I had the privilege of preaching at my home church on Sunday evening. The text for my sermon was Philippians 2:5 - 11, very likely the most beautiful and theologically rich Christmas text in all the Scriptures.
This text begins by urging the church to have the same attitude - to think - in the same way as her Savior. What sort of attitude did Jesus have - humility, others first.
Paul shows this in a beautiful piece of poetry. He begins by affirming the absolute Deity of Jesus, and he ends by showing Jesus is the super-exalted Lord of all. In the middle of all this, however, is the fact that God became a man!
Get your mind around that fact! God, whose name is Holy, became a man. He emptied himself by what he took on - humanity. But, He did not stop there. He came as a slave! God made himself a slave in that He willingly went to the cross to take the sins of the world upon Himself and to redeem for Himself all those who trust in Him for the salvation that only He could make possible.
Right in the middle of Paul's hymn to Christ, he shows us the cross. The Son humbled himself to the point of death - even death on a cross. Because of this great demonstration of God's grace and holiness, the Son is exalted, given the name above every name - LORD.
The church is to now demonstrate (bow the knee) and declare (confess) the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We do this by living in humble service to others by the power of the resurrected Lord living within us and the church.
The church will most effectively and accurately represent her Savior when she humbles herself. The Son is best seen as the exalted Lord when we are humble. This flies in the face of a "name it and claim it" or "health and wealth gospel." The church who most exalts Christ is not likely the one with a glorious physical plant but the one who continually lowers herself for the sake of the glorious gospel.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Election Results: African Americans, Action, and Abortion
The results are in, and it is time to respond. The question is; how should we respond?
We should respond by praying for Senator Obama and opposing him at every turn on issues that are clearly a violation of Scripture. It is possible to do both at the same time and to be Christ-like throughout. We must be salt and light and trust in our Sovereign Lord.
Ninety-seven percent of African-Americans voted for Senator Obama. Many of these voters are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to encourage every brown-skinned follower of Christ to use their well-deserved political clout to tell Obama that they will not stand idly by while he appoints judges who will not respect the lives of the unborn. Tell him that you will not support him in 2012 or his colleagues in Congress in 2010 if he removes protections for the unborn or signs the Freedom of Choice Act. He has to listen. Without your vote, he would not be our president-elect. For the sake of the millions of lives on the line, please do not be silent.
We may disagree on economic policy, but we should not disagree on the issue of life if we have been saved by the same Lord Jesus Christ who is life and the light of men.
We should respond by praying for Senator Obama and opposing him at every turn on issues that are clearly a violation of Scripture. It is possible to do both at the same time and to be Christ-like throughout. We must be salt and light and trust in our Sovereign Lord.
Ninety-seven percent of African-Americans voted for Senator Obama. Many of these voters are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to encourage every brown-skinned follower of Christ to use their well-deserved political clout to tell Obama that they will not stand idly by while he appoints judges who will not respect the lives of the unborn. Tell him that you will not support him in 2012 or his colleagues in Congress in 2010 if he removes protections for the unborn or signs the Freedom of Choice Act. He has to listen. Without your vote, he would not be our president-elect. For the sake of the millions of lives on the line, please do not be silent.
We may disagree on economic policy, but we should not disagree on the issue of life if we have been saved by the same Lord Jesus Christ who is life and the light of men.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Voting
What would the election results look like if we limited voting to people who are net contributors rather than net takers from the government? This would not be divided on race or gender lines - just lines of productivity. S/he who sacrifices the most to make government run would have the strongest voice. The next time you think of blaming the rich for your plight, remember this little nugget of truth. Fifty percent of Americans receive a check from a government entity each month (local, state, federal). Why don't we let the people who pay for government elect its leaders? Otherwise, isn't democracy just sanctioned stealing?
Discuss.
Discuss.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Just Wondering
If Barack Hussein Obama wins this election and creates a national heath system, what will happen when a pro-life mother learns she is carrying a baby with some form of disability?
Will the government require an abortion so the system is not "stuck" with the carrying costs of this child? Every national health care system ends up less efficient than projected and with costs billions more than anticipated. Is it too far fetched to suggest they will "eliminate" "unnecessary burdens" on the health care system for the "greater good" of the nation?
So, you ask, what about my freedom of religion on this issue? The government may say, look, if you want to have the child, that's fine, but they will not qualify for national health care - you will have to find a way to pay for it on your own. Which, with the private options we now have, this would be a possibility. However when a national system drys up these options by putting all the healthy people in a national system - where will we turn?
I am not sure how likely this is, but two facts haunt me. First, Barack Obama voted three times in Illinois to kill babies who were born alive after a failed abortion.
Second, our government, even under George W. Bush, already forces pro-life citizens to subsidize the operations of Planned Parenthood to the tune of more than $250 million annually. Planned Parenthood operates with a budget of nearly $1 billion annually. About a third comes from private donations. Another third from murder fees. Another third comes from us - the taxpayers. Planned Parenthood kills more than 225,000 babies each year.
I am opposed to national heathcare primarily for common-sense economic reasons. The government almost never improves something that is already a challenge for the private sector.
Yet, in the case of a liberal Congress led by an even more liberal Barack Obama, I fear a far graver danger.
Is this an unlikely scenario? I hope and pray it is.
Will the government require an abortion so the system is not "stuck" with the carrying costs of this child? Every national health care system ends up less efficient than projected and with costs billions more than anticipated. Is it too far fetched to suggest they will "eliminate" "unnecessary burdens" on the health care system for the "greater good" of the nation?
So, you ask, what about my freedom of religion on this issue? The government may say, look, if you want to have the child, that's fine, but they will not qualify for national health care - you will have to find a way to pay for it on your own. Which, with the private options we now have, this would be a possibility. However when a national system drys up these options by putting all the healthy people in a national system - where will we turn?
I am not sure how likely this is, but two facts haunt me. First, Barack Obama voted three times in Illinois to kill babies who were born alive after a failed abortion.
Second, our government, even under George W. Bush, already forces pro-life citizens to subsidize the operations of Planned Parenthood to the tune of more than $250 million annually. Planned Parenthood operates with a budget of nearly $1 billion annually. About a third comes from private donations. Another third from murder fees. Another third comes from us - the taxpayers. Planned Parenthood kills more than 225,000 babies each year.
I am opposed to national heathcare primarily for common-sense economic reasons. The government almost never improves something that is already a challenge for the private sector.
Yet, in the case of a liberal Congress led by an even more liberal Barack Obama, I fear a far graver danger.
Is this an unlikely scenario? I hope and pray it is.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Hockey Mom Hat Trick
First Goal: Prove that she can rise to the occasion and be President if duty calls.
Assessment: She scored with a slap shot to the upper left corner. Heck, she even tossed in a little foreign policy and made Obama look like a former community organizer by comparison. (Oh, you mean he actually put "community organizer" on his resume?!)
