NUMBER ONE, 2022
In this issue 3
Discovering the “Missing Jewel” of the Church
charles r. swindoll
6
C.S. Lewis
8
Amazing Grace on Display
11
Balancing between Today and Tomorrow
robyn roste
bill gemaehlich charles r. swindoll
Understanding Our Times 12 Atheism, Agnosticism, and Skepticism steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 14 God's Hands on Human Clay
Puzzle 15 The Importance of Faith Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 40 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright © 2022 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
DISCOVERING THE “MISSING JEWEL” OF THE CHURCH by charles r. swindoll
Cover & Article Photo: Rainier Ridao on unsplash.com
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orship...let’s think about wor- did she wear a dress like that? “A bulwark ship. When was the last time you never failing.” Did I turn the lights off decided to stop playing “church” and start on my car? We can do that and not even really worshipping? change our expression. That’s not worIf the truth were known, many believers ship—that’s playing the church game. don’t have a clue what worship is. We wonder, When I am truly lost in wonder, love, and Does worship mean I have to hold my praise, I have to tell you, there are times I hands up when I sing and pray, like some don’t even know my name. Christians do? I have been in meetings where the worDoes worship mean I need to close my eyes ship has been so, for lack of a better word, and envision something heavenly, lest I thick, so thick with His presence, that I lack become distracted by something earthly? the means to care for anything or anyone Does worship mean I have feelings that else, including myself. I’m completely lost are a little bit ecstatic, maybe bordering in the praise of my God. on the supernatural? This is not related to whether you go to What exactly is worship? And is it all that a charismatic or non-charismatic church. rare? In 1961, while he was speaking to the I don’t care if it is denominational or pastors of the Associnon-denominational. That’s the missing ated Gospel Churches I don’t care if it’s jewel—worshipping of Canada, the late urban or rural, large A. W. Tozer said that God by ascribing to Him or small. You can have worship “is the misssupreme worth, for He contemporary music ing jewel in modern or sing the most tradialone is worthy. evangelicalism.”1 I tional hymns and still think he was a prophet ahead of his time. miss the wonder of worship. Worship is Let me ask you: Do you worship where not linked to a denomination or depenyou go to church? “Yes,” you say, “I just dent upon a certain style. It’s so much love the Bible teaching at our church.” more than any of that! That’s not my question. “Oh, yes, the What, then, is worship? Dr. Ron Allen, singing is wonderful.” That’s not my a classmate of mine during seminary and question either. I know you love the Bible. now a professor at Dallas Theological You wouldn’t support this ministry if you Seminary, digs deep when he writes, didn’t. And you probably love to sing. I’m Worship is an active response to God not asking about those things. I’m asking, whereby we declare His worth. Worship Do you worship? is not passive; but is participative. My great concern is that we tend to Worship is not simply a mood; it is a play the game of “church.” We learn how response. Worship is not just a feeling; to dress, learn how to sit, and learn how it is a declaration.... to look. We even learn the words of the The English word worship is wonderfully songs. But what about our focus as we expressive of the act that it describes. sing them? While we sing, “A mighty This term comes from the Anglo-Saxon fortress is our God,” we’re thinking, Why weorthscipe, which then was modified
to worthship, and finally to worship. Worship means “to attribute worth” to something or someone.2 He continues by explaining that we use the word too loosely when we say “he worships his car” or “she worships her children.” Unless his car has supreme worth in his life or her children are of the highest value for her, then we’re not using the term accurately. That’s the missing jewel—worshipping God by ascribing to Him supreme worth, for He alone is worthy. Notice I did not say, “Worship Him by singing...worship Him by teaching.” We ascribe to Him worth in our teaching, in our singing, and in our prayers. He alone is awesome. That’s another word we’ve cheapened by attaching it to objects made by human hands. A car is not awesome. No movie is awesome. God alone is awesome. He brings out the wonder in me, which prompts me to search for ways to express His worth. Unfortunately most of us praise the preacher more than we praise our God. God alone is the subject of our praise and the object of our worship. We’ve lost that. We miss it when our horizontal focus becomes riveted on people and things,
rather than on the vertical—on God. No wonder we are becoming a people full of worry rather than worship. It has become too common for North Americans to surrender all for their work... but to sacrifice nothing in worshipping the One who gave His life to save ours. Stop and think. Is that you? What a strange generation! People who play at worship. It must grieve the heart of our God. You’re hearing that from a man who loves to play and loves to laugh. But I think there are times when playing and laughing need to be set aside and we, in worship, focus fully on Him. Such times enable us to rediscover the “missing jewel.” 1. A. W. Tozer in The Best of A. W. Tozer, as quoted in Making New Discoveries (Anaheim, Calif.: Insight for Living, 1996), 29. 2. Ron Allen and Gordon Borror, Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel, as quoted in Making New Discoveries (Anaheim, Calif.: Insight for Living, 1996), 30. Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Insights (August 2003), 1–2. Copyright © 2003 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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C.S. LEWIS by bill gemaehlich
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ince January 2020, coronavirus has caused dramatic upheavals leaving the world asking questions and opening the door for deeper conversations. One man who wrestled with similar questions while living through the uncertain time of the First and Second World Wars was C.S. Lewis.
Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, North Ireland in November 1898. He was raised in the Protestant Church of Ireland but lost his faith because he could not reconcile the problem of evil in the world. At the age of 18, Lewis was offered a scholarship to attend Oxford University. He was an excellent student. However, in 1917, he
left his studies to join the British army in Lewis became increasingly intrigued by the First World War. He experienced first- the existence of God and Christianity. His hand the horrors of war, being injured by a conversations with Dyson and Tolkien bombshell, and was sent home. changed him. In his book Surprised by Joy, After the war, Lewis returned to Oxford, he wrote, “In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave completed his studies, and took a posi- in, and admitted that God was God, and tion teaching English at Magdalen Col- knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the lege, Oxford. He was a copious writer most dejected and reluctant convert in all and developed a close friendship with England... Who can duly adore that love several Oxford fellows, J. R. R. Tolkien, which will open the high gates to a prodiCharles Williams, Hugo Dyson, and Owen gal who is brought in kicking, struggling, Barfield, known together as the “Inklings.” resentful, darting his eyes in every direcThey met together at pubs in Oxford such tion for a chance of escape?”2 Two years as The Eagle and Child where they would later he would place his faith in Christ. read their novels and During the pandemic, encourage one another. Let us remember the joy of we have a great opporThe Inklings bonded our salvation and pray for tunity to engage in over their traumatic opportunities to love our deep conversations like experiences in the Tolkien did with Lewis trenches of the First neighbours and have deep with people all around conversations about the us. As we pray, let us World War and spent many hours smoking possibility of knowing God. remember the joy of our their pipes, drinking salvation and pray for beer, and developed lifelong friendships. opportunities to love our neighbours and It was through genuine friendship and have deep conversations about the possideep conversation that Hugo Dyson and bility of knowing God so that they, like C.S. J.R. Tolkien helped Lewis to consider the Lewis, might be compelled by the love of possibility of faith in Christ. Christ to receive Him as their Saviour. Now what Dyson and Tolkien showed Therefore, we are ambassadors for me was this: that if I met the idea Christ, God making his appeal through of sacrifice in a Pagan story I didn’t us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, mind it at all; again, that if I met the be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians idea of a god sacrificing himself to 5:20 ESV) himself, I liked it very much and was mysteriously moved by it.... The 1. C.S. Lewis and Arthur Greeves, Walter Hooper, reason was that in Pagan stories I was ed., They Stand Together: The Letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves (1914–1963) (England: prepared to feel the myth as profound Collier Books) and suggestive of meanings beyond my grasp even tho’ I could not say in 2. C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My cold prose “what it meant.” Now the Early Life (Florida: Harcourt Brace & Company), 228–229 story of Christ is simply a true myth: a myth working on us in the same way as Bill Gemaehlich is the EVP/COO operations at the others, but with this tremendous Insight for Living Ministries difference that it really happened.1
AMAZING GRACE ON DISPLAY
by charles r. swindoll
Article Photo: Jackson David on unsplash.com
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he word grace means many things to single son of Jonathan, who was “crippled in many people. We refer to a ballet dancer both feet.” David’s response was beautiful. as having grace. We say grace at meals. We He moved right on and said, “Where is he?” talk about the queen of England bringing He didn’t ask, “How badly is he crippled?” grace to events she attends. Grace can mean He didn’t even ask how he happened to be co-ordination of movement, it can mean a in that condition. He just said, “Where’s the prayer, it can refer to dignity and elegance. man located?” That’s the way grace is. Grace isn’t picky. Most important, grace can mean unmerited favour—extending special favour to Grace doesn’t look for things that have someone who doesn’t deserve it, who hasn’t been done that deserve love. Grace operates earned it, and who can never repay it. Every apart from the response or the ability of the once in a while we come across a scene in individual. Grace is one-sided. Grace is God Scripture