Muscular Christianity

While the authenticity of Scripture is beyond dispute, some will still refuse to accept it as credible. But there are other resources that one can use to validate the Reality of the Resurrection.

While some want to insist that faith is an excuse to not think, you can't function as a human being without deploying some measure of faith, even in the context of what do in our every day lives.

Regardless of the subject matter, the fundamental dispute is how you define truth - either according to what is real or how you feel.

#30 The Office | Part II | Honor your employer. Don’t just work hard, work well and don’t expect an accolade for simply doing your job. That’s why you get paid. Be the sort of employee that you would hire, regardless of who notices or who isn’t paying attention. Take pride in what you do because it’s when you’re deploying your best that you are honoring the One who has you in that position right now for a reason – and it’s not just to draw attention to yourself or to pay some bills. You’re there because He has a Purpose for you and those you interact with.

#29 The Office | Part I | Think of your typical day as a house with your conventional collection of rooms. You’ve got the kitchen, the garage, the office, your bedroom, the playroom etc. Each room represents a specific collection of duties and opportunities that logically fall under the heading that particular room’s theme implies. Depending on where you’re at in life, the “office” is either your job or your schooling. How does a “Muscular Christian” operate in the marketplace / classroom that constitutes a sound application of Biblical principles? And how does that equate to an “out of the park” performance that gets people curious as to what’s under the hood?

#28 Perpetually Poised on the Threshold of Great Things | As you’ve put some thought into how you would articulate what you believe and why you believe it, hopefully you’ve included something of the motivating Strength that, not only supports you when you’re struggling, but also positions you in a way where you’re perpetually poised on the threshold of great things (2 Cor 3:18).

#26 Put Some Offense on the Field | There’s more to life than simply “healing” all the time. You can’t allow yourself to be in sick bay every day of the week. At some point, you’ve got to get your boots on. Put some offense on the field and put some distance between yourself and the idea that life is nothing more than defending yourself against attacks, trials and difficulties.

#25 When Things Are Going South | Part II | Yesterday we looked at how life is like a string of Christmas lights: You’re either dealing with one problem at a time, or the whole of life starts to go south and you’re hanging by a thread. What makes the difference is the amount of time and energy you invest in focusing on the Truth. Talk to your Creator. Access the peace that passes understanding and the Strength that goes beyond anything you could muster up on your own.

#24 When Things Are Going South | Part I | It’s all fine and good to say that God’s in control and He’s got a Plan when everything is going well. But what happens when everything goes south and you’re doing all you can to maintain an even disposition? How’s that “Plan” looking now?

#23 The Good Works of Tim Tebow | Tim Tebow did more than complete passes. His approach allowed the Reality of His King to become apparent. Approach your day from a perspective that intentionally perceives the Divine elements that transform your actions into "works" and let that shape your outlook. It's a different kind of day when you're aware of your activity as being more meaningful than simply putting some points on the board.

#22 True Agenda | “Muscular Christianity” is all about making God look good by excelling in everything you do, think and say. It’s taking the substance and the scope of Matthew 5:16 along with 2 Corinthians 9:8 and recognizing that “good deeds” refers to anything that’s done well to the point that it reflects positively on your Heavenly Father.

#21 That You May Know | For the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at the question, “How do you know?” from the standpoint of three different perspectives: The Substance of Scripture, The Character of God, The Conclusions of Science. You have an intelligent faith. Do not do yourself the disservice of regarding your faith as an anemic mist that cannot be validated as both credible and substantial. So, be ready to answer the question: "How do you know?"

#20 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | Part III | Richard Dawkins, the author of "The God Delusion," sneers at those who subscribe to the idea of a Creator because it leaves the question of, “Who created the Creator?” unanswered. And yet, he attempts to explain the origin of life by simply saying that “it happened,” and that is supposed to suffice as the more enlightened and scientifically acceptable alternative.

#19 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | Part II | The atheist is philosophically invested in Evolution. However compelling the evidence may be that reveals their perspective as being flawed, they will not yield, given the adjustments that would need to be made if, in fact, God does exist. But you can nevertheless make some progress by asking the right questions.

