I've been thinking lately about "church buildings" and their eternal value. Its been on my mind about what they are good for, the many views that people have of them and the contextual use in todays world. This thought all came about because of a conversation I was involved in with about a pastor wanting to put a steeple back on a building when it had been removed years before. As the three of us talked I had to remove myself from the conversation as I was about to go off on the vanity of wanting to put a steeple on a building for around $100,000 when people are dying physically and spiritually!
Now I do want to say that this church and pastor do great things for the kingdom, but when it comes to this choice, I want to say I totally disagree with it. This leads me to ask the question of, why do we let the culture and the idea of business define our choices with the church? There is a saying that goes something like this, "so goes the culture, so goes the church". The culture defines for the most part the churches choices in what they spend money on to how we reach people with the good news. Just take a step back and see how the overall business of the church is handled or even sit in on some staff meetings. I once had a guy after a church service say that "we need to run the church like a business, since its like a business"
The Pastor as CEO mentality and so on looses what Jesus modeled for us as our good/chief shepherd (see John 10:1-11 & 1 Peter 5:4). I have never heard a CEO dying for his "employees", but a shepherd will die for the sheep as will a friend, for Jesus said "greater love has no one then this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is an over welling theme in the scriptures that should never be ignored or over shadowed by anything. The title of this blog comes from Matthew 24 and the disciples pointing out the buildings and how beautiful they are, but Jesus in contrast to there words says, "Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone left upon another that will not be thrown down." (24:2). The disciples looked to the building, the ascetic beauty and even there misunderstanding of what the temple really meant and was for, but Jesus was talking about something greater, his second coming (not getting into this here; maybe another time).
I want to just talk about our need to refocus as Christ's body into a heavenly mentality not an earthly mentality (2 Corinthians 4:7-12 & Philippians 3:7-11). What we find of value will be what we spend money and time on. This is true across the board and can be good, but also can be bad depending what we focus on. If buildings and worldly things then bad, but if Jesus and his kingdom then very good, for Jesus said we can not serve two masters but one (Matthew 6:19-21 & Luke 12:13-21).
With all this said.......
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the Father" (Hebrews 12:2)
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Light in a dark place (part 3)
One of the funniest things about light and darkness is that they are complete opposites and contrast each other no matter what the situation may be. This is a simple concept to understand, even for a small child all the way to an elderly person. There is no great need for insight into this when it is seen with the plain eye, but to understand it scientifically you might need more then simple faith to dive into this wonderful truth. Since I have in the first two blogs on this subject have laid out some issues that I have pushed through I will get a little more theological but not forget the practical, all that said lets push through!
I believe in all theological truths one must start with what scripture says of God and nothing else; Scripture says in Genesis 1:1-2, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." This is the start if all things that point to God as creator, sovereign and sustainer of all things, but for me in this subject of light and darkness is in the third verse, in that of light being created and separated from darkness in the third and fourth verse of Genesis chapter 1. The very first action that we have from God is that of creating light and separating it from the darkness.
This understanding about light and darkness is all throughout the first chapter of Genesis when God separated the lights in the expanse that he created, he also set a greater light to govern the day and lesser light to govern the night. Now God does a lot a separating in Genesis chapter 1 which has a lot of significance but for the sake of the blog lets stick to light and darkness. In Hebrew culture, Theology is one that always points to God as light and darkness is always pointing towards evil. I find it very interesting that the culture of Genesis 1 would be understood as a monotheistic culture, but all around it would be look at as a pluralistic theological culture. In Genesis 1 God never directly calls Himself light (there are many implications of this though). We see that when the plague of darkness comes over Egypt only where the hebrews live is the light (Exodus 10:21-29). I could go on but we'll progress towards how do we live this out.
Since we see in Genesis 1 an understanding of God creating light, then separating light from darkness. I have to say that as a believer I am called to "walk as a child of light" and in that to live out what is "good and right and true" (Ephesians 5:8-9). We also see that Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). These are some huge indications of God's people to be along with being called the light of the world (see Matthew 5:14-16), for this is not be taken lightly or with to much simplicity. Seeing what we are to be which lines up with God in the act of creation in Genesis 1 is to create places of light, to separate from the darkness but also to have our light shine in the midst of the darkness. Now the last two are hard cause of the great contrast but there a must for believers to live as light and not be overcome by darkness.
What does this look like for us in the culture we individually and collectively live in? Honestly I don't know what this looks like for you cause I live in Colorado Springs and I'm not sure where you live, but we MUST as God's people being the most beautiful redemption and only true God to people that are desperately in need. Dan Kimball said "We shouldn't 'go' to church, we should 'be' the church" (Sentralized conference). Part of how I do this is I work out of a coffee shop not in a building and I also have a second job at a restaurant called Red Robin both are places that I'm trying to create places of light along with keeping separation from darkness and light in the darkness in view all the while. I will continue to touch further on these last two paragraphs in my next blog.
God's grace and mercy to you all!
I believe in all theological truths one must start with what scripture says of God and nothing else; Scripture says in Genesis 1:1-2, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." This is the start if all things that point to God as creator, sovereign and sustainer of all things, but for me in this subject of light and darkness is in the third verse, in that of light being created and separated from darkness in the third and fourth verse of Genesis chapter 1. The very first action that we have from God is that of creating light and separating it from the darkness.
This understanding about light and darkness is all throughout the first chapter of Genesis when God separated the lights in the expanse that he created, he also set a greater light to govern the day and lesser light to govern the night. Now God does a lot a separating in Genesis chapter 1 which has a lot of significance but for the sake of the blog lets stick to light and darkness. In Hebrew culture, Theology is one that always points to God as light and darkness is always pointing towards evil. I find it very interesting that the culture of Genesis 1 would be understood as a monotheistic culture, but all around it would be look at as a pluralistic theological culture. In Genesis 1 God never directly calls Himself light (there are many implications of this though). We see that when the plague of darkness comes over Egypt only where the hebrews live is the light (Exodus 10:21-29). I could go on but we'll progress towards how do we live this out.
Since we see in Genesis 1 an understanding of God creating light, then separating light from darkness. I have to say that as a believer I am called to "walk as a child of light" and in that to live out what is "good and right and true" (Ephesians 5:8-9). We also see that Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). These are some huge indications of God's people to be along with being called the light of the world (see Matthew 5:14-16), for this is not be taken lightly or with to much simplicity. Seeing what we are to be which lines up with God in the act of creation in Genesis 1 is to create places of light, to separate from the darkness but also to have our light shine in the midst of the darkness. Now the last two are hard cause of the great contrast but there a must for believers to live as light and not be overcome by darkness.
What does this look like for us in the culture we individually and collectively live in? Honestly I don't know what this looks like for you cause I live in Colorado Springs and I'm not sure where you live, but we MUST as God's people being the most beautiful redemption and only true God to people that are desperately in need. Dan Kimball said "We shouldn't 'go' to church, we should 'be' the church" (Sentralized conference). Part of how I do this is I work out of a coffee shop not in a building and I also have a second job at a restaurant called Red Robin both are places that I'm trying to create places of light along with keeping separation from darkness and light in the darkness in view all the while. I will continue to touch further on these last two paragraphs in my next blog.
God's grace and mercy to you all!
Monday, September 26, 2011
light in a dark place (part 2)
The title of this blog is easy to swallow and even very easy to explain theologically in the scriptures but hard to live out as a follower of Jesus Christ; this being "light in a dark place". I know its a question that is being thrown around to reach a lost and dying world. Its being done in what is known as incarnational living, aka being Jesus to the world. Granted it goes deeper then this but I'm not here to explain this (most who are reading this should know what "incarnational living" is, if not please ask) but to hash it out where I'm at in Colorado Springs. What is commonly known as being missional or missional living is what's in view here; what is this and what does it look like is a question that I have personally thrown around in my mind for the past year and a half. I know many that have been talking about this and trying to live this out far longer then I have been a believer so Im defiantly far from having it figured out.