Second Goal: Convince women to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket.
Assessment: While we won't really know until election day, Stacie was riveted to the speech. She connected with stories about being in the PTA, making a difference in a small town, and being mother of a son with Down's Syndrome. This woman is real, and she is going to connect with real women who work and raise a family.
Third Goal: Move the vote for John McCain from one of tacit obligation to one of moral and emotional commitment.
Assessment: Palin scored, perhaps, the winning goal on this front. You can vote for Obama and hand a mamma's boy one more undeserved stop on his journey to nowhere, or you can vote for McCain - a man who sweat and bled for you. You can vote for style, or you can vote for substance. Many Republicans have had their issues with John McCain, and I am one of them. I fought hard against his nomination in 2000, but when I check "McCain/Palin" in November, I will do so enthusiastically. The alternative is to reward a man who has done nothing for our country other than increase global warming with every speech he delivers.
Assessment: She scored with a slap shot to the upper left corner. Heck, she even tossed in a little foreign policy and made Obama look like a former community organizer by comparison. (Oh, you mean he actually put "community organizer" on his resume?!)
Second Goal: Convince women to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket.
Assessment: While we won't really know until election day, Stacie was riveted to the speech. She connected with stories about being in the PTA, making a difference in a small town, and being mother of a son with Down's Syndrome. This woman is real, and she is going to connect with real women who work and raise a family.
Third Goal: Move the vote for John McCain from one of tacit obligation to one of moral and emotional commitment.
Assessment: Palin scored, perhaps, the winning goal on this front. You can vote for Obama and hand a mamma's boy one more undeserved stop on his journey to nowhere, or you can vote for McCain - a man who sweat and bled for you. You can vote for style, or you can vote for substance. Many Republicans have had their issues with John McCain, and I am one of them. I fought hard against his nomination in 2000, but when I check "McCain/Palin" in November, I will do so enthusiastically. The alternative is to reward a man who has done nothing for our country other than increase global warming with every speech he delivers.
Palin Delivers
Okay folks, the media is killing me. Not because the RNC speakers told me to be upset but because members of the news media are so stinking biased, and they cannot even see it!
One report from the floor took offense at Palin's "belittiling" and "putting down" Obama. Has anyone seen an Obama commercial lately? Come on people. He is not Mr. Nice Guy - especially when President Bush (who, incidentally, is not running for president) is his target.
Let Obama put his big boy pants on and defend his own record. I'm sure he made some tough decisions as a community organizer. Stop acting like he's the snotty-nosed kid who gets bullyed at school and needs his mommy to come to his aid.
Facts are facts. Palin can compete with Obama when it comes to oratory, and she has more leadership experience.
If people were watching and listening to Palin without being warped by the subtle twisting of the media, Palin just changed this election.
We shall see.
By the way, it sure was nice to finally have a Republican who can explain in simple terms why tax increases only on the "rich" drag everyone down. Why did it take us so long to find this lady? Maybe there is hope after all that Virginia Tech will find an offensive coordinator?
One report from the floor took offense at Palin's "belittiling" and "putting down" Obama. Has anyone seen an Obama commercial lately? Come on people. He is not Mr. Nice Guy - especially when President Bush (who, incidentally, is not running for president) is his target.
Let Obama put his big boy pants on and defend his own record. I'm sure he made some tough decisions as a community organizer. Stop acting like he's the snotty-nosed kid who gets bullyed at school and needs his mommy to come to his aid.
Facts are facts. Palin can compete with Obama when it comes to oratory, and she has more leadership experience.
If people were watching and listening to Palin without being warped by the subtle twisting of the media, Palin just changed this election.
We shall see.
By the way, it sure was nice to finally have a Republican who can explain in simple terms why tax increases only on the "rich" drag everyone down. Why did it take us so long to find this lady? Maybe there is hope after all that Virginia Tech will find an offensive coordinator?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Media Bias - Palin and Pregnancy
Study after study has demonstrated that urging abstinence is more effective than teaching "safe sex." Teaching abstinence is never fail safe; practicing it is.
Sarah Palin's daughter did not practice what her mother preached. A question posed this morning on ABC was callous, mean-spirited, and wrong headed. The anchor woman went out of her way to point out that Palin is an advocate of abstinance education and that her daughter is now pregnant as if to say, "see, it does not work." The anchor kept stressing this point.
Even ABC should know that you cannot take one instance and make a case for scrapping an entire approach. This would be like saying we should eliminate ABC because of this one blatantly boneheaded and biased question . . . oh, wait a second.
So, ABC takes one example of a failed effort and rubs it in Palin's face. What about all the times that "safe sex" eduction has failed? Will the liberals who think our children are nothing more than horn-dogs who simply cannot control themselves take responsibility for what their assumption has done to American teens?
When we affirm the Biblical model of sex within the parameters of marriage, this is God's best. When we fail, He can restore. There is no restoration in "being safer next time." God heals the heart and gives grace to the humble. The Palins will be just fine.
As for ABC, they never will.
Sarah Palin's daughter did not practice what her mother preached. A question posed this morning on ABC was callous, mean-spirited, and wrong headed. The anchor woman went out of her way to point out that Palin is an advocate of abstinance education and that her daughter is now pregnant as if to say, "see, it does not work." The anchor kept stressing this point.
Even ABC should know that you cannot take one instance and make a case for scrapping an entire approach. This would be like saying we should eliminate ABC because of this one blatantly boneheaded and biased question . . . oh, wait a second.
So, ABC takes one example of a failed effort and rubs it in Palin's face. What about all the times that "safe sex" eduction has failed? Will the liberals who think our children are nothing more than horn-dogs who simply cannot control themselves take responsibility for what their assumption has done to American teens?
When we affirm the Biblical model of sex within the parameters of marriage, this is God's best. When we fail, He can restore. There is no restoration in "being safer next time." God heals the heart and gives grace to the humble. The Palins will be just fine.
As for ABC, they never will.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
O Happy Day
It's official! John McCain has tapped a true reformer with an undeniable pro-life stance.
Obama's campaign will slam her for not having experience and say that she's only a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Big deal.
I'd much rather have a small-town reformer with results than an big-time celebrity with empty rhetoric and a flashy smile as my president. She's more qualified to serve as President than Obama. She has taken tough stands in a very short time, and she has at least lead something - the state of Alaska.
What has Obama done other than stand in the way of common-sense, pro-life laws and criticize Republicans every step of the way while offering no real alternatives?
What has he done to be President other than make some bombastic speeches from time-to-time?
Absolutely nothing!
McCain/Palin 2008
Obama's campaign will slam her for not having experience and say that she's only a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Big deal.
I'd much rather have a small-town reformer with results than an big-time celebrity with empty rhetoric and a flashy smile as my president. She's more qualified to serve as President than Obama. She has taken tough stands in a very short time, and she has at least lead something - the state of Alaska.
