God works through both the Dysfunctional and Obedient:
1 Sam 1:1-20
As I looked over and over this passage this morning, I began to see a family who was dysfunctional. There is a man who is married to two women, possibly because the first could not bear children. The two women are not fond of one another, and one even pokes fun and rivals the other because of her inability to bear children. In addition to the rivalry in the home, the husband loves one wife more than the other and generously gives her double portions, while only giving regular portions to the other wife and her/his children. I am sure this does not go over well at the Elkanah house.
Hannah, the wife who couldn't bear children, is heartbroken over her condition and environment. So, she is emotionally and spiritually distraught. This seems like a story one would see on "Jewish Days of our Lives". But in this dysfunctional, messed up, hodgepodge familial, personal strife, God still works. Hannah goes to the temple to pray about her situation and vows to the Lord and cries, "If you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."
While she is praying, the priest sees her lips moving, but nothing coming out, and proceeds to believe that this woman is drunk. It may have been a common occurrence that Eli (the priest) observed back in those days, drunk women at the temple. Hannah shares with Eli that she is not drunk, but troubled in spirit and pouring our her heart and soul to the Lord. Having shared her anxiety, vexation, and troubles with Eli, he in return prays for her that "the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him."
Hannah now can go back home in peace. But before going home, she rises (along with her husband) early in the morning and worships the Lord. After arriving back at home Elkanah and Hannah know (aka "are intimate) one another, and Hannah conceives and bears a son.
The greatest truth that I or we can possibly take from this account is God's ability and power to work through sinful, broken, fragile, dysfunctional, fragmented, and imperfect people. This is great news to me. For I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I am sinful, damaged, fragile, imperfect, and many times dysfunctional. But in my chaos God is the calmer and works despite who I am. But, I want us to see a few things that God works through even amidst broken, damaged, imperfect people.
God works through...
1) Elkanah's Love for Hannah
2) Hannah's Personal, Sacrificial Prayer
3) Eli's Prayer for Hannah
4) Elkanah's and Hannah's Intimacy
Despite the things they do get wrong and are broken, there are some things these people get right. Loving on those with imperfections is one. Brokenness of heart being poured out to the Lord is another. Contained with this prayer, Hannah promises to dedicate the answered prayer back to God and his glory. A third avenue God works through is the prayer people make on behalf of other people. Eli prays for Hannah and sends her on her way. Last, Hannah and Elkanah do not give up. They "know" one another. Whether or not God answers her prayer, she will still "know" her husband, and her husband will still "know" her. Through their love for one another, Hannah's prayer, Eli's prayer, and their intimacy with one another, God sovereignly works and provides Hannaha and Elkanah a healthy baby boy, who would turn out to be one of the most prominent, influential, and spiritual figures in Israelite/Old Testament history.
Remember these two truths today:
- God works through imperfect, dysfunctional people
- God works through the obedience of these imperfect, dysfunctional people
Monday, May 2, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
You Don't Have to Live on Your Own
You Don't Have to Do it On your Own
Paul writes in Colossians 1:28-29, "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."
Notice that Paul shares the reason for his toil, labor, and effort he puts into his daily living, ministry, and calling, which was to present everyone mature in Christ. His passion to present people mature before Christ propelled him to live the way he did. The second thing to notice about the zealous way Paul lived is whose energy he employed. It wasn't his, but Christ's. Paul writes, "For this I toil, struggling with all HIS ENERGY that he powerfully works within me."
Paul did not live in his own energy and strength, but with Christ's energy and strength. If we are going to live passionately, zealously, and fervently for Christ and his gospel, we must do so in his strength and energy in which he provides through the indwelling of the Spirit. Truth be known, the reason why many believers feel as though Christ does not live through them is because although they might believe in Christ, the purpose in their daily living is not to proclaim him, to know him, to make him known, and to surrender to his lordship/leading in every area of their life. Therefore, if this is not the main goal of a believer, why would Christ's energy, his Spirit work within us? If his "so-called" vessel is not being used and utilized for his glory and gospel, why would he work through us?
The simple truth is this: if we want Christ to live through us, and not us living our life on our own, we must make sure that our goal, motives, and desires are fixated on Christ. This truth is applied in our vocation, in our parenting, in our marriage, in our relationships, in our recreation, in our learning, and even in our errands. In each area of our life, our goal and aim must be to make him known and to sharpen and invest in others (for his glory). Although Paul has in view proclaiming and verbally making Jesus known (which is primary), proclaiming and making him known through our actions can also be applied. So, today, if you want Christ to live through you, surrender to him, to making him known, and to investing in others; and Jesus (through his Spirit) will powerfully work in you, just as he did Paul.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:28-29, "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."
Notice that Paul shares the reason for his toil, labor, and effort he puts into his daily living, ministry, and calling, which was to present everyone mature in Christ. His passion to present people mature before Christ propelled him to live the way he did. The second thing to notice about the zealous way Paul lived is whose energy he employed. It wasn't his, but Christ's. Paul writes, "For this I toil, struggling with all HIS ENERGY that he powerfully works within me."
Paul did not live in his own energy and strength, but with Christ's energy and strength. If we are going to live passionately, zealously, and fervently for Christ and his gospel, we must do so in his strength and energy in which he provides through the indwelling of the Spirit. Truth be known, the reason why many believers feel as though Christ does not live through them is because although they might believe in Christ, the purpose in their daily living is not to proclaim him, to know him, to make him known, and to surrender to his lordship/leading in every area of their life. Therefore, if this is not the main goal of a believer, why would Christ's energy, his Spirit work within us? If his "so-called" vessel is not being used and utilized for his glory and gospel, why would he work through us?
The simple truth is this: if we want Christ to live through us, and not us living our life on our own, we must make sure that our goal, motives, and desires are fixated on Christ. This truth is applied in our vocation, in our parenting, in our marriage, in our relationships, in our recreation, in our learning, and even in our errands. In each area of our life, our goal and aim must be to make him known and to sharpen and invest in others (for his glory). Although Paul has in view proclaiming and verbally making Jesus known (which is primary), proclaiming and making him known through our actions can also be applied. So, today, if you want Christ to live through you, surrender to him, to making him known, and to investing in others; and Jesus (through his Spirit) will powerfully work in you, just as he did Paul.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Near-Sighted, Forgetful Church Goers
Near-Sightedness and Short-term Memory in the Church:
Having been a pastor now for three years, and being in ministry overall 10 years, I have come to experience (personally) the near-sightedness and short-term memory of American Christians. What I mean by this is that people come to church, hear the word, hear the vision of the church and pastor, yet in a moment, it is as if they forget everything they heard, experienced, and been taught. Due to their near-sightedness and short-term memory their present situation, circumstances, disgruntled brother or sister effects them to the point of leaving a church (to go to another one, or leave the church altogether).
They don't remember the sermons, the notes they took, what Jesus had taught them, or the fact that following Jesus is at times overwhelmingly difficult. We will always find ourselves in precarious situations, circumstances, and around unstable people; yet we must ground, root, and anchor ourselves to the anchor of our soul, Christ, and to the truth he has imparted to us through local churches. Also, we must remember the grand narrative (God's redemptive history) that we are a part. When people begin to make it all about themselves and try to make God just part of their life, this lends itself to near-sighted and short-term memory living.
My prayer is that believers would utilize the vision that Christ is able to provide through his atonement: vision that focuses not on the present situations, circumstances, or people, but allows them to see past those things and see Christ and his glory and what would bring him pleasure and the most glory. Second, my prayer is that Christians would truly learn and devote themselves to Scripture, to the preaching of God's word, to a local church body, to understanding the vision of a local church, and truly embracing it, rather than nonchalantly coming, intermittently (maybe) taking notes, attending out of convenience, sparse commitment, and making a mockery out of what belonging to a body (a church) is suppose to be. If not, the problem experienced by one church will soon cycle at another church. This church will experience the same people succumbing to the actions of a vomiting dog, which grossly returns to its vomit.
My biblical advice to Christians: find a church that believes in the inerrant, infallible word of God, that preaches that word, that believes in the Grand-Narrative of God's redemptive mission to reach the nations, who has a vision to reach their city and community, who desires to see people transformed by the gospel, who's not about ecclesiastical (church) games or charades, who is kingdom-minded, who will stand for truth even if it is not popular, and who is all about pleasing Christ, not man. Once you find that church, commit yourself to that truth and weather whatever situation, circumstance, soothsayers, or enchanted deceptive wolves come your way. Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ are not glorified country clubs, but are tiny brides that form the Bride of Christ. And a regaining of 20/20 vision and memory through Christ and his word and what your church has taught you, will aid in this being displayed through believers lives.
Having been a pastor now for three years, and being in ministry overall 10 years, I have come to experience (personally) the near-sightedness and short-term memory of American Christians. What I mean by this is that people come to church, hear the word, hear the vision of the church and pastor, yet in a moment, it is as if they forget everything they heard, experienced, and been taught. Due to their near-sightedness and short-term memory their present situation, circumstances, disgruntled brother or sister effects them to the point of leaving a church (to go to another one, or leave the church altogether).
They don't remember the sermons, the notes they took, what Jesus had taught them, or the fact that following Jesus is at times overwhelmingly difficult. We will always find ourselves in precarious situations, circumstances, and around unstable people; yet we must ground, root, and anchor ourselves to the anchor of our soul, Christ, and to the truth he has imparted to us through local churches. Also, we must remember the grand narrative (God's redemptive history) that we are a part. When people begin to make it all about themselves and try to make God just part of their life, this lends itself to near-sighted and short-term memory living.
My prayer is that believers would utilize the vision that Christ is able to provide through his atonement: vision that focuses not on the present situations, circumstances, or people, but allows them to see past those things and see Christ and his glory and what would bring him pleasure and the most glory. Second, my prayer is that Christians would truly learn and devote themselves to Scripture, to the preaching of God's word, to a local church body, to understanding the vision of a local church, and truly embracing it, rather than nonchalantly coming, intermittently (maybe) taking notes, attending out of convenience, sparse commitment, and making a mockery out of what belonging to a body (a church) is suppose to be. If not, the problem experienced by one church will soon cycle at another church. This church will experience the same people succumbing to the actions of a vomiting dog, which grossly returns to its vomit.
My biblical advice to Christians: find a church that believes in the inerrant, infallible word of God, that preaches that word, that believes in the Grand-Narrative of God's redemptive mission to reach the nations, who has a vision to reach their city and community, who desires to see people transformed by the gospel, who's not about ecclesiastical (church) games or charades, who is kingdom-minded, who will stand for truth even if it is not popular, and who is all about pleasing Christ, not man. Once you find that church, commit yourself to that truth and weather whatever situation, circumstance, soothsayers, or enchanted deceptive wolves come your way. Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ are not glorified country clubs, but are tiny brides that form the Bride of Christ. And a regaining of 20/20 vision and memory through Christ and his word and what your church has taught you, will aid in this being displayed through believers lives.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Is there anything wrong with numbers and desiring to reach large numbers of people
I read a blog the other day espousing that God was 'all about the numbers' (of people coming into church and getting saved), therefore churches should be all about the numbers. While I will keep the bloggers name anonymous, he represents a segment of pastors and ministry leaders who make similar statements. And they argue that God: wrote a book called "Numbers", lists numbers of genealogies, and keeps up with how many were saved throughout the book of Acts.
From the blog, the pastor writes, "Apparently God is all about the numbers. So I want to be, too. And so should you. It's unacceptable to me as a pastor that we would stop growing when the Lord wants to add to our number daily those who are being saved. And in order for that to happen, we need to track every scrap of statistical data at our disposal. We've got to make sure we're measuring ministry numbers to measure our effectiveness and enlarge the Kingdom of God. I don't want to waste a single dollar or second on a program, piece of equipment, or ministry position that isn't the best option for reaching the most people."
