As a pastor and former student pastor, I have never accepted the low expectations we project onto our teens. I taught my students doctrine and theology despite the objections from some parents and church members that “they were too young to handle it.” On the contrary, they devoured deep truths from Scripture. They asked hard questions and looked at me in confusion when adults in our congregation asked questions of Scripture whose answers were obvious to the students. From my experience as a student pastor, it was clear that we sell our students short. We expect much too little from them as students of the Scriptures. We also expect too little from them regarding applying what they know of the Scriptures to their daily walk with Jesus Christ.

Four years ago, a pair of nineteen-year-old twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris, wrote a book entitled Do Hard Things in response to the low expectations commonly placed upon teenagers. In the book they point out that the word teenager was first used in print in 1941. They add that the concept of adolescence as we know it today actually began in the early 20th century. The twin brothers claim, “Prior to the early twentieth century and, really, throughout history, people were either children or adults.”(30) As examples of what young people did prior to this time period, the Harrises mention that George Washington began surveying Culpeper County at the age of seventeen, and David Farragut commanded his first ship at the age of twelve. Their argument is that the low expectations projected onto today’s youth hinder them from accomplishing such feats.

Their focus in writing is not on youth doing hard things for earthly gain. The twin authors encourage students to join a rebelution that involves teens doing hard things for the Kingdom of Christ. The Harrises charge young Christ-followers to do things: that are outside your comfort zone, that go beyond what is expected or required, that are too big to accomplish alone, that don’t earn an immediate payoff, and that challenge the cultural norm.(57-59) They present numerous examples of students who have done hard things to advance the gospel ministry in the world. Brett and Alex conclude their book by presenting tools teens can use to set step-by-step goals for doing hard things.

Do Hard Things is a timely call for students to rise up in a rebelution focused on accomplishing hard things for the glory of God. The Harris brothers should be commended for their tenacious optimism in God’s ability to use young people who are dependent on Him to advance the gospel. Their book reminds me of Paul’s charge to Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Especially, during this time of year when we celebrate graduations across the country, I recommend you buy Do Hard Things for the students you know. If you are a parent of a youth, you will benefit from reading the book as well. The book’s message of doing hard things for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom is beneficial and timely for Christ-followers of any age. I’ve purchased two copies of this book by the Harris twins for my twins. I pray they too will do hard things for the Kingdom.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Recently, various media reports indicate that the Chief of Chaplains sent a letter to Catholic chaplains prohibiting them from reading a letter sent by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio regarding Catholic opposition to a the health care law’s requirement that religious entities provide insurance coverage for birth control pills and other contraceptive measures.  Instead, the Chief of Chaplains communicated that Catholic chaplains may read a revised version of the letter that struck language the Chief reportedly claimed was potentially harmful to “military order and discipline.”  I am familiar with the language the Chief reportedly used in his response to the letter.  It is the same language that surfaces when the Army refuses to accommodate particular faith groups whose beliefs and practices might jeopardize unit cohesion and morale i.e. Satanists.

I am aware that the Chief’s concern was reportedly regarding a sentence in the Archbishop’s letter that might encourage civil disobedience among service members.  The Army reportedly stated that the Chief’s order was not censorship because his concern did not pertain directly to the issue of conscience regarding contraception that the letter addressed.  He did allow Catholic chaplains to read the letter omitting the allegedly problematic sentence; however, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.  The Chief’s order censored the chaplains from reading, in full, a letter from a representative of their endorsing agent regarding a matter of conscience.

Unfortunately, the Chief’s response might be an indicator that evangelical chaplains who serve in the military are on a slippery slope regarding matters of conscience.  Chaplains who maintain and preach passages of Scripture that support a biblical view of marriage as being between a man and a woman could potentially find themselves censored as well,  because such statements potentially jeopardize “military order and discipline” or “unit cohesion and morale.”  It is only a matter of time before the Army will ask chaplains to choose between fidelity to God’s Word in their preaching or to remain silent about various biblical teachings in order to maintain “military order and discipline.”

In response, we should pray for our Southern Baptist chaplains serving in the military.  We should also write to our congressmen and senators regarding our concerns on this matter.  Southern Baptist chaplains must have the freedom to preach the entire counsel of God from the pulpits of post chapels during their Protestant worship services.  They must be able to preach without fear of censorship or reprimand from their superiors.  They serve as our missionaries and must have the freedom to represent their endorsing agent (the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention) with unchallenged biblical fidelity.  For the Army to state that this matter regarding the Archbishop’s letter is not an issue of censorship or an attack on religious freedom is an exercise in splitting hairs at best.  It is an issue of religious liberty, and we as Christ followers must respond.

