What is the message of the Great Commission? So many believers and churches use it as a symbolic standard, a rallying cry for foreign missions. It commands and offers such a fuller view of the tasks of the Church than just foreign missions though.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Let us compare that passage with the account recorded in the Gospel of Mark. "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
There is still discussion as to whether some powers endowed by the Holy Spirit were given only to the Apostles during that era (perhaps citing Matthew 10:8). Even if we were to accept that belief and assume that the signs accompanying those who have believed apply only to those of the Apostolic era, we still have two distinct instances in Scripture where the resurrected Christ commands His followers to go and preach the gospel throughout the world and baptize those who believe. In both cases, preaching, believing and baptism are just the beginning. There is life after salvation, and Christ explained what should happen through the Church. Teach the believers to observe all that Christ commanded. When was the last time your church, or even just your pastor, took a stand to teach what Christ commanded, in total obedience? That is a difficult task, especially one to be done in love; but we cannot possibly give up on His commands or simplify them until they are no longer the challenging, radical words of the Word of God. We must stand for the faith, even if it means standing for Christ in a dangerous place.
We seldom see the discipling, the teaching when we look at these passages. We see a command to go to all nations. We see the Great Commission as the Great Go. We romanticize what it might be like as a missionary in some foreign land. We take "mission trips" to other countries, often to help construct a church building or a similar project. It's about going somewhere else to us. I am guilty of this attitude myself. Instead of seeing the broken, needy world immediately around me, I look at other parts of the world and long to work there. I long for the different customs, the different culture, the different opportunities.
And I continue to neglect the gift that is in me for these people with whom I interact every day. How is it that I feel trapped in my normal way of life, unable to extend my heart to them? How can I write so openly here and clam up at work every single day? We are nearsighted in our approach to the Great Commission. We get to the phrase "go and make disciples of all nations," and we're heading somewhere exotic. There are people who need Christ all around us, wherever we are. And if they do not have faith in Christ when they die, they will stand before God condemned of their sin and headed to hell for all eternity.
Lord, give us a renewed heart for the lost. May we see them all around us. And may Your love and mercy overflow in us to them, that they would come to faith in Jesus for their salvation. Prepare their hearts and prepare our own, oh Lord. And may Your Spirit always be our guide.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Following the Lies
I started this a while ago and have been wrestling with it since then. As always, welcome to a work in progress.
I don't know who we're deceiving - certainly not God and at times not even ourselves. We continue to act as though we are in control of everything in our lives as it suits us. Sure, we experience things that are out of our control, the effects of which we want to blame on someone else, but control is what drives us. Whether we believe that we are in control of our lives shapes who we are.
In a study done a few years ago, nursing home patients were studied for how perceived control affected their lives. Those who believed they had more control (like choosing something rather than being given it) were typically happier and even had a lower mortality rate during the study. The extent to which we believe that we can control our lives is far-reaching. Happiness, longevity, hope, satisfaction and stress are just a few aspects of our lives that rely at least in part to perceived control. This perception of control also affects how we respond to stimuli, depending on the degree to which we believe that our responses will affect the outcome.
An episode of Joel Osteen's preaching was on recently. Strangely it seemed like the same one that I noticed a week or so prior when I was flipping through the stations. Maybe the message doesn't really change. But I've digressed. Joel was speaking about how he realized one day that worrying wasn't going to help him in any way. Just like that he decided never to worry again; supposedly he hasn't looked back either. To Joel, his response to stimuli has immense consequences because he believes that what he says or thinks or does is powerful; he believes that he is ultimately in control of his circumstances.
He also went on to say that we must not speak negativity into the future. Do you really have that kind of control over your circumstances to just decide one day to completely alter your thought process and never go back to the old way? If it's just a matter that not all of us have the faith for that kind of change, in whom have we placed our faith - in the risen Christ or in ourselves? It's an area that we all need to address earnestly because rationalizing or otherwise lying to ourselves harms our relationship with God, the body of Christ, and with everyone else. Pride can often be a sin in our lives, but we seldom see the pride, only its effects. Seek out the sin in your own life and repent. Christ grants forgiveness through His death and resurrection to those who confess Him as Lord and Savior and belief in Him. But you must confess your sin and repent of it. Turn from it, and leave it.
