I can't say I have a singular focus in my life. I'm currently reading 4 books (I rarely finish any of them). When I watch TV I usually have 2 programs going. I'm supposed to be studying Greek right now and the thought popped into my head to write this blog entry. I'm easily distracted and many times, I'm all over the place.
Christ, however, had a singular focus. He was absolutely focused, like a laser, on a set of ideals.
John 4:34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish His work.”
John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear I judge, and my judgment is just because I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me.”
John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day.”
Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
The way of Christ was focus on the propositional truths of God and the mission for which he was sent, imbedded in that proposition (Isaiah 53). Christ was obedient to His Father in his lifestyle and His mission. In other words, He always did what was right passively (the way he thought, especially the way he thought about God) and actively (when he preached and was crucified). Christ was fed by doing what God had commissioned Him to do. He had surrendered His will in submission to His Father. He was firmly under the authority of His Father in the greatest act of humility. Fear of man did not dominate Him but rather the will of His Father was all that He could think about and all that He could do. Obedience to His Father propelled Him.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thinking about Choosing a Church? Part 2
Two more considerations when it comes to choosing a church.
3. Does the church practice a meaningful Church Membership? Sometimes I feel like I've heard every argument in the book concerning the archaic nature of Church Membership but in 1 Peter 5, Christian people are commanded to "be subject to the elders." I have been wracking my brain for 7 years attempting to figure out how a church of more than 20 people could oversee their people without church membership. In other words, you and I can't be subject to elders if we don't have a process to tell the elders that we are subject to them. The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Corinth to expel a man from amongst their number (1 Cor 5). A person can't go out, if they were never in. We need church membership because our hearts desire to go their own way and we are prone towards spiritual infidelity. The humility of the believer is honed under Godly authority. "Be subject to elders.... God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God."
For more on Church Membership, click on my blog from 2010 and check out a two part series entitled "Why I must be committed to my local Church in membership?"
4. Does the church practice meaningful Church Discipline? The Bible unquestionably speaks about the Elders of churches providing teaching, care, and discipline to their flock. But many churches do not know who is in their flock. A trend of more traditional churches is to maintain a membership that is not reflective of who is attending the church and a trend amongst many churches, planted in the past decades, is to practice no church membership at all. Neither is faithful to the Scriptures. The testimony of the New Testament is of a leadership and a congregation that knows, who is part of the church and who is not part of the church. Jesus speaks of a congregation that levies the final blow of discipline on an unrepentant sinner and informs the congregation to treat the offender as "a Gentile and tax collector (Matt 18:17)." Paul exhorts the Corinthian church that when it comes to unrepentant sexually immoral, who call themselves believers, to "not even eat with such a one (1 Cor 5:11)." Paul tells Timothy that if an elder persists in sin that he should be "rebuke(d) in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear (1 Tim 5:20)." James tells the church to go after those who appear to be believers and who have wandered away from the truth and that "whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:20)". Our souls are on the line when we distance ourselves from Christ's church and practice lawlessness. God has enacted church discipline so that erring people might be restored to Him. God wants restoration but many times the American church wants comfort.
I hope these blogs have been helpful. If you'd like to read more about choosing a healthy church I would encourage you to read the book Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever.
3. Does the church practice a meaningful Church Membership? Sometimes I feel like I've heard every argument in the book concerning the archaic nature of Church Membership but in 1 Peter 5, Christian people are commanded to "be subject to the elders." I have been wracking my brain for 7 years attempting to figure out how a church of more than 20 people could oversee their people without church membership. In other words, you and I can't be subject to elders if we don't have a process to tell the elders that we are subject to them. The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Corinth to expel a man from amongst their number (1 Cor 5). A person can't go out, if they were never in. We need church membership because our hearts desire to go their own way and we are prone towards spiritual infidelity. The humility of the believer is honed under Godly authority. "Be subject to elders.... God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God."
