Joel's Travels

Theology | Bible Study | Leadership

The View Never Saved Anyone

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The View

As beautiful as the view was, it wasn’t enough. I woke up at 5am with my friend Jason so we could hike up Hanauma Bay Ridge in Hawaii. We wanted to see the sunrise before we left Hawaii after the conference we just attended. By the time I got to the top and watched the sunrise I was stunned. It was breathtaking. The warm orange glow began to burn through the dark clouds. In an instant it burned right through and lit up the bay in front of me. And then I had the realization. As powerful as this view was, it was not enough. This view in and of itself did not proclaim the Gospel to me. I began to consider how many people have hiked up to this very same point, surveyed the beauty in front of them, and then walked down without ever hearing the beautiful proclamation of the gospel. That God not only created all this but Christ  conquered sin and death that he might restore us in our relationship with God.

What Does Creation Do?

It causes us to ask questions. How did something so beautiful come into existence. Who crafted such beauty? John Calvin is correct when discussing creation he states, “The clarity of God’s self disclosure strips us of every excuse”. The excuse he describes is the acknowledgment that there is in fact something greater than us. We must consider and come to the realization of our finite stature in the midst of this creator. However, in regards to our ability to take the next leap in knowing God, Calvin rightly states, ”

“But although the Lord represents both himself and his everlasting Kingdom in the mirror of his works with very great clarity, such is our stupidity that we grow increasingly dull toward so manifest testimonies and they flow away without profiting us” – John Calvin

Calvin

I fell trap to this stupidity. Almost immediately as I walked down away from the sunrise and the view, I began focus on everything except that which would profit me. As soon as I realized this was happening, I came to the conclusion that the scenic beauty was not enough.

What Creation Does Not Do:

  • Proclaim who Jesus is
  • Declare that God created all things simply by speaking it into existence
  • Identify our great sin and need for rescue
  • Proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
Creation does not Proclaim the Gospel to us, but when we know the Gospel; creation becomes so much more impressive.

As we understand the Gospel and the goodness of God we tend to grow in our appreciation for all created things. Not only do we value creation but we are lead down a road where we realize that God values us even more than creation. Unlike creation, in Genesis 1 he blesses man and gives man dominion over created things.

Clear and Bold Proclamation of the Gospel is Necessary:

If creation is not enough, than the responsibility falls on Christians to clearly communicate the goodness of the Gospel.

It’s not ok to wait and hope that someone else will share the gospel. – @Muddamalle

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Or that creation itself can do the work of gospel proclamation. That is our job. We declare the goodness of the gospel and then rely on the Holy Spirit to do the work of conviction, restoration, and sanctification.

Enjoy the goodness of Gods creation. And allow the next sunrise or sunset you see to remind you of the opportunities that you have to share the gospel.

Hanauma Bay

Bridging Two Worlds: Music and the Word

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Bridging Two WorldsI remember sitting in a church planting workshop and hearing a pastor and the worship leader talking through their process for collaborating weekend services. They essentially unpacked how they were able to neatly categorize each part of the service and allocate responsibility to either the teaching pastor or the worship leader. They met once a week for 15 minutes to run over the set list, identify any transitions, and then they were off. I left thinking that there has to be more to the story. Is it really that easy to just separate roles and responsibilities and leave it like that?
This caused me to consider the implication of this type of system. I believe the results could be challenging and create an environment that fosters competition and segmentation. Be on the look out for the following:

1. Areas of ownership versus collaborative ownership

The term “areas of ownership” is common among businesses and teams. Essentially, what are you responsible for, what do you own? When it comes to a worship service, consider that you don’t “own” anything. Rather, it is a collaborative effort where all the pieces of a service come together to honor God, make much of Him, and clearly and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Changing your perspective from individualistic to “holistic” will in return cause you to value all the other parts of the service.

2. Compartmentalizing worship in song and preaching.

It can become easy to view the worship service in parts. The first being the singing and the second being the preaching of the Word, view them as continuation. Worship in song is a communal experience, knitting the hearts of believers together. It causes us to remember who God is and His goodness. Further, it causes us to consider what Christ has done and is continuing to do in our lives and in the life of those around us. As our heart posture is set correct before the Lord, we begin to dive into his Word. Engaging the text and being encouraged and admonished through the proclamation of the Gospel is important. These are not two different things, they are simply a continuation of one thing.