Since the first temptation in the Garden of Eden, humans have bought into the lies of autonomy and self-sufficiency. Being like God and knowing good and evil sounds like a good start to being how God intended us to be anyhow, right? We are told that knowledge is power. But there's still the matter of volition. I can choose how I act, what I say and what I think (at least to some extent). I should be able to control whether I go to heaven or hell (if I choose to believe in their existence). Would a loving, merciful god actually send someone to hell? That argument sounds reasonable enough, and from it we might assume that control over our destiny is our own. If I want to go to heaven when I die, being "good" should be sufficient to get in because once again it all comes back to me. Therefore even if going to heaven is based on my works, I have control only to the extent that I choose how to act. Again, it's all about me, and if this god knows me, presumably he'll know when it was me consciously acting and when something controlled me - subconscious or genetics or whatever. But I'm sure there's room to slide, because it's about me and my sense of control.
We begin to slide further down this slope when we start making claims about what counts and what parts of our lives are somehow exempt. If I claim that I am not responsible for my feelings because somehow they are beyond my conscious self, though my thoughts are my own, then my feelings cannot be considered wrong. But then what is the difference between how I feel and my reaction to something if it is not premeditated? That would make it seem that I cannot sin in those areas since they are outside my conscious control. Can we feel the earth sliding out from under us yet?
Total depravity is a concept that so few of us are willing to accept, and to me that seems to be an ever-stronger argument in its favor, at least lately. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, how can anyone even see their need for salvation? What urges us to examine the gospels and to take them seriously? What makes someone's testimony poignant to us? I was so blind to my sin that I could not perceive my own wretchedness in light of a holy God. I am grateful that He considered me worthy of receiving such a gift as salvation at such a high cost to Him. But there is a way out from all of that sin - found in the work of Christ. It's not about you or me. It's about God - the Father, whose decision set in motion everything in order to free us; the Son, whose sinless life and physical death and resurrection provided a means for our salvation; and the Spirit, whose work in our lives and in the world provides for our acceptance of the free gift of salvation and the ongoing process of sanctification. Glory to God, for He is in control. Glory to God forever.
I don't know who we're deceiving - certainly not God and at times not even ourselves. We continue to act as though we are in control of everything in our lives as it suits us. Sure, we experience things that are out of our control, the effects of which we want to blame on someone else, but control is what drives us. Whether we believe that we are in control of our lives shapes who we are.
In a study done a few years ago, nursing home patients were studied for how perceived control affected their lives. Those who believed they had more control (like choosing something rather than being given it) were typically happier and even had a lower mortality rate during the study. The extent to which we believe that we can control our lives is far-reaching. Happiness, longevity, hope, satisfaction and stress are just a few aspects of our lives that rely at least in part to perceived control. This perception of control also affects how we respond to stimuli, depending on the degree to which we believe that our responses will affect the outcome.
An episode of Joel Osteen's preaching was on recently. Strangely it seemed like the same one that I noticed a week or so prior when I was flipping through the stations. Maybe the message doesn't really change. But I've digressed. Joel was speaking about how he realized one day that worrying wasn't going to help him in any way. Just like that he decided never to worry again; supposedly he hasn't looked back either. To Joel, his response to stimuli has immense consequences because he believes that what he says or thinks or does is powerful; he believes that he is ultimately in control of his circumstances.
He also went on to say that we must not speak negativity into the future. Do you really have that kind of control over your circumstances to just decide one day to completely alter your thought process and never go back to the old way? If it's just a matter that not all of us have the faith for that kind of change, in whom have we placed our faith - in the risen Christ or in ourselves? It's an area that we all need to address earnestly because rationalizing or otherwise lying to ourselves harms our relationship with God, the body of Christ, and with everyone else. Pride can often be a sin in our lives, but we seldom see the pride, only its effects. Seek out the sin in your own life and repent. Christ grants forgiveness through His death and resurrection to those who confess Him as Lord and Savior and belief in Him. But you must confess your sin and repent of it. Turn from it, and leave it.
