I grew up charismatic. I still am a charismatic. I believe that the gifts from the Holy Spirit to the Christian Church listed in Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians are still in operation today. In case you didnt know, thats what defines a charismatic theologically speaking. What you are probably more familiar with though, is not the theology of charismatics but the practices of charismatics. Everybody has heard stories, seen stories, or even made stories, and lived to tell about it.
I've seen demon posessed people roll on the floor and make crazy, scary sounding noises. I've seen people run around like their hair was on fire. I've seen people sit and laugh for hours. I've heard endless prophecies, words of wisdom, and knowledge. In fact, I dont think I have enough time in one life to do all that I have been prophesied to do. I've been told that I was an evangelist, a teacher, a prophet, and a pastor. I'm still yet to be called an apostle. I've seen people give a preacher over 100,000 dollars for a 45 minute sermon because they believed the anointing was so great on his life that they had to give a lot of money to him in hopes of being blessed by God in return. I've seen people healed of various physical problems. I've heard a thousand people pray in tongues in a church service all at one time. I've seen people "slain in the Spirit". I've seen people roll on the floor and hollar like they were on fire. I won't say I've seen it all because I know people who claim to have seen goldust appear on people's bodies, objects levitate, and on and on and on.
I've seen enough to write a book on it for sure. But instead, Im going to write maybe a few notes about some of my adventures in what I like to call Charismania. My hope is just to share a few stories from my time in Charismania. Some of them are very humorous, to me at least. Others are sad, some are scary, and some are deeply touching. My intention is not to bash Charismatics, afterall, I am one.
I will begin with a story about Benny Hinn.Benny Hinn is probably the most famous charismatic in the world today. He's the middle-eastern man with the white suit who is most known for knocking people down by placing his hand on them, waving his hand at them, blowing in the microphone, or by some other means. He comes on TBN (the christian station) daily. Oh yeah, he has a wicked comb-over as well. Hopefully you know who I am talking about now.
I think the year was 2002. That would make me nineteen years old. Myself and two friends, Matt and Blake, decided to go to a Benny Hinn "Youth Crusade". It was held at Creflo Dollar's church near Atlanta, Georgia. I'm not sure what we were hoping to experience exactly, but I think there was some general hope of experiencing God's power in some physical sense. We didn't want to be healed or made Christians. We just wanted to feel God's power in some way.
When we got to the service they had the front portion of the church roped off, I suppose for church members and/or important people involved with the "Youth Crusade" somehow. My friend Blake, ever the bold one, demanded that we go beyond the ropes and act like that was what we were supposed to be doing. I was very hesitant but as I recall Matt was willing and so there was a 2/3rds majority. So we did it. We walked up to the rope, lifted it, and casually walked into the special seating area. We found great seats only about 5 rows back from Benny Hinn. I remember joking that I was close enough to spit on the back of his head.
The service went on like a typical charismatic youth service. There were probably between 5,000 to 8,000 youth there, depending on how you define a youth. We all sang very loudly. The noise was thunderous and reverberated against our bodies in a powerful way. After the worship Benny Hinn began to speak.I honestly remember only a few words that Benny Hinn said that night. I don't guess words were what we were there for anyways. We were there in the hopes of experiencing some power, maybe in the hopes of having our faith strengthened by the undeniable experience.
About halfway through the service Benny had an altar call. He asked for all the men between 17-25 years of age (dont quote me on that) who felt called to full time ministry to come to the front. He said he was going to pray for the fire of God to fall on us, I think with the intention of empowering us for ministry. We were excited. This was the moment we had come to Atlanta for.
We made it to the front quickly as thousands rushed to the front of the church to be prayed for by Benny. I was grateful that Blake's boldness had helped us get such great seats. I soon found myself completely surrounded by other young men, and maybe women, I cant remember. We were packed into the front like a can of sardines. My shoulders were touching the people beside me and if I moved one inch to the front or to the back I would be touching someone.We wainted intently as Benny began to speak to us.
At some point he stopped speaking and began to pray for us. The 10,000 seat building was quiet except for Benny's voice coming through the speakers. He prayed in a low voice and with noticeable calmness. My head was bowed and I was intently listening, my heart focused on receiving some powerful touch from God. Suddenly, Benny interrupted his quiet prayer by yelling at the top of his lungs, "FIIIIRRREEEEEE!!!!!!!!".
The mass of people around me were immediately startled and began falling like dominos. There were people falling backwards into my legs and sideways into my knees. The guy directly beside me grasped my arm as he was falling down and nearly pulled me down with him. He would have succeeded if I did not somewhat violently jerk my arm free from his grasp. In an instant the front of the church had become a field full of bodies laying all over one another.
I saw that everyone to my right had fallen down. Then I turned my head and looked across the mass of bodies on the ground to my left. As my eyes followed the rows of bodies on the ground they ran into the one other person in the crowd of thousands who had not fallen down...my friend Blake. Our eyes met and we exchanged the largest grins. It appeared that whatever happened to everyone else had not happened to us. Karen Wheaton, another popular charismatic, was there for the crusade to sing for Benny that night. When she saw me still standing she looked at me puzzled. Her eyes filled with some sort of compassion seemed to be asking, "What happened? Why didn't you go down?"
Benny offered a few more signs for the faithful gathered there that evening, but I dont want to turn this note into a book. Anyways, as we discussed the happenings of the crusade that night in the car on the way back to Boiling Springs, South Carolina, we remembered that Matt had fallen down with the rest of the crowd.He said he was knocked down by the people around him. We didn't want to hear it or believe it. We gave him crap about that the rest of the way home. Sometimes I still give him crap about it : )
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A song
Jesus, Savior, King Eternal
rescued us in our transgression,
bleeding heart and bleeding hands,
have lifted us to where we stand;
boldly on the promise of God,
Our hope is fixed,
Our hope is sure,
through Jesus Christ we will endure,
Purified, we've been made righteous,
Our soul no longer seeks for treasure,
Our cornerstone who lives inside us,
fills our souls beyond all measure,
We spend our days now under the Sun,
eagerly awaiting your return,
when all that is wrong will be made right,
when joy abounds in your kingdom's light,
We pray, we seek, to know you now,
Your love, your peace, your mercy and strength,
Blessed to stand, we humbly bow,
You've chosen us who sought you not,
who loved ourselves beyond all else,
our wicked hearts would not receive you,
our blinded eyes would not believe you,
Against our wills, and for our joy,
Your spirit came and brought us life,
Your love so sovereign, deep, and free,
has made us yours eternally.
(We love you Jesus)
rescued us in our transgression,
bleeding heart and bleeding hands,
have lifted us to where we stand;
boldly on the promise of God,
Our hope is fixed,
Our hope is sure,
through Jesus Christ we will endure,
Purified, we've been made righteous,
Our soul no longer seeks for treasure,
Our cornerstone who lives inside us,
fills our souls beyond all measure,
We spend our days now under the Sun,
eagerly awaiting your return,
when all that is wrong will be made right,
when joy abounds in your kingdom's light,
We pray, we seek, to know you now,
Your love, your peace, your mercy and strength,
Blessed to stand, we humbly bow,
You've chosen us who sought you not,
who loved ourselves beyond all else,
our wicked hearts would not receive you,
our blinded eyes would not believe you,
Against our wills, and for our joy,
Your spirit came and brought us life,
Your love so sovereign, deep, and free,
has made us yours eternally.
