It's been a while since I have gotten to get a map up of any substance so I hope you find something in this edition that will span over the holiday season (yes, it's been about 5 weeks since I have gotten to look at my blog reader).
* For starters, I just watched this and this is one of the best pro-life messages I have seen in a long time. Make sure you watch.
* Bad news Israelis. Obama's first call to a foreign leader was to the Palestinian leader. Atlas Shrugs has the story here.
* Pay attention. This is what journalism is and should be about. Just the facts, you decide how you feel.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Piety
No, the title is not meant to say "pity." The title is Piety. Piety is a sin and please do not fail to remember that. While a real definition is difficult to verbalize, it is something that we need to be on guard for. The best way I can define it is that it is a practice found in a theology that the believer in that practice feels gives them an advantage or more elite status than that of ordinary Christians. Look at what happened to the church at Colossians for an example. These Christians, who even then had allowed false teaching and belief to corrupt them, had come to believe that they held the Christian secret to live a more superior Christian life than that which Paul had left them with. Think, "live your best life now" (sorry Joel Osteen).
The problem with this was, as Paul so elegantly pointed out in this epistle, was that they had come to forget that Jesus Christ had already done all the work for them to receive salvation. Verse 14 states that Christ took away our need to be legalistic about sin when he "nailed it to the cross." How beautiful, how wonderful.
These Christians had become pious and Paul was not afraid to call them out on it. They had come to forget that they (we) were saved by grace and that no work we do on this Earth will change that fact. Notice in verse 18 where Paul discusses the churches asceticism. Webster's defines asceticism as "practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline." The Greek translation of this word literally means "laborious." When I hear labor one word comes to mind: work. So Paul is telling me that I can't work my way to heaven. What if I quit my job, home school my children, pray four hours a day, and give all my money to the church. Surely that will make me more special in God's eyes than that other guy down the road who just comes to church and never participates in any of our "purpose driven" or "relevant" activities. No, Paul reminds us that no act we do will make us any less of a sinner in need of God's grace. Even more importantly, no act we as parents do will make our children less of sinners in need of God's grace. Should we attempt and shelter and protect our children from harm? Of course we should. Can we save them? Of course not!!
Gospel. Gospel is the answer. We must stop teaching works or as Paul would have to consistently remind the first century converts we must must stop teaching law. At home, school, church, small groups, wherever it is it must stop and we must be the voice to stop it. Law is not the answer and it leads to piety and unfulfilled, unrepentant, and unwilling Christians. If you preach, great, preach the gospel. If you teach, great, teach the gospel. If you work, great, work through the gospel. If you study, great, study through the gospel. If you parent, great, parent through the gospel. Teach Christ and examine what you and your children are being told at church. If you hear something other than the gospel, find a new church. It is when we step outside of the gospel and the call to discipleship that we become pious Christians who stop acting through faith but rather through law. Being pious does nothing more than to take your mind off the gospel. The more you work to become that perfect Christian with a perfect wife and perfect children who show no appearance of sin the further from the cross you get and the more reliant on the idol of self you become.
Whoever you are and wherever you read this I write this next sentence because I love you and I cringe at the thought of one soul perishing in Hell. You are a sinner and I know it. In the same breath I say that I am a sinner and you had better believe it. Should I ever become pious and believe that I can do enough to be able to consider my sins sanctified by my own action then I may as well put my New Testament away and dwell only in the Old. How do I know these things? Is it because I have done special acts or worked harder than anyone in my church and God has revealed a higher spiritual order to me? No. It is because through the gospel (which is in the Bible) I have come to learn that the most extraordinary thing I can ever ask to be is a Christian. No more, no less. Condemning no one and only focusing on my own sins and my belief that I am saved through Christ's most selfless act is what gives me the assurance and my knowledge that if I trust God, He will bring me home by an act that has already taken place. Christ crucified.
The problem with this was, as Paul so elegantly pointed out in this epistle, was that they had come to forget that Jesus Christ had already done all the work for them to receive salvation. Verse 14 states that Christ took away our need to be legalistic about sin when he "nailed it to the cross." How beautiful, how wonderful.
