Time to Clean Up Your Act

There are a few things you can usually find people doing when it's 95 degrees and sunny outside. Swimming. Sunbathing. Washing a car. This past Saturday I took the time to wash my truck and my wife's car. While I was washing Misty's car one of our teenagers from church walked up to talk to me. We chatted for a few minutes and towards the end of our conversation he made a comment that caught my attention. He said, "I guess I need to go home and wash my 4Runner." Now this mundane comment probably could have gone unnoticed in a conversation but I realized something in that moment that relates so well to our spiritual life. Whether we like it or not our actions have a direct impact on those around us.

The only reason this young man thought about washing his own vehicle was because he saw me washing mine. Whether I realized it at the time or not, my actions were having a direct impact on this young man. We've all seen this happen in life where people are encouraged to do good and bad based on the actions they see in others. Call it peer pressure. Call it influence. Call it what you will, but in the end our actions impact others.

When it comes to the way we live out our faith in front of others, our actions can have an impact, good or bad, on those around us. Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” We have one shot at this life and it's important, when it comes to matters of faith, that we make the most of every opportunity. Especially when we realize how our witness and actions impact others. When others see us cleaning up our life, they will want to do the same. When others see us praying over our meal, it will encourage them to do the same. When others see us making God a priority, they will look to do so as well.

Our actions leave a lasting impression on those around us. Our kids. Our friends. Our family. Our co-workers. It's vitally important that we take every opportunity we can to leave a positive and faith-filled impact in the lives of those individuals. Look for an opportunity today to live out a great Christians example in the lives of those around you.


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This World is Falling Apart

Friday, June 26, I was in Sandusky, Ohio on vacation with my family. Shortly after lunch, I stood watching my sons ride an amusement park ride and I took my phone out to check Facebook to see what was going on. In my News Feed I began to see articles about the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. I was a little surprised by the decision but what bothered me most is the fact I couldn't shake this uneasiness in my soul. The uneasiness lingered the rest of the day. To me it felt like our society had taken a tectonic shift in the wrong direction. Over the course of the next few days I saw and read many articles online about the decision and the ramifications it had on pastors, churches, and Christians in general. Some gave fresh perspectives to a difficult place we find ourselves in as a society and as members of the Body of Christ. But now having had some time to digest this major shift in our society I have some thoughts for Christians to consider.

Society's beliefs do not change God's truths.
God's standards of holiness and righteousness are not dictated by the whims of finite and fallible men. Society's affirmation of same-sex marriage in no way changes what God has stated to be true, that marriage is a holy institution between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:24). It would be like society affirming adultery, theft, or murder, all of which are explicitly forbidden by God (Exodus 20). Just because society says its okay, doesn't mean that it is.

Don't expect non-Christians to live like Christians.
One of the more surprising things through all of this has been how Christians have seemed to be shocked that non-Christians don't want to live by Christian values. How else would we expect them to live? If they have not been changed by the power of Christ's blood, we can't expect them to conform to His teachings. We must expect that the millions of non-Christians in our country today will not live by God's standards. It's our responsibility to show the light of Christ in this ever darkening world.

It will only get worse.
Another thing that surprises me through this ordeal our society is facing is the surprise Christians have as they see things declining. I've read through the Bible a few times and each time I see the same thing. It tells us that things are going to get bad before Jesus returns. This is just the one of many decisions our society has made that leads us downward spiritually and it's only going to get worse. On one hand it can be bothersome to know that things will continue to get worse. On the other hand it is reassuring to know that it means Jesus is that much closer to returning.

Your job is to speak the truth in love.
In Ephesians 4, Paul writes about the maturing faith of a believer. One thing he mentions is that they should speak the truth in love. As followers of Christ it is our responsibility to share the truths of God's Word to this dark, lost, and dying world. They need to hear that there is hope. They need to know that God loves them and wants a relationship with them. We must do that but not through condemnation and critical remarks about lifestyles and a lack of faith. Instead we do it by showing love and compassion. Just like the love and compassion God once showed us.

There is plenty that could be written on all of this but these are just a few observations from this pastor that I hope will help you as our society continues to change.


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Here's why your kid needs to go to VBS.

I can honestly say I have great memories of Vacation Bible School (VBS) when I was growing up. The little old ladies behind the counter giving us 2 cookies and a cup of juice for snacks. Epic dodgeball battles at recreation. Crafts that I'm still amazed stayed together after I took them home. Of course there were always times where we learned Bible stories and learned about missions. All in all, VBS is a great summer experience for children.

