Remembering William Borden

Sincerity is defined as the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. Sincere people are trusted. Along with patience and compassion, sincerity is one of those qualities we wish we had more of – and wish other people had more of, too. People who show sincerity are seen as being serious, kind and truthful. Sincerity is vital as you live out the Christian faith, and is vital in understanding our scripture lesson, John 10:22-30.

According to the text, Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Festival of Dedication, a time to remember the dedication of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC. For those unfamiliar with the Hebrew calendar, John tells us it was during the winter months. Jesus was walking in Solomon’s Colonnade, a roof structure like a Greek stoa, when he was surrounded by a group of Jews. They asked him the question everyone has been asking: are you the Messiah? Jesus goes on to tell them the answer to their question is not found in his words, the answer to their question is found in his deeds. Those words resonate in our society today, because our world still believes actions speak louder than words. After all, we believe talk is cheap. That leads us to an interesting question: if you didn’t speak a single word about Jesus, would the people in your life know you are a disciple?

Everyone knew, and no one questioned the sincerity of William Borden (1887-1913), when he graduated from The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1904. His father made a fortune in the Colorado silver mines, so William was a sixteen-year-old millionaire. However, his mother had the greatest influence on his life. She took him to the Chicago Avenue Church, later Moody Church, where he accepted Jesus. His graduation gift from his parents was a chaperoned trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: NO RESERVES. In other words, he was totally committed to serving God. There would be no reserves for him. How committed are you to serving God?

David Livingstone (1813-1873) was totally committed. He was a Scottish physician, pioneer missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an African explorer. His passion for Africa made him famous. Once he received a letter while in Africa that contained this question: “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you.” Livingstone wrote back, “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.” David Livingstone and William Borden were totally committed. How committed are you? The first two words William Borden wrote in his Bible were NO RESERVES!

In 1905, Borden enrolled at Yale University. During his first semester, he began to pray and study the Bible with a friend. A short time later, a third student joined them. By the end of his first year, 150 freshmen had become interested in meeting for weekly prayer and Bible study. By the time he was a senior, 1,000 out of the 1,300 students at Yale were meeting in groups like these. It was his goal to win every soul at Yale University for Jesus. That wasn’t enough for Borden. Off Yale’s campus, he went to the darkest parts of New Haven, Connecticut helping those individuals’ society had forgotten. Turning down high paying job offers, Borden entered two more words in his Bible: NO RETREATS. In other words, he was always finding new ways to serve God.

In my retirement, I supply preach. In other words, I go to churches when the pastor is away or unable to preach. I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new churches. Most of the churches I preach at have the same story. They had a glorious past but are facing a questionable future. At some point, they stopped advancing; they are frozen in time. The crowd of the past has been replaced by a select few, who are committed to traditional worship. They haven’t gotten involved in missions in years because they are consumed by their own needs. The only energy present is the energy needed to maintain the basic church functions. The world is changing, yet they refuse to change. They all know the truth: the end is near and when the door is locked for the last time, no one will miss them. William was never satisfied doing the same old thing. He was always finding a new way to serve God. When was the last time your church tried a new ministry? When was the last time you tried something new to serve God? The second two-words William Borden wrote in his Bible were NO RETREATS!

After graduating from Yale in 1909, Borden prepared for the mission field at Princeton Seminary. At the age of twenty-two, Borden became the director of the National Bible Institute in New York City as well as the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. His goal was to evangelize the Muslims in China. On his way to China, he stopped in Egypt to study Arabic. It was there that his bright future grew dark. He was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and died at the age of 24. To the world it really didn’t seem fair. However, William Borden trusted God. The only one he was trying to please was God. Who are you trying to please? I have said it a million times – the only things that really matters are those things that will matter in one hundred years. What is going to matter to you in one hundred years? The only thing that is going to matter to you in one hundred years is Jesus! Are you living for Jesus, or are you living for someone or something else? During his illness he wrote two more words in the back of his Bible, NO REGRETS.

How can you question the sincerity of William Borden? If he hadn’t spoken a word, his life spoke volumes. He was completed committed to serving God. He was always finding a new way to serve God. He completed trust God. No one could question his sincerity. Can the same thing be said about you? Jesus wasn’t wrong – actions do speak louder than words. Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) once said, “Preach the Gospel, but only use words when absolutely necessary.”

