I love the way that Walter Williams puts our economic situation in easy-to-understand no-bull terms.
If European governments and the U.S. Congress ceased the practice of giving people what they have not earned, budgets would be more than balanced. For government to guarantee a person a right to goods and services he has not earned, it must diminish someone else's right to what he has earned, simply because governments have no resources of their very own.
To read the whole article, go here.
So many people seem to think that the federal government (or other civil governments) has money (or something of value) of its own accord. Granted, it can manufacture more at the factory right down the road from where I live (which is very interesting to tour if you ever have the chance). But all that does is devalue the money you have in your bank and your future earnings. All of the money given to various people by any form of government is taken by force from other people. A possible exception might be rentier states. In that case the money given out by the government still comes from other people, but the people are from outside the country who rent our buy something of value from the country and all the citizens get a share.
Anyway, Dr. Williams' quote reminds me of one from the Ten Commandments. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Showing posts with label theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theology. Show all posts
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Matthew 18 and Marriage
Many Christians are familiar with the following quote of Jesus' in Matthew 18. But I have never heard of anyone using it in a marital situation. My question is: why not?
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."
My mom's friend (I'll call her Veronica) from church is going through a very terrible divorce. Veronica's husband (I'll call him Bob) had numerous affairs over the past 30+ years. Two of the most recent affairs have been with a woman in foreign country while on a mission trip and with a woman young enough to be his granddaughter. Veronica has been keeping all of this a secret for years because she wanted to save her marriage and help her husband. While this is admirable, I think she might have had more success in those regards if she had told a couple of fellow Christians years ago and had them confront Bob. If Bob did not listen to the friends, then taking the issue to the church does not seem uncalled for. Then this sin could not have been hidden and who knows how many woman could have been saved from Bob's clutches.
Yet I have never heard of anyone applying Matthew 18 to marriage problems. But surely Bob sinned against Veronica. So why do we never discuss following this plan with adultery problems or gambling problems or abusive situations or addiction problems?
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."
My mom's friend (I'll call her Veronica) from church is going through a very terrible divorce. Veronica's husband (I'll call him Bob) had numerous affairs over the past 30+ years. Two of the most recent affairs have been with a woman in foreign country while on a mission trip and with a woman young enough to be his granddaughter. Veronica has been keeping all of this a secret for years because she wanted to save her marriage and help her husband. While this is admirable, I think she might have had more success in those regards if she had told a couple of fellow Christians years ago and had them confront Bob. If Bob did not listen to the friends, then taking the issue to the church does not seem uncalled for. Then this sin could not have been hidden and who knows how many woman could have been saved from Bob's clutches.
Yet I have never heard of anyone applying Matthew 18 to marriage problems. But surely Bob sinned against Veronica. So why do we never discuss following this plan with adultery problems or gambling problems or abusive situations or addiction problems?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Noah for Children
Since I was in the adult class, I can't say exactly what was taught to the kids at my church's Summer Spectacular about Noah. All I can go on is the decorations and the play that everyone attends. Even based only on that there several errors and a little PC blather.
There were no dinosaurs on any of the arks accept for the one my kids and I decorated in the toddler hall. As I was working on this the 9-year-old son of one of the Sunday School teachers told me I was doing it all wrong because everyone knows that the dinosaurs were all extinct long before Noah. I tried to explain politely that I believed they were alive and on the ark.
The animals that were on the big ark display in the atrium included Dalmatians, poodles, and fresh water fish.
It seems to me that while our Senior Minister of the Word was on target for accuracy (he even mentioned that there were no fish or poodles on the ark) the Children's Director obviously didn't think it was important. Or maybe she doesn't agree with a young earth. Or maybe she is ill-informed about the details of Noah's ark having been around the cartoon version of a tiny craft with animals poking their heads out of windows for so long.
It seems to me when something is as scoffed at as Noah's flood that we need to fill our kids heads with realistic images not cartoony goofiness. I really appreciate Answers in Genesis and their newest project: building a life-size replica of the ark completely out of wood. The project is called Ark Encounter.
When I showed my kids the graphic from the website, they were amazed at how huge the ark was compared to people. I would love to take them to Ark Encounter in a few years. I am sure the enormity of the ark will have even more impact in person.
There were no dinosaurs on any of the arks accept for the one my kids and I decorated in the toddler hall. As I was working on this the 9-year-old son of one of the Sunday School teachers told me I was doing it all wrong because everyone knows that the dinosaurs were all extinct long before Noah. I tried to explain politely that I believed they were alive and on the ark.
The animals that were on the big ark display in the atrium included Dalmatians, poodles, and fresh water fish.
It seems to me that while our Senior Minister of the Word was on target for accuracy (he even mentioned that there were no fish or poodles on the ark) the Children's Director obviously didn't think it was important. Or maybe she doesn't agree with a young earth. Or maybe she is ill-informed about the details of Noah's ark having been around the cartoon version of a tiny craft with animals poking their heads out of windows for so long.
It seems to me when something is as scoffed at as Noah's flood that we need to fill our kids heads with realistic images not cartoony goofiness. I really appreciate Answers in Genesis and their newest project: building a life-size replica of the ark completely out of wood. The project is called Ark Encounter.
When I showed my kids the graphic from the website, they were amazed at how huge the ark was compared to people. I would love to take them to Ark Encounter in a few years. I am sure the enormity of the ark will have even more impact in person.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Literal world-wide flood
Our Sr. Minister of the Word gave the Noah lessons all three days of our Summer Spectacular. Several hundred adults were there many of them visitors. I enjoyed it. In part, I enjoyed it because I got an answer to one of my questions: Does this church believe in a literal world-wide flood about 4500 years ago?
The short answer is yes, but we are not discussing the age of the earth or how long man has been on the earth.
He did a good job of sticking up for the fact that the genealogy is of real people who lived 900+ years (as opposed to clan leaders or other mumbo jumbo). He did a good job explaining the local/universal debate and defending the universality of the flood. These were the reasons he gave:
1. It is the simplest reading of the text.
2. Why else would God insist on a boat instead of migration?
3. The year long duration of the flooding/drying process seems out of league with a smaller flood.
4. God promised to never do this again, but there have been many catastrophic floods since then.
5. Jesus and Peter use the flood of Noah's day as an example of God's ability to judge the whole world.
He also mentioned the flood traditions from around the world, and how there would have been plenty of space for all of the kinds of animals. He also pointed out that there would have been only one doggish animal not coyotes, wolves, etc.
Here are some other nuggets of interest that I gleaned.
Enoch means dedication. He started walking with God the year Methuselah was born. Methuselah's name means when he dies judgement comes. Methuselah long life shows God's grace. (FYI, Methuselah died the year of the flood.)
We must have a supernatural worldview not a purely natural one. This is the most rational explanation of the marvels we see around us.
The source of trust is what you are trying to build. What are you trying to build with your life? What does it show that you trust? Build something now that will survive when judgement comes.
Obey even when it doesn't make sense. For example, how can being dunked under water have anything to do with my spiritual life?
Faithful move upstream in a downstream world. Sometimes this might involve moving upstream against even religious people.
God shows he remembers us with deeds (wind to recede the waters), signs (olive branch in the dove's mouth), and his Word (speaks to Noah, gives covenant).
True faith looks for a way to respond to grace.
The short answer is yes, but we are not discussing the age of the earth or how long man has been on the earth.
