Above Reproach

(Part 4 of the Beyond Trophies Series)

Just for fun, Part 4 starts with a delivery tip before I tell you about two debate teams you may know.

Would you like to take your vocal expression to the next level of excellence?  Then seek to let your audience HEAR your FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.  No, that wasn’t a typo.  Seriously, think about using your voice in such a way that, if part of your audience couldn’t see you, you could let them know what facial expression you were wearing just by the sound of your voice.  Sounds funny, I know, but thinking about using your voice this way can work wonders.  Ask someone to listen to you with his eyes shut and let you know if you’re getting the hang of it.

Now, about a bigger vision for debate . . . Remember when I asked you to consider going after lasting influence—for the sake of God’s kingdom priorities— instead of going after temporary trophies?

In Ephesians 4:1-3, the Apostle Paul entreats his readers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, with humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness, diligently preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  What does that look like in a debate round?  I want to tell you about the lasting influence of two debate teams.

I heard about the conduct of one these teams in a rather unusual place—in an impromptu speech round.  The topic was meekness, which the speaker defined as power appropriately under control, and one of the examples he used was a debate team.  The speaker explained that, though this team was very good and could easily tangle with the best teams, when they debated a less experienced team they appropriately held back and didn’t run every argument in the book.  This team understood that there was no need to mercilessly crush another team, and exemplified power under control.  I’d seen the team he was describing, and I knew he was right.

Now, while there may be no mechanism for your league to publicly recognize honorable behavior, don’t ever forget that people are watching you, even when you don’t realize it.  The debaters mentioned in the impromptu were amazed when I told them what I had heard.  And always remember that God is judging, too.  In His eyes, the real winners are the ones who debate in a manner worthy of their calling.

The next team I want to tell you about is a team that my children debated more times in two years than any other team—and they beat my children every single time.  But you know what?  This team inspired my children’s genuine respect, and not plots of revenge.  Why?  Because this team was polite and gracious, they ran legitimate arguments, they didn’t accuse their opponents of not responding to arguments when they actually had, they performed no tricky evidence twisting, and they directed no sarcastic and insulting low blows to opposing teams.  It reminded me of what Paul speaks of in Philippians 2:14—proving to be “children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world...”

Both teams I told you about are no longer in the league, but their influence is still there.  And I guarantee you that others will remember your conduct long after they remember how you placed.

So here’s your challenge:  I challenge you to conduct yourself in such a way that your former opponents become your fans even after you beat them out of outrounds.  Think it’s impossible?  I’ve seen it happen . . . more than once!

Next time:  Scissor Steps Steal the Show!

A Bigger Vision

(Part 3 of the Beyond Trophies Series)

Before I share the students’ stories I promised, I’ve got to lay down some foundation stones.  

I’ve been asking you to examine the reasons you pursue excellence.   In Matthew 6, Jesus points out that if we are doing the right things just to be noticed and honored by other people, then that’s all the reward we’re ever going to get.  Frankly, if an award is all we're after, then our vision is far too nearsighted.

We need a bigger, and honestly, a nobler reason to do what we do.  The apostle Paul encouraged his friends in Colossae to work heartily, “as FOR THE LORD rather than for men.”  He reminded them that it was really the Lord they were serving.  Paul was right; if you belong to God, then seeking your own fame was never your assignment.  Seeking God’s fame is.  And this is where it can get really exciting.

Here’s why.  Peter and James both point out that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  (I Peter 5 and James 4)  And in II Chronicles 16:9, a prophet named Hanani explains something incredibly important to King Asa, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”  (Incidentally, the prophet goes on to explain to Asa that it had been a really foolish idea not to trust the Lord.)

But what has all this got to do with speech and debate, or the rest of life for that matter?  Well—are you willing to work for God’s fame and not your own?  Are you willing to be available to God and to trust that His power will accomplish His purposes through your life as you obey Him?  Will you make your heart completely His?

