophy that something unlike God is necessary for the fullness of humanity - like that beautiful fruit hanging from the tree of judgment in Eden. The apostle describes the programs of the false teachers in a series of three negative rules.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.; Colossians 2: 20-22

Man, not by God, makes these rules because they focus their attention on the earth and not on the one who has risen, and ascended into heaven, being fully glorified, our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gives us some significant marks of the false teachings in verse 23.

First, Paul says that false teaching "will indeed have a resemblance of wisdom..." False teaching will provide a way to keep your life seemingly solved. It will offer a way to organize the old Adam, the flesh, so that sin becomes less visible and outward. It can offer freedom against debilitating depression or freedom from an addiction. It can offer a new purpose for your disorganized life. You can promise feelings of peace in a world of chaos. You can make yourself into a Super Believer. It can make you grow. But remember: He must increase and I must decrease. (John 3.30) But false teachings will not have the glorious focus on the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It will be a religion made by yourself and for yourself. It will be a religion invented around you and about for you. This is not simply the religious culture of the world of the first century or of the world of the twenty-first century. This is the dominant religion of all mankind from the moment Adam chose self-realization above the fullness of God. Self-taught religion is the elemental principle born in the Garden of Eden and, in the category of fall, programmed into the DNA of all mankind.

The function of all your self-made religions is to help people manage themselves to make progress in life. It's about self-discipline, self-education, self-improvement, and self-success. But Jesus commands us to come and die for the ego and live for his honor and glory.

I still mostly think of Heaven as the place where all my problems will disappear and where in fact, I will finally glorify God perfectly for all eternity. Heaven is still the place of personal improvement rather than the place to fully experience the reason for my creation - to glorify God and to enjoy it forever.

I recently saw a video announcing a church and it’s Bible institute, and the catch phrase was: "Because the most important thing for the Christian is to gain knowledge!" (Oh Boy!) That's a blatant lie! The flesh does not need self-improvement; the flesh must die. The most important thing for the Christian is to glorify God and to enjoy it forever! It's the first question in the catechisms! Even Corisco, my late parrot, knew that! (Seriously, I taught the Catechism to him)

Note that false teaching not only seems wise and is done by itself but also has a focus on the body in the form of asceticism and severity for the body. It is the religion of "do not do this and do not do that". Asceticism is a philosophical doctrine that defends the abstention of physical and psychological pleasures, believing to be the way to achieve perfection and moral and spiritual balance. The gurus and their followers thought they were offering God a voluntary addition to their basic requirements-a super-disciplined devotion through which they hoped to gain superior deity, approval, and rewards with a higher lifestyle. But Paul warns that no matter how "evangelical" or "Jesus' language" a false teacher sprinkled in false teaching, it will never be of any value in stopping the condescension of the flesh and sensuality.

How did God restrain Paul's desire for the glory of the flesh after Paul heard the deeper divine revelation? He gave Paul a constant affliction by which the grace of God was sufficient by itself. In other words, God chose the way Paul would suffer. Paul was not famished. Paul did not lock himself up in a cell so small that it only fit him, as Styllite did. Paul did not sit on top of a 10-meter tower for the rest of his life.

It was not some self-imposed method; no method of suffering that made Paul seem humble in the face of all the secret revelation he received. No program that Paul could have done for himself would have humiliated him. God poured out situations completely beyond his control, so that he would be in constant dependence on the fullness of Christ for the glory of Christ alone. Believers have no reason to be arrogant. But if you're arrogant, it's because you have not suffered enough yet in situations totally beyond your control.

Paul urges us to question whether the teachings we receive increase the burden of death in my life, or serve merely to disguise my sins? Do these teachings build or destroy fellowship of the church? Do these teachings enslave me to the teacher, pastor, coach, or guru? Do you focus on man-made regulations or the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it in the Bible or is it in the throats of someone who knows how to speak well?

The great tragedy of many of our lives is that we seek ANYTHING apart from Christ - any means other than His fullness and our union with Him - to administer our self-constructed religion. But Paul commands us to fix our gaze only on Christ, because all we need is in Christ and everything is ours through our union with Him.