For more on Church Membership, click on my blog from 2010 and check out a two part series entitled "Why I must be committed to my local Church in membership?"
4. Does the church practice meaningful Church Discipline? The Bible unquestionably speaks about the Elders of churches providing teaching, care, and discipline to their flock. But many churches do not know who is in their flock. A trend of more traditional churches is to maintain a membership that is not reflective of who is attending the church and a trend amongst many churches, planted in the past decades, is to practice no church membership at all. Neither is faithful to the Scriptures. The testimony of the New Testament is of a leadership and a congregation that knows, who is part of the church and who is not part of the church. Jesus speaks of a congregation that levies the final blow of discipline on an unrepentant sinner and informs the congregation to treat the offender as "a Gentile and tax collector (Matt 18:17)." Paul exhorts the Corinthian church that when it comes to unrepentant sexually immoral, who call themselves believers, to "not even eat with such a one (1 Cor 5:11)." Paul tells Timothy that if an elder persists in sin that he should be "rebuke(d) in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear (1 Tim 5:20)." James tells the church to go after those who appear to be believers and who have wandered away from the truth and that "whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:20)". Our souls are on the line when we distance ourselves from Christ's church and practice lawlessness. God has enacted church discipline so that erring people might be restored to Him. God wants restoration but many times the American church wants comfort.
I hope these blogs have been helpful. If you'd like to read more about choosing a healthy church I would encourage you to read the book Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Thinking about Choosing a Church?
Let's be honest, most people choose their church based on things that have almost nothing to do with God, His Truth, or the nurture of our spirits. My guess is that most people choose their church based on a few convenient, even carnal, principles. "I like their style of music." "The pastor is so great, he makes everything really practical." "They have a program for all of our kids." "This church is really friendly." "I grew up in this church (or a church like it)." "The service times really suit my schedule."
Over the years, when it's come to recommending churches to first year college students and young people who were looking for churches, I fear that I've been overly simplistic. I used to say things like "just find a church that teaches the Bible." Well, I don't want to overwhelm people with a 15 point checklist when looking for a church but I've tried to narrow it down to four categories that I sense will give you a window into the life of a church, identify a healthy church, and possibly ensure that you'll be able to worship with that church family for a long time.
1. Is the church focused on Expository Preaching and Teaching? I've stopped saying, "just find a church that teaches the Bible" and I've started to engage young people on the idea of Expository preaching and teaching. As you listen to your pastors next sermon, ask yourself, "Is the main point of this text, the main point of his sermon?" Next time you listen to a sermon you may want to ask something like "is he spending anytime talking about the real need of our soul; the need to be forgiven of sin?" He may be spending a lot of time talking about loneliness and the needs of the poor but never explain the greatest need of man. Thirdly, you may want to ask yourself, "is he exalting the Christ's death and resurrection within this sermon or is he just encouraging more moral behavior?" Without the Death and Resurrection of Christ we are left to save ourselves. All of these questions might help you determine whether or not you're being taught in a Expository and Christ focused manner.
2. Is the church Confessional? Trust me, I am not asking if your church has a document that is over 400 years old that governs the church. What we should be asking is, "does the church have any document that governs the life of the church, the church's leadership, and summarize important truths from the Bible?" Churches that have no detailed confessions that address doctrine and church order are under no real authority. You might counter that argument by saying, "Oh no, that's not true, our church is under the authority of the Bible!" People that say that they are, exclusively, under the Bible's authority are, actually, under one authority. They are under the authority of their own interpretation. Is that not true? The only authority in many churches is the authority of their pastor's interpretive whim. Confessions ensure that your church will not be led by one man but places each leader under statements greater than their own mind.
Points 3 and 4 will be coming next week.
Over the years, when it's come to recommending churches to first year college students and young people who were looking for churches, I fear that I've been overly simplistic. I used to say things like "just find a church that teaches the Bible." Well, I don't want to overwhelm people with a 15 point checklist when looking for a church but I've tried to narrow it down to four categories that I sense will give you a window into the life of a church, identify a healthy church, and possibly ensure that you'll be able to worship with that church family for a long time.