He did a good job of sticking up for the fact that the genealogy is of real people who lived 900+ years (as opposed to clan leaders or other mumbo jumbo). He did a good job explaining the local/universal debate and defending the universality of the flood. These were the reasons he gave:
1. It is the simplest reading of the text.
2. Why else would God insist on a boat instead of migration?
3. The year long duration of the flooding/drying process seems out of league with a smaller flood.
4. God promised to never do this again, but there have been many catastrophic floods since then.
5. Jesus and Peter use the flood of Noah's day as an example of God's ability to judge the whole world.
He also mentioned the flood traditions from around the world, and how there would have been plenty of space for all of the kinds of animals. He also pointed out that there would have been only one doggish animal not coyotes, wolves, etc.
Here are some other nuggets of interest that I gleaned.
Enoch means dedication. He started walking with God the year Methuselah was born. Methuselah's name means when he dies judgement comes. Methuselah long life shows God's grace. (FYI, Methuselah died the year of the flood.)
We must have a supernatural worldview not a purely natural one. This is the most rational explanation of the marvels we see around us.
The source of trust is what you are trying to build. What are you trying to build with your life? What does it show that you trust? Build something now that will survive when judgement comes.
Obey even when it doesn't make sense. For example, how can being dunked under water have anything to do with my spiritual life?
Faithful move upstream in a downstream world. Sometimes this might involve moving upstream against even religious people.
God shows he remembers us with deeds (wind to recede the waters), signs (olive branch in the dove's mouth), and his Word (speaks to Noah, gives covenant).
True faith looks for a way to respond to grace.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Examples of unanswered questions
I thought I should clarify the last few sentences of my previous post. "There is no platform to make concerns known. There is no platform for dialogue and debate. There is no platform to share new ideas gleaned from scripture. There is no fellowship in the Word only the dissemination of information and the acceptance of it by the masses."
In these sentences, I am referring to dialogue, debate, fellowship between the masses and the leaders. In a church of 5000 people with about 50 leaders (elders, ministers, etc.), I realize that they can't all sit down and listen to each persons complaint, question, or concern as a group. And I realize that on a one on one basis they are generally willing to listen to and study with individual members. Our leaders are caring, god-fearing people as far as I can tell by my limited exposure to them. The only one I have any kind of relationship with is the Missions Minister because I see him almost weekly as I'm on the missions committee.
I have been thinking/praying about what would be a viable solution to this longing for open and frank discussion. So far my best thought has been a congregational convention. I know that several denominations have conventions. Ours doesn't, but I thought that a congregational convention would be a breath of fresh air to me and would deepen the sense of body and community. I would especially enjoy an open mic session where everyone could ask questions of all the elders/ministers and everyone could hear the response and follow up with questions of their own. I think that this would increase the transparency of our church 100 fold. It would allow members with similar questions to know that they are not alone.
Here are some of the questions I would ask:
Why are we not allowed to actively promote 40 Days for Life as part of our pro-life ministry? (I help found the ministry and I am still fuzzy on the answer to this question.)
How much of our $10,000,000 auditorium renovation is repair and how much of it is upgrade? (In a financial responsibility small group study that was sponsored by the church in the run up to the fund-raising drive, this was one of the guidelines for spending in your family. For example, are we getting a new TV because ours broke or because we want a trendy upgrade?)
How will the Christian university we are starting in Africa be different than a secular university in the areas of science, economics, history, government, etc.?
In the missions committee, we often discuss the "felt need" of a people group as a springboard to a ministry that gives our missionaries an easier tie to the people. I think that one of the "felt needs" of Americans is weight loss. Are we willing to look into being of service to our community in this way?
What are other felt needs of the residents of Tarrant County and how do you see us reaching out to people who feel these needs?
Why is the biggest celebration that goes on at this building on Halloween and called "Fall Festival" instead of at Christmas or Easter? Why are the decorations at Christmas entirely secular with 6 trees and no nativity scene?
When the Wednesday night kids classes were moved to the chapel so the teachers could get their rooms decorated for Summer Spectacular (our VBS), why was Evan Almighty chosen as the movie for elementary students? Is playing a movie that doesn't uphold the Bible as accurate really a wise thing to show impressionable kids? Does this church uphold that a literal world-wide flood happened 4500 years ago? (Our Summer Spectacular theme this year is Noah.)
Why doesn't our church take a stand against evolution by hosting creation science speakers especially when the Institute for Creation Research is only a few miles away?
In a recent sermon, the new minister mentioned that it was a Christian's responsibility to fight global warming, eat organic, recycle, etc. This seems a dangerous road to be going down. Much of the green movement is more concerned about "Mother Earth" than about people especially the poor. Global warming (if it is occurring at all) is not likely caused by people. Can you please explain further what this church's view is of these issues? Would some of the leaders be willing to watch the DVD series Resisting the Green Dragon by the Cornwall Alliance and give your collective opinion in a future meeting?
What are common lies taught to our kids by the public school system and what are some ways that parents can combat them?
I am sure I would have more as the answer to these came in. Some of these questions are recent, but others I have been trying to get a solid answer on for months or years.
Thanks again for your input.
In these sentences, I am referring to dialogue, debate, fellowship between the masses and the leaders. In a church of 5000 people with about 50 leaders (elders, ministers, etc.), I realize that they can't all sit down and listen to each persons complaint, question, or concern as a group. And I realize that on a one on one basis they are generally willing to listen to and study with individual members. Our leaders are caring, god-fearing people as far as I can tell by my limited exposure to them. The only one I have any kind of relationship with is the Missions Minister because I see him almost weekly as I'm on the missions committee.
I have been thinking/praying about what would be a viable solution to this longing for open and frank discussion. So far my best thought has been a congregational convention. I know that several denominations have conventions. Ours doesn't, but I thought that a congregational convention would be a breath of fresh air to me and would deepen the sense of body and community. I would especially enjoy an open mic session where everyone could ask questions of all the elders/ministers and everyone could hear the response and follow up with questions of their own. I think that this would increase the transparency of our church 100 fold. It would allow members with similar questions to know that they are not alone.
Here are some of the questions I would ask:
Why are we not allowed to actively promote 40 Days for Life as part of our pro-life ministry? (I help found the ministry and I am still fuzzy on the answer to this question.)
How much of our $10,000,000 auditorium renovation is repair and how much of it is upgrade? (In a financial responsibility small group study that was sponsored by the church in the run up to the fund-raising drive, this was one of the guidelines for spending in your family. For example, are we getting a new TV because ours broke or because we want a trendy upgrade?)
How will the Christian university we are starting in Africa be different than a secular university in the areas of science, economics, history, government, etc.?
In the missions committee, we often discuss the "felt need" of a people group as a springboard to a ministry that gives our missionaries an easier tie to the people. I think that one of the "felt needs" of Americans is weight loss. Are we willing to look into being of service to our community in this way?
What are other felt needs of the residents of Tarrant County and how do you see us reaching out to people who feel these needs?
Why is the biggest celebration that goes on at this building on Halloween and called "Fall Festival" instead of at Christmas or Easter? Why are the decorations at Christmas entirely secular with 6 trees and no nativity scene?
When the Wednesday night kids classes were moved to the chapel so the teachers could get their rooms decorated for Summer Spectacular (our VBS), why was Evan Almighty chosen as the movie for elementary students? Is playing a movie that doesn't uphold the Bible as accurate really a wise thing to show impressionable kids? Does this church uphold that a literal world-wide flood happened 4500 years ago? (Our Summer Spectacular theme this year is Noah.)
