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About R. Brad White

R. Brad White is the Founder and President of Changing the Face of Christianity Inc. Brad is a former atheist and became an "on fire for God" Christian in 2005. In 2008, Brad became incredibly burdened by what he perceived as a Christian faith far off course, and Christians far from living the teachings of Jesus Christ. In 2010, Brad submitted to the calling to reverse these negative Christian stereotypes, by starting "Changing the Face of Christianity" (a 501c3 Texas non-profit corporation). Read more about R. Brad White

Private Prayer

February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Our Glory or His?

God isn’t a big fan of humans doing things for our own glory. In fact, look at any behavior where the goal is to draw attention away from God and to ourselves. You can bet that God is frowning upon it. Focusing on God’s glory (more Him, and less us) is a sign of Christian maturity.

The Jewish Pharisees were known for praying in public as a show of their self-righteousness. They were seeking their own glory and Jesus Christ saw right through it.

But let us not think we are immune from such actions. Us mere humans are bent upon seeking the approval of other people. We want to look better than we are. We want to appear like we have it all together. We want to come across as more spiritual or holy than we are. God knows our hearts. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Pray in Private

And so, this installment of “2 Minutes to Christian Maturity” is about private prayer. Let’s read from Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

So God says we should pray in private. Does this mean public prayers are not heard? Of course they are! God is recommending private prayer so we aren’t tempted to pray with the wrong motivation (self glory).

The most effective prayers are those when we come humbly before our God, lay ourselves bare before Him, repent of our sins, and ask for His grace and forgiveness. When was the last time you prayed like that in public? God knows that praying in private is the best place to have “quality time”.

When I started caring more about what God thinks of me than what other people think of me, it evolved into a genuine act of worship instead of trying to “look Christian”.
Now, I think it’s fine to pray in public when its done with the proper motivation. For me, it took a while before I was able to pray in public (like in a noisy restaurant). I was mostly afraid of what people would think of me. When I started caring more about what God thinks of me than what other people think of me, it evolved into a genuine act of worship instead of trying to “look Christian”.

But when it comes to Christian maturity, God knows best. If given the choice, private prayer, free of distractions, is preferred. Take 2 minutes, and find a secluded spot where you can connect in prayer with our Holy God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Giver of life, the One who knows what we need even before we ask.

Can we ask you to do us a favor?

If you enjoyed this article, would you please share it with your facebook friends? Send a message about this page (http://www.changingthefaceofchristianity.com/christian-maturity/private-prayer/)  to Christian friends on facebook. Thanks!

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2 Minutes to Christian Maturity. “Write Your Prayer to God”

February 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

Written Prayers

Have you ever read the Psalms? They are written prayers to God. Some are songs and others are just the outpourings of the heart.

I just listened to an audiobook version of “Here I Stand”, which was Martin Luther’s self defense of his writings which sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1521. (google it. It’s a great read)

Although he had many supporters among common Christians, he was facing an onslaught of criticism and pressure from the Catholic leadership to recant his writings against the church’s misuse of authority and contradiction with scripture. In preparation for his defense, he wrote out a prayer to God for strength to persevere according to God’s will.

It struck me that we too should sometimes write out our prayers to God. And so, I want to encourage you to give it a try.

But in addition to the short prayers, let’s seek the maturity of some of our faith’s forefathers and write out our heartfelt, earnest prayers to God.
Set aside a few minutes and instead of speaking it, write it out. I write down quick prayers that I want to revisit from time to time as a way of remembering them. I use an iphone/ipad app called Toodledo (which is really a “todo” tracker) to capture my recurring prayers. It works great.

 But in addition to the short prayers, let’s seek the maturity of some of our faith’s forefathers and write out our heartfelt, earnest prayers to God. Leave a comment or send me a note and let me know how it impacts you.

Can we ask you to do us a favor?

If you enjoyed this article, would you please share it with your facebook friends? Send a message about this page (http://www.changingthefaceofchristianity.com/christian-maturity)  to Christian friends on facebook. Thanks!

 

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How would your life change if you lived the belief that God was omnipresent (always there, wherever you are, even when you are being distant from Him)?

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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The Cure from Feeling Disconnected from God

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Sometimes people feel disconnected from God. I hear people pray, “Lord, why are you so distant?” If you read the Psalms you’ll see a cycle of appeals to God such as Psalm 10:1, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”.

What does this say about God and us?

This says more about us and our insufficient perspective than it does about God. Our Christian theology affirms a belief in God’s “omnipresence”. Omnipresence means present everywhere at the same time. He has been that way for all eternity. He isn’t contained by this universe (His creation). Yet, he permeates every inch of it.

