We’ll be meeting at the nearby Raising Cane’s, which is about five minutes from the church building. Here’s the address: 1026 W Main St, Lewisville, TX 75067.

We will be meeting at 11am and then be at church by 12:30pm for service. See you there!

More evidence has come out that Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias was engaged in sexual abuse for many years, which is sad and terrible.  However, some Christians have argued that while he sinned, “all sins are equal” or “sin is sin,, so we should not be so quick to judge. I find this claim to be very counter-intuitive, unbiblical, and unhelpful. Still, it’s actually a widespread belief, so it’s worth taking some time to discuss why many Christians believe it and why it’s wrong.

I think many Christians are motivated by good intentions when they say this, even if they are confused.  The main motivation is to keep people from being self-righteous and viciously condemning.  They are right that one does not earn salvation by comparing one’s righteousness with another’s, which I believe is one of the main lessons in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. In the parable, Jesus says that the Pharisee proudly prays to God that he’s thankful he isn’t like terrible sinners like the tax collector. The tax collector instead is bowed down in shame before God and pleads for mercy. The tax collector walks away justified while the Pharisee does not because the tax collector humbled himself. It is a warning to anyone who thinks they can earn justification by “being better” than someone else.

However, notice what Jesus did not say: He didn’t say that the Pharisee was wrong in his assessment that he’s more righteous than the tax collector.  It’s just not a difference that’s going to justify him. Avoiding the pitfall of comparing one’s righteousness with others does not require the belief that all sins are equal. That is not taught anywhere in Scripture; in fact, Jesus says this to Pilate in John 19:11:

 “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

The scriptural case is echoed by the philosophical and intuitive case. To say that lying about doing one’s homework is the same as raping a child seems preposterous on the face of it, and it’s why such things are treated very differently. Therefore, some sins are worse than others and should be treated as such. Obviously, we should not be self-righteous, but we risk naively treating horrific sin in an irresponsible way if we can’t identify them as worse, and we also risk pushing away the victims of such sin who have to deal with extreme trauma.

Facing that fact does not diminish the gospel but helps us deal with such sin when we encounter it more responsibly. In fact, when “the worst of sinners” like Paul are saved, it magnifies the gospel: Some sins are worse than others, but even a mountain range of sin can be overcome by the flood of grace that comes from Christ Jesus our Lord. -EM Pastor Isak Lee

학폭(학교폭력)은 어떤 이유로라도 정당화될 수 없습니다.    징계는 가해자의 미래를 내다보고 이루어져야 합니다.

오래 전 일이지만 필자는 중학교 2학년을 시작하면서 태권도부에 등록을 하고 태권도를 배우기 시작했습니다.  태권도를 배우는 것이 좋았지만  고등학교 선배들로부터(중학교와 고등학교가 붙어있는 학교였음) 기합을 준다는 명목으로 폭력을 자주 당하여 태권도부가 싫어졌습니 다.  그래서 고등학교에 올라가자마자 태권도부를 떠나겠다고 말했습니다.  이후 태권도를 계속하지 않는다는 이유로 더 큰 위협과 폭력에 시달려야만 했습니다.  다행이 큰형님의 개입으로 태권도부를 무사히 떠날 수 있었습니다.   60대 후반에 있는 지금도 그때를 생각하면 유쾌하지 않습니다.

요즈음 한국에서 학폭 뉴스로 떠들썩합니다.  남녀 프로배구 선수들이 가해자였다는 사실이 잇달아 폭로 되면서입니다.  여론의 비난에 못이겨 소속 구단은 이들에게 무기한 출장정지 징계를 내렸고, 배구협회는 국가대표 자격을 박탈했습니다.  폭력 방지 문화 정착이나 시스템 확립에 실패한 스포츠계가 여론의 추이를 눈치보다 내린 징계라 뒷맛이 개운하지 않습니다.  한 언론에서는 이번 학폭 사건의 흐름을 다음과 같이 정리했습니다.  “①가해자가 유명해지고 주목받는다 → ②피해자가 오래전 고통을 떠올린다 → ③소셜미디어 (SNS)로 폭로에 나선다 →  ④여론이 악화되고 가해자가 사과한다 → ⑤뒤늦게 징계가 내려지거나 퇴출된다.”

그동안 한국 스포츠계에 폭력이 만연해 있었음은 모두가 아는 사실입니다.  이번 기회를 학폭뿐 아니라 스포츠계 전반에 걸쳐 폭력을 근절하는 계기로 삼았으면 하는 바람입니다.  물론 가해자들에게는 적절한 징계가 따라야 하겠지요.  그러나 학폭 가해자가 특히 초.중학교 때의 가해자가 성년이 된 지금 너 같은 가해자는 평생 고통받으며 살아야한다고 하며 그들의 커리어를 송두리째 망가뜨리고자 하는 시도는 단지 보복에 지나지 않습니다.  어릴 때의 잘못이기 때문에 무조건 눈감아 주어야 한다는 주장이 아닙니다.   어릴 적의 잘못을 가지고 그들의 많이 남아있는 인생을 회복 불가능하게 만들어서는 안 된다고 생각합니다. 