Why doesn't our church take a stand against evolution by hosting creation science speakers especially when the Institute for Creation Research is only a few miles away?
In a recent sermon, the new minister mentioned that it was a Christian's responsibility to fight global warming, eat organic, recycle, etc. This seems a dangerous road to be going down. Much of the green movement is more concerned about "Mother Earth" than about people especially the poor. Global warming (if it is occurring at all) is not likely caused by people. Can you please explain further what this church's view is of these issues? Would some of the leaders be willing to watch the DVD series Resisting the Green Dragon by the Cornwall Alliance and give your collective opinion in a future meeting?
What are common lies taught to our kids by the public school system and what are some ways that parents can combat them?
I am sure I would have more as the answer to these came in. Some of these questions are recent, but others I have been trying to get a solid answer on for months or years.
Thanks again for your input.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
How important are beliefs?
I am not sure how to go about describing my dilemma so you may have to be patient with me as you read. In the churches I attended growing up, there was much emphasis on believing biblical truth especially when it came to how assemblies are conducted and the basics of turning to Jesus for salvation. But there was little emphasis on reaching out beyond the walls of the building. There was little emphasis on life transformation. Someone was considered a "faithful Christian" (as opposed to someone who had fallen away) if they attended the assembly regularly (preferably 3 times a week) and if they agreed with the aforementioned truths.
Of course, there was much fighting over some of the "truths". The most ridiculous one I can remember was when we lived in a small town in Iowa. One tiny congregation refused to meet with the bigger (but still small) congregation because the bigger congregation refused to agree to stop wearing gold based on I Peter 3:3. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes."
Then a shift occurred. A movement started that was in many ways a breath of fresh air. It started emphasizing "salvation issues" as the truths and basically shucked all others in an attempt to create more unity. With this movement there came a realization that some verses (truths) could be interpreted different ways by rational people (like I Peter 3:3) and there could still be unity among them (you don't have to agree on everything in the Bible to get along). Without common belief in other truths (Jesus died a literal death and rose again in 3 days), unity would be pointless.
Yet, to most people that I know, unity simply means sitting in the same auditorium listening to the same sermons, giving money to the same collection, and possibly supporting the same missionaries. If I start talking about unity, I will get off the main point of this post, but I believe there is more to it than that.
The church I currently attend is the best church I have ever been to. There is an emphasis on letting God transform your life. The congregants are encouraged to get out of the church building and go on mission trips or help tutor kids in low income neighborhoods. These things are sadly missing from most churches I am familiar with. This church also tries to allow for freedom in the small truths. They call it being grace centered. I do not think you would be ridiculed for not wearing gold, but insisting that everyone do so would not be tolerated.
When we first started attending (5 years ago), I had little knowledge and gave little thought to world views. I had never thought about what the Bible had to say about economics or civil government. I never thought much about the dangers of the postmodern idea that people get to decide what is true. I never realized the depth of evil that springs from replacing God the Creator with billions of years of evolution. My own worldview has become stronger over the years. I can see more clearly the destructive fruit of an unbiblical worldview.
So now I am growing more and more concerned that the leaders of my congregation do not share my worldview on many issues (evolution, economics, civil government, etc.). Now my dilemma is: How much does their worldview on these issues matter? How far should one go along to get along? And what about other issues. There is no platform to make concerns known. There is no platform for dialogue and debate. There is no platform to share new ideas gleaned from scripture. There is no fellowship in the Word only the dissemination of information and the acceptance of it by the masses.
So I would love to hear your thoughts (and the scriptures to back them up). Thanks so much.
Of course, there was much fighting over some of the "truths". The most ridiculous one I can remember was when we lived in a small town in Iowa. One tiny congregation refused to meet with the bigger (but still small) congregation because the bigger congregation refused to agree to stop wearing gold based on I Peter 3:3. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes."
Then a shift occurred. A movement started that was in many ways a breath of fresh air. It started emphasizing "salvation issues" as the truths and basically shucked all others in an attempt to create more unity. With this movement there came a realization that some verses (truths) could be interpreted different ways by rational people (like I Peter 3:3) and there could still be unity among them (you don't have to agree on everything in the Bible to get along). Without common belief in other truths (Jesus died a literal death and rose again in 3 days), unity would be pointless.
Yet, to most people that I know, unity simply means sitting in the same auditorium listening to the same sermons, giving money to the same collection, and possibly supporting the same missionaries. If I start talking about unity, I will get off the main point of this post, but I believe there is more to it than that.
The church I currently attend is the best church I have ever been to. There is an emphasis on letting God transform your life. The congregants are encouraged to get out of the church building and go on mission trips or help tutor kids in low income neighborhoods. These things are sadly missing from most churches I am familiar with. This church also tries to allow for freedom in the small truths. They call it being grace centered. I do not think you would be ridiculed for not wearing gold, but insisting that everyone do so would not be tolerated.
When we first started attending (5 years ago), I had little knowledge and gave little thought to world views. I had never thought about what the Bible had to say about economics or civil government. I never thought much about the dangers of the postmodern idea that people get to decide what is true. I never realized the depth of evil that springs from replacing God the Creator with billions of years of evolution. My own worldview has become stronger over the years. I can see more clearly the destructive fruit of an unbiblical worldview.
So now I am growing more and more concerned that the leaders of my congregation do not share my worldview on many issues (evolution, economics, civil government, etc.). Now my dilemma is: How much does their worldview on these issues matter? How far should one go along to get along? And what about other issues. There is no platform to make concerns known. There is no platform for dialogue and debate. There is no platform to share new ideas gleaned from scripture. There is no fellowship in the Word only the dissemination of information and the acceptance of it by the masses.
So I would love to hear your thoughts (and the scriptures to back them up). Thanks so much.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Acknowledging My Son
My mother wrote this for here church bulletin and said that I could share it here. I took out names and such.
When my son. . . was in high school and [college], he was shy and wouldn’t really try to converse with people at church or look them in the eye. I yearned for people to talk with him, but he made it difficult for even the out-going ones to strike up a conversation with him.
One weekend [my son] went on a university retreat with D. A. and a bunch of university students. The Sunday after the retreat we were crossing the [church] parking lot and I heard someone call my son’s name loudly across the parking lot. My son’s shoulders went higher and his eyes looked up. Sure enough, it was D. A. acknowledging my son, shouting my son’s name all over the [church] parking lot. I was thrilled. Someone had noticed my son and was hollering his name out over the parking lot. Several people noticed and turned around and looked. My son had a good day and so did his mom.
I thought later, “Whatever D. A. asks me to do, I will do it because he acknowledged my son loudly and clearly and bravely and strongly in front of a lot of people.”
I wonder if that is how God feels about His Son. Are we willing to shout His Son’s name across the areas where we walk? Are we willing to say loudly and strongly, “I LOVE JESUS AND HE IS MY BEST FRIEND, AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW!!!”? Will God do anything for us (for eternal reasons) when we acknowledge His Son?
I believe the shouting answer is, “YES!!!”
Someone may ask, “How do I acknowledge the SON today in Abilene, Texas? Maybe it would be like Martha saying out loud, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Maybe it is serving in Jesus’ Name with no regard to ridicule, embarrassment, or a committee as did the sinful woman in Luke 14.
Maybe it is to sing out loud a song about Jesus as the early Christians sang the first baptismal song, “Wake up, O sleeper, Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you,” from Ephesians 5:14.