Living in Colorado Springs I see and come into contact with many different people that cover a wide variety of ages and ethic groups. Granted not as many as NY city or LA or Chicago, but its here still all the same just on a lighter scale. I say this cause the biggest barrier is always in any culture for Christians to deal with, sin within people. The sin will just manifest itself different in different people and cultures. Living here is different from NY and Ohio both places I lived for extended periods of time. COS is mostly people that didn't grow up here but moved here, plus its a very young city with a lot of young people. No matter what these peoples view, thoughts or desires towards Christians I'm not here to figure that out, but to love them as human beings and reach them with the person of Jesus Christ, the one whom they truly need to meet with.
I think the american culture as a whole has this issue that most Christians come across. How do we love people as human beings and yet still being them the one who they truly need to meet, the God that created them, Father, Son and Spirit. I am fully sold this happens through God's people, but again the question of how. We don't live 200 years ago, better yet even 50 years ago where you can just start talking/preaching about God and people will listen. We live in a culture that is growing into a very relational age. Especially with the older generation passing on. And the hippie generation and younger taking over most of the cares of america. To be blatant, we live in a pagan culture, but the cool thing I have discovered is that people are open to talk about spiritual matters. I bring both these up cause its not easy to just start a conversation about God but the opportunities are there if we watch for them.
As I labeled this blog "light in a dark place" and I think most of use would agree that its easy to talk about but hard to live I plan on looking more into the mission of God through his church in a culture that is not as receptive as I think most would like. All of which I've mentioned in this blog will be talked about again in some way, but also from scripture, a conference I'm going to in a couple days and just my daily experiences wherever I'm at. I'm all about feed back pertaining to this so please don't hesitate to ask questions, correct me or give your thoughts. Blessings as you serve our Lord as the hands and feet of our merciful and righteous savior, Jesus!
Living in Colorado Springs I see and come into contact with many different people that cover a wide variety of ages and ethic groups. Granted not as many as NY city or LA or Chicago, but its here still all the same just on a lighter scale. I say this cause the biggest barrier is always in any culture for Christians to deal with, sin within people. The sin will just manifest itself different in different people and cultures. Living here is different from NY and Ohio both places I lived for extended periods of time. COS is mostly people that didn't grow up here but moved here, plus its a very young city with a lot of young people. No matter what these peoples view, thoughts or desires towards Christians I'm not here to figure that out, but to love them as human beings and reach them with the person of Jesus Christ, the one whom they truly need to meet with.
I think the american culture as a whole has this issue that most Christians come across. How do we love people as human beings and yet still being them the one who they truly need to meet, the God that created them, Father, Son and Spirit. I am fully sold this happens through God's people, but again the question of how. We don't live 200 years ago, better yet even 50 years ago where you can just start talking/preaching about God and people will listen. We live in a culture that is growing into a very relational age. Especially with the older generation passing on. And the hippie generation and younger taking over most of the cares of america. To be blatant, we live in a pagan culture, but the cool thing I have discovered is that people are open to talk about spiritual matters. I bring both these up cause its not easy to just start a conversation about God but the opportunities are there if we watch for them.
As I labeled this blog "light in a dark place" and I think most of use would agree that its easy to talk about but hard to live I plan on looking more into the mission of God through his church in a culture that is not as receptive as I think most would like. All of which I've mentioned in this blog will be talked about again in some way, but also from scripture, a conference I'm going to in a couple days and just my daily experiences wherever I'm at. I'm all about feed back pertaining to this so please don't hesitate to ask questions, correct me or give your thoughts. Blessings as you serve our Lord as the hands and feet of our merciful and righteous savior, Jesus!
Friday, May 20, 2011
light in a dark place (part 1)
This past week I had the opportunity to hang out with two guys I work with that I thought I would never be able to get a chance to talk with outside of work. I have had many chances in the past to talk with people I work with about Jesus and the human need for salvation but I have had very rough reviews from people I have talked with. I've heard anything from "shut the hell up about this Jesus guy!" to "thats good for you, but not my flavor". All these have lead me to question the human interaction with God in the gospel to my approach of people in sharing the good news with them, but also have been thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the lost individual in many ways. Personally, I am fully sold on the doctrine on the depravity on man (aka total depravity) but am not sold on most peoples bent on it when it comes to evangelism, total depravity, personal responsibility in life of human beings, but also mans ability to respond to the gospel. I am not going to answer these question as much as I would love to but to look at mans responsibility to share the gospel with there fellow man and how the church plays her part.
These thoughts have come over the past couple years and looking into scripture with a need to not take scripture literal without looking at the context of what is going on in scripture and the reason for this is cause of what is happening and why its happening in scripture (aka biblical hermeneutics) and to bring it in modern context. I love many different thoughts about hermeneutics, but for the church to properly fulfill her calling we need to live as the early church did but not live in there context of thought process without properly understanding there context and then bridging the gap into our context. Without this we would most likely be wearing head coverings without a proper understanding of why the church in Corinth was wearing these and why the Apostle Paul was addressing this at all. I do agree with a literal understanding of scripture but it ALWAYS must be in the proper context for the church to fully carry out her mission in the world.
I love the way Charles Spurgeon put it....
This all makes me think back to when I was a kid. I was always big on building forts, whether in my room or in a near by field; I would build them as much as possible, but I always found it interesting that when I would build them in my room I would always try to cover my window and block out the light. One thing I could never do is fully block out the light no matter what I would do I would always have just a small piercing of light that would ruin everything for me. I was usually so frustrated that I would give up for a few weeks and then start over but the same thing happened every time. This just always happens to be something that is always true; in that light always pierces darkness.
I have always been huge on personal evangelism but it was mainly from the street corner which has been fruitful in some ways, but looking at biblical culture preaching that Peter and Paul did worked for them in there day but know a days doesn't work so well as either people are not a fan of Christians, they see people preach but not live what Christianity is or they don't understand it at all (there could be more but these are a few that I continually hear people talk about and see myself). I say all this cause I am being a big fan and seeing fruit of something I call being "light in a dark place". The bible over and over talks about the world as being dark and lost, but with the contrast of Jesus and his followers being called to be light in a dark place, but not to be over taken by the darkness.
This understanding is just the tip of the ice burg, for us to truly bring this into play we must bring this into our lives. This blog I am not going to get into the practical aspect but my next blog I will touch on things that will help up pierce the darkness with the light of Christ. Granted I am not a practical theologian by nature but more a systematic theologian so bear with me as I work through this.
These thoughts have come over the past couple years and looking into scripture with a need to not take scripture literal without looking at the context of what is going on in scripture and the reason for this is cause of what is happening and why its happening in scripture (aka biblical hermeneutics) and to bring it in modern context. I love many different thoughts about hermeneutics, but for the church to properly fulfill her calling we need to live as the early church did but not live in there context of thought process without properly understanding there context and then bridging the gap into our context. Without this we would most likely be wearing head coverings without a proper understanding of why the church in Corinth was wearing these and why the Apostle Paul was addressing this at all. I do agree with a literal understanding of scripture but it ALWAYS must be in the proper context for the church to fully carry out her mission in the world.
I love the way Charles Spurgeon put it....
"Why are his children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from his lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven? The answer is-they are here that they may “live unto the Lord,” and may bring others to know his love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the “salt of the earth,” to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for him, and as “workers together with him.” Let us see that our life answereth its end. Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to “the praise of the glory of his grace.” Meanwhile we long to be with him, and daily sing-
“My heart is with him on his throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up, and come away.’”
The over arching theme of spurgeons words are that we should share the gospel, be the very way God brings th kingdom to earth; that is why God left us here. Jesus talks about many things we are to be in this world but one of the most prevalent themes of God's people is to be light in a dark world. Jesus himself says "This is the judgment; light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather then the light, for there deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (John 3:19-21). With this implication light and darkness Jesus speaks not only of himself towards his followers that "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12), so being his followers and children (with this light in us) we are to be what Ephesians says, for we "were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in a goodness, righteousness and truth)" (5:8-9).This all makes me think back to when I was a kid. I was always big on building forts, whether in my room or in a near by field; I would build them as much as possible, but I always found it interesting that when I would build them in my room I would always try to cover my window and block out the light. One thing I could never do is fully block out the light no matter what I would do I would always have just a small piercing of light that would ruin everything for me. I was usually so frustrated that I would give up for a few weeks and then start over but the same thing happened every time. This just always happens to be something that is always true; in that light always pierces darkness.
