Why is it so hard to live what we know is true?
For example, Paul proves the resurrection of Jesus in I Corinthians 15. He gives five proofs, but let's just look at the first one. Paul uses the first eight verses to establish the resurrection as historical fact by bringing over 500 people to the witness stand. He clarifies this gospel, saying, "the gospel which I preached to you, which also you recieved, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved." Next, he names all those who saw the risen Jesus; the line to the witness stand looks to be at least 512 people long! That would pass in ANY courtroom. "Here's your proof!" he says.
THEN, he applies it to living: "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." He begins with what a man can know with his head. A man can possess the knowledge that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Then he gives instructions for how a man must live out this knowledge. Because Jesus rose from the dead, a man's heart can be free to stand strong on the solid foundation of the gospel. Because we know that the resurrection power applied to Jesus, we can follow him unwaveringly. Because Jesus could not be stopped by the grave, you cannot be stopped by anything!
But do I live that way? Do you live that way? Does the American church live that way? History proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Savior of the world rose from the dead, but do we understand how to know it with our hearts? Why is it so difficult to live out what we so clearly know with our heads? Yeah, sure, its easy to get on a spiritual high and be steadfast for a week or two. Its easy to abound in the work of the Lord in the midst of a missions trip to a far country. But what about today? How easy is it to forget head knowledge when the clouds roll in over the heart?
Often, I wish my inner struggle was not so pervasive. Sometimes, the why of my struggle escapes me completely. I understand my role at this stage of life very clearly, yet I have to fight so hard to keep the line of communication open between this head knowledge and my heart. I am not a senior pastor at First Baptist Church, and for good reason. I am no longer in the season where I hold the position of resident assistant at Liberty University. There is no youth group that looks to me for shepherding week in and week out. My life greatly lacks stability, by design!
I am the epitome of single guy. And this will not change for years. That's right, not tomorrow or next week, I will be single until at least 2012. But I fully understand my purpose. My role is to move around and take advantage of any and every opportunity that the Lord sends my way. If I bring no other challenge, I must challenge people with the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. If I leave nothing else in the wake of my travels, I need to leave a gospel awareness wherever I go. This gospel is for the lost. This gospel is for the saved. This gospel is for my church, my small group, and my life.
I know my role, yet sometimes it is so hard to keep going. I struggle with loneliness. I struggle with this lack of stability. And I struggle with just being constantly worn down. In my head, I know what I want. In my head, there is a destination. In my head, I understand the purpose behind this gospel-focused vagabond lifestyle. But there are occasions where my heart just does not agree. My heart just does not want to hear it. My heart is deceitful and wicked and only wants its own. My heart leads me into pride, lust, and wordly wants.
Paul says, "imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." With this statement, my head is in full agreement, but my heart is dragging its feet. I love the role that Paul took on; that is the role I want to fill. Paul was the ultimate single guy accomplishing the ultimate single guy's task. Everywhere he went, He worked himself out of a job. He came, he saw, he discipled... and he moved on. I want to be just like Paul.
I wonder if he had to endure the same struggles that I find in myself. I desperately want to sit down with him and have a conversation. I want to know what his heart was saying all along. I know that Paul was just a man, but he's my Clark Kent. Was Paul's heart his cryptonite? Did his heart bring him down the way mine so often does? Did his heart, like mine, lead him astray into pride, lust, and worldly wants? Oh, how I wish I had the same strength, love, and humility that Paul had.
But maybe that is the answer. Paul was not the cause of his strength, love, and humility. It was not because of Paul that Paul could be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." This is a job that only Christ can accomplish. Every ounce of Paul's strength, love, and humility was Christ living through Him. He was fully surrendered to his Savior. Maybe, just maybe, it was his total surrender to Jesus that bridged the gap between his head and his heart. That is not to say he never struggled like I do, but he understood far greater than I what it means to truly surrender.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Man Up or Go Home
American Christianity is all about the status quo. We can "do church" together as long as you keep what you believe and I keep what I believe. Don't get in my face. Don't challenge me. Don't ask me hard questions. I'm here to do my own thing.
Yeah, because that's precisely what Jesus taught. Jesus taught for three whole years, suffered the worst death in history, bore man's sin, and went on a "vacation" in hell (I Peter 3:18-21; we can argue this one later) so that we could keep our ear-tickling religion to ourselves. Jesus, if he had thought of it before Jefferson, would have added "the pursuit of happiness" to his teachings in the sermon on the mount. Jesus never really wanted to make any changes, but, rather, just wanted to affirm those nice pharisees in their synagogue attendance.
Jesus laid down his life in direct rebellion to the status quo. And by status quo, I mean wearing a bright, cheery smile to church Sunday morning only to place a target on your waitress' back at lunch. By status quo, I mean excommunicating those really excited Christians who just go too far with all that Jesus stuff. By status quo, I mean the habit mankind developed in the garden. You know, the one where we rebel against everything God ever said. Yeah, that habit kills way faster than smoking (both deadly, of course).
This rebel, Jesus, would not fit in with our church folks. He spent too much time serving the people that your church members turn their noses at. This is the guy who brings to your recollection last Sunday's sermon when Monday comes and you've already proven that you slept through the message again. He is the guy who calls you out when you're not doing things God's way. Jesus would not make it in our church.
