Is Man Inherently Good or Evil?

This was the title of an article yesterday on CNN's website. The article was prompted by the Boston Marathon bombing, and goes on to extol the heroic actions of of Carlos Arredondo, and the iconic photo of him in the cowboy hat saving the life of one of the bombing victims.

There is an exquisite beauty in people selflessly responding to needs working towards the good. It reflects the God in whose image we are made. Some might say that God has nothing to do with the question posed. "Is man inherently good or evil?" Actually, the very question implies the existence of God. What defines good and what defines evil? If we define it, then good and evil is subjective. One person views a man as a terrorist, and another person may view the same man as a liberator. There must be some transcendant law that defines good from evil. If there is a transcendant law, then there must also be a lawgiver. The very question cries out "there must be a God to even ask the question!"

Is man good or evil? The CNN article uses the ad hominem example of Carlos Arredondo as evidence that man is good by nature. Mr. Arredondo, if you happened upon this little blog, can I just say that I am inspired by your readiness to serve the need, and I thank God you were there to help save this man's life. But one man's heroism is a poor argument for mankind's inherent goodness. Since this article was published yesterday, there was a police officer shot multiple times, and a car jacking and police pursuit all in the same city as the bombing,  At this point, authorities do not know if the three events are related.

But let's look at some of humanity's exploits. According to the NSPCC, 24.1% off young adults have experienced sexual abuse! AND "Almost one in 10 children aged 11-17 (9.4%) have experienced sexual abuse in the past year. Teenage girls aged between 15 and 17 years reported the highest past year rates of sexual abuse"[1]. In the U.K. 36% of women in England and Wales have had an abortion, according to the Department of Health [2]. I am only pointing out these two areas to highlight something that is profoundly ignored. Everyday people make choices that defraud their neighbour of good. In the case of sexual abuse, there are lifelong scars that the victim lives with. In the case of abortion, the primary victim doesn't live at all, but is killed. Is man inherently good or evil? The statistics echo the words of God through the prophet Jeremiah, "the heart of man is desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). There is no person who is inherently good (Psalm 53:3).

But God is good. The Bible tells us that this good God is a good Judge, who will judge evil. The brutal truth is we all naturally stand on the wrong side, the evil side. But this good God also came to live amongst us. Jesus who was the only good man, for he was more than just man, suffered the evil of humanity. Why? Because this good God is a God of love, and he seeks to save mankind who is inherently in rebellion against God. Do people do good things? Yes they do. We are made in the image of God (marred though that image may be). But our evil core requires deep redemption, so that we might be reshaped as new creations. This means that in Jesus there is hope for every person. But to place our hope in a mere person is a vain hope. We need a Saviour.

'but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Reading in the New Year

Resolving to Read the Bible

We are ramping up to a New Year. This usually means New Years resolutions. In the past, I have been down on making resolutions. Maybe its because they have tended to centre around eating less chocolate. Maybe its because it seemed that it was about our efforts to change ourselves. The fact of the matter is, change is what we are created for. Sin works a de-creation in our lives making us less and less like the God we were created to image forth as the image of God. But as New Creations, we are about new creation, which means change. God changes us but we partner with him in that change.

One of the greatest ways this change takes place is through the discipline of reading (and specifically reading the Scriptures). Do you have a plan for this next year and how you are going to read the Bible? Now's the time to make one if you haven't. There are a number of reading plans available that help in approaching the 1,189 chapters in the Bible. For many this is a daunting task. The key is a little and often. That means a little everyday. Reading plans help with this. They are not meant to be task masters, but helps in this discipline. My sinful nature will withdraw from the Scriptures. That means if I only read when I feel like it, I am letting my flesh determine my spirituality. On that note, the Bible will often be inconvenient. Working 60 hours a week and also having a family of 6 means I need to exercise extreme discipline, and no doubt you do as well.

I encourage you to take 10 minutes to read this post on Justin Taylor's blog. Taylor gives some great tools (for your diary, mobile device, for your understanding of how the Bible works together) for getting a Bible reading plan for 2013.

This New Year resolve to read your Bible from cover to cover.

Resolving to Read Books

By far the Bible is our primary book for reading. This is the authority in our lives and the fuel of our souls. But there are a number of other great books that can help illuminate the Bible's great story. I would like to take a moment to recommend some books to consider reading this year.

On Christian Living

The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. This is one of the best books I have ever read. It has given me a deeper and more profound appreciation for the gospel. £5.28 from The Book Depository, £6.39 from The Good Book Co.






Living The Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney. Mahaney argues that the cross isn't just for coming to Christ, but also abiding in Christ. This is an excellent read and deserves a place on your bookshelf. We will be using this book for our discipleship course.  £6.90 from The Book Depository, £8.09 from The Good Book Co.

On Prayer

Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. This is an excellent book on prayer. Cymbala's book blends Scripture with testimonies of the power of a praying church. I dare you not to feel inspired to pray after reading this book. I've read through this book probably about five times. £7.10 from The Book Depository, £9.16 from Eden.

On Family

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. How do we train our children? Do we raise them to be little legalistic rule keepers? Do we let them rule in order to keep peace? Or do we give our children the gospel by reflecting God's interaction with us to them? If you have younger children, this is a must read. £7.17 from The Book Depository, £10.71 from Eden.

On Men

The Masculine Mandate by Richard Philips. In a society that has emasculated men, this is a helpful book to bring men back to the masculine mandate of our creaturehood. What does it mean to be a man after God's creative design? This book is helpful in answering that question. £8.45 from The Book Depository, £11.50 from Eden.

On Women

Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. I haven't read this volume, but Dianna has. She has used this book to help disciple young ladies. Mahaney, looking at Scripture, focuses on the beauty of femininity according to God's creative purposes. £7.16 from The Book Depository, £7.99 from The Good Book Co.