While I agree with the fact that God loves (unconditionally) every individual, and that the angels rejoice over one sinner who was found and repents, and that Abraham's offspring will be as numerous as the sands of the seashore, the emphasis is never on the number, but on God, his glory, and what he will accomplish. In the book of Acts where 3,000 and 5,000 were saved, the apostles never approached that day or Peter, the sermon, and desired to see scores of people come to Christ. They approached that day desiring to be faithful witnesses to God, and God blessed the fruits of their labor, and multiplied and gave increase. The other fact that biblicist must remember when reading the book of Acts is that anytime something good or miraculous happens in the church, it is not the result of the apostles or believers, but the result of the Spirit living and flowing through them.
The problem that I have with statements that teach "God is all about the numbers, therefore churches should be all about the numbers" is the simple fact that numbers can creep in a pastor's or ministry life and become an idol. If numbers is what God is about and that's what we are about, everything we do from service, to ministry, to graphics, to outreach is at the root motive about the amount of people we can reach. The object then of ministry, service, graphics, outreach, and special events become numbers/people, not the glory of God and sound orthodoxy. While I love scores of people (and would be humbled at the fact that God would allow the ministry I lead to reach many) and believe that scores amount of people will be in heaven, this is not what motivates me in the ministry--God, his love, and his calling in my life motivates me to be faithful to him in proclamation of the gospel, living out the gospel, and being an excellent kingdom citizen that lives for his glory and fame, not mine.
I do not think there is anything wrong with tracking numbers, but there are times where numbers do not measure success. Just look at Jesus in John 8. There were large crowds following him until he went all cannibal (or so they thought) on them. After his teaching, large crowds departed him leaving only the disciples. Was Jesus successful? Was he a failure? At the end of Paul's life in 2 Timothy we read a letter from a lonely man, who has been deserted by many of those who had once followed him. Was Paul unsuccessful because he had one person with him in prison? Finally, the vehicle by which Jesus would bring redemption is not the greatest avenue by which to reach scores and scores of people. If Jesus wanted to reach the most people in a humanly effective way, it would not have been through the cross. He would have chosen another way. He even prays to the Father to take this cup from him. Paul says the cross is foolishness to those who do not believe.
What does this teach us about numbers? It teaches us, the church, believers, to be faithful to the calling and commands of God and allow him to draw and reach people. He will build his church, he will build his kingdom. All throughout the Bible God's ways have never been avenues that masses would follow (and I could give example after example). Again, I am not against tracking numbers or desiring to reach a great number of people. But this doesn't determine my status and my success in God's eyes, nor is it the overarching theme that drives my ministry.
Let me just caveat all this by saying that the opposite of numbers is true as well. Many approach ministry, not with a drive and passion to reach people, therefore they have a small vision, a small church, and a dismal affect on the community. I think people and churches such as these are consumed with mediocrity, laziness, and use God as a crutch as to why they are not reaching people.
Let us not be consumed with the numbers of people, but be consumed with the glory of God. Let us love God first and have an affinity for him first and then a love and affinity for people and numbers.
From the blog, the pastor writes, "Apparently God is all about the numbers. So I want to be, too. And so should you. It's unacceptable to me as a pastor that we would stop growing when the Lord wants to add to our number daily those who are being saved. And in order for that to happen, we need to track every scrap of statistical data at our disposal. We've got to make sure we're measuring ministry numbers to measure our effectiveness and enlarge the Kingdom of God. I don't want to waste a single dollar or second on a program, piece of equipment, or ministry position that isn't the best option for reaching the most people."
While I agree with the fact that God loves (unconditionally) every individual, and that the angels rejoice over one sinner who was found and repents, and that Abraham's offspring will be as numerous as the sands of the seashore, the emphasis is never on the number, but on God, his glory, and what he will accomplish. In the book of Acts where 3,000 and 5,000 were saved, the apostles never approached that day or Peter, the sermon, and desired to see scores of people come to Christ. They approached that day desiring to be faithful witnesses to God, and God blessed the fruits of their labor, and multiplied and gave increase. The other fact that biblicist must remember when reading the book of Acts is that anytime something good or miraculous happens in the church, it is not the result of the apostles or believers, but the result of the Spirit living and flowing through them.
The problem that I have with statements that teach "God is all about the numbers, therefore churches should be all about the numbers" is the simple fact that numbers can creep in a pastor's or ministry life and become an idol. If numbers is what God is about and that's what we are about, everything we do from service, to ministry, to graphics, to outreach is at the root motive about the amount of people we can reach. The object then of ministry, service, graphics, outreach, and special events become numbers/people, not the glory of God and sound orthodoxy. While I love scores of people (and would be humbled at the fact that God would allow the ministry I lead to reach many) and believe that scores amount of people will be in heaven, this is not what motivates me in the ministry--God, his love, and his calling in my life motivates me to be faithful to him in proclamation of the gospel, living out the gospel, and being an excellent kingdom citizen that lives for his glory and fame, not mine.
I do not think there is anything wrong with tracking numbers, but there are times where numbers do not measure success. Just look at Jesus in John 8. There were large crowds following him until he went all cannibal (or so they thought) on them. After his teaching, large crowds departed him leaving only the disciples. Was Jesus successful? Was he a failure? At the end of Paul's life in 2 Timothy we read a letter from a lonely man, who has been deserted by many of those who had once followed him. Was Paul unsuccessful because he had one person with him in prison? Finally, the vehicle by which Jesus would bring redemption is not the greatest avenue by which to reach scores and scores of people. If Jesus wanted to reach the most people in a humanly effective way, it would not have been through the cross. He would have chosen another way. He even prays to the Father to take this cup from him. Paul says the cross is foolishness to those who do not believe.
What does this teach us about numbers? It teaches us, the church, believers, to be faithful to the calling and commands of God and allow him to draw and reach people. He will build his church, he will build his kingdom. All throughout the Bible God's ways have never been avenues that masses would follow (and I could give example after example). Again, I am not against tracking numbers or desiring to reach a great number of people. But this doesn't determine my status and my success in God's eyes, nor is it the overarching theme that drives my ministry.
Let me just caveat all this by saying that the opposite of numbers is true as well. Many approach ministry, not with a drive and passion to reach people, therefore they have a small vision, a small church, and a dismal affect on the community. I think people and churches such as these are consumed with mediocrity, laziness, and use God as a crutch as to why they are not reaching people.
Let us not be consumed with the numbers of people, but be consumed with the glory of God. Let us love God first and have an affinity for him first and then a love and affinity for people and numbers.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The American Church Needs a Fundamental Shift
Yesterday I talked about how the church today needs a fundamental shift in their missional thinking. Over the recent decades it is vividly clear, through the research, that the church in America is on the decline. Across denominational lines the church suffers from the disease of ineffectiveness. In a recent Pew research publication, there are only two to three denominations that saw any growth, and that growth was small. What I attempted yesterday was for our people to see that church is not about a building, an institution, a denomination, a religion, but rather, a church is about a people. This people we form finds its roots all the way back to Abraham in Genesis 12. At the core, it is not about what we do, but who we are.
This is a fundamental shift in the way American evangelicals have perceived the church. Because people view the church more as an institution, religion, and place they 'come to church'. Therefore when they 'come to church' they want something out of it, just as they want something out of their trip to the grocery store. Since this mentality is prevalent, churches build program after program for 'church' people who seek to consume some commodity, whether it be for children, students, addiction, divorce, work out room, sports program, or mother's morning out. Also, since people view the church as something they do, they see Sunday services or (now) Saturday night services as something they can check off their religious checklist. Today with the vacuum of expository, biblical, theological teaching people 'go to church' to get their philosophical blessing from the pastor. They attend so that they would feel good about themselves and about their situation. Attendance to them is like attending a counseling session with Dr. Phil. The teaching pastor will give them five ways to develop a healthy marriage, neglecting to tell the the foundation of a healthy marriage is the gospel and what Christ has done.
When the church, the people who comprise a church, begin to fundamentally shift their idea and thoughts of church from a 'place to go' to a 'people we are', the church will begin to make more of a impact of culture, society, and community. One of the first shifts that will take place once this mentality is embraced is that the church today becomes a global people on a global mission to bless all peoples. This includes those around us, in our communities, neighborhoods, and cities, not just those halfway around the world.
We find this truth in Genesis 12, with the calling of Abraham. Juxtapose to Abraham's calling is the mayhem at Babel. These people, rather than being dispersed over the earth, gathered together to build a great city and name for themselves. As they took the raw materials from the earth and cultivated them, their civilization and culture became rooted in their own purpose and glory. However, when God calls Abraham, he will make Abraham great and into a great nation. The person who would obtain the glory would be God, not man, not Abraham. Therefore, the descendants of Abraham, both biologically and spiritually speaking (Gal 3:8), would be people who would cultivate, build, worship, live, and be a blessing to others for the glory of God.
This is why I said yesterday the church must have two tracks when it comes to building and participating in society and culture making. First, we must corporately pool our resources together for the good of our society, community, and city in order to be a blessing to them. Now the blessing we are does not end with creating jobs, services, and products for the city to by, but becomes a blessing which builds a platform to gospel encounters.
The second track would include a ministry designed to teach people who are already in the culture, the marketplace, and the community (schools, politics, etc.). Here we would teach them how to be intentional and gospel-centered in the environment they work. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NY, has a ministry called, The Gotham Project, which is an intensive training for those in the marketplace.
This is beginning to happen throughout America as well as in Britain and Australia. Where the church, the people of God, are taking a missional posture to be a blessing to the city, rather than just a blessing to their own. The church is not called to create and build little compounds and subcultures for their own, which is separated from the world. We are called to be in, but not of the world. The church is called to be around, but distinct from the world. And Abraham gives us the foundation for 'who we are', not 'what we are'. We are the people of God who have been sent on a mission to cultivate for the glory of God and bless those who cultivate and build for themselves. Hebrews 11, the author sheds light on the fact that Abraham lived the way he did because he was looking forward to the heavenly city.
Therefore, Abraham was a man who built, cultivated, and blessed in a way that manifested the heavenly city here on earth. What will the church do? Will the church today in America continue to come together, usually just with their own denomination, and build a great name, denomination, and church for themselves? Or will they stop this ecclesiastical kingdom building project and get back to the missional aspect of 'being' a people, sent in to bless other people? Will the church stop this ecclesiastical institutional dominance and once again embrace the true nature of the church, 'a people' sent on a mission? If the church or many local churches will accept this fundamental (biblical) shift, over the next years and decades I believe we will see a greater impact on the culture, society, cities, and communities. (The caveat is also, we will see greater resistance and push back. Not much really exist in America due to what Spurgeon prophetically stated: "The reason why the church has not had more impact of the world, is because the world has had too much impact on the church.".)
This is a fundamental shift in the way American evangelicals have perceived the church. Because people view the church more as an institution, religion, and place they 'come to church'. Therefore when they 'come to church' they want something out of it, just as they want something out of their trip to the grocery store. Since this mentality is prevalent, churches build program after program for 'church' people who seek to consume some commodity, whether it be for children, students, addiction, divorce, work out room, sports program, or mother's morning out. Also, since people view the church as something they do, they see Sunday services or (now) Saturday night services as something they can check off their religious checklist. Today with the vacuum of expository, biblical, theological teaching people 'go to church' to get their philosophical blessing from the pastor. They attend so that they would feel good about themselves and about their situation. Attendance to them is like attending a counseling session with Dr. Phil. The teaching pastor will give them five ways to develop a healthy marriage, neglecting to tell the the foundation of a healthy marriage is the gospel and what Christ has done.