3. Team mentality versus a church and family mentality

The conclusion of the first two issues eventually results in a team mentality. All of sudden the worship team begins to create a “mini-team” within a larger team. However, the motivation, values, and mission of this mini-team can begin to stray from that of the church. There should never be a team mentality that disrupts the vision and mission of the church. Rather, focus on the development of a church family mentality. You do serve in “mini-teams” and these teams are formed to fulfill and execute the mission and vision of the church.

4. Diminishing appreciation and value for the weekend service as a whole

If you find yourself in a place of segmentation and separation, you will eventually begin to resent the service. This is dangerous to say the least. In my generation this diminishing appreciation and value for the gathering of believers has resulted in a “non-church going” movement. I’ve seen people my age disengage from the local church and choose to meet in small groups or leverage technology to live stream church services. A word of warning, watching a live stream of a church service is NOT you being apart of a local church.

So what is the solution?

How do we bridge the gap that can be present between the preaching and singing during church?
The answer lies in the relationship between the pastor and worship leader. Even more important is their understanding of corporate worship and how they individually work together as a team to see the Gospel preached and to edify the body, equip the saints, and bring conviction to those who are not near Christ.
Unity is everything.

Recommended Resources:

Here are some tools and resources that may be helpful to you as you pursue bridging the gap.

  • The Worship Initiative – My friends Shane and Shane have done a tremendous job modeling how the Word and Song are meant to work cohesively together
  • Planning Center Online – I’ve had the opportunity to work with these guys in the past. Not only do they have a genuine love for the church, they have the best planning solution for your church service and various ministries.
  • The Church Collective – Recently I did a podcast interview with them. Ryan and Brian are awesome. They love the church and want to provide resources that will be a blessing to local churches
  • Logos Bible Software – Shameless plug here. Honestly, both the Worship Leader and Teaching Pastor need to be serious students of the Word. This will enable you to have conversations that are rooted in Biblical truth and not merely opinion.

Being Road Sick

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Being Road Sick
I get hesitant to tell people what I do for a living. No matter how I phrase it or describe it people always leave thinking that traveling around the U.S and even to international locations is so incredible. They all think I must be living the life. For those of you that travel for work are already thinking, “they have no idea what they are talking about”.

HONESTY:

I’ll be honest. Traveling is fun. I get to meet a lot of incredible people and see some pretty awesome places. However, the average trip for me goes something like this.
  1. Wake up at 3am to catch a shuttle to Seattle (2.5 hour shuttle ride).
  2. Catch a flight from Seattle to (name the location).
  3. Land and grab a rental car
  4. Drive to the hotel and check in
  5. Head to the conference venue to set up and test audio and video
  6. During the conference I am up at 6:30am and back to the hotel (as I was writing this I actually called the hotel “home” thats how bad it is!). I repeat this while I am at the conference and have to find some time to grab some food.
  7. Drop off the rental car, catch a flight, catch a shuttle, and get home usually around 11pm.
Glamorous enough for you? If you answered yes, Faithlife is hiring.

MY LITTLE SECRET:

Now for the little secret…there are parts of the job that I really love. When I get on a stage and present Logos in front of crowds up 10,000 people it is a thrill. Even better is the response from the crowd when I nail a joke or illustration and they are blown away by how easy it can be to study God’s Word. Some of these things are addicting and there is an adrenaline rush that I can never adequately describe. The only way to experience it is to do it.
Then I get home. I am greeted by an incredible wife that has held down the fort for the last 3-4 days while raising our three kids. Now, when I’m home there is not the same adrenaline rush. There is no place that I would rather be, but the experience of travel can create a false sense of reality. Sometimes I lay awake and begin to dream about the next big conference. And then it hits. I’ve not only created a false sense of reality I am waiting for the next experience.