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

We find ourselves in the thirteenth chapter of Acts, verses forty-two through fifty-one. Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey. According to the text, they are on the island of Cyprus and, as in other stories in Acts, their method of teaching was straightforward. They entered a community, located the synagogue, and told people about Jesus. Up to this point, everyone seems to be open to their message. At first, this community, Pisidian Antioch, was no different.

This chapter gives us the outline of Paul’s message. It is chronological in nature. First, he reminded them what God had done for their ancestors. God had liberated their people from Egypt. Second, he reminded them of the period of the judges. Third, he reminded them of the period of the Kings. Then, he told them of the one God chose from all the rest, David. Through his line the Savior would be born. In time, it happened. Two thousand years ago, the Savior was born and given the name Jesus. You know his story. His time in this world was brief but he had a long-lasting effect. His sad death looked like the end, but it was just the beginning. Death could not hold him. Jesus’s resurrection changed everything. God’s love was no longer reserved for the Jews. God’s love is universal. Salvation is available to all who believe in his resurrection. That means, your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable! According to the text, the news of Paul’s message spread throughout that community. Everyone reacted to his message in their own way. They still do.

One of my favorite movies is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Filmed in Italy, it was released in 1966 and made for $1.2 million. It made more than $25 million at the box office. The movie stars Clint Eastwood (born 1930), Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989) and Eli Wallach (1915-2014) in the title roles. Set in 1862 New Mexico, the plot revolves around three gunslingers who are searching for Confederate gold. It came out to mixed reviews, but it is now considered a classic. It teaches us about the dangers of greed, but today it acts as the perfect outline for this blog about how people respond to Jesus. Look at the text with me.

Paul stood before the crowd and told them about Jesus. Many responded and asked him to stay longer. They wanted to hear more about Jesus. The good responded to Paul’s message in a positive way. They were open to Jesus and their lives were transformed. I am assuming you are a good person if you are reading this blog. I have known many good people in my life. The good are open to Jesus.

I am beginning my second year of retirement. I find myself reviewing my time in the ministry. I am proud of many things I accomplished. Near the top of that list are the youth mission trips my church supported. For over twenty years, my church annually sent youth on a Group mission trip. Each year they went to a different community. The location was always different, but the program was the same. Our group of approximately twenty were part of a camp of 400 youth from around the country, who performed some basic home repairs in that community. However, the camp was more than just free manual labor. The camps were really about Jesus! Every night the entire camp gathered for worship. Every night after worship they would gather for devotions. Thursday nights were always special. For it was on that night the entire camp was asked to commit, or recommit, their lives to Jesus. I do not know how many lives have been changed at a Group Work Camp. However, the organization reports that 90% of participants were closer to Jesus leaving the camp than they were when they came to camp. I believe that figure is accurate and that is why so many have worked so hard to make those trips possible. If we are not offering our youngest to Jesus, then we are not offering them anything at all. The people who supported and attended those camps were good people because they were open to the Good News. The good accept Jesus. Look at the text again.

Paul stood before the crowd and told them about Jesus. The bad rejected the message about Jesus. Their problem was not theological in nature, they understood what Paul was saying. Their problem was, they refused to believe it. That leads to a series of questions. How many people do you know don’t want to have anything to do with Jesus? How many people do you know have altered the Gospel message to fit their opinions? How many people do you know have used the Gospel message to promote their politics? How many people do you know have watered the Gospel message down to make it more comfortable? The Christian faith was never designed to be comfortable. The good accept the Good News of Jesus Christ. The bad reject the Good News of Jesus Christ. The bad are still with us.

What do these ten people have in common?

Steve Jobs

Tina Turner

George Harrison

Julia Roberts

Lew Alcindor

Cassius Clay

Fidel Castro

Napoleon Bonaparte

Brad Pitt

Joseph Stalin

I hope that list is wrong. I found it on the internet. If true, each one of the ten people walked away from Christianity. Steve Jobs and Tina Turner became Buddhists. George Harrison and Julia Roberts became Hindu. Lew Alcindor became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali; they became Muslim. Fidel Castro, Napoleon Bonaparte, Brad Pitt, and Joseph Stalin said, or say, there is no God. That list bothers me. How can you walk away from Jesus and be something else? This is an even harder question. How can you walk away from Jesus and say there is nothing at all? How many bad people do you know? The bad rejected Jesus. Look at the text again.