But here's some reasons why your kid needs to go to VBS.

1. They are exposed to the Gospel.
During the week of VBS, a child should be exposed to the Gospel in multiple ways. Through their Missions class, the songs they sing, the crafts they make, their Bible study time, and of course a large group Gospel presentation. Research shows that on average a person hears the Gospel 7 times before making a decision for Christ. Since VBS is a Gospel-saturated event, then children have a greater chance of responding to the Gospel during VBS. (Want to learn more about the Gospel? Click here.)

2. They learn to give.
There is usually an offering taken during VBS. The money may go to missionaries overseas, local benevolence needs, or some other form of mission projects. Some churches even collect items for a particular mission project during VBS and encourage the kids to participate by making it a competition between the boys and the girls. Regardless of what is collected the children learn what it means to give something to God by giving to His work.

3. They see that church can be fun.
During VBS I used to tell some of the corniest jokes I can find. It was a love hate relationship. The kids loved to hate them. But they saw that it was okay to have fun in church. They may get to play games along with their Bible study. They always find recreation to be fun. For many kids they get to see that there is more to church than sitting quietly in a worship service singing songs they may not understand and listening to a preacher for what seems like an eternity.

These are just a few of the reasons why your kid needs to go to VBS. There are plenty more but these are three of the top reasons. If your church has VBS this summer, then make sure your kid(s) get there. If you don't attend a church currently or your church isn't having VBS then I invite you to join us at North Catawba Baptist Church. Our 2017 VBS is being held this week (June 11-15) from 5:45 PM to 8:30 PM and you can find directions at www.northcatawbabaptist.com.


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Caitlyn Jenner and the Sad Truth

The latest copy of Vanity Fair magazine has caused quite a stir. On the cover is a picture of former Olympian Bruce Jenner, following his "gender transition," as Caitlyn Jenner. If you want the details of all he has to say on this whole ordeal then Vanity Fair is happy to share that with you. Last week you couldn't turn around without hearing or seeing someone commenting or posting about Jenner's change. Some was surely seen to be positive by Jenner and others I'm sure were not supportive in the least bit. The sad truth is when you look at Jenner and what he is doing you actually see a person consumed by their own sin.

According to Wikipedia Jenner professes to be a Christian. Going on the assumption that Wikipedia is correct and Jenner is not lying, we see a fellow brother in Christ who is being consumed by his own sin. Jenner is like any other person who professes to be a Christian. He is attacked daily by Satan in a spiritual battle. Unfortunately from what we see in the media, Satan is winning the battle. The real challenge when we see the images of Jenner is to know what needs to go on in his life and in ours.

The first thing that needs to go on is in Jenner's life is that he needs to, like all Christians, seek God's forgiveness through repentance. Following his own personal restoration with God, Jenner can begin to move forward in fellowship and unhindered worship of God. Until Jenner acknowledges his own sin and seeks God's forgiveness, nothing else we say or do really matters.

The first thing that needs to go on in the lives of Christians concerning Jenner is we need to be in prayer for Jenner. We all know what it's like to struggle with sin. We all know what it's like to be consumed by a sin that seems to gnaw at us every moment of every day. Jenner is in the same position and we need to pray for him. 1 John 5:16 and James 5:19 both speak of how we should pray for our brothers in Christ and help them to see the error of their ways.

Finally, Christians need to guard themselves against sinning because of Jenner. We need to be careful not to form hatred in our heart towards Jenner. Jesus in the Gospels and John in his first epistle remind us that hatred in the heart is equivalent to murder by our hands. Although we most likely will never meet Jenner in person we need to show Christian love towards him. That doesn't mean that we condone what he's doing, but that we do not kick a man while he's down and dealing with his own sin. The best way many of us can show our Christian love for Jenner is not partaking in the gossip and slander, instead encouraging other Christians to pray for him.

I realize in today's culture calling sin, well...sin, isn't a popular notion. We can be called judgmental and hypocritical. But in the end God's Word is the one making the judgment call, not us. When we see someone struggling with sin, we need to show them the same kind of grace God has shown us. That means praying for those struggling with sin and showing them godly love as well.


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Marriage is like riding a roller coaster...