I have always been huge on personal evangelism but it was mainly from the street corner which has been fruitful in some ways, but looking at biblical culture preaching that Peter and Paul did worked for them in there day but know a days doesn't work so well as either people are not a fan of Christians, they see people preach but not live what Christianity is or they don't understand it at all (there could be more but these are a few that I continually hear people talk about and see myself). I say all this cause I am being a big fan and seeing fruit of something I call being "light in a dark place". The bible over and over talks about the world as being dark and lost, but with the contrast of Jesus and his followers being called to be light in a dark place, but not to be over taken by the darkness.
This understanding is just the tip of the ice burg, for us to truly bring this into play we must bring this into our lives. This blog I am not going to get into the practical aspect but my next blog I will touch on things that will help up pierce the darkness with the light of Christ. Granted I am not a practical theologian by nature but more a systematic theologian so bear with me as I work through this.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
much needed talk (part 3; are humans truly "free"?)
I always found it amazing that when it comes to plants is that it appears that they grow how they want, but thats not entirely true. When I was in grade school we were given an experiment to do at home over a weeks time at two separate points in the school year. The first was to grow a plant and I personally found a couple interesting things about this; one, that a plant will not grow unless it is watered, given light and nurtured by the planter the plant will not grow and if it does it will last long. Its amazing that the perception that we have in accordance with plants and how they grow is a misunderstood perception that they grow how they want to.
For me to make a complete likeness to humans is a impaired imagery but a necessary one in the proper understanding of there being an outside influence upon humans. I bring this up as necessary cause most think and believe that God doesn't know our steps before we take them but must look into the future to see what we will do. First this limits God as Omniscient (all-knowing), second it makes God equal with man and man equal with God in the understanding of what is going to happen. God would then become less then God but scripture says that "even before a word on on my tongue behold, O Lord, you know it" (Ps. 139:4) and scripture even says God knows our path and the way we would walk (Ps. 142:3).
What an amazing concept that the God who created all things knows all that will come to pass and even causes them to happen. The prophet Isaiah says that "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Beside me there is no God. I will gird you though you have not known me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the one forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these things" (Isa. 45:5-7). Think about this, Imagine a bird that has a broken wing and the bird really wants to fly but the wing has made it unable to fly, but again the bird really wants to fly but again the wing makes it unable. No matter what the desire of the bird is, there is something outside the bird making it unable to fly. The inability of the bird keeps the bird from flying not is will, just as humans may have eternity set in their heart and long in some way to worship "god", they are unable to seek God (Rom. 3:10-11). The very nature by which man is bound makes them unable to choose God, but only to choose that which they obey (Rom. 6:16).
This brings up the question of does man have a "free" will? I will say that man does makes choices through out each day he walks, but to say that man is "free" in choices as he/she goes throughout each day is absurd and a violation of the doctrine of man and sound theology about the sovereignty of God (to which I will talk directly on at another time). To understand who man really is we must put our personal experiences in the back seat for a second. This is not to exclude them but most look at humanity and see people do good things to which I see the same sometimes, but that would only give people a half hearted look at the nature of man. First this doesn't get to the heart of man (where the nature lies), second we only see what people put off as who they are and third at the heart of every man is pride (this comes in different forms and can't be judged by the human eye).
In the end is all comes down to who man is! The doctrine of man today is looked at in just a marred image of God and not "dead" as scripture says (Eph. 2:1-3), having a depraved heart (Jer. 17:9) and a depraved mind (Eph. 4:17). For this to be lost leaves us lost about man and all we can do is speculate as to man's ability to do good which scripture does not speculate and says very clearly "there is no one who is good" (Rom 3:10) and Jesus also says "Why do you call me good, no one is good but God alone" (Mark 10:18). Granted all I say is previous to the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration of man. I fully believe man has a new nature after regeneration to which I will talk about at a later point in this blog.
For now though we must stand on what God says in His word about mankind in that we are a slave to sin and has the inability to choose God, for Jesus himself says "You did not choose me, but I chose you" (John 15:16) and "that the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21). This is a very foundational understanding about man and who man is and must never be lost or changed; much love in our Lord's name!
For me to make a complete likeness to humans is a impaired imagery but a necessary one in the proper understanding of there being an outside influence upon humans. I bring this up as necessary cause most think and believe that God doesn't know our steps before we take them but must look into the future to see what we will do. First this limits God as Omniscient (all-knowing), second it makes God equal with man and man equal with God in the understanding of what is going to happen. God would then become less then God but scripture says that "even before a word on on my tongue behold, O Lord, you know it" (Ps. 139:4) and scripture even says God knows our path and the way we would walk (Ps. 142:3).
What an amazing concept that the God who created all things knows all that will come to pass and even causes them to happen. The prophet Isaiah says that "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Beside me there is no God. I will gird you though you have not known me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the one forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these things" (Isa. 45:5-7). Think about this, Imagine a bird that has a broken wing and the bird really wants to fly but the wing has made it unable to fly, but again the bird really wants to fly but again the wing makes it unable. No matter what the desire of the bird is, there is something outside the bird making it unable to fly. The inability of the bird keeps the bird from flying not is will, just as humans may have eternity set in their heart and long in some way to worship "god", they are unable to seek God (Rom. 3:10-11). The very nature by which man is bound makes them unable to choose God, but only to choose that which they obey (Rom. 6:16).
This brings up the question of does man have a "free" will? I will say that man does makes choices through out each day he walks, but to say that man is "free" in choices as he/she goes throughout each day is absurd and a violation of the doctrine of man and sound theology about the sovereignty of God (to which I will talk directly on at another time). To understand who man really is we must put our personal experiences in the back seat for a second. This is not to exclude them but most look at humanity and see people do good things to which I see the same sometimes, but that would only give people a half hearted look at the nature of man. First this doesn't get to the heart of man (where the nature lies), second we only see what people put off as who they are and third at the heart of every man is pride (this comes in different forms and can't be judged by the human eye).
In the end is all comes down to who man is! The doctrine of man today is looked at in just a marred image of God and not "dead" as scripture says (Eph. 2:1-3), having a depraved heart (Jer. 17:9) and a depraved mind (Eph. 4:17). For this to be lost leaves us lost about man and all we can do is speculate as to man's ability to do good which scripture does not speculate and says very clearly "there is no one who is good" (Rom 3:10) and Jesus also says "Why do you call me good, no one is good but God alone" (Mark 10:18). Granted all I say is previous to the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration of man. I fully believe man has a new nature after regeneration to which I will talk about at a later point in this blog.
For now though we must stand on what God says in His word about mankind in that we are a slave to sin and has the inability to choose God, for Jesus himself says "You did not choose me, but I chose you" (John 15:16) and "that the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21). This is a very foundational understanding about man and who man is and must never be lost or changed; much love in our Lord's name!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
much needed talk (part 2; God's glory is for God)
The last blog that got this all started was just a spring board to get our thoughts into motion about the discussion of man's will and God's sovereignty; in the action of man in his ability to choose God or not, How much scripture says God steps into the action of mans life and the sustaining act of God post initial faith and repentance in Christ. I do believe that there are many mysteries as to how God acts in the lives of humans and exactly how much "free will" has in choosing God unto salvation (not a fan of the phrase "free will" when it comes man in a fallen/dead/sinful nature; you'll see why as I blog about this).
One thing that always blows my mind is God's glory and why his glory he shares with no one (Isa. 48:11). As sit in my hotel room and look out the window I can't help but stand in awe of the beauty of the sun as it sets and shines forth what the bible says that it proclaims the works of God's hands. This brings up a question that I want to ask; do we see things like a sunset and think I did that and it was about me? Or wow that sun is powerful and majestic? (yes, some do this) Or do we think about something greater then our selves? (aka a creator/God). I am moved to think through many conversations I have had, a survey Bill Bright the founder of Campus crusade for Christ did found out that 98% of Americans believe in God and we also see the many religions throughout the world that most believe in a god or many gods in some way shape or form. Don't worry I'm not out to prove a creator even though thats happened. I am wanting to show that God is all about himself and not about glorifying creation even though He uses it for his glory (Ps. 19:1-6, 66:1-4; Rom. 1:21-22) and to reveal his will (Ps. 92:4; Isa. 43:7; Rom. 9:22-24).
