I've seen a trend in Christianity over the last decade. I'm sure that it's been around much longer, but that's about when I noticed it. God has become the God of Love. God loves you and wants to bless you. God's crazy about you. Love God, love others. I love Jesus. Love wins. It goes on and on. Yes, God loves us. Yes, God loves us in such a way that He sent Jesus to come and die for us, that we could have forgiveness of sins. Yes, the Law can be summed up as "Love God, love others."
Where does faith fit into the equation? Does love get us into heaven? The answer is that we need faith in Christ. "For by grace you have been saved through faith" (Eph 2:8). We are also justified by faith, not love. I think that often we act as though the two are equivalent, but they are not. Faith is the key ingredient in salvation for which we are responsible (Rom 3:25). There is the "righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." (Rom 3:22). Why doesn't faith get preached as much as love? I would guess in part that love is a much more popular topic, at least in the US. Love panders to our sense of self-importance. God loves me, He wants me to love Him. We can also read our distortions of love into the relationship, which is harder to do with faith. We claim that God will understand when we fall in and out of love, the ebb and flow that pervades our lives. Perhaps faith conjures up a more consistent image of what we're called to do and be.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Justified by Works
It has been a great privilege to teach a Sunday school class on James. As we discussed chapter two, we worked through what it means to be justified by works and how it is compatible with justification by faith alone. Then in the afternoon, the youth began to work on things for Youth Sunday, which is centered on "Come and follow," the calling of Simon and Andrew. My view of faith has been challenged today - not that it is too shallow but rather it is too narrow.
I have quoted Hebrews 11:1 as the definition of faith, as have many others. The ESV puts it, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." I treat it like a dictionary definition, plucking it from the page and disregarding its context. That verse alone sounds like a conviction of one's belief, does it not? But even the very next verse is enough to shed further light on our understanding of faith. "For by it the people of old received their commendation." Faith is inherently demonstrative. Just read Hebrews 11:1-11. Faith as an ideal is futile. Faith that does not compel one to act accordingly isn't much different from an idea that someone thinks is good yet refuses to act on. Perhaps you think that driving a vehicle while texting is unsafe, but you do it anyhow. Is that thinking alone going to keep you from having an accident caused by texting? Of course not.
James meant that we are justified by works in the sense that we show our works; our good deeds are a demonstration to all that God has made a difference in our lives. Good deeds are evidence to others of our salvation for their sake. Our good deeds point to our Savior. So what is our testimony? Are we showing the world what it means to follow Jesus, living as He tells us to live? Or am I living the life of a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing the opposite? What do people see when they look at my life? My words and my actions need to say the same thing. I am not saved because of what I do, but what I do is a result of my salvation.
What am I doing with my witness? Jesus made the point that people don't light candles to be put under baskets and hidden. Do I use my deeds and my testimony appropriately, making the most of opportunities? I screw up a lot. But I also repent and strive to be a faithful witness to the mighty work of God a lot.
Simon and Andrew knew Jesus before He called them to follow Him. They heard Him, they listened to Him when it was convenient. Then one day, He picked them out. He called them to follow Him full-time, to learn from Him. Jesus took the initiative to make them His disciples. Their faith was evident at least this early. Sure, it took a while before they understood just who Jesus was and what that meant. But they recognized the importance of following and learning. They demonstrated their faith by leaving their livelihood and following Jesus.
God calls us to follow Him in many different circumstances. Some of us are called to travel to distant parts of the world to share the good news of forgiveness of sins and salvation. Some of us must follow Him through the business world, facing temptations to our integrity. But all of us are called to take up our cross daily and to follow Him. We may be called to leave our families or occupations for the sake of the gospel. We may be called to minister in spite of our prejudices and our weaknesses. Are we ready to truly follow God, whatever the cost? Do we realize just how important and valuable having that faith is? Have you ever stopped to consider how living your faith daily might affect those around you? Part of loving your neighbor as yourself is considering their condition and showing them mercy. Do they need your strength to help them through the day? Do they need your resources? Your love? Your friendship? Do they need to know your faith in order to restore or find their own? Go forth and be justified by your good deeds.