These Christians had become pious and Paul was not afraid to call them out on it. They had come to forget that they (we) were saved by grace and that no work we do on this Earth will change that fact. Notice in verse 18 where Paul discusses the churches asceticism. Webster's defines asceticism as "practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline." The Greek translation of this word literally means "laborious." When I hear labor one word comes to mind: work. So Paul is telling me that I can't work my way to heaven. What if I quit my job, home school my children, pray four hours a day, and give all my money to the church. Surely that will make me more special in God's eyes than that other guy down the road who just comes to church and never participates in any of our "purpose driven" or "relevant" activities. No, Paul reminds us that no act we do will make us any less of a sinner in need of God's grace. Even more importantly, no act we as parents do will make our children less of sinners in need of God's grace. Should we attempt and shelter and protect our children from harm? Of course we should. Can we save them? Of course not!!
Gospel. Gospel is the answer. We must stop teaching works or as Paul would have to consistently remind the first century converts we must must stop teaching law. At home, school, church, small groups, wherever it is it must stop and we must be the voice to stop it. Law is not the answer and it leads to piety and unfulfilled, unrepentant, and unwilling Christians. If you preach, great, preach the gospel. If you teach, great, teach the gospel. If you work, great, work through the gospel. If you study, great, study through the gospel. If you parent, great, parent through the gospel. Teach Christ and examine what you and your children are being told at church. If you hear something other than the gospel, find a new church. It is when we step outside of the gospel and the call to discipleship that we become pious Christians who stop acting through faith but rather through law. Being pious does nothing more than to take your mind off the gospel. The more you work to become that perfect Christian with a perfect wife and perfect children who show no appearance of sin the further from the cross you get and the more reliant on the idol of self you become.
Whoever you are and wherever you read this I write this next sentence because I love you and I cringe at the thought of one soul perishing in Hell. You are a sinner and I know it. In the same breath I say that I am a sinner and you had better believe it. Should I ever become pious and believe that I can do enough to be able to consider my sins sanctified by my own action then I may as well put my New Testament away and dwell only in the Old. How do I know these things? Is it because I have done special acts or worked harder than anyone in my church and God has revealed a higher spiritual order to me? No. It is because through the gospel (which is in the Bible) I have come to learn that the most extraordinary thing I can ever ask to be is a Christian. No more, no less. Condemning no one and only focusing on my own sins and my belief that I am saved through Christ's most selfless act is what gives me the assurance and my knowledge that if I trust God, He will bring me home by an act that has already taken place. Christ crucified.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Who is in Your Life? Reflections from a Study of Isaiah
As one begins to read the book of Isaiah, they are introduced to a story of God's patience being tested to the breaking point. Fed up with the people of Judah, God has made the decision to allow foreign men into their country and to utterly destroy the people of Judah in a hope that they would some day return to Him. This is a decision that had to have troubled God and Isaiah was his messenger to Ahaz, the king of Judah. God sent Isaiah to Ahaz to tell him that yes, hell was coming, but that everything would be fine. At this point, God finds (as if he didn't already know) that Ahaz's trust in God was in word and not need (see Isaiah 7). This refusal of Ahaz to accept the peace that God was attempting to bestow sent God's wrath to a different level and a subsequent worsening of the pain that God was going to allow to be put upon the people of Judah.
As the study of Isaiah goes further we learn that God promises a redeemer to not only the people of Judah, but to all. That redeemer is of course Jesus Christ and no book in the Bible more succinctly sets the table for Christ's coming than Isaiah. Praise God.
There other, less important lessons in this story of Ahaz found in the first part of the book of Isaiah. One of these is one that when I presented it to my Sunday School class of brilliant young adults was debated. That lesson is that when we don't trust God with all aspects of our lives, no matter how small or important it seems to us, that His protection (a.k.a. Christ's intercession for Christians) is lowered from around us and people are allowed into our lives, homes, and affairs that will rip us apart given the chance. Just as God's lowering of protection from around Judah allowed the Assyrians and Syrians to come in and destroy their nation, the same applies to our lives today. When we refuse to trust God with our total care He will remind us that we should (if were lucky).
No more so can this be applied than to the recent financial crisis in our nation. If this hits you wrong, then I am sorry but sometimes we need to be reminded of what our lack of faith is doing to our lives. That being said, if you have/are investing money in the stock market, 401Ks, or other elaborate investments in which you say, here, take my money, do as you please (good or evil) with it for now, and then let me reap the benefits of it later, then you are showing a lack of trust in God and you need to examine your faith (as I do as well). You are essentially saying "God, I know you told me you would care for me but I better follow what the world tells me to do on this one so I can have a happy retirement and send my kids to college." That doesn't sound like trust to me.
