What Matters Most
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
February 24, 2010

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
(Galatians 1:8-9)

Allow me to paint a picture in your mind.  It is a bright, sunny day.  A gentle breeze is blowing.  It's not too hot or cold-just an overall pleasant day.  So you decide to embark on a joy ride through the countryside and take in the scenery.  As you are driving down a country road you come upon a roadside sign that reads, Caution! This sign has sharp edges on it.  Do not touch the edges of this sign.  Speeding past the sign, you think to yourself, "How odd!  Why would someone put a sign like that up on the road?  That is really weird.  It must be some kind of joke."

Moments later, still querying in your mind about the odd sign, you find the front end of your car barreling over a bridge that has been washed out by a recent rain storm.  Your car begins to sink in a muddy creek and you barely escape with your life.  Walking back down the road to seek help, you once again come upon that strange sign.  But this time you notice some small print at the very bottom of the sign that you had not noticed as you zoomed past at 50 MPH.  You walk up to the sign and discover that the fine print reads: By the way, the bridge is out up ahead!

Can you imagine the indignation you would feel?!  Someone took the time to manufacture a wonderful, smooth, shiny, reflective sign with good and accurate information about the sign's sharp edges.  But they failed to emphasize what mattered most! 

And so it is with Christianity these days.  We have forgotten what matters most: The Gospel!  Or at least we seem to have forgotten.  Just take a quick look at the best-selling Christian books.  Or listen to the radio programs of leading evangelical personalities.  Or spend a few minutes watching TBN on cable.  You will notice plenty of wonderful, smooth, shiny, reflective information that is in many cases good and accurate, but often what matters most is dead wrong. 

The Gospel is foundational to Christianity.  There is no more important subject in all of Scripture.  And yet in this postmodern age where we are inclined to draw circles of inclusion rather than lines of distinction, many Christians seem unwilling or unable to critically evaluate the accuracy of the gospel being preached.  It is easy to become enamored with evangelical leaders whose teaching on certain subjects is deemed encouraging and beneficial, while winking and nodding at the same teacher's erroneous view of the Gospel. 

"He is such a passionate speaker!"  But is he correct when it comes to what matters most?  "He is an expert on financial issues." But is he correct when it comes to what matters most?  "She is a gifted communicator on family matters."  But is she correct when it comes to what matters most?  "This book on marriage is the best I've ever read!"  But is the author correct when it comes to what matters most?

What matters most is the Gospel.  It does not matter how committed someone may be to other good issues, if he is wrong on the Gospel his wisdom and insight is built on a faulty foundation.

The Bible says that those who are preaching a false gospel are anathema (Gal. 1:8-9).  Literally, that word means "worthy of severe judgment "or "deserving of destruction."  The word does not, in and of itself, imply that the one preaching a false gospel is hell-bound himself-though he could be if he has never believed the pure Gospel.  The fact is even believers can come under strict judgment (i.e. be anathematized; see 1 Cor. 16:22).  And the Bible makes it clear that God is severely displeased by those who propagate a false Gospel.  What form the severe judgment will take is entirely up to God.

Why, then, would we ever want to promote or follow those whom God describes as being anathematized?  It is really bizarre when you stop and think about it.  "Can you recommend a good book on finances?"  "Sure!  Try this book by so-and-so.  God says the author is worthy of severe judgment and deserving of destruction, but hey, he has a lot of great insight on how to manage your money!"

What matters most is the Gospel.  If we forget that simple fact, we are in danger of leading others right off the bridge into muddy creek waters.  But not to worry...as they are drowning in sin, at least they will have a great marriage, or their finances will be in order, or they will be living their best life now....

What is the clear Gospel?  Click here for a presentation of God's Good News.

Bright Lights and Other Distractions
J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
February 17, 2010

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. (Proverbs 17:24)

Teaching a fifteen year old how to drive poses a number of challenges.  In the first place, many of the skills we use for driving are instinctive or intuitive, and come with practice.  For example, you cannot teach a first-time driver how to react when an empty bag of feed corn flies out of the back of a pick-up truck in front of you, and blows right into your path-obscuring your view for one, short terrifying moment.  In the second place, since fifteen year olds already know everything, very little that is said by their driving instructor will be welcomed and embraced.  Teaching our children to drive is just another in a long list of the joys of parenting!