By His Grace,

Dr. Tim McKnight

When Christmas comes, it seems like everyone’s calendar kicks in the afterburners.  We rush from store to store or from Christmas party to Christmas party.  We try to prepare our homes for guests who will celebrate Christmas with us.  We spend time cooking, preparing, ….well you get the picture.

I am struck by the irony that we sing “Silent Night” in the midst of all this chaotic activity.  It makes me wonder whether we might want to take a different approach in celebrating Christmas.  I am reminded of a story from the Gospel of Luke:

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village.  And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.  Martha was distracted with much serving.  And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.”  But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.  Luke 10:38-42 ESV

So many Christmases, we are like Martha.  We are busy serving in the church, or shopping, or preparing room for our guests, when in the midst of the activity, there is no room for Jesus in our days.  Like Martha, we are distracted from the one thing that we need to do–sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him.  We fail to take time to focus our hearts on the miracle of Christmas, Emmanuel, who is God with us.

Who will you be this Christmas season, Martha or Mary?

Will you be distracted by serving?

Or will you sit at the feet of Jesus, worship Him, and learn from Him?

By His Grace,

Dr. Tim McKnight

For many Americans, Christmas is simply a time that we give gifts to our loved ones and receive gifts from them.  There is no understanding regarding how the tradition of giving and receiving gifts at Christmas started.  There is no focus upon the biblical account of the greatest Gift that was ever given to mankind.  We give and receive material gifts; however, we fail to receive and cherish the Gift who is Jesus Christ.

I remind you of the words to the Christmas carol we often sing this time of year:  “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!  Let earth receive her King!  Let every heart prepare Him room, and Heaven and nature sing.”  Is there room in your heart for Jesus Christ this Christmas?  Is He the focus of your festivities and celebrations?  Is He the main Gift you cherish to give and receive?

Hear the words the angels spoke over 2000 years ago to a group of lowly shepherds tending their flocks on the hills near Bethlehem:

‘Fear not, for behold I bring you good news  of a great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you:  you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!’

This woman, who allegedly sprayed her fellow shoppers to protect her precious gift, missed it.  She failed to focus upon the gift of Christ Jesus, who is the Reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  Because we have received Christ Jesus as our Gift, Christ followers give gifts to people we love in honor of Him.

Have you received Him?  “Let every heart prepare Him room!”

By His Grace,

Dr. Tim McKnight

We also visited the fish hatchery and chicken farm that gifts from Lakeview Baptist Church helped to make possible.  This Impact Center allows people from one of our national pastor’s neighborhoods to learn a trade that will help support their families.  By selling fish and chickens, they are able to receive provision for their physical needs.  The Impact Center allows our national team the opportunity to minister the love of Christ to its neighbors and to receive opportunities to share the gospel verbally.

The last two days, our team has been conducting evangelism in the neighborhoods.  They have also ministered through health clinics in these areas.  They have had the opportunity to pray with a number of the people there and share the gospel with them.  Again, our national team has been outstanding in its support of these mission efforts.

The last three days, I have been teaching pastors from this country how they can love their neighbors, tell their stories, and make disciples.  These seminar meetings have been exciting and humbling.  Many of these pastors are risking their lives by sharing the gospel with their neighbors.  I have been honored to be a part of their training process in evangelism.

Last night we visited a Chinese church here where I was privileged to preach.  The pastor is very committed to the Great Commission and has planted two growing churches in the last seven years.  We enjoyed worshiping with his congregation and sharing in some great Chinese food after the service.

Please continue to pray for our team as we share the gospel with the people of this country and encourage our national team members.

Loving God.  Loving Our Neighbors.  Telling Our Stories.  Making Disciples.  Here in the Pacific Rim.

By His Grace,

Dr. Tim McKnight

Our team was impressed today about the unity that we have in Christ Jesus even though we might not have  a common language or culture.  Today we caught a glimpse of how it will be in Heaven where we will worship together with people of every tribe, tongue, and nation.  It was an awesome time worshiping our Lord Jesus.

One of our team members had the opportunity to witness to a Muslim bus driver today.  When asked what his purpose in life was, he said, “Getting ready for the next life.”  He did not, however, know how one prepares for the next life.  This gave our team member an opportunity to share the gospel.  We are praying for this man, that God will open his heart to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

We look forward to more opportunities to share the gospel tomorrow as we work alongside our brothers and sisters here in the Pacific Rim.   All our team is well and excited about what God is doing.

Continue to pray for us our team continues to serve in the Pacific Rim.