We Christians so eagerly and happily hand over differing percentages of our monthly incomes to stock brokers who do God knows what with your money. We fund debauchery!!! When is the last time you checked the faith of the owners of your company that you contribute to keep afloat and get richer. Think for a second about your financial advisers. Have they ever offered to discuss the gospel with you? Have you ever followed up with what foundations, causes, or religious efforts the companies you invest in support? I don't know a great many stock brokers but from what I've seen in their depictions in movies, they aren't the best people in the world. What are you saying to God when you trust someone like that more than Him regarding your financial future? What are you saying to God when you contribute more to a company that is pro-choice (as if you've even checked) than to your church contribution? Need we be reminded that Job rued the day he was born when God lowered his protection from around him?
I am inspired to write this as men close to me have lost millions in recent months. These are holy and good men and when you hear them discuss their losses they do so with a undertone of regret that they may have forgotten what was important. These people that God allowed into their lives have now caused them pain, worry, and heartache and it saddens me to see it. I think to Matthew 25 and I see men's hidden money being spread out to those who already have more than they can count. How sad.
I urge all who read this to evaluate your finances and investments and look at who you are giving your money to. Is it not an idol set up to the god of success and wealth? If not then God bless you for being a good steward of his gifts. If so, look to Jesus' words in the gospel and find in your heart what he expects us wretched sinners to do with the gifts he allows us to receive. Do it before God lowers his protection more. Avoid prosperity gospel and remember that God doesn't want you to be happy financially, He wants you to be happy spiritually. God bless you.
As the study of Isaiah goes further we learn that God promises a redeemer to not only the people of Judah, but to all. That redeemer is of course Jesus Christ and no book in the Bible more succinctly sets the table for Christ's coming than Isaiah. Praise God.
There other, less important lessons in this story of Ahaz found in the first part of the book of Isaiah. One of these is one that when I presented it to my Sunday School class of brilliant young adults was debated. That lesson is that when we don't trust God with all aspects of our lives, no matter how small or important it seems to us, that His protection (a.k.a. Christ's intercession for Christians) is lowered from around us and people are allowed into our lives, homes, and affairs that will rip us apart given the chance. Just as God's lowering of protection from around Judah allowed the Assyrians and Syrians to come in and destroy their nation, the same applies to our lives today. When we refuse to trust God with our total care He will remind us that we should (if were lucky).
No more so can this be applied than to the recent financial crisis in our nation. If this hits you wrong, then I am sorry but sometimes we need to be reminded of what our lack of faith is doing to our lives. That being said, if you have/are investing money in the stock market, 401Ks, or other elaborate investments in which you say, here, take my money, do as you please (good or evil) with it for now, and then let me reap the benefits of it later, then you are showing a lack of trust in God and you need to examine your faith (as I do as well). You are essentially saying "God, I know you told me you would care for me but I better follow what the world tells me to do on this one so I can have a happy retirement and send my kids to college." That doesn't sound like trust to me.
We Christians so eagerly and happily hand over differing percentages of our monthly incomes to stock brokers who do God knows what with your money. We fund debauchery!!! When is the last time you checked the faith of the owners of your company that you contribute to keep afloat and get richer. Think for a second about your financial advisers. Have they ever offered to discuss the gospel with you? Have you ever followed up with what foundations, causes, or religious efforts the companies you invest in support? I don't know a great many stock brokers but from what I've seen in their depictions in movies, they aren't the best people in the world. What are you saying to God when you trust someone like that more than Him regarding your financial future? What are you saying to God when you contribute more to a company that is pro-choice (as if you've even checked) than to your church contribution? Need we be reminded that Job rued the day he was born when God lowered his protection from around him?
I am inspired to write this as men close to me have lost millions in recent months. These are holy and good men and when you hear them discuss their losses they do so with a undertone of regret that they may have forgotten what was important. These people that God allowed into their lives have now caused them pain, worry, and heartache and it saddens me to see it. I think to Matthew 25 and I see men's hidden money being spread out to those who already have more than they can count. How sad.