Or maybe the greatest of all ways to acknowledge the SON would be to honor the Son in baptism, and God would smile in heaven and say, “This is a new son of mine and I am very pleased with him.”
Will God do anything for us (for eternal reasons) when we make a stand for His SON? The shouting answer is again, “YES!!!”
“You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”
John 14:13
When my son. . . was in high school and [college], he was shy and wouldn’t really try to converse with people at church or look them in the eye. I yearned for people to talk with him, but he made it difficult for even the out-going ones to strike up a conversation with him.
One weekend [my son] went on a university retreat with D. A. and a bunch of university students. The Sunday after the retreat we were crossing the [church] parking lot and I heard someone call my son’s name loudly across the parking lot. My son’s shoulders went higher and his eyes looked up. Sure enough, it was D. A. acknowledging my son, shouting my son’s name all over the [church] parking lot. I was thrilled. Someone had noticed my son and was hollering his name out over the parking lot. Several people noticed and turned around and looked. My son had a good day and so did his mom.
I thought later, “Whatever D. A. asks me to do, I will do it because he acknowledged my son loudly and clearly and bravely and strongly in front of a lot of people.”
I wonder if that is how God feels about His Son. Are we willing to shout His Son’s name across the areas where we walk? Are we willing to say loudly and strongly, “I LOVE JESUS AND HE IS MY BEST FRIEND, AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW!!!”? Will God do anything for us (for eternal reasons) when we acknowledge His Son?
I believe the shouting answer is, “YES!!!”
Someone may ask, “How do I acknowledge the SON today in Abilene, Texas? Maybe it would be like Martha saying out loud, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Maybe it is serving in Jesus’ Name with no regard to ridicule, embarrassment, or a committee as did the sinful woman in Luke 14.
Maybe it is to sing out loud a song about Jesus as the early Christians sang the first baptismal song, “Wake up, O sleeper, Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you,” from Ephesians 5:14.
Or maybe the greatest of all ways to acknowledge the SON would be to honor the Son in baptism, and God would smile in heaven and say, “This is a new son of mine and I am very pleased with him.”
Will God do anything for us (for eternal reasons) when we make a stand for His SON? The shouting answer is again, “YES!!!”
“You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”
John 14:13
Monday, February 22, 2010
Two Dissimilar Items of Interest
The first item I would like to bring to your attention is this article on the biblical illiteracy of the general "Christian" population especially the youth. I don't understand how people can claim to be God seeking people and not have read what he wrote. I think that part of the problem is that people don't seek truth about anything anymore. If something can't be learned without really trying, it appears that most people don't really think they should learn it. This quote from the article sums it up pretty well.
In general we spend far less time reading anything at all in this culture, much less dense and demanding books like the Bible. Not long ago I met with a student who was struggling in one of my courses. When I asked her what she thought the trouble was, she replied, in a tone suggesting ever so slightly that the fault was mine, "Reading a lot is not a part of my learning style." She went on to inform me that students today learned more by "watching videos, listening to music, and talking to one another." She spoke of the great growth she experienced in youth group (where she no doubt spent a lot of time watching videos, listening to music, and talking with people), but her ignorance of the Bible clearly betrayed the fact that the Christian formation she experienced in her faith community afforded her little to no training in the actual reading of Scripture.
The next is a video by a scientist that did experiments to see what happens to plant when exposed to ever increasing amounts of carbon dioxide. It is definitely worth the watch.
In general we spend far less time reading anything at all in this culture, much less dense and demanding books like the Bible. Not long ago I met with a student who was struggling in one of my courses. When I asked her what she thought the trouble was, she replied, in a tone suggesting ever so slightly that the fault was mine, "Reading a lot is not a part of my learning style." She went on to inform me that students today learned more by "watching videos, listening to music, and talking to one another." She spoke of the great growth she experienced in youth group (where she no doubt spent a lot of time watching videos, listening to music, and talking with people), but her ignorance of the Bible clearly betrayed the fact that the Christian formation she experienced in her faith community afforded her little to no training in the actual reading of Scripture.
The next is a video by a scientist that did experiments to see what happens to plant when exposed to ever increasing amounts of carbon dioxide. It is definitely worth the watch.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Social Justice Research
In thinking about and researching my questions on social justice, I have been reading this post by Peter Greer and Phil Smith the authors of The Poor Will Be Glad. Here are some paragraphs that highlight the complexity of the subject and how our good intentions can have bad consequences.
After the genocide [in Rwanda], Jean seized an opportunity to begin a small poultry business to provide his neighborhood with eggs. He managed to scrape together funds to purchase several fowl, and his business grew. Later, a church in America “adopted” the village where Jean lived and worked. The church decided to donate clothes and supplies. They also imported eggs from a neighboring community and gave them away. Suddenly, this one village was flooded with surplus eggs. It is not difficult to imagine what happened to Jean’s business: people went first to collect the free eggs and bought Jean’s eggs only when the supply of free eggs was depleted. The market price for eggs plummeted in Jean’s village and, as a result, Jean was forced to sell his productive assets, his chickens.
The next year, after Jean had left the poultry business, the church that had supplied the free eggs turned its attention to another disaster in another part of the world. Jean’s community had no capacity to produce eggs locally and was forced to import eggs from a neighboring town. The cost of these eggs was higher than the eggs Jean had sold, so both Jean and his village were hurt economically by the good intentions of one American church.
Have you ever donated your used T-shirts to your local thrift store? Often these are bundled and shipped to Africa. This business of secondhand Western clothing, called the mivumba trade in East Africa, decimated clothing production in countries like Uganda and Zambia that previously had thriving textile industries. Several other countries, including Nigeria and Eritrea, have imposed significant tariffs on foreign imports to avoid a similar fate. It is hard to comprehend that our used T-shirts could harm local producers on another continent, yet the American church must learn to be aware of such consequences in our increasingly interconnected world.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Social Justice Question 1
I have been thinking for some time about justice and how it applies to socioeconomic issues for some time now. I made my self a list of questions so that I could crystalize my thoughts. So far I have only answered the first one to my satisfaction.
1. What is justice? Justice is allowing people to experience the rewards or consequences (both legal and natural) of their actions regardless of their socioeconomic status. For example, if a person commits murder, they should have the legal punishment even if they are rich or famous. A natural example would be something like this: If you drink and drive, you are more likely to crash your car. This consequence happens as a natural result. An example of a just reward would be getting the prize if you fairly won the race.
Here are the rest of my questions:
2. Is this true of countries as well? What are the natural economic consequences and rewards of various political systems, religions, and corrupt practices when looking at countries and peoples as a whole?
4. What economic system(s), religion(s), etc. are prone to produce prosperous countries?
5. Mercy is negating just consequences because you empathize with the other person or find that there extenuating circumstances. For example, an abused woman might be given a reduced sentence for murdering her husband. How much mercy can be injected into a system without collapsing the system? We cannot allow all criminals to go free or to get a minimal punishment no matter how sorry we feel for them. We would be foolish to never punish our children no matter how sad it makes us. Is it true of all systems that justice must only be sprinkled with mercy?
6. How do these ideas apply to the poor especially in other countries?
1. What is justice? Justice is allowing people to experience the rewards or consequences (both legal and natural) of their actions regardless of their socioeconomic status. For example, if a person commits murder, they should have the legal punishment even if they are rich or famous. A natural example would be something like this: If you drink and drive, you are more likely to crash your car. This consequence happens as a natural result. An example of a just reward would be getting the prize if you fairly won the race.