where we see a beautiful illustra- giving Himself in full acceptance to someone who does not deserve tion of that kind of grace, Can you imagine what it and can never earn it and we stand amazed at Mephibosheth must and will never be able to such amazing grace. We find one of those have felt at that moment? repay. And this is what moments in the life of Expecting a sword to strike makes the story of David and Mephibosheth so King David. It is, in my his neck, he heard these memorable. A strong personal opinion, the unbelievable words from and famous king stoops greatest illustration of grace in all the Old Tes- King David. Words of grace. down and reaches out to one who represents tament. It involves an obscure man with an almost unpronounce- everything David was not! Not surprisingly, Mephibosheth had been able name. Mephibosheth. It’s a beautiful, in hiding. He feared that David would be unforgettable story. Before his reign as king over Israel began, like all other kings, seeking and killing the David made a promise to his predecessor. descendants of the former regime. The last David vowed that he would not destroy Saul’s thing Mephibosheth wanted to see was an descendants once he came to power (1 Sam- emissary from the king rapping on his door. uel 24:20–22). When David consolidated his But that was exactly what happened. Can you imagine the man’s shock? power and a time of peace came to the land, one of his first acts was to inquire about Saul’s After answering the knock at the door, descendants. Normally, ancient kings sought Mephibosheth looked into the faces of out descendants from the previous regime to David’s soldiers, who said to him, “The king kill them and prevent that family’s return to wants to see you.” He most likely thought, power. However, David made it clear that he Well, this is the end. But it wasn’t; it was a whole new beginsought a descendant of Saul so that he might ning! Taken before the king in Jerusalem, this show him kindness (2 Samuel 9:1). One of Saul’s former servants answered frightened man threw aside his crutches and the call and informed King David about a fell down before the king who had sovereign
rights over his life. Mephibosheth had no idea what to expect. Surely, he expected the worst. David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness [grace] to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.” (2 Samuel 9:7 NASB1995) Can you imagine what Mephibosheth must have felt at that moment? Expecting a sword to strike his neck, he heard these unbelievable words from King David. Words of grace. Dr. Karl Menninger tells the story of Thomas Jefferson, riding horseback crosscountry when he and his group came to a swollen river. A wayfarer waited until several of the party had crossed and then hailed President Jefferson and asked if he would carry him across on his horse. Jefferson pulled him up onto the back of his horse and carried him to the opposite bank. “Tell me,” asked one of the men, “why did you select the president to ask this favor of?” “The president?” the man answered. “I didn’t know he was the president. All I know is that on some of the faces is written the answer ‘no’ and on some faces is written the answer ‘yes.’ His was a ‘yes’ face." People who truly understand grace have a “yes” face. I want to suggest that when Mephibosheth looked up, he saw a “yes” written across King David’s face. (Don’t you wish you could have been there at that mag-
nificent moment?) From that time on, the crippled young man was treated as one of the king’s sons. King David restored to him all the land that had belonged to his grandfather Saul, along with Saul’s servant Ziba and all his household—15 sons and 20 servants. He was viewed by all with respect, and he enjoyed eating regularly with the family at King David’s table, all because of grace. They talked together and laughed together and ate delicious meals together because he was a member of the family...and the tablecloth covered his crippled feet. Moments like that remind us that God will look at His children and say with that “yes” face, “You’re in My family. You’re as important to Me as all my other sons and daughters.” It will take eternity for us to adequately express what this truth means to us—that He chose us in our sinful and rebellious condition and in grace took us from a barren place and gave us a place at His table. And, in love, allowed His tablecloth of grace to cover our sin. Grace. It really is amazing! 1. Karl Menninger, Martin Mayman, and Paul Pruyser, The Vital Balance (New York: Viking Press, 1963), 22. Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, “Amazing Grace on Display,” Insights (March 2009): 1–2. Copyright © 2009 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Insight for Living’s Bible-teacher Chuck Swindoll has spent more than 50 years emphasizing God’s grace alongside a commitment to practical application. Learn more about our pastor at insightforliving.ca/chuck-swindoll