I have quoted Hebrews 11:1 as the definition of faith, as have many others. The ESV puts it, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." I treat it like a dictionary definition, plucking it from the page and disregarding its context. That verse alone sounds like a conviction of one's belief, does it not? But even the very next verse is enough to shed further light on our understanding of faith. "For by it the people of old received their commendation." Faith is inherently demonstrative. Just read Hebrews 11:1-11. Faith as an ideal is futile. Faith that does not compel one to act accordingly isn't much different from an idea that someone thinks is good yet refuses to act on. Perhaps you think that driving a vehicle while texting is unsafe, but you do it anyhow. Is that thinking alone going to keep you from having an accident caused by texting? Of course not.
James meant that we are justified by works in the sense that we show our works; our good deeds are a demonstration to all that God has made a difference in our lives. Good deeds are evidence to others of our salvation for their sake. Our good deeds point to our Savior. So what is our testimony? Are we showing the world what it means to follow Jesus, living as He tells us to live? Or am I living the life of a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing the opposite? What do people see when they look at my life? My words and my actions need to say the same thing. I am not saved because of what I do, but what I do is a result of my salvation.
What am I doing with my witness? Jesus made the point that people don't light candles to be put under baskets and hidden. Do I use my deeds and my testimony appropriately, making the most of opportunities? I screw up a lot. But I also repent and strive to be a faithful witness to the mighty work of God a lot.
Simon and Andrew knew Jesus before He called them to follow Him. They heard Him, they listened to Him when it was convenient. Then one day, He picked them out. He called them to follow Him full-time, to learn from Him. Jesus took the initiative to make them His disciples. Their faith was evident at least this early. Sure, it took a while before they understood just who Jesus was and what that meant. But they recognized the importance of following and learning. They demonstrated their faith by leaving their livelihood and following Jesus.
God calls us to follow Him in many different circumstances. Some of us are called to travel to distant parts of the world to share the good news of forgiveness of sins and salvation. Some of us must follow Him through the business world, facing temptations to our integrity. But all of us are called to take up our cross daily and to follow Him. We may be called to leave our families or occupations for the sake of the gospel. We may be called to minister in spite of our prejudices and our weaknesses. Are we ready to truly follow God, whatever the cost? Do we realize just how important and valuable having that faith is? Have you ever stopped to consider how living your faith daily might affect those around you? Part of loving your neighbor as yourself is considering their condition and showing them mercy. Do they need your strength to help them through the day? Do they need your resources? Your love? Your friendship? Do they need to know your faith in order to restore or find their own? Go forth and be justified by your good deeds.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Getting the Boot
Caution: this post gets a bit ranty.
I've heard numerous times that the ministry expectancy of a campus minister is 1 1/2 to 3 years. That sounds absurdly short to me, but I can think of several examples. I can think of a few examples that buck the trend, and I will discuss those briefly as well.
By my estimation, 1 1/2 - 3 years is approximately the amount of time you often get with a group of college students. With most undergraduates taking 4-5 years to finish their degree, campus ministers typically only see part of that time to develop relationships, instruct them and send them out. I regularly attended 2 churches and 2 campus ministries during college. I had nothing to do with campus ministries my freshman year. Why? It just wasn't high on my to-do list, largely because I know why I needed it. I changed ministries and churches because I realized that it wasn't helping me get anywhere.
One Sunday morning as I sat in the church, I realized that if prayer and the Sunday duty of going to church was all of the Christian life, I didn't know how people could stand it. It was draining to do that. How could people live that way for decades?
A friend invited me to a place where I was challenged and given opportunities to learn about my faith and to take it seriously. And you know what happened? When I was challenged, I grew. I started caring more about faith. I started wanting to learn more. But I digress, sort of.
What happened there? I caught a vision of what it means to live the Christian life. I saw the love and joy in my peers and more importantly in my elders. I saw people who took seriously their faith, their personal, vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw them live as servant-leaders. I saw them care about others coming to faith in the Lord. I saw them care about raising up mature believers and leaders. I got a vision for Christians doing life together, not just over coffee in the church basement Sunday mornings. I began to see what it means to live as a Christ-follower. I caught a sense of direction. This faith stuff has a point in this life, not just the life to come.
Now let's revisit campus ministry. College culture changes quickly. What works for one group of students very well might not be effective four years later. It's part of the challenge and nature of the work. But that doesn't mean the principles behind an effective ministry need to be continuously re-evaluated. We don't have to throw out what we learn from the Bible and reinvent our ministry every time we notice that we're losing effectiveness. But we should look for ways to keep relevant the ways we reach college students.