Here are the rest of my questions:
2. Is this true of countries as well? What are the natural economic consequences and rewards of various political systems, religions, and corrupt practices when looking at countries and peoples as a whole?
4. What economic system(s), religion(s), etc. are prone to produce prosperous countries?
5. Mercy is negating just consequences because you empathize with the other person or find that there extenuating circumstances. For example, an abused woman might be given a reduced sentence for murdering her husband. How much mercy can be injected into a system without collapsing the system? We cannot allow all criminals to go free or to get a minimal punishment no matter how sorry we feel for them. We would be foolish to never punish our children no matter how sad it makes us. Is it true of all systems that justice must only be sprinkled with mercy?
6. How do these ideas apply to the poor especially in other countries?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Unity and Truth
My mother and I have an ongoing conversation about unity and truth. It is obvious that unity among believers is a biblical principle. But unity has to be around something. Something more than being able to tolerate one another's company while listening to sermons. Unity has to do with a purpose. It would seem pretty obvious from scripture that the purpose would be the Great Commission: making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe Jesus' commands. All of these things involve truth. For people to work together in a unified way on these things, they have to agree on some basics. For example, you have to agree on either infant or believer baptism.
I think that many churches try to stand for as few truths as possible so that they can be unified with as many people as possible. They usually summarized them as Statements of Faith. This is a super-condensed version of my church's:
1. There is one true God having three persons (God the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit).
2. God loved us so much that he sent his son, Jesus. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died, and was raised again. In his death, he took on the sins of the world so that God's justice and mercy could remain intact.
3. At the point of salvation, each Christian is physically indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps the Christian make righteous choices and transforms us into a new person.
4. The Bible is without error and full of truth. It is God-breathed.
5. We are created in the spiritual likeness or image of God, but he allows us to choose to love him and act according to his commands. The first man, Adam, chose to sin, and now every person lives in a marred creation with a marred spiritual nature. As a result, every person will eventually choose to sin and subsequently become separated from God.
6. Salvation is a gift of God and cannot be accomplished by works. When we decide to trust God, we obey Jesus' command being immersed in water and demonstrating Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
7. The church is the body of Christ and the family of believers. As such it is our duty to love others and share the Gospel to win as many as possible.
8. Those who follow Jesus will spend eternity in Heaven with him. Those who reject Jesus' will spend eternity in Hell without him.
While these eight things are all well and good, they don't address many issues. For example, can you tell from this if we have women elders or deacons? Can you tell what our position on evolution or do we even have one? The list could go on.
Some people would say that since these are not "salvation" issues that it isn't worth taking a firm stand on them. So that is my question. . . What is worth taking a stand over?
The Lutheran denomination is wrestling with this issue right now. Some congregations are separating from the ELCA because they believe that ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians is something that they cannot be a party to. I agree with them. But some would say this is wrong because unity is more important.
And is separating from one another necessarily disunity? My mother pointed out that Paul and Barnabas separated over John Mark. But were they bringing about disunity? They basically went their own way and REMAINED FRIENDS. That is often lacking when congregations part ways.
I, for one, wish that my church would take a stronger stand on many things. For example, pro-life issues, the biblical role of government, and creationism. But if they did, many people would leave. Others might come. How important is staying in the same congregation? How important is standing for the truth? Any thoughts?
I think that many churches try to stand for as few truths as possible so that they can be unified with as many people as possible. They usually summarized them as Statements of Faith. This is a super-condensed version of my church's:
1. There is one true God having three persons (God the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit).
2. God loved us so much that he sent his son, Jesus. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died, and was raised again. In his death, he took on the sins of the world so that God's justice and mercy could remain intact.
3. At the point of salvation, each Christian is physically indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps the Christian make righteous choices and transforms us into a new person.
4. The Bible is without error and full of truth. It is God-breathed.
5. We are created in the spiritual likeness or image of God, but he allows us to choose to love him and act according to his commands. The first man, Adam, chose to sin, and now every person lives in a marred creation with a marred spiritual nature. As a result, every person will eventually choose to sin and subsequently become separated from God.
6. Salvation is a gift of God and cannot be accomplished by works. When we decide to trust God, we obey Jesus' command being immersed in water and demonstrating Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
7. The church is the body of Christ and the family of believers. As such it is our duty to love others and share the Gospel to win as many as possible.
8. Those who follow Jesus will spend eternity in Heaven with him. Those who reject Jesus' will spend eternity in Hell without him.
While these eight things are all well and good, they don't address many issues. For example, can you tell from this if we have women elders or deacons? Can you tell what our position on evolution or do we even have one? The list could go on.
Some people would say that since these are not "salvation" issues that it isn't worth taking a firm stand on them. So that is my question. . . What is worth taking a stand over?
The Lutheran denomination is wrestling with this issue right now. Some congregations are separating from the ELCA because they believe that ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians is something that they cannot be a party to. I agree with them. But some would say this is wrong because unity is more important.
And is separating from one another necessarily disunity? My mother pointed out that Paul and Barnabas separated over John Mark. But were they bringing about disunity? They basically went their own way and REMAINED FRIENDS. That is often lacking when congregations part ways.
I, for one, wish that my church would take a stronger stand on many things. For example, pro-life issues, the biblical role of government, and creationism. But if they did, many people would leave. Others might come. How important is staying in the same congregation? How important is standing for the truth? Any thoughts?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A Celebration of Life
Today my family and I went to the celebration feast of a friend who has recovered from cancer. It was a great meal at Carraba's for about 50 of her friends and family. It was her way of praising God and thanking her friends and family for holding her up in prayer. We had a really great time.
The whole thing reminded me of Deuteronomy 14:26. It is in the instruction about the tithes.
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. NIV
It made me wonder what most Christians would think if this lady had used part of her tithe to throw this party. I doubt that she did. But let's suppose she had. Would you consider it a "proper" use of tithes?
The whole thing reminded me of Deuteronomy 14:26. It is in the instruction about the tithes.
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. NIV
It made me wonder what most Christians would think if this lady had used part of her tithe to throw this party. I doubt that she did. But let's suppose she had. Would you consider it a "proper" use of tithes?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
5 Words
One Mom has given me 5 words to write about.
Church- I spend more time then the average "lay-person" thinking and reading about church. One book that I read recently about it is So You Don't Want to Go to Church Any More by Wayne Jacobsen. This book gave me a lot to think about. One of the main themes is: Do we put more emphasis on going to church than being the body of Christ? Another aspect of the book is community. Several years ago, I did a study (by that I mean read and thought about the entire New Testament and much of the Old) to further understand why the early Christians got together. That study lead me to believe that the main reason was fellowship (forming friendships around the cause of Christ). Community is something almost non-existent in many congregations. Worship (demonstrating your love and devotion to a deity) is something that our daily lives are to be about much more than singing in a large assembly.
Texas- Secretly, I have never liked Texas too much. If I had my way, I would live in Oregon. That being said. . . There are some advantages to living here. Such as family (see word 5) and freedom (as in little homeschool regulations and concealed carry) and we are at a church where I am able to serve in many ways. The Dallas/For Worth area is good for homeschooling as it has great libraries, many museums, zoos and wildlife parks. There are homeschool groups and enrichment classes galore. Texas is a very vast and diverse state. My kids and I are taking a whole year on Texas geography. There are not too many states that have prairies, deserts, forests, mountains, and coastal areas.