REALITY:

The conference life and travel is NOT the real world. It is a job. My life is at home and my joy and satisfaction comes first from my understanding of who Christ is and what he has done. Second, it comes from my loving wife, adorable three boys, and even a naughty dog.
Every time I catch myself being road sick I literally preach the Gospel to myself. I have to remember my priorities and what real living is. Authentic relationships with my family and friends.
Some of you may be reading this and are thinking that this may not apply to you, but it does. When was the last time you found yourself dreaming about that dream job, house, career, or anything that is not your identity in Christ and the joy you get from your family? It’s in these times when you begin to long for something that will not satisfy you. In fact, its a cheap substitute that always leaves you empty apart from the greatness of knowing Christ and being known by him.
Philippians 3:8 [widescreen]

My Centrality Leads to Brokenness

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I was fifteen years old watching Passion One Day. I had just finished listening to incredible worship with Charlie Hall and Chris Tomlin, and then it was time for the preaching of the Word. In walks an older gentleman in a three piece suit. He was introduced as Dr. John Piper. I thought, time to leave and take a break. By God’s grace I sat through and listened to this amazing man of God preach on the centrality of the Gospel and the supremacy of Christ. The most important question that he asked rings in my head today and I would ask you to consider it now.

Are you more satisfied in Christ when he exalts you, makes much of you, and in your exaltation he is glorified. Or are more satisfied in Christ when he destroys you, breaks you, the world will never know your name, and in that you bring utmost glory to God?

Take a moment and really consider this. It’s a question I ask of myself continuously and it is a sobering reminder of my pride. I am reminded that there is a part of me that attempts to dethrone the creator of the universe and replace His centrality with my own. Yet, the honest truth is that when we attempt to become central in all things it only yields to utter brokenness. We are not capable in the slightest to fix ourselves, our families, our world, or our culture. And the fact that our behavior proves that we think we can is evidence of our pride and our lack of understanding the greatness and majesty of God. There is no need to turn any further than the very first sentences of Genesis 1.

In. The. Beginning. God.

Prior to all created things, existence, nature, matter, there was God. And God in the beginning God initiated an action, he created through his breath and His Word, all things to come into existences (John 1, Col 1:15-20). Therefore, the center piece and focal point of all creation and history is contingent upon God. He is preeminent in all things and our right understanding of who He is and what He has done shifts our perspective of ourselves and our capabilities.

Take a moment to meditate on these scriptures:

John 1:1 [widescreen]

Colossians 1:16 [widescreen]

While my centrality leads to utter brokenness and failure, the centrality of Christ leads to salvation, freedom, and true liberation.

While my centrality leads to utter brokenness and failure, the centrality of Christ leads to…

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What Can 50 Shades Teach Us?

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50 Shades

Answer: That our culture, society, and world is in desperate need of Jesus.

First, if you want to read a great post about 50 shades here are two that I would recommend

Kevin DeYoungs Post – Gospel Coalition

Nitty Gritty Love

Now, an encouragement and word of caution. In all honesty I don’t know how much mental focus and time 50 shades deserves. Actually, I do..not much. There are certain things that our culture produces that we need to simply reject. 50 shades is one of those things. It is not helpful, meaningful, nor does it provide any benefit for us or our society at large.

However, 50 shades can teach us something. It can teach us what our society and culture is longing for. The underlying themes and motives for the fanaticism around this book/movie seem to be a desire to find a sense of freedom, liberation (sexual, emotional, relational), and ultimately a desire to be wanted uniquely and intimately. I can think of no other message than the Gospel for these needs. The fact is true freedom and liberation is found when we submit ourselves to the perfect kingship of Jesus. The sacrifice of Christ was great and His work in rescuing us from sin and death was final. Colossians 1:13-14 explains what took place on our behalf for the glory of Christ.

Colossians 1:13–14 [widescreen]

Finally, lets spend less time talking about this book/movie and more time figuring out how we can engage this dark world with the message of the Gospel. Here is one practical thing I plan on doing.