Paul stood before the crowd and told them about Jesus. The ugly do their best to frustrate people from talking about Jesus. In the scripture lesson, a select few caused all the problems. They used their influence to have Paul and Barnabas silenced. They got them expelled so no one could hear about Jesus. Sadly, the ugly are still with us.

It was back on June 24, 2015, that a Christian was shot in Suez, Egypt. It was not an accident. He was shot twice in the chest. The violence was shocking, but the reason for the shooting was sinister. He was murdered because he refused to denounce his Christian faith and accept Islam. Does anything else have to be said? Things are not getting better in our world. The spiritual tension in our world is growing. Being a Christian is no longer a safe thing. The world seems to be against us. The ugly do their best to frustrate people from talking about Jesus. That leads us to an interesting question.

When was the last time you told someone what Jesus means to you? Please don’t misunderstand the question. I am not talking about preaching to your loved ones. I am not talking about judging the people in your lives. I am not talking about leaving a Christian track in a public place for someone to find. I am not talking about reporting your local church history or most recent debate. I am not talking about how you feel about your minister. I am not talking about long heavy theology. I am talking about speaking from the heart and being able to tell someone what Jesus means to you. It is not really an option. God expects two things from us. First, God expects us to be living the faith. There is nothing worse than being a hypocrite. Second, God expects us to be able to articulate the faith. When was the last time you told someone, what Jesus means to you? Dallas Theological professor Howard Hendricks (1924-2013) once said, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.” You know it is true.

When you do, you will get the same reactions as Paul. Some will love to hear it; they are the good. Some won’t want to hear it; they are the bad. Others will be mad they heard it and will try to get you to stop talking about Jesus; they are the ugly. American clergyman Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) once said, “Let God be the judge. Your job is to be the witness.”

Is There a Witness in the House?

Years ago, I was talking to a good friend. We covered a variety of topics. Then, it happened. Without warning, she looked at me and asked, “Russ, have I ever told you, my witness?” This is her story, so I will try to do it justice.

She went to visit her mother, who was near the end of her life. She existed in a cloud of depression. She had been widowed for several years, and everything was wrong. Nothing was right in her world. Every word she uttered was critical. My friend dreaded those visits to her mother. However, on one visit, she experienced the unexpected. Her mother greeted her with a smile. Relieved, she walked in and received an unusual question. Her mother asked, “Does God ever speak to you?” The daughter responded, “Mom, I talk to God all the time. I think he responds to me from time to time.” The dying woman said, “He speaks to me all the time. He is a fun guy, and he tells me unusual things.” She continued, “I’m going to die.” The daughter said, “We are all going to die someday.” The mother said, “No, I am going to die in one week. Your father came to visit me and showed me what heaven is like. Heaven is a fun place! He told me I am going to die in one week.” Lost in her mother’s words, she just listened. The daughter looked at me and asked, “Do you know how my witness ends?” I didn’t have a clue. She said, “My mother died exactly one week later.” She finished her story with a smile and these words, “I know my parents are together again, having fun in heaven!” How could I ever forget that story? How could I ever forget that witness? That takes us to our scripture reading for today.

We find ourselves in the first twenty-two verses of the fourth chapter of Acts. I don’t care how you turn the story. It is a story about witnessing. According to the text, Peter had just healed a cripple. Listen to what I am about to say. No one was questioning the authenticity of the miracle. For years, the man had sat there begging in the shadows of the temple. His existence depended on the generosity of others. He had no future and no opportunity to live a full life. Everyone had pity on him, but no one would have traded places with him. That is why they could not believe their eyes. This long-time beggar was whole, healed by Peter. Everyone is happy except two groups. First, the other beggars were not happy. They were asking, “Why not me?” Second, the leaders of the Orthodox faith were not happy. His healing signaled a continuation of their Jesus problem. They thought it would end with Jesus’s execution. They were wrong. Not really knowing what to do, they had Peter and his companion, John, arrested. In verse seven they asked, “By what power or in what name did you done this?” Peter answers the question in verses ten through twelve.

“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Does anything else have to be said? Those are impressive words from a common blue collar-man. If you study those words, you discover Peter answered their question by using Bible. He was saying to them, Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy. That is true, but this is equally true. Never underestimate the value of your witness. It is nothing more than sharing your experience with God. When was the last time you experienced God?

American clergyman and Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) once said, “Let God be the judge. Your job is to be the witness.” That quote is important because witnessing is misunderstood. Has anyone ever tried to share their witness with you in a pushy, aggressive way? Those individuals forgot they are not the judge. I know that is true because I have experienced that kind of witnessing.