Since the first temptation in the Garden of Eden, humans have bought into the lies of autonomy and self-sufficiency. Being like God and knowing good and evil sounds like a good start to being how God intended us to be anyhow, right? We are told that knowledge is power. But there's still the matter of volition. I can choose how I act, what I say and what I think (at least to some extent). I should be able to control whether I go to heaven or hell (if I choose to believe in their existence). Would a loving, merciful god actually send someone to hell? That argument sounds reasonable enough, and from it we might assume that control over our destiny is our own. If I want to go to heaven when I die, being "good" should be sufficient to get in because once again it all comes back to me. Therefore even if going to heaven is based on my works, I have control only to the extent that I choose how to act. Again, it's all about me, and if this god knows me, presumably he'll know when it was me consciously acting and when something controlled me - subconscious or genetics or whatever. But I'm sure there's room to slide, because it's about me and my sense of control.
We begin to slide further down this slope when we start making claims about what counts and what parts of our lives are somehow exempt. If I claim that I am not responsible for my feelings because somehow they are beyond my conscious self, though my thoughts are my own, then my feelings cannot be considered wrong. But then what is the difference between how I feel and my reaction to something if it is not premeditated? That would make it seem that I cannot sin in those areas since they are outside my conscious control. Can we feel the earth sliding out from under us yet?
Total depravity is a concept that so few of us are willing to accept, and to me that seems to be an ever-stronger argument in its favor, at least lately. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, how can anyone even see their need for salvation? What urges us to examine the gospels and to take them seriously? What makes someone's testimony poignant to us? I was so blind to my sin that I could not perceive my own wretchedness in light of a holy God. I am grateful that He considered me worthy of receiving such a gift as salvation at such a high cost to Him. But there is a way out from all of that sin - found in the work of Christ. It's not about you or me. It's about God - the Father, whose decision set in motion everything in order to free us; the Son, whose sinless life and physical death and resurrection provided a means for our salvation; and the Spirit, whose work in our lives and in the world provides for our acceptance of the free gift of salvation and the ongoing process of sanctification. Glory to God, for He is in control. Glory to God forever.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
What Does It Mean to Preach the Gospel?
The Great Commission is straightforward, isn't it? The resurrected Christ, appearing to His eleven remaining disciples, rebukes them in their unbelief and hardness of heart (Mark 16:14) and then tells them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:15-18). The command is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. In Matthew 28:18-20 the risen Christ also is quoted, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Once again, the command is clear to go throughout the entire world and to teach and preach and baptize in accordance with Christ's word.
This morning at church we finished the sermon series on the "I am" statements that Jesus Christ made as recorded in the gospel of John. The pastor was bringing his sermon to a close on the subject of Christ's claim "I am the resurrection and the life," and leading into the time of communion. The pastor ended by saying, "He is the one who says He is. . .(insert each the "I am" claims of Christ)." Yes, that is Christ. But it's not just that Jesus made those claims and performed the miracles.
The gospels record some very distinct conversations concerning Christ's identity and the importance of how we individually perceive Him. In Matthew 16 Jesus asks His disciples about who people say He is: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' He asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then He warned his disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ."
From this passage we learn that Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man, the Son of God and the Messiah, one who has authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus clearly separates what others believe about Him from what the disciples believe about Him. Therefore we must remember that each of us is ultimately held accountable for what we believe and that there will be a day of judgment. We are told in Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." It's not what your friends or your priest says or does or believes but what you believe and say and do. Simon Peter believed and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Let's juxtapose Peter's confession of Christ with the mocking words of Christ's accusers. The chief priests, the scribes and the elders derided Him, saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue now, if He delights in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God''' (Matthew 27:42-43). They contrasted Christ's claim with their own unbelief by mocking Him with His own words.
By not forthrightly claiming the tenets that Christ confessed, we distance ourselves from Him. By saying, "He is the one who says He is," rather than just saying, "He is," what are we really doing? Sure, we are relying on the authority of Christ to make the point for us. But we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to make the great confession of our faith. What has Christ been doing in your life? Do you really believe that the Lord has given you this testimony for your own edification, or have you been entrusted with it to share with the world what Jesus Christ has done for you? Can the true gospel of Christ be preached without delving into His ongoing work? How can we separate ourselves from the gospel, from the Christ who has the power to change lives, if we seek to proclaim that same gospel? For we are each ongoing works in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom we continue the process of sanctification.
