Category: Theology (page 19 of 21)

A Community Decision

April 8, 2010 / / 6 Comments

“You need to make a personal decision to follow Christ.”

I’ve heard that many times.  Have you?

It’s something you have to do, on your time, in your heart, in your seat, that you will not regret…with all heads bowed and all eyes closed (thus shutting out the rest of the congregation).

This decision, the one that can, and should, rock your entire community…all boils to you.

Am I the only one that thinks this seems really individualistic, self-centered, and anti-community?

Salvation just doesn’t happen like that.  It is true that you have to make the decision, but the decision isn’t made in a box.  It’s made in the context of community (relationships with others).  It’s community that leads people to a relationship with the Lord, not a mere intellectual ascent to the Truth.  It’s seeing the truth lived out.  Not reading an airtight apologetic.  It’s experiencing the Truth in love.  It’s being served.  Valued.  By community.

And it’s community that you’re saved to.  You’re not saved to be an island.  Rather, you’re saved to be a part of a family.  “Fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…in him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)  When you trust in Christ, you are grafted into a family.  Adopted…and given the rights of the firstborn son.  And you instantly become a vital part of that community, which the Bible calls a “body.” (1 Corinthians 12)

So next time, instead of closing a service with, “Bow your heads and close your eyes and make an individual decision…” why not acknowledge the community that has led people to this saving faith, and invite people to look around and rejoice at the family that they are saved into?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

 

Is God evil?

January 28, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Is God evil?

Of course not.  Well…most would agree that He’s not.

But does God allow evil things to happen?

Take a peek into a conversation that Job had with his wife:

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity?  Curse God and die.”  But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak.  Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”  In all this, Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:9-10)

Did God cause this evil to happen to Job?  No.  The verses prior say

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores… (Job 2:7-8)

We are quick to praise God for the good things that happen to us, and give Him credit for all of the blessings we receive.

But aren’t we also quick to shake our fists at God when things don’t go as we would like?  When we don’t get that promotion.  When we get sick.  When our children get sick.  When our marriage isn’t what we want it to be.  When all of our efforts fall flat.  When we strive with all of our might, yet get nowhere.

I don’t presume to know why God does what He does.

But this passage says that God allows evil things to happen.  And if you read through the first few chapters of the book of Job, you get some insight into how God worked, and how He allowed Satan to work on a short leash.  God didn’t cause evil.  But He allowed it with a purpose.

So if God allows evil to exist, does that make Him evil?  That’s a question you need to wrestle through yourself.  I’ve wrestled through it.  Last week, I was sick.  Not deathly sick.  But sick enough to stay home from work.  I felt rotten.  I had some sort of mild case of the flu, mixed with an ear infection, an eye infection, a sore throat, a sinuses that were trashed.  I also lost my voice.

And last week was one of the most important weeks for me in my job at Grace. I needed my voice.  And I needed to be at 100%.

So why would God allow me to be sick?  Here are a couple of reasons I came up with.  For purpose of generalization, I’ll call it “suffering.”  Some of you may laugh at this being called suffering, and honestly, I would, too, but suffering has varying ranges.  Bear with me.

A Non-exhaustive list of reasons God allows suffering

1. Suffering slows us down.  Our lives race on at such a fast pace that sometimes we just need to slow down.

2. Suffering causes us to think less of this life on earth and long for a better life.  When you’re going through suffering, life on earth isn’t as much fun.  We don’t value it as much as when everything is rosy.  We long for something better.

3. Suffering gives us time to reflect and evaluate.  What does your relationship with God look like when you’re falling apart physically?  Do you only praise God when everything is perfect?  Job was a great example of a man who praised God in the good times and in the bad. (Job 1:20-22)

4. Suffering puts the most important things in perspective.  When we are going through suffering, perishable things don’t matter as much.  We tend to devalue those things that are temporary.

5. Suffering allows us to be comforted by others.  If you never suffer, you can never receive the blessing of being encouraged and comforted by others.

6. Suffering reminds us we’re not in control.  When everything is going our way, we can slide into the thought process that we’re really controlling our future.  Suffering brings us back to the reality that we really have very little control.

7. Suffering allows us to be healed.  God is the ultimate healer, and we would never get to see that aspect of God, and receive that great blessing, if it weren’t for suffering.

