Josh Benner

Category: Culture

  • Courts continue to rule against British baby: Alfie Evans fights for life.

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    Alfie Evans is a 23 month old British baby who has a rare neurological condition. He is in a semi-vegetative state. Machines have been keeping the baby alive. Courts have ruled that the treatment must be discontinued, even though there is an Italian hospital which has offered to attempt treatments for him. Alfie has been granted Italian citizenship.

    There has been a long legal battle. Yesterday, Alfie was taken off of life support.

    His parents are continuing to appeal.

    They are actually giving the child mouth-to-mouth, literally breathing life into him in shifts to keep him alive in hopes of getting a new appeal.

    What a tragedy.

    What love from his parents. They’re fighting tooth and nail to keep him alive.

    How sickening it is that the British government and courts have this type of power. Alfie is not the court’s son. A court should have nothing to do with this case. His parents want to take their son to Italy for treatment. Let them go.

    Unfortunately, this is not the first such case we have seen from the United Kingdom.

    Last summer, another British baby, Charlie Gard died in a similarly tyrannical case. Gard has an extremely rare mitochondrial DNA disease. There was an experimental treatment tat Gard could have received in the United States. Funds were raised. But the British courts would not allow the family to take their own son to the US.

    Courts should not be able to judge if a baby lives or dies. In both cases, foreign governments were allowing these two babies to receive treatment on their soil, so it’s not like either would have been taking resources from the United Kingdom.

    Certainly, in both situations, the odds of successful treatment were and are highly uncertain and unlikely. But it’s still worth trying.

    Unfortunately, this story seems to be very underplayed in the States. I’ve done searches on some popular news sites like CNN and MSNBC and there is no mention of Alfie Evans on either site.

    But we’re not all that different from the British. We have similar sensibilities. And it’s chilling that the courts are ruling against the life of a child for the second time this year.

    We must have a value in the sanctity of human life.

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

  • Blessed are the persecuted: the Christian life and opposition

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    10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

    -Matthew 5:10-12

    Almost 2,000 years ago when Jesus preached these words, they also would have been radical to his audience. Persecution is never looked at as a blessing.
    But in Matthew 5, Jesus says that it is.
    Part of what Jesus is saying in these verses is that there is blessedness for the person who’s life is so clearly devoted to God, who is so clearly living out their Christian faith, that they face opposition because of it.
    If a Christian goes through life and never faces opposition, you might be living too comfortably in the world.
    If you never face any heat because of your faith, you might not be associating with anyone who disagrees with what you believe.
    In 2 Timothy 3, the Apostle Paul talks about persecution.
    “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
    ALL who live for Christ will be persecuted.
    Persecution is part of the Christian life. The Bible does not shy away from this fact.
    Shortly before the time of his crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples in John 5:18-19:
     “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
    Something doesn’t have to be a matter of life and death to be persecution. In American society, we don’t generally hear stories of a person being killed just because they are a Christian. It’s not absolutely unheard of, but it’s rare.
    The persecution American Christians face is often times more social or legal. That can still put us in situations where it’s tempting to sin, where it’s tempting to respond a certain way that we shouldn’t. That still puts us in situations where it’s easier to just go along with what the world is doing than taking a stand for what you believe.
    I know a mechanic who’s a Christian. He was committed to being honest in his dealings with customers. He was so honest that his boss didn’t like him and eventually fired him.
    My wife told me a story about how when she was in high school, she was interviewing to be part of a local youth leadership program in her community. While she was at her interview, one of the people making the decision saw that she was a student at a Christian high school. He started berating her with questions about her faith, questioning how she could believe in Jesus. Asking nothing about this youth organization. Essentially just harassing her about her faith.
    Again, the gospel is a message that some find offensive. “To one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:16).”
    There have been examples of groups trying to silence coaches of public school teams from praying with players before games, even when it’s voluntary. I read a story today about the Freedom from Religion Foundation suing a public school in Ohio. A local pastor was leading a Bible study with students at lunch. It was optional. But FFRF still needed to swoop in and sue. There have been legal pressures on Christian universities to cover abortions for staff.
    Those are just a few examples.
    But in living for Jesus, in a fallen world, it is inevitable that there will be times when a person’s faith comes under fire.
    Responding 
    When a person is being persecuted and has a choice of if they’re going to respond in a Christlike way or if they’re going to respond in a hostile way. You can be light to a dark world or you can just spread the darkness.
    The Apostle James talked about the various trials that Christians face:
    “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).”
    As evil as the persecution that Christians face can be, it’s an opportunity to respond with love. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
    God can use those situations as a way to strengthen us in our own faith. To focus us on what we truly value.
    Another part of the reason why persecution is seen as a blessing is that the harsher the persecution, the more that is taken away from a person, the more someone is able to live in total dependence on God and reliance in his ability to preserve them. That’s not to say that the persecution is good in itself. It’s obviously not. That’s not to say that sin is good. It’s not. But through the evils that people commit, God can still use that for good.
    Again, if you’re not ever facing any pressure because of your faith, you might not be living in a way that is distinct from the world. I’m not saying we should go out of our way to be combative. The verse does not say that all persecution is good. It’s when a person is following Jesus and is persecuted for righteousness’ sake that blessed a person.
    It’s a radical idea. But let us remember that we have a savior who faced the ultimate persecution for righteousness’ sake.
    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