Look at the example of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. They heard of the power of the name of Jesus Christ, about whom Paul had been preaching, and they attempted to use the power. They, however, did not know Christ. Are we really preaching the gospel if we preach only what we have heard from other sources? We must know and experience the life changing power of the risen Christ if we are to proclaim it and not appear as liars and hypocrites. We are to set an example in word and deed as believers, that not only our words but also our lives would be seen as evidence of the work of our Lord. The world does not need more storytellers who know nothing of the experiences that they tell, but more people who share the knowledge of the love and grace and mercy of Christ with the world around them.
This morning at church we finished the sermon series on the "I am" statements that Jesus Christ made as recorded in the gospel of John. The pastor was bringing his sermon to a close on the subject of Christ's claim "I am the resurrection and the life," and leading into the time of communion. The pastor ended by saying, "He is the one who says He is. . .(insert each the "I am" claims of Christ)." Yes, that is Christ. But it's not just that Jesus made those claims and performed the miracles.
The gospels record some very distinct conversations concerning Christ's identity and the importance of how we individually perceive Him. In Matthew 16 Jesus asks His disciples about who people say He is: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' He asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then He warned his disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ."
From this passage we learn that Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man, the Son of God and the Messiah, one who has authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus clearly separates what others believe about Him from what the disciples believe about Him. Therefore we must remember that each of us is ultimately held accountable for what we believe and that there will be a day of judgment. We are told in Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." It's not what your friends or your priest says or does or believes but what you believe and say and do. Simon Peter believed and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Let's juxtapose Peter's confession of Christ with the mocking words of Christ's accusers. The chief priests, the scribes and the elders derided Him, saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue now, if He delights in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God''' (Matthew 27:42-43). They contrasted Christ's claim with their own unbelief by mocking Him with His own words.
By not forthrightly claiming the tenets that Christ confessed, we distance ourselves from Him. By saying, "He is the one who says He is," rather than just saying, "He is," what are we really doing? Sure, we are relying on the authority of Christ to make the point for us. But we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to make the great confession of our faith. What has Christ been doing in your life? Do you really believe that the Lord has given you this testimony for your own edification, or have you been entrusted with it to share with the world what Jesus Christ has done for you? Can the true gospel of Christ be preached without delving into His ongoing work? How can we separate ourselves from the gospel, from the Christ who has the power to change lives, if we seek to proclaim that same gospel? For we are each ongoing works in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom we continue the process of sanctification.
Look at the example of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. They heard of the power of the name of Jesus Christ, about whom Paul had been preaching, and they attempted to use the power. They, however, did not know Christ. Are we really preaching the gospel if we preach only what we have heard from other sources? We must know and experience the life changing power of the risen Christ if we are to proclaim it and not appear as liars and hypocrites. We are to set an example in word and deed as believers, that not only our words but also our lives would be seen as evidence of the work of our Lord. The world does not need more storytellers who know nothing of the experiences that they tell, but more people who share the knowledge of the love and grace and mercy of Christ with the world around them.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Unwilling Leaders
If you hear the term "unwilling leader," what do you think or imagine? I think first of those people who are thrust into a position of leadership without seeking it. I remember my days in veterinary science class in high school. Nearly everyone in the class looked to me for leadership during the lab dissections. I was considered smart, and I was able to make some educated guesses as to what our teacher was hoping we accomplished. I was shy and didn't want that kind of responsibility, but somehow people determined that I deserved it. I also think of the anointed Saul, hiding from his coronation before Israel. God chose Saul, but the man was still unsure of himself as a leader. He was called and needed to take that step of faith to claim the calling and live by faith in it.
There's a second way to think of unwilling leaders, and this also applies to Saul, though later in his life. Not everyone in a position of leadership is leading properly. The position doesn't make the man. King Saul became so involved in being king and taking advantage of the benefits of the duty that he lost sight of the type of leader that God desired. Unwilling leaders can be people in leadership roles who are unwilling to do just that - lead.
