Derek Kim Michigan State – Derek Kunhee Kim (김건희 金健熙)

The greatest thing I did in college

I’ve been reflecting on what have been the most influential endeavors during my time at Michigan State, particularly in my relationship with Jesus.

Fellowship on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings play a vital role in Christian growth. Conferences and retreats have been a wellspring of lifelong friendships. What I am about to say is not in contrast to these beautiful things. If anything, it’s in complement with these things.

Memorizing the Word of God is without a doubt the most important endeavor I undertook in college.

I really can’t say enough about this. And if I’m not intentional, I could go in circles for the next few paragraphs. But I’m willing to do that if it will help you get a glimpse of its benefits.

I will share one way this practice has helped me as a college student and as a young man: Memorizing Scripture has been monumental in my endeavor to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness on a campus that is submersed in its antithesis.

I’ve experienced firsthand the sufficiency of the Bible in living a life of eternal significance (2 Peter 1:3). Reading the Bible is important, but memorizing these Words takes your spirituality to a whole new level. Your thinking slowly and surely becomes aligned with God’s.

When I’m tempted to lust or lie or spew out frustration, it’s infinitely more powerful for me to declare Matthew 5:8 or 1 Corinthians 6:18 over my situation than utter any scrap of human insight. Like 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 says, our faith does not rest in human wisdom but in the power of God.

It’s not legalistic; it’s taking God’s Word at face value. Eternal, majestic, soul-saving, life-giving, unchanging, sovereign.

Do you want to be more Christ-like? Memorize Romans 8. Do you need ammunition to fight your addiction to pornography? Memorize Psalm 119:1-9-11. Do you want to love people sacrificially? Memorize 1 Corinthians 13. If you want to see the world through the Creator’s eyes, then memorize Scripture. I really can’t overemphasize it. I literally want to jump through the screen and beg you to do this.

Your knowledge of God’s Word and your capacity to fight sin has a direct correlation.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my hear that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11)

Jesus did it, too. He fought Satan’s temptation by declaring God’s Word over the present circumstance (Matthew 4:1-11). If the Son of God responds to the king of Hell by proclaiming God’s Word, who are we to think we can fight this fight in any other way?

If Colossians 1:16-17 is true, which it is, then we will never reach our full Christ-exalting potential unless God’s truth is central in all we do.

When you store God’s Word in your mind, you are tattooing the most pure source of truth into the epicenter of your existence. My dear brothers and sisters, memorize the Bible, please. It will revolutionize the way you think, love, and interact with others. Don’t leave your devotionals in the morning without memorizing at least one verse. It’s the most pure source of truth you will encounter on this side of eternity.

Your Friend, D.Kim
Acts 20:24
FTM

Why I won’t be watching “Heaven is For Real”

On my flight back from Baltimore! It's kind of like Heaven, maybe? — On my flight back from Baltimore!

Today marks an infinitely important day in history. Jesus was raised from the dead. My faith is not futile. Jesus is the Christ and is able to pay the price for my sins.

Sunday also marks the release of “Heaven is For Real” the fictitious account of a four year old boy who went to Heaven and back.

To my brothers and sisters, be careful. It’s an awfully cute story. A toddler growing up in a dinky little rural town recovers from a burst appendix to testify he went to Heaven and back. But let’s recuperate through the clouds of emotionalism and ask the all-important question: Is Burpo’s account consistent with God’s Word?

No.

There is simply no Biblical basis for someone–today–to return to Heaven and back.

Scripture is sufficient. If you want to know that Heaven is for real, then look no further than the historical, logical, archaeological, and prophetically credible words of the Old and New Testament. Just FYI, the cult that is the “church” of Latter-Day-Saints was inaugurated on the testimony of a 12-year-old boy named Joseph Smith.

Scripture testifies of four people who got a glimpse of Heaven: Ezekiel, Isaiah, Paul, and John. Glimpses! Not all-inclusive trips like the one the Burpo’s testify of. These were prophetic visions–not near death experiences. And these prophets didn’t speak of cute features like sitting on Jesus’ lap; they were utterly awestruck by the Glory of God, which is the supreme reality of Heaven.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:4)

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. (John 3:13)

Because here is the issue: If what Todd Burpo says is true, then he is claiming divine authority that has been granted to him. Since it is a new revelation of God! This is much more than a heart-warming story, friends! This involves the credibility of the Bible! Putting words into God’s mouth that he didn’t say.