Today, June 1st, 2015, my wife and I celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. Other than lunch together today we don't really have any big plans. For most of our anniversaries we've taken turns choosing a day trip which we celebrated on Memorial Day since we were both off from work and our anniversary is usually later in the week. Two years ago we had one of the most exciting and interesting anniversary trips we've had to date. We took our boys and my parents to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. We spent our anniversary riding roller coasters that made your head spin. Before we headed to the park that morning I posted something on Facebook about our anniversary. As I wrote it out I couldn't help but think about how marriage is like riding a roller coaster. Here's what I wrote:

Marriage is a lot like a roller coaster. There is fear and trepidation of the unknown before going through with it. Once you are strapped in and ready you start out going uphill slowly. But as you progress, there is inevitably a down side to the heights you just attained. When things are headed down they seem to be going faster than you can handle. There are twists, turns, corkscrews and the occasional flip or loop that leaves you spinning. It involves tears of fear and of joy. There are times of screaming at each other and screaming for no reason at all. At other times you throw your hands up and at others you hold on for dear life. Sometimes you feel beat up and banged up and you just want to get off the ride. But at the end of the day you can look at your partner on the ride, smile and say..."That was awesome!"

Marriage, like a roller coaster, is not for the faint of heart. It requires a great deal of patience, mercy, compromise, love, forgiveness, and grace. If two people want their marriage to succeed then both spouses must work to make it a success. Every couple I counsel during pre-marital counseling is warned that marriage is hard and it requires work. If one spouse gives up on a marriage it doesn't matter how much the other spouse tries to "make it work," it won't happen. In today's culture godly marriages are under constant attack from Satan. He's trying his best to tear down what God has made good and holy. Marriages are no exception. Marriage is not easy but in the end it is well worth the blood, sweat, and tears we pour into it to make it something great. We get to look back 5, 10, 25, or 50 years later and see what we've built...together.

My encouragement to you today is to enjoy the roller coaster ride that is marriage. Work together to make your marriage a godly marriage that honors God and brings glory to Him. Reflect God's character in your marriage by forgiving, loving, and showing grace to each other. In the end you'll be glad that you did.

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10,000 Reasons

Over this past weekend my blog broke 10,000 views. Many thanks to all those who've read my blog posts over the last 19 months. I hope they've been encouraging, challenging, and thought provoking. Above all I hope they've helped you deepen your walk with Christ and brought glory to God. Here's to many more posts and 10,000 more views.

In Service to Him,
Pastor Nicholas Wilson

The Jehovah's Witness "Bible" in my nightstand

Last year I was teaching through a series on cults in our church on Wednesday nights. Through the series we looked at Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-Day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses. When I started to prepare for the lessons on Jehovah's Witnesses I started to round up my books and remembered that I had let someone borrow them. I had two really good resources, "So what's the difference?" by Fritz Ridenour and "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Dr. Walter Martin. (Both I would recommend for a deeper understanding of the differences between Christianity and other belief systems.) So I contacted the lady I had lent the books to and she had some bad news for me. She had borrowed them so she could discuss with her boyfriend, who was a Jehovah's Witness, about some of the beliefs Jehovah's Witnesses held that were different from what she knew to be true. She told me after she discussed some stuff with him that he threw the books in the trash after she left the house. I thought it was ironic that my best material about Jehovah's Witnesses were thrown in the trash by a Jehovah's Witness but nevertheless I was without some good resources. The lady offered to pay for the books and I refused but she did offer something that I immediately took her up on. She offered me a copy of the Jehovah's Witnesses "Bible" called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Once I had it I highlighted a few places in it, made some notes, and stuck it in my nightstand beside my bed. 

Now to some it may seem odd that I'd jump at the chance to have one of these books, much less that I would put it in my nightstand. Well my reasoning is rather simple. If I am to reach a Jehovah's Witness with the true gospel of Christ then I cannot do it by starting off with my Bible. Regardless of the translation I cannot reach them first with a Bible because they are taught not to read or use materials other than their own scriptures or Watchtower articles. The key to leading a Jehovah's Witness to Christ is in showing them the error of their doctrine from their own scriptures (Who Jesus is, the Trinity, and salvation by grace not works are just a few of the areas of difference between JWs and Christians). That is why I highlighted and made notes in the copy given to me. But why stick it in my nightstand. Well for me it was a place I knew it would not get misplaced and I could easily find it when it was needed. 2 Timothy 4:2 says "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction" (NIV). Not if, but when a Jehovah's Witness shows up at my door, I need to be prepared to share the gospel with them. By keeping that book in a place I know it will be in, then I can follow Paul's instructions to Timothy.