I always found it interesting that when people say God does what he does cause of his love for his creation. This always made me wonder, where is that in scripture?!?! I'm fully disagree with this as scripture says God has concern for his glory and his name (Ezk. 36:21). Think about humans, we aren't made in God's image and likeness for people to see humans but God's reigning glory within mankind (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 8:1-9). Creation speaks and groans about and points to God (Rom. 1:20, 8:20) but man has "exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things" (Rom. 1:23), this is mans tendency in his mind and nature.
I say all this in light of God's glory His primary concern cause we tend to see God working for our good. Granted there is one scripture that says "God works for the good of those who love him" which most people point to like its the most important scripture according to God working in mans life post receiving Christ, but lets look at the whole text. It says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified" (Rom 8:28-30). The whole text points not only the Jesus and the work done in the saints through God's providential work in predestination but brings glory to God alone with the glorification of man at the point of consummation and in the resurrection on the dead. Even in the book of revelation we see that all things point to the triune God and all the glory is due to him (1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 20-22).
As you read these blogs please remember that I working through things so if you have thoughts please feel free to interact but remember that I am not fully laid out all my thoughts on this subject, but please I do want interaction with these blogs. Thanks!
One thing that always blows my mind is God's glory and why his glory he shares with no one (Isa. 48:11). As sit in my hotel room and look out the window I can't help but stand in awe of the beauty of the sun as it sets and shines forth what the bible says that it proclaims the works of God's hands. This brings up a question that I want to ask; do we see things like a sunset and think I did that and it was about me? Or wow that sun is powerful and majestic? (yes, some do this) Or do we think about something greater then our selves? (aka a creator/God). I am moved to think through many conversations I have had, a survey Bill Bright the founder of Campus crusade for Christ did found out that 98% of Americans believe in God and we also see the many religions throughout the world that most believe in a god or many gods in some way shape or form. Don't worry I'm not out to prove a creator even though thats happened. I am wanting to show that God is all about himself and not about glorifying creation even though He uses it for his glory (Ps. 19:1-6, 66:1-4; Rom. 1:21-22) and to reveal his will (Ps. 92:4; Isa. 43:7; Rom. 9:22-24).
I always found it interesting that when people say God does what he does cause of his love for his creation. This always made me wonder, where is that in scripture?!?! I'm fully disagree with this as scripture says God has concern for his glory and his name (Ezk. 36:21). Think about humans, we aren't made in God's image and likeness for people to see humans but God's reigning glory within mankind (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 8:1-9). Creation speaks and groans about and points to God (Rom. 1:20, 8:20) but man has "exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things" (Rom. 1:23), this is mans tendency in his mind and nature.
I say all this in light of God's glory His primary concern cause we tend to see God working for our good. Granted there is one scripture that says "God works for the good of those who love him" which most people point to like its the most important scripture according to God working in mans life post receiving Christ, but lets look at the whole text. It says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified" (Rom 8:28-30). The whole text points not only the Jesus and the work done in the saints through God's providential work in predestination but brings glory to God alone with the glorification of man at the point of consummation and in the resurrection on the dead. Even in the book of revelation we see that all things point to the triune God and all the glory is due to him (1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 20-22).
As you read these blogs please remember that I working through things so if you have thoughts please feel free to interact but remember that I am not fully laid out all my thoughts on this subject, but please I do want interaction with these blogs. Thanks!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
much needed talk (part 1)
As I've been thinking about what to blog about, I have been confronted with the idea of grace and the live of being grace filled. I have always been one to talk about the debate of the will of man and the sovereignty of God and where the line is drawn and also have come to a stance on the subject. I have it all laid out in my head but never on paper so this is my way of laying out what I believe on the very debated topic. I think I might even surprise some of you that I have been over in a teaching situation or one on one discussion about this very topic commonly known as Calvinism vs Arminianism. I don't believe that I will solve this debate for everyone but the issue needs to continue to be hashed out in humility and love; not division and pride which is my overall goal in this discussion.
Personally, I don't like either words (Calvinism or Arminianism) cause 1) the men known for this are pointed to and not what matters is talked about; what God says in His word 2) this separates when we take side of man (hence the word "vs"; also see 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 "I follow.....") 3) Some areas of this debate are laid out a little clearer in scripture then others, but this area of discussion is where discernment comes in to play and the nature of God and nature of man need to be studied (I do believe we can know this more then most think). 4) We need to study this doctrine cause DOCTRINE DOES NOT DIVIDE humans do; biblical doctrine is meant to unify the body of Christ (Deut. 6:4-9; Nehemiah 8:9-12, 9:1-5; 2:42; 1 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrew 4:12-13; Jude v.3-4, 17-25), but to many think doctrine divides when that makes no sense cause the bible is doctrine (this word just means "teaching")
With that said I stand with Martian Luther and what he said about the common believer having the bible in their hands, "the word of God in the hands of the common man can either be the greatest thing that can happen or the worst". This holds true as one of the worst cause now everyone thinks they should or can be a teacher but the Spirit gives gifts as He chooses to individuals He chooses (1 Cor. 12:7, 11) not all believers. With that said, I urge believers everywhere to understand that if your not gifted as a teacher (empowered by the Spirit in a supernatural way) please stop teaching cause your not fulfilling your calling but dividing by teaching bad doctrine and bad doctrine divides!
Below I have laid out the five points of each side not to say this is right and this is wrong but so that we can look at them for just what they are and go from there. Now I do have a personal stance on the issue at hand but I'm not here to tell you what I believe but to look a little at church history, systematic theology, biblical exegesis and specifically biblical context say in accordance with the issue. None of these will be done in any order and some might even be talked about more then others but I don't want to side in such a way that is all one sided but I look at all areas. in this series of blogs (heres my disclaimer to long blogs and many parts to the series). I will though end in someway to bring this into the modern world and the application of this to doing ministry in modern America.
Calvinism
1) Total depravity or total inability
2) Unconditional Election
3) Limited Atonement or particular redemption
4) The efficacious call of the Holy Spirit or Irresistible grace
5) Perseverance of the saints
Arminianism
1) free will or human ability
2) Conditional Election
3) universal atonement or general redemption
4) The Holy Spirit can be effectually resisted or resistible grace
5) Falling from grace
I will do my best to blog on this every few days so as to keep it fresh on our tongues and minds so please feel free to interact, but remember that I am in constant thought flow about this and might cover what you are thinking about in a future section of this particular blog/topic so please bear with me.
Much love in our Lord's name :)
Personally, I don't like either words (Calvinism or Arminianism) cause 1) the men known for this are pointed to and not what matters is talked about; what God says in His word 2) this separates when we take side of man (hence the word "vs"; also see 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 "I follow.....") 3) Some areas of this debate are laid out a little clearer in scripture then others, but this area of discussion is where discernment comes in to play and the nature of God and nature of man need to be studied (I do believe we can know this more then most think). 4) We need to study this doctrine cause DOCTRINE DOES NOT DIVIDE humans do; biblical doctrine is meant to unify the body of Christ (Deut. 6:4-9; Nehemiah 8:9-12, 9:1-5; 2:42; 1 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrew 4:12-13; Jude v.3-4, 17-25), but to many think doctrine divides when that makes no sense cause the bible is doctrine (this word just means "teaching")
With that said I stand with Martian Luther and what he said about the common believer having the bible in their hands, "the word of God in the hands of the common man can either be the greatest thing that can happen or the worst". This holds true as one of the worst cause now everyone thinks they should or can be a teacher but the Spirit gives gifts as He chooses to individuals He chooses (1 Cor. 12:7, 11) not all believers. With that said, I urge believers everywhere to understand that if your not gifted as a teacher (empowered by the Spirit in a supernatural way) please stop teaching cause your not fulfilling your calling but dividing by teaching bad doctrine and bad doctrine divides!