This problem is pervasive in so many parts of society because people enjoy the benefits of a position of power and authority but often do not want to be held responsible for the failures and losses that also come. We see ineffective managers all the time who yell at their employees for not fulfilling the managers' obligations to the company. They pass the blame to their workers even if it's not directly the workers' fault. We see public figures who are role models, being arrested for drugs or suspected of steroid abuse, who spend frivolously because they can, who have numerous marriages, who expect their every whim to be fulfilled because of the money and power that they wield. We see church pastors who don't actually lead their congregations in righteousness any longer. They have the position but are unwilling to lead. They are unwilling to risk what they have and stand firm. They waver with popular opinion. They bend to the wishes of the wealthy, lest they be cut off. They look for security from their own contrivances rather than from the Lord.
I was in Romania with an evangelical church group a few years ago, and this story has stuck with me. The denomination was relatively new in Romania, officially working as an outreach/aid organization. This evangelical church was attended mostly by young people. The denomination's missionary in the country considered it her duty to grow the church. The problem was that few men were taking leadership roles within the church. There was also a core group of members in the primary church of this denomination in Romania. Then they went to college and moved on with their lives afterward. That church has been dying. That missionary wanted the young men to stay in that town to be leaders of the church. She saw in them what she wanted to see and tried to make it work. It was her plan, not the Lord's plan.
There are churches throughout the world facing the problems of leadership. Not everyone is made to be a leader in the same way, but certainly there are times when we must act as leaders. We must each stand firm in the faith, to proclaim the good news throughout the world, to be obedient to our Lord and Savior. If others falter, that is still our calling. If that makes us leaders, then so be it. I saw four pastors at a medium size church this Christmas Eve; all of them were part of the worship service. But I saw none of them truly lead. I heard no preaching. No expounding the truth of the gospels about the need for Christ. Nothing of His salvation or resurrection. If nonbelievers happened to be at that service, that was a lost opportunity to share the Good News, the whole reason for celebrating Christmas - looking forward to the coming of Christ our King, whose life, death and resurrection have given us life and joy and peace. Much of the service I yearned to stand up and preach - not that I had any idea what I might say - but to share Christ, not some skits and a shortened version of our traditional Advent hymns that neatly fit into sixty minutes. Leaders, lead your people!
By being careful not to offend those who neither believe nor understand, those who do have not been fed and those who do not still cannot comprehend their lack. Our pearls have been cast before swine. Should we expect anything else than for them to turn next and maul us? Leaders, be bold and encouraged. Take heart, for the Messiah, God incarnate, is our Lord. In Him is our hope, our faith, and life everlasting.
There's a second way to think of unwilling leaders, and this also applies to Saul, though later in his life. Not everyone in a position of leadership is leading properly. The position doesn't make the man. King Saul became so involved in being king and taking advantage of the benefits of the duty that he lost sight of the type of leader that God desired. Unwilling leaders can be people in leadership roles who are unwilling to do just that - lead.
This problem is pervasive in so many parts of society because people enjoy the benefits of a position of power and authority but often do not want to be held responsible for the failures and losses that also come. We see ineffective managers all the time who yell at their employees for not fulfilling the managers' obligations to the company. They pass the blame to their workers even if it's not directly the workers' fault. We see public figures who are role models, being arrested for drugs or suspected of steroid abuse, who spend frivolously because they can, who have numerous marriages, who expect their every whim to be fulfilled because of the money and power that they wield. We see church pastors who don't actually lead their congregations in righteousness any longer. They have the position but are unwilling to lead. They are unwilling to risk what they have and stand firm. They waver with popular opinion. They bend to the wishes of the wealthy, lest they be cut off. They look for security from their own contrivances rather than from the Lord.
I was in Romania with an evangelical church group a few years ago, and this story has stuck with me. The denomination was relatively new in Romania, officially working as an outreach/aid organization. This evangelical church was attended mostly by young people. The denomination's missionary in the country considered it her duty to grow the church. The problem was that few men were taking leadership roles within the church. There was also a core group of members in the primary church of this denomination in Romania. Then they went to college and moved on with their lives afterward. That church has been dying. That missionary wanted the young men to stay in that town to be leaders of the church. She saw in them what she wanted to see and tried to make it work. It was her plan, not the Lord's plan.