(We love you Jesus)
Monday, November 3, 2008
Take Hold of Your Soul
Emotions. Ever-present, always needed, often hard to deal with. They are given to us by a loving God to experience and reflect him in an amazing way. They are given to allow us to have relationships. In some sense they mean we are alive. What is a human being without feelings, emotions, affections, desires? What is a romance without hearts that understand love and derive joy from it? Emotions are essential to who we are as human beings. But, sadly, we are sinful beings that think and feel in a corrupted way. This is why selfless love is COMPLETELY unnatural to each and everyone of us. We get upset because someone doesn't treat us like we think we "deserve" to be treated. We get sad because someone doesn't approve of us or think highly of us.
Our thoughts and emotions speak to us all the time preaching to us a gospel of self love. As Christians emotions play a crucial role. God doesn't command that we do a big list of commandments from mindless obedience. He commands that we obey him joyfully. He makes a demand on our emotions, often a demand we feel incapable to perform. I often find no reason to worship God in my soul. Looking for an intuition or good feeling about him it seems there is none present. Despite our sense of inability to obey God joyfully, the scriptures say that God has given us "everything we need for life and godliness." So what about our obstinate souls that stand with their arms folded in defiance of the living God? What can we do about our emotions when they are resistant to the reading of scripture, to the singing of songs, and to fellowship with believers?
An obvious answer is prayer. Cry out to God. Repent of any sin that is weighing down your conscience and making your soul cloudy.
In addition to this we must learn to apprehend our souls. We must speak to ourselves. This is not the same as the self-talk that I learned about in educational psychology classes. We do not say to ourselves, "okay, I can do this, I just need to slow down and think this through step by step". Instead of telling myself "I can" I speak the gospel to myself. God can, Jesus can, the Spirit can! I must do as 2 Corinthians 10 says and wage war on any rebel thought that seeks to rise above the dominion of Jesus.Abraham, the father of the faith, circumsized himself. Jesus has circumsized our hearts if we have the Spirit of God in us. But like Abraham we must grow to the place that we can cut on ourselves in a spiritual sense. Instead of listening to our thoughts and emotions and letting them run rampant in us, we should confront them with the truth of the scripture that is "sharper than any two edged sword" and that "divides soul and spirit" and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Instead of letting our soul endlessly speak to us, we must grab hold of our souls and speak to them. We must rebuke and correct ourselves, violently refusing to allow self-addicted emotions and thoughts to run our lives.
We must say with the Psalmist....
Psalm 43:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
This is a daily process. Its preaching the gospel to yourself. We need to do it everyday so that we can grow in grace and effectively serve others. If we are constantly beat up by our thoughts and emotions because we fail to speak to them and fail to force our souls to dwell on Jesus we will not be in a position to help our brothers and sisters because we will be ever-dwelling on our own calamity. There is great joy to be had in Gods salvation, but we have obstinate souls, and as a result, joyful obedience to our God is a violent struggle. Therefore, dont let your soul preach to you everyday. You preach to it. You grow in self-control. You take authority over rebel thoughts that raise themselves up against Christ.
Our thoughts and emotions speak to us all the time preaching to us a gospel of self love. As Christians emotions play a crucial role. God doesn't command that we do a big list of commandments from mindless obedience. He commands that we obey him joyfully. He makes a demand on our emotions, often a demand we feel incapable to perform. I often find no reason to worship God in my soul. Looking for an intuition or good feeling about him it seems there is none present. Despite our sense of inability to obey God joyfully, the scriptures say that God has given us "everything we need for life and godliness." So what about our obstinate souls that stand with their arms folded in defiance of the living God? What can we do about our emotions when they are resistant to the reading of scripture, to the singing of songs, and to fellowship with believers?
An obvious answer is prayer. Cry out to God. Repent of any sin that is weighing down your conscience and making your soul cloudy.
In addition to this we must learn to apprehend our souls. We must speak to ourselves. This is not the same as the self-talk that I learned about in educational psychology classes. We do not say to ourselves, "okay, I can do this, I just need to slow down and think this through step by step". Instead of telling myself "I can" I speak the gospel to myself. God can, Jesus can, the Spirit can! I must do as 2 Corinthians 10 says and wage war on any rebel thought that seeks to rise above the dominion of Jesus.Abraham, the father of the faith, circumsized himself. Jesus has circumsized our hearts if we have the Spirit of God in us. But like Abraham we must grow to the place that we can cut on ourselves in a spiritual sense. Instead of listening to our thoughts and emotions and letting them run rampant in us, we should confront them with the truth of the scripture that is "sharper than any two edged sword" and that "divides soul and spirit" and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Instead of letting our soul endlessly speak to us, we must grab hold of our souls and speak to them. We must rebuke and correct ourselves, violently refusing to allow self-addicted emotions and thoughts to run our lives.
We must say with the Psalmist....
Psalm 43:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
This is a daily process. Its preaching the gospel to yourself. We need to do it everyday so that we can grow in grace and effectively serve others. If we are constantly beat up by our thoughts and emotions because we fail to speak to them and fail to force our souls to dwell on Jesus we will not be in a position to help our brothers and sisters because we will be ever-dwelling on our own calamity. There is great joy to be had in Gods salvation, but we have obstinate souls, and as a result, joyful obedience to our God is a violent struggle. Therefore, dont let your soul preach to you everyday. You preach to it. You grow in self-control. You take authority over rebel thoughts that raise themselves up against Christ.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Christians During Election Time
I see many of my brothers and sisters become really passionate about who to vote for during election season. Some of them seem more passionate about who they are voting for, and creating converts to their given candidate, than they are passionate about God and sharing the gospel of Christ. This shouldn't be should it? When we are passionate about a particular candidate to the extent that he becomes the central part of our conversation it appears our lives have become centered around a human being, an American politician. This is always a hopeless life.
This applies to Christians who love Obama because they think he will demonstrate mercy and compassion through creating universal healthcare while ensuring the right to equal treatment of minority groups such as homosexuals (another act of mercy). This applies to Christians who love John McCain because they think he will end abortion, win the war on terror, and prevent America from taking steps toward socialism. I want to say this, and I may take heat for it, but neither one of these guys set a great example of being like Christ. Look at both of their lives and voting records and you will see evidence of that very quickly.
Another thing that bothers me deeply is the mingling of Amerian nationalism with our Christian faith. It seems many think of America as a shining beacon of the Christian faith to the rest of the world. This could not be farther from the truth. Our nation is one of the most perverse and wicked cultures in the history of mankind. We kill our babies, we kill each other, we eat more than anyone else, download more pornography, use more resources, and commit more time to leisure than perhaps any culture ever. And some people think Christianity has something to do with capitalism and free market economics.