  • Reaction: Bill Hybels steps down

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    Bill Hybels stepped down as the pastor of Willow Creek Church in suburban Chicago yesterday. This came a few weeks after a Chicago Tribune report which talked about decades of sexual misconduct: lingering hugs to females, kissing women staffers, inappropriate comments, inviting women back to his hotel room on trips. The 66 year old pastor had planned to step down this October but moved his retirement up following the Tribune story.

    In a statement on Tuesday night, Hybels said:

    “I realize now that in certain settings and circumstances in the past I communicated things that were perceived in ways I did not intend, at times making people feel uncomfortable. I was blind to this dynamic for far too long. For that I’m very sorry…I placed myself in situations that would have been far wiser to avoid…I was naive about the dynamics those situations created. I’m sorry for the lack of wisdom on my part.”

    I don’t know if these allegations are true or not.

    The Tribune article and some other pastors I respect say that there’s smoke behind this fire. Willow Creek says that they had already had these matters investigated by a third party.

    I just don’t know what’s true. But I do know it’s a very sad situation. Willow Creek is one of the largest churches in America and has been extremely influential in the 40 years since Bill Hybels founded it. It’s the third largest church in America with over 20,000 in weekly attendance.

    No matter what, this is a sad story.

    It’s sad that some will indict Christianity in general for this (when we don’t know the facts). It’s sad for people impacted within Willow Creek. It’s sad for the women involved. And it’s sad for the people who are Willow Creek attendees, because this effects them too.

    For many Christians, this story will undoubtedly be discouraging, because these stories are far too often from within the church. We live in a world that is not as it should be. And unfortunately, we see that even in churches. One way or another, someone isn’t being honest in this story. But regardless of the failings of people, God is still God.

    “Look among the nations, and see;
        wonder and be astounded.
    For I am doing a work in your days
        that you would not believe if told.”

    -Habakkuk 1:5

    I think it’s important to pray for Willow Creek, for those in leadership at that church. I also think it’s important to pray for the truth. I think many who follow this story will be tempted to jump to a side.

    When there’s so much spin and outright falsity, I feel like it can be hard to find the truth. But truth is inherently good and something we should always desire.

    Hybels is one of the most influential leaders of American Christianity over the last 40 years. He’s one of the founding fathers of the “seeker sensitive” movement. Willow Creek, which was founded by Hybels is one of the largest churches in America, with over 20,000 in weekly attendance.

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

  • 8 signs of a maturing Christian

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    For a person who believes in the gospel, Jesus did not save us from our sin to keep us the same. Salvation happens in an instant by means of faith. But for the rest of life, a person is on a Spiritual journey. The Bible calls for us to walk and live Godly lives, to grow and mature in our faith.

    In our society, we have ma

    But what does that look like? Here are some of the really significant examples that come to mind through the Bible.

    This list is most definitely not exhaustive.

