The Church

I originally posted this article last July. I really would like for you to consider the issues that are raised in this article and comment at will.

"During our discussion time, I brought up an interesting point concerning why people don't like church or Christianity. Now we all know that there are people in the world who claim that they do not believe in God, yet at the same time we see that they actually do believe in a god, whether that god is in some religion or in themselves. Looking out over our generation it's easy to see many who are disillusioned with the church. Why? Well, I think it isn't so much that they do not believe in God but that they have a hard time believing in the Church. Just ask someone you know that used to attend church why they stopped. Most of the time they are going to tell you a story of how someone from the church wronged them or they discovered hypocrisy in the church. It takes a lot of faith to believe in the church does it not? One of the most historic creeds of the church is the Apostle's Creed. This creed was used to summarize the message of the Bible, the Gospel. This Creed was very important; it was so important that people had to recite it at baptism. There is a phrase at the end of the creed that usually gets overlooked or gives people the heeby geebies because of their association with the terminology. The Creed begins with 'I believe,' so everything that comes after that is prefixed with 'I believe.' The last section of the Creed states 'I believe...in the holy catholic church.' Did you hear that? They had to state that they believe in the church! Now here is my disclaimer, 'catholic' is definitely not referring to the Roman Catholic church, rather it is meaning 'universal church.'
Now I want you to know that by no means am I seeking to bash the church, the beautiful bride of Christ. Rather I love her and want to see her become more beautiful. I do recognize that I am counted among that number in the bride of Christ, and I love her. Therefore, I want to call her to that attention. When we ask the question 'Who is God?' we are not going to find an exhaustive answer, but rather we are quickly going to find out more about ourselves. We are the church, the called out ones from every tongue and tribe and nation, all over the world. We are called to literally be the body of Christ. Do you get that? We are His body here on earth and He is our head. He moves us, His body parts, by telling us what to do and how to conduct ourselves through His Word and His Spirit. So how are you doing? Are living out the call on your life? Can people around you say, 'Yes, that guy/girl is definitely part of the church?"

Do you have same-sex attraction?

I know the title of this post is kind of eye-catching and controversial, however; I do know that this is a serious topic to address. I must make a disclaimer here, namely that I do not consider myself by any means to be an expert on this topic. But I do have experience in counseling people who orient their lives as homosexuals.

If you were to sit down and read the headlines of the newspaper or a news website you would probably see one having to do with homosexuality. You hear it alluded to and preached against in the pulpit all the time. But it is not very often that you hear someone say to those who are practicing homosexuals that Jesus has died on the cross for them because He loves them and wants a relationship with them. Now some of you reading this post might be thinking that Mike Ervin is a liberal now but just wait one second. Ever since I have been converted God has sovereignly brought me across the path of people who tell me of their experience with same-sex attraction. They have asked me what God thinks of them and why God made them that way. One person I have cousneld told me that he had yet to find a Christian who will work with him. This person also told me that if there is a way out of this attraction then he would take it. Whenever I am asked what God thinks of them I point them to passages concerning homosexuality. They find that God condemns the practice as sin and an abomination to the Lord. But that is only the first step, for I then walk them through the story of redemption and point them to the cross of Christ.

When I was at Moody we had a chapel focus on same-sex attraction. Those sessions proved to be very helpful for me in dealing with unbiblical and non-Christlike angst for homosexuals. I began to really see them for how the Lord sees them - sinners who can only be saved by the grace of God, just like me, and you! This article is not aimed at being some kind of argument; rather it is a testimony of the grace of God! I personally have known and met people who have been living in a homosexual orientation who have been converted and are now walking in victory over same-sex attraction.

I met a person like this while I was at Moody, Christopher Yuan. He now speaks on behalf of God's grace in his life concerning same-sex attraction. Here is a link to his website: http://www.christopheryuan.com

A few weeks ago Chris sent me a link to a video of his testimony. I know that it will be a blessing and challenge to you whether or not you have same-sex attraction or not:
Chris's Testimony: One who you might think would never get saved: From Homosexual Drug dealer to Joint Heir with Christ!