Below I have laid out the five points of each side not to say this is right and this is wrong but so that we can look at them for just what they are and go from there. Now I do have a personal stance on the issue at hand but I'm not here to tell you what I believe but to look a little at church history, systematic theology, biblical exegesis and specifically biblical context say in accordance with the issue. None of these will be done in any order and some might even be talked about more then others but I don't want to side in such a way that is all one sided but I look at all areas. in this series of blogs (heres my disclaimer to long blogs and many parts to the series). I will though end in someway to bring this into the modern world and the application of this to doing ministry in modern America.
Calvinism
1) Total depravity or total inability
2) Unconditional Election
3) Limited Atonement or particular redemption
4) The efficacious call of the Holy Spirit or Irresistible grace
5) Perseverance of the saints
Arminianism
1) free will or human ability
2) Conditional Election
3) universal atonement or general redemption
4) The Holy Spirit can be effectually resisted or resistible grace
5) Falling from grace
I will do my best to blog on this every few days so as to keep it fresh on our tongues and minds so please feel free to interact, but remember that I am in constant thought flow about this and might cover what you are thinking about in a future section of this particular blog/topic so please bear with me.
Much love in our Lord's name :)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Envision culture shock
This past year I graduated from Nyack College with the hopes of going into Pastoral ministry which I still do, but when I graduated I was thrown for a loop by a friend with works with the Christian & Missionary Alliance (CMA) with what is known as....Envision culture. This is all from the national youth office and focuses on young adults ages 18-30 in the CMA to help them get acquainted with there calling in the kingdom of God and to help build the Kingdom of God. This is the past thing I thought I would be doing but it seems like with my past ministry work God has placed me places I never thought I would end up, but God is good so I'm cool with it!
I titled this partly "envision culture" cause that is who I work with and partly "culture shock" cause thats what it was a culture shock. In the previous months to me coming out here I interviewed with three separate churches about possible Youth Pastor positions, all three were in the state of NY. As I went through each of the interview process I was excited about all three since I really want to do ministry in the local church. This has been my passion and burden for about the past 6 years (about a year after coming to faith in Christ). So for the past 6 years I have been looking and longing for opportunities to serve in the local church. I've done various things from preach in sunday, to teach and lead youth groups, to teach and leading young adults, to sunday school, to picking up chairs on sunday morning after service. Basically I've done what ever I can to serve and thats what I was looking towards for when I graduated but obviously God had other plans.
In the book of Job it says that God''s plans can't be stopped (42:2) and that Ephesians says that God works everything after His will (1:11). We see that in scripture there are many other places that talk about God's will and what he does is up to him and it seems that I have very little say in what happens. I hate to say it but I fell into the trap of thinking that as long as I was seeking God and he was first I would get the desire of my heart (Psalms 37:4). The issue that I forgot is that in seeking God I will then give up my desires and seek God's desires for me to build His kingdom not mine (Luke 9:23-25; Romans 8:28). This was big for me and very convicting, even though I knew it biblically, I forgot it practically and in a round about way expected God to give it to me cause of what I believed he called me to.
Through this all I was brought to the CMA national office with Envision and doing something that was not ministry in the local church, to which I was dreaming and looking forward to after I graduated. So as I talked with a gentlemen in the envision offce about what I would be doing in Colorado, seeking council and praying about it, it seemed as though this is where God wanted me. Like when I went to school in NY I didn't understand as to why but I walked by faith and not sight as we are told to in 2 Corinthians 5:7. I was at another point in transition from state to state, among other things and just plain having to up and move again; this would be interesting I thought!
As I got to to Colorado I was in the one state I wanted to live in before I died so that was cool, but the thing that toped it off was that I got to do ministry and was seeing that God waanted me there. As things got moving I met people in the office and then within my first week got on the road the snowy wisconsin. I rode up there in a 16 ft box truck with my boss and it was long and tedius, but the goal and purpose was the important issue at hand. People seeing the need to build the kingdom and getting involved with that is the goal anytime the project experience goes anywhere to anybody. I have had the pleasure of going to "no where" wisconsin (to which I would not want to live), Portland, OR (awesome place), Omaha NE (another awesome place with really good food), NY (not bad...haha) and I leave for Ohio tomorrow for about 1 week (grow up 1 hour away from where I'll be).
Overall my life has been turned around for the good, I haver seen how blessed we are in America and even the freedoms that we have in that luxuery. I have been able to talk to people about the developing countrys around the world and the issues that go with it from 1 in 6 people don't have clean drinking water in the world, to 1 in 3 children in africa don't make it past the age of ten all because of starvation, to a girl every 2 seconds getsw stuck in the sex slave industry (oh and guys you also get caught up in the industry, your not excempt). In the end through when I tell people about it is then that we talk about the ultimate issue of sin in the world and the hope of Jesus Christ, His cross and resurrection from the dead is the means and we are called to take this hope to the nations.
Now the gospel message wasn't the initial shcok (the developing countries stuff was) but as it set in and I continually talked about it and took people through the experience it would hit me harder and harder about the personal work of Jesus Christ and the depth of God's grace through the cross. God through this all has brought persoanl healing in my on some issues that was struggleing to get through and as always God is faithful and good! The overall impact of working with envision in the national office has been huge in scantifying me towards God and away from the world. My heart for this blog is that as you read it you to will take steps of faith towards the unknown. You may not always see God in the fog but his light shines through the darkenss, and remember that the scripture holds true in that....
"I have been crucifed with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Chrsit lives in me. The life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20)
"He who begun a good work in you will bring it to completion untill the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)
"We are God's workmenship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10)
I would love feed back on this....
I titled this partly "envision culture" cause that is who I work with and partly "culture shock" cause thats what it was a culture shock. In the previous months to me coming out here I interviewed with three separate churches about possible Youth Pastor positions, all three were in the state of NY. As I went through each of the interview process I was excited about all three since I really want to do ministry in the local church. This has been my passion and burden for about the past 6 years (about a year after coming to faith in Christ). So for the past 6 years I have been looking and longing for opportunities to serve in the local church. I've done various things from preach in sunday, to teach and lead youth groups, to teach and leading young adults, to sunday school, to picking up chairs on sunday morning after service. Basically I've done what ever I can to serve and thats what I was looking towards for when I graduated but obviously God had other plans.
In the book of Job it says that God''s plans can't be stopped (42:2) and that Ephesians says that God works everything after His will (1:11). We see that in scripture there are many other places that talk about God's will and what he does is up to him and it seems that I have very little say in what happens. I hate to say it but I fell into the trap of thinking that as long as I was seeking God and he was first I would get the desire of my heart (Psalms 37:4). The issue that I forgot is that in seeking God I will then give up my desires and seek God's desires for me to build His kingdom not mine (Luke 9:23-25; Romans 8:28). This was big for me and very convicting, even though I knew it biblically, I forgot it practically and in a round about way expected God to give it to me cause of what I believed he called me to.
Through this all I was brought to the CMA national office with Envision and doing something that was not ministry in the local church, to which I was dreaming and looking forward to after I graduated. So as I talked with a gentlemen in the envision offce about what I would be doing in Colorado, seeking council and praying about it, it seemed as though this is where God wanted me. Like when I went to school in NY I didn't understand as to why but I walked by faith and not sight as we are told to in 2 Corinthians 5:7. I was at another point in transition from state to state, among other things and just plain having to up and move again; this would be interesting I thought!
As I got to to Colorado I was in the one state I wanted to live in before I died so that was cool, but the thing that toped it off was that I got to do ministry and was seeing that God waanted me there. As things got moving I met people in the office and then within my first week got on the road the snowy wisconsin. I rode up there in a 16 ft box truck with my boss and it was long and tedius, but the goal and purpose was the important issue at hand. People seeing the need to build the kingdom and getting involved with that is the goal anytime the project experience goes anywhere to anybody. I have had the pleasure of going to "no where" wisconsin (to which I would not want to live), Portland, OR (awesome place), Omaha NE (another awesome place with really good food), NY (not bad...haha) and I leave for Ohio tomorrow for about 1 week (grow up 1 hour away from where I'll be).