예수님이 지신 십자가는 인간이 할 수 있는 가장 악랄한 폭력입니다. 동시에 하나님이 우리가 이런 폭력적인 인간임에도 불구하고 용서하시고 사랑하신다는 사실이 드러나게 하는 공간입니다.  학폭 피해자가 상처를 잊고 용서하는 마음을 가졌으면 합니다. -이명교 목사

Praise music is a very important aspect of Christian worship, and for many people, it can be deeply personal as they squabble over whether churches should use hymns, modern praise songs, certain instruments, and so forth.  While much of those arguments simply revolve around matters of taste, there is a more substantive discussion about whether popular praise songs from certain problematic churches should be used.  It would be good to state our church’s position on such songs.

                The churches in question are those like Hillsong and Bethel, churches with a history of charismatic theology that can also sound like prosperity (“health and wealth”) teaching.  One Light Church disagrees with parts of charismatic theology but more strongly opposes the prosperity gospel as misleading, materialistic, and erroneous.  While it is not quite right to dump Bethel or Hillsong into the same category of prosperity preachers like Kenneth Copeland, there does seem to be some prosperity influence on these churches, which has led some biblical churches to reject the use of songs coming from Hillsong, Bethel, or both.  To use these songs, they argue, is to give tacit approval or endorsement of all the teachings that come from these questionable churches, even if the lyrics of the songs themselves have nothing wrong in them and may be perfectly orthodox.                

There is not space here to litigate all the different positions on this subject, but at One Light Church, while we agree that the teachings from the likes of Bethel are not very good, we disagree that using their songs automatically gives approval of all that they teach.  Christianity has a long history of songwriters and teachers who are less than perfect themselves but who produced helpful works.  As long as the song lyrics are not clearly objectionable from a doctrinal standpoint, we will permit the use of such songs and encourage charitable interpretation when the songs use vague phrases.  What matters is if the lyrics teach correct things about God and present the gospel.  We are open to further discussion on this topic, so feel free to ask me or Pastor Lee about it.  God bless. -EM Pastor Isak Lee

This past week was a unique one in Texas, as record cold temperatures hit the Lone Star State.  Texas was not quite prepared for it, leading to power outages, frozen pipes, and iced roads across the state.  Many people were out of power for several days and had to find ways to get by without heating, internet, and lights.  Even those who were fortunate enough to have power and water had to largely stay at home, unable to go to work or even go grocery shopping.

            Such times are often opportunities for reflection about what is most important in life and why we should be content.  Me saying this is not to diminish how serious the loss of power was for many people; it’s only to point out that Christians already know the secret of contentment, which is the gospel, as Paul states in Philippians 4:

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The snowstorm showed that there is only so much we can prepare for, and often our plans and comforts can be disrupted at a moment’s notice.  In such hardship, do we still rejoice in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?  And when trials hit us, are we looking to still reach out and minister to others, or are we just preoccupied with reacquiring our comforts because that’s what our happiness depends on?  I know many at this church were willing to serve their family and friends in times of need, and I hope that continues.  Such ministry should spring from the unshakeable contentment we have in Christ. -EP Pastor Isak Lee

농촌 출신인 필자는 뒷뜰에 손바닥만한 텃밭을 가꾸고 있습니다.  작년 이른 여름 심지 않았고 전혀 생각지도 않았던 한국 참외 두 그루와 캔탈롭(Cantaloupe) 한 그루가 텃밭에서 솟아올랐습니다.  과일 껍질 등 음식물 찌꺼기와 나뭇잎을 썩여서 퇴비를 만들어 텃밭에 뿌렸는데 썩기를 거부하고 생명을 간직한 씨앗들이 따뜻한 기운을 받아 기지개를 펴고 머리를 내민 것입니다. 

줄기와 가지들이 힘차게 뻗어나갔습니다.  인터넷에서 순접기 방법을 배워 순을 접어주었고, 아침 저녁으로 물을 주어가며 정성을 들여 가꾸었습니다.  정성에 보답이라도하듯 마디마다 열매가 열려  수확의 기대로 가슴이 벅찼습니다.  그런데 속상하게도 캔탈롭 하나 외에는 다람쥐가 차례로 모두 아작을 내어 먹어버렸습니다.  다람쥐가 시퍼런 참외를 훔쳐(?) 먹는다는 사실을 처음 알았습니다.  그럼에도 필자는 싹이 나고 자라고 꽃이 피고 열매 맺는 생명 현상을 보는 것만으로도 무척 행복했습니다. 

생명을 간직한 씨앗이 조건이 맞는 시기를 만나면 싹을 트고 자라 열매를 맺는다는 사실은 상식이지만 참외의 성장 과정을 뜻하지 않게 보며 그 상식이 복음 전도와 연관되어 새로운 확신으로 다가왔습니다. 즉 복음의 씨앗이 뿌려져 때를 만나면 반드시 싹을 트고 자라 열매를 맺게 된다는 확신입니다.

복음은 생명을 간직하고 있습니다.  아니 복음 자체가 생명입니다.  그래서 생명의 복음이 뿌려지면 반드시 싹이 나고 자라서 열매를 맺습니다.  복음 전도자는 이 사실을 확실히 믿고 인내를 가지고 기다리며 복음을 계속 전해야 합니다.  때를 얻든지 못 얻든지 복음을 전파해야 합니다.  사도 바울이 영적 아들 디모데에게 준 권면입니다.  “그대는 말씀을 선포하십시오.  기회가 좋든지 나쁘든지, 꾸준하게 힘쓰십시오.”(딤후 4:2a, 새번역) -이명교 목사

복음은 반드시 싹을 트고 자라 열매를 맺게 되어있습니다.  복음이 생명을 간직하고 있기 때문입니다.