I urge all who read this to evaluate your finances and investments and look at who you are giving your money to. Is it not an idol set up to the god of success and wealth? If not then God bless you for being a good steward of his gifts. If so, look to Jesus' words in the gospel and find in your heart what he expects us wretched sinners to do with the gifts he allows us to receive. Do it before God lowers his protection more. Avoid prosperity gospel and remember that God doesn't want you to be happy financially, He wants you to be happy spiritually. God bless you.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Life Support
What a great weekend we just had. Our church, along with the help of some others (God bless great elders) hosted Joe Wells of Focus Press as he presented his fantastic seminar for youth and families entitled Confronting Culture. It was a truly great event that a great deal of effort went into both organizing and inviting people of all denominations to attend.
I just deleted a post that I was going to put up after I prayed about it. It started like this "Let me preface what I am going to say next by quoting Paul from Romans 11: 'I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.'"
Instead I am going to put this. God's word is excellent and provides us answers when we don't know where to look or what to say. I was conflicted with feelings of spiritual uplifiting and disappointment this weekend due to a lack of attendance at the seminar this weekend. Not knowing what to say or how to say it I turned to scripture. I was reminded of Romans 11 as I read and especially one verse (Romans 11:18). Paul states, "remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you."
Paul is discussing with the Gentiles the fact that they are being placed in Christ's kingdom but to avoid being proud or thinking they are better than the Jews who had rejected Christ. Paul reminds the Gentiles that the Jews and the bloodline of Christ is what supported and brought forth Christianity and God still loves the remnant who accepted Christ. In other words, Paul was telling them to work with them and love them the same as one another.
It is not I who support the gospel, but the gospel that supports me. God's word will get spread despite what I do but I know that He appreciates the effort that so many of you put in to make this weekend possible. I know that He appreciates those of you who attended and who I can look back on meeting and realize that you are my root. Your desire to come and feast on God's word and Christian fellowship have been a support to me. Thank you.
In conclusion, let us always remember the story of Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha. One sister chose to clean and care for worldly things while the other chose to sit and bask in the glory of God in flesh. To those of you who were asked and dare I say begged to come and support this Christian effort this past weekend, which did you choose? Which of the sisters was pleasing in Christ's eyes? Let us all get behind one another and support each others ministries. Not to make one another happy, but to please a Lord who suffered and died for us.
I just deleted a post that I was going to put up after I prayed about it. It started like this "Let me preface what I am going to say next by quoting Paul from Romans 11: 'I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.'"
Instead I am going to put this. God's word is excellent and provides us answers when we don't know where to look or what to say. I was conflicted with feelings of spiritual uplifiting and disappointment this weekend due to a lack of attendance at the seminar this weekend. Not knowing what to say or how to say it I turned to scripture. I was reminded of Romans 11 as I read and especially one verse (Romans 11:18). Paul states, "remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you."
Paul is discussing with the Gentiles the fact that they are being placed in Christ's kingdom but to avoid being proud or thinking they are better than the Jews who had rejected Christ. Paul reminds the Gentiles that the Jews and the bloodline of Christ is what supported and brought forth Christianity and God still loves the remnant who accepted Christ. In other words, Paul was telling them to work with them and love them the same as one another.
It is not I who support the gospel, but the gospel that supports me. God's word will get spread despite what I do but I know that He appreciates the effort that so many of you put in to make this weekend possible. I know that He appreciates those of you who attended and who I can look back on meeting and realize that you are my root. Your desire to come and feast on God's word and Christian fellowship have been a support to me. Thank you.
In conclusion, let us always remember the story of Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha. One sister chose to clean and care for worldly things while the other chose to sit and bask in the glory of God in flesh. To those of you who were asked and dare I say begged to come and support this Christian effort this past weekend, which did you choose? Which of the sisters was pleasing in Christ's eyes? Let us all get behind one another and support each others ministries. Not to make one another happy, but to please a Lord who suffered and died for us.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Happy New Year
So, it's been well over a month since I last posted. Things have been hectic over the holidays with the new baby and all. I should be posting more often now, hopefully beginning today. I hope all of you have dedicated this new year to coming closer to God than ever before and that we can strive to meet Him together. I have but one resolution in this new year and that is to put Christ at the head of everything in my life. Please pray that I am successful.
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