Introducing People To The Life God Intended

Brandon Goff. Lead Pastor of Radiate Church in Columbia, SC. Married to Megan, 2 kids - Brody and Kiley.

Friday, February 28, 2014

I Don't Wanna Raise My Kids In This World Anymore

I remember the night I found out that my wife was pregnant with our first child. I was ecstatic, and couldn't wait to meet my little baby. Fast forward 2 years and I remember finding out that my wife was pregnant with our 2nd child. I was just as ecstatic and excited, but a little more nervous this time...I'd just gotten through 2 years of raising one, now I have to find a way to get through a lifetime of raising two. The past 4 months of my life, with 2 kids has been the greatest 4 months of my life. I have the life that so many would love to have... a beautiful wife, 2 incredible kids, and a church that is out of this world.

A couple of nights ago, in our small hometown and young lady was found murdered not far from our house. Not long before that a former Hell's Angel was found and arrested for child pornography in our small town. And about a year ago the remains of another young life that ended too early was found. During each of these events my mind was flooded with the negative stories of school shootings, perverts scouring the internet for children, and the fact that 27 million people are in slavery due to the sex industry today...in 2014!! Then, I came to a conclusion...I don't wanna raise my kids in this world anymore.

I don't...don't hate, don't judge, and don't think less of me...the more I live in this world the less I want to raise my kids in this world...and you know what? I don't have to! Now before you go call DSS and become afraid of what I actually mean there, finish reading the blog.

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127:4, NASB

My children, that I've been CHOSEN to parent and raise, are weapons. In a very non-literal sense, I am to load them up, shoot them into the world to leave a mark wherever they may land. An arrow in a warrior's hand isn't meant to be a distraction to hopefully scare the enemy. The arrow the warrior carried was a weapon, meant to inflict punishment on the enemy he was facing. The warrior didn't hold it up and say, "Hey, you! Check this out. I have an arrow...you should be REALLY scared and run away!" He loaded that sucker up, pulled back on the bow string as hard as he could, and delivered it, hopefully right into the chest of the enemy. And if he missed, the arrow would hopefully hit somewhere else on the enemy or so close that he had to go change his pants. And THAT is the comparison a parent has to their kids.

My kids aren't tax credits, government assistance, statues of beauty, nor are they a signification that my life is now complete...far from it! My kids are weapons that will take me years to mold into the arrow that will make a difference. Years of mess ups, years of frustration, years of hurt, years of tears, years of joy, years of laughter, years of figuring it all out - and at the end, my ultimate goal is to allow them to be the arrow that I shoot right into the heart of the enemy, and end one of his many devious plans of destruction.

I don't wanna raise my kids in this world anymore! And I don't have to!

I realize something - it's only by God's grace, mercy, love, and salvation that I DON'T have to raise my kids in this world anymore. His sacrifice and love has created a bridge for me to raise my kids OUT of this world. I have to mold my children (my arrows) to think on this above, not of this world (Colossians 3:2). To know that they won't always understand the ways of God, but I still trust Him (1 Corinthians 2:14). To realize that with God NOTHING is impossible (Matthew 19:26). That Jesus didn't come for religion but for relationship (John 3:16). That the Spirit gives them the guidance they need to use their gifts in a tremendous way (John 14:12). 

So, no...I don't wanna raise my kids in this world anymore. This world is scary, mean, cruel, disrespectful, dishonoring, and has no moral compass. But, this world isn't where my life is measured and designated; nor is it where my kids life is measured or designated. This world isn't our dress rehearsal, this world is the middle act of a lifelong play. And it's up to me to teach my kids their parts before they step up in front of the greatest stage of all, this world, to deliver their part - to display Jesus. It's up to me and my wife, to be living examples of Jesus to everyone we see...and that includes our kids. It's our job to raise our kids out of this world - not in it. And to be honest, that's your job too. 

Don't raise your kids in this world anymore.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect." Romans 12:2, NASB

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

What I'm Learning From The Atheist Church

There's a new phenomenon out there that is catching people by surprise, and really I don't think it should be. It's offending some, being celebrated by some, and completely ignored by many. And all of those reactions are to be expected. It's a new church called The Atheist Church. They meet on Sunday mornings, listen to music and talk about how to better themselves and their worlds, and then go out to eat. Sound familiar? It should. It follows eerily close to the Christian Church.