1. Is the church focused on Expository Preaching and Teaching? I've stopped saying, "just find a church that teaches the Bible" and I've started to engage young people on the idea of Expository preaching and teaching. As you listen to your pastors next sermon, ask yourself, "Is the main point of this text, the main point of his sermon?" Next time you listen to a sermon you may want to ask something like "is he spending anytime talking about the real need of our soul; the need to be forgiven of sin?" He may be spending a lot of time talking about loneliness and the needs of the poor but never explain the greatest need of man. Thirdly, you may want to ask yourself, "is he exalting the Christ's death and resurrection within this sermon or is he just encouraging more moral behavior?" Without the Death and Resurrection of Christ we are left to save ourselves. All of these questions might help you determine whether or not you're being taught in a Expository and Christ focused manner.
2. Is the church Confessional? Trust me, I am not asking if your church has a document that is over 400 years old that governs the church. What we should be asking is, "does the church have any document that governs the life of the church, the church's leadership, and summarize important truths from the Bible?" Churches that have no detailed confessions that address doctrine and church order are under no real authority. You might counter that argument by saying, "Oh no, that's not true, our church is under the authority of the Bible!" People that say that they are, exclusively, under the Bible's authority are, actually, under one authority. They are under the authority of their own interpretation. Is that not true? The only authority in many churches is the authority of their pastor's interpretive whim. Confessions ensure that your church will not be led by one man but places each leader under statements greater than their own mind.
Points 3 and 4 will be coming next week.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I Repent: From Saying Nothing
So, sometimes I shoot my mouth off. Sometimes I say something that is not very well thought out. Sometimes I say something untrue. But more often than not, I say a true thing in the wrong way. I can speak the truth but not always in love. Sometimes I speak the truth in pride. This sinful ability means that I've needed to become more and more willing to apologize to people and turn away from my lack of self control. To, sincerely, ask someone's forgiveness because you've sinned against them is very humbling. It's part of God's work in our lives. It is God enabling us to repent. Hopefully we're all learning to repent in this way.
But I wonder, have you ever had anyone come to you and sincerely apologize because they should have said something but they remained silent? Have you ever had someone come to you and say "I repent for all of my years of passivity when it came to my words"? Have you ever had someone come to you and say "I ask your forgiveness because I didn't speak up but I kept silent"? Has anyone ever said to you "I want to ask your forgiveness because, when you were sinning against God, I didn't confront you"? Has anyone come to you and said "I'm sorry I didn't say anything but at the time I was putting my own comfort and reputation ahead of Truth"? Has anyone ever said to you "I am sorry and I've now learned that my silence was actually sin masquerading as humility"? I think it might be good for us to learn to say, "I repent, from saying nothing."
But I wonder, have you ever had anyone come to you and sincerely apologize because they should have said something but they remained silent? Have you ever had someone come to you and say "I repent for all of my years of passivity when it came to my words"? Have you ever had someone come to you and say "I ask your forgiveness because I didn't speak up but I kept silent"? Has anyone ever said to you "I want to ask your forgiveness because, when you were sinning against God, I didn't confront you"? Has anyone come to you and said "I'm sorry I didn't say anything but at the time I was putting my own comfort and reputation ahead of Truth"? Has anyone ever said to you "I am sorry and I've now learned that my silence was actually sin masquerading as humility"? I think it might be good for us to learn to say, "I repent, from saying nothing."
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Punch me in the face and tell me I'm not doing enough... (Clarification)
In my last post I don't think I was as clear as I should have been concerning Expository and Topical teaching. First of all, expository teaching should address many topics but if it is done correctly it should be uniquely Gospel oriented. In other words, it should always be lifting up the character of God and resting on the death and resurrection of Christ.