  • I have three sons. I want to model to them what it looks like to be Godly men. My aunt Michelle wrote a post I referred to earlier. In it she says that girls seem to want Mr. Grey’s not Mr. Darcy’s in todays culture. I’m planning on raising 3 Mr. Darcy’s #TeamDarcy. But really, I want to raise three boys that grow up to be men of God and reflect the character and nature of Jesus. None of which is embodied in Mr. Grey.

Now, what can you do?

6 Tim Keller Quotes on Gospel Renewal

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The Reason for God Quote

If you have been paying attention to my social feed at all you may have noticed an insane amount of Tim Keller quotes. There is a reason for this, aside from the fact that Keller is brilliant. I am currently in a church planting class in Seminary and Keller’s books “Center Church” and “The Reason for God” are key resources. These books are gospel saturated and leaves the reader longing for the gospel not just for themselves but for the gospel to transform the communities that they live in.

One particular section covers Gospel Renewal. Keller is immensely helpful when it comes to unpacking what biblical revival looks like, and points us to Gospel Renewal as the catalyst for Biblical Revival. Most importantly, Keller points out that revival is not something that we can cause, rather it is something that God does. The following are 6 quotes that encouraged me, and I pray also encourage you.

  1. “Revivals and renewals are necessary because the default mode of the human heart is works-righteousness”
  2. “Because we don’t really believe the gospel deep down – because we are living as if we save our selves – our hearts find ways of either rejecting or reengineering the doctrine (as in liberal theology)”
  3. “All revivals are seasons in which the ordinary operations of the Holy Spirit are intensified many-fold”
  4. “You must let the gospel argue with you. You must let the gospel sink down deeply until it changes your views and the structures of your motivation. You must be trained and discipled by the gospel. The gospel, if it is truly believed, helps us out of the extreme neediness that is natural to the human heart.”
  5. “Holiness affects both the private and civic lives of Christians”
  6. “Ultimately, we can only prepare for revival; we can’t really bring it about. God must send it.”

What are your favorite quotes that relate to renewal, revival, and the Gospel?

Bonus quote:

“Personal gospel renewal means the gospel doctrines of sin and grace are actually experienced, not just known intellectually”

When Preferences Become Convictions

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John Wesley Quote

Although a difference in opinions or modes of worship may prevent an entire external union; yet need it prevent our union in affection? – John Wesley

This las year I’ve had the privilege of traveling to various conferences that have roots in a variety of streams, traditions, and denominations. Interestingly, while some of these conferences have a clear dividing line in terms of secondary issues concerning doctrine, theology, or church ordinance, the essentials remain the essentials. Further, it seems that at times the body of Christ has mistakenly taken preferences and turned them into convictions which in turn become dividing lines amongst brothers and sisters in Christ.

As I consider this past year I am encouraged by the conferences I attended. In fact, the church at large would benefit from each other. While it seems that there is a resurgence of a pursuit of Christian unity, this really should be a priority for church and ministry leaders. I love what John Wesley says regarding church unity.

Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? – John Wesley

While it is inevitable that there are differences of opinions, the challenge is when those opinions become convictions. Rampant examples of this occurring in the local church are:

Music

Music may be the most visible preference that can quickly become a conviction for some. In the past I have served as a Worship Leader/Pastor and so I find myself very sensitive to conversations involving music type, style, and creativity in the arts. In my experience, a major challenge is two fold. First, there are a lot of young and immature worship leaders out there (I was in this group when I first started). These young and restless worship leaders have a chip on their shoulder and the burden to bring excellence, innovation, and creativity into the church! Sadly, they blatantly overlook the second issue; context. The ability to contextualize is not only important for a pastor and his sermons but equally important to the worship leader and the songs that he chooses. Simply, music should never be a dividing line in the local church which causes hurts, anger, and resentment.

Tip: I think Shane and Shane have one of the best resources for worship leaders that want to pursue both musical excellence paired with a foundation in the scriptures. A pursuit of these two things will be incredibly helpful as you process music and style in your local church context. Check out their new project – www.worshipinitiative.com 

Technology

I work for a technology company that serves the church. You can only imagine the amount of conversations with pastors that I have in regards to technology and their local church. Conversations from church leaders that want to move from the faithful hymnal to “that projection stuff”. Then the very next conversation with a church leader who has an entire creative/arts team and they are working through environmental projection, mapping, and playing around with the development of a church app.

