We just tried to bear a Joel Osteen sermon.
I hate being critical because Paul said in Galations to rejoice anywhere the gospel is preached, even if its out of poor motive. In Rom. 13, he basically says to each his own (within limits).
But at what point does a guy stop preaching Jesus and start preaching Dr. Phil.
He kept talking about how good we are and we just need to find the power within, overcoming the negative feelings of childhood. He never mentioned Jesus, Scripture, sin, not even God.
I don't doubt that many people in his church are Christians, and I don't presume to say Joel isn't a Christian.... but what he teaches is dangerous. Just because God has used the church for good doesn't mean God approves.
After all, God used Judas too.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Potty Training for the Strong Willed
So Brad's decided to let this be our family blog and not just his own thoughts and musings. That translates into potty humor, thoughtless ramblings and plenty of stories coming from the mouths of babes.
This one is of our 2 year old who has started potty training. This has been a goal of mine for the last six months. So the sand was falling form the hourglass, the heavens were singing and we were ready to conquer the potty.
The first day Malachi was pushing and pushing and finally pulled an Adam. He told me "God will not let me potty, God will not let me poop." I told him he needed to take credit for his lack of action and stop blaming the perennial scapegoat...God. So fast forward to day 3. More pushing, more grunting...no action. This time he uses a similarly logical excuse by telling me "It's not working, I need more batteries for my penis."
We finally got him to poop and now the way we get him to go is to personify the poop. I enjoy the daddy poop the best because malachi always tells me that "He's in the workshop and will be down in 5 minutes."
While Brad's at school studying eschatology and hebrew phonetics, I'm staying busy in the area of Waste Management.
This one is of our 2 year old who has started potty training. This has been a goal of mine for the last six months. So the sand was falling form the hourglass, the heavens were singing and we were ready to conquer the potty.
The first day Malachi was pushing and pushing and finally pulled an Adam. He told me "God will not let me potty, God will not let me poop." I told him he needed to take credit for his lack of action and stop blaming the perennial scapegoat...God. So fast forward to day 3. More pushing, more grunting...no action. This time he uses a similarly logical excuse by telling me "It's not working, I need more batteries for my penis."
We finally got him to poop and now the way we get him to go is to personify the poop. I enjoy the daddy poop the best because malachi always tells me that "He's in the workshop and will be down in 5 minutes."
While Brad's at school studying eschatology and hebrew phonetics, I'm staying busy in the area of Waste Management.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Being Missional in any Culture
Whether one is in Africa, Asia, or in America, one must consider what it means to enter a foreign culture. This includes America because ultimately we are citizens of heaven (Phil. 2) and, socially, there are many subgroups in our culture we don't understand.
In a conversation recently I had with one of the world's leading missiologists, Todd Johnson, director of the Center for World Christianity, he made the point that so many people in practice ridicule the learning of another culture, whether youth culture, postmodern culture, pop culture, Arab culture, .... In short he remarked that people basically say this: "I hate your language, I hate your culture, but, by the way, do you want Jesus?" Sounds absurd because it is absurd.
Already missionaries are coming to America from around the world. Imagine if they came to us and said something like this, not wanting to understand English, or our popular culture, or our customs,....If we're honest, we'd want no part with them. We wouldn't want to be friends. How do you think others feel when WE do this?
In a conversation recently I had with one of the world's leading missiologists, Todd Johnson, director of the Center for World Christianity, he made the point that so many people in practice ridicule the learning of another culture, whether youth culture, postmodern culture, pop culture, Arab culture, .... In short he remarked that people basically say this: "I hate your language, I hate your culture, but, by the way, do you want Jesus?" Sounds absurd because it is absurd.
Already missionaries are coming to America from around the world. Imagine if they came to us and said something like this, not wanting to understand English, or our popular culture, or our customs,....If we're honest, we'd want no part with them. We wouldn't want to be friends. How do you think others feel when WE do this?
The Grace of God: Poverty? (2 Cor 8:1-2)
When you first read 2 Corinthians 8, it's easy to miss Paul's point. It appears to focus on the grace shown by the Macedonian church to other needy saints. In fact, it's the other way around. In 8:1, Paul explains that he writes "about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia".
Verse 2 explains more: "...for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy AND their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part." It was God's grace not only that they would have the joy to be generous but the poverty as well. To miss this would (1) ignore the conjunction "and" first of all, but (2) to miss the entire context and argument of the passage. Paul says to the Corinthians that their difficult circumstances was a grace from God in order that their dedication to God would be manifest(:5) in genuine love (:8), exemplifying Christ's gospel (:9) so that, ultimately, God may be glorified and the needs of the saints met (9:12-15). It's the poverty of the circumstances that Paul's stresses in order to make clear how much more God is glorified in their love and faith which would otherwise be encumbered by an abundance of wealth. (This of course does not make wealth evil or useless, but this certainly challenges many Christian's self-justifying ambitions for wealth.)