8. Suffering, and recovering, helps us to comfort those whom we will come in contact with who suffer similarly.  Although suffering tends to make us quite self-centered, I believe one of it’s main purposes is so that, after God (and others) comforts us, we can extend that same love and care to others. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

9. Suffering gives us the chance to see who our real friends are.  Job had some pretty rotten friends (Job 4-25, 32).  Those who truly love us will stick by in good times and in bad.  And ultimately they want what’s best for us.

10. …

What would you add?

 

Don’t let it expire

January 11, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Some (including my wife) call me a coffee snob.  I just say that I like my coffee.
Hey, if I’m going to buy my own coffee, I’m going to get the good stuff!  Bad coffee isn’t worth the bag it’s packaged in.
Regardless whether you get your coffee from a local microbrewery, a national chain, Wal-Mart, or the fields of Africa, you need to know that coffee has an expiration date.  The countdown to coffee’s “death” starts when the coffee is roasted.  Why, might very, very few of you ask?

When coffee is roasted in its green bean form, the natural oils from inside of the bean make their way to the surface.  These oils are the flavor of the coffee (nutty, winey, citrus-y, etc…not flavors often added later, such as hazelnut, French Vanilla, etc.).  So if you were to pick up a freshly roasted coffee bean, you’d notice that it is quite glossy.  In fact, that oil transfers to your cup of coffee, too…next time you get a cup from a reputable coffee shop, look at the top layer of coffee, and make sure you see a bit of oil there.  That’s a mark of a good cup of coffee!

That all to say: even the best coffee has an expiration date.  The oils on the surface of the bean evaporate.  Or go rancid.  (I was going to say that you’ll never notice oil on grocery-store coffee beans because by the time they make it to the shelves, the oil’s gone…but I won’t say that).  And the coffee loses its flavor.

And isn’t it the same with our faith?  Left in the bag, it loses its flavor.  The freshness dries up.  The passion we once had for pursuing Christ evaporates, leaving us dry and weary.

The oils can’t be added back to the coffee bean.  But they can be added back to your faith.  You just need to ask.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12)

 

Thankful for Noah

January 7, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Copyright, http://www.BoltonMuseums.org.uk

You’ve heard of Noah, right?

In Genesis 6, God “was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” (Genesis 6:6).  So He “determined to make an end of all flesh.”  All flesh!  Gone. Washed away (pun intended).  Except for Noah and his family.

So, God was going to destroy everything and start all over…but decided to let Noah “ride it out.” (pun intended again…sorry, I’ll stop now)  Of all the people on the earth, all the animals, all plants…every living thing, God chose Noah to live. What was so special about Noah?  “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.  Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:8-9)

So Noah, our great, great, great (x200) grandfather survived the worst rain storm ever.  Thankfully, God saw fit to save him.

But that’s not the only thing I’m thankful for when it comes to Noah.  Read this little doozie:

“Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.  He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.”  Then it goes on to say that Noah’s youngest son, Ham (who has an awesome name, by the way), stumbled upon his naked, drunk father, and instead of honoring him by covering him up, Ham made a spectacle of the whole ordeal, going outside and making fun of his dad to his two brothers, Shem and Japheth.  (see Genesis 9:20-24) Way to go, Ham.  Way to go, Noah.

So Noah didn’t hold his alcohol all that well.  And Ham didn’t hold his tongue all that well.

Welcome to life after the flood.

But even though Noah had this indiscretion (to put it mildly), God chose to use him.  Why?  Because…

God uses imperfect, messed up people.

God uses messy families.

God uses people who make stupid decisions.

God uses people who have brought shame on themselves and their family.

God uses people who have returned to the same sins they struggled with in the past.

God uses people who aren’t perfect parents.

If God can use you and me, even though we’re messed up, just like He used Noah.

How have you let your past failures determine what you think God can use you to do in the future?

How has the fear of future failure paralyzed you from doing what God is calling you to do right now?

I’m reading through the Bible in a year, using the Chronological Plan.  Care to join me?

 

Rob Bell, Drops Like Stars

December 28, 2009 / / 2 Comments

Drops Like StarsI was able to see Rob Bell at TPAC’s War Memorial on December 9th.  I like Rob.  I think he’s innovative, pushing the Church to think outside of the proverbial box.  I thoroughly enjoyed his lecture.  It was a fascinating look at suffering, seeking to not answer the question of “Why, God?!?” but “What now?”  It was a compelling lecture/sermon, and if Rob Bell happens to come to your town, I highly suggest picking up a few tickets, and taking a few key leaders along with you.  You won’t be disappointed.