How do we evangelize unbelievers? We can try crusades, guest speakers, concert-like worship performances, giving away free stuff. We can hand out tracts, hold seeker services, hold evangelistic Bible studies, have religious forums to share the relevance of the Gospel to the lives of all. In all of this, it's important to ask what message our audience is receiving. Can they tell that we care about them? Do we share with them that God makes demands of our lives?
I think that often we oversimplify the Gospel when we share it. This may be why so many churches in the West have a lot of people but few who truly labor for Christ. How many go to church Sunday mornings and do whatever they want the rest of the week because they don't know and don't care beyond that? Do they know that believing in a creator god that they don't emotionally hate isn't enough to get them into heaven? Do they realize that going to heaven isn't the default? As a speaker I recently heard put it, they need to know the bad news before they can understand that the good news is good. Folks might be OK with God while not realizing that He holds their sin against them because they never sought repentance and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
It seems that a lot of campus ministers are good at one thing. They set up a ministry to reach a specific segment of college students. They often aren't that great at raising up leadership within the ministry. Now let me stop and explain that last assertion. Lots of campus ministers have student leaders and student leadership teams. Most of the time they're just the ones who've been with the ministry the longest or most often. They get a say in the small things - what activities, what kinds of outreaches, etc. But that doesn't mean that they're really being developed as leaders. Do they know how to start a Bible study on their own that's useful? Could they start a ministry if they recognized the need? Do they have the vision to reach all peoples with the Gospel? Do we really send them out when they are ready? Do we really mentor them as emerging leaders?
When that group of students leaves, are campus ministers prepared for the inevitable change? Have they considered what can be changed without forsaking the Gospel? Many just aren't that prepared to reinvent an entire ministry, even if it's necessary to reach the target population.
I believe that God calls campus ministers away from campus ministry for many reasons. Some are used to minister in other areas. Some need to grow and heal. And some just need to get the boot. I'm not saying that they're getting the boot simply because they're bad at campus ministry. Rather I would argue that some are evangelists, some teachers, some trainers. Some are great at sending out people to be new church planters and ministry leaders. We need to partner with others in ministry whose strengths are our weaknesses. And we need to cast vision for worldwide evangelization and disciple-making. We need to raise up leaders who will raise up leaders. We need to start churches that will start churches. We need people to go where we cannot. We need to give them the vision to go, to empower them with whatever they need - prayer, wisdom, knowledge, faith, etc. Are we working to give away ministry, or are we working to build up our own? I want to make myself obsolete time after time by raising up leaders and ministers who will go, who will reach out, who will do so better and further and more than I ever could.
I've heard numerous times that the ministry expectancy of a campus minister is 1 1/2 to 3 years. That sounds absurdly short to me, but I can think of several examples. I can think of a few examples that buck the trend, and I will discuss those briefly as well.
By my estimation, 1 1/2 - 3 years is approximately the amount of time you often get with a group of college students. With most undergraduates taking 4-5 years to finish their degree, campus ministers typically only see part of that time to develop relationships, instruct them and send them out. I regularly attended 2 churches and 2 campus ministries during college. I had nothing to do with campus ministries my freshman year. Why? It just wasn't high on my to-do list, largely because I know why I needed it. I changed ministries and churches because I realized that it wasn't helping me get anywhere.
One Sunday morning as I sat in the church, I realized that if prayer and the Sunday duty of going to church was all of the Christian life, I didn't know how people could stand it. It was draining to do that. How could people live that way for decades?
A friend invited me to a place where I was challenged and given opportunities to learn about my faith and to take it seriously. And you know what happened? When I was challenged, I grew. I started caring more about faith. I started wanting to learn more. But I digress, sort of.
What happened there? I caught a vision of what it means to live the Christian life. I saw the love and joy in my peers and more importantly in my elders. I saw people who took seriously their faith, their personal, vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw them live as servant-leaders. I saw them care about others coming to faith in the Lord. I saw them care about raising up mature believers and leaders. I got a vision for Christians doing life together, not just over coffee in the church basement Sunday mornings. I began to see what it means to live as a Christ-follower. I caught a sense of direction. This faith stuff has a point in this life, not just the life to come.
Now let's revisit campus ministry. College culture changes quickly. What works for one group of students very well might not be effective four years later. It's part of the challenge and nature of the work. But that doesn't mean the principles behind an effective ministry need to be continuously re-evaluated. We don't have to throw out what we learn from the Bible and reinvent our ministry every time we notice that we're losing effectiveness. But we should look for ways to keep relevant the ways we reach college students.