You need to know that if you’re in this life all for yourself, the Bible makes it pretty clear that you better not count on either His help or His reward.  On the other hand, if you are willing to make your heart completely His, then the Lord is ready to strongly support you, and the horizon of your adventure in the world of speech and debate (and the rest of life) is about to be greatly expanded!

Real Life

I’m going to tell you about two students who trusted the Lord with their speeches, who trusted that God was doing something far bigger than awards, but I need you to keep something in mind.  When we read the records of how God worked in people’s lives, whether in the Bible or somewhere else, the point of these accounts is not to put the people on a pedestal, but to point the spotlight on the faithful God they trusted.  Remember that these are just ordinary students who put their trust in The Extraordinary God.

The setting is NCFCA Nationals 2013, where a young lady was competing with a Persuasive speech about adoption.  She’d been praying all season that God would continue to use her speech for His purposes.  Turns out one of her judges had previously closed her heart to—and decided against—adoption, because of negative stories she had heard.   However, as she explained on her ballot—because of that speech, she was reconsidering her decision!

And in another competition room, same tournament . . . God was at work through another student.  When a young lady’s Open Interpretation speech got to finals, she was incredibly humbled and confessed that she felt so unworthy of being in finals.  But she and her mom believed that God must have a purpose for taking her speech to finals, and they prayed specifically that God would use her speech to touch someone’s heart and that He would bring the person to the round who really needed to hear it.  Guess what?  After the round, they met a woman in the restroom who told them how she had really needed to hear that speech—how it had shown her that, even in her own tough times, God was still showing her his mercy.

Those students will tell you that knowing that someone is going to think and live differently tomorrow because of what God gave you to share is worth far more than any trophy.

In the cases of these two students, God let them see a small glimpse of what He was doing through them, the ripple effect that extends far beyond the medals and trophies.  And while it’s true that we have no guarantee that we’ll get to see what He’s up to this side of heaven, He is still the same capable God and altogether worthy of our trust.  Will you trust Him?

Maybe you're thinking this sounds great for some speeches...but what about the world of debate?  Next time, real life examples of lasting influence for God’s priorities from the debate world.

Awards or Influence?

(Part 2 of the Beyond Trophies series,
 dedicated to my friends in Speech and Debate,

but you'll find the ideas apply in a much broader context.)

So if trophies have these troubling traits (See Part 1) and their thrill is only temporary at best, what else is there to pursue?

I really must start by letting you know that I’m all for excellence, so I don’t want you to think that if you replace trophies with another goal that you have to give up pursuing excellence.  Not at all!  No, I want to challenge you to consider the reason you pursue excellence.  Think about it this way—“For what purpose am I pursuing excellence?”

What if you were to choose to use your platform to do something that lasts longer than trophies?  And that lasts even longer than those great communication skills—valuable as they are—that the coaches are always promoting at the annual club kick-off meetings.

What if you gave a speech whose life didn’t end when you gave it for the last time--whether you take it all the way to a national competition or not?  And I don’t mean simply having it preserved on YouTube either.

Seriously, what if your speech could set something in motion in the hearts and minds of your listeners that would literally change their world?  What if, instead of temporary trophies, you went after lasting influence—for the sake of God’s kingdom priorities?  

I challenge you to ask God what speech He would like you to give.  Ask Him what He wants you to say.  Then write it (or cut it), give it, and then rest in the fact that, whether you earn a plastic trophy or not, you delivered a message that will outlast any first place trophy.  There is such a thing as treasure in heaven, and according to Jesus, it lasts.

The last time you give a speech doesn’t have to be the end.  Instead, it could be only the beginning!  Why?—Because if you give the speech God gave you to give, then somebody is going to go home and live differently tomorrow—and the day after that—because of something you said!

In case you’re wondering what this looks like in real tournament life, next time I’ll tell you what happened to some students you might even know.

The Trouble With Trophies

(Dedicated to my friends in competitive speech and debate,
this is Part 1 of the Beyond Trophies series.)

The Trouble with Trophies

First, they require dusting.

Second—a particular disappointment to girls—you can’t wear them.

Third—and this one is especially disappointing to the boys who are blessed with the greatest of appetites (as well as their mothers)—you can’t eat them.