Paul's citation of Ex. 16:18 in 8:15 (recalling the manna story) explains in part why the Corinthians and Macedonians could dare to be so bold in love--because they trusted God to fulfill His promises to provide as they needed, not necessarily all they wanted. In short, their giving was an act of faith in God's future grace. God satisfies!
How quickly most of us are to spurn such "grace", yet this is the whole thesis of Philippians, not to mention other passages.
The point of Paul's words is not only that God had granted them this heart to give, but that the circumstances enabled them to magnify God in the service of others. Moreover, dire circumstances teach us the difference between our professed desires (8:10-11a) and actually living out our faith (8:11b-12). We can boast of love, knowledge, and faith in comfortable times, yet affliction tests genuineness.
Finally, this passage reminds me of something John Piper has somewhere written--that we must be cured of our allusive drive to pay back our debt to God. Our good works pay off not debt. In fact, genuinely godly works put us in more debt due to the grace required from God that they be done. In other words, we should seek more grace from God and therefore go more in debt to Him. Nothing glorifies him more than infinitely increasing our debt to Him through desperate dependence!
Verse 2 explains more: "...for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy AND their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part." It was God's grace not only that they would have the joy to be generous but the poverty as well. To miss this would (1) ignore the conjunction "and" first of all, but (2) to miss the entire context and argument of the passage. Paul says to the Corinthians that their difficult circumstances was a grace from God in order that their dedication to God would be manifest(:5) in genuine love (:8), exemplifying Christ's gospel (:9) so that, ultimately, God may be glorified and the needs of the saints met (9:12-15). It's the poverty of the circumstances that Paul's stresses in order to make clear how much more God is glorified in their love and faith which would otherwise be encumbered by an abundance of wealth. (This of course does not make wealth evil or useless, but this certainly challenges many Christian's self-justifying ambitions for wealth.)
Paul's citation of Ex. 16:18 in 8:15 (recalling the manna story) explains in part why the Corinthians and Macedonians could dare to be so bold in love--because they trusted God to fulfill His promises to provide as they needed, not necessarily all they wanted. In short, their giving was an act of faith in God's future grace. God satisfies!
How quickly most of us are to spurn such "grace", yet this is the whole thesis of Philippians, not to mention other passages.
The point of Paul's words is not only that God had granted them this heart to give, but that the circumstances enabled them to magnify God in the service of others. Moreover, dire circumstances teach us the difference between our professed desires (8:10-11a) and actually living out our faith (8:11b-12). We can boast of love, knowledge, and faith in comfortable times, yet affliction tests genuineness.
Finally, this passage reminds me of something John Piper has somewhere written--that we must be cured of our allusive drive to pay back our debt to God. Our good works pay off not debt. In fact, genuinely godly works put us in more debt due to the grace required from God that they be done. In other words, we should seek more grace from God and therefore go more in debt to Him. Nothing glorifies him more than infinitely increasing our debt to Him through desperate dependence!
Lord OR Savior? (2 Thess 1:8)
Can Jesus be our Savior but not our Lord?
2 Thess 1:8b is easily overlooked, that judgment comes upon "those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ".
The unfortunate yet common dichotomy between Jesus as Savior and Lord is grossly real at this point. It is thought that he can be our Savior, yet at a later point possible become our Lord; thus, some theologies unwittingly undercut obedience such that people actually believe that some isolated prayer secures their salvation despite not obeying Jesus thereafter, i.e. perseverance. Conventionally, all who make this division assume foremost that Jesus is (their) Savior--that role thought to benefit them most. However, this presumption not only excuses sin, such as apathy, and exposes our arrogant deference for convenience, but it is without logical or theological ground. Jesus can never be one's Savior without "first" being one's Lord.
First of all, only the humility of recognizing his authority over our lives will enable us to repent. Second, only Jesus as Lord has the efficacious power to save. How can he be Savior or be recognized as such if he is not sovereign over sin, death, and judgment? It is only possible to be Savior when in fact he is Lord!
2 Thess 1:8b is easily overlooked, that judgment comes upon "those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ".