BALANCING BETWEEN TODAY AND TOMORROW by robyn roste
Article Photo: Allef Vinicius on unsplash.com
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The answer is both. Although it sounds t’s a motto, a saying, a pop song, a ballad, and even a movie. We’ve heard it so many like a paradox, the key is learning to balance the reality of today with the hope of tomortimes its meaning has dulled. I’m referring to the phrase “Today is the row, making decisions today knowing they first day of the rest of your life.” Ever used will affect your tomorrows and help prepare it? As a child, this framed saying—complete you for what’s to come. Think of it like the parable Jesus relates in with a delicately embossed rose—greeted me across the sewing/guest room at my Mark 13:34–37. Imagine you’re housesitting grandparent’s family farm. I don’t think for a friend and have been trusted to take care a visit passed without my pondering the of the plants, pets, and yard but have no idea when your friend will return home. Since you deeper meaning of these words. don’t know when they're Even when I was young, Although it sounds like coming back, you don’t I noted the difficulty of a paradox, the key is get too comfortable. You living in the present, living each day as if it were learning to balance the take care of the house, you wash your dishes, and you your first. And your last. reality of today with the tidy the bed each day so But since these words hope of tomorrow everything is in order, just are backed up by many Scripture verses such as Psalm 118:24, James in case your friend returns that day. Although 4:13–17, Philippians 3:13, and Romans 8:18, I you’re presently taking care of the place, you know at any moment they will return and also know it’s the truth. While we know we shouldn’t live in the you will leave. Is it possible to live in the present while past, things get confusing when these ideas about the present are contrasted with the being mindful of the future? Yes! The real words of John 12:25, John 17:16, or Luke 21:33. trick is figuring out how to live in the presInstead of encouraging us to live each day to ent without getting too comfortable, so the fullest, they teach us not be too attached you’re ready to go just as soon as it’s time. to our world or our lives here, because they are temporary. So, what are we supposed to Robyn Roste is the communications director at focus on—our present or our future? Insight for Living Canada.
ATHEISM, AGNOSTICISM, AND SKEPTICISM by steve johnson
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e all try to make sense of and explain the reality around us. Theists believe in God and attribute the world’s existence and working in some way to that God (or gods). Atheists, agnostics, and skeptics have a different explanation. Atheists believe there is positive evidence that there is no God, and that all existence can be explained naturally rather than supernaturally. Agnostics believe there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the existence or non-existence of God or gods. Some agnostics say “We do not know if God exists,” while other agnostics say, “We cannot know.” Skeptics are unsure whether we can or cannot know God. These ideas are as old as humankind. But in the last two centuries, philosophers have espoused these ideas prominently. In doing so, they influenced others who took these ideas and worked them out in political systems and ideologies. We see the consequences of this in our culture and society today.
The German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel said God needed His creation and was not sufficient in Himself, thus He was unnecessary and ultimately imaginary. This influenced the German philosopher Karl Marx, who preached that religion is the opiate of the people and the enemy of all progress so all religion must be destroyed. English naturalist Charles Darwin was an agnostic. Friedrich Nietzsche, another German philosopher, taught that since God does not exist, man must devise his own way of life. German philosopher Martin Heidegger stressed that one’s salvation lay in his own independence from others, including God. And French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre argued that there is no ultimate objective external meaning to life. Each person simply exists. The Humanist Manifesto (1933) and the Humanist Manifesto II (1974) are good examples of the atheistic perspective.1 The Bible teaches that God exists and that He can be known to exist by what He has made. Design requires a designer.