Fourth, they are liable to break, especially the plastic ones, sometimes even before you get them off tournament grounds.

Fifth, you really can’t display very many of them without looking overly proud.

Last, and the worst trouble of all: they’re dated.

Why is the date so troublesome?  The date stares you in the face as a grim reminder that you are only the temporary champion.  Even if you took first place, you could be supplanted at the very next contest.  Realistically, the date is also there because before very long, not even you will remember when you did whatever it was you did.

The inscription of what you did is there on the trophy for the very same reason; long before she’s old and gray, unfortunate as it may seem, not even your mother will be able to remember the exact place you took.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that earning trophies is still fun, in spite of their troubling traits, but you just can’t get around the fact that the thrill is still temporary at best.  If you’ve set your sights on trophies, you can never be perfectly content.  Surely, there’s got to be more to competing.

Thankfully, there is more. 

That something more will be the subject of the next post.

Highly Irregular Meets Absolutely Amazing

To say that Jesus was impressed would be putting it mildly.  He said so—out loud. 

“I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith."

 Luke 7:9

Don’t you wonder what made Him say that?

The Backdrop:  Luke 7:1-10.  Those ten verses are packed.  This quick link will take you straight to it.

Highly Irregular

This centurion is not your typical Roman.  He is out of character for a Roman.  First of all, he is respected by the Jews, who, incidentally, think he is worthy of Jesus granting this favor.  Yet the man himself doesn’t think so.  Next, he loves the Jews and built them their synagogue.  I wonder if he worshipped Jehovah.

This centurion regards his slave highly--maybe because the centurion respected God.  He also has a good enough relationship with the Jewish elders that they are willing to go to Jesus to ask Him to save his slave’s life.  So let me get this straight . . . the Jewish elders get involved with Jesus for the sake of a Roman centurion’s dying slave.  This is really quite bizarre.

Here is a man who is willing to go against his own culture and tradition to identify himself with God.  He is willing to humble himself and acknowledge his own unworthiness.  He knows Jesus is his servant’s only hope, and that he himself isn’t worthy of asking Jesus for His help.  In spite of his unworthiness, he sends a delegation to ask for Jesus’ help. 

What was so great?

Was his great faith simply that he believed Jesus could heal his servant?  Plenty of others believed Jesus could heal.  So there must be more to it.

In purely human terms, Jesus was actually subordinate to the centurion.  Yet the centurion makes it plain that he believed that Jesus was far above himself (that he, the centurion, was unworthy).  So was part of his great faith that he recognized that Jesus was no mere man?  The Jewish elders did not believe this.  Nor did they share the centurion’s belief that he was unworthy of this favor.  Note that Jesus says that “not even in Israel” has He found such great faith.

And was part of his great faith also that he believed that Jesus was so full of grace that He would heal his servant even though he was unworthy of even coming to ask Jesus for help, unworthy of even being in Jesus’ presence (under his roof)?  Think about that.  He’s totally convinced that he is unworthy of the favor, yet he is determined to ask Him to grant it.  Why?  Even though he believed that Jesus had the power and authority to heal, he knew he was unworthy to ask for the healing.  So why would he still ask?

He must have been equally convinced of not only the power and authority of Jesus, but also the goodness, the generosity, and the mercy of Jesus toward the undeserving.  Jesus is not only able to heal; He is willing.

Absolutely Amazing Grace

Jesus is God; He has authority to heal.  God is good; He is willing to heal, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve it. 

This centurion recognized both his own condition and Jesus’ position, and he trusted in Jesus’ wonderful mercy and grace.

Have you been afraid to ask for help?  Have you hesitated because you have felt you didn’t deserve His help? 

You are absolutely right that you are unworthy.  So am I.  Every one of us is unworthy.  But we should still ask.  Why?  Because the question of His help is not contingent on our worthiness.  His help is available on the basis of His character.

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh;

is anything too difficult for Me?

. . . I will rejoice over them to do good. . ."

Jeremiah 32:27, 41

Friend, there is no problem you face that is too difficult for Him.  His grace invites you to ask.

