Life is a many splendored thing

I am still very young in the pastorate. 15 months give or take as a senior minister. In those 15 months I have performed 6 funerals or memorial services. Some have been church members. Some have been complete strangers. One was a dear high school friend. But one thing I have learned is that life is a fragile, yet splendored thing.

Scripture tells us that our lives are fleeting. James 4:14 reminds us that "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." Moses asks the Lord in Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."  

The last memorial service I performed was just this weekend. It was for a dear saint and wonderful member of our church. She passed due to complications with a brain aneurysm that occurred a few weeks ago. Many people in our church are grieving her loss, but we also have a hope that the world does not have; that hope is that one day we will see her again and we will both be full of life. It is true of any saint who has passed from this world to the next, the dying has ended and the living has now begun. 

What about you? Hebrews 9:27 tells us that ... "it is appointed for man to die one, and after that come judgment." Now, that judgment could be a one of two different types of judgment. One type of judgment is based on our righteousness or right-standing before the Lord. Obviously we all fall terribly short of God's perfect standard (Romans 3:23). But for those found in Christ, we have received His righteousness (Romans 4:22-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). So for those who are in Christ, we are declared righteous before a Holy God because of His work. Those who are not found in Christ will stand before God guilty of sin and falling short of His glory. The wages of that sin is death (Romans 6:23) and thus anyone not found in Christ will spend all of eternity with God's wrath upon him (John 3:36). 

But there is another type of judgment. This one is reserved specially for God's people. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." This judgment is not based on our salvation or even our righteousness; this comes from our sanctification and our perseverance. What have you done for Christ since your salvation. Are you still a baby Christian? Have you matured in your knowledge, sanctification, giving and understanding? Are your works being done for the glory of God? These are the questions we must ask ourselves if we are already under the blood of Christ. 

I heard a quote a long time ago and I'm sure you've heard it before: On your tombstone will be the day you were born, the day you died and a dash in between the two. What are you doing with your dash?

Why every Christian (male or female) should not see "Magic Mike."

Not sure if you've heard or not but there is a movie currently playing that is making a bunch of buzz on facebook and twitter. "Magic Mike" stars Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey as male strippers trying to make it big. It is supposedly an inspirational movie based on Tatum's real life. But let's be honest, it's about half-naked guys shaking their money makers in front of crowds of swooning women (both on screen as well as off screen.)

At the risk of sounding like a close-minded prude, I would argue that no self-respecting Christian, either male or female, should ever see the movie "Magic Mike."

The reasons why a Christian woman should not view this movie are easy. I have yet to hear a person either comment or remark that they really want to see this movie because of the wonderful plot and that the script is so well written. The only reason women want to see this movie is for the undressed men gallivanting about in their banana hammocks. Many of these women are married and are leaving their husbands at home to go with a group of ladies to whoop and holler at the screen, like hungry wolves howling at a full moon (pun intended).

What if instead of "Magic Mike" the title was "Magic Molly" and instead of Tatum and McGonaughey there were two A-list female celebrities prancing around in lingerie and doing unspeakable things on camera, all the while groups of men, young and old, were flocking to the theaters and blowing up facebook and twitter about how badly they want to see that movie? How do you think the women in our society would be reacting? For some reason it is perfectly acceptable for women to behave like this but, the majority of the time, when a man behaves that way he is labeled a misogynistic pig. If you ask me, both scenarios are completely deplorable and disgusting.

Whether it is in the heart of a woman or a man lust is still lust. Jesus was not only speaking to men when He said that looking lustfully at another person is the same as committing adultery in your heart. It is a universal truth. But women get away with it in our culture because they are just cutting loose with some girlfriends and it isn't hurting anyone. I would beg to differ.

What happens after the credits roll and the ladies head back to the house to their husbands or boyfriends who are not Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. They are trading in six-packs for keggers. They trade a professional entertainer with a personal fitness instructor for a 45 year old husband who works too much, eats too much unhealthy food and falls asleep on the couch watching CSI. All of a sudden the women are planning another trip to the movie theaters next Friday night. If a woman is not careful, they can fall into the trap of believing that the real thing is not good enough, and that is a dangerous valley to fall in. Lust rarely begins in the heart; it begins with the eyes and the mind and then leads to heart and then finally to the hands and the feet.

The reasons why a Christian man should not see the movie is somewhat different, though there are some similarities. Now, I'm not accusing most men of wanting to see Tatum and the rest of the crew prance around in their fruit of the looms, but there is something that is still dangerous. The majority of the movie, and the real-life reaction, is a series of overwhelming, hormonal, excitable shrills and giggles of women clamoring to see more of these men. Excited, hot and bothered women swooning to do just about anything with these fellas because they are good looking, charming and half-naked.


Here are the two dangers: 1. The exciting squeals of the women on screen as well as the real-life reaction of the women off screen (including girlfriends, wives and random strangers) can easily lead to dangerous thoughts and images going off in your own mind. Men are visual creatures. If they are not careful the idea of a group of women getting so worked up sexually can lead them down a very dark path in the mind and in the heart.
2. A guy may very well seek out the same attention that these fictional characters are getting so they may try to become their own rendition of Magic Mike. Our society already has enough pseudo-men as it is. Twenty- and thirty-somethings whose only ambition is power, sex, money and awesome biceps. We have enough Magic Mikes already, we don't need anymore.