What has Obama done other than stand in the way of common-sense, pro-life laws and criticize Republicans every step of the way while offering no real alternatives?
What has he done to be President other than make some bombastic speeches from time-to-time?
Absolutely nothing!
McCain/Palin 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Young Evangelicals, Abortion and Obama v. McCain
Many news articles have been written in recent days about young evangelicals. The assertion is that young evangelicals are concerned about issues other than just abortion and may vote for Barack Obama.
Because they care about the environment, energy, and the poor, their vote is in play as never before.
If this is true, we are right to question whether these young evangelicals are actually evangelical.
A true evangelical, young or old, simply cannot vote for Obama in this presidential election.
Recent articles about "young evangelicals" are missing this point. A true evangelical simply cannot vote for an unabashed advocate of abortion on demand. Biblically speaking, abortion must trump every other issue being debated. Christ died to rescue people. Abortion - the government sanctioned and funded murder of young babies - must be evangelicals' leading and vote-determining issue.
Obama can kill you with niceness. But, if you tease out what he really said during tonight's Leadership and Compassion Forum with Rick Warren, you will notice that he has no plan to stop the killing of unborn babies. His answer was full of "understanding" and "reducing" abortions, but he will not stop them; he will not appoint judges who will stop them. He will support women in the "difficult decision" to kill.
The best way to reduce abortions is to make them illegal. Obama does not want to reduce abortions. He wants to distort his view on abortion and reduce the chance that evangelicals will vote their conscience and keep him from the White House.
The best way for "young evangelicals" to make a difference on this issue is not to imply or even risk implying that not recycling is the moral equivalent of taking the life of a unborn child.
The young evangelicals who who are lovingly portrayed by the liberal media as vacillating in this election risk obliterating recent advances for the sanctity of human life in order to be seen as cultured, trendy, modern, hip, and more robust in their approach to politics.
As a young evangelical, I applaud this interest is other issues, but abortion must trump the other challenges before us.
I urge all young evangelicals to stop the charade and to stop equivocating.
If you're an evangelical, you are voting for John McCain (or a third party candidate who is more pro-life than McCain). You may disagree with McCain on taxes. You may disagree with him on labor issues. You may disagree with him on health insurance. You may disagree with him on immigration. You may disagree with him on welfare. You may disagree with him on Iraq. You may disagree with him on drilling for oil.
You may disagree with him on everything else, but you agree that abortion is murder, and it must be stopped.
You know McCain will appoint judges who will allow states to ban partial-birth abortions.
By contrast, you know Obama is no evangelical.
You know Obama is using the language of faith to deceive the faithful.
You know that a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic President means turning back the clock on the strides we have made for life.
Christ gave His life for us. Certainly we can subordinate our pet issues for the sake of the unborn.
"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:4-5).
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:13-14).
Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:4-5).
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).
Because they care about the environment, energy, and the poor, their vote is in play as never before.
If this is true, we are right to question whether these young evangelicals are actually evangelical.
A true evangelical, young or old, simply cannot vote for Obama in this presidential election.
Recent articles about "young evangelicals" are missing this point. A true evangelical simply cannot vote for an unabashed advocate of abortion on demand. Biblically speaking, abortion must trump every other issue being debated. Christ died to rescue people. Abortion - the government sanctioned and funded murder of young babies - must be evangelicals' leading and vote-determining issue.
Obama can kill you with niceness. But, if you tease out what he really said during tonight's Leadership and Compassion Forum with Rick Warren, you will notice that he has no plan to stop the killing of unborn babies. His answer was full of "understanding" and "reducing" abortions, but he will not stop them; he will not appoint judges who will stop them. He will support women in the "difficult decision" to kill.
The best way to reduce abortions is to make them illegal. Obama does not want to reduce abortions. He wants to distort his view on abortion and reduce the chance that evangelicals will vote their conscience and keep him from the White House.
The best way for "young evangelicals" to make a difference on this issue is not to imply or even risk implying that not recycling is the moral equivalent of taking the life of a unborn child.
The young evangelicals who who are lovingly portrayed by the liberal media as vacillating in this election risk obliterating recent advances for the sanctity of human life in order to be seen as cultured, trendy, modern, hip, and more robust in their approach to politics.
As a young evangelical, I applaud this interest is other issues, but abortion must trump the other challenges before us.
I urge all young evangelicals to stop the charade and to stop equivocating.
If you're an evangelical, you are voting for John McCain (or a third party candidate who is more pro-life than McCain). You may disagree with McCain on taxes. You may disagree with him on labor issues. You may disagree with him on health insurance. You may disagree with him on immigration. You may disagree with him on welfare. You may disagree with him on Iraq. You may disagree with him on drilling for oil.
You may disagree with him on everything else, but you agree that abortion is murder, and it must be stopped.
You know McCain will appoint judges who will allow states to ban partial-birth abortions.
By contrast, you know Obama is no evangelical.
You know Obama is using the language of faith to deceive the faithful.
You know that a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic President means turning back the clock on the strides we have made for life.
Christ gave His life for us. Certainly we can subordinate our pet issues for the sake of the unborn.
"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:4-5).
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:13-14).
Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:4-5).
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).
Saturday, August 9, 2008
China and the Olympics - Let's Get Real
As we enjoy the Olympics, there are a few things we need to bear in mind as we watch the "China of Today."
You only see what the Chinese government and the liberal media outlets want you to see. What they are not reporting is far more newsworthy than what they are reporting.
For example, weeks before the games, the government rounded up Christian pastors in the area and threw them in prison. They are not enjoying the games. They are wondering if they will every see their families again on this side of heaven.
When I saw a special on NBC this morning, they showed a correspondent sampling various foods. The line of workers in government-issued uniforms had no choice in the matter. They were enlisted by the government, they were told what to wear, where to stand, to smile at all times, and to do it all for the love of a government which oppresses its people and encourages the murder and/or disregard of its little girls.
So, when you watch the Olympics, enjoy the athletes. Enjoy their hard work coming to fruition. But, by all means, do not believe the conspiracy of propaganda striving to put a smiling face on Communism.
Finally, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in China. Pray they will be stronger than we have ever had to be. Pray that they will be effective witnesses in a world of deceit and oppression.
You only see what the Chinese government and the liberal media outlets want you to see. What they are not reporting is far more newsworthy than what they are reporting.
For example, weeks before the games, the government rounded up Christian pastors in the area and threw them in prison. They are not enjoying the games. They are wondering if they will every see their families again on this side of heaven.
When I saw a special on NBC this morning, they showed a correspondent sampling various foods. The line of workers in government-issued uniforms had no choice in the matter. They were enlisted by the government, they were told what to wear, where to stand, to smile at all times, and to do it all for the love of a government which oppresses its people and encourages the murder and/or disregard of its little girls.