Years ago, I was running late for an appointment, so I decided to drive the back roads to save time. I would have made it, but I was stopped at a railroad crossing. Frustrated, I sat there and watched the train inch along. I shut my car off and rolled the windows down because it was a hot day. As I studied the various cars on that train something unusual happened. A young un-groomed man wearing a red flannel shirt suddenly appeared from the surrounding weeds and ran toward my car. I snapped to attention. I didn’t have a chance to say a word. The stranger looked at me and said, “Brother, you are going to hell if you haven’t accepted Jesus!” He picked up one of my windshield wipers, and placed a track under it. As fast as he came, he was gone. As I sat there reading his literature, I could not question his theology. However, I do have a few questions about his method. I am not sure if it is story of poor witnessing or evangelism. Can anyone here relate to that story? Have you ever been assaulted by someone else’s witness? I am convinced most of us haven’t shared our witness because we don’t want to be like the un-groomed red flannel shirted man. Witnessing is so misunderstood.

This week, I “Googled” the question, why don’t Christians share their witness? I didn’t come up with one reason why people don’t share their witness. I came up with nine reasons. Maybe you can relate to one of them? This is the list.

Ignorance – They don’t know they are supposed to witness
Education – They don’t know what to say
Wrong Assumptions – They assume everyone knows the Gospel
Apathy – They just don’t want to witness
Procrastination – They will tell their story later
Worldliness – They don’t want to look like a religious nut
Preoccupation – They don’t think about sharing their story
Inadequacy – They don’t think their story is interesting
Rejection – They don’t want their story to be dismissed

I think people don’t share their witness because witnessing, itself, is misunderstood. What is witnessing? It is nothing more than sharing your experience with God. There is no good witness or bad witness. There is just your witness. You are not the prosecutor, defense attorney or judge. You are the witness. The only thing you are required to do is share what you have experienced. When was the last time you experienced God? When was the last time you shared your story? When was the last time you witnessed to someone? Never forget, witnessing is important. If you do not believe me then look at the scripture lesson.

Peter simply expressed his understanding of Jesus. According to Peter, Jesus was more than a wise teacher. Jesus was more than a positive role model. Jesus was more than a miracle worker. According to Peter, the events of Jesus’ life were all part of the divine plan. The ultimate expression of his love was the cross. Without the cross, there is no hope of salvation. His understanding of the divine plan is amazing. Can I tell you the truth? I am intimidated by his witness. My simple witness can’t compare. Are you intimidated by Peter’s witness? If you are too, it really doesn’t matter. The people in your life don’t care about Peter’s witness. The people in your life care about your witness. They care about your witness because they care about you. Your story reminds them that God is still active in our world. Your story, your witness reminds people we are not alone. God is with us! Your story reminds people there is still hope. I challenge you to share your witness because our world is desperate for hope.

When I was in seminary I served a small membership church in Garrard County, Kentucky. There is an old tradition among the Christian Churches in that area. On the fifth Sunday of every month, they gathered for a hymn sing. That means they gather four times a year. That event was a big deal to those congregations. My church, the Pleasant Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), never missed one during my tenure. Each service was about the same. Besides the singing, there were the host pastor’s opening welcome. Everyone was encouraged to stay for refreshments. There was a long list of prayer requests so everyone could get caught up on the news. There was an offering to support the local food bank and a powerful message about the importance of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. After all, hell is hot! However, the best part of the service, in my opinion, was when the host pastor stood up and asked the question, “Is there a witness in the house?” That was when the laity had the opportunity to grab the spotlight. One by one, people stood up and talked. Some told how they came to know Jesus. Some told how Jesus had supported them during some personal crisis. Some reported on some divine coincidence. It was a time for the spiritually mature to shine. Each witness ended with the congregation shouting, “Amen!” So let me ask you the question.

Is there a witness in the house? In other words, what is your story? When was the last time you experienced God? Your story may be about the moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Your story may include some freak coincidence that reminded you that God was with you. Your story may include the words of a stranger, your angel, who gave you the strength to continue. Your story may include that overwhelming feeling that everything was going to be fine when everything was wrong. Everyone has a story. What is your story about God? What is your witness? I challenge you to share your story, your witness, with someone and remind them that God is with us. Do you remember the quote from Warren Wiersbe, “Let God be the judge. Your job is to be the witness.”