The unfortunate yet common dichotomy between Jesus as Savior and Lord is grossly real at this point. It is thought that he can be our Savior, yet at a later point possible become our Lord; thus, some theologies unwittingly undercut obedience such that people actually believe that some isolated prayer secures their salvation despite not obeying Jesus thereafter, i.e. perseverance. Conventionally, all who make this division assume foremost that Jesus is (their) Savior--that role thought to benefit them most. However, this presumption not only excuses sin, such as apathy, and exposes our arrogant deference for convenience, but it is without logical or theological ground. Jesus can never be one's Savior without "first" being one's Lord.
First of all, only the humility of recognizing his authority over our lives will enable us to repent. Second, only Jesus as Lord has the efficacious power to save. How can he be Savior or be recognized as such if he is not sovereign over sin, death, and judgment? It is only possible to be Savior when in fact he is Lord!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
What is Hell? (2 Thess. 1:9)
The ESV translates 2 Thess 1:9, "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might" The NIV and NRS likewise translate the first "away from" as "shut out" or "separated from", while maintaining the same translation for the second half of the verse.
These translations are unfortunate renderings of the Greek text, which consequently affects our view of hell and of God. 2 Thess. 1:3-12 is written to encourage the saints who are being persecuted and afflicted that God will certainly judge those who have afflicted them. The passage is meant to encourage Christians with a reminder of God's wrath, yet note how these translations dull the intended teaching and effect.
(1) V. 6 & 8 explicitly state an active punishment from the Lord, versus a commonly held view that condemnation is a 'passive' consequence, even wish, of the ungodly who are separated from God. [This is thought to preserve God's goodness in the eyes of those who can't swallow a just God who takes vengeance on those who reject him and persecute His people.] (2)V. 9b finishes with, "from the glory of his might". Certainly, it would be an odd thing to say that say that Paul is talking about being absent from His might as equivalent
These translations are unfortunate renderings of the Greek text, which consequently affects our view of hell and of God. 2 Thess. 1:3-12 is written to encourage the saints who are being persecuted and afflicted that God will certainly judge those who have afflicted them. The passage is meant to encourage Christians with a reminder of God's wrath, yet note how these translations dull the intended teaching and effect.
(1) V. 6 & 8 explicitly state an active punishment from the Lord, versus a commonly held view that condemnation is a 'passive' consequence, even wish, of the ungodly who are separated from God. [This is thought to preserve God's goodness in the eyes of those who can't swallow a just God who takes vengeance on those who reject him and persecute His people.] (2)V. 9b finishes with, "from the glory of his might". Certainly, it would be an odd thing to say that say that Paul is talking about being absent from His might as equivalent
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Appreciating Leviticus, Sacrifices, and Christ
None of the Old Testament sacrifices actually take away what we would call sin--deliberate disobedience. Notice that the so-called sins are typically more ceremonial in nature, offenses of impurity or otherwise unintentional. You will not find a sacrifice listed for deliberate sins. This is easily observed by scanning Lev. 4:2, 13, 22, 27; 5:15, 18; Numbers 15:22-24, 27-31. These passages explain that it is for UNINTENTIONAL sins that sin offerings, guilt offerings, and burnt offerings are made. In fact, it emphasizes, if anything, that the deliberate sinner is cut off or put to death.
This should not surprise us as Heb. 10:11 says what they already knew, goats and other animals don't ultimately appease for sin. Christ alone does that. Accordingly, the OT sacrifices acts as symbolic gestures of faith on the givers and foreshadows of God's promise to truly satisfy the demands of his justice through some forthcoming means of sacrifice. In other words, to paraphrase a professor of mine, if the "fake" sins demand this much bloodshed and effort, imagine what will be required for the real sins!
This should not surprise us as Heb. 10:11 says what they already knew, goats and other animals don't ultimately appease for sin. Christ alone does that. Accordingly, the OT sacrifices acts as symbolic gestures of faith on the givers and foreshadows of God's promise to truly satisfy the demands of his justice through some forthcoming means of sacrifice. In other words, to paraphrase a professor of mine, if the "fake" sins demand this much bloodshed and effort, imagine what will be required for the real sins!
Monday, April 17, 2006
A Cure for Task-Driven People
Sometimes obscure passages and passing references can be the greatest antidotes.
For example, 2 Cor. 2:12-13 reads, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia." This verse completely perplexed me when I saw it this morning..."even though..."
No greater task exists than to preach the gospel, as Paul even says of his own life purpose in Acts 20:24. Is he contradicting himself? Is he saying, "loving people is more important than the gospel"? Absolutely not!!! There is no greater display of love that to seek others' joy in Christ for all eternity and today.