Overall my life has been turned around for the good, I haver seen how blessed we are in America and even the freedoms that we have in that luxuery. I have been able to talk to people about the developing countrys around the world and the issues that go with it from 1 in 6 people don't have clean drinking water in the world, to 1 in 3 children in africa don't make it past the age of ten all because of starvation, to a girl every 2 seconds getsw stuck in the sex slave industry (oh and guys you also get caught up in the industry, your not excempt). In the end through when I tell people about it is then that we talk about the ultimate issue of sin in the world and the hope of Jesus Christ, His cross and resurrection from the dead is the means and we are called to take this hope to the nations.
Now the gospel message wasn't the initial shcok (the developing countries stuff was) but as it set in and I continually talked about it and took people through the experience it would hit me harder and harder about the personal work of Jesus Christ and the depth of God's grace through the cross. God through this all has brought persoanl healing in my on some issues that was struggleing to get through and as always God is faithful and good! The overall impact of working with envision in the national office has been huge in scantifying me towards God and away from the world. My heart for this blog is that as you read it you to will take steps of faith towards the unknown. You may not always see God in the fog but his light shines through the darkenss, and remember that the scripture holds true in that....
"I have been crucifed with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Chrsit lives in me. The life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20)
"He who begun a good work in you will bring it to completion untill the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)
"We are God's workmenship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10)
I would love feed back on this....
Saturday, April 2, 2011
love does not win...critical review of Rob Bell's new book "love wins"
I know I know the title of this blog just about answers my thoughts about the book but I hope and pray that you read the blog anyways. Personally I have never been a Rob Bell fan considering I'm not emergent, but I would say that I am part of the emerging church culture with a very close watch on staying within the teaching of a more reformed view of theology. I personally agree with a lot of the reformers but yet I am younger (I"m basically a young adult pastor) and want to reach the youth (13-30 year olds) of this nation. With that said I did come in with a critical view of what would be said in the book cause of my view and opinion of Bell but also with the controversy that surrounded the book even more so.
Bell looks to answer questions about heaven, hell and the fate of every person who ever lived. I first off have to say that these are large words for a man that continually asks more questions about the Christian faith then a young child does about life. I don't see anything wrong with asking questions but not when it throws out sound biblical exegesis, sound biblical context of passages mentioned and/or 1800 years of Christian thought I begin to worry for those reading the book. My worry about this is that Bell is so far gone in sound theology and clearly giving a true look at God pushes me to write about it. There are those in the faith that have no idea about sound biblical teaching they will be deceived as to believe a lie, this is my reason for writing this first and foremost. The words of Jude stand true in that "they are hidden reefs at your love feasts" (v. 12) for this is the truth and Bell is in the midst of Christian through today and why I'm so expressive about this heresy.
There are only two things about the book I am looking to talk about. The first and bigger issue is that Bell says all people will go to heaven, then that God's love is the very essence of who God is and what the gospel is all about (nope Holiness is; Isa 6:3 & Rev. 4:8...righteousness is the gospel, just read Romans), also that God's grace is so big that faith and repentance are not necessary for salvation, that judgment isn't coming upon the ungodly and that love is all that matters (Luke 13:3 &5; Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Thes. 1:10; Heb. 9:27; Rom. 2:4-5, 3:21-26; these are just a few scriptures that talk about what I just mentioned).
The greatest issue is that Bell makes the claim of a universal atonement for everyone who ever lived meaning that all people will go to heaven and the righteousness of God will mean nothing in the end when God is to judge the world by his righteousness (Matthew 25 makes a clear distinction about the righteous and the unrighteous before God's judgment and eternal punishment) this is a necessary truth to who God is and what the gospel is all about. This is why we are "justified by faith" (Romans 5:1) cause its a judicial term or being made right with the judge (here it's God), so without faith one is not just in God's sight and therefore stands condemned before the judge.
Along with his universalism of all will go to heaven, Bell makes the claim and excuses a literal place of punishment (hell) and does all he can to make a literal place of bliss (heaven) more a here and now then a yet to come. Bell also not only does a horrible job with even portraying the love of God as making it something that is proceeding the holiness and righteousness of God and something that leaves no room for faith in the sacrifice of Christ and repentance for individual sin towards God. This is not just a horrible thing but darn right not in line with who God is, who man is or what the gospel teaches. Not all people will be in eternal bliss with our heavenly Father as Jesus said "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is east that leads to destruction and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14), for this is a very clear statement by Jesus about the afterlife!
I have thrown some harsh words around but Rob Bell is a heretic and this book is heresy. It goes against all that the bible teaches and bell is teaching another gospel and what Paul said is worthy of eternal damnation (Gal 6:6-10). This is not a joy to say but necessary as Peter and Jude (2 Peter 2 & Jude) say that will be in our midst and Paul says to Timothy that people will look to have their ears tickled (1 Tim. 4:1-3). I pray and hope you head this as many will not!
Bell looks to answer questions about heaven, hell and the fate of every person who ever lived. I first off have to say that these are large words for a man that continually asks more questions about the Christian faith then a young child does about life. I don't see anything wrong with asking questions but not when it throws out sound biblical exegesis, sound biblical context of passages mentioned and/or 1800 years of Christian thought I begin to worry for those reading the book. My worry about this is that Bell is so far gone in sound theology and clearly giving a true look at God pushes me to write about it. There are those in the faith that have no idea about sound biblical teaching they will be deceived as to believe a lie, this is my reason for writing this first and foremost. The words of Jude stand true in that "they are hidden reefs at your love feasts" (v. 12) for this is the truth and Bell is in the midst of Christian through today and why I'm so expressive about this heresy.
There are only two things about the book I am looking to talk about. The first and bigger issue is that Bell says all people will go to heaven, then that God's love is the very essence of who God is and what the gospel is all about (nope Holiness is; Isa 6:3 & Rev. 4:8...righteousness is the gospel, just read Romans), also that God's grace is so big that faith and repentance are not necessary for salvation, that judgment isn't coming upon the ungodly and that love is all that matters (Luke 13:3 &5; Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Thes. 1:10; Heb. 9:27; Rom. 2:4-5, 3:21-26; these are just a few scriptures that talk about what I just mentioned).
The greatest issue is that Bell makes the claim of a universal atonement for everyone who ever lived meaning that all people will go to heaven and the righteousness of God will mean nothing in the end when God is to judge the world by his righteousness (Matthew 25 makes a clear distinction about the righteous and the unrighteous before God's judgment and eternal punishment) this is a necessary truth to who God is and what the gospel is all about. This is why we are "justified by faith" (Romans 5:1) cause its a judicial term or being made right with the judge (here it's God), so without faith one is not just in God's sight and therefore stands condemned before the judge.
Along with his universalism of all will go to heaven, Bell makes the claim and excuses a literal place of punishment (hell) and does all he can to make a literal place of bliss (heaven) more a here and now then a yet to come. Bell also not only does a horrible job with even portraying the love of God as making it something that is proceeding the holiness and righteousness of God and something that leaves no room for faith in the sacrifice of Christ and repentance for individual sin towards God. This is not just a horrible thing but darn right not in line with who God is, who man is or what the gospel teaches. Not all people will be in eternal bliss with our heavenly Father as Jesus said "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is east that leads to destruction and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14), for this is a very clear statement by Jesus about the afterlife!
I have thrown some harsh words around but Rob Bell is a heretic and this book is heresy. It goes against all that the bible teaches and bell is teaching another gospel and what Paul said is worthy of eternal damnation (Gal 6:6-10). This is not a joy to say but necessary as Peter and Jude (2 Peter 2 & Jude) say that will be in our midst and Paul says to Timothy that people will look to have their ears tickled (1 Tim. 4:1-3). I pray and hope you head this as many will not!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
skewed view of God = skewed view of the gospel
As I mentioned in my last blog about preaching the gospel. I made the statement that preaching the gospel and not living it is dangerous, and living the gospel and not preaching it is equally as dangerous. This can bring a skewed understanding of the gospel in th eyes of all people. This is necessary to understand cause we live in post-Christian culture that sees churches but has no idea what church really is about. The term "un-churched" should give us a clue as to this. This can make issues on a couple different fronts; first, in the eyes of non-believers see God as one sided or as I like to say skewed, second people are living one side of the gospel therefore seeing one side of the gospel and third this makes the job of the pastor and teacher harder when it comes to dealing with the church in light of this.