Tip: If you are looking for good church app check out www.bibleandjournalapp.com

The type of technology that you use or do not use should not be a predicating factor for unity in…

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 I’ve found myself in an incredibly traditional church compared to where I’ve served on staff previously. It has been refreshing and eye opening.

Final Thought

Ultimately, this all boils down to a heart issue. Regardless of preferences, it is more than possible for churches and ministry leaders to partner together for the common goal of the advancement of the gospel. It’s ok to have preferences. However, its never ok for those preferences to cause hurt, resentment, gossip, or other forms of destructive behaviors within the body of Christ.

3 Important Lessons I Learned in 2014

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3 Lessons

As the hours go by we are getting closer to the beginning of 2015. It is typically in these moments that many of us are reflecting on important events, moments, and lessons learned in the past year. I’ve always loved history and I am strong advocate of studying history in order to ensure that we don’t make the same mistakes of those that came before us. The same principle applies to reflecting on our own history in order to learn from and avoid making the same mistakes. So here are three important lessons that I learned this past year.

1. Time management is more important than we think

As you’ve read before on this blog I’ve done over 150,000 miles of air travel. Life has gotten more busy, there are more conferences than I could ever imagine, my kids are getting older and seemingly growing up in front of my eyes. This year I’ve learned the importance of time management. I’ve also learned the importance of being effective and efficient. Things that I wish were taught in more detail in school. Building effective time management skills will pay dividends to you in every area of your life. Its important, and something that I wish I learned and valued earlier on in life. Today, the most important area of my life is being a husband and dad. Learning to intentionally prioritize and be there for my family is of utmost importance, especially since I travel so much for work. You can read more about how I pursue this here.

If you want to read a great gospel centered book on being effective and efficient I recommend “Whats Best Next” by Matt Pearman. This book has been a lifesaver for me this year on so many levels!

2. Be the light and defend the light

I recently read a quote by a well known pastor that said, “our job is not to defend the light but to let the light shine through us”. I understand what he is trying to say but I believe the implications of this type of evangelism are detrimental to the believer. It is our responsibility to both BE the light AND defend the light. Using our mind in the defense of the gospel while living the gospel is always the most effective method of evangelism.

Using our mind in the defense of the gospel while living the gospel is always the most effective…

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I’ve seen this play out every time I am in an airport, shuttle, hotel room lobby, or restaurants eating. It is a given that I should treat those that I meet in a christlike manner. But more important, is for me to verbalize and clearly communicate the gospel to them. Lets not assume gospel, but be intentional to communicate it. An easy way to engage our culture with the gospel is to leverage what is happening in our culture. Recently, I wrote a post about Exodus: Gods and Kings. I was a little “edgy” with the title of the post and called it “Why I love Exodus: Gods and Kings“. Let me put it plainly for those that may have been upset with that title and didn’t take the time to read the post. The reason why I love the movie is not because of the movie but because of the opportunity the movie provides for us to engage our community with the Gospel. One critic commented and said, “why would we want hollywood telling the story of the Bible?”. I think the bigger question is why don’t Christians have non believer friends in their life so they can both be Christ and communicate the truth of the gospel to them? You can read the post here.

3. Don’t stop learning

One of the things that I love about working for Faithlife is the emphasis that is placed on ongoing education. Every year we have a program where employees are encouraged to read books that deal with their area work and we get paid for each page that we read. 2014 has been filled with reading for me. I find my self getting sucked into books and “binge” reading. I love focusing on different categories and genres of literature. Here are the categories and books that I’ve read this year (not including books I’ve read for seminary).

 

2015, see ya soon!