Rather here we find that Paul is not only interested in completing a task--the greatest of all tasks--but he desires the unity and fellowship of others. Most likely, from the context, Titus bore the response of the Corinthian church to Paul's first letter. Paul was jealous for their holiness, love, and fellowship in Christ. He love them. It's in the same spirit that he wrote 1 Thess. 2:8, "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
We are very proficient at justifying our task-orientedness on the importance of our duty; of course, our tasks ultimately should be acts of love; yet, if they do not also carry the burden of our affections for others, we are left to ask, what is the value. NOT that this passage is anti-tasks--far from it. It is anti-tasks separated from genuine affections. (Of course, affections alone are useless too, being dead sentimentality). It smacks of 1 Cor. 13:1-4 which basically says that if I do anything--even die as a martyr--yet have not genuine love, I am nothing. So also, if I complete all my tasks and duties, but do not have the affection of Christ in my heart for another, I am nothing.
I read a vivid display of this unfortunate attitude recently, when I read the words from a church's sign, which said, "God loves you and wants to know you. There, now you can't say later that you didn't hear it." Yuck.
For example, 2 Cor. 2:12-13 reads, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia." This verse completely perplexed me when I saw it this morning..."even though..."
No greater task exists than to preach the gospel, as Paul even says of his own life purpose in Acts 20:24. Is he contradicting himself? Is he saying, "loving people is more important than the gospel"? Absolutely not!!! There is no greater display of love that to seek others' joy in Christ for all eternity and today.
Rather here we find that Paul is not only interested in completing a task--the greatest of all tasks--but he desires the unity and fellowship of others. Most likely, from the context, Titus bore the response of the Corinthian church to Paul's first letter. Paul was jealous for their holiness, love, and fellowship in Christ. He love them. It's in the same spirit that he wrote 1 Thess. 2:8, "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
We are very proficient at justifying our task-orientedness on the importance of our duty; of course, our tasks ultimately should be acts of love; yet, if they do not also carry the burden of our affections for others, we are left to ask, what is the value. NOT that this passage is anti-tasks--far from it. It is anti-tasks separated from genuine affections. (Of course, affections alone are useless too, being dead sentimentality). It smacks of 1 Cor. 13:1-4 which basically says that if I do anything--even die as a martyr--yet have not genuine love, I am nothing. So also, if I complete all my tasks and duties, but do not have the affection of Christ in my heart for another, I am nothing.
I read a vivid display of this unfortunate attitude recently, when I read the words from a church's sign, which said, "God loves you and wants to know you. There, now you can't say later that you didn't hear it." Yuck.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
How do we know we love someone?
I've been meditating on 1 John 5:1-5 for a couple of months. John poses a very practical question that every person asks (hopefully regularly): How do I(practically) love someone--my child, spouse, friend, enemy....? Too often we consider the "tasks"--provide, protect,.... Yet, love is not a matter of duty. Anyone can accomplish some tasks yet love very poorly.
I've come to conclude something quite simple, obvious in all the Bible once one sees it and thinks on it for a bit. Though initially abstract, my wrestling with the idea has proven over the years to be more practical than ANY advice on loving I've heard or read or experienced. In one sentence, it is this: Only when we savor Christ will we serve each other. This dictum, if you will, speaks to the fuel or motivation for love; after all, that's the tough part when we're tired or trying to sustain a love for someone who's not so lovable.
Consider 2 texts. First is 1 Peter 4:11, "Whoever serves, [let him serve] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." But what is this strength, which will sustain our love while most glorifying God? Nehemiah answers us directly, "...the joy of the Lord is your strength" (8:10).
As we fight to understand and feel the weight of these verses together, we find out how it is not only possible to love others as we are commanded but also how to obey an equally explicit command, "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Ps. 100:2).
I've come to conclude something quite simple, obvious in all the Bible once one sees it and thinks on it for a bit. Though initially abstract, my wrestling with the idea has proven over the years to be more practical than ANY advice on loving I've heard or read or experienced. In one sentence, it is this: Only when we savor Christ will we serve each other. This dictum, if you will, speaks to the fuel or motivation for love; after all, that's the tough part when we're tired or trying to sustain a love for someone who's not so lovable.
Consider 2 texts. First is 1 Peter 4:11, "Whoever serves, [let him serve] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." But what is this strength, which will sustain our love while most glorifying God? Nehemiah answers us directly, "...the joy of the Lord is your strength" (8:10).
As we fight to understand and feel the weight of these verses together, we find out how it is not only possible to love others as we are commanded but also how to obey an equally explicit command, "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Ps. 100:2).
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Jack Bauer's Info
A friend of mine offered us some helpful info on Jack Bauer on his blog.
"Jack Bauer's calendar goes from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Jack Bauer.
If everyone on 24 followed Jack's instructions, it would be called 12.
If you wake up in the morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.
Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.