How do we evangelize unbelievers? We can try crusades, guest speakers, concert-like worship performances, giving away free stuff. We can hand out tracts, hold seeker services, hold evangelistic Bible studies, have religious forums to share the relevance of the Gospel to the lives of all. In all of this, it's important to ask what message our audience is receiving. Can they tell that we care about them? Do we share with them that God makes demands of our lives?
I think that often we oversimplify the Gospel when we share it. This may be why so many churches in the West have a lot of people but few who truly labor for Christ. How many go to church Sunday mornings and do whatever they want the rest of the week because they don't know and don't care beyond that? Do they know that believing in a creator god that they don't emotionally hate isn't enough to get them into heaven? Do they realize that going to heaven isn't the default? As a speaker I recently heard put it, they need to know the bad news before they can understand that the good news is good. Folks might be OK with God while not realizing that He holds their sin against them because they never sought repentance and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
It seems that a lot of campus ministers are good at one thing. They set up a ministry to reach a specific segment of college students. They often aren't that great at raising up leadership within the ministry. Now let me stop and explain that last assertion. Lots of campus ministers have student leaders and student leadership teams. Most of the time they're just the ones who've been with the ministry the longest or most often. They get a say in the small things - what activities, what kinds of outreaches, etc. But that doesn't mean that they're really being developed as leaders. Do they know how to start a Bible study on their own that's useful? Could they start a ministry if they recognized the need? Do they have the vision to reach all peoples with the Gospel? Do we really send them out when they are ready? Do we really mentor them as emerging leaders?
When that group of students leaves, are campus ministers prepared for the inevitable change? Have they considered what can be changed without forsaking the Gospel? Many just aren't that prepared to reinvent an entire ministry, even if it's necessary to reach the target population.
I believe that God calls campus ministers away from campus ministry for many reasons. Some are used to minister in other areas. Some need to grow and heal. And some just need to get the boot. I'm not saying that they're getting the boot simply because they're bad at campus ministry. Rather I would argue that some are evangelists, some teachers, some trainers. Some are great at sending out people to be new church planters and ministry leaders. We need to partner with others in ministry whose strengths are our weaknesses. And we need to cast vision for worldwide evangelization and disciple-making. We need to raise up leaders who will raise up leaders. We need to start churches that will start churches. We need people to go where we cannot. We need to give them the vision to go, to empower them with whatever they need - prayer, wisdom, knowledge, faith, etc. Are we working to give away ministry, or are we working to build up our own? I want to make myself obsolete time after time by raising up leaders and ministers who will go, who will reach out, who will do so better and further and more than I ever could.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Purpose for the Sabbath
Yesterday I was listening to a recording of Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, and he made a point that really struck me. The sabbath was instituted by God for numerous reasons. It demanded that people take a day of rest each week, something we tend to dismiss in our society. It allows us the opportunity to break away from the cares that weigh us down and to focus more fully on our creator and provider. And, John Calvin's point, the sabbath points us to Christ.
Exodus 20:8 (NASB) "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
What does it mean for us to keep it holy? Nobody is meant to work (Ex. 20:10). Though we work for six days, there is a time for us to have faith for and accept God's provisions (Ex. 16:26, 29). Certainly the sabbath is meant to be a memorial to God's work of creation (Ex. 20:11). It is even more than that, however, being a sign of our need to rest from our works. We cannot earn our way to eternal life. Our strivings count as nothing, for we have rebelled against the sovereign God. Yet in our fallen state we try to work our way to good things, as if the good that we manage to do must simply outweigh the bad for us to be rewarded. It doesn't work that way. It never has. It never will. God is jealous and righteous and faithful. If that were the case, we would exult ourselves, determining that faith or love or obedience to God might be superfluous, becoming full of hubris (Eph. 2:8-9).
The sabbath is a way to share with others our understanding that we must rely on God. I need to humble myself before Him. Regularly I must acknowledge Him for His power, justice, righteousness, faithfulness, love. Observing the sabbath points me (and others as well) to Christ because I cease to do the works that I'd done before, and I rely on Him for all that I need. Every week we live our salvation symbolically as we acknowledge Him who alone has the power and the desire to save us.