Call me a rebel. Call me a fanatic. Call me arrogant, if it makes you feel better. Call me whatever you want, but this is the Jesus I follow. Like Him, I want to speak grace when grace is necessary. Like Him, I want to speak the hard truth when the hard truth is what is needed. I move around a lot, but wherever I go I fully intend to challenge the status quo with the claims found in the Holy Bible. Welcome to accountability. In the end, we will all be held accountable. But trust me, you would rather have me hold you accountable now than Jesus later. My authority comes from Scripture to ask you the hard questions. He, on the other hand, has the authority to drop the hammer: "Depart from me, for I never knew you."
So now its up to you, Mr. Church Member. I recommend you man up. Its possible that I am not saying you're wrong, but its possible I am. All I am asking is that you check your heart. All I am asking is that you check your methods. All I am asking is that you check your message. Maybe you're doing awesome; the Bible teaches me to edify you. Maybe there's work to do; are you up to the challenge?
So will you take the challenge? Will you allow iron to sharpen iron? Will you accept a rebuke from a brother or keep looking for kisses from the enemy? We can be friends or you can ignore me until I move on to go somewhere else. You can ignore my greetings, my invitations to hang out, and my inquiries. But the challenge is on the table and I implore you to man up. Man up for your sake. But more importantly, man up for the sake of the body. Man up for Christ.
Yeah, because that's precisely what Jesus taught. Jesus taught for three whole years, suffered the worst death in history, bore man's sin, and went on a "vacation" in hell (I Peter 3:18-21; we can argue this one later) so that we could keep our ear-tickling religion to ourselves. Jesus, if he had thought of it before Jefferson, would have added "the pursuit of happiness" to his teachings in the sermon on the mount. Jesus never really wanted to make any changes, but, rather, just wanted to affirm those nice pharisees in their synagogue attendance.
Jesus laid down his life in direct rebellion to the status quo. And by status quo, I mean wearing a bright, cheery smile to church Sunday morning only to place a target on your waitress' back at lunch. By status quo, I mean excommunicating those really excited Christians who just go too far with all that Jesus stuff. By status quo, I mean the habit mankind developed in the garden. You know, the one where we rebel against everything God ever said. Yeah, that habit kills way faster than smoking (both deadly, of course).
This rebel, Jesus, would not fit in with our church folks. He spent too much time serving the people that your church members turn their noses at. This is the guy who brings to your recollection last Sunday's sermon when Monday comes and you've already proven that you slept through the message again. He is the guy who calls you out when you're not doing things God's way. Jesus would not make it in our church.
Call me a rebel. Call me a fanatic. Call me arrogant, if it makes you feel better. Call me whatever you want, but this is the Jesus I follow. Like Him, I want to speak grace when grace is necessary. Like Him, I want to speak the hard truth when the hard truth is what is needed. I move around a lot, but wherever I go I fully intend to challenge the status quo with the claims found in the Holy Bible. Welcome to accountability. In the end, we will all be held accountable. But trust me, you would rather have me hold you accountable now than Jesus later. My authority comes from Scripture to ask you the hard questions. He, on the other hand, has the authority to drop the hammer: "Depart from me, for I never knew you."
So now its up to you, Mr. Church Member. I recommend you man up. Its possible that I am not saying you're wrong, but its possible I am. All I am asking is that you check your heart. All I am asking is that you check your methods. All I am asking is that you check your message. Maybe you're doing awesome; the Bible teaches me to edify you. Maybe there's work to do; are you up to the challenge?
So will you take the challenge? Will you allow iron to sharpen iron? Will you accept a rebuke from a brother or keep looking for kisses from the enemy? We can be friends or you can ignore me until I move on to go somewhere else. You can ignore my greetings, my invitations to hang out, and my inquiries. But the challenge is on the table and I implore you to man up. Man up for your sake. But more importantly, man up for the sake of the body. Man up for Christ.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
It's Time to Find Your Own Answers...
Have you ever answered a question with "so-and-so told me..."?
When I was a kid, I trusted my teachers when they told me that George Washington was the first president, 2+2=4, and that water and the element sodium, when mixed, creates a nasty explosion. When I was a kid (eighth grade), I believed my camp counselor, for the first time, that Jesus Christ was Lord and I spoke in the language of asking Him into my heart. When I was a kid, I believed a lot of things because I was told they were true.
Paul uses an analogy in I Corinthians 13 that I feel applies well here. He says, "when I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things." The church is not meant to speak, think, or reason as a child does. The church's job is to train up leaders who will take the gospel to the ends of the earth. I submit that today's church is incapable of accomplishing the Great Commission so long as it stands in the way of spiritual puberty.
For an adult, "my pastor told me so" is not a good enough answer. For a mature believer, this just doesn't cut it. When it comes to important issues such as salvation, baptism, and studying God's Word, it's time the church taught adults to think for themselves. It's time for the church to train its members to find their own answers in the Scriptures. It's time for the church to take it's members off of milk. It's time for meat. It's time for a change.