There have been no terrorist attacks in the United States since Jack Bauer appeared on television.
When someone asks Jack Bauer how his day is going, Jack replies, "Previously on 24..."
Jack Bauer doesn't speak any foreign languages, but he can make any foreigner speak English in a matter of minutes.
When Google doesn't know the answer, it asks Jack Bauer for help.
When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists. Jack Bauer hates lemonade.
When Jack Bauer was a child, he made his mother finish his vegetables.
When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Jack Bauer.
Jack Bauer once called the Vice President "Mr. President", but realized his mistake and shot the President. Jack Bauer is never wrong.
During the commercials, Jack Bauer calls the CSI detectives and solves their crimes.
Jack Bauer can get McDonald's breakfast after 10:30. "
Christian Hedonism quote
John Piper coined this term to refer to the fact that God created us to glutton in pleasure, yet the greatest well of pleasure is Himself. In When I Don't Desire God, Piper quotes one of the best illustrations I've seen to entice us to such a life:
"It’s as old as the Puritans, like Thomas Watson, who wrote in 1692 that God counts himself more glorified when we find more happiness in his salvation:
'Would it not be an encouragement to a subject, to hear his prince say
to him, You will honor and please me very much, if you will go to
yonder mine of gold, and dig as much gold for yourself as you can
carry away? So, for God to say, Go to the ordinances, get as much
grace as you can, dig out as much salvation as you can; and the more
happiness you have, the more I shall count myself glorified.' " (p. 16-17)
See When I Don't Desire GOD
"It’s as old as the Puritans, like Thomas Watson, who wrote in 1692 that God counts himself more glorified when we find more happiness in his salvation:
'Would it not be an encouragement to a subject, to hear his prince say
to him, You will honor and please me very much, if you will go to
yonder mine of gold, and dig as much gold for yourself as you can
carry away? So, for God to say, Go to the ordinances, get as much
grace as you can, dig out as much salvation as you can; and the more
happiness you have, the more I shall count myself glorified.' " (p. 16-17)
See When I Don't Desire GOD
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Reflecting on the Prayer, "May I Be Accursed"
We may pray something like Paul's prayer in Romans, that we may be accursed for the salvation of others' souls, yet still be found quite lacking in the seriousness of our prayers, for we may not even be willing to suffer the humiliation and fatigue that comes in simply serving them daily for their good. Prayers of self-sacrifice do not make it reality.
We have to be aware of such Peter-like boasts; we claim we will die for Christ, yet deny him hours later, with ease, when pressed for a simple profession or act of kindness; how quickly we deny him His due glory and love when we drinking pride and despise the humiliation of the cross expressed in service, gentleness, and patience to others.
While some may actually die for a person in a single moment, though (practically) hating them daily, this too is worthless sentimentality or dutiful morality, for 1 Cor. 13:1-4 exposes the fallacious sin of sacrificing without love.
We have to be aware of such Peter-like boasts; we claim we will die for Christ, yet deny him hours later, with ease, when pressed for a simple profession or act of kindness; how quickly we deny him His due glory and love when we drinking pride and despise the humiliation of the cross expressed in service, gentleness, and patience to others.
While some may actually die for a person in a single moment, though (practically) hating them daily, this too is worthless sentimentality or dutiful morality, for 1 Cor. 13:1-4 exposes the fallacious sin of sacrificing without love.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Discerning God's Will (Part 2)
One of the greatest lines of any book I've ever read sums up the whole of Christian ministry, "Missions exists because worship doesn't." (John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad). The entire Christian life is a call to enjoyment, savoring, satisfaction, and awe of the Lord Jesus. An immature faith stops at the word "obedience" never realizing the joy of it all, that obedience is not a burden for the one who has faith in Christ (1 John 5:3). Rather, salvation includes being given a new set of fundamental desires.
We are called to have a joy in Christ that transcends circumstance. Consequently, we would expect this to radically affect our understanding of God's calling. As we discern his will, one question that is so obvious that it's shocking how much I've overlooked it is this: in what would I most find myself enjoying God. This is to be distinguished from God's circumstantial blessings; I'm referring to enjoying God HIMSELF, which means that I don't call something His will because I'd really enjoy the benefit of a few added comforts. In that capacity I easily enjoy his gifts more than Him. For example, I have found an incredible awareness and availability of God in some circumstances more than others. There are certainly personality dynamics involved, but not only.
Where God calls you, He aims to be savored above every competing pleasure. If a situation is too tempting for me, because it fosters jealousy, vanity, envy, gluttony, etc., then I will invariably find my joy diminished. In some circumstances, we find His giftings of us in rhythm with His work around us. A range of factors affect this. On a future blog, I've address how we must examine how weakness to see God's will and its effect on our ability to enjoy in one situation or another.