Recently, I was giving my oldest daughter some practice time behind the wheel when we approached a turn onto a major highway.  As she (and I!) looked back to our left to look for oncoming traffic, the bright eastern sun blinded us and made it difficult to see if any cars were coming.  It didn't help matters that our windows were coated in dust from our gravel driveway, causing the sun to reflect and create a shadow effect-further shielding our view.  Eventually, we were able to gain a degree of confidence that it was safe to enter the highway and the experience turned into a teachable moment about bright lights and other driving distractions.

Life, like driving, comes down to focus.  There are many distractions that easily rob our focus and shift our attention away from the things that matter most.  Jesus calls such distractions the "cares of this world" that "choke the Word" in our lives and hinder our spiritual growth (Matt 13:22).  It is axiomatic that our focus determines our direction: You always hit what you are aiming at.  If your eyes shift to the scenery on your left, your hands on the steering wheel will follow and your car inevitably drifts across the yellow stripe and into the oncoming traffic.  Any carpenter worth his salt knows that when hammering nails, you focus on the nail not your thumb.  Because you always hit what you are aiming at.

Proverbs reminds us that the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth, but a discerning man keeps wisdom in view.  Fools lack focus.  Those who are wise keep their eyes on the road.  Where is your focus?  Are you looking intently into God's Word daily, to maintain the proper perspective and worldview?  Or are there bright lights and other distractions that have choked the influence of God's Word in your life, and gotten you off course? 

The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps 119:105).  Get in the Word and stay there, lest you find yourself blindsided by all of the trash blowing in the wind.

Life Is Not a Game of Go Fish
J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
February 11, 2010

He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. (Proverbs 27:7)

Recently I was playing a game of Go Fish with my eight year old son, Landry.  It is quite entertaining to watch a child's mind at work.  This particular game of Go Fish was especially fun because the cards were not the usual numbered playing cards.  Instead, they contained a variety of photos-a bicycle, a rain coat, flowers, a lobster, etc.  I could see Landry's wheels turning as he drew cards and narrowed down the possibilities. 

"Do you have any c-l-o-w-n-s?" Landry asked, emphasizing the key word by saying it slowly.  "Go fish," I replied.  Then I asked, "Do you have any skateboards?"  "Ugh! How did you know?" he moaned.  And back and forth we went until one of us (usually him) emptied his hand of all his cards.  Such fun-especially the look on a child's face when he wins!

It occurs to me that many people go through life as if it were a game of Go Fish.  They evaluate their lives, try to figure out what is missing, and then fill that void with what appears to correspond to their need at the moment.  Lonely?  Go fish.  (Hand me another drink.)  Need self-esteem?  Go fish. (Tear others down to hide my own insecurity.)  Need a new TV or nicer car?  Go fish. (Spend money I don't have.)  Looking for meaning or purpose in life?  Go fish. (Read another book by Dr. Phil.)

Life is not a game of Go Fish.  No matter how long you play; no matter how many times you draw, you will never find true contentment drawing from the world's stack of cards.  The stack is never ending.  There always will be more cards to draw.  That is because, as the Bible reminds us, to the hungry soul every bitter thing seems sweet.  But to those who have found true peace with God, even the sweetest honey will have no appeal. 

Is it your turn to draw?  Let me encourage you to set the cards aside and turn to the Word of God as the only real solution to life's problems.  No matter what you are facing, the Bible has the answers. Within its pages we find everything we need for life and godliness.  Most importantly, the Bible introduces us to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose again.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  In Him is life, and that life is the Light of men.  In Him, we can have abundant life. 

Have you trusted in Jesus Christ to forgive your sin and give you the free gift of eternal life?  If not, the time to do so is now...before the game ends and you lose.  If you already have a relationship with Christ by faith, let me encourage you to resist the temptation to join that old Go Fish game.  Instead of reaching for that futile deck of cards, pick up the Bible instead.  It will satisfy your every need.

No Comparison
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
February 3, 2010

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8, NIV) 

Logos Bible Software recently came out with a major new release, Logos 4.0.  Actually, it is a complete rewrite of Logos 3.0.  I have used Logos for over ten years as an indispensable tool in my ministry, as well as my personal Bible study, so I upgraded the very day 4.0 came out.  I was eager to see what changes had been made.  The pre-release hype had filled me with high expectations.