History advises against Christians placing their faith in the clergy. It shows that when the people place all authority in the hands of mere men, the church becomes a power-hungry animal. Nothing good can come of laymen placing the right to Biblical interpretation squarely in the hands of priests and pastors. The "Dark Ages" stands as evidence for this. For centuries, the Catholic Church banned the reading of any Bible but the Latin version, which could only be understood by priests. This allowed the leadership to take control and drag the church into idol worship, the selling of indulgences, and the unholy crusades.
Through the Protestant Reformation, average people had the opportunity for the first time to read the Bible in their own langauge. This was a hard fought battle and came with a steep price. Many protestants were martyred by the Catholic Church when they claimed that the Scriptures were written for all men. For nearly 4 centuries, people like you and me have had the chance to read and understand God's Word for ourselves. Yet, America has taken this for granted. Not only is our nation Biblically illiterate, our church is Biblically illiterate.
Unless we search the Scriptures ourselves, we are in no better position than those who lived before the Protestant Reformation. Countless men gave their lives at the hands of Catholic persecution to bring more Bibles into print in more languages. If we continue to put the power in the hands of today's clergy, they too will begin to take advantage of the people. And yet it already has begun; today the Biblically illiterate are helpless prey for liberal "Christianity."
We must learn to read the Bible; we must learn to understand what it says. No longer can we lean on pastors and stand on blind faith. True faith is not blind; it was never meant to be. True faith is based upon fact.
We need pastors who will not rape the Scriptures of its truth. We need pastors who will not train men to be blind followers. What the church needs is pastors who understand that they are not a necessity for the growth of the church. The church is in need of leaders who will raise up better leaders. The church is in need of men who will seek revival through a renewed fervor for the Word of God.
And as for the people, our faith belongs in Christ, not in the men sent to be His servants.
When I was a kid, I trusted my teachers when they told me that George Washington was the first president, 2+2=4, and that water and the element sodium, when mixed, creates a nasty explosion. When I was a kid (eighth grade), I believed my camp counselor, for the first time, that Jesus Christ was Lord and I spoke in the language of asking Him into my heart. When I was a kid, I believed a lot of things because I was told they were true.
Paul uses an analogy in I Corinthians 13 that I feel applies well here. He says, "when I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things." The church is not meant to speak, think, or reason as a child does. The church's job is to train up leaders who will take the gospel to the ends of the earth. I submit that today's church is incapable of accomplishing the Great Commission so long as it stands in the way of spiritual puberty.
For an adult, "my pastor told me so" is not a good enough answer. For a mature believer, this just doesn't cut it. When it comes to important issues such as salvation, baptism, and studying God's Word, it's time the church taught adults to think for themselves. It's time for the church to train its members to find their own answers in the Scriptures. It's time for the church to take it's members off of milk. It's time for meat. It's time for a change.
History advises against Christians placing their faith in the clergy. It shows that when the people place all authority in the hands of mere men, the church becomes a power-hungry animal. Nothing good can come of laymen placing the right to Biblical interpretation squarely in the hands of priests and pastors. The "Dark Ages" stands as evidence for this. For centuries, the Catholic Church banned the reading of any Bible but the Latin version, which could only be understood by priests. This allowed the leadership to take control and drag the church into idol worship, the selling of indulgences, and the unholy crusades.
Through the Protestant Reformation, average people had the opportunity for the first time to read the Bible in their own langauge. This was a hard fought battle and came with a steep price. Many protestants were martyred by the Catholic Church when they claimed that the Scriptures were written for all men. For nearly 4 centuries, people like you and me have had the chance to read and understand God's Word for ourselves. Yet, America has taken this for granted. Not only is our nation Biblically illiterate, our church is Biblically illiterate.
Unless we search the Scriptures ourselves, we are in no better position than those who lived before the Protestant Reformation. Countless men gave their lives at the hands of Catholic persecution to bring more Bibles into print in more languages. If we continue to put the power in the hands of today's clergy, they too will begin to take advantage of the people. And yet it already has begun; today the Biblically illiterate are helpless prey for liberal "Christianity."
We must learn to read the Bible; we must learn to understand what it says. No longer can we lean on pastors and stand on blind faith. True faith is not blind; it was never meant to be. True faith is based upon fact.
We need pastors who will not rape the Scriptures of its truth. We need pastors who will not train men to be blind followers. What the church needs is pastors who understand that they are not a necessity for the growth of the church. The church is in need of leaders who will raise up better leaders. The church is in need of men who will seek revival through a renewed fervor for the Word of God.
And as for the people, our faith belongs in Christ, not in the men sent to be His servants.
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Big Question: Limited Atonement
I've been questioned on the subject of limited atonement a number of times recently. While I don't know all the answers, I feel like I'm beginning to gain a good grasp on a lot of the questions. Moving through the process of thinking through certain doctrines over the past year, I'm close, but not fully verbally articulate, in my understanding of the implications of Christ's death in place of some but not all. So my thinking in putting this post up is that it would be more beneficial to both myself and a fellow investigator if I wrote out my response rather than trying to bumble through talking about it. Please feel free to ponder through this doctrine with me and, civilly, raise important questions that need to be taken alongside these thoughts.