Since I've set the stage, some of you might disagree with what I say but I say all this cause of how the modern church is becoming one sided all the while thinking its standing on the solid rock of Christ (see Matthew 7:24-27). I want to start our with a strong statement. The gospel is not the love of God, to which most would say a resounding 'your wrong, what about John 3:16 or Romans 5:8, both talk about the love of God and Jesus death on the cross'. I would not disagree, but both of those scriptures talk about how God's love is shown in the cross (a proper exegesis shows this). Any modern translation (depending which one you read) of John 3:16 says "for God so loved the world, he sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life", but in modern English and people having skewed views of the gospel we are tought the understanding that the gospel is mostly God's love and everything else is second, but a translation literal means of John 3:16 means "its in this manner that God showed His love to the world".
The passage in Romans is the same way in that the cross is a showing of Gods love and not all that the cross is about. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to diminish the love of God but in this I want to show this not only as biblical, but also to raise an awareness to the greatness of God' love as it pertains to the gospel. We also see in 1 John that it says "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him" (4:9; Italics mine). All these are a showing that God's love not the centrality of the gospel, but it defiantly is part of the gospel and I would say an important part just as all aspects are equally important. Let me say that at certain points an individual may talk about God's love and not talk about God's judgment towards mankind when sharing the gospel. It all depends on the situation, but one cannot be without the other for the gospel to be the gospel.
In the book of Romans it says " in it (the gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith the faith" (1:17) and that "the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law....the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ" (3:21-22). both these texts are what Paul implied as central to the gospel and what it is all about. We also see in 1 Peter that is says "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (3:18; "righteous" also can be translated "just"). This is very important if we are to as God's people share the only one who can save us from God's wrath towards sin and bring us into the gracious love of God; the Lord Jesus Christ! I say this to get a starting point to see the gospel as more then one sided so the world may come to know the God of creation and redemption!
Further on in Romans it says we are "justified by faith" and that we are "justified by his blood" (5:1,9). This reveals the whole council of God within the gospel and as we look to the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ we should be awestruck by the love of God as we should be awestruck that God in Christ brings us to Himself (see 2 Cor. 5:15-21). Even Titus says we are to compelled by the grace of God to live in line with that very grace (3:11-14). The gospel is full circle when it comes to the God. All aspect of the gospel are to never been run over by one another but each one it to lift the other higher and higher so that our Lord Jesus is forever praised.
Just imagine that you have a friend that is a non-believer and you want to share the gospel with them but all you talk about God's love or wrath. Your intention is to primarily talk about one over the other, is that good of bad? Are you as God's servant doing justice to the God who redeemed you. This God of love, righteousness, wrath, grace; the one who is sovereign, transendent, omniscient, omnipresent and so on! Are we doing justice to who God is and what He has done? Granted as I said you may not share the whole gospel in one shot and even if you do you may miss something or just plane forget, I mean we are human and we do make mistakes. But as I read the scriptures I am forced to ask myself one question. Am I making it my goal to make known the gospel or share this gospel? Not just part of it but the WHOLE gospel?
With that said, not only does this start with a thorough study of the scriptures but also a continual encounter with the risen Christ. As we follow the Spirit's leading, stand under solid leadership and pray without ceasing I truly believe that we will come to fully walk as Jesus walked and love as Jesus loved. This all is a process and something to work towards this.
Galatians 2:20 says "It is no longer I who love, but Christ lives in me and the life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me". This is to be a continual action that we don't give up on as we walk daily with Christ! I pray and hope we do this collectively as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ in this world that needs him O so bad!
Since I've set the stage, some of you might disagree with what I say but I say all this cause of how the modern church is becoming one sided all the while thinking its standing on the solid rock of Christ (see Matthew 7:24-27). I want to start our with a strong statement. The gospel is not the love of God, to which most would say a resounding 'your wrong, what about John 3:16 or Romans 5:8, both talk about the love of God and Jesus death on the cross'. I would not disagree, but both of those scriptures talk about how God's love is shown in the cross (a proper exegesis shows this). Any modern translation (depending which one you read) of John 3:16 says "for God so loved the world, he sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life", but in modern English and people having skewed views of the gospel we are tought the understanding that the gospel is mostly God's love and everything else is second, but a translation literal means of John 3:16 means "its in this manner that God showed His love to the world".
The passage in Romans is the same way in that the cross is a showing of Gods love and not all that the cross is about. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to diminish the love of God but in this I want to show this not only as biblical, but also to raise an awareness to the greatness of God' love as it pertains to the gospel. We also see in 1 John that it says "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him" (4:9; Italics mine). All these are a showing that God's love not the centrality of the gospel, but it defiantly is part of the gospel and I would say an important part just as all aspects are equally important. Let me say that at certain points an individual may talk about God's love and not talk about God's judgment towards mankind when sharing the gospel. It all depends on the situation, but one cannot be without the other for the gospel to be the gospel.
In the book of Romans it says " in it (the gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith the faith" (1:17) and that "the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law....the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ" (3:21-22). both these texts are what Paul implied as central to the gospel and what it is all about. We also see in 1 Peter that is says "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (3:18; "righteous" also can be translated "just"). This is very important if we are to as God's people share the only one who can save us from God's wrath towards sin and bring us into the gracious love of God; the Lord Jesus Christ! I say this to get a starting point to see the gospel as more then one sided so the world may come to know the God of creation and redemption!
Further on in Romans it says we are "justified by faith" and that we are "justified by his blood" (5:1,9). This reveals the whole council of God within the gospel and as we look to the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ we should be awestruck by the love of God as we should be awestruck that God in Christ brings us to Himself (see 2 Cor. 5:15-21). Even Titus says we are to compelled by the grace of God to live in line with that very grace (3:11-14). The gospel is full circle when it comes to the God. All aspect of the gospel are to never been run over by one another but each one it to lift the other higher and higher so that our Lord Jesus is forever praised.
Just imagine that you have a friend that is a non-believer and you want to share the gospel with them but all you talk about God's love or wrath. Your intention is to primarily talk about one over the other, is that good of bad? Are you as God's servant doing justice to the God who redeemed you. This God of love, righteousness, wrath, grace; the one who is sovereign, transendent, omniscient, omnipresent and so on! Are we doing justice to who God is and what He has done? Granted as I said you may not share the whole gospel in one shot and even if you do you may miss something or just plane forget, I mean we are human and we do make mistakes. But as I read the scriptures I am forced to ask myself one question. Am I making it my goal to make known the gospel or share this gospel? Not just part of it but the WHOLE gospel?
With that said, not only does this start with a thorough study of the scriptures but also a continual encounter with the risen Christ. As we follow the Spirit's leading, stand under solid leadership and pray without ceasing I truly believe that we will come to fully walk as Jesus walked and love as Jesus loved. This all is a process and something to work towards this.
Galatians 2:20 says "It is no longer I who love, but Christ lives in me and the life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me". This is to be a continual action that we don't give up on as we walk daily with Christ! I pray and hope we do this collectively as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ in this world that needs him O so bad!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
the contextual church (part 2)
The first part of this blog I talked about the need to be looking to our context to reach people with the gospel but holding to some basic principles of the early church taught in Acts 2:42 saying, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers". I will always stand and say these are to be the foundation of any church/group of believers wanting to reach the culture around them for the gospel. This is always and forever a foundational necessity if the body of Christ is to be strong and remain faithful to her calling in this lost and dying world.