Logos did not disappoint me.  After installing 4.0, I opened my old 3.0 version on one screen and the new 4.0 version on another so that I could take note of the improvements.  I was amazed!  I found myself whistling the tune to the old Sesame Street song, One of These Things Is Not Like the Other.  Truly, the new technology and functionality of 4.0 made 3.0 look like child's play.  In fact, by comparison, there really is no comparison.

What a blessing to live in this age of advanced digital technology.  It seems like just yesterday I was singing along to my Dad's old reel-to-reel tapes in the living room of our saltbox house in Connecticut.  I was quite the karaoke star long before karaoke became the rage.  I'm too embarrassed to reveal whose music was on that old reel-to-reel tape, but I'll give you a hint: His last name is Manilow and his first name starts with a "B" and ends with an "arry."  Have you listened to a reel-to-reel tape lately?  Or even a cassette tape?  What a difference!  By comparison with today's digital MP3s, there really is no comparison.

Speaking of comparisons...I do a hefty amount of flying in my ministry and occasionally get upgraded to First Class because of my Continental Elite status.  Such was the case recently.  For the first time in quite a while I found myself enjoying some of the finer luxuries in life, like elbow room and a meal that you don't have to eat with your fingers.  It was wonderful.  As my mind wandered to the less fortunate souls in coach, I thought: Ahhh!  By comparison, there really is no comparison.

But there is one comparison that transcends all others.  It is the comparison between life with Christ and life without Christ.  Without Christ, even the most enjoyable moments are devoid of meaning.  Without Christ, all the riches in the world can't buy everlasting hope.  Without Christ, pain and suffering have no resolution.  Without Christ, relationships are superficial and fleeting.  Without Christ, every victory is hollow and short-lived.  Without Christ, the future is uncertain.  Without Christ, all is vanity.

Everything pales in comparison to the greatness of knowing Jesus Christ, God's Son and our Savior.  With Christ, we can rejoice no matter what the circumstance.  With Christ, we can see the unseen.  With Christ, we can walk through the valley.  With Christ, even the worst of times fade beneath the glory of knowing Him.  With Christ, all things are possible. With Christ, priorities become clear.  With Christ, all of our accomplishments, self-attainments, and reasons to boast become far less important as we realize what really matters most.  Life with Christ versus life without Him...by comparison there really is no comparison.  Do you know Christ?  For more information contact info@notbyworks.org. 

Leggo my Ego!
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
January 21, 2010

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2)

I had the pleasure of attending a Pastor's Conference in Orlando this week with several hundred pastors from around the country, and even a few from around the world.  I say "pleasure" because indeed it was edifying and challenging to hear some of the keynote messages that were delivered throughout the conference.  God truly has blessed the body of Christ with some gifted men of God who proclaim His Word boldly and clearly.

Yet not everything I experienced this week was encouraging.  I had a small speaking role in the conference and as such I had access to the green room where the principal participants in the conference (speakers, singers, emcees, etc.) gathered throughout the day just prior to their appointed time on stage.  I arrived at the green room a few minutes before my allotted time, and after being mic'ed by the audio technician, waited just off the stage for my cue.

At the last minute, the conference director decided to bump my presentation to about an hour later.  This did not bother me in the least, as my new time slot was at a more strategic location in the conference program.  With time to kill, I decided to hang out in the green room and listen to several esteemed evangelical leaders engage in an interesting conversation.  As I listened (but did not participate in the discussion because my mom always told me: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"), it occurred to me that there were more egos in the room than a waffle convention.  (I know, I know...the waffle brand is spelled with two "g's."  Just go with it.)

If I mentioned the name of some of the men in the discussion, chances are you would recognize them.  I won't, because my point is not to disparage anyone.  I watched these men repeatedly try to out due each other.  One talked about how his staff tweets his messages for him (because such menial tasks are beneath him); another mentioned his fancy phone; another talked about his automated Facebook page; and oh, the name-dropping!  My goodness!  Those men dropped more names than Tony Romo did footballs in the Cowboys' recent playoff game.