So, when you watch the Olympics, enjoy the athletes. Enjoy their hard work coming to fruition. But, by all means, do not believe the conspiracy of propaganda striving to put a smiling face on Communism.
Finally, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in China. Pray they will be stronger than we have ever had to be. Pray that they will be effective witnesses in a world of deceit and oppression.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Preaching and Children
Yesterday, as I was listening to “positive and encouraging K-Love,” I was blindsided by a commercial with an implicit and dangerous message about preaching – a message which reflects the overall attitude of Americans who have made a god of the entertainment culture and fundamentally do not understand the vital importance of practicing the discipline of hearing the spoken Word of God in community with other believers.
Admittedly, I only heard about half of the blurb, but what I heard was enough. The announcer boasted that the event would not only include great preaching but fun and games for students and kids as well.
The implication is clear. Great preaching is not enough these days, and it most certainly is not what our children need.
This is a far cry from what we find in Nehemiah 8:1–3 where, “all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.”
There was no consideration of “how to keep the kid’s attention.” The subject – God’s Word – was riveting enough! If they were old enough to understand, they were old enough to listen respectfully as the Word of God was proclaimed for half the day. These days, a sermon is considered too long if it strays longer than 30 minutes.
Of course, the dilemma we find ourselves in is not entirely the fault of those in the pew. Some preachers have a special penchant for preaching about themselves, culture, politics, leadership, vision, or pop psychology while barely touching the unfailing truths in the Word of God. In this case, fun and games are better for our children.
But, we must not judge the value of preaching by looking at bad preachers. Both history and the Scriptures demonstrate that the health of the church is inextricably linked to its preaching. Indeed, the church was born following Peter’s rousing sermon (Acts 2).
David L. Larsen in The Company of Preachers, v. 1, is not overstating the case when he declares, “the history of the Christian church is the history of preaching” (13). P. T. Forsyth has said, “With it’s preaching, Christianity stands or falls.” (quoted from Larsen, p. 13).
As Christians, we must remember that God works by the hearing of His Word. Because this is true, we should not seek to delay our children’s exposure to good preaching but to introduce it as soon as understanding is possible! This does not mean complete understanding – just an ability to pick up the gist of what is being said. If we continue diluting our teaching and lowering our expectations for a child’s behavior and attention span, we should not be surprised when older kids drop out of church when it is finally time to “go to big church.”
Sermons do not stop when the invitation is given. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, writes “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”
Real sermons – those which explain the written Word and exhort the human heart – stick with you. They stick with kids too! But, sermons only stick when people listen intently – seeking to receive the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit work the Word in and through them. Indeed, "there is no such thing as great preaching if there is not great listening" (Larsen, 15).
When we adults are once again eager to hear and receive the Word, perhaps the children who look up to us will be eager as well.
What does this mean for "children’s church?" Stay tuned.
Admittedly, I only heard about half of the blurb, but what I heard was enough. The announcer boasted that the event would not only include great preaching but fun and games for students and kids as well.
The implication is clear. Great preaching is not enough these days, and it most certainly is not what our children need.
This is a far cry from what we find in Nehemiah 8:1–3 where, “all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.”
There was no consideration of “how to keep the kid’s attention.” The subject – God’s Word – was riveting enough! If they were old enough to understand, they were old enough to listen respectfully as the Word of God was proclaimed for half the day. These days, a sermon is considered too long if it strays longer than 30 minutes.
Of course, the dilemma we find ourselves in is not entirely the fault of those in the pew. Some preachers have a special penchant for preaching about themselves, culture, politics, leadership, vision, or pop psychology while barely touching the unfailing truths in the Word of God. In this case, fun and games are better for our children.
But, we must not judge the value of preaching by looking at bad preachers. Both history and the Scriptures demonstrate that the health of the church is inextricably linked to its preaching. Indeed, the church was born following Peter’s rousing sermon (Acts 2).
David L. Larsen in The Company of Preachers, v. 1, is not overstating the case when he declares, “the history of the Christian church is the history of preaching” (13). P. T. Forsyth has said, “With it’s preaching, Christianity stands or falls.” (quoted from Larsen, p. 13).
As Christians, we must remember that God works by the hearing of His Word. Because this is true, we should not seek to delay our children’s exposure to good preaching but to introduce it as soon as understanding is possible! This does not mean complete understanding – just an ability to pick up the gist of what is being said. If we continue diluting our teaching and lowering our expectations for a child’s behavior and attention span, we should not be surprised when older kids drop out of church when it is finally time to “go to big church.”
Sermons do not stop when the invitation is given. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, writes “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”
Real sermons – those which explain the written Word and exhort the human heart – stick with you. They stick with kids too! But, sermons only stick when people listen intently – seeking to receive the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit work the Word in and through them. Indeed, "there is no such thing as great preaching if there is not great listening" (Larsen, 15).
When we adults are once again eager to hear and receive the Word, perhaps the children who look up to us will be eager as well.
What does this mean for "children’s church?" Stay tuned.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Faith of Abraham
In Genesis 22, Abraham obeys God even though it appears God is asking him to sacrifice his son Issac. Issac was the son of promise - the one from whom the great nation (Gen 12:2) promised to come from Abraham was to come and, ultimately, the line through which all nations would be blessed (Gen 12:3).
Abraham's confidence in God has not lost its impact on us thousands of years later. We still marvel that he could obey the Lord even as he expressed unwavering confidence in God's ability to provide a lamb for the sacrifice (Gen 22:8). Hebrews 11:19 suggests that Abraham even considered that God might have him go all the way to the point of sacrificing his son but that God could raise his son from the dead. What amazing confidence in our Lord! He has no evidence of a resurrection, but he knows the Lord can be trusted no matter how grim the circumstances. God's power to save and His power to honor his covenant cannot be thwarted, and he proves this once for all in the redeeming work of Christ on behalf of all who call upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 22 is often called the "faith chapter" of Genesis, but strong demonstrations of Abraham's faith continue into chapters 23 and 24. He does not just have a "mountaintop experience." He continues expressing his faith in very concrete ways. God had not simply promised to make Abraham a great nation but also to give him a specific land (Gen 12:1). When Sarah dies, he jumps through the appropriate hoops to secure a proper burial place for her in the land that the Lord has promised to Abraham's descendants. Though God has not yet given the land, Abraham believes so strongly that He will give it that he buries Sarah there.
In Genesis 24, Abraham sent a servant back to his family to find a wife for Issac. He does not allow Issac to return there lest he be tempted to return to the safety of family and neglect God's plan. Yet, he also selects a woman from among his family and sets up Issac for success by ensuring that he avoids the intermingling with the Canaanites which in later years lead the Israelites to accept other gods and compromise in their worship of the One, True God. In setting up Issac for success, Abraham is continuing to demonstrate true faith in God by taking practical steps of obedience.