Education- My main principle regarding education is this: Education is the domain of parents not the government. I think that if the government is going to have schools they should be public like the library is public. And parents should be "allowed" to participate as much as they want including sitting in on classes. I believe that education is never world view neutral. Parents should be able to recognize the lies that surround our kids and counteract them with the truth.
Landscape- I assume OneMom gave me this one because I used to be a landscape architect (in training, that means degree but not licensed). Basically landscape architects do the construction drawings (blueprints) for everything outside of the building. This can include sidewalks, plants, drainage, irrigation, fences, berms, etc. The father of landscape architecture is Frederick Law Olmsted who is the designer of Central Park in New York.
Family- My extended family can be described as concentrated. From my grandparents down they are concentrated geographically living withing a 200 mile (approx.) radius of Abilene, TX with many of them living there. The are concentrated vocationally. Every female from my grandmother down (except me) is or was a public school teacher. They all also went to the same college (except me, one uncle, and my mom's husband,and my husband). My in-laws on the other hand are far-flung. They live in TN, FL, GA, TX and maybe another state that I am not remembering. They are professors, computer people, counselors, farmers, nurses, etc. Those who went to college went all over the nation. The grandmother (who passed away recently) was very smart but lived in a time and place where girls only needed an eighth grade education. Her grandson, on the other hand, has several degrees. My nuclear family is great (though maybe a little heavy on the animal side). We have fun going on adventures together and learning new things. We are especially glad to be on a journey with God together.
Church- I spend more time then the average "lay-person" thinking and reading about church. One book that I read recently about it is So You Don't Want to Go to Church Any More by Wayne Jacobsen. This book gave me a lot to think about. One of the main themes is: Do we put more emphasis on going to church than being the body of Christ? Another aspect of the book is community. Several years ago, I did a study (by that I mean read and thought about the entire New Testament and much of the Old) to further understand why the early Christians got together. That study lead me to believe that the main reason was fellowship (forming friendships around the cause of Christ). Community is something almost non-existent in many congregations. Worship (demonstrating your love and devotion to a deity) is something that our daily lives are to be about much more than singing in a large assembly.
Texas- Secretly, I have never liked Texas too much. If I had my way, I would live in Oregon. That being said. . . There are some advantages to living here. Such as family (see word 5) and freedom (as in little homeschool regulations and concealed carry) and we are at a church where I am able to serve in many ways. The Dallas/For Worth area is good for homeschooling as it has great libraries, many museums, zoos and wildlife parks. There are homeschool groups and enrichment classes galore. Texas is a very vast and diverse state. My kids and I are taking a whole year on Texas geography. There are not too many states that have prairies, deserts, forests, mountains, and coastal areas.
Education- My main principle regarding education is this: Education is the domain of parents not the government. I think that if the government is going to have schools they should be public like the library is public. And parents should be "allowed" to participate as much as they want including sitting in on classes. I believe that education is never world view neutral. Parents should be able to recognize the lies that surround our kids and counteract them with the truth.
Landscape- I assume OneMom gave me this one because I used to be a landscape architect (in training, that means degree but not licensed). Basically landscape architects do the construction drawings (blueprints) for everything outside of the building. This can include sidewalks, plants, drainage, irrigation, fences, berms, etc. The father of landscape architecture is Frederick Law Olmsted who is the designer of Central Park in New York.
Family- My extended family can be described as concentrated. From my grandparents down they are concentrated geographically living withing a 200 mile (approx.) radius of Abilene, TX with many of them living there. The are concentrated vocationally. Every female from my grandmother down (except me) is or was a public school teacher. They all also went to the same college (except me, one uncle, and my mom's husband,and my husband). My in-laws on the other hand are far-flung. They live in TN, FL, GA, TX and maybe another state that I am not remembering. They are professors, computer people, counselors, farmers, nurses, etc. Those who went to college went all over the nation. The grandmother (who passed away recently) was very smart but lived in a time and place where girls only needed an eighth grade education. Her grandson, on the other hand, has several degrees. My nuclear family is great (though maybe a little heavy on the animal side). We have fun going on adventures together and learning new things. We are especially glad to be on a journey with God together.
Monday, May 18, 2009
New Ecclesiology
Sorry for the long absence. I have been out of town. When I got back, I had 80 or so e-mails to go through. One of them was an article from the Center for Christ & Culture about the "if you build it, they will come" ecclesiology.
It is about consumer-driven churches. The idea behind these churches is to make the visitor experience as pleasant as possible. Non of the teaching is too pointed or too deep. That might turn people off or confuse them.
This seems to be in direct contrast with what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:24 where he encourages the Corinthians to seek the gift of prophecy so that the unbeliever "will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judge by all".
An interesting point is made in this paragraph.
Given the massive numbers of people that this model attracts, there is the practical requirement for countless volunteers just to manage operations. Add to this the need for hundreds of Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers, and children’s workers, and standards begin to drop in order to fill practical needs. Business models and strategies are emphasized over and against theological depth. I have sat in such churches, attended Bible study classes only to be shocked by the ignorance of those teaching. Many are completely ignorant of church history and the most basic theological terms and concepts and those responsible for providing oversight and guidance are mostly unaware of what is missing. It is often the blind leading the blind.
The idea of standards for Bible class/Sunday school teachers is an interesting one to me. I don't know what if any standards there are for the ones at our church. I know that you have to pass a criminal background check in order to be a teacher assistant (as I am one). I think that all of our elementary age teachers are employees of the church. But I have no idea if they were given some kind of a quiz about the Bible before being hired. For small groups, anyone can sign up to be a leader and no questions are asked of them. I don't really know how Bible class teachers for the adult classes are chosen.
So I would love hear your thoughts and comments. What role does the prophet play at your church? What standards are used for teachers?
It is about consumer-driven churches. The idea behind these churches is to make the visitor experience as pleasant as possible. Non of the teaching is too pointed or too deep. That might turn people off or confuse them.
This seems to be in direct contrast with what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:24 where he encourages the Corinthians to seek the gift of prophecy so that the unbeliever "will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judge by all".
An interesting point is made in this paragraph.
Given the massive numbers of people that this model attracts, there is the practical requirement for countless volunteers just to manage operations. Add to this the need for hundreds of Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers, and children’s workers, and standards begin to drop in order to fill practical needs. Business models and strategies are emphasized over and against theological depth. I have sat in such churches, attended Bible study classes only to be shocked by the ignorance of those teaching. Many are completely ignorant of church history and the most basic theological terms and concepts and those responsible for providing oversight and guidance are mostly unaware of what is missing. It is often the blind leading the blind.
The idea of standards for Bible class/Sunday school teachers is an interesting one to me. I don't know what if any standards there are for the ones at our church. I know that you have to pass a criminal background check in order to be a teacher assistant (as I am one). I think that all of our elementary age teachers are employees of the church. But I have no idea if they were given some kind of a quiz about the Bible before being hired. For small groups, anyone can sign up to be a leader and no questions are asked of them. I don't really know how Bible class teachers for the adult classes are chosen.
So I would love hear your thoughts and comments. What role does the prophet play at your church? What standards are used for teachers?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Barna on Spiritual Maturity
The Barna Group recently released some research about spiritual maturity. In it they identify five challenges to facilitating people's spiritual maturity.