If you do have same-sex attraction go to this website:
Setting Captives Free

SOLI DEO GLORIA

Heritage: Are you leaving one of victory or defeat?

This past Sunday was dubbed by the leadership as 'Heritage Sunday: Building Homes that Glorify God.' In effort to give the flock a biblical focus on what is truly important.

Therefore, I thought and prayed of how I can speak about this topic to Timothy's Well. The Lord led me to the small New Testament book of Jude. I really love this little letter for from it I have learned the biblical importance of knowing your history, knowing what you believe, and knowing who you believe. So this past Sunday I began a study oncerning the main point of this letter.

First let me give the context from which this letter was written.
From the introduction in the ESV:

"The letter of Jude warned against those who, having gained admission to the church, were perverting the grace of God, denying “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). Jude used Old Testament examples to warn of these “blemishes” on the church. He wrote multiple denunciations of these ungodly people who “defile the flesh” and “reject authority” (v. 8). In contrast, he urged Christians to continue in godliness and love toward such people, convincing some, “snatching them out of the fire” (vv. 22–23). The book of Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture (vv. 24–25). Jude was probably the half brother of Jesus Christ and the brother of James. Jude likely wrote in about a.d. 69."

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton

How does this context apply to the church today?

Burying A Friend

A month has gone by since my last post. Much has happened since then that has contributed to change and transition in my life. It all happened on Tuesday, August 21.

That morning I awoke with a new task ahead of me, my first day of teaching at Twin City Christian Academy. The day went so well! I was able to begin all my classes by laying the foundation of a Christian Worldview and it seemed that all my students were eager to soak up the truth I presented. I realized that this was going to be the routine for the next nine months of my life.

As I was reading my email after school, I discovered that one of my childhood friends passed away. Matt Potter, one of my closest friends. I immediately drove to his mother's house to find her and Matt's older brother mourning. Susan, Matt's mother asked me to do the funeral services. I agreed.

Daunting Dangerous Dean

As I type this post Hurricane Dean is a growing Category 4 storm with stats like: Winds - 150 mph, and could dump 20 in. of rain. Right now it is on a collision course for Mexico. People are evacuating like there is no tomorrow. Foxnews reports that people are sleeping on the floors of the airport just to get a flight out to anywhere as long it is away from Dean. People might be leaving, to the risk of a high death toll now limited but does that excuse the church from being on her toes to help? No way! We need to ready to jump in to these disaster zones. We need to be more ready than the government. It is our mandate to take opportunities like these to show the lost and dying world the action of the gospel! For the Gospel of Christ is alive and powerful! Therefore, let's pray that the Lord will send laborers to this field of harvest. Maybe you will be one of them.

End of Summer!

Well friends, the end of summer has arrived. Now it's time to go back to our school/work schedules. We had so much fun last night with everyone coming to my apartment for the end of summer bash. I want you all to know that I thank the Lord for each of you in prayer. I am excited to see each of you grow in your walk with Christ, and I am excited to see the gospel be displayed in your lives. May you never forget that involvement is grounded in the gospel. In fact, it is a gospel mandate. Each of you have orphans and widows in your midst, God has placed them in your lives so that He can show forth His Fatherhood and you get to be a part of that! WOW! How amazing and humbling! So often we seem not to care enough about the people around us be it at school, work, or neighbors to get involved in their lives. The gospel gives us a mandate to be involved, and it motivates us to get involved because it His power that transforms lives, not our power.
Grace and Peace!
Michael

Back to College Party!

When: This Sunday night after church, around 7:30
Where: My Apartment
Food: Grilled Brats, Hot- Dogs, Burgers
Bring: Yourself and pop (not soda), water or juice

I am looking forward to seeing everyone!