The evidence of authentic faith is obedience. In Genesis 22-24, we see a man who believes God and obeys Him without the benefit of looking back on the cross of Christ. When we consider the faithfulness of God on our behalf as demonstrated at the cross, how can we falter in believing God? How can we not obey?
Lord give us the kind of faith that obeys you in the face of seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Let us remember and truly believe that there is no greater blessing than knowing You, and let us live our lives in anticipation of Your return.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3
Abraham's confidence in God has not lost its impact on us thousands of years later. We still marvel that he could obey the Lord even as he expressed unwavering confidence in God's ability to provide a lamb for the sacrifice (Gen 22:8). Hebrews 11:19 suggests that Abraham even considered that God might have him go all the way to the point of sacrificing his son but that God could raise his son from the dead. What amazing confidence in our Lord! He has no evidence of a resurrection, but he knows the Lord can be trusted no matter how grim the circumstances. God's power to save and His power to honor his covenant cannot be thwarted, and he proves this once for all in the redeeming work of Christ on behalf of all who call upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 22 is often called the "faith chapter" of Genesis, but strong demonstrations of Abraham's faith continue into chapters 23 and 24. He does not just have a "mountaintop experience." He continues expressing his faith in very concrete ways. God had not simply promised to make Abraham a great nation but also to give him a specific land (Gen 12:1). When Sarah dies, he jumps through the appropriate hoops to secure a proper burial place for her in the land that the Lord has promised to Abraham's descendants. Though God has not yet given the land, Abraham believes so strongly that He will give it that he buries Sarah there.
In Genesis 24, Abraham sent a servant back to his family to find a wife for Issac. He does not allow Issac to return there lest he be tempted to return to the safety of family and neglect God's plan. Yet, he also selects a woman from among his family and sets up Issac for success by ensuring that he avoids the intermingling with the Canaanites which in later years lead the Israelites to accept other gods and compromise in their worship of the One, True God. In setting up Issac for success, Abraham is continuing to demonstrate true faith in God by taking practical steps of obedience.
The evidence of authentic faith is obedience. In Genesis 22-24, we see a man who believes God and obeys Him without the benefit of looking back on the cross of Christ. When we consider the faithfulness of God on our behalf as demonstrated at the cross, how can we falter in believing God? How can we not obey?
Lord give us the kind of faith that obeys you in the face of seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Let us remember and truly believe that there is no greater blessing than knowing You, and let us live our lives in anticipation of Your return.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Music in Worship: Ephesians and Colossians
Opinions are not lacking when it comes to music in our Christian worship. After hearing some of the arguments however, I'm convinced that many Christians ask the wrong questions.
The question is not, "should we sing?" The Psalms exhort us again again to sing a new song to the Lord. That we should use God's gift of song for His glory is undeniable.
The question is not, "should we sing hymns?" This is altogether obvious for anyone who believes that both faith and practice are to be rooted in the Word of God (e.g. Ephesians 5:18 - 20; Colossians 3:16).
The question is not, "which style of music is on God's list of approved music styles?" If God wanted us to have such a list, He would have given it. Instead, He led us to develop instruments of a variety of types. As with the building of the tabernacle and the temple, God is glorified when we play and sing skillfully unto Him. The question is not so much one of style but one of a desire to always be improving . . . not to glorify ourselves but to bring glory to our Creator.
So what should we be asking?
Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18 - 20 begin to give us some important questions to ask. They do not give all the questions to be sure, but they give us some very good ones.
First, "is our singing Spirit-led and Gospel-grounded?" The songs we sing are directly connected to the Spirit who fills us. And, the Spirit who fills us uses the Word of Christ (i.e. the great message of about Jesus, the Gospel) to fill us with the knowledge of God and His presence in our lives.
To make this first question a bit more practical, we could ask something like this, "what does this song have to do with the Gospel, with Who Christ is, with what He has done, with what He is doing, and with what He will do, and with how this impacts our lives as believers?"
Second, "does our singing serve the purpose of edification?" We have no trouble thinking of our music as directed at God. The difficulty comes when we realize that our music is to be directed at one another! With our music, we should "speak" to one another for the purposes of teaching (doctrine) and admonishing(practice).
Music has always been a great way to teach. How do we learn the alphabet? We sing it. How do we teach the great truths of the Gospel to one another? We don't just hear them preached, we sing them?
Music has always been a great way to admonish. The word for admonish here (Colossians 3:16) presupposes an opposition. In the immediate context, it is the heretics who are undermining the Person and work of Christ and substituting man-centered traditions and systems of self righteousness. In our context, we face the same Satan and flesh which lead us to diminish Christ and exalt ourselves and our preferences over the simple Gospel.
Paul expects the Colossians to use their music to fight a battle against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Today, most churches spend more time fighting about their music than using their music to fight.
Third, "if we are not locked into one particular style of music, what music is acceptable?" Paul exhorts the congregation to sing "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." By mentioning these three categories, Paul is not giving us a check list for every worship service because it is difficult to draw any significant line of demarcation between these types. However, he is telling the church that its music should reflect a healthy variety in style. It was John Calvin, commenting on Colossians who said that, Paul is suggesting that Christian worship includes "all kinds of songs." (Calvin, Colossians, 353).
The need for variety in our worship should be clear. When we stick to the same songs we are neglecting the numerous Biblical exhortations to sing a new song and we are also hampering our own edification! Anyone who has sung a song over and over again knows that it can lose its impact after a while. By having a healthy variety in its style, the church ensures that she actually has to think about what she's singing. It becomes more difficult to become locked in a worship of pretense and formality when we sing a variety of songs.
Paul also says that our music should be "spiritual." Paul is not saying that some instruments are spiritual and some are not or that some types of music are spiritual and that some are not. He is, however, saying that the songs must be about God who is spirit and our relation to Him which is rooted in the Word of Christ. To be spiritual then, the song must not only have words which are doctrinally sound, it must also have words which can be understood when sung. All of Christian life is rooted in the Word. Songs are not spiritual if the words cannot be heard/understood by the body which is gathered together.
Fourth, we should ask, "am I singing with an awareness of the grace of Christ that has been extended to me?" We are to sing literally "in the grace." Songs of worship are for those who are the grateful recipients of God's matchless grace through the gift of His Son Jesus.
Fifth, "is the song resonating in my heart?" The "worship wars" have harmed the church more than she realizes. People are sitting in the pews just waiting to hear a song they do not like and to get mad about it. Instead, we should be letting the melody that we are singing with our mouths also be the melody which is stirring in our hearts.
Finally, "is the music I am singing directed to God?" Your music can both glorify God and edify the body. The question is, is our music in total accomplishing both. Further, when I sing, am I singing to God when I praise Him, when I confess sin, when I acknowledge His Lordship, when I vow to serve Him. Are the words I sing really directed to God or am I simply singing to myself . . . or not at all (a particular problem for men!)