Our history is one of dominance throughout Latin-America chock full of subversion, overthrowing of democratic governments and exploitation for our gain. Its no wonder that communism and socialism was very appealing to Latin Americans as it became popular in the early 20th century. They were the ones being capitalized by "christian America". When Jesus said that we are to be a city on a hill he was not talking about America. He was not talking about Rome. He was not even talking about Jerusalem. He was talking about the church of God, his people. We are supposed to live in such a way in the world that men would see our good works and glorify our Father. Instead, we have Christians in our day looking for a government leader who will make America the city on a hill. Derek Webb articulates some of these thoughts well in his song a king and a kingdom. Where are your allegiances? Is your allegiance to America right up there with your allegiance to Christ? If so I pray God gives you repentance.
who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives
'cause we married in to a family of immigrants
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think
This applies to Christians who love Obama because they think he will demonstrate mercy and compassion through creating universal healthcare while ensuring the right to equal treatment of minority groups such as homosexuals (another act of mercy). This applies to Christians who love John McCain because they think he will end abortion, win the war on terror, and prevent America from taking steps toward socialism. I want to say this, and I may take heat for it, but neither one of these guys set a great example of being like Christ. Look at both of their lives and voting records and you will see evidence of that very quickly.
Another thing that bothers me deeply is the mingling of Amerian nationalism with our Christian faith. It seems many think of America as a shining beacon of the Christian faith to the rest of the world. This could not be farther from the truth. Our nation is one of the most perverse and wicked cultures in the history of mankind. We kill our babies, we kill each other, we eat more than anyone else, download more pornography, use more resources, and commit more time to leisure than perhaps any culture ever. And some people think Christianity has something to do with capitalism and free market economics.
Our history is one of dominance throughout Latin-America chock full of subversion, overthrowing of democratic governments and exploitation for our gain. Its no wonder that communism and socialism was very appealing to Latin Americans as it became popular in the early 20th century. They were the ones being capitalized by "christian America". When Jesus said that we are to be a city on a hill he was not talking about America. He was not talking about Rome. He was not even talking about Jerusalem. He was talking about the church of God, his people. We are supposed to live in such a way in the world that men would see our good works and glorify our Father. Instead, we have Christians in our day looking for a government leader who will make America the city on a hill. Derek Webb articulates some of these thoughts well in his song a king and a kingdom. Where are your allegiances? Is your allegiance to America right up there with your allegiance to Christ? If so I pray God gives you repentance.
who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives
'cause we married in to a family of immigrants
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think
Dwell on Good Things
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi from an ancient jail cell and admonished and encouraged them with a beautiful letter that uplifted the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an amazing way. I say that to say that what Im about to say is one very small part of a book that is densely packed with truth and joy inducing, encouraging words. So go read it if you never have.
One thing that Paul says in the 4th chapter really struck me and its implication for happiness and holiness in our lives is so far reaching. He says this...
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Paul says to dwell on good things. As humans I think it is so contrary to our nature to actually dwell on good things. Most of the time we only dwell on things that worry us. Our worries naturally assault our thinking and I think this has a lot to do with why Christians don't experience the joy that they ought to experience. Or we dwell on sinful things. Whether it is lust, someone we dont like, the fear of man manifesting itself in insecurity, or any other sinful thoughts, we often allow our minds to be filled with ideas and images that are detrimental to our joy in Jesus Christ.
As I thought about the question, "Do I dwell on good things?" I realized very seldomnly do I dwell and ponder deeply good things. If a good thought comes it is usually very fleeting and is quickly replaced with other less virtuous thoughts. However, many people have known the joy of having their mind filled with good thoughts. If you have ever been "in love" you know the feeling of having your mind full of good thoughts. "I am loved by this person! I cannot believe it! This is so wonderful...how did I end up with her/him?!?!"
For the Christian there is opportunity to be "in love" with the savior everyday of our lives. We may not feel "in love" with him most of the time. But why is this? Is it because we are not loved deeply by the Lord? Is it because Jesus does not look upon us with great joy? It is because the Father does not sing and dance over us? No! Of course not. It is largely to do with the fact that we forget these things. We do not forget them with our minds only but with our hearts. Our affections forget the God of our salvation.
I remember one point about 5 years ago when I was struggling to overcome lustful thoughts (I am still struggling). At that time I remember a thought came to my head..."what in the world am I going to think about if I stop all this lustful thinking??" ...haha! It was as if I thought the Christian life would require me to think about nothing. To just have a blank mind ALL the time! My mind was so consumed with lustful thoughts that I had forgotten what it was like to think about other things.
Paul gives the answer to my question here in Phillipians 4:8. We dont just cease from thinking on the empty and the evil, but we begin to dwell on the GOOD things God has done, is doing, and will do! We learn to delight in the fellowship we have as Gods family. We learn to soak in the truth of Gods love revealed to us in Jesus. We learn to rejoice with the global church when we hear good news of how God is working around the world. We become praise minded as our thoughts are transformed.
I am encouraging myself and hopefully you if you read this. Think on good things. What do you have to be grateful for? What are you seeing God do in the lives of people around you and in your own life? How deep a debt has God forgiven you? Where would you be today without him lovingly breaking into your life and interrupting your pursuit of sin? What would you be hoping in? A career? Your intellect? Your looks? The stock market? Your family? A sports team? And when you begin to think on these things do not let them be fleeting thoughts that come and go in a flash. Rather, apprehend those thoughts. Dont let them go! Extract every ounce of joy from them you possibly can! This is good and pleasing to God, plus, it produces the joy and satisfaction our thirsty souls long after.
One thing that Paul says in the 4th chapter really struck me and its implication for happiness and holiness in our lives is so far reaching. He says this...
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Paul says to dwell on good things. As humans I think it is so contrary to our nature to actually dwell on good things. Most of the time we only dwell on things that worry us. Our worries naturally assault our thinking and I think this has a lot to do with why Christians don't experience the joy that they ought to experience. Or we dwell on sinful things. Whether it is lust, someone we dont like, the fear of man manifesting itself in insecurity, or any other sinful thoughts, we often allow our minds to be filled with ideas and images that are detrimental to our joy in Jesus Christ.
As I thought about the question, "Do I dwell on good things?" I realized very seldomnly do I dwell and ponder deeply good things. If a good thought comes it is usually very fleeting and is quickly replaced with other less virtuous thoughts. However, many people have known the joy of having their mind filled with good thoughts. If you have ever been "in love" you know the feeling of having your mind full of good thoughts. "I am loved by this person! I cannot believe it! This is so wonderful...how did I end up with her/him?!?!"
For the Christian there is opportunity to be "in love" with the savior everyday of our lives. We may not feel "in love" with him most of the time. But why is this? Is it because we are not loved deeply by the Lord? Is it because Jesus does not look upon us with great joy? It is because the Father does not sing and dance over us? No! Of course not. It is largely to do with the fact that we forget these things. We do not forget them with our minds only but with our hearts. Our affections forget the God of our salvation.
I remember one point about 5 years ago when I was struggling to overcome lustful thoughts (I am still struggling). At that time I remember a thought came to my head..."what in the world am I going to think about if I stop all this lustful thinking??" ...haha! It was as if I thought the Christian life would require me to think about nothing. To just have a blank mind ALL the time! My mind was so consumed with lustful thoughts that I had forgotten what it was like to think about other things.
