It is That Simple
with Larry Kutzler
The Simple Ideas of Profound Truths
Showing Up For Youth
Barna Research tells us that the questions teens want answers for, are about livelihood, the future, belonging, and purpose. Our world is more unstable than in past generations, and technology is changing the way we live, work, and play. There is also no end in sight in how AI will change the job market. In a world of media, teens feel insignificant with questions … does God care, will anyone show up for me, and who can be trusted with all the conflicting opinions in society? The battle for the minds and hearts of our youth will be won by those who show up for these kids today. The Church must invest in youth by showing up for them … if we don’t, those who recruit youth to be counter cultural, certainly will. It is That Simple.
Confront or Cover Up?
One of the most awkward decisions we make is framed around confronting situations, or covering them up and moving on. I heard a pastor use this in a marriage illustration. Often, we need to confront our spouse, but the easier way out is just cover it up. Right? Who wants to sleep on the couch again? That is serious enough, but what if the need to confront is societal and evil in nature? For a long time, the Church didn’t want to offend anyone … don’t confront, be tolerant, and cover error with grace. However, all that did was make us an ineffective witness for truth while giving evil a foothold. It is time we shift our emphasis to an uncompromising witness for Christ … bold, kind, and direct. Compromising righteousness makes us cover up and move on. It is That Simple.
What Controls You Becomes Your God
The Rich Young Ruler intrigues me. He had everything … he was rich, young, moral, and he lived according to the Laws of Moses. In other words, he was a righteous Jew. Yet his question indicated he did not know God. He asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He practiced a religion, he followed the rules, but it left him empty. I don’t think Jesus is against wealth … He is against anything that has more importance than God. Whatever controls you, defines who the God is in your life. Wealth may not be where your treasure is, but what about the seven deadly sins? Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Do any of those have a hold on your life? Perhaps we can relate to our rich young ruler more than we thought. It is That Simple.
The Moral 10
The 10 Commandments have been the foundation of law and order in the Western world. Even if you are an atheist, these 10, if lived out, will develop a better world. I have contended that most theology is too complex for most people. God must be relevant to be known. These 10 are so simple, they can be memorized to shape moral character. In recent years, my theology has mirrored the simplicity of downsizing as a family. In the last five years we have moved three times, and each time, downsizing as we went. My theology today has also downsized to what I practice … period. Jesus thought so highly of the 10, that He taught them in His Sermon on the Mount, which means He endorsed living by the 10. Simple theology … living by the 10. It is That Simple.
Your Influence
My wife and our youngest granddaughter, have a unique relationship. I call them ‘connected at the hip.’ It got me thinking about the things people will remember after we are gone. What will people say about us, or how will they remember us? Our lives will not save the world, nor will we be remembered for our talents, our wealth, or our popularity. What we will be remembered for is how we affected that one person to whom we made a difference. It’s not saving the world, that’s for the movies, but it is about the influence we have with other people. Who are you influencing in your life? Recently, I was reminded about the 10 Commandments. God’s objective was to ensure we know Him, and we treat people right. Make a difference … be an influence. It is That Simple.
Our Fight
All of us are in a fight. For some, it’s personal with family … that’s hand-to-hand combat, for sure. Our other fight is for our freedom … something none of us want to lose. A pastor once said, “If you remove God, then you become God. If you are your own God, then people can choose the gender they want.” Do you see the fight we are all facing? If I am my own God, I can do whatever I want with my life. However, there is a God … He chose your gender at birth, and your world keeps lying to you. Our greatest challenge is telling people what they don’t want to hear … “You are not your own God, there is only one God, and you are not Him.” It is That Simple.
Your Will
Author Oswald Chambers said, “The most profound thing within a person is his will, not sin.” The will of a person determines direction and purpose in life, and is the determining factor in following God … or not. God created our will to be free to choose, and that choice is not God’s, nor this world … it is your will that makes the choices. James 4:7 says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The power to resist evil, sin, and this world is your choice. When we choose to follow God, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us to proclaim God’s Word, and strengthens us to execute on our choices. God is not in the business of overriding your will … He allows you the freedom to choose. Free will … it’s your choice. It is That Simple.
Vision Leaders for Jesus
An influential, charismatic Church on the West Coast, announced major changes to their Church culture. They said it needed ‘attention and reform.’ I have noticed when a charismatic leader brings vision and ministry to a group of people, that ministry takes on the emphasis of that leader. Visionaries are necessary for the proliferation of the Gospel … without them new avenues to reach people would cease. The problem isn’t the visionary … the problem is the management of the vision. Too often, the vision gets a life of its own, and Jesus becomes a means to make it happen. The ministry culture of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation, are great examples of how vision develops without Jesus being the center of that vision. The message of the Cross is preeminent … not the leader or the vision. It is That Simple.
The Lust of the Eyes
I heard a preacher say, “The lust of the eye in 1 John 2:16 is not only a moral issue, but a prideful one. Not all knowledge is profitable, in fact, most knowledge is like trivia … it has a short life span. Think about how you get interrupted in your day by all the notifications on your phone. What percentage of the messages are worthless non-stop promotions and irritating news stories? Yet, we hang on every notification as if it was announcing the second coming of the Lord. I realize we use our phones productively too, but the challenge is our insatiable desire to see and know things (the lust of the eyes), being preoccupied with needless chatter and information. Check out the stats on how long your screen time is each week. That is worth seeing. It is That Simple.