The Atheist Church is a popular "fad" and I don't like it; it worries me that it is catching on and growing at a scary pace. As a pastor, and more importantly, a Christian it worries me that people are not following closely to the life and heart of Jesus. But I'm going to be honest...I partly blame the Christian Church for the success of the Atheist Church. Calm down, and hear me out!

Every Sunday morning thousands of people around the globe are gathering in a building, to listen to great music, hang out with each other, learn how to better themselves and their communities, then they leave to go home and implement what they just heard. Every Sunday the Atheist Church is packed, to sit and learn and support a concept of NOTHINGNESS. Yet...they show up. All the while the Christian Church, by many statistics I'm reading, seems to be decreasing in popularity and relevance. (mega churches dominate the headlines but are not the traditional/usual church) 

The easy out is to say that we've lost Christ in this culture, and to a large extent I'd agree. (so with that being said I can't expect a non-Christian to act as a Christian) Another easy out is to say that no one cares about Jesus anymore. But those excuses are too easy to me. Here's my THOUGHTS (which I'm entitled to, correct?): I think it's not the cultures fault, or the irrelevance of Jesus...rather it's many church's inability to change to gain access to a new generation, and allow Jesus to change their hearts before they can become full of brick and mortar. 

I'm not trying to "down" the church (I believe the church, aside from Jesus, is the greatest hope in this word...to steal a line from Bill Hybels) I'm trying to say this: at some point we need to look at the reality. An (increasingly growing) group of people would rather gather together and learn about nothingness while finding ways to change the world; rather than gather with people to learn about EVERYTHINGNESS (I copyright that word) while finding ways to change the world. Somewhere the Christian Church missed out on an opportunity to allow Jesus to break down the pain, hurt, frustration, questions, and confusion in their hearts. And at some point we have to own up to it and change it!

This generation (the Atheist church is primarily the "younger" generation by the way) isn't against gathering together, worship (music), learning, or getting involved...all of which the Christian Church is supposed to stand for while pointing to Jesus...this generation is very much FOR those things. So why the disconnect? They just believe what they believe? Wrong...I used to believe that the world WAS South Carolina. I used to believe that the color green was blue, and blue was red...why? Because I was young and hadn't been exposed to the truth of those false statements. The disconnect, I believe, comes from the inability for the church as a whole to turn the Word of God, the salvation of Jesus, the love of our Father, and the guidance of the Spirit into the ability to apply each of those into every day life...WHILE LOVING PEOPLE! 

To be honest, there was a moment several years ago...I would've be someone that would've tried the Atheist Church. Not because I believe there is nothing out there, but because I had been so hurt by those that knew there was something (God) out there! Christians- cry over this, hurt over this, lament over this...there is a new church that is moving in on your SAVIOR that believes there is not Savior...and it's picking up the pieces that we're leaving behind! At some point...we have to do something about it. It's time to get out there, pick up the hurting, lost, and isolated and LOVE them...not change them, that's Jesus' job...but love them! If we don't, I know a group that will. Maybe it's not God that they have a problem, maybe it's me.


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Obedience

(I'm back to blogging again after a long lay off! Will you help me increase the followers?)

"The Lord appeared to him and said, 'Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham." (Genesis 26:2-3, NASB)

Obedience...a concept that has to be taught, caught, and returned in order to be effective. Kids aren't born being obedient. I have a 4 month old, and when she whines, no matter how often I tell her to stop...she won't until she's ready. Why? She can't understand me, therefore, she can't obey me. My 2 year old has to be taught how to obey when we say to clean up his toys, and so forth. Obedience isn't often inherited, it's taught by authority, caught by us, and returned by applying.

The Lord was speaking to Isaac, the son of Abraham. He was basically saying this... "Hey, Isaac. If you want to be blessed, if you want the promise, and the relationship with me here's all you have to do...LISTEN TO ME!" Really, it's that easy for us as well. If we want God's blessing...Listen and obey! If we want relationship... listen and obey! You want God to come through on His promises... listen and obey! Relationship requires these 2 things - if we deny our relationship these 2 things we forfeit the profit of the relationship.

Isaac got the point. Check this out: "No Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him." (Genesis 26:12, NASB) 

Why did the Lord bless him that well? He listened and obeyed. Does that mean it'll always make sense or be easy? Nope. In fact you may be asked to do something difficult just to see how your faith is. But there's one thing I can assure you, if you listen and then obey - God will then come through, and manifest in your relationship.

Listen. Obey. Live.