There are churches throughout the world facing the problems of leadership. Not everyone is made to be a leader in the same way, but certainly there are times when we must act as leaders. We must each stand firm in the faith, to proclaim the good news throughout the world, to be obedient to our Lord and Savior. If others falter, that is still our calling. If that makes us leaders, then so be it. I saw four pastors at a medium size church this Christmas Eve; all of them were part of the worship service. But I saw none of them truly lead. I heard no preaching. No expounding the truth of the gospels about the need for Christ. Nothing of His salvation or resurrection. If nonbelievers happened to be at that service, that was a lost opportunity to share the Good News, the whole reason for celebrating Christmas - looking forward to the coming of Christ our King, whose life, death and resurrection have given us life and joy and peace. Much of the service I yearned to stand up and preach - not that I had any idea what I might say - but to share Christ, not some skits and a shortened version of our traditional Advent hymns that neatly fit into sixty minutes. Leaders, lead your people!
By being careful not to offend those who neither believe nor understand, those who do have not been fed and those who do not still cannot comprehend their lack. Our pearls have been cast before swine. Should we expect anything else than for them to turn next and maul us? Leaders, be bold and encouraged. Take heart, for the Messiah, God incarnate, is our Lord. In Him is our hope, our faith, and life everlasting.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
A Human for All Humanity?
I started reading another book recently, called Exiles. One of the points the author makes is that so much of pop Christian culture puts Christ on a pedestal. Instead of earnestly waiting on the Lord and seeing the humanity in the human (let us not forget that Christ is fully God AND fully human), we see an object of worship. The God of the universe, of Adam and Eve, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Peter, Paul and Mary - this same God is human. Would you know that from most of the Christian pop music? We sing that "God is bigger than the air I breathe," He's "my Glorious," "God of wonders beyond our galaxy." Such an immensely awesome and powerful God does not sound like a real being, much less like someone to whom I could intimately relate. But He is.
The writers of the New Testament wrote about a righteous, just, loving God who was incarnate - not like some hero of mythology - but who was fully human and fully God. He experienced joy and friendship, struggle and disappointment. He knew rejection; his best friends fled and denied knowing him when he was unjustly arrested. He performed miracles, and there were many people still alive when parts of the New Testament were written who experienced those very events that were recorded. Jesus Christ is a real person; he walked the earth like the rest of us. But that's not all He is.
Let's take a different perspective for a moment. Think of all the evil that humankind has committed. Numerous genocides, rape, war, beatings, murder, abortions, adultery and slavery are not only part of our collective history, they are all ongoing. What about stealing, lying, lusting, greed and pride? We build weapons for maximum destruction, maximum casualties. We release chemicals and germs to harm people to get our point across. We torture to get information to save lives. Every day millions of lives throughout the world are hurt by other humans. What would it take for a righteous and holy God to love such a broken humanity? What would it take to bring humanity back into a right relationship with its Creator? One man, even a perfect man, seems like a small offering for all that evil.
Jesus Christ did live a perfect life, was crucified, did die, was resurrected and lives forevermore. In Him is our hope for life, for salvation. He wasn't just a man, but He was fully human. Jesus knows temptation. He knows loneliness. He knows what it's like to feel lost and abandoned. He talked to other people, ate with them, laughed and cried with them. God isn't some idol, whether literal or figurative. He doesn't just want to be worshiped and obeyed. He wants a relationship with every person. He desires our faith, our belief, our resources and our energy. He wants to share with us as well. He wants the relationship. He wants access to your heart, to my heart. It's too easy to write off Jesus as being far beyond our comprehension. It's time to relate to the risen Christ, to learn from Him. Fully God, fully man - Jesus Christ came for all humanity.
The writers of the New Testament wrote about a righteous, just, loving God who was incarnate - not like some hero of mythology - but who was fully human and fully God. He experienced joy and friendship, struggle and disappointment. He knew rejection; his best friends fled and denied knowing him when he was unjustly arrested. He performed miracles, and there were many people still alive when parts of the New Testament were written who experienced those very events that were recorded. Jesus Christ is a real person; he walked the earth like the rest of us. But that's not all He is.