When the church, the people who comprise a church, begin to fundamentally shift their idea and thoughts of church from a 'place to go' to a 'people we are', the church will begin to make more of a impact of culture, society, and community. One of the first shifts that will take place once this mentality is embraced is that the church today becomes a global people on a global mission to bless all peoples. This includes those around us, in our communities, neighborhoods, and cities, not just those halfway around the world.
We find this truth in Genesis 12, with the calling of Abraham. Juxtapose to Abraham's calling is the mayhem at Babel. These people, rather than being dispersed over the earth, gathered together to build a great city and name for themselves. As they took the raw materials from the earth and cultivated them, their civilization and culture became rooted in their own purpose and glory. However, when God calls Abraham, he will make Abraham great and into a great nation. The person who would obtain the glory would be God, not man, not Abraham. Therefore, the descendants of Abraham, both biologically and spiritually speaking (Gal 3:8), would be people who would cultivate, build, worship, live, and be a blessing to others for the glory of God.
This is why I said yesterday the church must have two tracks when it comes to building and participating in society and culture making. First, we must corporately pool our resources together for the good of our society, community, and city in order to be a blessing to them. Now the blessing we are does not end with creating jobs, services, and products for the city to by, but becomes a blessing which builds a platform to gospel encounters.
The second track would include a ministry designed to teach people who are already in the culture, the marketplace, and the community (schools, politics, etc.). Here we would teach them how to be intentional and gospel-centered in the environment they work. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NY, has a ministry called, The Gotham Project, which is an intensive training for those in the marketplace.
This is beginning to happen throughout America as well as in Britain and Australia. Where the church, the people of God, are taking a missional posture to be a blessing to the city, rather than just a blessing to their own. The church is not called to create and build little compounds and subcultures for their own, which is separated from the world. We are called to be in, but not of the world. The church is called to be around, but distinct from the world. And Abraham gives us the foundation for 'who we are', not 'what we are'. We are the people of God who have been sent on a mission to cultivate for the glory of God and bless those who cultivate and build for themselves. Hebrews 11, the author sheds light on the fact that Abraham lived the way he did because he was looking forward to the heavenly city.
Therefore, Abraham was a man who built, cultivated, and blessed in a way that manifested the heavenly city here on earth. What will the church do? Will the church today in America continue to come together, usually just with their own denomination, and build a great name, denomination, and church for themselves? Or will they stop this ecclesiastical kingdom building project and get back to the missional aspect of 'being' a people, sent in to bless other people? Will the church stop this ecclesiastical institutional dominance and once again embrace the true nature of the church, 'a people' sent on a mission? If the church or many local churches will accept this fundamental (biblical) shift, over the next years and decades I believe we will see a greater impact on the culture, society, cities, and communities. (The caveat is also, we will see greater resistance and push back. Not much really exist in America due to what Spurgeon prophetically stated: "The reason why the church has not had more impact of the world, is because the world has had too much impact on the church.".)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Would Gamaliel Believe Today?
I wonder if Gamaliel ever became a believer? Or, if he were alive today would he believe?
I pose this question given the fact Gamaliel states to those who wanted to kill the apostles for their witness, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing....So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"
Later in the book of Acts, people in Thessalonica claim that this movement of proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was 'turning the world upside down'. Over 2000 years later the movement still moves forward, not being able to be thwarted by man. Therefore, would Gamaliel, a skeptic, a religious Jewish nonbeliever, claim this Jesus, God, given the fact no one has ever been able to stop it? The religious zealots were not able to stop it. Saul, one of the religious zealots was completely transformed by this movement that he became its biggest proponent. The Roman Empire was not able to stop it. In fact, this movement became so influential it became the religious banner of the Empire. A corrupt church couldn't stop it. Communist governments cannot stop it. Islamic Jihadist cannot stop it. I believe Gamaliel, knowing what he knew then, and seeing what had transpired and what has transpired over the two millennia, would have become a believer. Whether or not he ever received the gospel and surrendered to the Lord, we are not privy too, but others can learn from his statement. Look at what this wise religious leader said and look at what has transpired since then. Either this movement was extremely lucky and had great successful leaders, or this movement has the God of the universe behind it, sovereignly guiding it, and leading it to its final destination, which is the consummation of the kingdom of God.
I pose this question given the fact Gamaliel states to those who wanted to kill the apostles for their witness, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing....So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"
Later in the book of Acts, people in Thessalonica claim that this movement of proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was 'turning the world upside down'. Over 2000 years later the movement still moves forward, not being able to be thwarted by man. Therefore, would Gamaliel, a skeptic, a religious Jewish nonbeliever, claim this Jesus, God, given the fact no one has ever been able to stop it? The religious zealots were not able to stop it. Saul, one of the religious zealots was completely transformed by this movement that he became its biggest proponent. The Roman Empire was not able to stop it. In fact, this movement became so influential it became the religious banner of the Empire. A corrupt church couldn't stop it. Communist governments cannot stop it. Islamic Jihadist cannot stop it. I believe Gamaliel, knowing what he knew then, and seeing what had transpired and what has transpired over the two millennia, would have become a believer. Whether or not he ever received the gospel and surrendered to the Lord, we are not privy too, but others can learn from his statement. Look at what this wise religious leader said and look at what has transpired since then. Either this movement was extremely lucky and had great successful leaders, or this movement has the God of the universe behind it, sovereignly guiding it, and leading it to its final destination, which is the consummation of the kingdom of God.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thoughts Regarding The Gospel
Acts 2:23 "this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."
The gospel is not that man killed Jesus, but that God killed his own Son, through the human responsibility of lawless men who crucified and killed Jesus. But, God had definitively planned and plotted it long before it happened. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave [delivered up, killed, and had crucified] his only son, so that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life." This is the gospel. Not that we loved God, but that he first loved us. The gospel is not that we were looking for God and found him in Jesus, but he came looking and seeking us through Christ.
Acts 2:24, "God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."
Acts 2:36, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
The gospel is that God loosed the pangs of death and provided a way for salvation for sinful man, not that man can provide his own salvation. Man can try to obtain salvation all day long as well as trying to avoid everlasting death, but he will always come up miserably short. It is impossible for man to avoid death and everlasting destruction. The gospel is that it was impossible for Christ to be held by death; therefore, receiving him, clinging to him, embracing him and his finished work on the cross makes it impossible for us to be held by death.
The gospel is that we have done nothing to deserve God's grace, but God has done it all. God delivered Jesus up (Acts 2:23), God raised him up (Acts 2:24), and God has made him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). This is the gospel. God has done everything. He has made a way even for what some would consider the most awful and rotten sinners, namely the ones who physically assaulted and crucified Christ. It is this gospel which beckons men, not to work harder, do more, perform more, but to receive what Jesus has purchased for them, as well as what the Father has provided for them. The question is: have you received, repented, embraced, clung to, surrendered, to the gospel?
The gospel is not that man killed Jesus, but that God killed his own Son, through the human responsibility of lawless men who crucified and killed Jesus. But, God had definitively planned and plotted it long before it happened. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave [delivered up, killed, and had crucified] his only son, so that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life." This is the gospel. Not that we loved God, but that he first loved us. The gospel is not that we were looking for God and found him in Jesus, but he came looking and seeking us through Christ.
Acts 2:24, "God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."
Acts 2:36, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
The gospel is that God loosed the pangs of death and provided a way for salvation for sinful man, not that man can provide his own salvation. Man can try to obtain salvation all day long as well as trying to avoid everlasting death, but he will always come up miserably short. It is impossible for man to avoid death and everlasting destruction. The gospel is that it was impossible for Christ to be held by death; therefore, receiving him, clinging to him, embracing him and his finished work on the cross makes it impossible for us to be held by death.
The gospel is that we have done nothing to deserve God's grace, but God has done it all. God delivered Jesus up (Acts 2:23), God raised him up (Acts 2:24), and God has made him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). This is the gospel. God has done everything. He has made a way even for what some would consider the most awful and rotten sinners, namely the ones who physically assaulted and crucified Christ. It is this gospel which beckons men, not to work harder, do more, perform more, but to receive what Jesus has purchased for them, as well as what the Father has provided for them. The question is: have you received, repented, embraced, clung to, surrendered, to the gospel?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Do You Do Well to be Angry?
Do You Do Well to Be Angry?
Many times when things do not go the way we plan we get mad, upset, and angry. Sometimes that anger, hurt, and disappointment is directed at God; and at other times it is directed towards others. What are some things which create anger, resentment, or indignation? Maybe it was a promotion we were suppose to or promised to get. Maybe it was a lifestyle our spouse promised when first married. Maybe it was a loss of a job, house, or family member. It could also be a loss of tradition, and the way things are now are not what was. In the church world, many may become bitter when they are disenfranchised with the direction of the leadership and church to the point they begin to believe that the leadership and the new people of the church are pushing them out and stealing their church.
Jonah had a problem with anger over things that did not go his way. His anger was over the mercy and grace of God, which was poured out on the Ninevites. Also Jonah expressed his anger over a plant, which was only temporary in his life. The plant grew and provided shade for only one day, then the next it withered due to the hand of God. This caused Jonah much displeasure and heartache. Jonah at the close of the book of Jonah is not a happy camper. He is mad at all the people (Gentile people) God saved. He also pouts because he no longer has a plant for shade. God teaches Jonah a valuable lesson which would behoove us all to learn and apply to our lives. God tells Jonah, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"
God teaches Jonah a few things from this statement. First, God teaches Jonah he is Sovereign over everything as well as the Creator of everything, and wants to be the Savior of all peoples. He is the Creator of the Ninevites and the plant. They are all his. He caused them to grow. He watched over them and nothing they did or that transpired happened outside the control of God. Therefore God has much concern and love over the spiritual condition of the world. Rather than being moved by our dislike and disdain of people not of our race, ethnicity, or culture, God would have us direct love, grace, mercy, and most of all the gospel to those people.
The second thing God teaches us through Jonah is that he owns everything and nothing is ours. God tells Jonah the plant was caused to grow by the hand of God, not the hand of Jonah. I know what people are thinking now. Jonah didn't plant the plant, water the plant, and nurture the plant, God did. Therefore, people will say, but,
I work my 40-60 hours a week and nurture my paycheck. I worked hard for that raise. I took care of my children only to see this happen
to them. I shouldn't have to give away my money. I should live the way I want to, and give God what I want. I spent forty years of my
life at this church. I built this building with my own hands. I gave so much money to this building fund. I helped build this church through
all the years of outreach. This tradition has been in our family or church for two generations. I have lived here my whole life. This was
my raise. This was my ministry. I have been doing this for 10 years. This is my city. This is my town. It doesn't belong to these new
people.
The perceptive reality is that people have exerted energy to make things happen and for things to grow. However, there are two responses to these rebuttals. One, who gave you the energy to do all that you have done? Who gave you the energy and healthy to work? Who provided you a job in the first place? Who has called you to work for his glory and his good? Therefore, since you are suppose to be a steward of the energy and job God has provided for you, you should also be a steward and manager of the resources that flow from this job. Second, who ultimately causes things to grow? Not you. Not me. God does. We can water, work, water, and work all day long, but things may not grow. We can cause nothing to grow. All we can do is work the land. God causes things to grow. God ultimately builds what we (as tools) are used for. Jesus says in Matthew 16, "I will build my church." Paul says in 1 Corinthians, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase (the growth)." We must understand that growth, no matter what type of growth, is not a result from our ingenuity or hard work, It is from the gracious hand of God. Therefore, our increase and growth of money, resources, materials, family, church building, church flock, and even friends are not ultimately from us, but from our good and gracious God.