I must confess, my own ego reared its head a few times and I was tempted to chime in with some horn-tooting myself.  But then I thought of how many great men of God have fallen and stumbled throughout the years because of their pride.  And I thought to myself, "Leggo my ego!"  I prayed, "Lord give me the security and confidence in Christ that allows me to speak humbly and graciously with others and avoid the temptation to build myself up."  Proverbs 27:2 is a helpful reminder, "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips."

Is Haiti a Harbinger?
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
January 14, 2010

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:6-7)

The calamitous events in Haiti this week have left the rest of the world feeling helpless as we watch the victims being pulled one by one from the rubble.  What a terrible tragedy this is-the worst earthquake in the region in 200 years!  Our hearts and prayers are with the Haitians and the rescue workers.  In a global age where the world is ever decreasing in size, many of us know someone personally who lives in Haiti, has traveled there, supports a mission work there, etc., and this only sharpens our sense of empathy and compassion all the more.

When natural disasters like this occur, it does not take long for theological prognosticators to weigh in announcing that this latest cataclysmic event is yet another sign of the imminent return of the Lord.  "The sky is falling," they proclaim.  "Be ready!"  But is Haiti really a harbinger of the end of the world?  Can we really point to any particular natural disaster and say with certainty that it signals the soon-coming end of the age, when the eschatological wrath of God will be poured out upon the whole earth?  Hardly.

It is important in times like these to avoid the tendency to engage in drive by exegesis.  We must resist the urge to formulate our theology through the lens of experience.  All of life-especially unsettling events such as a devastating earthquake-must be interpreted and explained through the lens of Scripture, not driven by our feelings or circumstances.  There have been devastating earthquakes before; there will be devastating earthquakes again.  Throughout human history, there have been hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and any number of natural disasters.  Jesus told us plainly that such things do not necessarily signal the end of the age. 

Haiti is no more a harbinger of the end of the age than major earthquakes of the second or third centuries were.  Granted, it is true that in this present evil age where Satan is prince things are going to get worse and worse (Gal 1:4; Eph 2:2; 2 Tim 3:13) until God finally intervenes supernaturally and ushers in the long-awaited Kingdom (Matt 24:29-31).  But no one knows His timetable (Matt 24:36), least of all the opportunistic televangelists and popular Christian personalities of our day who are making great hay out of all of this. 

The lesson to learn from Haiti is simple.  God is sovereign.  He is sovereign over good things and bad things-good times and bad times.  We do not know the mind of God (Isa 40:13).  His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are not always known to us (Rom 11:33).  It is presumptuous and offensive to declare hastily that the earthquake in Haiti is God's retributive judgment or a signal that the end is near.  Both could be true; but neither can be proven to be true.  We will know the end is here only when it arrives.  Until then, be not troubled, rest in His sovereignty, respond with Christlike compassion to those who are hurting, and repent if needed.

Lord, Please Send More Bears!
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
January 6, 2010

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. (Proverbs 17:12)

Have you ever been cornered by a wild animal?  Few things are more terrifying than the sight of a ferocious animal determined to attack.  Just ask Allena Hansen, a 56 year old woman from Caliente, CA.  She had an unfortunate encounter with a bear and had to endure ten hours of surgery to her face and head to repair the damage done by the  mauling.  Doctors say she is lucky to be alive. 

As bad as a bear mauling may sound, there is something worse.  According to the Bible, a "fool in his folly" is an even more ferocious foe.  Proverbs 17:12 cautions, "Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly."  The only thing worse than an unfortunate encounter with a bear is an unfortunate encounter with a bear robbed of her cubs.  And the only thing worse than an unfortunate encounter with a bear robbed of her cubs is an unfortunate encounter with a fool in  his folly.

How can this possibly be the case?  In the Book of Proverbs, a "fool" represents the antithesis of God's ways, God's viewpoint, God's perspective, God's ideal.  A fool is someone who does not behave according to the normal standards of right and wrong or fairness or justice.  A fool has his own rulebook.  Motivated by pride (the seedbed of all sin), a fool will stop at nothing to achieve his purpose.  A fool is obsessed with his agenda and determined to achieve his selfish ends.  Like a bear whose single-minded purpose it to protect her cubs, a fool at the height of his folly is focused on protecting only one thing: himself.