Tribute to Challies

Every morning in my inbox I can expect to see an e-mail update from Tim Challies blog. Honestly, I don't know how he gets any work done.
Pretty frequently he has a section titled A La Carte with a few interesting articles, book reviews or insights that he shares with his readers. So, in Challies-style, here is my attempt at an "A La Croft":

• Caped Savior?: Plugged in Online's Paul Asay has a new book out on the topic of how Batman and God are a like. As a superhero fan and a bigger fan of God, it sounds like it's worth checking out. For a free sample check out God on the Streets of Gotham.

• Traditional understanding of Baptist Salvation: There has been much hoopla about the new article written by some Southern Baptist about a traditional Baptist belief of salvation. One of their arguments is that a traditional history of Southern Baptist teaching is based on non-Calvinism or even Arminianism. Cape Coral Pastor Tom Ascol had some interesting thoughts on SBC Salvation statement.

•  Speaking of Tim Challies, he recently wrote an article for the Answers in Genesis magazine. In it he answers the question how could you believe in a God who would send people to hell? His answer: How could you not believe in that God?

• Vice President of mobilization and equipping for the North American Mission Board Aaron Coe recently wrote an article about the need for church planting in North America. I found a very similar article on the NAMB website written by Coe titled Why we need more church plants.

Delightful Decade

Ten years ago today was a balmy, Saturday afternoon in Lakeland, FL. It had rained a good bit of the morning, but it quickly dried up and the sun was again visible through the storm clouds. There was quite a lot of hustle and bustle going on at Maddox Ranch that day. The lawn was cut nice, the rose garden was weeded, and the animals were on their best behavior. I remember so vividly because it was our wedding day.

Ten years ago today Kristina Lorraine Counts became Kristina Lorraine Croft, and I became the luckiest man in the world. We had only dated the past two years, but we had known each other for seven years prior to our wedding. We were just kids. I was 19 and Kristina, the cradle-robber she is, was 20. We had been warned that we were too young, we still had time, and we needed to finish school before marriage. We scorned the advice and got engaged a few months before then, and now we were to be wed.

Kristina’s father performed the ceremony. My father was my best man. My mother looked more beautiful than I think I have ever seen her. But nothing was in comparison to my bride. As she walked down the aisle I was enamored and captivated by her beauty. As I held her hand and looked into her eyes I barely remember what her father was saying during his sermon. I’m sure it was a good and well thought out message, but my mind was elsewhere.

I was so nervous, not only because scores of people were staring at me, but also because I was now becoming a man. I had responsibility of another person placed upon me. I probably wasn’t ready – no, I know I wasn’t ready, but I was doing it anyway. Kristina has been more than gracious with me over these past 10 years. She has literally been a savior. I had no idea what it was like to be a husband, a lover, or a friend. She has taught me those things and many more over these past 10 years. God has granted us four children (in the past 5 years)!  She is my best friend, my confidante and my rock. I am so happy that 10 years ago today she said “I do” and meant it.

Happy Anniversary, my Beauty. Here’s to another 70 years with you or as long as God decides.

The Gospel Project

Since our church is looking to expand our children's department for this upcoming fall, I've been perusing through some different curriculum. Here is a brand new resource from LifeWay (Go SBC!!) called The Gospel Project for Kids. It was developed under the leadership of Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax and  has an advisory council that includes D.A. Carson and Matt Chandler (I know, who would have thought Matt Chandler was Southern Baptist?!)
Personally, I would like to see more of this curriculum. I am a big fan of telling the whole picture of Scripture, which is that every single story from every single book can point to the saving work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Not only should our children be learning these truths, but adults as well.

Sovereignty on Sundays

I had a hard decision to make. It was my first official Sunday as the pastor of my church. I had been voted in two weeks prior and now we had moved from Lakeland to North Fort Myers on Saturday and now Sunday was my first day on the job. To make things more complicated, it was Mother's Day, which of course a Mother's Day message would be expected. Couple this with my belief in expository preaching through a book of the Bible and I was now in a real dilemma. Then it hit me… 2^nd Timothy. The introductory verses of 2^nd Timothy were perfect for a Mother’s Day sermon. Paul speaks to Timothy as a beloved son, a spiritual son. And then Paul reminds Timothy of his rich, godly heritage starting with his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Not only would it work for a good mother’s day message, it would be a wonderful book to preach through as my first sermon series at my new church. So we began marching through 2^nd Timothy.

 And then lo and behold another significant Sunday was upon us – Father’s Day. And what was the scheduled text for that day? Second Timothy 2:22-26. If you don’t recall 2 Timothy 2:22 says “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (NKJV).

I do not find it a coincidence that God, in all His Sovereignty, would put an idea in my heart to begin preaching straight through 2^nd Timothy on Mother’s Day and the Father’s Day message came from the text in which the Apostle Paul is exhorting his spiritual son to flee from youthful lusts. There is no other message I’d rather preach to fathers in my congregation than to flee from youthful lusts. And yes, I do understand that there are other types of lust other than sexual sins. And I did address a few of those on Sunday, such as pride, desire for wealth and power and even jealousy. But I believe the most pervasive youthful lust in our society today is that of sexual sin. And that is what I taught.

I was a little apprehensive before the sermon. The seriousness of sexual sin is hardly preaching on a Sunday morning. It is still too taboo and impolite to talk about. Also, my church is a very traditional church comprised of mainly senior adults. It could have been taken the wrong way. But I believe that the passage in 2^nd Timothy required due diligence, so it was presented with honesty and, hopefully, clarity. The response was amazing. I had mothers thanking me for the message followed by men nearly in their 80’s telling me how that message was needed for today.

I am so glad that nothing is by chance or luck. God knew what He was doing the whole time, just as He always does. I am always amazed by our Wonderful God.