What We Can Learn From Charles Darwin

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Desiring God

Some of you may have opened up this post simply because you doubt we can learn anything from Charles Darwin. In most cases I would agree with you, however, I recently came across a fragment of a letter he wrote to his children. I’ve been re-reading John Pipers, Desiring God. Piper unpacks Darwin’s comments to his children as they relate to church leaders. Darwin writes,

“Up to the age of 30 or beyond it, poetry of many kinds…gave me great pleasure, and even as a schoolboy I took intense delight in Shakespeare… Formerly pictures gave me considerable, and music very great, delight. But now for many years I cannot endure to read a line of poetry: I have tried to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me. I have also almost lost any taste for fine scenery, but it does not cause me the exquisite delight which it formerly did… My mind seems to have become a kind of machine for grinding general laws out of large collections of facts, but why this should have caused the atrophy of that part of the brain alone, on which the higher tastes depend, I cannot conceive… The loss of these tastes is a loss of happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character, by enfeedbling the emotional part of our nature.” – Charles Darwin

First, let me make an assertion that Darwin’s loss of awe and wonder of poetry, nature, and music are directly tied to his position on a creator and a life long pursuit to deny the existence of God. If we hold to a position that there is not a creator who masterfully crafted and spoke all things into existence, it is not difficult to gradually lose your amazement. Life begins to become apathetic and ultimately you begin to lose hope all together.

Dr. Piper correlates what Darwin experiences with what is occurring in churches around the world. It seems that somewhere along the way, we are in danger of losing our sense of wonder and awe as we become routine in our approach to church services and tradition. Piper says,

“For many, Christianity has become the grinding out of general doctrinal laws from collections of biblical facts. But childlike wonder and awe have died.” – John Piper

Dr. Piper is absolutely correct and his observation is something that pastors and church leaders should consider as they diligently prepare for their church services. The danger that Dr. Piper points out is the loss of childlike wonder and awe as we continue in the rhetoric of church and tradition without a sense of joy and exhilaration that comes from the daily pursuit of the Gospel. The question then remains, how can church leaders curb the tendency to fall into this routine that results in a numbness of sensation? As I’ve traveled and had the opportunity to meet with a variety of churches that span various traditions, here are two practices that seem to be helpful.

1. Create a framework that allows for creative expression

The challenge for some ministry leaders is the “tradition” that is created from doing the same thing over and over. Sometimes our processes become static which creates an environment where creative expression can be challenging. Creating a framework that allows breathing room for creative expression allows for various opportunities that can help to facilitate and reinforce that sense of wonder and awe when we are exposed to the beauty of the Gospel.

2. Have a creative team

Not everyone is creative. The great thing about the body of Christ is that everyone has a skill set. There are inevitably people within your church that have insane creative genius. Tap into that! As you prepare for a new sermon series bring that team into the creative process and consider ways to bring the Bible to life through various mediums. Last year, the best creative conference that I attended (in my opinion) was SALT Nashville. I happen to know the guy and team behind the conference and was able to be apart of the conference. It was incredible to see pastors and church leaders leaving the conference feeling equipped. Part of the equipping was stepping into a story that was unpacked in each session. Sometimes, we have to have an experience which in turn opens up an array of opportunities that could work within our own context.

If you are looking for some further ideas or resources here are some recommendations:

  • SALT Nashville – This conference is quickly becoming the premiere conference in the creative space
  • Stephen Brewsters Blog – Stephen is a creative genius who leads the creative team at Cross Point Church in Nashville. What I love more than his work is his desire to equip and help the church to pursue excellence in the area of the arts.
  • Linger Conference – This conference is hosted by Shane and Shane. Shane and Shane have become some great friends and I love their passion for the church. This year at Linger they are creating a “Creative Day” before the Linger Conference. I would highly recommend this. Also, I’ll be there teaching a workshop on Logos Bible Software and how theology is the catalyst that empowers the creative. Make sure you come and say hi!
  • Desiring God – Dr. John Pipers book is much more than a book for creatives. Through the course of its pages you will find yourself encouraged in your daily Christian walk. Possibly, the most encouraging thing about this book is the emphasis it places on making much of God which goes hand in hand with enjoying Him.