There are, of course, degrees of foolishness.  Not all bears are killers; and not all fools are self-deceived marauders seeking to destroy anyone who gets in their way.  But left unchecked foolishness degenerates into the kind of sinful and hateful behavior that will make a bear robbed of her cubs seem like a furry harmless hamster.  That is why Proverbs warns: Watch out for a fool in his folly!

Just as you cannot talk an attacking bear out of eating you for supper, likewise there is no reasoning with a fool in his folly.  No amount of logic or rationality will convince him to correct course.  He is a fool.  He has abandoned biblical principles (if he ever had them to begin with) and is dead set on advancing his self-serving agenda, whatever it may be.

So what's the remedy for such an encounter?  How can you survive when a fool in his folly is stalking you?  When you encounter a fool in his folly, I suggest a prayer that goes something like this: "Lord, please send more bears!"  At least you have a fighting chance against the bear.

Never Look Back?
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.
www.notbyworks.org
December 31, 2009

"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug." (Isaiah 51:1)

The maxim "never look back" is a frequent refrain of visioneering experts and leadership gurus.  "Don't dwell on the past," they insist.  "Look to the future," they proclaim, "so that you won't be paralyzed by the past."  In some respects this is not bad advice.  After all, the Apostle Paul himself pledged to "forget what is behind" and "press toward what lies ahead" (Phil. 3:12-14).  But is it true that there is never a time to reflect on the past?  Are we forbidden from ever looking back to seek the counsel of history and experience?  A comparison of Scripture with Scripture suggests that there is in fact a proper time to examine the events of days gone by and learn the lessons that life has for us to learn.

The prophet Isaiah, for example, encouraged the people of Judah to "look to the rock from which they were hewn" (Isa. 51:1).  He was writing about 700 years before Christ, at a time when a heavy, deep darkness had settled over the nation.  The Assyrians had invaded and the Babylonians were threatening.  They needed a light to come.  The promise of a global kingdom of peace and justice and righteousness that had been given by God several centuries earlier seemed like a distant dream.  All hope appeared lost.  Then Isaiah the prophet arrived with a message from Yahweh.  It was a message that not only looked forward to a better day, but also looked back with a reminder of God's promise of a Messiah who would come and bring light to a dark and dreary world. 

Sometimes we have to look back to gain perspective and to bolster our faith.  Our faith, like that of the nation of Judah, is built upon the promises of a trustworthy God; and a survey of history validates His trustworthiness.  As we stand on the precipice of a new year, there is no better time to look back and learn the lessons of a year that soon will be tucked away in the folds of history, never to be relived.  Yet, while time offers no "do-overs," the memories of this past year live on and serve a valuable purpose in our lives.  There are at least three important reasons to look back.

First, the call to look back is a call to remember God's faithfulness.  The "rock" from which Judah was hewn refers to God's unconditional promise through Abraham (Isa. 51:2) that one day the entire world would be blessed through Israel.  Although the present situation for Judah seemed bleak, a survey of history would remind them that God has been faithful in the past and He will be faithful throughout the future.  Likewise as we recount God's faithfulness to us over the past year, we are emboldened to face the coming year undaunted by fear of what may lie ahead.

Second, looking back also provides an opportunity to hear the rebukes of life (Prov 15:31).  Life can be a great teacher.  The nation of Judah had a rich history of national experiences to drawn on.  By recalling past experiences, we too can gain wisdom for handling future circumstances and crises.  The phrase "learn from your mistakes" is not some empty axiom; it is a biblical principle!

Finally, as we look back, we also gain an opportunity to pass on our heritage to those who come after us.  By reflecting on and recording historical experiences, the leaders in Judah were able to teach younger Jews about God's dealings with His chosen nation over the centuries.  Similarly, as we rehearse the events of the past year, and reflect on them with our children, it provides a teachable moment to pass on the great narrative of faith.  "Look what God has done for us."  And, "See how good our God is!" become underlying themes that will help navigate us through the ebb and flow of the coming year.

As another year winds down, let me encourage you to take a moment to look back.  Don't linger there.  Don't dwell on the past and allow it to paralyze you.  But do take a moment to reflect on the rock from which you were hewn, and rest in God's faithfulness.  Happy New Year!