Paul gives the answer to my question here in Phillipians 4:8. We dont just cease from thinking on the empty and the evil, but we begin to dwell on the GOOD things God has done, is doing, and will do! We learn to delight in the fellowship we have as Gods family. We learn to soak in the truth of Gods love revealed to us in Jesus. We learn to rejoice with the global church when we hear good news of how God is working around the world. We become praise minded as our thoughts are transformed.
I am encouraging myself and hopefully you if you read this. Think on good things. What do you have to be grateful for? What are you seeing God do in the lives of people around you and in your own life? How deep a debt has God forgiven you? Where would you be today without him lovingly breaking into your life and interrupting your pursuit of sin? What would you be hoping in? A career? Your intellect? Your looks? The stock market? Your family? A sports team? And when you begin to think on these things do not let them be fleeting thoughts that come and go in a flash. Rather, apprehend those thoughts. Dont let them go! Extract every ounce of joy from them you possibly can! This is good and pleasing to God, plus, it produces the joy and satisfaction our thirsty souls long after.
The Trinity -- A Practical Application
The doctrine of the trinity is a very old and highly misunderstood teaching of the church. When I say misunderstood I do not mean that it is disputed among Christians, rather, nobody would dare say that they can explain the trinity. The church has split over the specifics of the doctrine of the trinity in years past, particularly over who the Holy Spirit "proceeds" from. Anyways, all these semantics aside, I hope to give one practical application of the trinity since any good theology is practical and applies to how we live our lives.
Bear with me if this post veers a little new-agey or uber spiritual for a moment...
When we talk about God we are talking about the "highest reality". If you have ever experienced his presence you would know this is true. Many drug users, like the recent convert from the band Korn, attest to the fact that when God came and gave life to their spirit that it was the "realest" thing they had ever experienced. The night I became a Christian the Holy Spirit touched a deeper part of me than anyone ever had. It was the most "real" experience in my life, and is an experience I cannot deny. Far more real than the first time I "fell in love" (enfatuation), than my first homerun (although it was awesome), even more real than the death of my loved ones (those times, in fact, seem surreal).
The doctrine of the trinity teaches us that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are three distinct persons, yet they are one as God. So God, who has no beginning, is a community. The Holy Spirit, the Father, and Jesus have always loved each other deeply and freely...emphasis on always, meaning since God existed....which, he always did. It is clear from scripture that their is deep love between the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. This is encouraging. Without the doctrine of the trinity, how can God be loving? If God were one, and alone, how could he be loving? Does not the nature of love imply a sharing and giving aspect. We do not say someone is loving because they like themselves a lot. The fact that "God is love" implies the trinitarian community of Gods nature. Love does not exist in isolation. It is always shared.
So one practical application of the trinity is this: Embrace the community of the church. Share your lives with people openly and freely. Ultimate reality is not found in isolation, although isolation for the sake of prayer and meditation is good (but even then you are not isolated...you are seeking God). We experience the realest, and most deeply satisfying lives possible when we share our lives with others in the spirit of humility....just as God always has. When we live in community and love one another we are following God's example. Do you say that you do not need the church, the people of God? You are a member of ONE body. The hand cannot say to the foot "I have no need of you". And if this is your attitude you would do well to consider that your attitude contradicts the very nature of God. This was once my attitude. I hope that attitude never takes root in my heart again. I was one of the most selfish people I have ever met during that time of my life.
Gospel of John Chapter 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Let us be imitators of God, loving one another in community.
Bear with me if this post veers a little new-agey or uber spiritual for a moment...
When we talk about God we are talking about the "highest reality". If you have ever experienced his presence you would know this is true. Many drug users, like the recent convert from the band Korn, attest to the fact that when God came and gave life to their spirit that it was the "realest" thing they had ever experienced. The night I became a Christian the Holy Spirit touched a deeper part of me than anyone ever had. It was the most "real" experience in my life, and is an experience I cannot deny. Far more real than the first time I "fell in love" (enfatuation), than my first homerun (although it was awesome), even more real than the death of my loved ones (those times, in fact, seem surreal).
The doctrine of the trinity teaches us that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are three distinct persons, yet they are one as God. So God, who has no beginning, is a community. The Holy Spirit, the Father, and Jesus have always loved each other deeply and freely...emphasis on always, meaning since God existed....which, he always did. It is clear from scripture that their is deep love between the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. This is encouraging. Without the doctrine of the trinity, how can God be loving? If God were one, and alone, how could he be loving? Does not the nature of love imply a sharing and giving aspect. We do not say someone is loving because they like themselves a lot. The fact that "God is love" implies the trinitarian community of Gods nature. Love does not exist in isolation. It is always shared.
So one practical application of the trinity is this: Embrace the community of the church. Share your lives with people openly and freely. Ultimate reality is not found in isolation, although isolation for the sake of prayer and meditation is good (but even then you are not isolated...you are seeking God). We experience the realest, and most deeply satisfying lives possible when we share our lives with others in the spirit of humility....just as God always has. When we live in community and love one another we are following God's example. Do you say that you do not need the church, the people of God? You are a member of ONE body. The hand cannot say to the foot "I have no need of you". And if this is your attitude you would do well to consider that your attitude contradicts the very nature of God. This was once my attitude. I hope that attitude never takes root in my heart again. I was one of the most selfish people I have ever met during that time of my life.
Gospel of John Chapter 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Let us be imitators of God, loving one another in community.
Remaining Teachable
"Hearing and listening are not the same as learning. The mind can be aware of a truth for years while the affections remain unchanged.".
Ive been a christian for about 8 years now. When I was converted I read the Bible voraciously. I soon began to read different books by christians authors as well. Though I have only been a christian for 8 years, I often find myself not wanting to read the scriptures because "Ive already read that like a thousand times". Also, I find myself not listening to others when they share with me what God is teaching them because "I learned that like a millions years ago".
1 Corinthians 8 says this"...We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." (forgive me if I am using this somewhat out of context)
My very limited knowledge has puffed me up. So much so that I often believe practically (not theologically) that Jesus' words to me are of no benefit. I am slowly learning to lean on the truth that I NEED to hear the good news of the scripture everyday, instead of looking inside myself and waiting for some strong desire to read the scriptures and meditate upon them. In many ways that has been the story of my "devotional life" over the last 8 years. "Do I feel like reading the scriptures and having my soul corrected, encouraged, rebuked, reproved, purified, challenged, etc?" More often than not my answer has been a lazy, "no".
A good analogy that comes to mind is exercize (a word that I am confident I will NEVER learn to spell for some strange reason). My mom has a membership at a gym. She never goes. Her reason for not going? She doesn't FEEL like it. The fallacy in that thinking is this: You dont go workout because you FEEL good, you go workout in the hopes that you WILL feel good as your health increases. She has confused the means and the end. Working out is not the end. "Ahh Im doing well, look at me working out!" Working out is the means to the end, namely, feeling good!