So, the next time you sing, remember that God has given music for His glory, and He has given us solid guidance on how we should sing in the midst of a world which seeks to undermine the church and the proclamation of the Gospel.
The question is not, "should we sing?" The Psalms exhort us again again to sing a new song to the Lord. That we should use God's gift of song for His glory is undeniable.
The question is not, "should we sing hymns?" This is altogether obvious for anyone who believes that both faith and practice are to be rooted in the Word of God (e.g. Ephesians 5:18 - 20; Colossians 3:16).
The question is not, "which style of music is on God's list of approved music styles?" If God wanted us to have such a list, He would have given it. Instead, He led us to develop instruments of a variety of types. As with the building of the tabernacle and the temple, God is glorified when we play and sing skillfully unto Him. The question is not so much one of style but one of a desire to always be improving . . . not to glorify ourselves but to bring glory to our Creator.
So what should we be asking?
Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18 - 20 begin to give us some important questions to ask. They do not give all the questions to be sure, but they give us some very good ones.
First, "is our singing Spirit-led and Gospel-grounded?" The songs we sing are directly connected to the Spirit who fills us. And, the Spirit who fills us uses the Word of Christ (i.e. the great message of about Jesus, the Gospel) to fill us with the knowledge of God and His presence in our lives.
To make this first question a bit more practical, we could ask something like this, "what does this song have to do with the Gospel, with Who Christ is, with what He has done, with what He is doing, and with what He will do, and with how this impacts our lives as believers?"
Second, "does our singing serve the purpose of edification?" We have no trouble thinking of our music as directed at God. The difficulty comes when we realize that our music is to be directed at one another! With our music, we should "speak" to one another for the purposes of teaching (doctrine) and admonishing(practice).
Music has always been a great way to teach. How do we learn the alphabet? We sing it. How do we teach the great truths of the Gospel to one another? We don't just hear them preached, we sing them?
Music has always been a great way to admonish. The word for admonish here (Colossians 3:16) presupposes an opposition. In the immediate context, it is the heretics who are undermining the Person and work of Christ and substituting man-centered traditions and systems of self righteousness. In our context, we face the same Satan and flesh which lead us to diminish Christ and exalt ourselves and our preferences over the simple Gospel.
Paul expects the Colossians to use their music to fight a battle against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Today, most churches spend more time fighting about their music than using their music to fight.
Third, "if we are not locked into one particular style of music, what music is acceptable?" Paul exhorts the congregation to sing "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." By mentioning these three categories, Paul is not giving us a check list for every worship service because it is difficult to draw any significant line of demarcation between these types. However, he is telling the church that its music should reflect a healthy variety in style. It was John Calvin, commenting on Colossians who said that, Paul is suggesting that Christian worship includes "all kinds of songs." (Calvin, Colossians, 353).
The need for variety in our worship should be clear. When we stick to the same songs we are neglecting the numerous Biblical exhortations to sing a new song and we are also hampering our own edification! Anyone who has sung a song over and over again knows that it can lose its impact after a while. By having a healthy variety in its style, the church ensures that she actually has to think about what she's singing. It becomes more difficult to become locked in a worship of pretense and formality when we sing a variety of songs.
Paul also says that our music should be "spiritual." Paul is not saying that some instruments are spiritual and some are not or that some types of music are spiritual and that some are not. He is, however, saying that the songs must be about God who is spirit and our relation to Him which is rooted in the Word of Christ. To be spiritual then, the song must not only have words which are doctrinally sound, it must also have words which can be understood when sung. All of Christian life is rooted in the Word. Songs are not spiritual if the words cannot be heard/understood by the body which is gathered together.
Fourth, we should ask, "am I singing with an awareness of the grace of Christ that has been extended to me?" We are to sing literally "in the grace." Songs of worship are for those who are the grateful recipients of God's matchless grace through the gift of His Son Jesus.
Fifth, "is the song resonating in my heart?" The "worship wars" have harmed the church more than she realizes. People are sitting in the pews just waiting to hear a song they do not like and to get mad about it. Instead, we should be letting the melody that we are singing with our mouths also be the melody which is stirring in our hearts.
Finally, "is the music I am singing directed to God?" Your music can both glorify God and edify the body. The question is, is our music in total accomplishing both. Further, when I sing, am I singing to God when I praise Him, when I confess sin, when I acknowledge His Lordship, when I vow to serve Him. Are the words I sing really directed to God or am I simply singing to myself . . . or not at all (a particular problem for men!)
So, the next time you sing, remember that God has given music for His glory, and He has given us solid guidance on how we should sing in the midst of a world which seeks to undermine the church and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
God's Power and Faithfulness
Last week's vacation provided a long overdue opportunity to pause for a moment and consider what God has done over the past three years. I'm on the home stretch of classes, but the faithfulness of God extends well beyond academic progress.He has provided for us financially. He has given us a beautiful daughter. He has seen us through some very difficult days both emotionally and physically. He has been faithful in every way, but the chief demonstration of His faithfulness came on a cross when Jesus bore my sin to ransom me (and everyone who turns from his/her sin and trusts in the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ alone to save him/her).
As I sat on our balcony overlooking the ocean, I was reminded of God's creative power. The God who made the oceans and the heavens and the tides is the same God who keeps His covenant. He can be trusted. He cannot fail.
Psalm 136 reminds us of the character, position, power, judgment, and redemption of God and follows up each reminder of God's power and faithfulness with this statement, "For His lovingkindness is forever." Consider reading this Psalm right now, and see if it does not lead you to praise our covenant-keeping God and to thank Him for all He has done.
"Give thanks to the God of heaven
For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Psalm 136:26
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Earthquakes and Lakes
I stumbled across a news article this evening that brought to mind the courses I had in the natural and biological sciences through the years. Since I attended a public school, I was presented with the view that the earth has been here for billions of years.
One of the many reasons they argued for such an old earth was that the time that it took for various geologic phenomenon to occur must have taken many, many years. For example, I learned that it clearly took millions of years for hydrological forces to create the Grand Canyon.
Now, I'm no geophysicist, but I do find it interesting that one earthquake has had a dramatic impact in China. The recent earthquake has yielded several lakes, one that continues to rise and has threatened to overtake an entire city.
This is one earthquake. One day . . . . just minutes really.
Perhaps Genesis is right after all. Perhaps God brought the entire earth into existence out of nothing but His Word. Perhaps He is the Almighty, Eternal, Holy God who created man and made a way to redeem them when they fell.
One of the many reasons they argued for such an old earth was that the time that it took for various geologic phenomenon to occur must have taken many, many years. For example, I learned that it clearly took millions of years for hydrological forces to create the Grand Canyon.