I believe that this is an integral part of Jesus' meaning when he said, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working," in response to working on the sabbath (John 5:17). God can work on the sabbath, because He alone saves. We must give our strivings to God. They have always been in His control, but often we try to hold onto them, to accomplish things under our own power. May we repent of this sin and by faith seek obedience to Him in all things.
Exodus 20:8 (NASB) "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
What does it mean for us to keep it holy? Nobody is meant to work (Ex. 20:10). Though we work for six days, there is a time for us to have faith for and accept God's provisions (Ex. 16:26, 29). Certainly the sabbath is meant to be a memorial to God's work of creation (Ex. 20:11). It is even more than that, however, being a sign of our need to rest from our works. We cannot earn our way to eternal life. Our strivings count as nothing, for we have rebelled against the sovereign God. Yet in our fallen state we try to work our way to good things, as if the good that we manage to do must simply outweigh the bad for us to be rewarded. It doesn't work that way. It never has. It never will. God is jealous and righteous and faithful. If that were the case, we would exult ourselves, determining that faith or love or obedience to God might be superfluous, becoming full of hubris (Eph. 2:8-9).
The sabbath is a way to share with others our understanding that we must rely on God. I need to humble myself before Him. Regularly I must acknowledge Him for His power, justice, righteousness, faithfulness, love. Observing the sabbath points me (and others as well) to Christ because I cease to do the works that I'd done before, and I rely on Him for all that I need. Every week we live our salvation symbolically as we acknowledge Him who alone has the power and the desire to save us.
I believe that this is an integral part of Jesus' meaning when he said, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working," in response to working on the sabbath (John 5:17). God can work on the sabbath, because He alone saves. We must give our strivings to God. They have always been in His control, but often we try to hold onto them, to accomplish things under our own power. May we repent of this sin and by faith seek obedience to Him in all things.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
South Carolina
I know it's been a while since I last updated here. In short, the spring semester was very busy, and this blog wasn't near the top of my Important Stuff list.
I've been in South Carolina for three Sundays already. Twice I went to a conservative PCA church. It felt normal. They worship God earnestly. It was by no means unwelcoming - a group of folks my age invited me for lunch after the service, and a couple of them even were willing to spread the word that I was looking for work. Yet it just felt.... average. Maybe it's just that I'm not really Presbyterian. I'm seeking a place with challenging love and teaching, where the church has a vision for reaching out and fulfilling the Great Commission locally and to the farthest reaches of the earth.
Today I visited a nondenominational community church near Irmo. The building appeared to be rather new. Walking inside, I was greeted casually. Large, easy-to-read signage pointed to the auditorium, kid sign-in/drop-off, etc. The auditorium was filled with rows of padded chairs. It felt slightly utilitarian but welcoming, like they were deconstructing church for the sake of visitors. I don't mean that to sound as harsh as perhaps it does, but this was a recurring theme.
The bulletin was essentially a church brochure. There's a paragraph describing the general order of a service, a few blurbs about upcoming events (in a couple months, _____ will happen), but most of the paper tells me general information about what to expect and what's available. Unfortunately I don't see details. When specifically do the teens or small groups meet? How do I get involved in anything besides going to the church website? If I return to that church, I think I'll skip the promo literature next time. It's oriented to the first-time church comer.
The pastor's message was on introducing people to Jesus based on Levi and Jesus' interaction in Luke 5. The congregation read the verses together on two projector screens. I like unified reading. Cool. As for the message, it was very heavy on story, both personal and in terms of adding to the Scripture passage. If you want to infer things, meh. Often it doesn't significantly add anything useful (the Holy Spirit did know exactly what should be given to us for teaching and living as He inspired the authors of the Bible, and He continues to apply its truth in our lives and minds and hearts).
The teaching was solid. He called for action (even if he did emphasize taking very small steps rather than taking whatever steps the Holy Spirit directs you to take). He shared how he personally faced that kind of situation. But it wasn't deep. The message could have been shared as-is with middle schoolers, and they'd get it. A visitor with no connection to Christianity could completely understand and not be offended by any part of the message.
While it's great to have churches that care substantially about reaching the lost and giving them a place to call home, where they can learn about and experience Christianity, it also plays into a question posed by Alan on his blog: What is the purpose of the church, specifically when we gather for corporate worship? Is corporate teaching and prayer and worship for the sinner or the saved? I will contend that churches need to be living, growing communities of faith, welcoming and nourishing to those who visit. But the visitor is just that - a visitor. It is imperative that we come together for the good of the body. Let's prepare people, disciple them, teach them to keep all of Christ's commands and send them out to do likewise.