On the flip side, if topical teaching is done correctly it too shall lift up the character of God and rest on the death and resurrection of Christ. I am not completely rejecting the idea of topical teaching. I love eating at Red Robin but we must realize that topical teaching limits the teacher (to what he already understands) and it limits the hearer (to what the teacher already understands). Topical teaching is, generally, a rehearsal of all of the verses on a given subject that the teacher already knows. Expository teaching keeps forcing the teacher and the students into unknown worlds of Biblical Truth.
Thanks for subscribing.
On the flip side, if topical teaching is done correctly it too shall lift up the character of God and rest on the death and resurrection of Christ. I am not completely rejecting the idea of topical teaching. I love eating at Red Robin but we must realize that topical teaching limits the teacher (to what he already understands) and it limits the hearer (to what the teacher already understands). Topical teaching is, generally, a rehearsal of all of the verses on a given subject that the teacher already knows. Expository teaching keeps forcing the teacher and the students into unknown worlds of Biblical Truth.
Thanks for subscribing.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Punch me in the face and tell me I'm not doing enough...
When you've been teaching in the same church for 7 years you have an opportunity to see trends in people's response to preaching and teaching. My teaching ministry is mainly expository and chronological. By expository, I mean is that I'm usually teaching a Biblical text and desiring for the themes of my teaching to come out of the Scripture. By chronological, I mean that I usually teach right through a book of the Bible, verse by verse. People's response to this type of teaching is underwhelming to say the least. It's like my mom's cooking. There's plenty of meat on the table and it fills you up but you don't rave about it for weeks.
But every once in a great while I do a topical series. I tackle topics like sexuality, relationships, stewardship, worldliness, or other charged issues. This is when I get the most response. "I've never heard you teach like that." "That was awesome... it was so practical." This type of cooking is like the cooking at Red Robin. The meal tasted great and it was really fun to be there but if you eat like that every night you'll be a nutritional basket case. You'll be overweight and under nourished. The compliments go on and on and at the end of those times of teaching and usually I am utterly distraught.
I'm distraught because the reason people like those topics is because evangelical Christians love to be told their not doing enough. The thinking goes something like this 'if you tell me I'm not doing enough, then I can make better decisions and then I can fix the problem and make some progress.' This thinking springs out of a belief that when we have spiritual problems, through the power of our will/choices we can better ourselves. We gravitate towards being punched, feeling sorry for ourselves, and attempting to pull ourselves up rather than ceasing to attempt to pull ourselves up. We want to work but we don't want to trust. We want to wallow in ourselves but we don't want to know God. We want a quick fix to our self centeredness not a life-long discipleship process. We want a soft spoken teachers who spout a lot of self help not a hearty herald of God's Word who holds out the promises of God. We want answers not the discipline of the Lord. We want crystal balls not walking by faith. We want works not grace. I want me not the Triune God.
But every once in a great while I do a topical series. I tackle topics like sexuality, relationships, stewardship, worldliness, or other charged issues. This is when I get the most response. "I've never heard you teach like that." "That was awesome... it was so practical." This type of cooking is like the cooking at Red Robin. The meal tasted great and it was really fun to be there but if you eat like that every night you'll be a nutritional basket case. You'll be overweight and under nourished. The compliments go on and on and at the end of those times of teaching and usually I am utterly distraught.
I'm distraught because the reason people like those topics is because evangelical Christians love to be told their not doing enough. The thinking goes something like this 'if you tell me I'm not doing enough, then I can make better decisions and then I can fix the problem and make some progress.' This thinking springs out of a belief that when we have spiritual problems, through the power of our will/choices we can better ourselves. We gravitate towards being punched, feeling sorry for ourselves, and attempting to pull ourselves up rather than ceasing to attempt to pull ourselves up. We want to work but we don't want to trust. We want to wallow in ourselves but we don't want to know God. We want a quick fix to our self centeredness not a life-long discipleship process. We want a soft spoken teachers who spout a lot of self help not a hearty herald of God's Word who holds out the promises of God. We want answers not the discipline of the Lord. We want crystal balls not walking by faith. We want works not grace. I want me not the Triune God.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A $45,000 Mercedes?????