We are called to have a joy in Christ that transcends circumstance. Consequently, we would expect this to radically affect our understanding of God's calling. As we discern his will, one question that is so obvious that it's shocking how much I've overlooked it is this: in what would I most find myself enjoying God. This is to be distinguished from God's circumstantial blessings; I'm referring to enjoying God HIMSELF, which means that I don't call something His will because I'd really enjoy the benefit of a few added comforts. In that capacity I easily enjoy his gifts more than Him. For example, I have found an incredible awareness and availability of God in some circumstances more than others. There are certainly personality dynamics involved, but not only.
Where God calls you, He aims to be savored above every competing pleasure. If a situation is too tempting for me, because it fosters jealousy, vanity, envy, gluttony, etc., then I will invariably find my joy diminished. In some circumstances, we find His giftings of us in rhythm with His work around us. A range of factors affect this. On a future blog, I've address how we must examine how weakness to see God's will and its effect on our ability to enjoy in one situation or another.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Salvation: Forgiveness or Joy
A growing conviction I've had in the past few years is this: We have short-changed the gospel by sayingthat salvation is merely abot forgiveness and belief; I would argue that Scripture paints a much bigegr picture. Salvation is about finding the the apex of our joy in fellowship with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9). It's a very practical question: Where do we pursue the height of our joy?
The traditional way of presetning salvation (as forgiveness) makes it a one time event where someone easily stops maturing in the faith. However, when salvation IS unyielding joy in Christ, then is is a perpetual pursuit, motivated by Himself, not fear or ambition or anything else. Such a joy is ultimately satisfying.
this joy is the very reason He cam to die (see John 17:13, 24). Forgiveness simply makes such a joy possible! Joy is not an optional part of the Christian life; it is a command :"Serve the Lord with gladness" (Ps. 100:1) "Delight yourself in the Lord" (Ps. 37:4) "Rejoice in the Lord" (Phil 3:1)
The traditional way of presetning salvation (as forgiveness) makes it a one time event where someone easily stops maturing in the faith. However, when salvation IS unyielding joy in Christ, then is is a perpetual pursuit, motivated by Himself, not fear or ambition or anything else. Such a joy is ultimately satisfying.
this joy is the very reason He cam to die (see John 17:13, 24). Forgiveness simply makes such a joy possible! Joy is not an optional part of the Christian life; it is a command :"Serve the Lord with gladness" (Ps. 100:1) "Delight yourself in the Lord" (Ps. 37:4) "Rejoice in the Lord" (Phil 3:1)
Seeing and Savoring Christ
The end for which we were created is simply this: to know, savor, and show Christ. I've been slowing meditating upon the thoughts of John Piper in his book Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ.
There is NO OTHER goal to the Christian life than to be fully satisfied and joyful in Christ, not the comfort of circumstances or the appeal of applause nor the security of familiarity. I hope you'll consider getting it. his website is: desiringgod.org ( a free copy in online there)
There is NO OTHER goal to the Christian life than to be fully satisfied and joyful in Christ, not the comfort of circumstances or the appeal of applause nor the security of familiarity. I hope you'll consider getting it. his website is: desiringgod.org ( a free copy in online there)
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Selah and the Car Seat
The other day Selah was trying to strap herself into her car seat. She always likes to do it herself. She wasn’t strong enough to get the buckle locked in and immediately, she went into a panic and was utterly stressed out and in a panic. She cried out, “I can’t get it”, now in near tears, though she had only tried to do it for a total of about 3 seconds. I just sat there waiting quietly. Finally, I just said, “Why don’t you ask me for help? I’d be glad to help you if you can’t get it.” In all her frenzy, she never imagined asking the one who could help her do it quite easily. I was inches from her just waiting to be asked. She had no need for anxiety.
Isn’t it exactly the same with the Lord? For someone who hasa lot to learn about not being so anxious or stressed out, it was a bit convicting to say the least.
Isn’t it exactly the same with the Lord? For someone who hasa lot to learn about not being so anxious or stressed out, it was a bit convicting to say the least.
Monday, February 27, 2006
A Man of No Reputation
All of us, to some degree desire to be known. Some of us want to be "great" in reputation or importance. Others just simply want to be noticed. I was struck by a verse today from Philippians 2, "Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (v. 5-8). The NKJ beautifully translates v. 7, "he made himself of no reputation..."
We are faced with a very practical question, "Do we seek to be people of no reputation, who are nothing, emptied.....?" Any attempt to gain glory or fame inevitably begins to compete with God, for His glory. I have to ask myself, "Where in my life do I seek to be a man of no reputation?"