Here are the two choices:
1. Christ died for the sins of all men.
2. Christ died for the sins of chosen men.
The first option can lead one down two possible roads. The first road being universalism. If Christ died for the sins of all men and all men's sins are covered by His atonement, then all men will be saved. The implications of this understanding are obvious. The second road one may follow leads to an unjust God. Suppose that Christ's atonement was for the sins of all men, but in order to get it, men must choose to accept this sacrifice on their behalf. Most folks who believe that Christ died for all are not going to be universalists, but are going to sit in this second camp. So why is God unjust in this situation?
Allow me to explain this by means of an explanation of limited atonement. No man, in and of himself, is good. "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside... there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Rom 3:10-18) Romans 5:12 tells us that "just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, death spread to all men, because all have sinned." We are "dead in [our] trespasses and sins." (Eph 2:1) All men, unless they have been made alive by the new birth, are dead in sin.
But what is sin? Sin is rebellion against a pure, perfect, and holy God. Man is inherently rebellious against God; rebellion is part of our nature since the fall of man. (Gen 3) Crimes committed against earthly laws lead to earthly consequences equal to the offense. Shoplifting, for instance, will lead to a set fine and possibly some jail time. Armed robbery will probably get you a few years in the slammer. These things are punishable, but only to a certain extent. These acts are finite acts committed against finite institutions.
Rebellion against God, on the other hand, is an eternal offense. This is because God is an eternal being who demands perfection. Our entire purpose on the earth is to worship God; true worship cannot be marred by any rebellion. Therefore, any offense against God eternally mars our worship and our entire purpose. A crime against an eternal God is eternal in itself. An eternal crime demands eternal consequences. This is why it is just that unrepentant sinners spend eternity in hell. I didn't say this was a fun doctrine, but this is what is taught in Scripture. Jesus talks about hell more than anybody and He isn't the one I intend to argue with.
For the believer, this eternal offense is negated by the sacrifice of a perfect, eternal being. Jesus, the God-man, was the perfect sacrifice to wash away eternal sin of those within His flock.
It is just that sin is punished. It is just that all sin is punished, even that of the saved. It would not be just for sin to be punished twice. The nature of Christ's atonement prevents this injustice. According to the doctrine of limited atonement, Christ's atoning work was only for the elect, not every man to ever walk the earth. This means that sin is punished at the cross for those whom God had chosen to be His from before the foundations of the earth. For the elect, Jesus took on the punishment for their sin as they took on His righteousness in the sight of God. (II Cor 5:21) For all who are not chosen by God, their sin is punished by an eternity in hell. In this scenario, all sin is accounted for and justly punished. The sin of believers is punished at the cross while the sin of unbelievers is punished in hell.
Now return to the beginning, it is unjust for Christ to die for the sin of all men and give them the choice to accept or reject this sacrifice on their behalf. By Christ dying for the sin of all men, all sin is accounted for and punished at the cross. Those who choose to accept this sacrifice reap the benefits of their sin being punished through Christ. Those who do not accept this sacrifice on their behalf, are punished in hell for eternity for their sin-rebellion against a perfect, eternal being. Therefore, in this scenario, the sin of the unbeliever is punished twice! His sin is punished in hell, but his sin is also punished at the cross by Jesus. This is unjust and our God is not an unjust God.
Limited atonement teaches the justice of God. You may say that a God who works in this way is not loving. But is a loving God unjust? Or, does a loving God prove His love sacrificially AND see true justice served all at the same time?
Here are the two choices:
1. Christ died for the sins of all men.
2. Christ died for the sins of chosen men.
The first option can lead one down two possible roads. The first road being universalism. If Christ died for the sins of all men and all men's sins are covered by His atonement, then all men will be saved. The implications of this understanding are obvious. The second road one may follow leads to an unjust God. Suppose that Christ's atonement was for the sins of all men, but in order to get it, men must choose to accept this sacrifice on their behalf. Most folks who believe that Christ died for all are not going to be universalists, but are going to sit in this second camp. So why is God unjust in this situation?
Allow me to explain this by means of an explanation of limited atonement. No man, in and of himself, is good. "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside... there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Rom 3:10-18) Romans 5:12 tells us that "just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, death spread to all men, because all have sinned." We are "dead in [our] trespasses and sins." (Eph 2:1) All men, unless they have been made alive by the new birth, are dead in sin.
But what is sin? Sin is rebellion against a pure, perfect, and holy God. Man is inherently rebellious against God; rebellion is part of our nature since the fall of man. (Gen 3) Crimes committed against earthly laws lead to earthly consequences equal to the offense. Shoplifting, for instance, will lead to a set fine and possibly some jail time. Armed robbery will probably get you a few years in the slammer. These things are punishable, but only to a certain extent. These acts are finite acts committed against finite institutions.
Rebellion against God, on the other hand, is an eternal offense. This is because God is an eternal being who demands perfection. Our entire purpose on the earth is to worship God; true worship cannot be marred by any rebellion. Therefore, any offense against God eternally mars our worship and our entire purpose. A crime against an eternal God is eternal in itself. An eternal crime demands eternal consequences. This is why it is just that unrepentant sinners spend eternity in hell. I didn't say this was a fun doctrine, but this is what is taught in Scripture. Jesus talks about hell more than anybody and He isn't the one I intend to argue with.
