I Like Mellow Yellow

"Lord, ...we ask you to help us work for that day.. when yellow will be mellow..."

The phrase above is from Reverend Lowry's so-called prayer at the Presidential Inauguration last night. A transcript is available here.

There's already a lot of chatter on this in the blogsphere. Many Asians are angry, some are indifferent while others don't care. Frankly, I think we (Asians and Pacific Islanders) are up in arms about a relatively insignificant phrase. Lowry's attempt at trying to be funny was only overshadowed by his poor attempt at leading a nation in prayer.

If this topic comes up at work or with friends, how should a Christian respond? Here is one simple suggestion (I'm sure some have a better one):

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16

That "righteous man" is Christ. Without Christ, a man's prayers accomplishes nothing except to incite the flesh to cry out "Amen!" which is exactly what Lowry accomplished.

Now, think about what type of discussion that leads to with neighbors, co-workers and friends. I'm sure that would be better than discussing whether Yellow needs to be Mellow or not. :)

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." - Col 4:6

My Testimony: HIM not me! - Part III

What should be a Christian's testimony?

In Part I, I introduced the question, "What is my testimony?" In Part II, we quickly looked at the biblical testimony. In this final part, I hope to help believers understand what a Christ-exalting testimony is.

I'm going to make this very short while hopefully maintaining relevance and spurring you on to honor Christ.  Read the Word of the Lord in the account of the Samaritan woman:

Joh 4:39-42

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.   And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. 

You know the story of the Samarita woman (Joh 4:5-29).  When the Samaritan woman gave her testimony, she did not recall her past life nor wonder at the new life ahead of her.  She did not call the hearers to understand her sordid past.  She did not make the hearers to marvel at her renewed outlook on life, her newfound joy and peace nor her hope of a better future.  She merely told the hearers of her testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."

What was her testimony to the hearers?  I submit to you that her testimony was this: I am a sinner, a great sinner - lost and dead.  He made me to see my sins.  Greater yet, He made me to see Him and now I rejoice because the Messiah has found me and saved me from my sins!

Christian, the height of your testimony is not your pursuit of holiness and achievement of a less sinful life.  Nor is it your current state of happiness and peace as compared to your past.  It is not merely that you once were a drunkard and now you are not.  When your testimony amounts to your works and experiences, you place onto yourself a yolk of righteousness that you cannot bear.  When your testimony is limited to the changes in your life, you place blinders on the ears of your hearers so that they only see you and not the God-honoring testimony.

Your testimony is not what you have done, are doing or will do.  Your testimony is that He showed you your sinfulness and need for a Savior and that you have obtained mercy.  The person and the work of Jesus (the gospel) is your testimony.

When you understand that, you will then see that "blowing your testimony" is not about sinning in front of others.  We all do that all day long.  Blowing your testimony happens when you don't blow the bugle of the gospel as an evangel to proclaim the excellencies of Him who brought us (wicked, rebellious sinners then, now and tomorrow) out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  Our testimony is not us, it is Jesus!

My Testimony: HIM not me! - Part II

What is a biblical testimony?

In Part I of this article, I asked the question: What is my testimony? The question was born from the consideration of how often Christians use the term to describe their actions in life. In this second part of this three-part article, I will attempt to summarize the biblical definitions and uses of the word "testimony".

Before I proceed, I want to point out that I am not a seminary graduate nor have I taken any Greek or Hebrew courses. Like most of you, I am a layman trusting in the Spirit's work, counsel of wise men and the Scripture's efficacy for all things pertaining to life and godliness. I long to understand the Scriptures so as to reveal Jesus in His glory while setting men aside in the sidelines as auditors.

The word "testimony" is used by the KJV translators 44 times in the Old Testament and 32 times in the New. In total, there are 6 distinct words or forms of a word translated as "testimony". All words speak of either bearing a record (as in a witness of an act) or giving a report. In some uses, the word represents the actual report or evidence given. The Hebrew and Greek words translated often as "testimony" is also translated as "testimonies", "witness" and "testify/ied".

Other than Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees (as in Mat. 23:31) as party to those that "kill the prophets", none of the uses refer to the act of the speaker nor of his past accomplishments or failures when the testimony is that of a man. Only when the Scriptures refer to the testimony of God (as in Psa. 19:7, ) does the testifier speak of Himself or of His acts.

Why then has the contemporary use become so man-centered and how do we return to a biblical and Christ-honoring testimony? See Part III...

Back At It...

I've taken a long break to do some major remodeling of unused rooms around the house to prepare for what we hope to be an interesting and blessed 2009.  More on that later...

I will be publishing the completion of the "My Testimony: Him not Me!" article this weekend as well as posting some that I've drafted but have not been able to complete.  I hope you find them beneficial to your soul.