That means He’s there in your bedroom, in the bathroom, in your car, at your work, with you on vacation, and with you in times of joy and in times of immense pain and heartache.
That means He’s there in your bedroom, in the bathroom, in your car, at your work, with you on vacation, and with you in times of joy and in times of immense pain and heartache.

Three reasons He seems so far away

So, if He is so close, why does He sometimes seem so far away? I think this stems from three sources.

1. Many times, we treat God as if He is there for OUR benefit (like a magic genie)…and when we have no compelling needs, we forget about Him and what he wants from us. Just listen to your own prayers for a moment. Are they praise and thanksgiving, or mostly requests for our own benefit? And when our prayers go unanswered, we feel like God isn’t listening or aware of our existence.

2. We incorrectly feel we are worthy of His constant presence. Yet God is Holy and hates our sin. If we embrace our sin and continue to sin without self restraint, aren’t we repelling His very presence? When we give up control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and correct us, He is faithful to enter our lives and make His presence known.

3. We are too busy for God. We are busy bodies going here and there and don’t give God our time. Jesus regularly went off by himself to commune with the Father. To feel God’s presence, we must slow down and set aside intentional time to connect with Him.

What can you do about it?

I want to leave you with a few final thoughts. Whether you are in tune with His constant presence or not, God is right there…always.

How would your life change if you LIVED your BELIEF that God is HOLY, and EVERYWHERE at ALL TIMES (e.g. You are always in His presence), and that He LOVES you, and that unrepentant sin is what separates you from Him?

My prayer for you is that you praise God for His presence, ask what He wants from you, slow down, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you.

God Bless.

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Don’t Finish Reading the Bible

January 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Christian often struggle to read the Bible. Maybe you don’t have time. Maybe you don’t know where to begin. Maybe you’ve tried before and felt it was too confusing or monotonous. Or, maybe you just couldn’t keep up the pace with some Bible study or reading plan.

Regardless of the reason for not reading the Bible, we have a solution. It’s part attitude and part discipline.

Don’t Finish…Just Start

Let’s approach the Bible with the right attitude. The Bible isn’t something you ever finish reading. For example, I’ve “finished” reading it cover to cover several times. But am I “finished”? Hardly. The Bible is something that can be studied and consumed an entire lifetime.

Our suggestion is not to focus on finishing the Bible. Instead, focus on STARTING…daily
And so, we mustn’t approach reading the Bible as some one-time task to check off a to-do list. To mature in our Christian faith, reading the Bible needs to become a daily spiritual discipline.

So, our suggestion is not to focus on finishing the Bible. Instead, focus on STARTING…daily. If you start reading the Bible every day, you’ll make incredible progress over time. It’s the tortoise vs hare approach to reading the Bible. Go slow and steady, instead of trying to consume the whole thing in a flurry of reading activity.

Pick a Good Time

Pick a good time you can commit to. This is where the discipline takes over. If I wait until after my kids are awake in the morning, you can forget about it. If I wait until I get to the office, other priorities take over. If I wait until the evening, I’m often too tired to read. For me, the best time is before I ever step foot out of bed in the morning. But choose a time that works for you.

Read for Just 2 Minutes

So, what can be done in 2 minutes? Can you read an entire book or chapter? Not likely. Read what you can…in 2 minutes. This year, I started reading through the Psalms. Most books in Psalms can be read in under 2 minutes.

Here is the key

Simple Daily Discipline

1. Open to your bookmark

2. Read for 2 minutes

3. Move your bookmark

Whether you read a digital Bible or whether you kick it “old school” with a paper Bible, follow this simple daily discipline:

  1. Open to your bookmark
  2. Read for 2 minutes
  3. Move your bookmark

Again, focus on starting each day. Commit to reading for just 2 minutes a day. Contact us in about 2 months and let us know how far you’ve gotten through that Bible that previously was so hard to make time for. God Bless.

Can we ask you to do us a favor?

If you enjoyed this article, would you please share it with your facebook friends? Send a message about this page (http://www.changingthefaceofchristianity.com/christian-maturity)  to Christian friends on facebook. Thanks!

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R. Brad White Predicts Return of Jesus Christ – Save the Date

January 12, 2012 By 7 Comments

 With the increasing popularity (and disdain) of “Jesus is coming on x date”, I thought I would join the ranks of those with a Jesus second coming prediction.  I hope you aren’t disppointed.  But before I give the date, let me build up some suspense.