I am that way with the gospel. I have mistaken the end for the means. I thought the end was the religious work of hearing the scriptures and reading the Bible. If that were the case I HAVE accomplished my task as a Christian. Ive read the New Testament and most of the Old. But the end of the Christian life is a heart that reflects the person of Jesus. In that light it is clear that while I have read through the gospels and the letters to the churches, I have LEARNED very little of it!!! 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter?? Oh Ive read that perhaps hundreds of times!! How much of it do I live?? Very little!
The point is this. I must go to the scriptures and other means of grace because I recognize my need to be changed by them, not because they are the end of some religious duty. Elsewise I will not return to the scriptures to feed on them and grow by them with the Spirit's help. I will not return to worship and behold God with an open heart. Why? "Because Ive already done that many times before!" What a sorry attitude. But, this is an attitude I fight on a daily basis.
I hope my confession of sorts will help you as you struggle against these types of attitudes.
Ive been a christian for about 8 years now. When I was converted I read the Bible voraciously. I soon began to read different books by christians authors as well. Though I have only been a christian for 8 years, I often find myself not wanting to read the scriptures because "Ive already read that like a thousand times". Also, I find myself not listening to others when they share with me what God is teaching them because "I learned that like a millions years ago".
1 Corinthians 8 says this"...We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." (forgive me if I am using this somewhat out of context)
My very limited knowledge has puffed me up. So much so that I often believe practically (not theologically) that Jesus' words to me are of no benefit. I am slowly learning to lean on the truth that I NEED to hear the good news of the scripture everyday, instead of looking inside myself and waiting for some strong desire to read the scriptures and meditate upon them. In many ways that has been the story of my "devotional life" over the last 8 years. "Do I feel like reading the scriptures and having my soul corrected, encouraged, rebuked, reproved, purified, challenged, etc?" More often than not my answer has been a lazy, "no".
A good analogy that comes to mind is exercize (a word that I am confident I will NEVER learn to spell for some strange reason). My mom has a membership at a gym. She never goes. Her reason for not going? She doesn't FEEL like it. The fallacy in that thinking is this: You dont go workout because you FEEL good, you go workout in the hopes that you WILL feel good as your health increases. She has confused the means and the end. Working out is not the end. "Ahh Im doing well, look at me working out!" Working out is the means to the end, namely, feeling good!
I am that way with the gospel. I have mistaken the end for the means. I thought the end was the religious work of hearing the scriptures and reading the Bible. If that were the case I HAVE accomplished my task as a Christian. Ive read the New Testament and most of the Old. But the end of the Christian life is a heart that reflects the person of Jesus. In that light it is clear that while I have read through the gospels and the letters to the churches, I have LEARNED very little of it!!! 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter?? Oh Ive read that perhaps hundreds of times!! How much of it do I live?? Very little!
The point is this. I must go to the scriptures and other means of grace because I recognize my need to be changed by them, not because they are the end of some religious duty. Elsewise I will not return to the scriptures to feed on them and grow by them with the Spirit's help. I will not return to worship and behold God with an open heart. Why? "Because Ive already done that many times before!" What a sorry attitude. But, this is an attitude I fight on a daily basis.
I hope my confession of sorts will help you as you struggle against these types of attitudes.
The Doctrine of Depravity-- A Source of Joy
Luke Chapter 746 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
How much have we been forgiven? What kind of sinner do we reckon we were?It is very tempting to view ourselves as having not been forgiven much. Many times in my life I have looked at christian brothers and sisters who exuded joy and passion for their savior and noted how visibly wild and lost they appeared to live before they came to faith. "Ah...If I had been on drugs, and slept around a whole lot like him, I would probably love God like that myself...". I thought my sins were greater than the goody goods, and that I was somewhat better off than the really lost types who were really bad. I viewed sin on this sort of man made scale.
For the person raised in the church this understanding of sin and forgiveness prevents joy from growing in the heart. Those who see themselves as having not been forgiven much cannot understand the joy of being forgiven an incredible debt.This is why I am thankful for the doctrine of depravity, or the teaching of the scripture about how evil we are apart from God. While this doctrine sounds negative, the Spirit can use it to bring great joy to our hearts. This is because the scripture makes us aware of our true nature apart from Gods grace. We were all desperately wicked. All of our good deeds were made without Jesus in mind in an attempt to develop our own righteousness. In Isaiah God says that this righteousness is like a menstruous rag.
The imagery is clear. Not only our bad deeds, but our good ones also are filthy before God apart from the righteousness provided by Jesus. Paul says that he counted all his "good deeds" as a Jew as "dung"(do a word study on that).I think we would do ourselves a great service to study this doctrine out more fully, and pray that the Spirit would illuminate the reality of it in our hearts so that we can see just how much God has forgiven us.
Martin Luther said, "A person must confront his own sinfulness in all its ravaging depths before he can enjoy the comforts of salvation."
Imagine if you lived in an ancient society under a king. Imagine that you owed him all the money in the world. If you cannot come up with the money your life will be required of you. On the day of your execution you receive a dispatch from the Kings court. "The King has seen fit to pay your debt for you, adopt you into his family, name you an heir, and promises you will inherit his kingdom." When you ask him why he does this his answer is simple, "because I love you". This is the gospel, the great news! Dont be deceived, you have not been forgiven a little debt and offered a small government stipend. You have been forgiven a monstrous debt and offered everything seen and unseen! If the Holy Spirit would make this real to our hearts, oh how we would live with an attitude of rejoicing always.
How much have we been forgiven? What kind of sinner do we reckon we were?It is very tempting to view ourselves as having not been forgiven much. Many times in my life I have looked at christian brothers and sisters who exuded joy and passion for their savior and noted how visibly wild and lost they appeared to live before they came to faith. "Ah...If I had been on drugs, and slept around a whole lot like him, I would probably love God like that myself...". I thought my sins were greater than the goody goods, and that I was somewhat better off than the really lost types who were really bad. I viewed sin on this sort of man made scale.
For the person raised in the church this understanding of sin and forgiveness prevents joy from growing in the heart. Those who see themselves as having not been forgiven much cannot understand the joy of being forgiven an incredible debt.This is why I am thankful for the doctrine of depravity, or the teaching of the scripture about how evil we are apart from God. While this doctrine sounds negative, the Spirit can use it to bring great joy to our hearts. This is because the scripture makes us aware of our true nature apart from Gods grace. We were all desperately wicked. All of our good deeds were made without Jesus in mind in an attempt to develop our own righteousness. In Isaiah God says that this righteousness is like a menstruous rag.
The imagery is clear. Not only our bad deeds, but our good ones also are filthy before God apart from the righteousness provided by Jesus. Paul says that he counted all his "good deeds" as a Jew as "dung"(do a word study on that).I think we would do ourselves a great service to study this doctrine out more fully, and pray that the Spirit would illuminate the reality of it in our hearts so that we can see just how much God has forgiven us.
Martin Luther said, "A person must confront his own sinfulness in all its ravaging depths before he can enjoy the comforts of salvation."
Imagine if you lived in an ancient society under a king. Imagine that you owed him all the money in the world. If you cannot come up with the money your life will be required of you. On the day of your execution you receive a dispatch from the Kings court. "The King has seen fit to pay your debt for you, adopt you into his family, name you an heir, and promises you will inherit his kingdom." When you ask him why he does this his answer is simple, "because I love you". This is the gospel, the great news! Dont be deceived, you have not been forgiven a little debt and offered a small government stipend. You have been forgiven a monstrous debt and offered everything seen and unseen! If the Holy Spirit would make this real to our hearts, oh how we would live with an attitude of rejoicing always.