For the believer, this eternal offense is negated by the sacrifice of a perfect, eternal being. Jesus, the God-man, was the perfect sacrifice to wash away eternal sin of those within His flock.
It is just that sin is punished. It is just that all sin is punished, even that of the saved. It would not be just for sin to be punished twice. The nature of Christ's atonement prevents this injustice. According to the doctrine of limited atonement, Christ's atoning work was only for the elect, not every man to ever walk the earth. This means that sin is punished at the cross for those whom God had chosen to be His from before the foundations of the earth. For the elect, Jesus took on the punishment for their sin as they took on His righteousness in the sight of God. (II Cor 5:21) For all who are not chosen by God, their sin is punished by an eternity in hell. In this scenario, all sin is accounted for and justly punished. The sin of believers is punished at the cross while the sin of unbelievers is punished in hell.
Now return to the beginning, it is unjust for Christ to die for the sin of all men and give them the choice to accept or reject this sacrifice on their behalf. By Christ dying for the sin of all men, all sin is accounted for and punished at the cross. Those who choose to accept this sacrifice reap the benefits of their sin being punished through Christ. Those who do not accept this sacrifice on their behalf, are punished in hell for eternity for their sin-rebellion against a perfect, eternal being. Therefore, in this scenario, the sin of the unbeliever is punished twice! His sin is punished in hell, but his sin is also punished at the cross by Jesus. This is unjust and our God is not an unjust God.
Limited atonement teaches the justice of God. You may say that a God who works in this way is not loving. But is a loving God unjust? Or, does a loving God prove His love sacrificially AND see true justice served all at the same time?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
What I Want (Or, The Abundant Life)
Scrambling through a thick cloud of darkness, I emerge from the woods into chaos. The deafening boom of canon blasts assails me from all sides, near and far. Bright flashes pull back the shadows as I frantically search for some familiarity. Gunfire and cries of pain drown my attempts to reason as I quickly lose control. Making my way across the field, an unknown destination awaits me. The going is slow as I stumble over endless bodies, some bearing the red uniform, some the blue. My memory alludes me; I know nothing but the throbbing pain that seems to pervade my whole body. A steady flow of either blood or perspiration, maybe both, flows from my head.
A blast knocks me over as dirt rains down on my head. Regaining my balance, I continue toward what seems to be the front line. Soldiers run in all directions, discharging their weapons as they go. The pain in my head escalates. Searching my clothing for a makeshift wrap, a wave of panic sweeps over me at the realization that I wear no uniform, but street clothes. I search my mind for an answer to the now all-important question. A man brushes by me, fleeing in retreat. He stops briefly to turn around and wave for me to follow. Darting off, his tattered red tunic vanishes into the night. Another soldier, this one in blue, violently grabs my coat and drags me in the opposite direction. Before escaping into the night, he orders me to pick up my gun and fight.
The world begins to spin as the violence overwhelms me. Men surround me. They fearfully shove past, running here and there. Gunfire rings in my ears as my vision blurs. The darkness pervades, this fueling the fear now growing inside me. An expectation of doom takes hold as I fight through the clamor and confusion to understand to which side I belong. The battle endlessly rages with no resolution in sight.
I want the pleasures this world has to offer. I want people to know me, to remember me, to love me. I want to be the focus of attention. I want the perfect girl and I want her now. I want to make my name great. This is the side for which I fight.
I want to see God's kingdom come. I want to see His will done on earth as it is in heaven. I want to be a light that pushes out the darkness of this world. I want to offer up my life as a living sacrifice. I want to hallow His name. This is the side for which I fight.
A battle rages inside me.
Day by day, my fight loses ambiguity. The sides become more clear. My role, less obscure. For weeks I fight the good fight and begin to taste the spoils of war. But then on the heels of victory, I arbitrarily rejoin the enemy reasoning that the end justifies the means. At times, my vision blurs so much that it becomes difficult to know what end I really want for myself. I know that it is impossible for the enemy to show me the same goodness. The enemy offers everything that I think I want, but I know this is a set up, a trap. An ambush awaits me, but I ignore the warning signs. Not until defeat is at hand are my eyes opened to understand the nature of this deception.
The apostle Paul fought this fight.
"For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want." He continues, "Wretched man that I am!" Paul knew this inner struggle well. He knew that battle lines could often be blurred by one's own desires. He knew the difficulty in determining which side was real, which side was right, which side was true. The fight is not easy. This life is difficult. But the sanctified life is the one that presses through the smoke with bayonet outstretched. Though he may fall, there is strength to get back up. Though he may not see through the haze, there is guidance to show the way. Though he may suffer, there is hope for the future.
No man is exempted from life's battles. All have been enlisted in some military force. While courage, valor, and victory are not limited to a particular side, final victory is only for the few. There is one leader who overwhelmingly conquers all. All men must consider for whom they will fight. The world fights for itself. The Christian fights not for himself, but for a King and a kingdom. By Jesus, we find direction to tread the narrow path; He is the way. By Jesus, we persevere toward the truth; He is the truth. By Jesus, we have victory over sin and death; He is the life.