Rich Mullins' last CD, sung by his band after his death, has a song, "Man of No Reputation". I recommend it on the Jesus CD. Rich could never finish the song, his band said, because he would always start crying. Are we likewise awed by his humiliation? Are we drawn to it or repulsed by it?
We are faced with a very practical question, "Do we seek to be people of no reputation, who are nothing, emptied.....?" Any attempt to gain glory or fame inevitably begins to compete with God, for His glory. I have to ask myself, "Where in my life do I seek to be a man of no reputation?"
Rich Mullins' last CD, sung by his band after his death, has a song, "Man of No Reputation". I recommend it on the Jesus CD. Rich could never finish the song, his band said, because he would always start crying. Are we likewise awed by his humiliation? Are we drawn to it or repulsed by it?
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Some thoughts on Election
By "election", I'm referring to the doctrine that God sovereignly and gracious chooses those who will be saved. That is, it's not people who ultimately choose God, but God who elects His people.
I recently talked with a dear brother about this wonderful doctrine, though it is reviled by so many in our day. Some call it "Calvinism". Whatever the term and connotations fortunately or unfortunately attached to it, we find it littered in Scripture (Romans 9; 1 Corinthians 1; Ephesians 1, etc.) Anyway, I find it one of the most refreshing and joy-inspiring doctrines in Scripture, even if it is hard to sometimes grasp intellectually or emotionally at times.
I wanted to simply offer a few thoughts that sometimes prevent good thinking and openness of this doctrine of grace (after all, that's what it is).
We typically make a very unfortunate dichotomy between God's love and his justice. We only look at one and ignore completely the other, even despising it sometimes. For example often yell about the love of God and whisper about the justice of God. We are in love with ourselves and are pretty clueless about the depth of our sin. As a result, we just expect that God would save everyone and are suprised to hear that God would condemn people. When you read the Bible, however, we see a very different perspective. They are so very aware of their sin and the wrath that ought to be justly poured out on them. They are surprised by the grace of God, not the wrath of God.
This makes all the difference, especially when understanding election; after all, since we're all sinners, we would expect a just God to condemn all. It should be surprising and a shocking act of grace if God saved ONE person; yet we "demand" he save all.
while there are infinitely more things that could be said on this topic and the questions we have about it, I'll stop at this point, urging us to consider the depths of our sin and the WHOLE nature of God. We need to read all the Bible in balance, such as verses like Romans 3:25-26, which explains that Christ came not simply (or even primarily) to save humans, but to display His justice! After all, how could he save people in love without some just demonstration of His wrath against sin. God cam to vindicate Himself, that He is a just God. He sent Christ for His OWN glory.
I recently talked with a dear brother about this wonderful doctrine, though it is reviled by so many in our day. Some call it "Calvinism". Whatever the term and connotations fortunately or unfortunately attached to it, we find it littered in Scripture (Romans 9; 1 Corinthians 1; Ephesians 1, etc.) Anyway, I find it one of the most refreshing and joy-inspiring doctrines in Scripture, even if it is hard to sometimes grasp intellectually or emotionally at times.
I wanted to simply offer a few thoughts that sometimes prevent good thinking and openness of this doctrine of grace (after all, that's what it is).
We typically make a very unfortunate dichotomy between God's love and his justice. We only look at one and ignore completely the other, even despising it sometimes. For example often yell about the love of God and whisper about the justice of God. We are in love with ourselves and are pretty clueless about the depth of our sin. As a result, we just expect that God would save everyone and are suprised to hear that God would condemn people. When you read the Bible, however, we see a very different perspective. They are so very aware of their sin and the wrath that ought to be justly poured out on them. They are surprised by the grace of God, not the wrath of God.
This makes all the difference, especially when understanding election; after all, since we're all sinners, we would expect a just God to condemn all. It should be surprising and a shocking act of grace if God saved ONE person; yet we "demand" he save all.
while there are infinitely more things that could be said on this topic and the questions we have about it, I'll stop at this point, urging us to consider the depths of our sin and the WHOLE nature of God. We need to read all the Bible in balance, such as verses like Romans 3:25-26, which explains that Christ came not simply (or even primarily) to save humans, but to display His justice! After all, how could he save people in love without some just demonstration of His wrath against sin. God cam to vindicate Himself, that He is a just God. He sent Christ for His OWN glory.
Is Being a Christian a Burden?
I've been studying 1 John 5:2-3 a lot recently in preparation for some teaching I'll be doing soon. It says, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."