We should always be prepared to share the gospel, regardless of the situation. If you know how you will share the gospel then you have half the battle won. If you don't know how you would share the gospel if the opportunity presented itself to you, then you need to figure out how you feel most comfortable doing so. Because if you aren't prepared, you won't share it. It's that simple. So be prepared, in season and out of season, to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

*There is more to effectively sharing the gospel with a Jehovah's Witness. If you need some help in this regard, then email me at pastornick@northcatawbabaptist.com and I can get some resources into your hands to help you out.


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A Fresh Start

Quite possibly my favorite time of the year is the spring planting season. To me there is nothing like walking barefoot through a newly tilled garden. There is something about the drone of the tiller and the feeling of the dirt between your toes that is euphoric. In years past I've had a garden that required a lot of work and attention. When it came to planting time there was something therapeutic about working in the garden. Tilling, laying off rows, planting, weeding, watering, weeding, fertilizing, weeding and eventually harvesting all made for hard work but a great time of reflection. I could reflect on a fresh start as I watched those small plants start to peek out of the soil. There was so much potential for those plants all they needed was the right combination of circumstances for their fresh start to be a full blown success.

From time to time a fresh start is needed in life. One aspect where a fresh start is most beneficial is in our spiritual life. To follow our gardening example, if we aren't careful we'll find ourselves covered in weeds that choke the spiritual life out of us. What we need to do is take time to till or turn over the dirt in our spiritual garden. We need to take time to turn things over to God that would keep us from focusing on Him. We need to allow Him to weed our spiritual garden of those things that do not benefit us. It won't be easy on us and it will be hard work but in the end it will be well worth it. For our fresh start to have maximum impact on our spiritual garden we need to be watered from above. We need to seek God's direction and ask for His blessings to be poured out on us as we follow Him. We will find our selves dry, parched, and wilting without God's direction in our lives. One final thing we need for a fresh start is a little fertilize. Organic or man-made, fertilize has one objective. To make things grow! If we want to see our spiritual garden grow to it's full potential we need to throw the fertilize to it. We need to be in God's Word allowing Him to develop us from the inside out. We also need to spend time in prayer so He can prepare our hearts and minds for the growth He plans to bring. Finally, we need to fertilize our spiritual garden with a healthy dose of worship. If we follow God's gardening plan we can experience a fresh start spiritually that will be like looking over a newly planted garden.

The best way to see this fresh start take hold in your life is to be part of a church. Be sure, if you aren't already a part of a church, to find a church where you and your family can worship God together, be fed spiritually together, and serve God together. If you're in our area and looking for a church where you can do all of that visit us at North Catawba Baptist Church. You can find directions at www.northcatawbabaptist.com. 


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Time to get off our butts.

"It's time to get off our butts and do what the church is supposed to be doing." I very vividly remember this statement being made in a sermon by a man I consider to be the closest thing I have to a little brother. But not just any sermon, his first sermon to beat it all. I remember sitting in the audience that day thinking, "I've never heard anyone say the word 'butt' from the pulpit before." Then I started thinking about what some of the older folks in the church were thinking about what he'd said. But (no pun intended) he had a very valid point that fit in with his message. We, the modern-day church, the collection of born again believers, must "get off our butts" and be about our Father's business.

Having grown up in church, having helped pastor one church, and now leading a church as the Senior Pastor, I've noticed some things about folks in the church. There are plenty that want to be involved. Those that want to see the church thrive and succeed. Those that want to see the church reaching unbelievers for Christ. But there are some categories of folks that need to get a copy of my little brother's sermon and pay close attention. Here are a few of those types of folks.

The Meddler
These are the folks that seem to be busy around the church and involved in all sorts of things but the only agenda they hope to accomplish is their own. They try to control areas of the church or ministries in the church just to satisfy their own desire for power. They will even go so far as to stir the pot with gossip and slander. In the end, the areas they meddle in don't help accomplish any Kingdom goal and most likely hurt the work of the church.

The Consultant
These are the folks who don't lift a finger to help with any ministry or activity but feel free to criticize those doing the work. They know how to do it better but won't help. They can tell you why your way won't work but they aren't willing to assist you. They may even show up only on Sunday mornings but tell you how all the other services and ministries need to be done differently. In the end, they just grate nerves and cause those doing the work to be frustrated and discouraged.