For ever since the world was created, Proclaim people have seen the earth and sky. We are to proclaim and defend the GosThrough everything God made, they can pel. Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed clearly see his invisible qualities—his of this Good News about Christ. It is the eternal power and divine nature. So they power of God at work, saving everyone who have no excuse for not knowing God. believes,” (Romans 1:16). It is not up to us (Romans 1:20) to save people. That’s the work of the Holy People innately know God exists, but Spirit. Our job is simply to proclaim and being sinful, refuse to worship Him or give defend the Gospel faithfully. Him thanks (Romans 1:21). “As a result, When we do that, the Holy Spirit works their minds became dark and confused. with power to convict of sin and to bring Claiming to be wise, they instead became about repentance unto salvation. We don’t utter fools” (Romans 1:21–22). The result know who will respond or who will reject. of this suppression of the truth of God’s We are simply witnesses and messengers existence is that God who proclaim. The Bible teaches that gives people over to Persuade God exists and that He their foolish thinking We are in a battle for and reprobate mind can be known to exist by truth and so we are to (Romans 1:18–32). what He has made. Design speak truth. Paul spoke That is a mind that has of tearing down ideas requires a designer. suppressed truth for so that set themselves up long that it no longer can perceive truth against the knowledge of God. and right and wrong. That which is wrong We demolish arguments and every is deemed to be right, and that which is pretension that sets itself up against the moral and right is deemed to be wrong. It knowledge of God, and we take captive is moral insanity and that is what we see every thought to make it obedient to happening in our world today. Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV) How do we respond to these ideas that We need to seek to reason with and are presuppositions behind many of the persuade people to help them understand. ideologies in our world? This is what Paul did in his day (Acts Three things we must do. 2:14–39; 17:2,17) and we must do in ours. Pray Peter said, “And if someone asks about Atheists, agnostics, and skeptics have your hope as a believer, always be ready believed lies perpetrated by that great liar, to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15). Learn how to the Devil. defend your beliefs. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t 1. American Humanist Association, "Humanist believe. They are unable to see the Manifesto II,” American Humanist Association, https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/ glorious light of the Good News. They manifesto2/ (accessed November 8, 2021) don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ.... (2 Corinthians 4:4) Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Because the deception is spiritual in origin, Living Canada. it takes the work of the Holy Spirit to remove the blindness. We must pray He works.
“God’s plan this year includes a cultivation of our character to make us more like His beloved Son.” — CHUCK SWINDOLL
God’s Hands on Human Clay
As we anticipate the days, months, and years to come, we have to admit we remain clueless as to what will happen on any given day. In God’s Hands on Human Clay, Chuck Swindoll explains the treasured truth that most Christians overlook as the unknown future approaches: God is sovereign. As we encounter life’s trials, we can remain confident that the Potter, who causes all things to work for our good, kneads and reshapes us to fashion something beautiful, useful, and practical. Even though the future remains unclear, we can be certain nothing touches our lives unless it has first flowed through the “moulding” fingers of our loving God. Providence is God’s timely provision for the needs of His people; His purposeful interventions in our lives; and His loving care over us, making certain that everything that happens fits into His plan for our good and His glory. But trusting in God’s providence is hard. When pain and suffering come crashing in, we wrestle with whether or not God really cares. We struggle in two primary areas:
First, we tend to focus on the immediate, but God focuses on the ultimate. Our human existence within space and time confines our perspective. We want answers, clarity, and relief now! God’s eternal perspective, on the other hand, keeps Him focused on what will ultimately be best for us. Second, we forget that our knowledge is limited, but God’s is unlimited. We can only understand what God enables us to understand. Only the Lord has perfect knowledge of the edges of the universe and every moment in time. But we know Him and His love for us. When we latch on to the truth of God’s providential care and make it the foundation stone upon which we build our lives, it will completely transform our attitude. God’s providence, once understood, can calm our fears and bring great comfort in even the most trying times. And when circumstances tempt us to doubt, we can release our white-knuckle grip on our lives and claim the unconditional promise in Romans 8:28.
“God's Hands on Human Clay” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series God's Hands on Human Clay. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Code Word Puzzle
The Importance of Faith Difficulty ● ● ○ ○
Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number one through 26. Can you crack the code to solve the Bible verse found in the New Living Translation? Two letters are already in place to get you started.
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Puzzle solutions will be posted at insightforliving.ca/puzzle at a later date.
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