This is why when things do not work out the way we plan, or we lose things we love, we should not become angry at God or even others. We must learn that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. We must learn that the Lord is Sovereign, Creator, and Savior of all mankind and that his mission may not always be what we want the mission to look like or how we would see the mission transpire. We must surrender to the Lord and allow him to use us for his glory and fame. If we do this, we will learn from Jonah not to get angry at the things that are outside our control and those things that we lose, which were not ours to begin with.
Many times when things do not go the way we plan we get mad, upset, and angry. Sometimes that anger, hurt, and disappointment is directed at God; and at other times it is directed towards others. What are some things which create anger, resentment, or indignation? Maybe it was a promotion we were suppose to or promised to get. Maybe it was a lifestyle our spouse promised when first married. Maybe it was a loss of a job, house, or family member. It could also be a loss of tradition, and the way things are now are not what was. In the church world, many may become bitter when they are disenfranchised with the direction of the leadership and church to the point they begin to believe that the leadership and the new people of the church are pushing them out and stealing their church.
Jonah had a problem with anger over things that did not go his way. His anger was over the mercy and grace of God, which was poured out on the Ninevites. Also Jonah expressed his anger over a plant, which was only temporary in his life. The plant grew and provided shade for only one day, then the next it withered due to the hand of God. This caused Jonah much displeasure and heartache. Jonah at the close of the book of Jonah is not a happy camper. He is mad at all the people (Gentile people) God saved. He also pouts because he no longer has a plant for shade. God teaches Jonah a valuable lesson which would behoove us all to learn and apply to our lives. God tells Jonah, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"
God teaches Jonah a few things from this statement. First, God teaches Jonah he is Sovereign over everything as well as the Creator of everything, and wants to be the Savior of all peoples. He is the Creator of the Ninevites and the plant. They are all his. He caused them to grow. He watched over them and nothing they did or that transpired happened outside the control of God. Therefore God has much concern and love over the spiritual condition of the world. Rather than being moved by our dislike and disdain of people not of our race, ethnicity, or culture, God would have us direct love, grace, mercy, and most of all the gospel to those people.
The second thing God teaches us through Jonah is that he owns everything and nothing is ours. God tells Jonah the plant was caused to grow by the hand of God, not the hand of Jonah. I know what people are thinking now. Jonah didn't plant the plant, water the plant, and nurture the plant, God did. Therefore, people will say, but,
I work my 40-60 hours a week and nurture my paycheck. I worked hard for that raise. I took care of my children only to see this happen
to them. I shouldn't have to give away my money. I should live the way I want to, and give God what I want. I spent forty years of my
life at this church. I built this building with my own hands. I gave so much money to this building fund. I helped build this church through
all the years of outreach. This tradition has been in our family or church for two generations. I have lived here my whole life. This was
my raise. This was my ministry. I have been doing this for 10 years. This is my city. This is my town. It doesn't belong to these new
people.
The perceptive reality is that people have exerted energy to make things happen and for things to grow. However, there are two responses to these rebuttals. One, who gave you the energy to do all that you have done? Who gave you the energy and healthy to work? Who provided you a job in the first place? Who has called you to work for his glory and his good? Therefore, since you are suppose to be a steward of the energy and job God has provided for you, you should also be a steward and manager of the resources that flow from this job. Second, who ultimately causes things to grow? Not you. Not me. God does. We can water, work, water, and work all day long, but things may not grow. We can cause nothing to grow. All we can do is work the land. God causes things to grow. God ultimately builds what we (as tools) are used for. Jesus says in Matthew 16, "I will build my church." Paul says in 1 Corinthians, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase (the growth)." We must understand that growth, no matter what type of growth, is not a result from our ingenuity or hard work, It is from the gracious hand of God. Therefore, our increase and growth of money, resources, materials, family, church building, church flock, and even friends are not ultimately from us, but from our good and gracious God.
This is why when things do not work out the way we plan, or we lose things we love, we should not become angry at God or even others. We must learn that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. We must learn that the Lord is Sovereign, Creator, and Savior of all mankind and that his mission may not always be what we want the mission to look like or how we would see the mission transpire. We must surrender to the Lord and allow him to use us for his glory and fame. If we do this, we will learn from Jonah not to get angry at the things that are outside our control and those things that we lose, which were not ours to begin with.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Public Scripture Reading and Biblical Preaching
THE NEED FOR SCRIPTURE READING AND BIBLICAL PREACHING.
Paul exhorts Timothy to "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching...Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:13,15-16).
Why should we publicly read Scripture during congregational worship? The Bible says too. Why should preachers/pastors preach and expound God's word? The Bible says too. Paul exhorts Timothy to publicly read Scripture as well as teach and exhort people from Scripture. Paul provides the key to the results of biblical teaching. Biblical teaching is the watering of God's children so that they produce fruit. Paul tells Timothy to persist in teaching so that by doing so "you will save both yourself and your hearers." Does Paul mean that solely teaching God's word and hearing God's word, one is automatically saved, and this salvation is contingent upon persistently doing this? No. Preaching and listening are not salvific.
However, biblical teaching and listening to biblically faithful teaching constantly confronts both the leadership and the congregation with God's standard and direction. This either leads in one or two directions: 1) being reconciled to God, drawing closer to him and producing fruit that validates true salvation, or 2) it leads to being repelled from God and living contrary to his will and ways.
Biblically faithful preaching at some point will cause people to feel uncomfortable. There is a strong movement today in many churches to neglect the public reading and preaching of Scripture. And if Scripture is used in these settings, many times its is abused by its misuse. Paul in his second letter to Timothy writes this in reference to the word,, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth...preach the word...For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off int myths. (2 Tim 2:15; 4:2,3-4)" The word of God is tantamount to Paul. The word of God is inerrant, infallible, sufficient, applicable, relevant, and necessary for believers to live for the glory of God. A neglect of God's word is a neglect of him. Therefore, churches and especially pastors and leaders should fulfill this exhortation once made to Timothy.
Here's a closing thought: Can we really say we have the gospel if we neglect what holds the gospel? How can we preach the gospel or share the gospel if we neglect to preach or share God's word? Are we really pleasing God or doing people justice if we fail to preach the whole counsel of God? Many young preachers and young churches have taken their sermon cue by formatting their sermons around series. Therefore, many of them, being driven by series, bounce from one book of Scripture to another. They bounce from one character of Scripture to another, isolating one particular instance and circumstance in their life. Rather than being driven by the text, they are driven by people and themes. In other words, the word of God is not in the driver's seat navigating people through life, the people are in the driver's seat navigating the Scripture where they are and want to be. Instead of men and women applying themselves to the word of God and the Grand Narrative of God, they apply his word to where they are. It is a man-centered approach (or hermeneutics), rather than a gospel-centered, Christocentric approach (or hermeneutics). Also, by jumping around Scripture, many times they jump over controversial and difficult passages. By avoiding passages and books that are controversial and difficult to understand, they fail to provide meat and potatoes to those in their fold. May we Read the Word, Preach the Word, Apply the Word, and Live out the Word!
Paul exhorts Timothy to "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching...Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:13,15-16).
Why should we publicly read Scripture during congregational worship? The Bible says too. Why should preachers/pastors preach and expound God's word? The Bible says too. Paul exhorts Timothy to publicly read Scripture as well as teach and exhort people from Scripture. Paul provides the key to the results of biblical teaching. Biblical teaching is the watering of God's children so that they produce fruit. Paul tells Timothy to persist in teaching so that by doing so "you will save both yourself and your hearers." Does Paul mean that solely teaching God's word and hearing God's word, one is automatically saved, and this salvation is contingent upon persistently doing this? No. Preaching and listening are not salvific.
However, biblical teaching and listening to biblically faithful teaching constantly confronts both the leadership and the congregation with God's standard and direction. This either leads in one or two directions: 1) being reconciled to God, drawing closer to him and producing fruit that validates true salvation, or 2) it leads to being repelled from God and living contrary to his will and ways.
Biblically faithful preaching at some point will cause people to feel uncomfortable. There is a strong movement today in many churches to neglect the public reading and preaching of Scripture. And if Scripture is used in these settings, many times its is abused by its misuse. Paul in his second letter to Timothy writes this in reference to the word,, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth...preach the word...For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off int myths. (2 Tim 2:15; 4:2,3-4)" The word of God is tantamount to Paul. The word of God is inerrant, infallible, sufficient, applicable, relevant, and necessary for believers to live for the glory of God. A neglect of God's word is a neglect of him. Therefore, churches and especially pastors and leaders should fulfill this exhortation once made to Timothy.
Here's a closing thought: Can we really say we have the gospel if we neglect what holds the gospel? How can we preach the gospel or share the gospel if we neglect to preach or share God's word? Are we really pleasing God or doing people justice if we fail to preach the whole counsel of God? Many young preachers and young churches have taken their sermon cue by formatting their sermons around series. Therefore, many of them, being driven by series, bounce from one book of Scripture to another. They bounce from one character of Scripture to another, isolating one particular instance and circumstance in their life. Rather than being driven by the text, they are driven by people and themes. In other words, the word of God is not in the driver's seat navigating people through life, the people are in the driver's seat navigating the Scripture where they are and want to be. Instead of men and women applying themselves to the word of God and the Grand Narrative of God, they apply his word to where they are. It is a man-centered approach (or hermeneutics), rather than a gospel-centered, Christocentric approach (or hermeneutics). Also, by jumping around Scripture, many times they jump over controversial and difficult passages. By avoiding passages and books that are controversial and difficult to understand, they fail to provide meat and potatoes to those in their fold. May we Read the Word, Preach the Word, Apply the Word, and Live out the Word!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Confrontation and Suffering: Realities that Believers Face
The Gospel and the Cosmic War and Experienced Sufferings.
Two words most Americans despise: confrontation and suffering. Neither confrontation or suffering are two things people like to experience. People intentionally avoid confrontation and cringe at the thought of suffering. Many believers fail to realize the gospel brings about both confrontation and suffering. Following Jesus magnetically attracts confrontation and suffering.
The gospel may bring peace in the inner life. The gospel may bring peace to a family struggling for marital survival. The gospel will bring peace in the afterlife. However, here and now the gospel brings division, war, confrontation, finger pointing, and strife. One cannot escape this reality. Many times these points of confrontation come from both inside and outside the church. Nominal believers, from a guilty conscience, will rail against and murmur negativity towards those who strive to live out the gospel in a radical posture. Those outside the church, like Bill Maher, will many times attack radical believers and paint them as Jesus freaks, close-minded, spiritual buffoons, who use religion as a crutch.
There are also three more primary sources of confrontation believers will experience: Satan, the world, and flesh. Do not think for a second that once someone believes in Christ and commits their life to follow him that Satan will not have anything to say about it. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy any work of God. He desires to thwart, stop, and detour God's plan. Also the world and the flesh are antagonists against the children of God. The world and the flesh live contrary to the laws and ways of God. Every single day we are in direct confrontation with both these powers confronting us to live contrary to the will of God.
Not only does the gospel breed confrontation, it also brings about suffering. The bible explicitly tells believers that the cost of following Christ will lead to suffering. The ultimate experience of suffering is martyrdom. While believers living in the Western world, particular America, have not been subject to this type of suffering, they must realize living out the gospel, in its entirety, can lead to other forms of suffering. Such as: family estrangement, loss of job, loss of friends, giving up certain things out of priority for Christ and the gospel (lifestyle, friends, substances, extra-circular activities, etc.), and mischaracterizations. In any case, suffering exists in life, but also manifests itself to those who live out the gospel in the pursuit of following Christ.