Paul knew he was wretched. But he follows this statement with thanksgiving! He asks, "Who will set me free from the body of this death? THANKS BE TO GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord!... There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." There is no condemnation. By Jesus, there is no condemnation. This is our hope. The hope of glory by the saving work of Jesus Christ. One day, everyone's fight will be revealed for what it really is. On that day, everyone will know whether your battle was for Jesus or whether your battle was for self.
"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."
We must persevere to set our minds on the Spirit. When the flesh knocks us down, there must be repentance and a turn back to the Spirit. Jesus does not require perfection from His sheep. He requires total commitment. Even the demons believe in God and His Son, Jesus, and shudder. Belief is not enough, but must be joined by true commitment. Peter calls men to "sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord of [their] hearts."
A blast knocks me over as dirt rains down on my head. Regaining my balance, I continue toward what seems to be the front line. Soldiers run in all directions, discharging their weapons as they go. The pain in my head escalates. Searching my clothing for a makeshift wrap, a wave of panic sweeps over me at the realization that I wear no uniform, but street clothes. I search my mind for an answer to the now all-important question. A man brushes by me, fleeing in retreat. He stops briefly to turn around and wave for me to follow. Darting off, his tattered red tunic vanishes into the night. Another soldier, this one in blue, violently grabs my coat and drags me in the opposite direction. Before escaping into the night, he orders me to pick up my gun and fight.
The world begins to spin as the violence overwhelms me. Men surround me. They fearfully shove past, running here and there. Gunfire rings in my ears as my vision blurs. The darkness pervades, this fueling the fear now growing inside me. An expectation of doom takes hold as I fight through the clamor and confusion to understand to which side I belong. The battle endlessly rages with no resolution in sight.
I want the pleasures this world has to offer. I want people to know me, to remember me, to love me. I want to be the focus of attention. I want the perfect girl and I want her now. I want to make my name great. This is the side for which I fight.
I want to see God's kingdom come. I want to see His will done on earth as it is in heaven. I want to be a light that pushes out the darkness of this world. I want to offer up my life as a living sacrifice. I want to hallow His name. This is the side for which I fight.
A battle rages inside me.
Day by day, my fight loses ambiguity. The sides become more clear. My role, less obscure. For weeks I fight the good fight and begin to taste the spoils of war. But then on the heels of victory, I arbitrarily rejoin the enemy reasoning that the end justifies the means. At times, my vision blurs so much that it becomes difficult to know what end I really want for myself. I know that it is impossible for the enemy to show me the same goodness. The enemy offers everything that I think I want, but I know this is a set up, a trap. An ambush awaits me, but I ignore the warning signs. Not until defeat is at hand are my eyes opened to understand the nature of this deception.
The apostle Paul fought this fight.
"For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want." He continues, "Wretched man that I am!" Paul knew this inner struggle well. He knew that battle lines could often be blurred by one's own desires. He knew the difficulty in determining which side was real, which side was right, which side was true. The fight is not easy. This life is difficult. But the sanctified life is the one that presses through the smoke with bayonet outstretched. Though he may fall, there is strength to get back up. Though he may not see through the haze, there is guidance to show the way. Though he may suffer, there is hope for the future.
No man is exempted from life's battles. All have been enlisted in some military force. While courage, valor, and victory are not limited to a particular side, final victory is only for the few. There is one leader who overwhelmingly conquers all. All men must consider for whom they will fight. The world fights for itself. The Christian fights not for himself, but for a King and a kingdom. By Jesus, we find direction to tread the narrow path; He is the way. By Jesus, we persevere toward the truth; He is the truth. By Jesus, we have victory over sin and death; He is the life.
Paul knew he was wretched. But he follows this statement with thanksgiving! He asks, "Who will set me free from the body of this death? THANKS BE TO GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord!... There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." There is no condemnation. By Jesus, there is no condemnation. This is our hope. The hope of glory by the saving work of Jesus Christ. One day, everyone's fight will be revealed for what it really is. On that day, everyone will know whether your battle was for Jesus or whether your battle was for self.
"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."
We must persevere to set our minds on the Spirit. When the flesh knocks us down, there must be repentance and a turn back to the Spirit. Jesus does not require perfection from His sheep. He requires total commitment. Even the demons believe in God and His Son, Jesus, and shudder. Belief is not enough, but must be joined by true commitment. Peter calls men to "sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord of [their] hearts."
Monday, May 11, 2009
When Tattoo Artists Cry
To me, guys with tats have always seemed like a rough sort. If I'm walking down the street toward a big ugly, angry man, he has always been that much more intimidating sporting a sleeve down his arm or flames crawling up his neck. But the truth is, they do cry. Maybe these guys are just softies. Or maybe, the gospel is powerful. Maybe the name Jesus Christ really does carry an otherwordly majesty.