Our old Adam loves lists of things to do to administer the flesh, for such lists have the appearance of wisdom. But the list of Paul (of Christ) is small: fix your heart and your mind in Christ. The apostle will continue to show us through commandments far beyond our ability to follow that the only way to make real progress is "Step number one: it's all about Jesus."

All the fullness you need is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. True pleasure cannot be found in the self; the "I" is desperate to turn everything around him into a mere appendix or reign of his own controlling ego. True pleasure can only be found outside of you and in Christ alone.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.  
(Hebrews 1.3,4)

It can be a wonderful thing to have role models and mentors to help guide us as we navigate the twists and turns of life. God created us for relationships - with Him and with others - and we can learn a lot from those around us. It may also be worth cultivating our creative skills and inventing characters and figures so that we can tell the story of the redemption of evil and wrong. Lewis and Tolkien were very accurate when they added characters like Lucy and Frodo Baggins to our cognitive archives. We must keep in mind, however, that our models are also human. We must be aware that the superheroes of fiction are as finite as their authors. And that before inventing the comic book characters, false teachers and teachers like Nietzsche already permeated thought and brought a strange struggle to the Christian wrestling mat. If we place our complete faith in someone here on earth, or in the pages and pixels of different universes, it is almost a guarantee that we will be disappointed in one way or another.

We need to be aware and make sure that no one else is controlling us with the teachings of this world. Looking at someone who is truly committed to following Jesus and the Word of God is a good place to start, but no human being is completely exempt from falling into temptation or from being stuck with the things of this world.

So, is there anyone we can look at with full faith? Yes! We can look to Jesus for strength, wisdom and guidance in all things. We can read the teachings of God and compare what the world wants us to believe against what the Bible says. Jesus wants us to be anchored in the truth and He will help us get there if we seek Him. We can certainly learn from those around us and our relationship with others can bring many blessings. But let us not forget that the image of God in Christ is holy and incomparable to any other creature. Real or fictitious.

A true story of the Itchy ox and the Flying kiwi –

So we sat around the breakfast table the Senior Gomes Family in Bocaina: Papai, Mamãe, Davi, Debby and I.  Another 16 people, witnessed this event, and since I was the youngest, some details might be a little bit off.   Anyway, we were sitting at the table, ready to have breakfast, and the only food available was a banana cake mom baked with the last of the flour and eggs gathered that morning and a few bananas found in the yard; about a gallon of milk, and some coffee. Mom had told dad that we were out of food. Dad decided to wait upon the Lord. And he gave thanks for the breakfast, teaching us all a lesson in gratitude. Lunchtime came really quickly that day. I remember even joking with my sister about not having to wash the dishes, since we were all going to skip that meal anyway... (Oh Boy) Little did I know? 
As we sat down for the next meal, starring at an empty table, dad signaled our giving hands, and started to pray. What a fool, one might have thought (really), those days were terrible!). Giving thanks for what we couldn’t see, even worse, we couldn’t eat. But God stood my father in Faith, and we all learned how awesome God is. AS Dad said his “amen”, we could hear the neighbor’s boy, Xiquinho, running up the stairway and screaming: “Pastor Lau, Pastor Lau! – An ox scratched his neck and my father needs your help, and my uncle needs you to go get meat because the bull felt an itch in his neck...” His excitement was so great that he could barely get his message across. We couldn’t make any sense of what he was saying, so we just went over to lend a helping hand... Xiquinho led the way, running and skipping over the cow pies along the narrow path. Davi and Dad were still trying to understand, when we finally got too ne of the pasture pickets, right before a place which we called, “Inferninho” (which in Portuguese means little hell) and there it was: A fully grown 1300 pound ox, which felt a sudden itch to scratch his neck, and when doing so with a forking branch, slipped and fell, breaking his neck and needing to be put out of his pain. So drawing a sharp knife, someone cut across his throat. Seu Tim, the farm’s manager explained to my father in his Italian accent ”Seu Lau, we don’t have much use for the meat, so we’ll just keep a bit of the hardest parts so we can dry it up and make some jerky.” And the rest was given to us. Dad took half of the meat to town and traded it for some dried goods, such as rice and beans and corn, also some gasoline and even money for other expenses.