If we're honest, a lot of us want to be like Thomas Jefferson, who cut and paste what parts of the Bible he thought were inspired and not; after all, most people I know have no idea what John was talking about here in v.3. Being a Christian feels like a huge burden sometimes. Why?
Well, this is not a unique thought in Scripture, Psalm 112:1 says, "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!" Do you see the theme?
As we read Psalm 112 and the following verses after I John 5:2-3, we find that genuine knowledge of God, expressed as faith in Christ, naturally produces joy because we see how great our God is, both in his power and grace; as a result, we are freed from the anxieties to preserve our own interests. After all, it is God who works all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We are freed to live lives of mercy, justice, and concern for the poor (see Psalm 112). A person has a new ultimate loyalty and love amounting to an inexpressible joy that makes obedience itself joyful. It ceasing to be a duty--in the burdensome sense-- and becomes a delight. Is it a burden to please the ones we love? Of course not.
How much more is this true with God, the apex of joy and beauty. If we find ourselves burdened and anxious, perhaps our view of God, our faith in Christ, is too small? Who wouldn't be anxious when feeling like we're al alone in this dangerous world? Therefore, our duty and delight each day is to open wide the lenses of my mind and heart to grasp more of what I can of the vastly infinite love and power of Christ. That is the goal of each time we study, pray, converse, and serve--to seek out, believe, apply, and demonstrate the supremacy of God in Christ. By contrast, we to often seek out moral principles and neat intellectual tidbits, which work either to pacify our consciences for time or at least distract us with mental musings.
Our souls want nothing more than this.
If we're honest, a lot of us want to be like Thomas Jefferson, who cut and paste what parts of the Bible he thought were inspired and not; after all, most people I know have no idea what John was talking about here in v.3. Being a Christian feels like a huge burden sometimes. Why?
Well, this is not a unique thought in Scripture, Psalm 112:1 says, "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!" Do you see the theme?
As we read Psalm 112 and the following verses after I John 5:2-3, we find that genuine knowledge of God, expressed as faith in Christ, naturally produces joy because we see how great our God is, both in his power and grace; as a result, we are freed from the anxieties to preserve our own interests. After all, it is God who works all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We are freed to live lives of mercy, justice, and concern for the poor (see Psalm 112). A person has a new ultimate loyalty and love amounting to an inexpressible joy that makes obedience itself joyful. It ceasing to be a duty--in the burdensome sense-- and becomes a delight. Is it a burden to please the ones we love? Of course not.
How much more is this true with God, the apex of joy and beauty. If we find ourselves burdened and anxious, perhaps our view of God, our faith in Christ, is too small? Who wouldn't be anxious when feeling like we're al alone in this dangerous world? Therefore, our duty and delight each day is to open wide the lenses of my mind and heart to grasp more of what I can of the vastly infinite love and power of Christ. That is the goal of each time we study, pray, converse, and serve--to seek out, believe, apply, and demonstrate the supremacy of God in Christ. By contrast, we to often seek out moral principles and neat intellectual tidbits, which work either to pacify our consciences for time or at least distract us with mental musings.
Our souls want nothing more than this.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Spurgeon on drawing people to Christ
I read a good blog tonight that qouted the following from Charles Spurgoen:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” John 12:32
Come, ye workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw a congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour; for this is the greatest “draw” that was ever yet manifested among men. What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to Him now but His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you, and will hold you even to the end. Why, then, doubt His power to draw others? Go with the name of Jesus to those who have hitherto been stubborn, and see if it does not draw them.
No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich and poor, ignorant and learned, depraved or amiable — all men shall feel the attractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other. Music will not draw to Jesus, neither will eloquence, logic, ceremonial, or noise. Jesus Himself must draw men to Himself; and Jesus is quite equal to the work in every case. Be not tempted by the quackeries of the day; but as workers for the Lord work in His own way, and draw with the Lord’s own cords. Draw to Christ, and draw by Christ, for then Christ will draw by you.
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” John 12:32
Come, ye workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw a congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour; for this is the greatest “draw” that was ever yet manifested among men. What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to Him now but His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you, and will hold you even to the end. Why, then, doubt His power to draw others? Go with the name of Jesus to those who have hitherto been stubborn, and see if it does not draw them.
No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich and poor, ignorant and learned, depraved or amiable — all men shall feel the attractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other. Music will not draw to Jesus, neither will eloquence, logic, ceremonial, or noise. Jesus Himself must draw men to Himself; and Jesus is quite equal to the work in every case. Be not tempted by the quackeries of the day; but as workers for the Lord work in His own way, and draw with the Lord’s own cords. Draw to Christ, and draw by Christ, for then Christ will draw by you.
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