Living By Faith

"The righteous will live by faith." says Habakkuk 2:4

and Romans 1:17

and Galatians 3:11

and Hebrews 10:38.

God used a short comment in Sunday's sermon from Steve Mozingo, one of our church's beloved teaching elders, to spark a whole train of thought for me.  The whole message was good (you can find Steve's sermons on sermonaudio.com), but it was one particular comment that ignited an especially revolutionary idea for me.

Faith is no spectator sport

The text was Acts 11, and speaking of verses 19-24, Steve commented that this record—of how these Christians were preaching, how God’s hand was with them, how considerable numbers were brought to the Lord—was not preserved just so we could say, “Now, that’s a really great story.”  We need to understand that we are meant to be participants in this, too.  “Get in the game!” he said.  

And that is the part I can't stop thinking about.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that we tend to think, as we read the Biblical record, “Wow, that was really amazing how those people obeyed and trusted God.  And, wow, how God worked in their  situation!”  But then, too much of the time, even though we wouldn’t actually articulate it, we live as though we think, “ . . . but that wouldn’t happen in my world, and it would never happen to me.”

This could be you

When we read about the people in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith, do we actually dare to think that God might use us like He used them?  I don’t mean in a prideful kind of way, but in a way that sees God for as big as He really is—and in a way that realizes that those "heroes" of the faith were just as ordinary as we are.  That’s the point James makes about Elijah in James 5:17, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours . . .”  There was nothing extraordinary about those people; the God they chose to trust was the extraordinary one.

Have you ever even dared to think that God might use you to be the means of deliverance for people, as he used Moses?  Have you ever thought that, like Abel (Hebrews 11:4), your faith might still speak to inspire others years and years and years after you’re gone?  Have you ever dared to think that your obedience and faith might be catalogued with those in Hebrews 11?  Why should it not be?  The record of their faith wasn’t put there to set them apart or on a pedestal, but instead to give us an example of what is possible if we are willing to remember that He is coming, and to not shrink back, but to lay aside encumbrances and sin—and then RUN with our eyes on Jesus—believing God!  (Hebrews 10:36-39 and 12:1-3)  The call of Hebrews 12 is not that we should bow in awe before those who've gone before us, but that we join them in faith in their God, who is also our God! 

To dare to think these things is not to be prideful, but is a recognition that this life and our impact isn’t about us or our abilities.  It’s only about who God is!  We simply trust Him, obey, and be willing to be used by Him.

We were made for this

The life of faith is what we were made for.  God never meant for us to read the accounts of those who lived lives of faith simply for our entertainment.  We aren’t meant only to be observers of other people's faith.  Right in the midst of the list of faith-filled examples is a riveting statement that applies to every one of us.  

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him,

and he who comes to God must believe that is He,

and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:6

If we can't picture ourselves with those in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith, if a vibrant life of faith seems an unattainable impossibility, could it be that we don’t know our God well enough?

Oh, I want to know and trust Him more!

Two Foundations and One Outrageous Scam

About thirty years ago, I created and posted a sign on the outside of my college dorm room door.  On it was a quote from an unknown author:

Two Foundations for human enlightenment:

1) There is a God.

2) You are not Him.

The two Foundations were indeed relevant to our campus culture, particularly Foundation One, as the prevailing philosophy on campus was that the earth and everything on it came into being by random chance, and that no God had anything to do with it.  At that time, Foundation Two seemed almost so obviously true, in a literal sense, that it generated virtually no argument.  The "no God" folks that I knew weren't going so far as to claim divinity, simply that they were their own authority, responsible to no higher being.  So Foundation Two applied figuratively to our campus culture, but literally not so much.

From NO GOD to I'M GOD

Today, however, in a bizarre about-face, the philosophy rapidly rising in popularity in our culture is not one of "no God," but one of "everyone is God."  Today, to say, "You are not Him," is to contradict one of the most popular streams of thought.