Have you ever gotten bent out of shape when you saw a Christian driving a really nice car? What is that in us? Where does that come from? Some people might think that it is righteous to be offended at how other Christians spend their money. I have a friend who is a very committed believer in Christ who drives a Mercedes automobile. I know he takes some flack behind his back because of the car he chooses to drive. Why is that? Well, it's partially because our Christian generation is self righteous. Because of our Christian generation's emphasis on helping the poor we tend to hate the symbols of luxury that we found prevalent in previous generations. Luxury cars and big houses are a bit passé. Brad Pitt isn't being driven around in a Rolls Royce, he drives his own Prius (I saw it on TMZ). It might actually be cooler to live in a town house or a studio apartment than to buy a McMansion. But our Christian generation must watch out because the downsizing of your home does not, necessarily, mean that you are obedient or spiritual. The "place" Jesus is preparing for his people has many rooms (Jn 14:2-3) so large homes are not condemned by Christ (and we should oppose the false teaching that God despises wealth). The fact that you drive a Passat instead of a Mercedes could mean very little about the condition of your heart. More than likely it means you have a lot of school loans.
Luxury cars and houses might be "out" for our generation but $1700 laptops aren't. Having to upgrade my technology every 25 minutes isn't "out". Paying $200 a month for a cell phone isn't "out". Wearing designer eye wear isn't "out". Wearing $120 jeans isn't "out". Eating out isn't "out". Are any of these things wrong? Not necessarily, but before we get really judgmental about the Mercedes let's look deeper. My friend loves Christ and displays that love through his commitment to worshiping Christ with every area of life, even his finances. The Mercedes is, in no way, keeping him from honoring God with everything that he has been given. He bought the Mercedes new about 10 years ago. He probably paid cash for it. He still drives it. I sense the purchase of the Mercedes was a very sensible and wise decision. To purchase the $24,000 car at 5% interest over 5 years may not be as wise, if it keeps us from prioritizing giving to God.
Why do we get bent when we see Christians with nice things? Is our heart really breaking for the poor around the world? Maybe, but my guess is that more often than not, there is a jealousy in us that springs from the sinfulness of our hearts that we need to confess. Our sinful hearts might say, "I'd do much more with all that money." "He/she is so unspiritual." "Why don't I have more to give away?" All of those thoughts come out of discontentment and pride. Let's be thankful that God has blessed the church with people wealthier than us and admit to God that we are the wealthy because we are American's. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Luxury cars and houses might be "out" for our generation but $1700 laptops aren't. Having to upgrade my technology every 25 minutes isn't "out". Paying $200 a month for a cell phone isn't "out". Wearing designer eye wear isn't "out". Wearing $120 jeans isn't "out". Eating out isn't "out". Are any of these things wrong? Not necessarily, but before we get really judgmental about the Mercedes let's look deeper. My friend loves Christ and displays that love through his commitment to worshiping Christ with every area of life, even his finances. The Mercedes is, in no way, keeping him from honoring God with everything that he has been given. He bought the Mercedes new about 10 years ago. He probably paid cash for it. He still drives it. I sense the purchase of the Mercedes was a very sensible and wise decision. To purchase the $24,000 car at 5% interest over 5 years may not be as wise, if it keeps us from prioritizing giving to God.
Why do we get bent when we see Christians with nice things? Is our heart really breaking for the poor around the world? Maybe, but my guess is that more often than not, there is a jealousy in us that springs from the sinfulness of our hearts that we need to confess. Our sinful hearts might say, "I'd do much more with all that money." "He/she is so unspiritual." "Why don't I have more to give away?" All of those thoughts come out of discontentment and pride. Let's be thankful that God has blessed the church with people wealthier than us and admit to God that we are the wealthy because we are American's. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)