Heaven is For Real is representative of a dangerous sway in the American church toward subjective, esoteric, mystical experience. Emotions are important–essential to human expression, but any narrative that stimulates emotionalism-based decision-making rather than standing upon the objective truth of God’s Word, should be avoided.

Personally, I find the book of Revelation much more fascinating. It’s so much better than having wings and seeing old relatives. No more death. No more darkness. No more ferry disasters in my home country. Satan defeated. Martyrs redeemed. And best of all: I will see Jesus face-to-face.

Have discernment, my friends. There is a terrible amount of false teaching out there.

Your friend, D.Kim
Acts 20:24
FTM

A Dangerous Attitude Toward Evangelism

There’s a cliché floating around that greatly concerns me.

Now let me be clear. I wouldn’t call it a heresy. I think it’s simply a misunderstanding. But misunderstandings can become plagues if not snipped in the bud.

What I’m talking about is this idea that, as Christians, we are supposed to let our actions be the utmost testimony to the world. I recently read a couple articles about two NFL quarterbacks whom adhered to this dangerous attitude toward evangelism.

“I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since. Some players get more vocal about it … some point to Heaven after scoring a touchdown and praise God after games. I have no problem with that. But I don’t do it, and don’t think it makes me any less a Christian. I just want my actions to speak louder, and I don’t want to be more of a target for criticism than I already am.”

“——- will not stand on the bleachers and shout; but he will privately live that life consistently with Jesus. I love that about him.”

While such statements bear some truth, the attitude they exhibit is not completely Biblical. Here is why.

There is a constant theme throughout the Old and New Testaments that when believers are filled with God’s Spirit, they spoke His truth. Here are just a couple examples.

“Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,” 1 Chronicles 12:18

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me … to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Isaiah 61:1-2 (later repeated by Jesus in Luke 4)

“But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Sprit, looked intently at him and said,” Acts 13:9

And Jesus, our Lord, is the paramount example.

“And Jesus, fill of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days being tempted by the devil … And Jesus answered,” Luke 4:1-2,4

The Bible is packed with countless other examples.

People loved Jesus when He would heal the sick; the crowds flocked to His presence when He fed them. But it was His words that separated the sheep from the goats. His verbal testimony is what provoked people to pick up stones to kill Him.

Paul wasn’t beheaded because he lived a private Christian life. The Apostle James wasn’t slaughtered by Herod’s sword because he attended church. Christians in North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and India are not electrocuted, burned at the stake, and forced to watch the murder of their families simply because their behavior emits religion. Christ followers are martyred for their fearless proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is then echoed by their lifestyle as a cornerstone.

If our actions fail to support our words, we are hypocrites. If our words don’t overflow as a result of our salvation, then we need to evaluate if we are finding our satisfaction in God alone. We will naturally talk about what–or whom–we find joy in.

This timidity may very well be rooted in a buried, bashful fear of man. Such has been an enduring struggle in my life. I need to constantly ask myself if I’m seeking the approval of man over the approval of Yahweh.

Proverbs 29:25 says the fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. I don’t like to share my faith. In fact, if I were to be blunt, I hate it. Naturally, I love the approval of man. I hate rejection. I hate the weird stigma that comes with not knowing how to start a “spiritual conversation. I am terrified of talking to people about the Gospel. I would much rather preach a message or hide behind my computer screen in a blog post. But Jesus’ Church is built on the blood of martyrs who unashamedly embraced persecution for proclaiming the Gospel. And for the rest of my life, I am going to have to make war against the flesh that desires the world’s recognition rather than hearing those words “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23).

The Bible is crystal clear. We must be bold in sharing the Gospel holistically. Souls hang in the balance.

Oh, trust me, I’m 110% for living a life that is “worthy of the calling we have received” (Ephesians 4:1). But our mission will never be complete until we speak for what we stand for.

Don’t allow crazy “preachers” at your college campus deceive you. There is a way to share your faith with others that doesn’t make you seem like a madman.

Let’s not succumb to this ineffectual attitude of American Christianity. It will prevent us from accomplishing what the Holy Spirit yearns to do in us.

“The world can do nothing to a Christian who has no fear of man. -Brother Yun”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? Any how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! … so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:14-15, 17

Your Friend, D.Kim
Acts 20:24
FTM