What can we conclude from this two areas of distaste for many believers today?
The gospel is not for wimps or sissies. If you want to follow Christ you must man up, woman up, and pony up. Many Americans are simply accustomed to other people fighting their battles whether it be the military, government, mommy or daddy. Comfort, security, and ease defines many modern Americans. This makes it difficult to adapt to suffering when it comes in any form. Believers are caught up in a cosmic battle for the souls of men and women, but most importantly for the glory of God. Confrontation is a reality that we must deal with in a Christocentric gospel-centered way. And suffering is a reality we must accept and with God's grace and power deal with it.
Two words most Americans despise: confrontation and suffering. Neither confrontation or suffering are two things people like to experience. People intentionally avoid confrontation and cringe at the thought of suffering. Many believers fail to realize the gospel brings about both confrontation and suffering. Following Jesus magnetically attracts confrontation and suffering.
The gospel may bring peace in the inner life. The gospel may bring peace to a family struggling for marital survival. The gospel will bring peace in the afterlife. However, here and now the gospel brings division, war, confrontation, finger pointing, and strife. One cannot escape this reality. Many times these points of confrontation come from both inside and outside the church. Nominal believers, from a guilty conscience, will rail against and murmur negativity towards those who strive to live out the gospel in a radical posture. Those outside the church, like Bill Maher, will many times attack radical believers and paint them as Jesus freaks, close-minded, spiritual buffoons, who use religion as a crutch.
There are also three more primary sources of confrontation believers will experience: Satan, the world, and flesh. Do not think for a second that once someone believes in Christ and commits their life to follow him that Satan will not have anything to say about it. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy any work of God. He desires to thwart, stop, and detour God's plan. Also the world and the flesh are antagonists against the children of God. The world and the flesh live contrary to the laws and ways of God. Every single day we are in direct confrontation with both these powers confronting us to live contrary to the will of God.
Not only does the gospel breed confrontation, it also brings about suffering. The bible explicitly tells believers that the cost of following Christ will lead to suffering. The ultimate experience of suffering is martyrdom. While believers living in the Western world, particular America, have not been subject to this type of suffering, they must realize living out the gospel, in its entirety, can lead to other forms of suffering. Such as: family estrangement, loss of job, loss of friends, giving up certain things out of priority for Christ and the gospel (lifestyle, friends, substances, extra-circular activities, etc.), and mischaracterizations. In any case, suffering exists in life, but also manifests itself to those who live out the gospel in the pursuit of following Christ.
What can we conclude from this two areas of distaste for many believers today?
The gospel is not for wimps or sissies. If you want to follow Christ you must man up, woman up, and pony up. Many Americans are simply accustomed to other people fighting their battles whether it be the military, government, mommy or daddy. Comfort, security, and ease defines many modern Americans. This makes it difficult to adapt to suffering when it comes in any form. Believers are caught up in a cosmic battle for the souls of men and women, but most importantly for the glory of God. Confrontation is a reality that we must deal with in a Christocentric gospel-centered way. And suffering is a reality we must accept and with God's grace and power deal with it.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thinking about Church Replanting
Lamentations 5:1-2 Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
Lamentations 5:21-22 "Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old--unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us."
Think about a nation or kingdom whose people are poor, unhealthy, malnourished, sick, and near death. What would one's thoughts be towards that kingdom or nation? Immediately the blame would rest on the king, ruler, and its leaders, not the people. But, what if the king had provided everything the people needed for vitality and vibrancy, and all that was necessary is that the people surrender and embrace the kings remedy to cure their overall pitiful state? Now the blame shifts from the king and the kingdom to the stubborn people of the kingdom.
What is happening all across America is the mischaracterization of the kingdom of God, given the debilitated state of the local churches who are agents of God's kingdom. Somehow and in someway the churches across America have lost the keys to the kingdom. Jesus told Peter that upon himself he would build his church, and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. While Jesus is busy in remnant churches (new or old) across America, the majority of local churches are suffering decay and decline. A question that must be asked is, does our king and savior deserve such defaming publicity? Is this what our great God and Savior died for? Did he die for churches to be started only to rot and die rather than being replanted and live?
While many will sit and point fingers and distribute blame, the only people to blame and point fingers at is the church and those who constitute it. Those who are part of such dilapidated churches need to realize their state is revocable and reversible. Reversing such a state is difficult, demanding, and radical. It will require repentance, surrender, patience, releasing, forgiveness, and radical transformation. Allowing Christ to work and resuscitate, renew, and replant what life is left in churches, whether it be just the assets having been accumulated over years, will launch a movement of his glory and power. Think about what Jesus did with what the little boy gave him? What if decaying, declining, and near death churches gave what little they had left back to Jesus? Think about what our great God and Savior could do with just a little that is surrendered to him. May churches surrender and may God be glorified!
Lamentations 5:21-22 "Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old--unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us."
Think about a nation or kingdom whose people are poor, unhealthy, malnourished, sick, and near death. What would one's thoughts be towards that kingdom or nation? Immediately the blame would rest on the king, ruler, and its leaders, not the people. But, what if the king had provided everything the people needed for vitality and vibrancy, and all that was necessary is that the people surrender and embrace the kings remedy to cure their overall pitiful state? Now the blame shifts from the king and the kingdom to the stubborn people of the kingdom.
What is happening all across America is the mischaracterization of the kingdom of God, given the debilitated state of the local churches who are agents of God's kingdom. Somehow and in someway the churches across America have lost the keys to the kingdom. Jesus told Peter that upon himself he would build his church, and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. While Jesus is busy in remnant churches (new or old) across America, the majority of local churches are suffering decay and decline. A question that must be asked is, does our king and savior deserve such defaming publicity? Is this what our great God and Savior died for? Did he die for churches to be started only to rot and die rather than being replanted and live?
While many will sit and point fingers and distribute blame, the only people to blame and point fingers at is the church and those who constitute it. Those who are part of such dilapidated churches need to realize their state is revocable and reversible. Reversing such a state is difficult, demanding, and radical. It will require repentance, surrender, patience, releasing, forgiveness, and radical transformation. Allowing Christ to work and resuscitate, renew, and replant what life is left in churches, whether it be just the assets having been accumulated over years, will launch a movement of his glory and power. Think about what Jesus did with what the little boy gave him? What if decaying, declining, and near death churches gave what little they had left back to Jesus? Think about what our great God and Savior could do with just a little that is surrendered to him. May churches surrender and may God be glorified!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Random Thought about the Church and Church Replants.
Lamentations 1:1
"How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave."
Jeremiah describes the city of Jerusalem who in the past had been a booming city, spiritual, physical, and emotionally healthy because they were in right standing with God. However, what once was is no more. She had become an abomination to God, weak in the eyes of other nations, and feeble in their vitality.
How this describes the majority of churches today. With 80% of churches across denominational lines suffering decline or plateau, they sit there lonely and dreaming of the good ole days. Sadly, many of these church do not realize there is something terribly wrong. Those who have yet to produce a convert, baptisms, or new members in years, defend adamantly they are not dead. Understand this: healthy lives, organisms, organizations, and churches reproduce. Reproduction can be in the form of conversions, transformations, new members, and new churches being planted. Just because a church still has their doors open and is paying their mortgage and bills does not mean they are healthy. Truthfully death is knocking at their door.
What kills people? Immediately you might think old age, cancer, disease, car wreck, obesity, etc. These are means by which people die, but it is not what kills people. Their inherited nature of Sin kills. Man was created in the image of God. One attribute of imageo Dei is to live forever. The sin of man did not discontinue their eternality, but did inaugurate their earthly state of death. Therefore, from the sin of Adam and Eve everyone who would follow thereafter would die as result of sin. This sin would spread into every sect of society: home, civilization, culture, nation, people, and eventually the church.
Individual churches over the course of 2,000 years have experienced this life cycle where sin eventually kills them or renders them ineffective and unfruitful. Think about the seven churches of Revelation. They were second generational churches who Jesus had issues with. Jesus took issue with some more than others. Nevertheless, this tells us today, if we are not careful we can allow the church to become infected in areas which may spread to the overall health of the church. Eventually this infection can cause lukewarmness, unfruitfulness, and ineffectiveness to the point Jesus vomits. What Christian or Church in their right mind wants to make the Son of God, our Savior and Lord vomit? But, the reality is Jesus is constantly up-chucking due to the state of many of his local churches in the West, particularly in America.
What is needed? New life, new birth, resurrection, renewal, restart, and reproduction. The churches who have suffered sever decline, degeneration, and imminent death need to do something drastic and radical. Rather than smothering the gospel and it's mission because of their tradition, preferences, selfishness, hurt, bitterness, resentment, and sin, they need to allow the gospel to shine and give birth. In other words, they need to decrease and allow Jesus to increase. Jesus wants his church to be healthy, vibrant, and reproducing. In order for this to happen, churches must rekindle what it means to be Christo-centric, gospel-centered, and mission-centered rather than ecclesiastical-centered. When churches become ecclesiastical-centered they become stagnate, institutional, traditional, internal, self-centered, and maintenance driven.
If churches or people who gather under the banner of a church name fail to do this, they cease to behave and act like the church. The Church is the bride of Christ sent on his continuing mission. Therefore, we submit and surrender to our husband and what he would have us do. Failing to surrender and submit to our husband and be guided by him is a declaration of our independence from our husband. Churches who desire to return to their first love must repent and confess of their adultery. These actions of adultery can manifest itself in selfishness, perceiving the church belongs to them not Christ. Adultery can manifest itself through pride, arrogance, racism, and apathy.
My prayer is that more churches would recognize their unhealthiness, ineffectiveness, unfruitfulness, and their imminent death and would repent, and desire to replant.
"How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave."
Jeremiah describes the city of Jerusalem who in the past had been a booming city, spiritual, physical, and emotionally healthy because they were in right standing with God. However, what once was is no more. She had become an abomination to God, weak in the eyes of other nations, and feeble in their vitality.
How this describes the majority of churches today. With 80% of churches across denominational lines suffering decline or plateau, they sit there lonely and dreaming of the good ole days. Sadly, many of these church do not realize there is something terribly wrong. Those who have yet to produce a convert, baptisms, or new members in years, defend adamantly they are not dead. Understand this: healthy lives, organisms, organizations, and churches reproduce. Reproduction can be in the form of conversions, transformations, new members, and new churches being planted. Just because a church still has their doors open and is paying their mortgage and bills does not mean they are healthy. Truthfully death is knocking at their door.
What kills people? Immediately you might think old age, cancer, disease, car wreck, obesity, etc. These are means by which people die, but it is not what kills people. Their inherited nature of Sin kills. Man was created in the image of God. One attribute of imageo Dei is to live forever. The sin of man did not discontinue their eternality, but did inaugurate their earthly state of death. Therefore, from the sin of Adam and Eve everyone who would follow thereafter would die as result of sin. This sin would spread into every sect of society: home, civilization, culture, nation, people, and eventually the church.
Individual churches over the course of 2,000 years have experienced this life cycle where sin eventually kills them or renders them ineffective and unfruitful. Think about the seven churches of Revelation. They were second generational churches who Jesus had issues with. Jesus took issue with some more than others. Nevertheless, this tells us today, if we are not careful we can allow the church to become infected in areas which may spread to the overall health of the church. Eventually this infection can cause lukewarmness, unfruitfulness, and ineffectiveness to the point Jesus vomits. What Christian or Church in their right mind wants to make the Son of God, our Savior and Lord vomit? But, the reality is Jesus is constantly up-chucking due to the state of many of his local churches in the West, particularly in America.