#18 Where Did You Get Your Gravity From? | The Theory of Evolution is even less convincing today than it was 150 years ago. Yet, this is the explanation that non-believers insist is more credible than the concept of Creator. Why...?

#17 Ask a Canaanite | Part III | Regardless of how harsh God's Judgment was against the Canaanites, the fact was they were living a life and reviering a standard that taunted the Reality of God. While grace is always available, it is possible to incur the wrath of your Heavenly Father. How? Ask a Canaanite!

#16 Ask a Canaanite | Part II | Anytime you hear somone suggest that God is cruel, you need to remind them of the cross. It's there where He demonstrates His True Character and Compassion.

#15 Ask a Canaanite | Critics like Richard Dawkins seem to have a point when they assert the idea that God can be unreasonably harsh, especially when you look at the way God worked through the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites. But upon closer inspection, you can see why God's Justice is not as outrageous as it might appear.

#14 The Canon | The need to establish a standard that insisted every book of the New Testament be authored by an apostle or a close associate was not an attempt to market a human perspective, but to eliminate anything other than the Words of God as documented by either those who had seen the risen Christ, or worked alongside those who did.

#13 They Deserted Him and Fled (Part II) | Part II of how Chuck Colson's own imprisonment and his first hand account of how the power of self-preservation effectively eliminates any doubt as to the Truth of Christ's resurrection, especially given the way the disciples initially fled, but then could not be silenced even in the face of relentless persecution.

#12 They Deserted Him and Fled (Part I) | Chuck Colson witnessed first hand the overwhelming influence of self-preservation in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and knew that the disciples would never endure 40 years persecution unless Jesus had, in fact, risen from the grave!

#10 Unwelcome and Foolish | In many instances, critics are psychologically invested in proving the Scriptures to be flawed because they view the notion of God to be intrusive and a threat to the way they view themselves and the world around them. The Resurrection is especially unwelcome because of the way it compels an acceptance of Christ as Lord. But they cannot logically doubt the text of the New Testament without simultaneously dismissing the majority of ancient literature as fundamentally flawed.

#9 All Scripture | All Scripture is God breathed...That's a bold claim, but when you look at the way we validate works of antiquity, you can't doubt the integrity of God's Word without calling into question every ancient text that is embraced without question despite they're not being nearly as well authenticated.

#8 How Do You Know? | How do you know that what you believe is true? Is the Bible the Word of God? Did Jesus really rise from the grave? This series looks answers those questions.

#7 Profound Thinking | "Positive Thinking" can get you into a better mood, but it's "Profound Thinking" that can truly alter the way you're processing your circumstances.

#6 It Works | However you want to try and defend the Reality of Christ and the Christian doctrine, the bottom line is it works!

#5 The Empty Tomb | The gospel hinges on the Resurrection. We don't subscribe to the message of a charismatic leader, nor do we hang on the words of an inspiring teacher. We fall on our face before the One Who claimed to be God and proved it by dying and coming back to life.

#4 Betelgeuse | Betelgeuse is the star located in the upper left hand corner of the constellation Orion. It's diameter is large enough to contain our entire solar system up to the orbit of earth and beyond.

#3 Are You Out of Your Mind? | Atheists tend to be oblivous to the number of iconic scientists that saw the world from a Christian viewpoint.

#2 Explain it to Me | How would you explain the difference between believing something in your heart as opposed to it being something that you merely believe in your mind?

#1 What's the Difference? | The demons believe that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. So do you, right? What's the difference between them and you? Why are you going to heaven and they're not?

Your relationship with Christ is more than a Divine Emergency Kit. In this episode, Bruce Gust begins unpacking several ideas that point to how we are here to make a difference and not just an appearance beginning with "It's All Good!"

David didn't just sing, Paul didn't just write, and Jesus didn't just pray. The stood up and they spoke out. To remain silent in the face of evil is not an act of obedience as much as it's an act of cowardice and it's important to understand the difference.