1. Most Christians equate maturity with following the rules.
In my denomination, I can definitely vouch for this. Growing up, when people said "faithful Christian" they meant that person attended worship services. As though the mere act of attending somehow meant the person was growing in the Lord and seeking Him in their daily lives.
2. Most churchgoers are not clear what their church expects in terms of spiritual maturity.
In my experience, this is true as well. Our church talks a lot about bringing everyone to maturity but I have only a very fuzzy picture of what they actually mean by this. I think in part they don't want to be viewed as legalistic and therefor don't want to have a "checklist" for maturity.
3. Most Christians offer one-dimensional views of personal spiritual maturity.
I have to admit I will have to sit and think for a minute to answer that question. I think I would have to fall back on my landscape architecture background and look at plants. Plants are considered mature when they bear fruit. Fruit being something that is able to reproduce the first plant. So evangelizing would be one aspect. Jesus also says in John that we are to remain in Him where we will bear much fruit. So seeking the Lord and doing what he is doing would be another aspect of maturity. Seeking involves effort. So in would come the spiritual disciplines. And, of course, using the Bible and listening to the Holy Spirit for everyday decision making like parenting, money, career choices, etc. A willingness to look honestly at their lives and change to fit what the Lord calls them to. Not holding sin close and being willing to confess sin to actual people also comes to mind.
4. Most pastors struggle with feeling the relevance as well as articulating a specific set of objectives for spirituality, often favoring activities over attitudes.
Not being a pastor, I can't really comment on this. I did find it interesting that Barna mentioned that most pastors did not think spiritual maturity was a problem in their churches.
5. Pastors are surprisingly vague about the biblical references they use to chart spiritual maturity for people.
This might anger a lot of people, but here I go. I would say that this is because many pastors are not very spiritually mature themselves. For example, my dad was a minister at our church when I was growing up. But I would say that he wasn't a very spiritually mature person. (For those of you horrified that he might read this. . . My father passed away a few years ago.) I loved him a lot, but spiritual maturity was not his strong suit. He was hired because he had all the right certificates and degrees and could speak well. Often elders are chosen because they have been going to the church for a long time and don't have a history of being abusive or drunkards and are decent businessmen in the community. This does not necessarily mean that they are mature in Christ. Sadly, in my denomination spiritual maturity has been neglected for so long there are often whole congregations without any mature people in them.
I know that I have a long way to grow myself. Maturity is something I will have to continue to seek many more years. I don't think that it is something that we ever fully arrive at. But each year I hope that the Master continues to prune me and make me more fruitful for his kingdom.
1. Most Christians equate maturity with following the rules.
In my denomination, I can definitely vouch for this. Growing up, when people said "faithful Christian" they meant that person attended worship services. As though the mere act of attending somehow meant the person was growing in the Lord and seeking Him in their daily lives.
2. Most churchgoers are not clear what their church expects in terms of spiritual maturity.
In my experience, this is true as well. Our church talks a lot about bringing everyone to maturity but I have only a very fuzzy picture of what they actually mean by this. I think in part they don't want to be viewed as legalistic and therefor don't want to have a "checklist" for maturity.
3. Most Christians offer one-dimensional views of personal spiritual maturity.
I have to admit I will have to sit and think for a minute to answer that question. I think I would have to fall back on my landscape architecture background and look at plants. Plants are considered mature when they bear fruit. Fruit being something that is able to reproduce the first plant. So evangelizing would be one aspect. Jesus also says in John that we are to remain in Him where we will bear much fruit. So seeking the Lord and doing what he is doing would be another aspect of maturity. Seeking involves effort. So in would come the spiritual disciplines. And, of course, using the Bible and listening to the Holy Spirit for everyday decision making like parenting, money, career choices, etc. A willingness to look honestly at their lives and change to fit what the Lord calls them to. Not holding sin close and being willing to confess sin to actual people also comes to mind.
4. Most pastors struggle with feeling the relevance as well as articulating a specific set of objectives for spirituality, often favoring activities over attitudes.
Not being a pastor, I can't really comment on this. I did find it interesting that Barna mentioned that most pastors did not think spiritual maturity was a problem in their churches.
5. Pastors are surprisingly vague about the biblical references they use to chart spiritual maturity for people.
This might anger a lot of people, but here I go. I would say that this is because many pastors are not very spiritually mature themselves. For example, my dad was a minister at our church when I was growing up. But I would say that he wasn't a very spiritually mature person. (For those of you horrified that he might read this. . . My father passed away a few years ago.) I loved him a lot, but spiritual maturity was not his strong suit. He was hired because he had all the right certificates and degrees and could speak well. Often elders are chosen because they have been going to the church for a long time and don't have a history of being abusive or drunkards and are decent businessmen in the community. This does not necessarily mean that they are mature in Christ. Sadly, in my denomination spiritual maturity has been neglected for so long there are often whole congregations without any mature people in them.
I know that I have a long way to grow myself. Maturity is something I will have to continue to seek many more years. I don't think that it is something that we ever fully arrive at. But each year I hope that the Master continues to prune me and make me more fruitful for his kingdom.
Monday, April 13, 2009
SEEK the Kingdom
I hope everyone had pleasant Christ-centered Easter. We had a great time with my in-laws.
Two things happened over the weekend that prompted this post. The first was Wickle's post about how people should actually read their Bibles and not take everything they hear from a TV preacher as truth. Wickle pointed out that "Will there still be disagreements? Sure there will. We’ll be a lot closer to the real truth, though, if we’re looking in the right place for it." That is the whole point. You have to look for truth. That involves actual effort.
The second was an e-mail from the Barna Group describing the percentages of self-proclaimed Christians that do not agree that Satan or the Holy Spirit are real beings. According to Barna, only 26% of people claiming to be Christians can strongly disagree with this statement: Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil. I think this fallacy comes from two sources. First, people are not making an effort to read their Bibles. Second, many denominations are claiming more and more of the Bible is just nice stories and not fact (generally starting with Genesis). With this being the case, why should the parts about Satan be factual? Also only 25% of self-proclaimed Christians strongly disagreed with this statement: The Holy Spirit is a symbol of God's power or presence but not a living entity. How sad! How can they rely on Him and listen to His voice if they do not believe in Him? I think many people are relying on spiritual gurus for guidance instead of the Spirit. And honestly, I think many of these gurus are just fine with that.
So here is the point of this post: SEEK the Kingdom. Seek truth. Seek the Lord. Seek the Holy Spirit. Let me take a little break here to insert a definition. According to dictionary.com the definition of seek is : "to go in search or quest of"
People, this is not a passive thing. Who ever heard of a knight going on a quest by siting in his living room? No! Quests take effort and risk and perseverance and determination. So does finding the Kingdom and the Truth. The definition also implies that you can't really seek more than one thing at a time. So a quest requires focus. Even in a game of hide and seek with multiple players, you can only find one secret hiding spot at a time. That is why Jesus says seek first the kingdom. If you are busy searching for accolades from your boss or the latest fashion trend, you will not likely find much of the Kingdom or Truth. So get on your armor (see Ephesians), put your game face on, get out there, and start questing!
Two things happened over the weekend that prompted this post. The first was Wickle's post about how people should actually read their Bibles and not take everything they hear from a TV preacher as truth. Wickle pointed out that "Will there still be disagreements? Sure there will. We’ll be a lot closer to the real truth, though, if we’re looking in the right place for it." That is the whole point. You have to look for truth. That involves actual effort.