What is needed? New life, new birth, resurrection, renewal, restart, and reproduction. The churches who have suffered sever decline, degeneration, and imminent death need to do something drastic and radical. Rather than smothering the gospel and it's mission because of their tradition, preferences, selfishness, hurt, bitterness, resentment, and sin, they need to allow the gospel to shine and give birth. In other words, they need to decrease and allow Jesus to increase. Jesus wants his church to be healthy, vibrant, and reproducing. In order for this to happen, churches must rekindle what it means to be Christo-centric, gospel-centered, and mission-centered rather than ecclesiastical-centered. When churches become ecclesiastical-centered they become stagnate, institutional, traditional, internal, self-centered, and maintenance driven.
If churches or people who gather under the banner of a church name fail to do this, they cease to behave and act like the church. The Church is the bride of Christ sent on his continuing mission. Therefore, we submit and surrender to our husband and what he would have us do. Failing to surrender and submit to our husband and be guided by him is a declaration of our independence from our husband. Churches who desire to return to their first love must repent and confess of their adultery. These actions of adultery can manifest itself in selfishness, perceiving the church belongs to them not Christ. Adultery can manifest itself through pride, arrogance, racism, and apathy.
My prayer is that more churches would recognize their unhealthiness, ineffectiveness, unfruitfulness, and their imminent death and would repent, and desire to replant.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Blasphemy or Truth?
Blasphemy or Truth?
Jesus, when placed on trial, was listening to false witnesses giving false testimonies. The high priest looked at Jesus and said, "tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Responding, Jesus said, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest tore his robes and said, He has uttered blasphemy." Earlier in Matthew's gospel account, he describes the time when Peter was being questioned by Jesus regarding who Jesus was. Peter responds, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:16).
There are two accounts, two people, two responses, and two confessions. One is from a high priests who utters the confession of blasphemy; the other from Peter, a disciple, uttering a confession of belief. Given who Jesus said He was, what He did, and what He calls man to do there are only two choices for people. One, people can choose to scream out blasphemy in response to Jesus' claim. Two, people can choose to accept His words as true and repent and confess Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. There are no more choices. These are it.
Consequently, there are no in between answers. Pleading the fifth or ignoring the question or choice is not an option. Some might ask, "What about those who never have heard?" The bible teaches there are none without excuse, all people are guilty before God. Not hearing, is a non-confession, which results in eternal punishment. This fact should motivate believers to go to the uttermost parts of the world preaching the gospel of Christ, so that all people are given the opportunity to respond.
Which one are you? How have your responded? Have you confessed Christ as the Son of the living God? Have you embraced that truth, not just with your lips, but with your life? Or have you considered what Jesus said and did as blasphemy? Have you just said that Jesus was a good teacher, a moral man, a good prophet. He cannot be a good teacher, a moral man, or a good prophet having done the things he did. He said He was the Messiah. He said He was God. If he was not, he is not good, because he is a liar. Jesus was either a lunatic and liar, or the God and the Savior. What is our confession of Christ? If we have confessed Him to be Christ, Messiah, Savior, and Lord, let us live in light of our confession. If you haven't made that confession, today you can! Simply cry out to God, confess the fact you are a sinner who has sinned against Him, and confess Christ as your Lord and Savior. Ask Christ to forgive you and save you from yourself and your sin. Also realize this confession is not a one time confession, and then go your own way. But it is a confession resulting in a constant posture. If you are one who has rejected Him, today you can confess His lordship and divinity.
Christ died so that we might live unto and for the glory of God. Let us pursue God's glory today through our confession and the posture of our life.
Jesus, when placed on trial, was listening to false witnesses giving false testimonies. The high priest looked at Jesus and said, "tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Responding, Jesus said, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest tore his robes and said, He has uttered blasphemy." Earlier in Matthew's gospel account, he describes the time when Peter was being questioned by Jesus regarding who Jesus was. Peter responds, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:16).
There are two accounts, two people, two responses, and two confessions. One is from a high priests who utters the confession of blasphemy; the other from Peter, a disciple, uttering a confession of belief. Given who Jesus said He was, what He did, and what He calls man to do there are only two choices for people. One, people can choose to scream out blasphemy in response to Jesus' claim. Two, people can choose to accept His words as true and repent and confess Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. There are no more choices. These are it.
Consequently, there are no in between answers. Pleading the fifth or ignoring the question or choice is not an option. Some might ask, "What about those who never have heard?" The bible teaches there are none without excuse, all people are guilty before God. Not hearing, is a non-confession, which results in eternal punishment. This fact should motivate believers to go to the uttermost parts of the world preaching the gospel of Christ, so that all people are given the opportunity to respond.
Which one are you? How have your responded? Have you confessed Christ as the Son of the living God? Have you embraced that truth, not just with your lips, but with your life? Or have you considered what Jesus said and did as blasphemy? Have you just said that Jesus was a good teacher, a moral man, a good prophet. He cannot be a good teacher, a moral man, or a good prophet having done the things he did. He said He was the Messiah. He said He was God. If he was not, he is not good, because he is a liar. Jesus was either a lunatic and liar, or the God and the Savior. What is our confession of Christ? If we have confessed Him to be Christ, Messiah, Savior, and Lord, let us live in light of our confession. If you haven't made that confession, today you can! Simply cry out to God, confess the fact you are a sinner who has sinned against Him, and confess Christ as your Lord and Savior. Ask Christ to forgive you and save you from yourself and your sin. Also realize this confession is not a one time confession, and then go your own way. But it is a confession resulting in a constant posture. If you are one who has rejected Him, today you can confess His lordship and divinity.
Christ died so that we might live unto and for the glory of God. Let us pursue God's glory today through our confession and the posture of our life.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Begrudging Generosity: Matthew 20:1-16
Begrudging generosity:
Jesus tells us of a parable where a master hired servants throughout the day to work his field. At the end of the day, the master paid all who worked, whether all day or one hour, the same wage. Those who worked all day, were upset that the master had paid those working only one hour, the same wage. The master replies and says, "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?"
How many times have we begrudged generosity, whether it be God's generosity towards others, or generosity generated by others? The servants who complained were focused on what the master had done for others, rather than focusing on what the master had done for them.They neglected to see the generosity of the master that had invited them to work in his field.
The truth of the matter is that people begrudge generosity when they begin to implement the fairness doctrine. From a human perspective, what may be fair to us, is injustice towards God. What may be fair to God, is injustice to us. And there is the issue of sin everyone has to encounter. Encountering someone else's sin may invoke unfairness to another. But, when God interacts with humanity, you can trust that he will be fair, for he is a just God. Therefore, we must submit to the providence and sovereignty of God because he is just. Will there be times where someone else's blessing can be misconstrued by us as being unfair? Yes. However, what we need to remember is the lesson of the servant who begrudged God's generosity. When that happens, let us remember the good, the blessings, the grace, and the mercy that God has shown us, rather than nitpicking God's grace, mercy, and blessings towards others. Let us be thankful for what God has done for us!
Jesus tells us of a parable where a master hired servants throughout the day to work his field. At the end of the day, the master paid all who worked, whether all day or one hour, the same wage. Those who worked all day, were upset that the master had paid those working only one hour, the same wage. The master replies and says, "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?"
How many times have we begrudged generosity, whether it be God's generosity towards others, or generosity generated by others? The servants who complained were focused on what the master had done for others, rather than focusing on what the master had done for them.They neglected to see the generosity of the master that had invited them to work in his field.
The truth of the matter is that people begrudge generosity when they begin to implement the fairness doctrine. From a human perspective, what may be fair to us, is injustice towards God. What may be fair to God, is injustice to us. And there is the issue of sin everyone has to encounter. Encountering someone else's sin may invoke unfairness to another. But, when God interacts with humanity, you can trust that he will be fair, for he is a just God. Therefore, we must submit to the providence and sovereignty of God because he is just. Will there be times where someone else's blessing can be misconstrued by us as being unfair? Yes. However, what we need to remember is the lesson of the servant who begrudged God's generosity. When that happens, let us remember the good, the blessings, the grace, and the mercy that God has shown us, rather than nitpicking God's grace, mercy, and blessings towards others. Let us be thankful for what God has done for us!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Radical or Nominal?
Radical vs. Nominal
I want us to really ponder this morning on the battle between Radical Christianity and Nominal Christianity this morning. Radical denotes those who are above ordinary and are transformative or revolutionary in their living. Nominalism consists of those who float through life waving a banner, yet not living for or representing that banner. Radicals are in the game making plays; nominals are on the sidelines drinking gatorade and talking about cheerleaders. While there are a large number of Christians who fit into this nominal camp, this is not what Christ desires nor is it what we desire out of people, businesses, government and favorite teams (in our culture).
When is the last time we raved about a product that didn't last? For instance, there are times when we buy the cheaper product, only to find ourselves frustrated when that product fails to last. A perfect example is toys from Dollar Tree. I love $1 toys. It makes our trip to the store less expensive when we buy our children toys from the Dollar store. Yet, those toys do not make it past the first day!Don't get me wrong, there are cheap products that do last, that are just as good as the more expensive items.
When is the last time we raved about a favorite sports team who finished under 500? Sure, we might live out a glory win against a more favored opponent, but that's about all we can do. The truth is, if they finished under 500 then they failed to be great and noticeable. Many times we become frustrated with are sub-par team. Frustration leads to the blame game and Monday morning quarterbacking of what the coach or organization needs to do.
When is the last time we raved about a struggling government who fail to unite together to truly help this country? Do we really like the fact that unemployment continues to linger between 9%-10%? Do we really like the fact that we continue to spend only to see tax in some form go up to pay for this increased spending? Do we really like watching the news and seeing the blame game both sides like to play? Do we really like hearing "It is not as bad as the previous government"?
When is the last time an investor raved that he made no money or even lost money in the stock market because of a par business?
Our conversations are spent talking about radicals. It could be radicals who were radically positive or radically negative. Like the latest celebrity in the latest movie. Or Like the boss who has done something we didn't like. Maybe it was the best play from the football or basketball game the night before. It could be the latest restaurant outing that left us spell-bound. Or the latest product that has revolutionized a part of your life. Is it the amazing or disheartening customer service you received at a previous visit to a local business.
Do we get the picture? We do not talk about the nominal, ordinary, or plain. We talk about the radical, the extraordinary, the revolutionary. Status quo, ordinary, plain, ok does not get our attention, our business, our cheers, or our investment. What does get our business, cheers, or investment is those entities which are above par, revolutionary, extraordinary, and radical.
Jesus desires for his followers to be radical. He does not want them to blend in to the normal everyday cultural followers; but, Jesus desires for his followers to stand out and be in many ways counter-cultural. The truth is, and it is a sad one, many believers are nominal, ordinary, status quo, cultural followers. These
usually are the ones talking about the radicals, whether it be positive or negative. A pet peeve of mine is for rumors in the church to originate and be spread from attendees who have been: recently intoxicated, sporadic in their church attendance, and null in their impact for the kingdom. My pet peeve is not necessarily centered on them, but also on the people who lend their ear to such nominal, narcissistic, venomous, negative, and fruitless people.
If we are a follower of Christ let us desire and pursue the radical life and posture! Let us live as Christ would have us live! Results will include people talking, which could be positive or negative. Nevertheless, as Paul says, we are not seeking their approval, but the approval of the one who sent us.
