When Men Die in a Perfect Storm of Sin

[This article appeared in the June 2020 issue of the WACMM newsletter - https://conta.cc/3eOnray]  "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer George Floyd Mentored a Generation of Young Men in Houston's Third Ward "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12 Behind all the problems in the world is sin (Genesis 3:15). Things are not the way they are supposed to be. We sense the world is a good thing gone bad. Sin curses and corrupts God's natural creation and every human being made in God's image. Viruses turn against us and attack us. Cells turn cancerous and metastasize. The gentle breezes of Eden's garden turn into deadly hurricanes. Arteries clog and become "widow makers." Cain murders his brother Abel and other fallen men likewise slay in thought and deed. Through the ages people denigrate and enslave one another (Romans 1). Racism, nihilism, narcissism, genderism, tribalism and every "ism" mock God and destroy God's image bearers. The Bible says that which is not of faith in Christ is sin; its payoff is death (Rom 6:23). Sin is at root is a bad news story. BUT ultimately it has One Remedy to the curse, delivered to us by One Man, Jesus Christ, who is the Good News. As we yearn for and seek justice let's remember that no one gets away with injustice or anything else that mocks God. All scores will be settled because there is a Sovereign King who is the Righteous Judge of the living and dead.   The shadow of death, despair and rebellion has fallen heavily on 2020. Covid-19 has taken hundreds of thousands of lives across the globe and robbed families of grieving their loved one. Racism has slain men in the streets. Cancer wages its deadly peril respects no age, stage or race. Depression drives many to take their own lives. Death comes in many forms. Yet in the end, we all die in one of two ways: in faith or in sin.  Below we highlight four men who've died recently in various circumstances so as to remind us life is hard, fragile and fleeting. They had faces, real lives, unique personal histories and legacies, and have grieving families and friends. GEORGE FLOYD (photo above) was slain on a street of Minneapolis by a man sworn to uphold the law and do justice but who corrupted that oath. Thousands mourn Floyd's death and protest how and why his life was tragically snuffed out. Seemingly millions know his name but few know anything about George Floyd ("Big Floyd") the man and his community work. Learn something Here DAVE PATRICK UNDERWOOD, a native of Richmond, took an oath  as a federal protective Service Officer to protect people and property. He was an African American man murdered on a street in Oakland CA while defending a federal court house from a rioting mob. Seemingly very few know his name; even fewer know anything about David Patrick Underwood ("Pat") the man. Learn something Here  DARRIN PATRICK was a St. Louis megachurch pastor and evangelical  "celebrity", who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound last month. He had been dismissed from the St. Louis church he founded and went through a multi-year restoration process. I had worked with Darrin; he spoke at a 2014 WACMM conference. Many knew him and benefited from his ministry yet few knew of his inner battle. Learn something about him Here RAVI ZACHARIAS, one of the world's foremost Christian  apologists, died last month after being ravaged by a rare form of cancer. Having worked with Ravi several times, I found him to be in all his brilliance one of the most humble and kindest men I've ever known. Millions around the world knew of Ravi and were impacted by his gospel ministry. Learn Here  Here LET US REMEMBER: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

What is a Christian Response to Injustice?  >Do justice & righteousness (Jer 22:3) >Comfort the oppressed (Eccles. 4:1) >Groan with grief (Rom. 8:22) >Lament before God (Ps. 13, 77) >Pray desperately (2 Chron. 20:12) >Be angry without sinning (Eph. 4:26) >Weep with the hurting (Rom. 12:15) >Rescue the oppressed (Prov. 31:9) >Pray for oppressors (Mt. 5:44) >Rebuke oppressors (Is. 1:17) >Speak against injustice (Eph. 5:11) >Repent your own injustices (Rm 2:1-4) >Do justice (Mic. 6:8) >Trust vengeance to God (Rm. 12:17-21) >Hope in Jesus' return and the Day when evil and tears shall be no more  (Rev. 21:4).  LAMENT AND PRAY WITH US: Join WACMM in prayer with our friends United We Pray Here     by Dave Brown, Director and Pastor, Washington Area Coalition of Men's Ministries (WACMM) dave@wacmm.org

Thinking About My Dad

The word “Father” is perhaps the most significant name of the God of the Bible. It occurs 1,488 times and sets Christianity apart from all other religions. 