Dad taught us well… Early in my parents life as a couple, and in ministry, mom and dad decided that they would not go around asking for money to finance the counseling and worldview shaping ministry of Refúgio. Rather, they would work with their hands and silently pray to God to fulfill all of our needs. And the Gomeses at large all can count the blessings seen and unseen of how to say Jehovah Jireh, my provider!

Nearly all missionaries find asking for money a daunting task and a little overwhelming. This forms a two-sided debate on whether or not missionaries should ask for money.

“Should I ask for money, or live by faith and trust that God will provide for my financial needs?”

“How are you going to have enough money to travel and live in another country while doing ministry?”

“If God has called me to be a missionary, then isn’t He going to provide the funds for me?”

These are not uncommon questions for missionaries to ask. Fundraising takes a lot of time and effort, and no one wants to be rejected or refused when they put themselves out there. Others try to live by faith while trusting that God will provide for them in their times of need.

There are many people in the Bible and throughout missionary history who trusted in God to provide not only for their financial needs but their physical needs as well. Throughout this blog, we’ll take a look at some of their stories and discover which method is Biblical.

Testimonies of Living by Faith… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Some missionaries base their financial foundations on living by faith only but do not spend time seeking after God in prayer and asking (James 4:2b-3).

These testimonies are not only of men living by faith but men who were both friends of God, standing before the throne room with confidence, knowing that He heard their prayers.

Abraham... Abraham was a man who lived by faith and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4; Hebrews 11). When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Abraham was distraught, but nonetheless, he obeyed God.

God saw his obedience, just as Abraham was about to kill his son, and provided a ram to be the sacrifice because of Abraham’s faith (Genesis 22:8, 13-14).

George Müller… I remember the story of George Müller, who was also a man who lived by faith, and God’s faithfulness, was shown clearly throughout his life. He built an orphanage for over two thousand orphans in Bristol, UK. When they had no money or food for the orphanages, he prayed, and God provided. George Müller said:

“There never was a time when we had no wholesome meal. During all these years I have been enabled to trust in the living God alone…No man can ever say I asked him for a penny. We have no committees, no collectors, no voting, and no endowment. All has come in answer to believing prayer. God has many ways of moving the hearts of men to help us, all over the world. While I am praying, He speaks to one and another on this continent and on that to send us help.”  

Asking in Faith… Whereas some people believe that you’re not relying on God if you ask others for money, Muller gladly accepted people’s help, though he never told anyone that he was in need. You can trust in the Lord to provide for you when you ask in faith, because if the Lord has called you into ministry, then He will give you resources and a way for you to go overseas. When you get to the mission field, you’ll be able to look back and say, “Wow, look at what God has done.”

“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

By trusting in God, you could have amazing testimonies of faith and be able to share the gospel with people in a much more effective way. Living by faith will not only stretch you in ways you can’t imagine but asking in faith will produce even greater testimonies of God’s faithfulness in answering prayer.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

Isn’t Asking for Money a Little Blunt? Many missionaries dread fundraising because they think that they are becoming a hindrance to people and that their friends will think that they’ll always be asking for money. But you actually need support. Without people backing you up in prayer and finances, you will come off the field burnt out and ready to give up on your ministry. You’re not only trusting God to provide through these people, but you are inviting people to enter into God’s heart for missions.

Asking for money is a great step of faith. The friends you have, the family that surrounds you, the neighbors on your street, are all resources that God has provided and put in your path so that you can go and fulfill His calling that He’s placed over your life.

Many missionaries in the 1800s believed that they had to work and earn their living by a trade and then took that with them into the country they were going to be missionaries in. Others, such as Paul in the Bible, and John Williams, used their skills in a trade to provide an income and also partnered with believers to continue their ministry.

Paul-“For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher threshes in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?” 1 Corinthians 9:9-11

In the context of these verses, Paul is asking the believers in Corinth if it’s wrong to reap what he sowed among them. Paul is also challenging them in their thinking about material things and finances. He reminds them that God does care for all people and that He provides for their needs through the resources He’s already given them.

Paul had invested into many of the believers of the early church and was one of God’s first missionaries full of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. He always wrote back to the believers, telling them stories of God’s faithfulness through their giving of prayers and support.