The Pewsitter
These are the folks that seem to only want to keep a place on a pew warm during a morning worship service. They show no initiative in wanting to help the church accomplish it's vision. They do not volunteer. If asked to help they hem and haw and don't give a straight answer. In the end, the most activity you will get from them in helping the church is them passing the offering plate down the row.

Hear me out before you send me emails about me being judgmental and condemning people. I didn't invent the personality types or encourage them not to participate in the church. I'm just sharing personality types I've witnessed in the church. That being said, if you're a Meddler, Consultant, Pewsitter or some other problem personality, I have some pastoral advice for you from a dear friend of mine. It's time for you to get off your butt and do what the church is supposed to be doing. Not serving your own agenda. Not criticizing the work others are doing. Not sitting watching everyone else do the work. God has called His children into this unique fellowship called the church. We are to do life together, serve together, rejoice together, grieve together, and reach unbelievers together. If you are doing anything else other than pulling alongside your fellow church members then you are hampering the work God is trying to do in your church. Don't be a problem for the church be a problem solver.

For those that aren't Meddlers, Consultants, Pewsitters, or any other problematic personality, I say keep working your butts off. Lead the way so others see what needs to be done. Encourage others to get involved with you. Keep working for the Kingdom as you help your church accomplish it's vision.


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Which type of hunter are you?

I'm not much of a hunter. I've been dove and squirrel hunting and I've even taken my boys squirrel hunting. My only claim to hunting fame is killing 6 squirrels with a single shot 20 gauge shot gun in about a minute. My dad still says they were deaf squirrels, but at 14 years old I took no mercy on them! Personally, I prefer fishing. But I do enjoy seeing what my hunter friends have killed. Whether it's deer, turkey, or some other wildlife I like to see the pictures and talk to them about what they've killed. Recently I was checking out some pictures on Facebook where a couple of friends had killed turkeys. I started thinking about the different types of hunters and how they relate to our primary responsibility as Christians.

Its safe to say that your primary responsibility as a follower of Christ is to tell others about Jesus and what He's done in your life. Your own story is the greatest and most effective witness to the power of God and the life-changing redemption Christ has ushered into your life. That witness is what God uses to bring unbelievers to faith in Christ. No matter our age, socioeconomic status, race, gender, or education level, we are responsible to tell people of the change Jesus has made in our lives and ask them to do the same. Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses and to do so by sharing the gospel and making disciples for Him. Whether you are good at it or not, its your responsibility. Whether you are currently practicing this or not, its still your responsibility. With that being said, we can look at our responsibility through the scope (sorry bad pun) of a hunters analogy.

The Sitter
When hunting most game the hunter will sit very still and wait for the game to come by so they can shoot it. Sometimes they're in a tree stand and other times they are in a blind. But they are sitting still waiting on the game to arrive.

I would dare say that nearly all Christians are "Sitters" when it comes to hunting down the lost to share the gospel. We sit in our lofty perch of a tree stand (the church) or we camouflage ourselves in the world and wait for the lost to come to us. We don't make a move when they are around for fear they may see that we want to talk to them about spiritual matters. We may even wait on them to climb into the tree stand with us and beg to be hunted. But In the end they often times walk right through our sights and we don't take the shot. We sit and watch people slip into eternity without taking the time to share with them about the One who can change their life.

The Stalker
Some hunters stalk their game. They have to quietly approach their game while trying to avoid scaring it off. It can be a challenge depending on the environment they are in. Some even hunt using dogs to track down raccoon or bear. Nevertheless, they are approaching their game and taking the initiative to track it down.

There are fewer Christians who hunt for the lost as a "Stalker." They have a desire and a tenacity that supersedes the fear of rejection. They bravely pursue unbelievers with a singular focus that impresses others. Sometimes they stealthily creep up on an unsuspecting unbeliever and other times they chase them down with the fervor of a dog that has treed a raccoon. Regardless, they have a determination to succeed at bagging the big game and that is a soul that is destined for hell.

It's pretty clear from the hunting analogy that we have two choices as to how we will approach unbelievers to share the gospel. We can sit as they go by or we can pursue them. It doesn't take much common sense to know that we should be pursuing the unbelievers in the hopes they will put their faith in Christ. If you find yourself letting the lost go right by you, what do you need to do differently to share the gospel with them? What do you need to change in and of yourself? Whatever it is seek God's help in making the change and He will help you succeed. Because in the end He wants you to bag as many souls for Him as you possibly can.


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