On People

Bruchko by Bruce Olson. Olson is a missionary to the Motilone Indians in South America. In this biography, he breaks all types of missionary theory and traditions seeking to bring Jesus to this tribe. This book is refreshing and inspiring. It is also a great book to read with the kids at bedtime. £4.99 from The Book Depository, £9.88 from Eden.

On Theology and Doctrine

Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem is a top notch systematic theology that is accessible. This is an abridgement of his work Systematic Theology. We will be using Bible Doctrine for our discipleship course beginning in the New Year. £13.74 from The Book Depository, £15.99 from The Good Book Co (if you are interested in this volume, I may be able to buy at a discounted rate).




Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church by Michael Lawrence is an excellent work looking at how the discipline of Biblical Theology applies to the life of the congregation. This is also accessible, but is geared towards those who feel a calling as a pastor-teacher. £7.76 from The Book Depository, £10.29 from Eden.

Have you been burned by the Church?

Have you experienced pain and suffering because of the church? What is your view of the local church? Are there too many hypocrites there for your taste?

Check out this short video...

The Christian Fight

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV)

Fighting isn’t easy; if it was, it wouldn’t be called a fight. The Christian life is a fight, against cultural currents such as materialism, against my own sinful tendencies such as pursuing comfort, against the sin of others, which call for a gracious and forgiving attitude. Quite honestly fighting can be agonizing. In fact, the Greek word for fight here isagonizomai from which we get our word agonize.

The Christian life is a life-long marathon. At times it is agonizing, but Paul reminds Timothy and us of a couple things that will strengthen us in adversity. First, Paul reminds us that we are called. God has called us to run the race and fight the fight. God’s call always comes with God’s enabling. Notice I said ‘enabling’ not ‘easing’. The fight doesn’t become easy, but rather becomes possible. Are you finding it hard to live for Christ running uphill in a downhill world? Jesus promises to be your strength. We don’t simply live for Christ, we live through Christ.

Second, the fight is a good fight. We see fights in life that are good. A friend of ours is fighting cancer. Couples fight for their marriage. The Allied Forces fought against Nazi domination in World War II. The fight of faith is a good fight, a worthy fight, and ultimately a victorious fight. Often the temptation to give up takes hold when we lose sight of this. Our run slows to a walk. Our walk turns to a stand. Our standing fades to being carried by the downhill current.

How do we run with endurance? How do we fight with perseverance? Remember Jesus, who called you to join with him. If agonizing for the faith is part of the call, be sure that when the fight is won, consolation will be part of the reward. The fight won’t be easy, but it is worthy of our every stride, our every punch, our every breath, because it ultimately brings glory to him who fought your fight against sin for you, conquering it on the cross.

Disciples Church

Why are we changing the name of the church?

This short post is to explain why we have decided to rename Calvary Chapel Leatherhead to Disciples Church. Before I explain why we have changed the name, I would like to make it clear that we are still part of the Calvary Chapel network of churches. Our name change is in no way to distance us from Calvary, but rather to link us more to the community, in which we minister. Also we sought after a name that would describe our mission well.

We wanted a name that reflected who we are. We are disciples. Disciples are followers. They follow the Master. Disciples are on the move. As Jesus went about from place to place, his disciples followed him. They listened to his teaching, but more than that, they lived his teaching. God's desire for his Church is that we be disciples. But not only that, he desires that we make disciples too. This is the essence of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV).

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

To make disciples, we must be disciples. Disciples Church is about both being and making followers of Jesus. This is God's heart for the Christian. In fact, in the ESV Bible, the word Christian is found 3x, Believer(s) is found 15x, but Disciple(s) is found 269x! The purpose of our new name is to reflect this reality. We are a church that wants to follow Jesus and see non-followers begin following him too. As we all follow Jesus, we will all be walking together in unity to the glory of God.

Church Plants versus Established Churches

I received an e-mail from a friend today who asked me what my thoughts were on people who take part in a church plant versus an established church. Both have their positives and negatives, but here were my thoughts. These may not be accurate all the time, but they seem to fit my experience.

In this article, I am not implying that a church plant is better than an established church or vice versa. However it is good to know the pros and cons of both and see if we can implement the best of each in whatever type of church we are actively serving in as members.

Pros for Church Plants; Cons for Established Churches

Church plant members have a pioneering attitude.
Established church members have a maintaining attitude.
Church plant members are more willing to take risks.
Established church members are afraid of risks, preferring what is comfortable or 'established'.
Church plant members are willing to think in a way that is new and different.
Established church members prefer traditions and being able to anticipate the future.
Church plant members constantly look ahead to what is going to happen.
Established church members often look back at what has happened.

Pros for Established Churches; Cons for Church Plants

Church plant members are sometimes those who think they can make the church the way they want it.
Established church members are already content with the church structure.
Church plants often lack resources including qualified workers.
Established churches are often well funded and have more qualified workers.
Church plant members sometimes think they can showcase their talent because the church is usually small.
Established churches can discriminate more on who can fill roles because they are usually bigger.

Mix of Pros and Cons

Church plants tend to be more missional focused in outreach (going to where unbelievers are).
Established churches tend to be more attractional focused in outreach (bring unbelievers to where they are).
Church plants tend to have a stronger emphasis on evangelism.
Established churches tend to have a stronger structure for discipleship.
Church plant members expect something more grassroots.
Established church members expect something more professional.

The Ambassador and the Waiter(ess)

I saw this video by Greg Koukl from Stand to Reason, and thought it was worth sharing. As missionaries in our culture we are always to be looking to be a light to Christ where we are at. One of the places we find ourselves is in restaurants. Greg gives 3 über-simple steps to help us be witnesses in a restaurant.