What happens when the storms of life come and overwhelm our house build upon the rock at the shore? The foundation may be firm, but we will get wet. And after a while, we might go looking for something else. I want to know and experience God. I want my faith to be built on a trustworthy foundation. I want to be able to faithfully withstand anything. Are we really helping believers to mature if our message is that people come together for parties. Therefore Levi threw a party to introduce people to Jesus. Go out and introduce someone to Jesus. Fine, but that's all you're teaching for the week? Really? How is that helping people to obey all that Christ commands?
Growth certainly has an experiential aspect to it, but Jesus repeatedly took the time and effort to reveal what the Scriptures said and applied it. For a wonderful example, read Luke 24:15-27. That sounds pretty in-depth. The writer of Hebrews lamented over the audience's spiritual immaturity as evidenced by their need for basic teaching (5:12). Are we fulfilling our responsibility to teach others to be disciples who are mature and obedient to all that Christ commands? We need to be.
I've been in South Carolina for three Sundays already. Twice I went to a conservative PCA church. It felt normal. They worship God earnestly. It was by no means unwelcoming - a group of folks my age invited me for lunch after the service, and a couple of them even were willing to spread the word that I was looking for work. Yet it just felt.... average. Maybe it's just that I'm not really Presbyterian. I'm seeking a place with challenging love and teaching, where the church has a vision for reaching out and fulfilling the Great Commission locally and to the farthest reaches of the earth.
Today I visited a nondenominational community church near Irmo. The building appeared to be rather new. Walking inside, I was greeted casually. Large, easy-to-read signage pointed to the auditorium, kid sign-in/drop-off, etc. The auditorium was filled with rows of padded chairs. It felt slightly utilitarian but welcoming, like they were deconstructing church for the sake of visitors. I don't mean that to sound as harsh as perhaps it does, but this was a recurring theme.
The bulletin was essentially a church brochure. There's a paragraph describing the general order of a service, a few blurbs about upcoming events (in a couple months, _____ will happen), but most of the paper tells me general information about what to expect and what's available. Unfortunately I don't see details. When specifically do the teens or small groups meet? How do I get involved in anything besides going to the church website? If I return to that church, I think I'll skip the promo literature next time. It's oriented to the first-time church comer.
The pastor's message was on introducing people to Jesus based on Levi and Jesus' interaction in Luke 5. The congregation read the verses together on two projector screens. I like unified reading. Cool. As for the message, it was very heavy on story, both personal and in terms of adding to the Scripture passage. If you want to infer things, meh. Often it doesn't significantly add anything useful (the Holy Spirit did know exactly what should be given to us for teaching and living as He inspired the authors of the Bible, and He continues to apply its truth in our lives and minds and hearts).
The teaching was solid. He called for action (even if he did emphasize taking very small steps rather than taking whatever steps the Holy Spirit directs you to take). He shared how he personally faced that kind of situation. But it wasn't deep. The message could have been shared as-is with middle schoolers, and they'd get it. A visitor with no connection to Christianity could completely understand and not be offended by any part of the message.
While it's great to have churches that care substantially about reaching the lost and giving them a place to call home, where they can learn about and experience Christianity, it also plays into a question posed by Alan on his blog: What is the purpose of the church, specifically when we gather for corporate worship? Is corporate teaching and prayer and worship for the sinner or the saved? I will contend that churches need to be living, growing communities of faith, welcoming and nourishing to those who visit. But the visitor is just that - a visitor. It is imperative that we come together for the good of the body. Let's prepare people, disciple them, teach them to keep all of Christ's commands and send them out to do likewise.
What happens when the storms of life come and overwhelm our house build upon the rock at the shore? The foundation may be firm, but we will get wet. And after a while, we might go looking for something else. I want to know and experience God. I want my faith to be built on a trustworthy foundation. I want to be able to faithfully withstand anything. Are we really helping believers to mature if our message is that people come together for parties. Therefore Levi threw a party to introduce people to Jesus. Go out and introduce someone to Jesus. Fine, but that's all you're teaching for the week? Really? How is that helping people to obey all that Christ commands?