Let's take a different perspective for a moment. Think of all the evil that humankind has committed. Numerous genocides, rape, war, beatings, murder, abortions, adultery and slavery are not only part of our collective history, they are all ongoing. What about stealing, lying, lusting, greed and pride? We build weapons for maximum destruction, maximum casualties. We release chemicals and germs to harm people to get our point across. We torture to get information to save lives. Every day millions of lives throughout the world are hurt by other humans. What would it take for a righteous and holy God to love such a broken humanity? What would it take to bring humanity back into a right relationship with its Creator? One man, even a perfect man, seems like a small offering for all that evil.
Jesus Christ did live a perfect life, was crucified, did die, was resurrected and lives forevermore. In Him is our hope for life, for salvation. He wasn't just a man, but He was fully human. Jesus knows temptation. He knows loneliness. He knows what it's like to feel lost and abandoned. He talked to other people, ate with them, laughed and cried with them. God isn't some idol, whether literal or figurative. He doesn't just want to be worshiped and obeyed. He wants a relationship with every person. He desires our faith, our belief, our resources and our energy. He wants to share with us as well. He wants the relationship. He wants access to your heart, to my heart. It's too easy to write off Jesus as being far beyond our comprehension. It's time to relate to the risen Christ, to learn from Him. Fully God, fully man - Jesus Christ came for all humanity.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
An Epic Battle
Sometimes I am still surprised by the extent to which people become prey to heretical doctrines. Is it the information explosion that has left us with so much more to sift through - both orthodox and heretical - that we can hardly keep up? Is there simply a need for more discernment in the church? Is it the lack of righteous men and women to stand for Christ and His commands? Is it a matter of pride or greed? Is it the draw of our own sinfulness to pervert the truth given to us, that we would act as gods, thinking ourselves Sovereigns over the kingdoms of our lives?
Heresies take many forms, but ultimately I believe that it comes down to the same old fight - are we individually for Christ or against Him? Rarely are the lines drawn in such stark contrast to the circumstances. After all an effective lie isn't the one that looks like a lie; it's the one that's plausible, that sounds similar to the truth but is not the truth.
2 Peter 2:1-10 states, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
"4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority."
This same scenario has been played throughout history and continues today. There are many people who call themselves Christians today but who don't believe that the Bible is inerrant or that absolute truth is real or that Jesus is God or that faith in Christ is the only way to heaven or that hell really exists. And often we don't even realize that our brethren in Christ are believing such heresies until they are in a position to profess their beliefs to others. If the rest of us just keep our mouths sealed as these false teachings are happening, our silence is condoning these heresies.
James 5:19-20 gives us this encouragement and exhortation to one of the tasks laid upon us: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." I pray that we take the stand for the sake of Christ and out of love for our brethren. There is a better way to live. Choose true life. May your eyes and ears be opened to see and hear the truth, and may your tongue be bound to proclaim it and nothing else.
Heresies take many forms, but ultimately I believe that it comes down to the same old fight - are we individually for Christ or against Him? Rarely are the lines drawn in such stark contrast to the circumstances. After all an effective lie isn't the one that looks like a lie; it's the one that's plausible, that sounds similar to the truth but is not the truth.
2 Peter 2:1-10 states, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
"4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority."
This same scenario has been played throughout history and continues today. There are many people who call themselves Christians today but who don't believe that the Bible is inerrant or that absolute truth is real or that Jesus is God or that faith in Christ is the only way to heaven or that hell really exists. And often we don't even realize that our brethren in Christ are believing such heresies until they are in a position to profess their beliefs to others. If the rest of us just keep our mouths sealed as these false teachings are happening, our silence is condoning these heresies.