The second was an e-mail from the Barna Group describing the percentages of self-proclaimed Christians that do not agree that Satan or the Holy Spirit are real beings. According to Barna, only 26% of people claiming to be Christians can strongly disagree with this statement: Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil. I think this fallacy comes from two sources. First, people are not making an effort to read their Bibles. Second, many denominations are claiming more and more of the Bible is just nice stories and not fact (generally starting with Genesis). With this being the case, why should the parts about Satan be factual? Also only 25% of self-proclaimed Christians strongly disagreed with this statement: The Holy Spirit is a symbol of God's power or presence but not a living entity. How sad! How can they rely on Him and listen to His voice if they do not believe in Him? I think many people are relying on spiritual gurus for guidance instead of the Spirit. And honestly, I think many of these gurus are just fine with that.
So here is the point of this post: SEEK the Kingdom. Seek truth. Seek the Lord. Seek the Holy Spirit. Let me take a little break here to insert a definition. According to dictionary.com the definition of seek is : "to go in search or quest of"
People, this is not a passive thing. Who ever heard of a knight going on a quest by siting in his living room? No! Quests take effort and risk and perseverance and determination. So does finding the Kingdom and the Truth. The definition also implies that you can't really seek more than one thing at a time. So a quest requires focus. Even in a game of hide and seek with multiple players, you can only find one secret hiding spot at a time. That is why Jesus says seek first the kingdom. If you are busy searching for accolades from your boss or the latest fashion trend, you will not likely find much of the Kingdom or Truth. So get on your armor (see Ephesians), put your game face on, get out there, and start questing!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sabbath Years
I am reading through the Law of Moses. I came upon these verses today from Exodus 23.
10 "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. 12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed. (NIV)
Here are some more verses about the Sabbath year from Leviticus 25.
20 You may ask, "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" 21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.
What a leap of faith that would be! No wonder the Israelites never followed through on it. So we can't look to the past to see what they did. We can read God's reaction to their disobedience.
2 Chronicles 36: 20-21
20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah. (NIV)
I have often wondered if there is a Christian equivalent to this Sabbatical year. I mean, I have heard sermons about the importance of observing a weekly day of rest. I have never heard a sermon about taking a year off.
I don't know if this command in Exodus is talking about resting for a year or just allowing the land and animals to rest. I mean was everyone (weavers, carpenters, etc.) suppose to stop working or was it just farmers? And could a farmer take up carpentry that year as long as he let the land go fallow?
Anyway, like I said, I have never heard much about these verses so I would love to hear your opinions.
10 "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. 12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed. (NIV)
Here are some more verses about the Sabbath year from Leviticus 25.
20 You may ask, "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" 21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.
What a leap of faith that would be! No wonder the Israelites never followed through on it. So we can't look to the past to see what they did. We can read God's reaction to their disobedience.
2 Chronicles 36: 20-21
20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah. (NIV)
I have often wondered if there is a Christian equivalent to this Sabbatical year. I mean, I have heard sermons about the importance of observing a weekly day of rest. I have never heard a sermon about taking a year off.
I don't know if this command in Exodus is talking about resting for a year or just allowing the land and animals to rest. I mean was everyone (weavers, carpenters, etc.) suppose to stop working or was it just farmers? And could a farmer take up carpentry that year as long as he let the land go fallow?
Anyway, like I said, I have never heard much about these verses so I would love to hear your opinions.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Avoiding the Light
We are having a series of lessons on 1 John at our church. The last one was on 1 John 1:5-10. Here are the verses in the NIV.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Our preacher pointed out ways to know if you are avoiding the light which I thought worth sharing.
1. Avoiding the Word.
2. Avoiding Christians. (Lack of accountability)
3. Ignoring the Spirit.
4. No Self Examination.
Another point made was that confession means agreeing with God's call. He compared it to agreeing with an umpire instead of being the idiot in the stands arguing and complaining.
Anyway, food for thought.
It also reminds me of my plea to American Christians to prayer prayers of national confession.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Our preacher pointed out ways to know if you are avoiding the light which I thought worth sharing.
1. Avoiding the Word.
2. Avoiding Christians. (Lack of accountability)
3. Ignoring the Spirit.
4. No Self Examination.
Another point made was that confession means agreeing with God's call. He compared it to agreeing with an umpire instead of being the idiot in the stands arguing and complaining.
Anyway, food for thought.
It also reminds me of my plea to American Christians to prayer prayers of national confession.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Two Questions
1. Is God against global harmony? When the world was in complete agreement, they started building the Tower of Babel. Part of the reason God disturbed their languages is because He did not want all people to have a united mind.
2. What is the difference between Heaven and the Garden of Eden? If there had been no fall, Adam and Eve would have lived forever. (Hence the guarding of the Tree of Life.) They were in perfect communion with God. The only difference I can think of is marriage. (Jesus specifically says that their will be no marriage in Heaven.)
So I would love to hear your thoughts on these two questions.
2. What is the difference between Heaven and the Garden of Eden? If there had been no fall, Adam and Eve would have lived forever. (Hence the guarding of the Tree of Life.) They were in perfect communion with God. The only difference I can think of is marriage. (Jesus specifically says that their will be no marriage in Heaven.)
So I would love to hear your thoughts on these two questions.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Rewards
I occasionally tell my children if you do "x" you will receive "y" as a reward. For example, my son is currently reading a book on the high end of his reading ability for a guinea pig harness. (for his soon to be purchased guinea pig) The whole reason that I told him about the reward was to motivate him to tackle something he would have not likely done on his own.
That got me thinking about rewards in the Bible. Here are some examples from Jesus' teaching:
1. Giving to the poor in private will be rewarded by God (Matthew 6:4)
2. Receiving a righteous person will receive reward of righteous person (Matthew 10:41, Mark 9:44)
3. Reward from Jesus based on what you have done in this life (Matthew 16:27)
4. Suffering for Christ will receive great reward (Luke 6:24)
5. Doing good for enemies will receive great reward (Luke 6:35)
6. Faithful servant in charge of many things (Matthew 25:21)
7. Do well before the king comes back to be entrusted with more when he returns (Matthew 25)
I am sure that there are more, but you get the idea.
So my question is this:
Why do so many Christians believe that it is wrong to work toward a reward? I understand that we should be motivated by love. But if God didn't want us to think about a reward at all then why mention it? Jesus does rebuke people for working toward a reward from people. But I can't remember anywhere that teaches against working toward a reward from God. I think God mentions rewards so that we will work toward them. What do you think?
That got me thinking about rewards in the Bible. Here are some examples from Jesus' teaching:
1. Giving to the poor in private will be rewarded by God (Matthew 6:4)
2. Receiving a righteous person will receive reward of righteous person (Matthew 10:41, Mark 9:44)
3. Reward from Jesus based on what you have done in this life (Matthew 16:27)
4. Suffering for Christ will receive great reward (Luke 6:24)
5. Doing good for enemies will receive great reward (Luke 6:35)
6. Faithful servant in charge of many things (Matthew 25:21)
7. Do well before the king comes back to be entrusted with more when he returns (Matthew 25)
I am sure that there are more, but you get the idea.
So my question is this:
Why do so many Christians believe that it is wrong to work toward a reward? I understand that we should be motivated by love. But if God didn't want us to think about a reward at all then why mention it? Jesus does rebuke people for working toward a reward from people. But I can't remember anywhere that teaches against working toward a reward from God. I think God mentions rewards so that we will work toward them. What do you think?
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