Growth certainly has an experiential aspect to it, but Jesus repeatedly took the time and effort to reveal what the Scriptures said and applied it. For a wonderful example, read Luke 24:15-27. That sounds pretty in-depth. The writer of Hebrews lamented over the audience's spiritual immaturity as evidenced by their need for basic teaching (5:12). Are we fulfilling our responsibility to teach others to be disciples who are mature and obedient to all that Christ commands? We need to be.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Revisiting Holy Week part 1
I'm still wrestling with what to do with contemplative Christianity. To some extent I agree with reformers like John Calvin who detested icons and statues and images in a house of worship to the Lord. I also have an uneasiness about "emptying the mind/soul" and using "spiritual aids" like prayer labyrinths. However, I think that it is good to take time away from what we consider regular life to meet with God, to converse with Him and to dwell with ever more focus on His teachings, to live out the love and grace that He alone can provide and to grow in our sanctification. Our goal is to be like our Savior - to be transformed into Christlikeness, following His teachings and commands to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27). This includes "going to all nations and making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded" (Matt. 28:19-20).
It is a worthy endeavor to think upon the life and purpose of Jesus Christ. The Gospels spend substantial time relating the events of Passion Week. By meditating on the holy word given to us through the Spirit, we can seek to be transformed by that same Spirit, to be more like our Savior. However we must be careful to live this out not only in our minds but in all parts of our lives - with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Lord, may we live this out fully in our lives by Your grace. Deliver us from temptation and help us to live for You in real and concrete ways all the days of our lives.
Here is a brief look at the events of the weekend that included Palm Sunday. May it lead us ever closer to our Savior.
Likely after sunset on Friday before Passion Week, Jesus and his disciples arrived at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus at Bethany. This would be their home base until the following Thursday.
Over the weekend, the group is invited to dine at the residence of Simon the Leper. While there, Mary pours out a jar of pure nard on Jesus' head and feet, which Jesus sees as a symbolic preparation for his burial. Judas claims that the cost of the perfume could have been given to the poor, and in John's account Judas' flawed character is first noted.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus sent two disciples into Jerusalem to acquire a donkey's colt for him to ride into town. They found everything as Jesus predicted. Jesus rode into Jerusalem triumphantly on the colt to the praise and adoration of the crowds, who see him as the miracle-worker who raised Lazarus from the dead, a mighty healer, and the Son of David. His triumphal entry marks the fulfillment of Is. 62:11-12, Zech. 9:9 and the beginning action of Ezek. 44:2. The crowds put their cloaks and palm branches on the path for him and shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9-10). Here Jesus begins to fulfill Ps. 118:15-29. In the city, Jesus went to the temple and performed his final healing ministry before his crucifixion. The chief priests and teachers of the law are offended by the crowds' response to Jesus and seek to rebuke him. That night Jesus and his disciples return to Bethany.
It is a worthy endeavor to think upon the life and purpose of Jesus Christ. The Gospels spend substantial time relating the events of Passion Week. By meditating on the holy word given to us through the Spirit, we can seek to be transformed by that same Spirit, to be more like our Savior. However we must be careful to live this out not only in our minds but in all parts of our lives - with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Lord, may we live this out fully in our lives by Your grace. Deliver us from temptation and help us to live for You in real and concrete ways all the days of our lives.
Here is a brief look at the events of the weekend that included Palm Sunday. May it lead us ever closer to our Savior.
Likely after sunset on Friday before Passion Week, Jesus and his disciples arrived at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus at Bethany. This would be their home base until the following Thursday.