But can I nitpick for a minute (and that’s all it is…nitpicking.  If Rob could further explain himself on this point, it might have made more sense.  But, nonetheless…)?  In talking about the “art of solidarity, and the ways that suffering helps to bond us as we build community through shared suffering,” Bell mentioned “the cross, the ultimate act of peace and reconciliation.  God didn’t avoid suffering.”  Instead, God is with us through it.  Then he shared this:

The point of the incarnation is that there’s someone else screaming alongside us.

I get what he’s saying.  There’s comfort in the midst of suffering when we know we’re not alone.  And I believe that.  Suffering is eased when we live life in relationship with others who can share that burden with us.  That’s part of the goal of the Church (and the means of achieving that goal, too).  And knowing that God doesn’t leave me to my own devices when I suffer is a source of comfort.  However, it is not the point of the incarnation.

The main point of the incarnation is not that we have someone to walk through painful situations with us.

The point of the incarnation is that we weren’t good enough to save ourselves. Because of our sin, we needed God himself to come and die the death that we deserved.

A sidebar (and I think it’s important to make that subtle distinction) of the incarnation is that God is with us through suffering.  But it’s only a sidebar, at best.  The much better news is not that God is present with us through suffering, but that the suffering Christ endured is ONCE FOR ALL!  I don’t want to serve a God who merely weeps with me.  I want to serve a God who redeems me, who is more powerful than suffering, and who is willing and able to create a world where there is no suffering (Revelation 21:4), no crying, no pain, no death.

Don’t point people to the incarnation as God’s identifying suffering and weeping along with us.  Point people to the incarnation as hope that suffering will one day be complete.

Do you want a God who weeps with you? Or One who will redeem you from the curse of pain?

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

 

Hunger, Snickers, and Satisfaction

November 24, 2009 / / 1 Comment

snickers_bar

Snickers Satisfies.

At least, that’s what their slogan says.

But why, after I eat one, am I still left feeling hungry?

Why, if I eat more than one of them, am I left feeling sick?

Because we all know that Snickers bars don’t provide true satisfaction.  They satisfy only for a moment.  Or, when overindulgence happens, satisfaction exits.

Don’t settle for false substitutes.  Jesus Christ is the only true satisfier in this life. (John 6:35)

Power, money, “stuff,” food, sex, influence, busyness, success, health, safety…all leave you hungering for more, .

A Snickers bar tastes good.  A meal with steak and potatoes is better.

Busyness seems good.  Serving others is better.

Safety is good.  Living life to the full is better.

But placing your hope, and finding your soul’s satisfaction, in any of the above will leave you salivating for more.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)

Can you say that with the Psalmist?  Where does your heart find true satisfaction?

 

Did God Do That?

November 18, 2009 / / 9 Comments

Exodus 20:7 (the 3rd commandment), says,

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

I’ve seen some people use God’s name in vain by saying that God has “called” them to do this…or say that…or go there.  Ever heard somebody say, “I know I’m supposed to do this, because God has told me to…” and the whole time thought, “There is absolutely no way God has told him/her to do that!”

I believe that God does still speak today.  Let me be clear with that.

But we can easily manipulate others, and misuse God’s name, when we attribute things to Him that He would not/could not condone.  Often, I believe, when this methodology is employed, it’s a cop-out.  It’s a misguided way of justifying sinful, self-seeking endeavors.

In order to know God’s will, we must start by knowing God.  Loving Him.  And loving what He loves.

Check out this video.  I find it funny that Anderson Cooper is disgusted over Heidi Montag’s thanking of God for this performance.  My favorite quote from this video: “If God has the time to work on this production, and that’s the best that God can do, we’re all in trouble.” (Anderson Cooper)

 

Save Draft, Click Here

November 16, 2009 / / 0 Comments

Save Draft Button

I love the “Save Draft” button that I have access to for my blog. Often, in fact, for 99% of my blogs I’ll write a first draft, then save it. I’ll come back to it later on that day, or the next. Maybe even a week later.

Then I’ll save it again.

It helps me to look over it again and catch some mistakes. Refine my thought. Make sure I said what I meant to say.  Make sure what I said is constructive, and not destructive.