Dr. Tim McKnight

He writes, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…” (Ephesians 6:14a ESV).  The belt held together the other pieces of the warrior’s armor.  It freed the warrior to run and move by binding up his garment.  It also allowed means by which the warrior could hang his sword.  The belt of truth to which Paul refers is the truth of the Word of God.  God’s Word holds all of the Christian’s armor together.  The truth of Scripture frees the Christ follower to worship and serve His Lord.  Scripture states, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 ESV).  The truth of Scripture holds all of the other parts of armor together.  It holds the Christ follower together.  Regarding the belt of truth, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes:

Or, to express it more particularly, it means that I do not merely look at the Bible intellectually and study it as if it were, say, the Works of Shakespeare, but rather that its truth gets hold of me and governs my whole attitude to the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to everything that happens.  I have girded myself with it.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Christian Soldier, 189

Next, Paul states, “and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b ESV).  The Roman breastplate extended from the shoulders to the upper thighs. It protected the vital organs and the intestines.  The breastplate was crucial to the survival of the Roman soldier.  The righteousness referred to in this passage is not our own, but the righteousness of Christ.  His righteousness is imputed to believers when we surrender in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ.  Paul speaks of this righteousness when he writes:

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith…” (Philippians 3:8b-9 ESV).

The righteousness of Christ covers the believer and protects him in the spiritual battle.  When Satan accuses the Christ follower, because of the imputed righteousness of Jesus, the believer stands before God just as if he never sinned.

Paul continues, “and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15 ESV).  The Roman soldier had excellent footwear.  It allowed him to travel great distances quickly.  The traction that his footwear provided also enabled him to stand his ground during combat.  The gospel is meant to be shared with people of every tribe, tongue, and nation.  Christ followers are sent out with the gospel to the ends of the earth.  We also stand on the truth of the gospel in the midst of this spiritual battle.  The gospel of Jesus Christ grants us sure footing for the conflict.  As we share the gospel, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the enemy loses ground and the Kingdom advances.

Regarding assaults from the enemy, Paul encourages, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16 ESV).  The Roman soldier’s shield was about the size of a door.  It was wrapped in leather.  The soldiers would soak their shields in water, saturating the leather.  When flaming arrows hit their shields, they would be extinguished by the damp leather.  Our faith in Christ is our shield against the attacks of the enemy.  We are clothed in His righteousness and forgiven because of His atonement for our sins.  Our faith in His sufficiency to forgive and cover our sins is a shield against the arrows of accusation the enemy launches against us.

The next piece of the Christ follower’s armor is “the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17a).  The helmet protects the head from receiving a mortal blow.  When we look at the Christian fight, it is largely a battle of the mind.  Paul writes about the transformation of mind that occurs at salvation stating, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2 ESV).  Our minds are to be focused on Christ Jesus.  We are to guard our thought life by focusing on God’s Word.  Without the transformation that comes from salvation, our minds are dead to God and alive to sin.  With salvation, God grants us new minds and a new heart with which we are dead to sin and alive to Him.

The final piece of battle equipment Paul mentions is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17b ESV).  Roman soldiers carried a short broadsword with them into battle.  The fighting with such swords was up close and personal.  When Paul mentions “the sword of the Spirit,”  he reminds us that we are wrestling up close with the enemy.  The battle is so close we are even at times fighting an internal fight between our new nature in Christ and our old nature of sin.  We cannot fight without the Word of God.  It is important that we read the Word of God to prepare effectively for battle.  We should also memorize the Word of God so that we will have our sword handy at all times.  Without the Word of God, we are unarmed and vulnerable.

Finally, Paul writes, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18a ESV).  Prayer is the power behind the Christian warrior.  We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  We are totally dependent upon Him and have no strength on our own.  When we pray, we acknowledge our helplessness and God’s omnipotence.  When we humble ourselves before Him, we acknowledge that only He can grant us victory in the spiritual battles we fight.  The Christian warrior must “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10 ESV).

I pray we will use the battle equipment God has given us to fight the good fight.

By His Grace,

Tim McKnight, Ph.D.

Our Commander in Chief is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is the One of whom Paul writes:

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities –all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church, He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  Colossians 1:16-18  ESV

As we go into battle, we can fully rely upon the power and might of our Commander in Chief Jesus Christ.  He is our Sovereign God who has authority over everything.  Before He ascended into Heaven, He began our marching orders with the statement, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  Matthew 28:18 ESV  He wanted His disciples to know that they were covered by and must rely upon His authority.

Speaking of Jesus’ authority and power, the Apostle Paul writes:

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

We fight in the name of Jesus Christ.  We fight in His power and authority.  We can trust in His ability because He is the Lord of Host.  As we contend against spiritual powers and principalities, we can say with the Psalmist, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  Psalm 20:7  ESV

We can trust our Commander in Chief and rely upon His strength as we fight these battles in a war He has already won.

Next post, we will examine the equipment our Commander in Chief issues us for the fight.

Keep fighting the good fight.  Until then….

By His Grace,

Tim McKnight, Ph.D.