For the full story, you can read Daniel's blog, but we can't take a coffee break from the missio dei (mission of God). There is no retirement, no going on vacation, and no exception for tattoo day. "We are ambassadors for Christ as though God were making an appeal through us." Everywhere the believer goes, he bears the name of Jesus. When an American ambassador enters another country, he goes representing America. But not only is he representing America, he represents America. While on the one hand, he is there to speak for America, he is also a representation of who America is. If someone were to watch him for a day this person may understand better what it looks like to be American. Therefore, when the ambassador takes a coffee break or goes home for the night, he is still watched, still observed, still studied.
Christians too often want to speak for God, but are so rarely willing to adequately represent Him. If we are to tell the lost of God's love, mercy, hope, and truth, should we not also live this out when people are watching, observing, and studying us outside of our jobs or ministries?
Daniel, AnneMarie, and I went to get tattoos on Friday. Upon arriving at the tattoo studio, we discovered that Steve, our artist, could not make it in. His five-year-old daughter, Violet, had become sick at school and needed to be cared for. Timidly, almost anticipating trouble, the receptionist, Kelly, asked if it would be ok for us to reschedule. Little did we know, but another tattoo artist, Lacie, was listening and observing our conversation. Daniel and I graciously thanked Kelly for her time and happily rescheduled our appointment for two weeks later. As we were leaving, Lacie noted her surprise to our reaction as this was atypical behavior.
We returned to Raleigh that night to hang out with some friends and watch a dueling piano show. At some point on the way into Raleigh, the Holy Spirit pricked Daniel's heart. In response to this we found ourselves outside the tattoo studio again, the three of us, with a stuffed frog holding a get well card between its magnetic hands with the words "you're special" on them. Walking into the studio ten minutes before closing, we found Steve lamenting to Kelly about how he had missed us earlier in the day. At the sight of our trio and the ensuing explanation concerning how we cared about and had been praying for little Violet, he welled up with tears. This act of love spoke volumes to him.
Steve insisted we stay after closing so he could ink us up. For the next hour and a half Daniel had the opportunity to tell Steve about how his tattoo encouraged him to pray and keep a good attitude and I had the opportunity to talk about how the Greek words for "Jesus is Lord" had impacted my life. The conversation remained on spiritual things all night as we listened, taught, encouraged, and loved on Steve. At the end, we prayed for him, his daughter, and that his relationship with her would model God's for His children. The night ended with a round of bear hugs as emotions flied high on all sides.
Yes, Paul does challenge believers in II Corinthians 5:20 to be "ambassadors for Christ." He does challenge us to urgently beg men, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. We play a vital role as vessels through whom God speaks words of truth. But this only comes after people see the life transformation that has already occurred in us. Just a few verses before, Paul writes "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
What right do we have to speak love, truth, and grace into someone's life if they have not seen the new things born into our lives through Christ's reconciling work?
Live the truth.
Speak the truth.
"kurios Iasous" - Greek for "Jesus is Lord" or, very literally translated "Lord Jesus". This phrase is used in Rom 10:9 to signify the words that come out of one's mouth at regeneration in partnership with a belief that God raised Jesus from the dead. The word order is significant insofar as what may seem to be the misplaced word "Lord" in English is moved to the front to add greater emphasis. Typically in an equalitative statement like this where nouns are nominative (both act as a subject) a proper noun such as Jesus would take priority to go first in the text. Yes, Jesus is Lord. He is Lord of the universe. This is a truth statement. But the emphasis on the word "Lord" brings to light the place He holds now in the new believer's life. I Peter 3:15 says "sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord of your hearts..."
For the full story, you can read Daniel's blog, but we can't take a coffee break from the missio dei (mission of God). There is no retirement, no going on vacation, and no exception for tattoo day. "We are ambassadors for Christ as though God were making an appeal through us." Everywhere the believer goes, he bears the name of Jesus. When an American ambassador enters another country, he goes representing America. But not only is he representing America, he represents America. While on the one hand, he is there to speak for America, he is also a representation of who America is. If someone were to watch him for a day this person may understand better what it looks like to be American. Therefore, when the ambassador takes a coffee break or goes home for the night, he is still watched, still observed, still studied.
Christians too often want to speak for God, but are so rarely willing to adequately represent Him. If we are to tell the lost of God's love, mercy, hope, and truth, should we not also live this out when people are watching, observing, and studying us outside of our jobs or ministries?
Daniel, AnneMarie, and I went to get tattoos on Friday. Upon arriving at the tattoo studio, we discovered that Steve, our artist, could not make it in. His five-year-old daughter, Violet, had become sick at school and needed to be cared for. Timidly, almost anticipating trouble, the receptionist, Kelly, asked if it would be ok for us to reschedule. Little did we know, but another tattoo artist, Lacie, was listening and observing our conversation. Daniel and I graciously thanked Kelly for her time and happily rescheduled our appointment for two weeks later. As we were leaving, Lacie noted her surprise to our reaction as this was atypical behavior.
We returned to Raleigh that night to hang out with some friends and watch a dueling piano show. At some point on the way into Raleigh, the Holy Spirit pricked Daniel's heart. In response to this we found ourselves outside the tattoo studio again, the three of us, with a stuffed frog holding a get well card between its magnetic hands with the words "you're special" on them. Walking into the studio ten minutes before closing, we found Steve lamenting to Kelly about how he had missed us earlier in the day. At the sight of our trio and the ensuing explanation concerning how we cared about and had been praying for little Violet, he welled up with tears. This act of love spoke volumes to him.