So, are we part of churches who desire to be radical? You would not believe how many people I have heard in the first two years of Life Point say "I love the smallness and intimacy of this church" "I got lost in 'so and so' church, because it was so big". What they fail to realize is that big church was radical in some shape, form, or fashion to the point they grew. What these people are saying is that they want a small church which is, convenient for them, comfortable for them, and conducive for them. They do not want to be challenged or exhorted to live, give, and serve radically for Jesus. They fail to realize that to take a small church to a large church, requires many people to embrace a radical and sacrificial posture, which obviously they were not willing to give.
Radical or Nominal? Which one are you? If not radical, become radical. Which one is your church? If not radical, either stay and lead it to be radical or leave and join one that is radical.
I want us to really ponder this morning on the battle between Radical Christianity and Nominal Christianity this morning. Radical denotes those who are above ordinary and are transformative or revolutionary in their living. Nominalism consists of those who float through life waving a banner, yet not living for or representing that banner. Radicals are in the game making plays; nominals are on the sidelines drinking gatorade and talking about cheerleaders. While there are a large number of Christians who fit into this nominal camp, this is not what Christ desires nor is it what we desire out of people, businesses, government and favorite teams (in our culture).
When is the last time we raved about a product that didn't last? For instance, there are times when we buy the cheaper product, only to find ourselves frustrated when that product fails to last. A perfect example is toys from Dollar Tree. I love $1 toys. It makes our trip to the store less expensive when we buy our children toys from the Dollar store. Yet, those toys do not make it past the first day!Don't get me wrong, there are cheap products that do last, that are just as good as the more expensive items.
When is the last time we raved about a favorite sports team who finished under 500? Sure, we might live out a glory win against a more favored opponent, but that's about all we can do. The truth is, if they finished under 500 then they failed to be great and noticeable. Many times we become frustrated with are sub-par team. Frustration leads to the blame game and Monday morning quarterbacking of what the coach or organization needs to do.
When is the last time we raved about a struggling government who fail to unite together to truly help this country? Do we really like the fact that unemployment continues to linger between 9%-10%? Do we really like the fact that we continue to spend only to see tax in some form go up to pay for this increased spending? Do we really like watching the news and seeing the blame game both sides like to play? Do we really like hearing "It is not as bad as the previous government"?
When is the last time an investor raved that he made no money or even lost money in the stock market because of a par business?
Our conversations are spent talking about radicals. It could be radicals who were radically positive or radically negative. Like the latest celebrity in the latest movie. Or Like the boss who has done something we didn't like. Maybe it was the best play from the football or basketball game the night before. It could be the latest restaurant outing that left us spell-bound. Or the latest product that has revolutionized a part of your life. Is it the amazing or disheartening customer service you received at a previous visit to a local business.
Do we get the picture? We do not talk about the nominal, ordinary, or plain. We talk about the radical, the extraordinary, the revolutionary. Status quo, ordinary, plain, ok does not get our attention, our business, our cheers, or our investment. What does get our business, cheers, or investment is those entities which are above par, revolutionary, extraordinary, and radical.
Jesus desires for his followers to be radical. He does not want them to blend in to the normal everyday cultural followers; but, Jesus desires for his followers to stand out and be in many ways counter-cultural. The truth is, and it is a sad one, many believers are nominal, ordinary, status quo, cultural followers. These
usually are the ones talking about the radicals, whether it be positive or negative. A pet peeve of mine is for rumors in the church to originate and be spread from attendees who have been: recently intoxicated, sporadic in their church attendance, and null in their impact for the kingdom. My pet peeve is not necessarily centered on them, but also on the people who lend their ear to such nominal, narcissistic, venomous, negative, and fruitless people.
If we are a follower of Christ let us desire and pursue the radical life and posture! Let us live as Christ would have us live! Results will include people talking, which could be positive or negative. Nevertheless, as Paul says, we are not seeking their approval, but the approval of the one who sent us.
So, are we part of churches who desire to be radical? You would not believe how many people I have heard in the first two years of Life Point say "I love the smallness and intimacy of this church" "I got lost in 'so and so' church, because it was so big". What they fail to realize is that big church was radical in some shape, form, or fashion to the point they grew. What these people are saying is that they want a small church which is, convenient for them, comfortable for them, and conducive for them. They do not want to be challenged or exhorted to live, give, and serve radically for Jesus. They fail to realize that to take a small church to a large church, requires many people to embrace a radical and sacrificial posture, which obviously they were not willing to give.
Radical or Nominal? Which one are you? If not radical, become radical. Which one is your church? If not radical, either stay and lead it to be radical or leave and join one that is radical.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What a Chump! Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and wanted to know how many times he should forgive someone who wronged him. Jesus' answer of 144 times probably surprised Peter greatly. But, Jesus goes on to share a parable with him, which illustrates his point. A master approached a servant who owed him 10,000 talents. Keep in mind a talent was equal to about twenty years worth of wages. Prior to be taken away and being sold (him and his family) into slavery, the man begged for his and his family's life. The master, out of pity for him, forgave the debt and released the servant and his family.
A very short time elapsed when the servant saw someone on the streets who owned him money. The debt owed the servant totaled to be around a 100 denarii (about a day's wage). Ok. Now you see the extremity and the polarization of the two debts. The servant did not forgive this man who owed him 100 denarii as well as had him thrown into prison, where he should have been. When other servants caught wind this had happened, they ran and told the master who had forgiven this servant's massive amount of debt.
The bible says that the master summoned this wicked ungrateful servant and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?" In the end the master threw this wicked servant in prison until he could pay all his debt. Keep in mind, that this debt owed the master would have been impossible to pay back.
In reading this story, obviously we see what a chump and a hypocrite this servant was. But in reality we, including myself, find ourselves doing the same.
The major thrust of this passage is: We need to be extremely careful not to succumb in failing to show the mercy and grace to others, which God has bountifully shown to us. As believers we need to constantly remind ourselves how gracious and merciful God has been to us. Therefore, we need to make sure we extend that same grace and mercy to others around us, even if we feel they do not deserve it. Today and the rest of this week, let us go out of our way to extend grace and mercy to those around us, even those that may not necessarily deserve it. This is the way of the Master!
Peter approached Jesus and wanted to know how many times he should forgive someone who wronged him. Jesus' answer of 144 times probably surprised Peter greatly. But, Jesus goes on to share a parable with him, which illustrates his point. A master approached a servant who owed him 10,000 talents. Keep in mind a talent was equal to about twenty years worth of wages. Prior to be taken away and being sold (him and his family) into slavery, the man begged for his and his family's life. The master, out of pity for him, forgave the debt and released the servant and his family.
A very short time elapsed when the servant saw someone on the streets who owned him money. The debt owed the servant totaled to be around a 100 denarii (about a day's wage). Ok. Now you see the extremity and the polarization of the two debts. The servant did not forgive this man who owed him 100 denarii as well as had him thrown into prison, where he should have been. When other servants caught wind this had happened, they ran and told the master who had forgiven this servant's massive amount of debt.
The bible says that the master summoned this wicked ungrateful servant and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?" In the end the master threw this wicked servant in prison until he could pay all his debt. Keep in mind, that this debt owed the master would have been impossible to pay back.
In reading this story, obviously we see what a chump and a hypocrite this servant was. But in reality we, including myself, find ourselves doing the same.
The major thrust of this passage is: We need to be extremely careful not to succumb in failing to show the mercy and grace to others, which God has bountifully shown to us. As believers we need to constantly remind ourselves how gracious and merciful God has been to us. Therefore, we need to make sure we extend that same grace and mercy to others around us, even if we feel they do not deserve it. Today and the rest of this week, let us go out of our way to extend grace and mercy to those around us, even those that may not necessarily deserve it. This is the way of the Master!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Cashing in on the Mother Load: Matthew 13:44
Matt 13:44 Cashing in on the Mother Load
Matthew highlights some of Jesus' teaching on the kingdom of heaven, which is synonymous with the kingdom of God. Growing up I did not hear much teaching about the kingdom of heaven. I heard much about the church and how individuals are to live out their faith. Until recently I never put the two together. The church is not the kingdom of heaven or God, but the church is part of or a sign of the kingdom of God. With this said, Matthew 13:44 provides for its readers what Jesus taught about the value of the kingdom. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field." There are couple of inferences we can make regarding this one verse regarding the kingdom of heaven.
First, the kingdom of heaven, as of now, is much in obscurity to people. This man found what no one else had found, a treasure hidden in a field. We do not know if this man went on a treasure hunt. We do not know if this man found some secret map outlining where a valuable treasure lay hidden. All we know is this treasure was obscure, that this man happened to find. Is that not the truth today. We live in a day in which people are spiritual, yet in their own right. The church, especially in America, mostly act independent of themselves as well as much of their membership. Therefore, by their actions they do not see themselves as part of this valuable kingdom. The kingdom is obscure to people. Is it obscure to you? To me?
Second inference we can make regarding this parable on the kingdom, is this man understood he had just uncovered the mother load. In other words, this man understood the value of this treasure. So much so, he covered it back so he could make arrangements to purchase it. When people do find the kingdom of God today, do they really understand what they have found. Do they really understand what they possess. Or is it like a buying a new car, where they are happy and joyful at first, but the older it gets and the more miles it piles on, they grow detached? For this man who found the treasure, this treasure was the treasure of all treasures. This was to him, what the Templar's Treasure was to Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage in National Treasure). How valuable is the kingdom and being part of the kingdom to us?
Third, this man was ready to sell all he had in order to acquire or obtain this treasure. Jesus in describing how this man went about selling all he had, said he had 'joy' in his going. Jesus tells his listeners, and Matthew communicates to his readers, that this man had joy when he went to sell all he had. We are not privy to what he sold. But, he probably sold his land, his dwelling place, his animals, maybe his inheritance, and whatever else he possessed in order to purchase this field. He had joy in selling what was once dear to him, so that he could obtain this treasure. What this man teaches us, is once we find the kingdom of God, we will be willing to sell all and give all in order to be in possession of this kingdom. And in our selling and giving we will have joy, because we know what we are getting in return. For those of us who are believers, children of God, citizens of the kingdom, do we know what we have? Do we know what we are part of? If we do, we will be willing to sell and give all we have for the kingdom! For those who are not believers, children of God, citizens of the kingdom of heaven, do you know what you are missing?
Looking at this parable we see the kingdom of heaven is obscure, valuable, and worthy of sacrifice. Do we see this? Have we cashed in for the mother load?
Matthew highlights some of Jesus' teaching on the kingdom of heaven, which is synonymous with the kingdom of God. Growing up I did not hear much teaching about the kingdom of heaven. I heard much about the church and how individuals are to live out their faith. Until recently I never put the two together. The church is not the kingdom of heaven or God, but the church is part of or a sign of the kingdom of God. With this said, Matthew 13:44 provides for its readers what Jesus taught about the value of the kingdom. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field." There are couple of inferences we can make regarding this one verse regarding the kingdom of heaven.
First, the kingdom of heaven, as of now, is much in obscurity to people. This man found what no one else had found, a treasure hidden in a field. We do not know if this man went on a treasure hunt. We do not know if this man found some secret map outlining where a valuable treasure lay hidden. All we know is this treasure was obscure, that this man happened to find. Is that not the truth today. We live in a day in which people are spiritual, yet in their own right. The church, especially in America, mostly act independent of themselves as well as much of their membership. Therefore, by their actions they do not see themselves as part of this valuable kingdom. The kingdom is obscure to people. Is it obscure to you? To me?
Second inference we can make regarding this parable on the kingdom, is this man understood he had just uncovered the mother load. In other words, this man understood the value of this treasure. So much so, he covered it back so he could make arrangements to purchase it. When people do find the kingdom of God today, do they really understand what they have found. Do they really understand what they possess. Or is it like a buying a new car, where they are happy and joyful at first, but the older it gets and the more miles it piles on, they grow detached? For this man who found the treasure, this treasure was the treasure of all treasures. This was to him, what the Templar's Treasure was to Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage in National Treasure). How valuable is the kingdom and being part of the kingdom to us?