I wonder how it would work if we had the opportunity to click the “save draft” button in “real life.” Instead of just spouting off whatever came into our head, what if we stopped and waited?  Swallowed our pride?  Prayed?  Asked God to season our words with salt (Colossians 4:6)?

Something tells me that it might work pretty well.

After all, “Do you see a man who speaks in haste?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 29:20)

 

Change starts Small

November 5, 2009 / / 2 Comments

Rex, our 1 year old son, is walking.  Well…sort of.  He’s taking lots of steps.  But he’s taking lots of falls, too.  In fact, at least half of every attempt at walking ends up with him falling to the ground.  Does that mean that I scold him and shame him for even trying to take a step?  Constantly tell him he should’ve tried harder?  Should’ve asked God for more help?  That now he may never be able to walk?

ChangeWe’d like to think that change happens overnight.  But in reality, it rarely does.  I mean, we reward the overnight change.  We give those people stage time.  We herald their stories on videos and movies.  We stand shocked when those folks share their stories with us.  We want to capture them on video so that the rest of our church can see them.  We venerate the “big” salvation experiences.

Oftentimes, change is much slower than we’d like.

More often than not, it’s, “I got saved 2  years ago, and I’m still struggling.”  or “I got saved 6 months ago, and still have to fight against sin on a weekly…daily…hourly…basis.”  or “I’ve been saved since I was 16, and I’ve been fighting against sin, but I still mess up…but with the power of Christ, I soldier on.”

I’ve written about Josh Hamilton before, HERE.  He’s got one of “those stories.”  However, even after having gone public with his fight against drugs and alcohol, after having been saved, after having been restored to his family, he messed up.  But you know what he did after he messed up?  He told his wife and his family.  He sought their forgiveness.  And they granted it.

Change, at one level, happens in an instant.  We are saved, from one specific point in history, forever into eternity.  But from another, very real aspect, we’re still in the process of being saved.  Let’s be honest about this.

You’re not perfect.  Neither am I.  Lets take off the mask and quit acting like something we’re not.

I cheer for Rex every time I see him take a step.  Because that’s one step closer to walking.

Do you need encouragement?  I’ll clap for you.

How can you celebrate and encourage someone today who’s taken a step towards Christ?

 

Time with the Lord

October 22, 2009 / / 0 Comments

Quiet timeSpending time with the Lord is essential to your spiritual growth.  But how essential is the location where you do that?

I grew up hearing the importance of separating yourself from others, in a dark place, with no noises or distractions…in fact, they called it a “quiet time.” If I couldn’t find “the holy place” and “the holy time” then I needed to evaluate my life’s priorities.  Anybody else ever hear that?  My question for us today is this:

Is that the only true way to spend time with the Lord?

I was recently talking with a small group leader at Grace, and he said that the most powerful time he had with the Lord recently was when he was on an airplane.  Looking out at the open sky, he was able to appreciate, all over again, the beauty, majesty, and power of God.

Each of these statements below represents me, and what I found most important and helpful, at different points in my spiritual journey. 

1. It’s vital to spend time with the Lord daily (well, that’s even an understatement…the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)).  When I don’t spend time with the Lord daily, my spiritual life shrivels up and dies…quickly.

2. The Lord speaks most clearly and definitively in the Bible. In fact, we need to spend much time in the Bible in order to discern His working and His voice in other areas (such as art, music, nature, etc).  When I consistently look to other sources in place of Scripture, I lose focus.

3. God doesn’t live only in a box…especially one of our own creation. Therefore, spending time with the Lord only in a “quiet” box is not only nonessential, but it may also be a detriment (if that’s the only time you have with the Lord).  I have to get outside of the box.

4. With our society becoming more and more mobile, it’s not feasible to set aside “quiet” time in the same way that our ancestors did. We need to find different (though not less meaningful) ways to spend time with the Lord.  I’m constantly on the go, and if I only spend 10 minutes in the “quiet zone” in the morning, that’s not enough.  I have to get creative in the way that I spend time with Him.

5. With our society becoming more and more mobile, we need time set aside to actually be quiet. To still the thousands of voices in our heads.  To not hear the cell phone ring.  Or our boss yelling.  Or our kids yelling. Or the doorbell ringing.  Undistracted time is a huge blessing.

Which one (or more) of these statements connects with you right now?

 
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