While still walking in faith for God to continue his ministry, he worked with his skills as a tentmaker or leatherworker (Acts 18:1-3), so that he could continue traveling and visiting the churches. He was also being supported by the churches; especially the Philippians (Philippians 1:3–5; 4:15-18).  

Paul did everything he could to not become a burden to others (2 Corinthians 11:8–9) so that he was able to continue freely in his preaching of the gospel. He always thanked his fellow brothers for the blessings they sent, and for walking alongside him in the work God was doing (1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Colossians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4), encouraging them to continue trusting in the Lord.

John Williams…John Williams was a missionary in the South Pacific Islands who saw the need for having partners and support from people back home. He was anxious to continue his work in other people groups in neighboring islands, but the mission agency that sent him did not agree.

After combatting back and forth, the missionary agency finally agreed, and John William’s ministry became much more fruitful as he was able to go to surrounding islands and preach the gospel to even more people.

John Williams was skilled as an ironworker and a mechanic, and he built his own boat with the help of local natives and the finances sent from London. He also learned how to grow crops and live off the lands to help provide for his family. While he worked with the natives and shared the gospel with them, he translated the New Testament into Rarotongan and then taught the native believers how to disciple others in their community. The people became his partners in ministry.

God Provides Through Partners… Having partners are a blessing from the Lord. The people who support you will become partners of something much bigger than your own ministry. Not only are they becoming part of God’s plan to reach the nations, but also they will enable you to bring the gospel to people groups who can become partners of the gospel in the future. How amazing is that?

You are not failing God when you ask someone to help you. God may have put that person to help you, and you can trust that He is always providing ways for you to go on the mission field when He’s called you there. You can step out in faith through prayer (James 1:22-2:14-26), and rely on God by using the resources He’s given you to be a good steward of (Matthew 25:14-30).

In fact, you are called to live by faith and ask for money. It’s really your heart motive that God cares about. God wants you to trust Him.

Where we are… “No! This is not a request for money!” When Marcia and I got married, our income wasn’t enough for us to even begin supporting ourselves. We had help and generous gifts form my family and friends (who are family in Christ), some of them, are involved in our work even to this minute. Over twenty years, some families participate in our budget generously.  Believing that our work is in the Lord, rather than charity, we have partners in life who are real supporters of our ministry, in Brazil and here in Japan. We are so very thankful to God and to you.

Me being boyish… I woke up this morning, as I usually do at 4.30, and began my chores: the first order of the day, I outline a chapter of scripture. Have it sent to over 350 people worldwide. Today’s Scripture was Philippians 4. I must admit that I was a bit irritated, for when I was studying my Bible about joy and gratitude, I thought to myself, why doesn’t God do to me like he did to the apostle Paul? (Oh Boy!) How can I be joyful in the midst of so much turbulence? 

We were supposed to go renew our passports today. But we didn’t have enough money for them. I thought: ”well, the Lord will provide…” But instead, Marcia couldn’t get the day off from work, so we had to postpone our trip to the Brazilian consulate. I was upset, I do everything like clockwork, and foolishly, I thought that God was standing me up. Why? Why? 

The Holy Spirit then, slowly and methodically began to work his written Word in my heart. I remembered the story of the Watchmaker, and that sometimes the watchmaker intervenes so bluntly in our way, that we cannot, and will not negate his praises and glory. I remembered the story of the itchy ox. I remembered about Debby’s bicycle in a can (I may tell this story some other day). I remembered of the time in Wyncote, I had given up babysitting, and every week I would find an envelope by my rabbit cage, with a 10-dollar allowance and the humble signature “From a friend in Jesus” (Today I know who that Godly person was). I began to thank the Lord for being my provider. A gift offering that came last week from a dear friend in Boston, with a note saying the she loves us and prays for us. A lifeline from my father, to lighten our burden, which is, no burden at all, for it is done for the Lord. I remembered the Marks and the Crosses that have been the most substantial part of our up keep. I prayed to God in gratitude of them. I wrote a little Facebook post, greeted all the birthdays on my friends’ list, read and wrote on my doctoral thesis and by one o’clock had finished all my daily chores. I needed to get some shut-eye, because when night falls, I begin my English teaching role. I had to catch some “z’s”!