Now, I'm no geophysicist, but I do find it interesting that one earthquake has had a dramatic impact in China. The recent earthquake has yielded several lakes, one that continues to rise and has threatened to overtake an entire city.
This is one earthquake. One day . . . . just minutes really.
Perhaps Genesis is right after all. Perhaps God brought the entire earth into existence out of nothing but His Word. Perhaps He is the Almighty, Eternal, Holy God who created man and made a way to redeem them when they fell.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Judgment & the Brevity of Life
Elizabeth reminds me every day how short life is. She is growing up so very quickly. Today she was able to stand while holding the top edge of her crib with no assistance.
In James 4:14, the brother of our Lord notes while exhorting us to live in right relationship with God and one another that "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
It has always been interesting to me how James draws upon the brevity of life to make the case for walking in the ways of Christ. The Romans, conversely, said something quite different, "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die."
James tells us to live our lives in light of the judgment yet to come. The world tells us there is no judgment and we can, therefore, do anything we want. The good news, of course, is that even the world cannot live out the true implications of living a life as though they will not be eventually held accountable. For if we truly lived as though justice would never come, we would live out our most evil desires with no fear of recompense.
I can only hope and pray that the world will wake up soon and recognize that God is just and that His justice will be served on all those who have not trusted in His Son as their only hope of salvation. If we really take the approach that we have absolute freedom to do whatever we wish with no fear of consequence, we can expect that our culture will continue its precipitous decline.
If we see that we all deserve God's wrath but can instead be His sons and daughters through faith in Christ, we will again see life for what it is - a gift from God to be used for His glory until He returns to judge the quick and the dead.
Thank you God for the judgment; it exposes my ongoing need of Christ. At the judgment, Your holiness will be clearly seen. Your justice will no longer be questioned. You will be vindicated before Your whole creation, and the redeemed will joyously worship you forever and ever for giving to them the righteousness of Christ. Amen.
In James 4:14, the brother of our Lord notes while exhorting us to live in right relationship with God and one another that "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
It has always been interesting to me how James draws upon the brevity of life to make the case for walking in the ways of Christ. The Romans, conversely, said something quite different, "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die."
James tells us to live our lives in light of the judgment yet to come. The world tells us there is no judgment and we can, therefore, do anything we want. The good news, of course, is that even the world cannot live out the true implications of living a life as though they will not be eventually held accountable. For if we truly lived as though justice would never come, we would live out our most evil desires with no fear of recompense.
I can only hope and pray that the world will wake up soon and recognize that God is just and that His justice will be served on all those who have not trusted in His Son as their only hope of salvation. If we really take the approach that we have absolute freedom to do whatever we wish with no fear of consequence, we can expect that our culture will continue its precipitous decline.
If we see that we all deserve God's wrath but can instead be His sons and daughters through faith in Christ, we will again see life for what it is - a gift from God to be used for His glory until He returns to judge the quick and the dead.
Thank you God for the judgment; it exposes my ongoing need of Christ. At the judgment, Your holiness will be clearly seen. Your justice will no longer be questioned. You will be vindicated before Your whole creation, and the redeemed will joyously worship you forever and ever for giving to them the righteousness of Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
American Idol & American Culture
After a long day on the road to have lunch with a wonderful Christian couple and thank them personally for planning to support Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary through their will, I got home too late to make it to church and barely in time to see Elizabeth before she went down for the night. Stacie and I enjoyed dinner together as we began watching American Idol. (When we watch TV in the evenings, we watch at a low volume with captions so we do not wake Elizabeth; she has radar hearing like her mother).
As we watched, we found that the lyrics were often meaningless or worse. Overall, the show stood in direct opposition to the rest of my day, a day spent with a couple who is well along in life but doing more to battle the things of the flesh than most believers of my generation (both financially and with their service). As Stacie and I became increasingly frustrated, I decided to go for a run as Stacie drifted off to sleep. It didn't take very many steps into my jog to realize that nearly everyone on my street was watching TV, and they were watching a particular show - American Idol.
It occurred to me that millions of Americans, many of us Christians, are crowded around our TVs waiting to see who the winner of Idol will be. Parents are letting children stay up late. The anticipation of a new winner has millions riveted to the TV. We live our lives in far greater anticipation of the next Idol than we do in anticipation of the return of our risen Lord (Hebrews 10:19 - 25). We fail to take gathering with the people of God seriously because we've become comfortable in this world and no longer feel the urgency of taking refuge in the company of the redeemed. We are not looking for the return of our King; we are looking for the next king of pop. We are not thinking constantly of gaining Christ and of the pursuit of Him (Phil 3:15). When He returns, will Christ find us thinking of Him and the advance of His Kingdom, or will we be consumed with our own desires?
Back to lunch. The couple that I had the pleasure of visiting with has seen a lot of change in their days. As we spoke about the precipitous decline of the American culture and the challenges of raising up godly children in our day, the lady said, with no hint of pretense, "I just cannot wait for Jesus to return; I wish He'd come right now!" Here is a couple who is reading our culture better than many pastors because they are living in anticipation of Christ's return (as Scripture says we should!).
So, there are three things I believe God wanted to teach me with the deep contrast he showed me today:
1) Christians need to re-evaluate what we consider "neutral." We've begun to call bad things neutral. In all seriousness, can we call American Idol neutral when young ladies often appear on the show in an inappropriate amount of clothing singing things like, "My mama would be so ashamed . . I don't even know his last name. We left the club right around 3 in the morning sitting there in the parking lot, I had now clue was I was getting in to . . . no I blame it on the cuervo."
2) We younger believers need to get to know some older believers. Take the strong older couples in your church to dinner. Ask them to tell you about the good old days. Ask them about their parents, about their first job. Ask them what they see in our culture that offends them. Ask yourself if it offends you, if it offends Christ.
3) While we do not know the day or hour of Christ's return, we should be able to see that the Day is approaching (Heb 10:24). We must learn to filter all of life through the lens of Scripture. When we do, this will produce a longing in our hearts for the return of our risen Savior, Lord, and King as we strive to glorify Him on a daily basis regardless of the opposition or the consequences.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
As we watched, we found that the lyrics were often meaningless or worse. Overall, the show stood in direct opposition to the rest of my day, a day spent with a couple who is well along in life but doing more to battle the things of the flesh than most believers of my generation (both financially and with their service). As Stacie and I became increasingly frustrated, I decided to go for a run as Stacie drifted off to sleep. It didn't take very many steps into my jog to realize that nearly everyone on my street was watching TV, and they were watching a particular show - American Idol.