God could have called himself anything but He chose to reveal himself as Father. It was Jesus’ favorite term for addressing God the Father. He prayed “Abba” – papa, daddy – a word of endearment, affection and intimacy. That was something unprecedented in Judaism and in world history. Amazingly God invites us to call him "Abba, Father.” As a dad and grandfather, I’m humbled to think I have been bestowed with a title that God claimed for himself.

For this Father’s Day let us remember that human fatherhood is patterned after divine fatherhood. Every one of us human fathers is an imperfect reflection of our perfectly loving, heavenly Father. Yet the foremost call of every father in this life is to live in such a way that his children glimpse what God the Father is like.

 

For many of us Fathers’ Day is not easy because we had or have a difficult relationship with our earthly father. Growing up we may not have really known him even if we lived with him. I know something about that. My dad wasn’t there for me. He was absent and we were estranged for much of my life.

My Dad and I never played catch, or hunted or fished together. We never worked on cars, hugged, or just hung out. He never saw me play ball, learn to swim or ride a bike or graduate from high school and college or get married.  We never really talked about sports, sex or much of anything else.

He never told me what it means to be a man, or about God and the things of God. I never heard the words, “I’m proud of you son”, “You have what it takes” or “I love you son.”

For most of my life my father was not there. Many of you know the wound of an absent dad. A man’s deepest wounds are not physical but wounds of the soul that render an orphan heart. They often come from the most important man in our lives.

God commands us fathers to care for our children as our Father in heaven lavishly cares for us and to teach them about and live lives of truth, honor and unconditional, sacrificial love.

Forty years ago at age 33, I came to faith in Jesus Christ and discovered “the greater love of the Father” that no earthly father can give. I read in Psalm 68:4 that “He is father to the fatherlessness” and realized that I was not fatherless.  My real Father is my Heavenly Father - the one we call “Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” He is Abba Father! Poppa ---Daddy!

In time, by God’s grace, I came to see my need to forgive my father for his absence. I also came to see his sin and brokenness. I began to pray for his soul. As his health deteriorated, my dad confessed and repented before the Lord. Then before drawing his last breath 22 years ago, he made things right with me and the rest of my family.

My dad died in faith and because of that this one thing I know for sure - my dad will be a bigger part of my future than he ever was of my past!

If you’re a father, you can reclaim the damaged relationship with your children and others through Christ. You can commit to leaving legacy to your children of a father who loves them and their mother with the unconditional, sacrificial love of God.

Likewise, God can reconcile you to an absent dad. In Malachi 4:6 we read that God "will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers…” That’s exactly what God the Father did for me and my dad! The God of all comfort can fill your aching void and reconcile your broken relationships.

Dave Brown is director and pastor-at-large of the Washington Area Coalition of Men’s Ministries (WACMM), a non-profit, non-denominational organization that helps pastors, church staff and men’s leaders across the region in their ministry to men. He also pastors at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg MD.

Only What Is Done For Christ Will Last

(The following is by Garrett Kell, pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria VA)

We are not all promised the same things in this life. Some of us will know much joy, others of us much sorrow. Some will be given fame and fortune, others nothing but obscurity and poverty.

But one thing we are all promised is that our life will soon end and we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). There, before our Maker, we will give an account of how we used the days, words, relationships, dollars, skills, and opportunities God entrusted to us.

Charles Thomas Studd, who served as a British missionary to China, penned a famous poem that helps us to consider the only worthy way to use the life God has given to us—for Christ! May God help us to be ever mindful that only what is done for Christ will last. Lord, help us.

Only One Life

By C.T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, 

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. 

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12