When I woke up, I asked Ruth to go t the mailbox and see if there was any correspondence there (It's a missionary thing). She brought me back this envelope, and said, this one doesn’t say who it is from, instead a sticker saying it came by air mail, and in French: Par avion air International. I even joked about it, since there was a kiwi bird on the postal stamp. I said to Ruth: Kiwis don't fly, unless God tells them to… Inside, there were no words, just two neatly cut pieces of paper sandwiching the exact amount of the fees to renew our passport in Yen cash. We hadn’t told anyone about it; we didn’t ask anyone, except in our family prayer. And in that same silent prayer, we thank you, we God for you, the “person with the Kiwi bird stamp” on the envelope. You are our silent partner. I can only praise the Lord and say Jehovah Jireh, my provider, the Lord has provided for us.

In Joyful tears, 
Pr. Daniel

The commercial and the real Story

Many years ago, there was a TV commercial in which three older ladies sit at a table with a plate in front of them. On the plate rests a gigantic bun with a very small beef patty and other burger toppings. The middle of the three women is talking with someone on the phone. They have been calling and trying to speak to managers and supervisors at other fast food restaurants to find out, “Where’s the Beef?” The ladies finally get the “owner” on the phone. He turns out to be a large man, sitting on an opulent boat called “S.S. Big Bun” surrounded by dancing women in bikinis and smoking a cigar. When one of the women yells, “Where’s the Beef?” very loudly into the phone, he falls back on chair and, not knowing what has happened on the other end, one woman says she does not think he is really on the line. Wendy’s says its burgers have more beef than both the Burger King Whopper and the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in this classic Super Bowl advertisement, which first aired during Super Bowl XVIII, when the Los Angeles Raiders played the Washington Redskins in Tampa, Florida.

If we were to advertise our Faith, how could we do it? Today, hundreds of different church groups, gospel doctrines and denominations are trying to sell their “fish” and show themselves to the world with almost no success. Most Christians aren’t being able to relay the real message. The Westminster assembly pastors found it right to have the first question of the catechism show us exactly where the beef is. Meaning the real deal, as far as the relationship to Christ being:” Question number 1:What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. So how do we do it? In the Larger Catechism the same question is answered in a more complete way, adding the word “fully” to the imperative to enjoy God as we, Christians glorify him forever and ever.

First, stop trying so hard. When we place our effort on the growth, on our witts, on our excellence we really show that our intention is to glorify ourselves, when glorifying God, means to rely on his Spirit to bring our numbers and our hearts to grow. So to enjoy God forever, means that you need to stop glorifying yourselves and advertising yourselves over the real issue that is that the Grace of our lord Jesus Christ saves us. And not what we have to offer. If we need something to show a watching world let it be as it says in Ephesians 2:7-9: “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
And so then, we become obedient to what Paul says in Romans 11:36: For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him is the glory forever! Amen.

Second, no matter what rejoice in the Lord. I learned one of the most valuable lessons in life while working part-time at a nursing home in Wyncote, PA. Once, I while cleaning one of the rooms for a new living-in guest, I witnessed one of the most effective scenarios to describe happiness. The 92 year old petite, well poised and proud lady, who was fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and make up perfectly applied, even though she was legally blind, was moving into the nursing home on Fernbrook Avenue. Her husband of 70 years had just passed away, making her move necessary. After many hours waiting patiently in the lobby, she smiled sweetly as I told her that I was almost done getting her room ready. As a nurse helped her to maneuver her walker to the elevator, I began to describe her little room, including the new sheets on the bed and curtains that I hung on the window. “I Love it!” she said, with the enthusiasm of an eight year old having just been presented with a new puppy.
“Mrs. Clarke, we haven’t gotten to the room yet!”
“Oh it’s just lovely!” she continued…
“But you haven’t seen it yet!” Said the nurse, butting in to the conversation.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Weather I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged… It’s how I arrange my heart and my mind. I’ve decided to love it.”

So where’s the beef? What is the value of your faith? What difference does Jesus make in your life? How do you show if you are a follower of Jesus, and if your church is harvesting and sowing the right attitude? Paul teaches the lesson that Mrs. Clarke taught me. That In Christ we need to decide on our attitude ahead of times. He wrote to the Philippians:

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:1-5).