It occurred to me that millions of Americans, many of us Christians, are crowded around our TVs waiting to see who the winner of Idol will be. Parents are letting children stay up late. The anticipation of a new winner has millions riveted to the TV. We live our lives in far greater anticipation of the next Idol than we do in anticipation of the return of our risen Lord (Hebrews 10:19 - 25). We fail to take gathering with the people of God seriously because we've become comfortable in this world and no longer feel the urgency of taking refuge in the company of the redeemed. We are not looking for the return of our King; we are looking for the next king of pop. We are not thinking constantly of gaining Christ and of the pursuit of Him (Phil 3:15). When He returns, will Christ find us thinking of Him and the advance of His Kingdom, or will we be consumed with our own desires?
Back to lunch. The couple that I had the pleasure of visiting with has seen a lot of change in their days. As we spoke about the precipitous decline of the American culture and the challenges of raising up godly children in our day, the lady said, with no hint of pretense, "I just cannot wait for Jesus to return; I wish He'd come right now!" Here is a couple who is reading our culture better than many pastors because they are living in anticipation of Christ's return (as Scripture says we should!).
So, there are three things I believe God wanted to teach me with the deep contrast he showed me today:
1) Christians need to re-evaluate what we consider "neutral." We've begun to call bad things neutral. In all seriousness, can we call American Idol neutral when young ladies often appear on the show in an inappropriate amount of clothing singing things like, "My mama would be so ashamed . . I don't even know his last name. We left the club right around 3 in the morning sitting there in the parking lot, I had now clue was I was getting in to . . . no I blame it on the cuervo."
2) We younger believers need to get to know some older believers. Take the strong older couples in your church to dinner. Ask them to tell you about the good old days. Ask them about their parents, about their first job. Ask them what they see in our culture that offends them. Ask yourself if it offends you, if it offends Christ.
3) While we do not know the day or hour of Christ's return, we should be able to see that the Day is approaching (Heb 10:24). We must learn to filter all of life through the lens of Scripture. When we do, this will produce a longing in our hearts for the return of our risen Savior, Lord, and King as we strive to glorify Him on a daily basis regardless of the opposition or the consequences.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
A Mother's Heart
"Soon the days of your heart being housed in your own body will be over and you'll wonder how it manages to fit in that tiny little baby's hand." So true, isn't it? My friend Jennifer couldn't have said it better. It's amazing how such a tiny little baby can change your life and heart forever. Yes, the beginning was rough - well, rougher than rough, but I wouldn't change things for moment. It's part of her story - our family story - that aims right for the heart. She's a miracle and blessing such like all babies are. Her baby days are quickly fleeting with each passing moment, but how privileged I am that God allowed me to always be called her mother.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Laughter and the Image of God
You do not have to read many theology textbooks before discovering that the image of God is a fairly complicated concept. Most authors take up at least one of two conversations regarding the Imago Dei.
First, what is it? And, second, how can we confirm that it exists? If we can identify the existence of the Image of God, we cannot credibly deny the existence of Deity.
This leads me to my interest in confirming the existence of the Image of God. (I'll let you pick up Millard Erickson or Wayne Grudem if you want to get a primer on the "substance" of the Imago Dei). Obviously, this is not possible in the strictly empirical sense, but the evidence is much more striking than you might imagine.
When you think of all the things that make up what it is to be human, there are many things for which simple biology cannot account. Your DNA does not tell you why something is sad, or why a sunset is captivating, why rejection hurts, why true love is beyond amazing, or why you "just know" that Hitler was an evil man.
In recent years, some atheists have come up with some very lame ways to try to make biology account for non-genetically linked phenomena, while others stress that the non-genetic stuff of being human comes from their "environment."
While environment surely plays a role in shaping one's moral and aesthetic judgments, how much impact does environment play when we speak of a 4 month old?
That's right, a four-month old. This is a critically important question.
I have not told Elizabeth what is funny and what is not funny, but she has begun to laugh at funny things!
I didn't laugh first; I didn't teach her to laugh . . . she just began laughing and smiling and giggling like crazy one day when I began making my Donald Duck voice.
The question that the atheist must answer, and answer plainly is this, "Why is she laughing?" Her mother isn't encouraging her to laugh. I'm not encouraging her to laugh. I'm simply making a "funny" sound. Not smiling back at her, just a crazy Donald Duck sound.
Who told her that Donald Duck is funny? Could it be that God "told" her when He fashioned her in His image . . . that God thinks Donald Duck is pretty funny too?
Of course, this observation should alarm not only the atheist but the Deist as well. For if God is still in the business of making men and women in His image, He is not the distant, disinterested watchmaker who wound the world up and let it go.
Instead, he is a personal God. A God who forms people in His image is, by definition, a personal God. The God who enables us to laugh at things which are funny or marvel at things which are beautiful before anyone tells us we should is the same God who sent His Son. He is the same God who gave us His Word that we might know Him and worship Him in spirit and truth.
Do you know your Maker? He wants to know you.
Even in a baby's laughter, He is there.
First, what is it? And, second, how can we confirm that it exists? If we can identify the existence of the Image of God, we cannot credibly deny the existence of Deity.
This leads me to my interest in confirming the existence of the Image of God. (I'll let you pick up Millard Erickson or Wayne Grudem if you want to get a primer on the "substance" of the Imago Dei). Obviously, this is not possible in the strictly empirical sense, but the evidence is much more striking than you might imagine.
When you think of all the things that make up what it is to be human, there are many things for which simple biology cannot account. Your DNA does not tell you why something is sad, or why a sunset is captivating, why rejection hurts, why true love is beyond amazing, or why you "just know" that Hitler was an evil man.
In recent years, some atheists have come up with some very lame ways to try to make biology account for non-genetically linked phenomena, while others stress that the non-genetic stuff of being human comes from their "environment."
While environment surely plays a role in shaping one's moral and aesthetic judgments, how much impact does environment play when we speak of a 4 month old?
That's right, a four-month old. This is a critically important question.
I have not told Elizabeth what is funny and what is not funny, but she has begun to laugh at funny things!
I didn't laugh first; I didn't teach her to laugh . . . she just began laughing and smiling and giggling like crazy one day when I began making my Donald Duck voice.
The question that the atheist must answer, and answer plainly is this, "Why is she laughing?" Her mother isn't encouraging her to laugh. I'm not encouraging her to laugh. I'm simply making a "funny" sound. Not smiling back at her, just a crazy Donald Duck sound.
Who told her that Donald Duck is funny? Could it be that God "told" her when He fashioned her in His image . . . that God thinks Donald Duck is pretty funny too?
Of course, this observation should alarm not only the atheist but the Deist as well. For if God is still in the business of making men and women in His image, He is not the distant, disinterested watchmaker who wound the world up and let it go.
Instead, he is a personal God. A God who forms people in His image is, by definition, a personal God. The God who enables us to laugh at things which are funny or marvel at things which are beautiful before anyone tells us we should is the same God who sent His Son. He is the same God who gave us His Word that we might know Him and worship Him in spirit and truth.
Do you know your Maker? He wants to know you.
Even in a baby's laughter, He is there.
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