The Meaning of "Good" in Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28. The oft referred to verse that pastors and lay people alike use like a mayonnaise spread to bring comfort and assurance to anyone suffering through a hard time. If you grew up in church as I did then you probably have heard that "everything works together for the good of those who love God". I have no quarrel with the verse and I think its very true. However, I do have a quarrel with many people's understanding of the word "good" in this verse.It is very easy for people in our culture to assume that this verse means that everything works together to bring you a "good life". So that, no matter what you are going through at the current moment, God will work that situation around so that you "come out on top".
And usually, this idea of coming out on top means that if we are suffering a job loss now, riches will come later, if someone wronged us now, God will get that person back and promote us in the future, if we are going through a hard breakup now, God will provide us with a better partner later, and so on. Perhaps God will do some of these things, but that interpretation of this verse is very misleading. This interpretation teaches Gods people to trust that when God says he will work all things for our good, that he means he is going to make all our circumstances good. So in effect our focus becomes very secular, very temporal. So as a practical application people are taught that they should just hold out for a while, and watch God change all their circumstances.In short, people take very natural understandings of what is "good" and read that understanding into this verse.
There is a reason for this. We come to the scripture not looking to be changed by seeing Jesus, but looking to find things that suit our own passions. We do not look to see what the author was saying to his readers, but rather, "what would I like the author to say to me through this?" As a result we neglect to consider the context of verses, to consider who the author is talking to, what he is responding to, what he says in the verses prior to and following the verses we are studying..etc.
So what does "good" mean in this verse?
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
I think the answer lies in the following verse...
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren...
The "good" promised us in Romans 8:28 is far better than a promise to change our circumstances. It is a promise that no matter what we go through, God himself is working through our circumstances to conforn us to the image of his son, Jesus! God is making us like Jesus! That is the great good of Romans 8:28! By this promise we can take hope that regardless of our circumstances God's plan is coming to pass....in us! So the application of this verse is not to wait and watch God change our circumstances, but to wait and watch God change US! And this is good news! Contrary to popular belief we do not find joy through perfect external circumstances, but through internal change, change in our hearts. This is the overcomer's gospel. Not one that touts circumstancial change, but one that assures us of Gods faithfulness to change us, regardless of our circumstance.
It is with this understanding that we can say along with Apostle at the end of Romans chapter 8..."35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
And usually, this idea of coming out on top means that if we are suffering a job loss now, riches will come later, if someone wronged us now, God will get that person back and promote us in the future, if we are going through a hard breakup now, God will provide us with a better partner later, and so on. Perhaps God will do some of these things, but that interpretation of this verse is very misleading. This interpretation teaches Gods people to trust that when God says he will work all things for our good, that he means he is going to make all our circumstances good. So in effect our focus becomes very secular, very temporal. So as a practical application people are taught that they should just hold out for a while, and watch God change all their circumstances.In short, people take very natural understandings of what is "good" and read that understanding into this verse.
There is a reason for this. We come to the scripture not looking to be changed by seeing Jesus, but looking to find things that suit our own passions. We do not look to see what the author was saying to his readers, but rather, "what would I like the author to say to me through this?" As a result we neglect to consider the context of verses, to consider who the author is talking to, what he is responding to, what he says in the verses prior to and following the verses we are studying..etc.
So what does "good" mean in this verse?
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
I think the answer lies in the following verse...
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren...
The "good" promised us in Romans 8:28 is far better than a promise to change our circumstances. It is a promise that no matter what we go through, God himself is working through our circumstances to conforn us to the image of his son, Jesus! God is making us like Jesus! That is the great good of Romans 8:28! By this promise we can take hope that regardless of our circumstances God's plan is coming to pass....in us! So the application of this verse is not to wait and watch God change our circumstances, but to wait and watch God change US! And this is good news! Contrary to popular belief we do not find joy through perfect external circumstances, but through internal change, change in our hearts. This is the overcomer's gospel. Not one that touts circumstancial change, but one that assures us of Gods faithfulness to change us, regardless of our circumstance.
It is with this understanding that we can say along with Apostle at the end of Romans chapter 8..."35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
The Gospel--A Wellspring of Humility
What is the source of humility in the Christian life? Where do we find the source of strength we need to forgive one another our debts? Where do we find the strength to not defend ourselves when we are sinned against by our own brothers and sisters, as well as unbelievers? Is it not the Cross of Jesus Christ? I once took the notion that I need to stay away from people who do not encourage me. While there is some truth to this idea, at its core it is very self-serving. I believed everyone should see good in me and seek to build me up. If they did not offer me this service I lost interest in them as they no longer were useful to me and my purposes. My hypocrisy is evident. I was not spending my days building up others, but I expected this service for myself.
My pride kept me from being a servant because I lived my life in light of what I thought I deserved. But when I look at the Cross and what Jesus experienced there I see exactly what I deserved. However, I also see astonishing love. Romans 6 says that the wages of sin is death. Because I know I have sinned deeply against God and man I deserved the wages for my works...death. But (at the cross) there was God in Jesus paying my debts for me, forgiving my debts completely. There is no other explanation for this act except God's great love. So how does living in light of this act of love empower me to be patient with those who sin against me, to love them and encourage them? As I dwell beneath the cross, and ponder the depths of its meaning, I am confronted with the truth about my own place in life. The only thing I ever worked for and earned was death. When I am confronted with the free nature of Gods forgiveness to me I find the grace to forgive my brothers, and to live in humility with them. And it is a great joy to live in peace and humility with your brothers and sisters!
I have used past tense in this note alot, as though these are things I used to struggle with but not anymore. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Each day I must remind myself of the true nature of my existence in this world. I live each day drinking in a grace that I have done nothing to deserve. When my soul grasps this amazing truth I am empowered to freely give the grace that was freely given to me. You can see this clearly in the following story from the gospel of Matthew. Jesus is telling this to the disciples before his death on the cross. The disciples do not yet understand that Jesus is going to die for their sins. They are expecting him to set up a geo-political kingdom on earth, and overthrow the Roman Empire. Instead, Jesus is pointing to the work of the Cross, which the disciples would not understand until after his resurrection.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'
27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
My pride kept me from being a servant because I lived my life in light of what I thought I deserved. But when I look at the Cross and what Jesus experienced there I see exactly what I deserved. However, I also see astonishing love. Romans 6 says that the wages of sin is death. Because I know I have sinned deeply against God and man I deserved the wages for my works...death. But (at the cross) there was God in Jesus paying my debts for me, forgiving my debts completely. There is no other explanation for this act except God's great love. So how does living in light of this act of love empower me to be patient with those who sin against me, to love them and encourage them? As I dwell beneath the cross, and ponder the depths of its meaning, I am confronted with the truth about my own place in life. The only thing I ever worked for and earned was death. When I am confronted with the free nature of Gods forgiveness to me I find the grace to forgive my brothers, and to live in humility with them. And it is a great joy to live in peace and humility with your brothers and sisters!