    1. A maturing Christian is committed to love for God and people.
      A maturing Christian follows the Greatest Commandment. As a result, he loves God and loves people (Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:36 – 40; Mark 12:28 – 31). He loves the Lord with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Further as part of loving God, for a maturing Christian, faith is supreme over everything else in life (Matt. 10:38, 13:45-46). Along with the idea of loving God, a maturing Christian also loves people. It goes hand in hand with the Greatest Commandment, in regards to loving God. It is impossible to truly love God without loving people (Matt. 22:37-40). He shows love to other Christians and grace to non-Christians. He is not prideful, but recognizes shortcomings and the grace of God in his own life (Matt. 28:19; 2 Tim. 4:2). For non-believers, the maturing Christian is more concerned with a desire for the lost to know Jesus and become his disciples than in judging. The maturing Christian is flexible in ministry and evangelism. He’s not afraid to put in the time in to building relationships. He meets people where they are in life (Acts 17:16-34). He also relates to people as individuals (1 Cor. 9:19-23). A maturing Christian recognizes that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Because of this, the maturing Christian has a desire to see others come to know Christ, because a person’s eternal future depends on faith in the gospel. He knows that God has ordained the means through which the gospel is spread to be through his word and through the proclamation of the gospel.
    2. A maturing Christian pursues God daily.
      A daily pursuit of God fosters transformation and growth. While a person is justified once and for all at the moment of conversion, the process of maturing and growing in faith is continual. Means through which a believer grows include prayer, the study of scripture, and fellowship with believers, and obedience to God. Christians also mature through various trials they face in life (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:1-5). A maturing Christian understands that testing from God and discipline from God are part of the Christian life (Deut. 8; Heb. 12). While we don’t have to like the challenges in and of themselves, a maturing Christian knows that God is sovereign, God is providential, God is good, and that all things will ultimately work for good (Rom. 8:28). Through tests, the result for the maturing Christian will ultimately be growth and increased dependence in God and love for God.
    3. A maturing Christian views it as a divine mandate to make disciples.
      In making disciples of all nations, Christians recognize the command of Christ to go out into the world baptizing and telling people the gospel (Matt. 28:16 – 20). Making disciples is more than evangelism (although evangelism is a part of this process). Making disciples is working with converts and helping to challenge and encourage them in their walk with Christ to an even greater love for Jesus, His Church, and people (Prov. 27:17).
    4. A maturing Christian obeys
      The Bible has much to say about God’s moral will for our lives (Exodus 20:1-17; Deut. 6:4-6; Matt. 5-7). As the maturing Christian grows in the knowledge of the word of God through the Bible, the proclamation of the word, and through Christian community, a cognitive dissonance is created where a person knows what they ought to do and has opportunities to either obey or sin.
    5. A maturing Christian repents.
      While a person is forgiven from sins at the moment they come to faith in the Lord Jesus, people still do commit sins in reality (Rom. 7). Christians are called to confess sins and to repent (Matt. 3:8, 4:17; Luke 17:3; 1 John 1:9). Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God. A maturing Christian recognizes that how she lives matters, and that God has a moral will for how Christians ought to conduct their lives. In having a high value of the weight of sin, a maturing Christian is enabled to have a greater love for the grace of gospel.
    6. A maturing Christian uses his Spiritual gifts to serve in the Church.
      A maturing Christian understands that the purpose for involvement in a church is not merely how it benefits himself but how God can use the gifts which He has given the believer to serve and build up the Church (Rom. 12:6 – 8; 1 Cor. 12:8 – 10, 28; Eph. 4:11). He uses his gifts in building up the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-31) and understands that he is part of the priesthood of all believers. He also considers himself to be a minster of God, regardless of vocation (1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Peter 2:5-9; Hebrews 3:1).
    7. A maturing Christian is sensitive to the commands of God in loving those marginalized by society.
      Believers are called to love those society looks down upon (Matt. 25:31 – 46; Luke 10:25-37). This is from a recognition of the restoration that Jesus ushered in during his earthly ministry (Luke 4:18-21). The Bible also repeatedly talks about loving widows and orphans (Jas. 1:27). The maturing Christian is called to remember those society forgets.
    8. A maturing Christian bears fruit.
      Followers of Jesus will be known to the world by the good fruit that they bear (Matt. 7:16-20). Depending on if a person has faith or not, a person can grow good or bad fruit (Matt. 3:10, 12:33). Bearing fruit is a direct result of fellowship with the Lord Jesus (John 15:4-5). The maturing Christian brings glory to God when fruit is produced in life (John 15:8). Believers are chosen to become more like Christ and a natural product of this is the bearing of fruit (John 15:16). People who are not in relationship with the Lord are incapable of producing good fruit (Luke 6:43-44). The sinful desires are opposed to the Spirit, which produces fruit (Gal. 5:17, 19-21). The life that is led in accordance with the work of the Holy Spirit results in the bearing of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

  • Not man’s gospel

    Originally published January 18, 2017

    In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he says “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel” (Galatians 1:11).

    That is one of the most fundamental misunderstandings that 21st century American society has with Christianity.

    It is not man’s gospel.  (more…)