Practically everywhere you turn, somebody's reading--or selling--a book about everyone and everything being divine.  Divine power in the rocks, in the trees, in spiders, in everyone.  TV hosts and magazine writers, too, are talking about "descending into themselves" (By the way, I find "descending"--meaning going down to an inferior or shameful level--to be an uncannily accurate description) to find their "true divine selves."  You can attend seminars that will teach you how to harness the ultimate source of goodness that supposedly already exists in everyone.

Incidentally, our family is currently in need of an internet domain name, and so far, almost every domain name we've come up with has already been claimed--and not just claimed, but claimed by someone disseminating the "you're divine; everything is one; everything is divine" message in one form or another.  It's everywhere.  Why?

An Open Door And A Scam

People are looking for solutions.  They are not happy with the way things are.  They know in their heart of hearts that they are not what they should be.  They long to be better--better friends, better employees, better spouses, better parents.  They are dissatisfied.  They are disillusioned with material success, and longing for a simpler, more satisfying life.  They want real joy.

The terrible tragedy of our day is that people are being told that the answer to their longing is inside themselves, when in reality, it is not.  That's exploitation.  That's dastardly unscrupulous.  That's a scam, plain and simple.  And it's not right.  People are being offered a sham solution to their deepest needs and being milked for a myth.  The real Enemy of the human soul knows people are empty and hurting and is offering them a lie.

Reality Check

The deeper we dig into ourselves, the more mess we find.  If we are willing to be honest, we don't find innate goodness, like some are telling us.  No, we find a frustrated self who, even in moments of wanting to do good, finds it impossible to perpetually sustain good intentions, let alone good behavior.  The solution to the human dilemma is not in uncovering some hidden divine self, but in acknowledging our real, hopelessly flawed, desperately wicked self and being transformed by the renewing power of the God who is entirely independent from us.  It's what the Bible calls being born again, and, incidentally, it's free.  You can't buy it or earn it, but God will transform you if you ask Him to.  It's what I wrote about in The Relentless Heart.

It's not a bad thing to admit that the human condition is hopeless on its own; it's actually an incredibly freeing relief to openly acknowledge what we already know from experience to be true.  The solution, then, is in having the corrupt nature we're born with cleansed by the resurrected Jesus Christ.  Then He works in us to remake us from the inside out.

Only the power of God can make us what we were meant to be, but we'll never find that power by looking inside our own selves.  Jesus Christ was the only true God, and He came to earth in a human body in order to literally give His life to make our permanent cleansing and forgiveness possible.  He proved He was God by coming back to life, and He is real and alive and willing to transform anyone who will ask and believe what He said. 

An Invitation To Real Life

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."  (Recorded in John 10:10, 11)

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

--Jesus (recorded in John 15:11)

Don't settle for a sham of a life, when a real, joyful life is available from Jesus.

Things have come full circle...
When I recently found my original sign with the Two Foundations (I have no idea why I still had it around after 30 years), our daughter, who was packing for college, wanted to take it with her.  

Denial Is Delusion--Take 2

(One of my most dear and trusted readers suggested that this post, in its original form, needed a bit more context.  I believe she is right.  And so I offer the following version with more context  to better communicate what's on my heart.)

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life."  

--Jesus of Nazareth, God come in the flesh  

recorded in John 14:6

   In today's postmodern world of relative truth, a strategy has emerged for dealing with uncomfortable ideas.  People just simply choose not to believe something and feel confident that they have sufficiently invalidated the idea by doing so.  They choose to deny whatever they don't like or whatever makes them uncomfortable.  If they view truth as relative (so nothing is absolute), they are able to let themselves off the hook when an idea has implications they don't wish to face.

   But denial is only a delusion.  It changes nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  If my house is on fire, no amount of denial will put the fire out and restore my burnt possessions.

    Delusion-- (from the Apple Dictionary) an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument.

   Denial is often accompanied by a companion strategy that is equally delusional.  Denial's companion strategy is that of concocting one's own "truth."  Simply create a belief system that appeals to your personal whims and live by it.  However, no amount of dreaming will put money in the bank to cover my checks when my account is empty.  No merchant will accept my concocted delusion as payment. 