I have used past tense in this note alot, as though these are things I used to struggle with but not anymore. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Each day I must remind myself of the true nature of my existence in this world. I live each day drinking in a grace that I have done nothing to deserve. When my soul grasps this amazing truth I am empowered to freely give the grace that was freely given to me. You can see this clearly in the following story from the gospel of Matthew. Jesus is telling this to the disciples before his death on the cross. The disciples do not yet understand that Jesus is going to die for their sins. They are expecting him to set up a geo-political kingdom on earth, and overthrow the Roman Empire. Instead, Jesus is pointing to the work of the Cross, which the disciples would not understand until after his resurrection.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'
27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
My Sports Idolatry
I am guilty of making an idol out of relationships. I certainly know what it is to turn from God to serve myself, and to place my worth almost wholly in another person. That I know what it means to make an idol out of a relationship with a person is clear. Recently, another idolatry has become increasingly apparent to me and my worship of this idol carries with it some important implications for how I view relationships as well. Sports is the idol to which I am referring. I have been completely immersed in sports from a very young age. While my father never forced me to play any sports, I was certainly enamored with football, basketball, and baseball as a child. Over the years I participated in these sports until I grew to focus on baseball.
I was cut from the "A" team in Pony League two years in a row during my junior high years. With J.V. baseball tryouts approaching the following year I realized that my baseball career could soon be over if I did not become significantly better between my 8th and 9th grade school years. The fear of not playing baseball again drove me to great lengths to prepare myself and to better my abilities on the diamond. All fall and winter of my 9th grade year I followed a routine. Everyday after school I would work out in the weight room from 3:30 until 5:00. Then, my dad would pick me up from school and we would go to the baseball field and practice until it was too dark. A few times a week I skipped baseball practice and went to a lot behind my dads friends house to chop trees down with an axe. I did this to make my swing harder. To make a long story shorter, I was very prepared when JV tryouts rolled around and I clearly outhustled most of the other guys trying out and I easily made the team. While other guys were out there joking around, I was so focused I didnt even want to speak. Looking back I know I took it too seriously. I shutter to wonder what I would have done had I been cut that season.
Anyways, this love of sport has been a huge theme in my life, and a very real passion in my heart. As I grew older this passion intersected with view of relationships. I really wanted a girl to be athletic. And part of the reason for me wanting this was so that we might someday produce athletic offspring!! I know it sounds kind of silly, but it is true. Sports have come to mean so much to me that I still naturally think of women in relation to what kind of "breeding stock" they are (as though we are trying to raise thoroughbreds or something). I woudl think, "Oh she might make a good centerfielder", or, "she might make a good linebacker"....haha...ohh man. Im sure most girls would not want me thinking they might make a good linebacker, but you get the point.
I know that this idolatry runs through much of my thinking, and inherently, I am hoping to pass it on to my children. I am only now beginning to rethink my love of sports while seeking to place it in its rightful place. I wonder what kind of idolatries other people have in play when considering a mate. I wonder what kind of idolatries girls consider. Im sure that musicians, artists, scholars, writers, actors, politicians, bankers, military people, racists, northerners, southerners, and all sorts of demographics have different idolatries that play into their relationships much like sports have for me.
I was cut from the "A" team in Pony League two years in a row during my junior high years. With J.V. baseball tryouts approaching the following year I realized that my baseball career could soon be over if I did not become significantly better between my 8th and 9th grade school years. The fear of not playing baseball again drove me to great lengths to prepare myself and to better my abilities on the diamond. All fall and winter of my 9th grade year I followed a routine. Everyday after school I would work out in the weight room from 3:30 until 5:00. Then, my dad would pick me up from school and we would go to the baseball field and practice until it was too dark. A few times a week I skipped baseball practice and went to a lot behind my dads friends house to chop trees down with an axe. I did this to make my swing harder. To make a long story shorter, I was very prepared when JV tryouts rolled around and I clearly outhustled most of the other guys trying out and I easily made the team. While other guys were out there joking around, I was so focused I didnt even want to speak. Looking back I know I took it too seriously. I shutter to wonder what I would have done had I been cut that season.
Anyways, this love of sport has been a huge theme in my life, and a very real passion in my heart. As I grew older this passion intersected with view of relationships. I really wanted a girl to be athletic. And part of the reason for me wanting this was so that we might someday produce athletic offspring!! I know it sounds kind of silly, but it is true. Sports have come to mean so much to me that I still naturally think of women in relation to what kind of "breeding stock" they are (as though we are trying to raise thoroughbreds or something). I woudl think, "Oh she might make a good centerfielder", or, "she might make a good linebacker"....haha...ohh man. Im sure most girls would not want me thinking they might make a good linebacker, but you get the point.
I know that this idolatry runs through much of my thinking, and inherently, I am hoping to pass it on to my children. I am only now beginning to rethink my love of sports while seeking to place it in its rightful place. I wonder what kind of idolatries other people have in play when considering a mate. I wonder what kind of idolatries girls consider. Im sure that musicians, artists, scholars, writers, actors, politicians, bankers, military people, racists, northerners, southerners, and all sorts of demographics have different idolatries that play into their relationships much like sports have for me.
Spurgeon Recounts The Gospel's Transforming Power
The following excerpt from Spurgeon's autobiography resonated with me as I read it a couple of nights ago. It was a very similar sort of "spirit led logical process" that led to my becoming a believer in the truth that God is the beginning and end of our salvation, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. We did not start it, we do not bring it to completion. He does, and thats why all the glory is His and not ours. Soli Deo Gloria.
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"When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and thought I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths in my own soul---when they were, as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron, and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown on a sudden from a babe into a man---that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God.I was not thinking much about the preacher's sermon, for I did not believe it.
The thought struck me, "How did you come to be a Christian?" I sought the Lord." But how did you come to seek the Lord?" The truth flashed across my mind in a moment--I should not have sought him unless there had been some previous influence in my mindto make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, "How came I to pray?" I was induced to pray by reading the scriptures. "How came I to read the scriptures?" I did read them, but what led me to do so? Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that he was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, "I ascribe my change wholly to God".
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"When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and thought I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths in my own soul---when they were, as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron, and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown on a sudden from a babe into a man---that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God.I was not thinking much about the preacher's sermon, for I did not believe it.
The thought struck me, "How did you come to be a Christian?" I sought the Lord." But how did you come to seek the Lord?" The truth flashed across my mind in a moment--I should not have sought him unless there had been some previous influence in my mindto make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, "How came I to pray?" I was induced to pray by reading the scriptures. "How came I to read the scriptures?" I did read them, but what led me to do so? Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that he was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, "I ascribe my change wholly to God".
The Success Gospel
In America today much of the popular preaching is aimed at being successful, at helping establish a positive reputation. Some of this kind of preaching is based in greed, and some of it is based in the fear of man. Either way this preaching has as its foundation something other than the glory of Jesus. Listening to preachers on television you have to ask why they spend so much time talking about how to be liked, how to be wealthy, and generally how to live an "overcoming life". I believe the prosperity gospel, as well as the self-help-life is all about being liked and appreciated gospel are what Paul would refer to as "another gospel". These gospels do not see Jesus as the end or the goal of Christianity or following and loving Jesus. These gospels see Jesus as a means to another end...in some cases this end is a good reputation, financial wealth, physical health, power (spiritual gifts) etc.