Third, this man was ready to sell all he had in order to acquire or obtain this treasure. Jesus in describing how this man went about selling all he had, said he had 'joy' in his going. Jesus tells his listeners, and Matthew communicates to his readers, that this man had joy when he went to sell all he had. We are not privy to what he sold. But, he probably sold his land, his dwelling place, his animals, maybe his inheritance, and whatever else he possessed in order to purchase this field. He had joy in selling what was once dear to him, so that he could obtain this treasure. What this man teaches us, is once we find the kingdom of God, we will be willing to sell all and give all in order to be in possession of this kingdom. And in our selling and giving we will have joy, because we know what we are getting in return. For those of us who are believers, children of God, citizens of the kingdom, do we know what we have? Do we know what we are part of? If we do, we will be willing to sell and give all we have for the kingdom! For those who are not believers, children of God, citizens of the kingdom of heaven, do you know what you are missing?
Looking at this parable we see the kingdom of heaven is obscure, valuable, and worthy of sacrifice. Do we see this? Have we cashed in for the mother load?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Enemy who Sowed some Weedies
Matthew 13:24-30:36-43 :The Enemy who Sowed Weedies
There are a couple of different angles to view the parable of the weeds, just as there are in the parable of the soils. This morning I would like to share some initial thoughts regarding the enemy in this parable. First, the enemy trespasses on property that is not his. The property did not belong to the enemy, but to the man who sowed good seed. There is obviously some animosity the enemy has with this man to even want to trespass. Who knows, maybe the enemy was tired of seeing this man's field reap so much good harvest that he became jealous. Maybe he was jealous that this man's field was much bigger than his. Or maybe he was jealous that this man had a field and he did not. Nonetheless, the enemy trespasses onto a field that did not belong to him.
Second, the enemy trespassed at a time he would not be seen nor heard. He came at night while the hired hands were fast asleep from a hard days work. This speaks to the enemies desire to be sneaky, conniving, and even cowardly. He clearly wants to avoid confrontation. He may want to avoid confrontation because he knows he cannot overcome the hired hands or more importantly the owner of the field.
Third, the enemy sought to disrupt, corrupt, and damaged the owner's field, his crop, and those who benefited from his crop. In any field there would be weeds that grew. However, there is undoubtedly a vast number of weeds that begin to sprout up, which grabbed the attention of the hired hands. There was so many weeds, the hired hands went to the owner and said, "We thought you sowed seeds, not weeds." The enemy did not just sow a few weeds, he sowed a myriad of weeds. He sowed so many weeds if the hired hands tried to pluck them out, they would have ruined the good crops. This is why the owner tells them to wait until harvest to pick everything, given the wheat would be harvestable then.
Also, one scholar noted regarding the weeds, that they were fungus, if eaten by man or animal could be poisonous. It is indubitably apparent the enemy desired to harm those associated or who benefits from the crop of the owner. Undeniably the enemy sought to sabotage the owner, his field, and his crop.
Who is this enemy? He is the evil one, the devil, the serpent of old. The enemy hates God, hates what he represents, and hates the glory God receives. Therefore, he is the one who trespasses onto God's property, the world (his creation). His trespassing is very sneaky and conniving. The bible enlightens us about the devil in that he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). Also, he wants to steal nutrients from the wheat (God's children) by sowing weeds alongside of them. Therefore, God's children must be on guard, must be vigilant and aware of the schemes of the devil. We must be careful that we do not become contaminated by the guiles of the devil. What Jesus' parable does is expose us to the essence of the evil one. And his nature is to come as a thief in the night to steal, kill, and destroy God's work! Let us be diligent today not to allow him to ruin or contaminate God's good work in us.
There are a couple of different angles to view the parable of the weeds, just as there are in the parable of the soils. This morning I would like to share some initial thoughts regarding the enemy in this parable. First, the enemy trespasses on property that is not his. The property did not belong to the enemy, but to the man who sowed good seed. There is obviously some animosity the enemy has with this man to even want to trespass. Who knows, maybe the enemy was tired of seeing this man's field reap so much good harvest that he became jealous. Maybe he was jealous that this man's field was much bigger than his. Or maybe he was jealous that this man had a field and he did not. Nonetheless, the enemy trespasses onto a field that did not belong to him.
Second, the enemy trespassed at a time he would not be seen nor heard. He came at night while the hired hands were fast asleep from a hard days work. This speaks to the enemies desire to be sneaky, conniving, and even cowardly. He clearly wants to avoid confrontation. He may want to avoid confrontation because he knows he cannot overcome the hired hands or more importantly the owner of the field.
Third, the enemy sought to disrupt, corrupt, and damaged the owner's field, his crop, and those who benefited from his crop. In any field there would be weeds that grew. However, there is undoubtedly a vast number of weeds that begin to sprout up, which grabbed the attention of the hired hands. There was so many weeds, the hired hands went to the owner and said, "We thought you sowed seeds, not weeds." The enemy did not just sow a few weeds, he sowed a myriad of weeds. He sowed so many weeds if the hired hands tried to pluck them out, they would have ruined the good crops. This is why the owner tells them to wait until harvest to pick everything, given the wheat would be harvestable then.
Also, one scholar noted regarding the weeds, that they were fungus, if eaten by man or animal could be poisonous. It is indubitably apparent the enemy desired to harm those associated or who benefits from the crop of the owner. Undeniably the enemy sought to sabotage the owner, his field, and his crop.
Who is this enemy? He is the evil one, the devil, the serpent of old. The enemy hates God, hates what he represents, and hates the glory God receives. Therefore, he is the one who trespasses onto God's property, the world (his creation). His trespassing is very sneaky and conniving. The bible enlightens us about the devil in that he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). Also, he wants to steal nutrients from the wheat (God's children) by sowing weeds alongside of them. Therefore, God's children must be on guard, must be vigilant and aware of the schemes of the devil. We must be careful that we do not become contaminated by the guiles of the devil. What Jesus' parable does is expose us to the essence of the evil one. And his nature is to come as a thief in the night to steal, kill, and destroy God's work! Let us be diligent today not to allow him to ruin or contaminate God's good work in us.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Fertile Soil: Fertile Soul (Matthew 13:1-23
Matthew 13: 1-23 The Seeds of the sower and the Fertileness of the Ground
The parable of the sower or seeds has been one of the infamous parables of Jesus. The debate has raged throughout the years regarding which of the different soils are saved? I would like to attempt explaining which ones were saved. More specifically, in my estimation, there was only one particular soil which represents a redeemed person. Obviously the redeemed soil is the one where the seed fell on "good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Here in America, people talk themselves in a frenzy as well as talk themselves to a calm. Talking into a calm is where people justify things in order to make themselves feel better. This is usually what happens in the spiritual realm of people lives. People tell themselves or hear from others, what they want to hear. Hearing what they want to hear is music to ears, which calms uneasiness.
This is what happens in this passage. Some people make the other soils conducive to there own knowledge and lives. So, when they read about the soil that sprang up, but had no depth, they want to argue that at least it produced something. It doesn't matter that it sprang up and then died. Also, some want to argue that the thorny soil produced something albeit the thorns choked it as it began to grow.
Simply hermeneutics (which is the study of Scripture) will show the major focus is on the last soil, which produced fruit. The other soils did not produce fruit of the seed that was sown. What does Jesus want from his followers? Fruit! People cannot justify their actions so that they accommodate their feelings of guilt and emotions. Preachers and teachers of the word should not patronize people who might fall into the categories of soil #2 and #3. The aim is to be soil #4, the good soil that produces a harvest of fruit. This doesn't mean people will be perfect and never struggle with sin. But, what it does mean they will live whole-heartily unto the Lord rather than living for themselves and others. It does mean they will pursue God and the things of God; his word, his church, his mission, and his actions.
Therefore, those who fail to endure tribulation and persecution on the account of Jesus and his word, and those who fail to cast away the cares of this world and the entanglements of this kingdom are not redeemed. Although they may show early signs of being regenerate, they in the end fail to produce any fruit.
What should we take away from this parable? Which soil are we? Has the devil snatched the joy and life of the word from our lives, just as a bird snatched the seed from the soil? Have we allowed the difficulty of the Christian life to deter us from living for Christ? Do we care more about the things of this world, our life, our desires, our dreams, our wishes than we do about the kingdom of God and his mission? Or do we desire, commit to, embrace, and love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength that we produce fruit of righteousness, holiness, purity, conversion?
This is the goal of Jesus for our lives. He did not come to live, die, and rise again for soil that is rocky and thorny to live rocky and thorny lives for him. He came to live, die, and rise again in order to gather a people together for his own glory and purpose, so that they live lives that produce fruit; some a hundred fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty.
So today, stop justifying spiritual mediocrity. Quit manipulating the unadulterated truth of Scripture to accommodate actions. Jesus wants fruit! Are we producing?
The parable of the sower or seeds has been one of the infamous parables of Jesus. The debate has raged throughout the years regarding which of the different soils are saved? I would like to attempt explaining which ones were saved. More specifically, in my estimation, there was only one particular soil which represents a redeemed person. Obviously the redeemed soil is the one where the seed fell on "good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Here in America, people talk themselves in a frenzy as well as talk themselves to a calm. Talking into a calm is where people justify things in order to make themselves feel better. This is usually what happens in the spiritual realm of people lives. People tell themselves or hear from others, what they want to hear. Hearing what they want to hear is music to ears, which calms uneasiness.
This is what happens in this passage. Some people make the other soils conducive to there own knowledge and lives. So, when they read about the soil that sprang up, but had no depth, they want to argue that at least it produced something. It doesn't matter that it sprang up and then died. Also, some want to argue that the thorny soil produced something albeit the thorns choked it as it began to grow.
Simply hermeneutics (which is the study of Scripture) will show the major focus is on the last soil, which produced fruit. The other soils did not produce fruit of the seed that was sown. What does Jesus want from his followers? Fruit! People cannot justify their actions so that they accommodate their feelings of guilt and emotions. Preachers and teachers of the word should not patronize people who might fall into the categories of soil #2 and #3. The aim is to be soil #4, the good soil that produces a harvest of fruit. This doesn't mean people will be perfect and never struggle with sin. But, what it does mean they will live whole-heartily unto the Lord rather than living for themselves and others. It does mean they will pursue God and the things of God; his word, his church, his mission, and his actions.
Therefore, those who fail to endure tribulation and persecution on the account of Jesus and his word, and those who fail to cast away the cares of this world and the entanglements of this kingdom are not redeemed. Although they may show early signs of being regenerate, they in the end fail to produce any fruit.
What should we take away from this parable? Which soil are we? Has the devil snatched the joy and life of the word from our lives, just as a bird snatched the seed from the soil? Have we allowed the difficulty of the Christian life to deter us from living for Christ? Do we care more about the things of this world, our life, our desires, our dreams, our wishes than we do about the kingdom of God and his mission? Or do we desire, commit to, embrace, and love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength that we produce fruit of righteousness, holiness, purity, conversion?
This is the goal of Jesus for our lives. He did not come to live, die, and rise again for soil that is rocky and thorny to live rocky and thorny lives for him. He came to live, die, and rise again in order to gather a people together for his own glory and purpose, so that they live lives that produce fruit; some a hundred fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty.
So today, stop justifying spiritual mediocrity. Quit manipulating the unadulterated truth of Scripture to accommodate actions. Jesus wants fruit! Are we producing?
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