Previous Failed Predictions of Return of Jesus Christ

 Harold Camping, long-time president of Family Radio, has made numerous end-times predictions, such as May 21, 1988, September 6, 1994, and May 21, 2011 (followed by a physical rapture on October 21, 2011). Just in case you missed the news…it didn’t happen. He seems to have recanted his failed predictions, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see another as soon as he figures out the problem with his calculations. Can someone buy a brother a better calculator? 

I just read of another end-times prediction by Ronald Weinland (a self-proclaimed prophet) and leader of a church called the Worldwide Church of God (or just Church of God). Ronald Weinland’s predictions have included April 17, 2008, December 14, 2008, and September 29, 2011. Just in case you didn’t hear the news…none of these predictions has come true. And his latest return of Jesus Christ prediction is May 27, 2012. I suppose we will have to wait and see on that. But I won’t be planning to pack a bag and get my estate in order on May 26. 

R. Brad White Predicts Jesus Return – Drum Roll Please 

OK, so the title of this article stated that I, R. Brad White, would have my own prediction of when Jesus Christ will return. Here it is… 

Matthew 24:3 (NIV) “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 

Now, I don’t presume to be as smart as Jesus, and I don’t claim to be wiser than Jesus’s very own hand-picked disciples. But even they didn’t know when he would return. 

Matthew 24:36 (NIV) “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” 

Now, I don’t presume to be as smart as the angels in heaven, nor the Son, nor the Father. Here is a hint for Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland, and others of their kind: Only God the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus’ return to reign on this earth.
Now, I don’t presume to be as smart as the angels in heaven, nor the Son, nor the Father. Here is a hint for Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland, and others of their kind: Only God the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus’ return to reign on this earth. 

 So, here is my prediction: He will come when He comes. 

Be Ready…But Don’t Try to Predict It 

Matthew 24:37-42 (NIV) “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” 

The Bible says here that when He comes it will be a surprise to everyone. He could just as well come in the middle of me typing this message as He could come 100 years, 500 years, 1500, 20,000+ years from now. Who knows? Harold Camping and Ronald Weinland don’t have a clue…that’s for sure. Are they good students of interpreting the Bible to uncover hidden clues to the return of Jesus?  Did they stumble upon the verses sited above from Matthew 24? Apparently not. 

Why Write This Article? 

Like me, you may be wondering why I would write such an article as this.

 Two reasons: 

  1. For those of you that think you know when Jesus will return…would you kindly keep your mouth shut? And please please please don’t write a book about your predictions. You might sell some books by feeding off interest in this hot topic. But at the same time, you make the rest of us Christians look like idiots. And you reinforce the negative Christian stereotypes we are trying to reverse here at Changing the Face of Christianity.
  2. For those of you that desperately want to know when Jesus will return…   please don’t pay attention to the likes of Harold Camping and Ronald Weinland. Share this message with others that they will also not be deceived. Help us bring rationality in our discussions with other believers as well as non-believers. Help us Change the Face of Christianity by using the wisdom of the Bible to counter the distortions put forth by today’s many false teachers. 

Wondering what my next article might be about? I may take a stab at the end of the world Mayan Calendar prediction of December 21, 2012. Have you marked your calendars yet for that? Make sure and save the date. Expect an article on or around December 22, 2012.

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No One Even Noticed I left!

January 9, 2012 By 1 Comment

One theme I occasionally hear when talking with Ex-Christians and atheists is how when they left the church, no one even noticed. And when I say “left the church”, it initially could be for non-spiritual reasons such as a job change or a cross country move. It can also be for spiritual reasons such as dissatisfaction with or disagreement with their current church.

Do we care enough to reach out to someone who has left? 1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” What better way to love someone who has left than to take notice and reach out to them?
Everyone wants to feel like they are important and are missed. But when people don’t notice, it leaves an empty feeling in our souls. It reinforces spiritual doubts about the legitimacy of our faith. In other words, do we truly care for one another as we are taught to do?  Do we care enough to reach out to someone who has left? 1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” What better way to love someone who has left than to take notice and reach out to them?

Are the leavers to blame?

Now, I have strong feelings about those who leave and aren’t missed by those left behind. I believe those that leave deserve at least part of the blame. I’ve been within a church, and left, and felt like I wasn’t missed. But in that church, I never got involved. I never volunteered. And I didn’t seek to become connected in any sub-surface relationships with others within the church. So, who did I allow to know me at a level that would notice if I suddenly stopped coming? It was my fault, at least in part.