Over the weekend, the group is invited to dine at the residence of Simon the Leper. While there, Mary pours out a jar of pure nard on Jesus' head and feet, which Jesus sees as a symbolic preparation for his burial. Judas claims that the cost of the perfume could have been given to the poor, and in John's account Judas' flawed character is first noted.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus sent two disciples into Jerusalem to acquire a donkey's colt for him to ride into town. They found everything as Jesus predicted. Jesus rode into Jerusalem triumphantly on the colt to the praise and adoration of the crowds, who see him as the miracle-worker who raised Lazarus from the dead, a mighty healer, and the Son of David. His triumphal entry marks the fulfillment of Is. 62:11-12, Zech. 9:9 and the beginning action of Ezek. 44:2. The crowds put their cloaks and palm branches on the path for him and shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9-10). Here Jesus begins to fulfill Ps. 118:15-29. In the city, Jesus went to the temple and performed his final healing ministry before his crucifixion. The chief priests and teachers of the law are offended by the crowds' response to Jesus and seek to rebuke him. That night Jesus and his disciples return to Bethany.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Vulnerability, Being "Truefaced", Genuine
I've been reading a couple of books for classes lately that have been dealing with how we as believers interact and share the gospel. One of the points that was made several times and has shown itself important in my life lately is the need to be honest and vulnerable with others. It's time for the facade to disappear. Why do we submit an unrealistic portrait of ourselves to the watching world? Believers don't have everything figured out. I'm broken, a sinner saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, a saint by merit of that same grace. I'm unsure of myself; I question God sometimes; I view myself as weak, especially in certain areas like meeting new people. But so many people don't get to see the weakness, as if it shouldn't be there. Yet God declares that His power is made perfect in (our) weakness and that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12:9). If we truly believe that, we need to be putting that faith into action and allowing the Spirit of God to use us and to conform us to His image.
Sometimes evangelism is straightforward. We have an international bible study with quite a few nonbelievers who have little exposure to Christianity. We can tell them about Jesus, who He is, what He's done, why that's important and what difference it makes. But we also can and should share our love with them. We can take them places, befriend them, show them that we're human too. It's important to share a level of self-disclosure with them. It helps them to see who we are and what Christ does in our individual lives.
After all, isn't it important that believers are witnesses not just of the history of God's interaction with humankind but, importantly, His interaction in our own lives? Is a witness one who declares what has been, as a historian, or is it a person who experienced something and shares/recounts that experience with others? If we lead detached lives, detached friendships, detached ministries, we are refusing to show people God's greatest gift in our own lives - His salvation that He has given us. Not every moment calls for us to share our testimony with others, and likewise not every moment calls for us to share Scripture. We need to be fluent in sharing both experience and God's word. Experience does not trump Scripture, but a changed life is a great thing to share. Do we root that changed life in the revelation of God or should a changed life be all the evidence a person needs to recognize Christ, repent and believe and persevere in the faith? If experience were all, there would not be a need for the Word of God. But having it, we should be reading it, learning and applying it appropriately. For we know, "All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Who am I to others? Who are you? What are you trying to let people see, and what are they really seeing when they look at you? Are you willing to appear undignified for the sake of Christ? Are you willing to show that you can be vulnerable or that you don't have it all together? Which is more important to you: self-image or doing what it takes to "gain the more" as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:19-22? It's time to be a willing vessel for the Lord to use so that His glory would be proclaimed and that salvation would come to the ends of the earth. Would you die to yourself daily if that's what it takes? Jesus demands no less (Luke 9:23).
Sometimes evangelism is straightforward. We have an international bible study with quite a few nonbelievers who have little exposure to Christianity. We can tell them about Jesus, who He is, what He's done, why that's important and what difference it makes. But we also can and should share our love with them. We can take them places, befriend them, show them that we're human too. It's important to share a level of self-disclosure with them. It helps them to see who we are and what Christ does in our individual lives.
After all, isn't it important that believers are witnesses not just of the history of God's interaction with humankind but, importantly, His interaction in our own lives? Is a witness one who declares what has been, as a historian, or is it a person who experienced something and shares/recounts that experience with others? If we lead detached lives, detached friendships, detached ministries, we are refusing to show people God's greatest gift in our own lives - His salvation that He has given us. Not every moment calls for us to share our testimony with others, and likewise not every moment calls for us to share Scripture. We need to be fluent in sharing both experience and God's word. Experience does not trump Scripture, but a changed life is a great thing to share. Do we root that changed life in the revelation of God or should a changed life be all the evidence a person needs to recognize Christ, repent and believe and persevere in the faith? If experience were all, there would not be a need for the Word of God. But having it, we should be reading it, learning and applying it appropriately. For we know, "All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Who am I to others? Who are you? What are you trying to let people see, and what are they really seeing when they look at you? Are you willing to appear undignified for the sake of Christ? Are you willing to show that you can be vulnerable or that you don't have it all together? Which is more important to you: self-image or doing what it takes to "gain the more" as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:19-22? It's time to be a willing vessel for the Lord to use so that His glory would be proclaimed and that salvation would come to the ends of the earth. Would you die to yourself daily if that's what it takes? Jesus demands no less (Luke 9:23).
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