   The problem is that neither of these strategies acknowledges reality.  Yet this is the kind of world we live in.

  We are now down to two weeks before our first daughter leaves for college.  For nineteen years, we have seen God prepare her to stand unashamed and to speak boldly and winsomely for God's truth.  In today's world where, increasingly, the environment in our culture, and even in the Church at large, has been one of watering down at the least, if not outright denial of, truth, our young people must be apprised of the kinds of strategies they may face, be assured that Truth is unchanging, and be prepared to defend their beliefs and challenge the delusions.

"Beloved, while I was making every effort 
to write you about our common salvation, 
I felt the necessity to write to you appealing 
that you contend earnestly for the faith 
which was once for all delivered to the saints.  

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, 
those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, 
ungodly persons who turn the grace of God into licentiousness 
and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
Jude 1:3-4

~ Remember, friends ~ 

Denial of reality doesn't change reality;

it only delays one's apprehension of reality.

Eventually, the elaborate delusion always crumbles,

and one is right back to simple reality.

"But false teachers also arose among the people,

just as there will also be false teachers among you, 
who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, 
even denying the Master who bought them, 
bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

And many will follow their sensuality, 
and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
and in their greed the will exploit you with false words; 
their judgement from long ago is not idle, 
and their destruction is not asleep."
II Peter 2:1-3
(excerpt from a letter from one of Jesus' original followers)


~ Take Heart, my friends ~
Denial of the truth will never change its substance.
Truth is a constant.
For no matter how hard denial tries to undo,
Unbelief does not make truth untrue.

So don't be ashamed to hold fast to truth; be neither ruffled nor dismayed when someone denies it.  Instead, pray that Truth will shatter that someone's delusions before it's too late.

Quoteworthy #1

"Mama, see those rays of sunlight poking through the clouds?
That's what we're supposed to be in this world!" --Megan Carpenter

With No Apologies

(Shared with the IAHE)

Warning:  Exclusive claims ahead.  

I am about to make an exclusive claim about a foundation. Actually, I’m not personally making the claim.  Someone else did; I’m just committed to publicizing it.  

Allow me to digress for a moment.  I find the word “panoply” fascinating.  According to my Apple dictionary, panoply means a “complete or impressive collection of things; a splendid display”--especially, historically, in the context of a “complete set of arms or suit of armor,” and originally referring to “complete protection for spiritual warfare.”  

But what’s a panoply got to do with a foundation and exclusive claims?  Well, everything actually.  Many leaders, even some among those who claim to be part of Christendom, would have us believe that all the varied ideas and diverse religious philosophies promoted around the world today represent a panoply from which it is perfectly right and proper to choose our spiritual tools and practices.  People speak of drawing from the wells of various “wisdom traditions” (i.e. other religions) in order to enhance their relationship with God. (An example of one prominent practice drawn from non-Christian wells, yet white-washed and paraded through Christendom in an intricate deception, is what's commonly called "contemplative prayer.")  

And here I show my hand, with no apologies.  This highly touted, supposed panoply, brought to you courtesy of the world's religions, is an absolute fraud, an elaborate deception--highly billed, yes, but a hoax all the same.

All ideas, all philosophies, and all religions are not equally valid.  There, I said it. But the idea is not originally mine.

It was Jesus of Nazareth who made exclusive claims to truth. Listen to this from Luke 6:46-49.

“And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them,  I will show you whom he is like:

he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  (italics mine)

Do you see?  Jesus didn’t say that the ones who don’t listen and act on His words didn’t build a house.   No, they built a house all right.  They invested the effort, the time, and the money to build.  But they did all that “without any foundation.” Interestingly, until the storm came, the house with no foundation may have looked to the casual observer to be just as solid as the house built on rock.  But, in fact, what they built on was loose and shifty.  Let’s face it; even wind can push sand around.

Further, He doesn’t even say they built on a wrong foundation. He says they built “without any foundation” at all.  And He says the only way to have a foundation that withstands the deluge is to listen to His words and act accordingly.  Nothing else but His teaching will do as a foundation.  Nothing else even is a foundation.