Our national template is based on a Divine Absolute which implies a moral standard. That ultimately translates to personal responsibility and a paradigm where you are gauged according to your character and your choices. But to the individual who recoils at the thought of having to answer to something or Someone greater than themselves, all of the benefits associated with an approach to government based on the idea that our rights are guaranteed by God and not dispensed by a human collective, are dismissed in favor of a manufactured reality where there are no Standards, only situations.

Psalm 14:1 defines a fool as someone who says there is no God. What do you suppose that kind of perspective looks like when it shows up in a court of law? What is really being said by a witness when they're asked to raise their hand and swear to, "...tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" If there is no absolute apart from themselves, what they're really saying is, "I'll tell you what I want, how I feel, and I don't care if it's right because it's all about me."

Every government that has ever been conceived by man is based on a theological premise of some kind in that it structures its approach to legislation according to the way it defines a human being.

Dismantle one of the more commonly used strategies used by people who don't have something to say as much as they've got something to hide by asking the right questions.

You have to check your logic at the door to believe in Evolution. Especially when you hear some of its more notable champions attempt to prove their point by saying it must've happened because, "...we're here."

People who want to maintain themselves as their own bottom line subscribe to a philosphy that contradicts itself and ulitmately reveals them as individuals who believe that because they have the right to think for themselves, they can think in a way that has no regard for anyone other than themselves.

This is the question you need to ask the person who wants your vote, your subscription or your support. How you answer that question either puts your name alongside those who signed the Declaration of Independence and ratified the Constitution, or…it defines you as someone who wants to replace the One Who is in charge with someone who looks a lot like themselves.

Everyone has their own perspective and that's why you want to make a point of hearing all sides of an issue and vetting your sources according to a Standard that doesn't fluctuate according to a human agency. Otherwise, you risk a corrupted opinion being used as the basis for your viewpoint. This is the approach advocated in Scripture and it applies to not only the headlines, but also the bottom lines as they're documented in the Word of God. Buckle up...!

Part II of the "That's Your Opinion" series. After recapping how "That's Your Opinion" is a phrase often used by people who don't have something say as much as they have something to hide and examining how Christ handled those kinds of tactics, Part II looks at some real world examples of how God's technique can help keep a conversation moving forward that would otherwise end in a victory for the one posing as a victim of an intolerant evironment.

That's your opinion is a phrase often used by people who are looking to distract attention away from the pain and problems that occur when their perspective is put into practice. By posing as an advocate for compassion and understanding, they create a dynamic where you can't disagree with what they're saying without sounding like you're wanting to deny them the right to think for themselves. Here's how Christ handled those kinds of tactics.

Turning the other cheek is not a command to absorb the evil that is directed towards you. Rather, it's an admonishment to address it and reveal it for what it is. In this episode of "Muscular Christianity," we're going to look at the three primary passages that would have us be complicit with the offenses and assaults that are directed towards us and see how they fall short of an interpretation based on the whole of God's Word.

You can tell by the way you regard the reality of sin in your life whether or not you're born again.

There's more to believing in the death and resurrection of Christ than simply being able to say that you believe it out loud. To believe it in your heart means that's it's more than a historical truth, it's a personal reality.

According to the book of Romans, if you don't have the Spirit of Christ, you don't belong to Him. That's the bottom line: You've been forgiven for every offense you've committed against God and the Spirit of God is now living in you. That's what it means to be born again!

Young people have the capacity to do far more than our culture gives them credit for, although that wasn't always the case. A brief rehearsal of history and Scripture reveals not only what a young person is truly capable of, but also provides a motivating incentive to dig in a little deeper and sieze the opportunities and challenges that lie before you, regardless of your age.

I had just read "Team Of Rivals" and a buddy of mine reponded by insisting that my understanding of history and Abraham Lincoln was severely flawed. I determined to refer to some other resources in order to better understand what I believed to be the case and in so doing, uncovered some Biblical principals that constitute a lesson that can be learned not only from a national viewpoint, but a personal one as well.

Three categories of "to do's," all three of them warrant a plan. But you want that plan to be subordinate to God's design for you. Only then are you guaranteed a life and not just an existence.