With that in mind I wanted to post some verses from the letters to the early churches regarding suffering. If you take the time to read these note the writers of these letters do not assume that following Jesus has something to do with being liked, being wealthy, or being "on top of things" in any sense. Instead the Apostles encourage the early church to view suffering as a positive thing, to rejoice in them, and to be reminded that in suffering they are imitating the Apostles and Christ Jesus himself. It is a strange thing that the gospel many preachers preach today would have us to be nothing like Jesus or the Apostles on this earth. Instead of persecuted and martyred we should strive to be successful and well liked. Instead of seeking to serve in all humility we should seek to be promoted to high paying positions. Is this not the American capitalist gospel??? I think that it is. It may take many different forms, but at the core, these gospels are all to be summed up in one word. Idolatry.
Yes, I am aware that we are all idolaters at times, but it is important that the gospel we preach to our own souls is not itself an idolatrous, false gospel. If I am suffering and living in poverty should I preach to myself "stay at it, if you just follow Jesus long enough he will give you what you are really seeking...comfort by way of money"?? Of course I should not. But I am afraid I have preached this gospel to myself and I am afraid many of my brothers and sisters approach God in this same way. They believe that following Jesus has something to do with them becoming rich, successful, and well liked. And at times, it appears Jesus is simply the conduit by which they hope to attain the things they really love. Ok, I didnt plan to write that much, but here are some verses I took off of BibleGateWay about suffering in the New Testament.
Romans 5:2-42 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 8:17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
1 Corinthians 12:26 [The Body of Christ, The Church]If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Philippians 1:29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him
Philippians 3:10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Colossians 1:24[ Paul's Labor for the Church ] Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
James 5:10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1 Peter 4:1[ Living for God ] Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
1 Peter 4:12,13[ Suffering for Being a Christian ] Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Revelation 1:9[ One like a Son of Man ] I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
These are only a portion of the verses that mention the word suffer explicitly. Suffering is addressed many more times throughout the letters to the churches. My hope in posting these verses is to remind myself and my brothers and sisters, that this faith to which we are called, that we claim, is not about anything other than Jesus. Consider your heart along with me. Consider whether or not you have made Jesus a means to an end.
Does your heart rage when you do not get what you feel you are owed by God? Has your family tithed for years in a church that emphasizes how rich God will make you financially for tithing, only to continue to live in relative poverty? Have you been depressed when a romantic relationship you prayed and longed for did not produce? Have you questioned Gods justice when a dishonest employee received promotion and esteem over you? Have you been discouraged when people did not see you the way you wish they did...as intelligent, responsible, and generally competent?
I can say yes to most of these questions. If you can too, consider with me what gospel you have believed and preached to your own soul. Is Jesus the beginning and the end goal of your gospel, or is he a means to another end, one that you have chosen from the multitude of idols available to us in our lives? If Jesus is not the end goal of your gospel you have no foundation upon which you can grow in the grace of Jesus. When your heart is discouraged you cannot preach to your soul ,"hope in God!". You can only assume that God has been unjust to you. Of course this leads to self-pity and every sort of selfish behavior. If you continue to struggle with the same discouraging battles in your hearts, reevaluate the gospel you are believing and living. Does it refresh your soul with the hope and encouragement that comes from a Christ centered gospel, or does it encourage ever deepening levels of self pity and wounded pride?
With that in mind I wanted to post some verses from the letters to the early churches regarding suffering. If you take the time to read these note the writers of these letters do not assume that following Jesus has something to do with being liked, being wealthy, or being "on top of things" in any sense. Instead the Apostles encourage the early church to view suffering as a positive thing, to rejoice in them, and to be reminded that in suffering they are imitating the Apostles and Christ Jesus himself. It is a strange thing that the gospel many preachers preach today would have us to be nothing like Jesus or the Apostles on this earth. Instead of persecuted and martyred we should strive to be successful and well liked. Instead of seeking to serve in all humility we should seek to be promoted to high paying positions. Is this not the American capitalist gospel??? I think that it is. It may take many different forms, but at the core, these gospels are all to be summed up in one word. Idolatry.
Yes, I am aware that we are all idolaters at times, but it is important that the gospel we preach to our own souls is not itself an idolatrous, false gospel. If I am suffering and living in poverty should I preach to myself "stay at it, if you just follow Jesus long enough he will give you what you are really seeking...comfort by way of money"?? Of course I should not. But I am afraid I have preached this gospel to myself and I am afraid many of my brothers and sisters approach God in this same way. They believe that following Jesus has something to do with them becoming rich, successful, and well liked. And at times, it appears Jesus is simply the conduit by which they hope to attain the things they really love. Ok, I didnt plan to write that much, but here are some verses I took off of BibleGateWay about suffering in the New Testament.
Romans 5:2-42 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 8:17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
1 Corinthians 12:26 [The Body of Christ, The Church]If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Philippians 1:29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him
Philippians 3:10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Colossians 1:24[ Paul's Labor for the Church ] Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
James 5:10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1 Peter 4:1[ Living for God ] Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
1 Peter 4:12,13[ Suffering for Being a Christian ] Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Revelation 1:9[ One like a Son of Man ] I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
These are only a portion of the verses that mention the word suffer explicitly. Suffering is addressed many more times throughout the letters to the churches. My hope in posting these verses is to remind myself and my brothers and sisters, that this faith to which we are called, that we claim, is not about anything other than Jesus. Consider your heart along with me. Consider whether or not you have made Jesus a means to an end.
Does your heart rage when you do not get what you feel you are owed by God? Has your family tithed for years in a church that emphasizes how rich God will make you financially for tithing, only to continue to live in relative poverty? Have you been depressed when a romantic relationship you prayed and longed for did not produce? Have you questioned Gods justice when a dishonest employee received promotion and esteem over you? Have you been discouraged when people did not see you the way you wish they did...as intelligent, responsible, and generally competent?
I can say yes to most of these questions. If you can too, consider with me what gospel you have believed and preached to your own soul. Is Jesus the beginning and the end goal of your gospel, or is he a means to another end, one that you have chosen from the multitude of idols available to us in our lives? If Jesus is not the end goal of your gospel you have no foundation upon which you can grow in the grace of Jesus. When your heart is discouraged you cannot preach to your soul ,"hope in God!". You can only assume that God has been unjust to you. Of course this leads to self-pity and every sort of selfish behavior. If you continue to struggle with the same discouraging battles in your hearts, reevaluate the gospel you are believing and living. Does it refresh your soul with the hope and encouragement that comes from a Christ centered gospel, or does it encourage ever deepening levels of self pity and wounded pride?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
First Post
This is my first entry on this new blog. I chose sensitive redneck as the name because I think that is what I am. Some might disagree with one or both of those adjectives but this is my blog so I am going to put what I want to here...haha. I plan to use this blog to make posts about Christianity, the Bible, Reformed Theology, and generally anything I find encouraging or interesting.
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