This is an exclusive claim.  It’s His way or nothing.  There aren’t any alternate foundations.  The options are 1) a solid foundation of obedience to Jesus’ words or 2) no foundation at all.

Jesus most certainly made exclusive claims.  He said if you’re not acting according to His teaching, you have no foundation.  No foundation.  That’s not just what I like to think.  It’s what He said, and a person who is true to the real Jesus will uphold those claims.  

Contrary to today’s popular thought, Jesus most certainly did not proclaim either the equality of all religions, or their neutrality.  In the Old Testament, God said, “I am the Lord, and there is no other.  Besides Me there is no God.”  (Isaiah 45:5)  In the New Testament, Jesus said (John 14:6), “No one comes to the Father, but through Me.” And, yes, in Luke 6, if you’re not putting "My" words into practice, you have "no foundation," and you are doomed to go down with a big crash one day.  A person who is true to the real Jesus will not contradict His exclusive claims by embracing the idea of “truth” in all religions.  In fact, Jesus said good fruit isn’t produced on a bad tree.  (See Luke 6:43)  It would be foolish to go looking for true spiritual fruit on a tree of false religion whose roots grow straight out of hell.

Consistent with this, in Acts 17, God’s messenger Paul didn’t tell the Athenians they were just fine for adding one more statue (“to an unknown god”) to their line-up of idols.  Rather, in verse 16, “...his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols.”  He boldly told the Athenians where they were theologically wrong, and that though the Creator had overlooked their prior ignorance, God was “now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man who He has appointed [Jesus], having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (verse 30, italics mine)

What has this got to do with education and parenting?  Just why should we care? Here’s why: our children’s spiritual destiny hangs in the balance.

If we believe our children’s spiritual life is the most important aspect of their lives, then intentionally teaching them the truth should be highest priority.  Warning them of false teachers and false teachings, as the New Testament writers did, should be highest priority.

I would grant that traditional subjects, like Math and English, are important, even necessary, but in the final analysis, they have no strong and direct link to our children’s spiritual destiny. While we make time for the necessary traditional subjects, and for sundry extra-curriculars, have we neglected to also devote sufficient time to giving them the only real foundation to build the rest of their education and lives upon?     

Right now, we still have an opportunity to teach our children the truth.  We can anchor them in God’s Word.  We still have the freedom to expose the lies and arguments of the “no absolute truth” and “truth in all religions” crowd.  But even as we do, the heralds of “no absolute truth” and “truth in all religions” are mobilized, strategizing, and boldly advancing. It could be that your family has already crossed paths with some of the most famous proponents of these ideas, though you may not have recognized them at the time.  They are even showing up in homeschool catalogs.

We still have freedom, and there is still time, but realistically, it may not last. Sometimes, carefully thinking through and spelling out the things we are going to regret not doing can help to clarify which things we are doing that aren’t really worthy of as much of our time.

The context of the original word “panoply” was spiritual warfare.  Interestingly, if all religions and all ideas are equally valid and good, then what is the point of spiritual warfare anyway?  Why would there be a war of ideas if all ideas are all equally good?

The fact is that there is a war of ideas over Jesus' exclusive claim that there is only one foundation.  The only real panoply--the complete set of armor for protection in spiritual warfare-- is found in Jesus and His Word.  The only foundation for building a life on is Jesus and His Word.

If we don’t want our children stepping out in fake armor, cherry-picked from the false religions of the world, building lives “without any foundation” that are destined for great ruin, then we must make a serious priority of making sure they understand and can choose to apply and defend the exclusive truth of God’s Word and the exclusive claims of His Son.  And that means we have got to be willing to dig in and do the hard work to understand, apply, and defend the truth ourselves, if we’ve any hope of properly arming them.  We dare not leave it to the church or to anyone else.  Though the choice to obey is ultimately theirs, the responsibility is squarely in our own laps to make them well-aquainted with the truth.

There is only one foundation. It's time to build on the Rock--while there's still time. The coming storm will reveal whose house stands and whose house falls.

May yours be one that stands.