 But, let’s not use that example to excuse our part of the blame. The theme I have heard from many ex-Christians is that they left, and they expected to be noticed…and ended up disappointed. We as a faith or as a congregation failed to notice or do anything about it. This disappointment reinforces their lack of faith in a loving God who takes notice of them.

Are we just lazy or unloving?

Now, let’s shed light on an unspoken truth here. Many people DO notice, but far too few take the time to do or say anything about it. We’re lazy. Or maybe we think someone else has probably reached out and that our doing so is not necessary. It’s someone else’s job like the pastor right? Not!

Put yourself in the shoes of someone who has left, and then someone calls or emails and says “hey, I haven’t seen you around. How are you?” Suddenly, you feel important, noticed, and loved. That’s the impact we can have on one another if we simply go from noticing, to saying or doing something about it. And in a spiritual sense, we reinforce the person’s faith in God that they are loved and He cares about them.  What we should do about it?

How to love the leavers

So, here is my call to action for you. Has someone left your church? Have you taken notice of someone you used to see in the hallways that you no longer see? Reach out to them in some way. Connect with them on Facebook. Call them or email them and simply let them know you noticed their absence. Let them know you care. Be a bridge of God’s love to them. By doing so, you will help change the face of Christianity and positively impact their faith in God at the same time.

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“What can you resolve to do this year to become more like Jesus Christ and help change the face of Christianity in a positive way?”

January 4, 2012 By 1 Comment
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What are you especially thankful for this Thanksgiving?

November 21, 2011 By 1 Comment

We have a lot to be thankful for!  Please let us know what blessings you are counting.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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A Tale of Two Christians

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 I want to briefly share a story of two Christians. Similar to the story of the prodigal son, this story is intended to be a parable for us to learn an important lesson about living our faith.

 There was once two Christians. One was a man of God. Not a priest or anything, just a normal man that sought after God and his ways daily. He had a friend who was also a Christian. However, this second man was far from God.

 The First Man

But he knew that for all the good that he did everyday, were it not for what Jesus Christ did for him, he would be lost forever.
Everyday, the two would go about their work, to earn a living for their families. The first man rose early from bed each day, prayed to God and listened for His direction. He read his Bible each day and was filled with joy because of what God was speaking into his heart.  He prayed before every meal, not to be seen by others, but because he truly felt gratitude for God’s blessing in his life. He was quick to love and serve others and was equally quick to forgive others who mistreated him. He wasn’t perfect by any means. But he knew that for all the good that he did everyday, were it not for what Jesus Christ did for him, he would be lost forever. He went to church every Sunday….as a form of worship. He went not to receive, but to worship and serve. Sometimes the message wasn’t as exciting or engaging as he would prefer, but he didn’t go to church to be filled. He went to worship and praise his Savior.

 The Second Man

The second man was also a good person. He rose early from bed to do his work, but he rarely thought about God and very rarely remembered to pray or thank God for his good fortune. And why should he? He worked very hard, and wasn’t the good career and money he was earning a result of his own hard work? He lived a very comfortable life and because of his self-sufficiency rarely thought about God. But if he ever needed God, he knew that He would be available. He felt proud because he was one of the “good people” and didn’t really need God’s love and grace. He felt sorry for all the other sinners out there, but was happy that Jesus loved them regardless of their sins. He served when he was asked to as long as it fit his schedule. But he couldn’t help but think that he had more important things he could be doing for God. Strangely, he never did the more important things, but chose to grumble and complain about what was was asked to do. Most importantly, he went to church every sunday. He loved the pastor and most of the time he received a good message, with lots of useful tips, which is why he kept going every Sunday.

 The  Outcomes

On the surface, both men would appear to be very similar. Both would appear to be Christian. God loved both of the men, but only one was a Christian in his heart. Jeremiah 17:10 says “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” 

The lesson is that you may be able to “act” Christian, but to be a follower of Jesus Christ, you must BE a Christian with all your heart, mind, and soul.

 The Challenge

The lesson is that you may be able to “act” Christian, but to be a follower of Jesus Christ, you must BE a Christian with all your heart, mind, and soul.  God knows the difference even if you can fool everyone else.

Being a Christian means more than saying you are so, and going to church every Sunday. You must ever strive to live as God calls you to live. You must be in relationship with God, and humbly submit to His will everyday. Being a Christian means you are a follower of Christ. Are you following or trying to lead your own life?

So, think about the two men in this story. Which of the two men are you more like? If you find yourself relating more to the second man, I urge you to recommit your life to Christ, and humbly follow him every day of your life.

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