James 5:19-20 gives us this encouragement and exhortation to one of the tasks laid upon us: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." I pray that we take the stand for the sake of Christ and out of love for our brethren. There is a better way to live. Choose true life. May your eyes and ears be opened to see and hear the truth, and may your tongue be bound to proclaim it and nothing else.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Finding (or Creating) Meaning
I was reminded today of the hopelessness that we face when we try to understand life apart from God. As I searched the Scriptures for something to share with my family this morning, I turned to 2 Peter 1:20-21. For ease, the NIV puts it as so: "20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." By itself, you might say "So what?" Lately, however, I've been having a curiosity for prophetic Scripture. Do you see where the point is going to be yet?
A couple of times recently I opened to Ezekiel chapter 24. I assumed that the passage must somehow relate to me on a more personal level than as a prophecy spoken through Ezekiel to the remnant of Israel that was about to be destroyed as the Babylonians laid seige to Jerusalem. In my self-centeredness I assumed that the Spirit led me to this passage to explain a parallel in my life. So I started trying to draw connections and conclusions. Aha, with my problem-solving abilities given by the Lord, I figured it out -- I, like the prophet Ezekiel, was going to lose something precious to me. Like Ezekiel, it would be as a sign to the rebellious. Like Ezekiel, I was forbade to mourn. And it would be used to show that He alone is the Lord. How marvelous are the ways the Lord chooses to work!
I would like to think that I wasn't actually as prideful in my thoughts as I just portrayed. But that's basically the way that I interpreted the events in my life recently combined with that Scripture. Thankfully, then God gave me a little wakeup call with 2 Peter 1. Interpretation isn't by the will of man. I was looking for an interpretation, for a way to make sense of things. I found something that sounded good in my own mind. I was blind to see that it was the product of my own thinking and reasoning, however. And that happens far too often. We look for meaning; we look to understand the world and events around us. We assume that once we find a plausible answer, especially if it fits well with our belief system, that we found truth. Too often we assume that anything supernatural, if not overtly evil, must be divine. We only look for truth as far as it directly concerns us and as far as it can provide us with an answer that we are willing to accept.
What is the Lord telling us that we are choosing not to accept? Do we not see this as denying Christ, who, with the Father, is sovereign over all creation? What interpretation, what meaning, what answers are we assuming to be truth? What in our beliefs, in our lives, is vanity? What needs to be torn away and burned in the fire? To what are we clinging instead of Christ? It's time to allow every part of our lives to be threshed by the Lord. We, too, have been a part of the harvest. Now it's time to be purified, for the chaff to be removed from the grain.
A couple of times recently I opened to Ezekiel chapter 24. I assumed that the passage must somehow relate to me on a more personal level than as a prophecy spoken through Ezekiel to the remnant of Israel that was about to be destroyed as the Babylonians laid seige to Jerusalem. In my self-centeredness I assumed that the Spirit led me to this passage to explain a parallel in my life. So I started trying to draw connections and conclusions. Aha, with my problem-solving abilities given by the Lord, I figured it out -- I, like the prophet Ezekiel, was going to lose something precious to me. Like Ezekiel, it would be as a sign to the rebellious. Like Ezekiel, I was forbade to mourn. And it would be used to show that He alone is the Lord. How marvelous are the ways the Lord chooses to work!
I would like to think that I wasn't actually as prideful in my thoughts as I just portrayed. But that's basically the way that I interpreted the events in my life recently combined with that Scripture. Thankfully, then God gave me a little wakeup call with 2 Peter 1. Interpretation isn't by the will of man. I was looking for an interpretation, for a way to make sense of things. I found something that sounded good in my own mind. I was blind to see that it was the product of my own thinking and reasoning, however. And that happens far too often. We look for meaning; we look to understand the world and events around us. We assume that once we find a plausible answer, especially if it fits well with our belief system, that we found truth. Too often we assume that anything supernatural, if not overtly evil, must be divine. We only look for truth as far as it directly concerns us and as far as it can provide us with an answer that we are willing to accept.
What is the Lord telling us that we are choosing not to accept? Do we not see this as denying Christ, who, with the Father, is sovereign over all creation? What interpretation, what meaning, what answers are we assuming to be truth? What in our beliefs, in our lives, is vanity? What needs to be torn away and burned in the fire? To what are we clinging instead of Christ? It's time to allow every part of our lives to be threshed by the Lord. We, too, have been a part of the harvest. Now it's time to be purified, for the chaff to be removed from the grain.
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