Why I Love The Movie Exodus: Gods and Kings

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Exodus wide
Hollywood has seemingly put the spotlight on the Bible. With the epic releases of the The Passion, The Bible Mini Series, Noah, and most recently, Exodus: Gods and Kings. Interestingly, the Christian world has had mixed feelings about the releases of major blockbuster films like Exodus. There seems to be a genuine concern for Biblical accuracy and devotion to the Bible and its rendering of such a paramount story. However, in this concern I believe we may have missed something even more important. In our pursuit for Biblical accuracy, we are missing the opportunity that awaits the believer to engage his/her culture and community
For the record, both Noah and Exodus do a horrible job in terms of hermeneutics and exegesis. But, thats NOT the point. The point is that our society and culture has a desire to engage with the concepts and stories that are portrayed in the scriptures and thats why I love this movie. It gives us an incredible opportunity that should cause the following in the Christian.

1. Ask the question why

Why is it that a major film maker like Ridley Scott would take the venture to pursue bringing the framework of the story of Moses from the Bible to the big screens? What does Ridley Scott see in the narrative of Moses that appeals to humanity and our culture today? Considering the millions of dollars spent on this film, we can’t even begin to imagine the amount of market and demographic research that was done to come to the conclusion that this was something that would not only appeal to todays culture but seemingly engage it in a profound way. For us as believers, it would be wise to consider how the story of Moses engages, encourages, and challenges us as believers. And continue by considering how it would engage, encourage, and challenge a non believer.

2. Pray for Ridley Scott, Christian Bale, and the cast and crew of Exodus

It is not possible for Ridley Scott to produce this film without an intense amount of research into the Bible and the narrative of Moses and the Pharaoh. The first step for Christian Bale in order to get into the character of Moses would be to study the Biblical character of Moses. The cast and crew would need to understand the geography, cultural and historical climate, and even weaponry during that biblical time period. Think about that. They had to study the Bible at some level. Regardless of how they interpreted what they studied and the direction they took with the final characters, they were in some way and fashion exposed to the Moses, Pharaoh, and most importantly, the God of the Bible. This should cause us to have a sense of thanks and hope for what the Holy Spirit is more than capable of doing. My Pastor was sent to a behavior rehabilitation program in the Samoan islands when he was in Jr. High. In the library he found a Bible and literally opened it up in Genesis and read through it. By the time he got to the Gospels he knew that Jesus was the promised Messiah and he literally got saved simply by reading the Bible. Imagine what could happen to all those involved in these movies as they engage the Bible as a source of background information only to be met by the loving and powerful God who sent his Son to die on a cross and reconcile humanity back to the father.

3. Engage your culture

Stop hiding. If we really love God and want to do his will, do what Jesus said. Go and make disciples (Matthew 28: 18-20). The call of the Christian is not to run and hide in the mountains waiting for the coming of Christ. Rather, it is to engage a dark and lost world with the beauty of the Gospel. John Newton captures this perfectly as he states:
Regardless of your opinion of these movies you have the opportunity to engage your family, friends, and loved ones who are not believers. Imagine the amount of non believers that will see the movie Exodus and the natural bridge that has been formed for us to engage them with their questions and thoughts to point them right to the Bible. These are opportunities for believers to engage their culture and not pout and whine about how “un-biblical” the movie was”. Your right, it wasn’t. Now communicate with confidence to everyone how it wasn’t and why its important that we understand the difference, and the hope that the Gospel brings.

4. Be obedient to the Holy Spirit and your conscience

Some of us will be more than ok to go and see Exodus. We can watch it and enjoy its cinematic excellence and take in the Biblical nuances and framework. Further, we can begin to understand and build bridges and connection points with non Christian friends who we can watch the movie with. However, if you feel your conscience leads you to refrain from watching the movie, don’t watch it. There are other ways to be informed about the movie and engage your community. Read reviews of the movie or jump on wikipedia and check out the summary to get familiar.
I don’t think that there is anything more clear than Jesus’ command in his High Priestly prayer (John 17) when in verse 18 he says, “ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world”. It is without a doubt that the intention of Christ was for his disciples to go into the world and engage the world by proclaiming the Gospel. There is no better example than Paul as he preaches on Mars Hill and engages his audience with their own philosophy and tradition as a bridge to tie them to the truth of the Gospel. Hopefully, we can take that example and do it today with opportunities in front of us.

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