Steve insisted we stay after closing so he could ink us up. For the next hour and a half Daniel had the opportunity to tell Steve about how his tattoo encouraged him to pray and keep a good attitude and I had the opportunity to talk about how the Greek words for "Jesus is Lord" had impacted my life. The conversation remained on spiritual things all night as we listened, taught, encouraged, and loved on Steve. At the end, we prayed for him, his daughter, and that his relationship with her would model God's for His children. The night ended with a round of bear hugs as emotions flied high on all sides.
Yes, Paul does challenge believers in II Corinthians 5:20 to be "ambassadors for Christ." He does challenge us to urgently beg men, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. We play a vital role as vessels through whom God speaks words of truth. But this only comes after people see the life transformation that has already occurred in us. Just a few verses before, Paul writes "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
What right do we have to speak love, truth, and grace into someone's life if they have not seen the new things born into our lives through Christ's reconciling work?
Live the truth.
Speak the truth.
"kurios Iasous" - Greek for "Jesus is Lord" or, very literally translated "Lord Jesus". This phrase is used in Rom 10:9 to signify the words that come out of one's mouth at regeneration in partnership with a belief that God raised Jesus from the dead. The word order is significant insofar as what may seem to be the misplaced word "Lord" in English is moved to the front to add greater emphasis. Typically in an equalitative statement like this where nouns are nominative (both act as a subject) a proper noun such as Jesus would take priority to go first in the text. Yes, Jesus is Lord. He is Lord of the universe. This is a truth statement. But the emphasis on the word "Lord" brings to light the place He holds now in the new believer's life. I Peter 3:15 says "sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord of your hearts..."
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Time For Revival... But, I Think I'll Kill Aliens First
Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of mediocrity. A flood of mediocrity fills my lungs as the fire is slowly choked to death. Day in and day out I live and walk with Christians whom I fear I will become. Is the call of Christ really so easy to put aside for worldly comforts and pleasures? Or, maybe I really am so naive as to think that what I read in the Bible about suffering, counting the cost, and dying to self should be the norm for Christ-followers. All too often I can't help but wonder if youthful zeal and passion will fade as I age. Can I expect to join the ranks of the Christian soldiers around me that seem to be on a permanent leave of absence? At the age of 30, will I spend all my free time napping and shooting aliens on the x-box with my other balding 30-year-old friends?
But on the other hand, why should the fire die?
Paul was an old man when he spoke these words:
But on the other hand, why should the fire die?
Paul was an old man when he spoke these words:
"I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself,
so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.
Therefore, I testify to you this day that
I am innocent of the blood of all men.
For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God."
Paul did not consider his life as dear to himself. Nor did he consider comforts, money, religion, or laziness as worthy of his life investment. Paul gave everything to finish the course and the ministry set before us. Paul was on a mission, the missio dei (mission of God), that was not solely his own, but a mission for all Christ-followers. He lived, suffered, and preached in a manner that made him innocent of the blood of all men he encountered.
I only wish I could say the same, for my hands are stained red by all of the opportunities that I have missed. I have failed time and time gain in my service to the kingdom whether for fear or doubt or, most notably, apathy. Hell is a real place. The truth is that this is the destination for some. My feet are supposed to be beautiful as they carry good news, for "how will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?" Today's church has no urgency. We have an understanding of hell, but, judging by our actions, we don't care. To care would be to do something. To care would be to preach. To care would be to love. To care would be to emulate Christ.
Where is the light? "You are the light of the world."
Where is the revival? This is the question that Christians and churches continually ask, but are unwilling to catalytically spark. There is no time, it is now. "Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation' --
so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.
Therefore, I testify to you this day that
I am innocent of the blood of all men.
For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God."
Paul did not consider his life as dear to himself. Nor did he consider comforts, money, religion, or laziness as worthy of his life investment. Paul gave everything to finish the course and the ministry set before us. Paul was on a mission, the missio dei (mission of God), that was not solely his own, but a mission for all Christ-followers. He lived, suffered, and preached in a manner that made him innocent of the blood of all men he encountered.
I only wish I could say the same, for my hands are stained red by all of the opportunities that I have missed. I have failed time and time gain in my service to the kingdom whether for fear or doubt or, most notably, apathy. Hell is a real place. The truth is that this is the destination for some. My feet are supposed to be beautiful as they carry good news, for "how will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?" Today's church has no urgency. We have an understanding of hell, but, judging by our actions, we don't care. To care would be to do something. To care would be to preach. To care would be to love. To care would be to emulate Christ.
Where is the light? "You are the light of the world."
Where is the love? "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Where is the sacrifice? "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Where is the sacrifice? "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Where is the power? "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth... lo, I am with you always."
Where is the boldness? "As they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."
Where is the boldness? "As they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."
Where is the revival? This is the question that Christians and churches continually ask, but are unwilling to catalytically spark. There is no time, it is now. "Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation' --
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