As we go about our days in this world not only in building the kingdom, we are to be faithful and true to the church and who she is. I see the bible teaching another important key to remaining strong and faithful to our calling. In first Corinthians the apostle Paul says,
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech of wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of man but in the power of God" (2:1-5)
This passage is pivotal in the furthering of the kingdom of God, but also without this gospel as central it can and will hinder healthy growth. Paul talks about this and how our faith needs to rest in God not in the wisdom of man. This is not only the personal responsibility of all who follow Jesus as Lord, but is to be looked at contextually. Maybe your thinking, duh! But to often one of two things happens, either people preach, preach and preach the gospel and don't think about how there coming across with their actions or they are so cautious with their actions they don't want to seem judgmental or pushy so they barely ever preach the gospel if at all. Both are of great danger to the kingdom and to how God is viewed. (I'll talk about how God is viewed next time).
What Paul was dealing with was a culture that held wisdom so high that a false teaching called Gnosticism was born into the Christian church and the apostle John ended up writing 1 John about, as did Paul talk about it in the letter to the Colossians. Anyways back to Corinthians, Paul was writing to a culture that held wisdom as utmost importance for man to attain, but Paul then wrote the words I quoted above about preaching Jesus and only Jesus crucified, nothing more or less. From my experience with believers the truth is that people don't want to "judge" the people they are called to love. This I totally agree with but not to the point of never talking to people about the gospel and God's wrath being poured out on our sins in the judgment or on Jesus as a personal substitute for us when he died on the cross.
When we preach the gospel of hope we are to do so with "gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15) and do as those that are full of grace cause were are saved by grace not a position of our works are not filthy rags, but with love for those we preach to. Now when i say preach I do mean telling people about Jesus, but is always and forever inclusive of good deeds and a heart of love for those you talk to, but I stand on telling people cause my deeds are not good enough in God's sight so why should I allow them to point to Jesus instead of Jesus deeds He is the one I should tell people about, not me or my works!
This again must be done with gentleness and respect and with living in a culture that wants to know you before they trust what you say, so we should love and then preach so people will listen but never love without preaching! This is an issue that needs to be dealt with in all cultures where the Christian church is and the kingdom is being built, but the issue that is equal is that of how to tell people about the Christ with a cultural understanding about the people, but as I said in my last blog we should never study man so far as to have a false or skewed understanding about the sinful nature and we should never put the cultural understanding first and then the sinful nature.
Paul's words ring loud about preaching Jesus only in any culture. When Paul talks about Jesus Christ and Him crucified he points directly to the sinful nature and the work of redemption that god offers to his elect. No matter where you live or what time period you live in, man will always be sinful by nature. Jesus is the only savior acceptable to God for the sins of man, the only true picture and gift of God's love, and the only way to appease His wrath toward man and that is all we should ever preach. This is necessary as Paul says for peoples faith the rest in the Holy Spirit and not in man!
God's love and grace to all who read this, may you continue to be blessed as you serve the one true God; Father, Son and Spirit!
As we go about our days in this world not only in building the kingdom, we are to be faithful and true to the church and who she is. I see the bible teaching another important key to remaining strong and faithful to our calling. In first Corinthians the apostle Paul says,
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech of wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of man but in the power of God" (2:1-5)
This passage is pivotal in the furthering of the kingdom of God, but also without this gospel as central it can and will hinder healthy growth. Paul talks about this and how our faith needs to rest in God not in the wisdom of man. This is not only the personal responsibility of all who follow Jesus as Lord, but is to be looked at contextually. Maybe your thinking, duh! But to often one of two things happens, either people preach, preach and preach the gospel and don't think about how there coming across with their actions or they are so cautious with their actions they don't want to seem judgmental or pushy so they barely ever preach the gospel if at all. Both are of great danger to the kingdom and to how God is viewed. (I'll talk about how God is viewed next time).
What Paul was dealing with was a culture that held wisdom so high that a false teaching called Gnosticism was born into the Christian church and the apostle John ended up writing 1 John about, as did Paul talk about it in the letter to the Colossians. Anyways back to Corinthians, Paul was writing to a culture that held wisdom as utmost importance for man to attain, but Paul then wrote the words I quoted above about preaching Jesus and only Jesus crucified, nothing more or less. From my experience with believers the truth is that people don't want to "judge" the people they are called to love. This I totally agree with but not to the point of never talking to people about the gospel and God's wrath being poured out on our sins in the judgment or on Jesus as a personal substitute for us when he died on the cross.
When we preach the gospel of hope we are to do so with "gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15) and do as those that are full of grace cause were are saved by grace not a position of our works are not filthy rags, but with love for those we preach to. Now when i say preach I do mean telling people about Jesus, but is always and forever inclusive of good deeds and a heart of love for those you talk to, but I stand on telling people cause my deeds are not good enough in God's sight so why should I allow them to point to Jesus instead of Jesus deeds He is the one I should tell people about, not me or my works!
This again must be done with gentleness and respect and with living in a culture that wants to know you before they trust what you say, so we should love and then preach so people will listen but never love without preaching! This is an issue that needs to be dealt with in all cultures where the Christian church is and the kingdom is being built, but the issue that is equal is that of how to tell people about the Christ with a cultural understanding about the people, but as I said in my last blog we should never study man so far as to have a false or skewed understanding about the sinful nature and we should never put the cultural understanding first and then the sinful nature.
Paul's words ring loud about preaching Jesus only in any culture. When Paul talks about Jesus Christ and Him crucified he points directly to the sinful nature and the work of redemption that god offers to his elect. No matter where you live or what time period you live in, man will always be sinful by nature. Jesus is the only savior acceptable to God for the sins of man, the only true picture and gift of God's love, and the only way to appease His wrath toward man and that is all we should ever preach. This is necessary as Paul says for peoples faith the rest in the Holy Spirit and not in man!
God's love and grace to all who read this, may you continue to be blessed as you serve the one true God; Father, Son and Spirit!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
the contextual church (part 1)
I want to ask one question to start this blog out, okay here goes....Whats in a church ministry? Seriously, this question seems simple enough but in the end, it can be long and complicated. I will give you the simple answer; in the Bible in the book of Acts it talks about the early church and what the believers did to built the church upon, it says in chapter 2 verse 42 that "And they devoted themselves to the apostles teachings and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers". This seems simple enough to spit out and say 'lets do it!'. Personally I wish is was that easy but its not. The issue that first pops up in the early church was that they were all Jewish believers in the Messiah (Jesus, who was Jewish). Now as then the church is not, its mixed with Jewish and Gentile believers (non-Jews).
This is the issue that in this blog that I will deal with, there are many others that will be talked about in future blogs but for now I want to talk about cultural bearers. As a culture Jews were very family oriented, sabbath keepers (along with the rest of the torah), Rabbinically oriented in spiritual things; just to mention a few. With looking at just these three I will look to not necessarily handle what it was to be a Jewish believer in the 1st century church, but for us to understand that things were very different from the early church to the modern church, as has been an issue in the church from century to century. Like I said the early church did things different like meet in homes and also they would go to temple on Saturdays as to keep sabbath (sabbath was Friday sun down to Saturday sun up). This would just be plain weird for the church to do today nowadays (unless your a messianic Jew).
I want to say just as the early church dealt with contextual issues (Acts 6:1-6, 15:1-29) so do we in the modern church. Now don't get me wrong I'm not getting all emergent on people, but I do believe that we as the church need to deal with the emerging generation as what is commonly known as "the un-churched" (a term about people that didn't grow up in the church or within the confines of church terms/issues). First off , one of the biggest things is we do not live in a Christian nation, with Christian morals or Christian ethics. I make this bold a statement cause of the allowance of non-religious terms in everyday life, the pluralistic teachings we have in schools, the acceptance of sin in any form and the acceptance of non-Christian things from so called Christians. I'm not looking to beat up these so called Christians, I just want to make a point that America is not a Christian nation as so many think it is.
This issue is one that is tough as all cities and states are different. I can attest to this since I grew up in Cleveland, OH moved to Nyack, New York (just 30 minutes north of NYC) and now live in Colorado Springs, CO. One thing has remained the same and will always remain the same no matter where I live. The issue that we deal with sin everywhere we go and we also deal with fallen people in a fallen and depraved world. This will never change and will always influence what we do and who we talk to in our daily lives. What does change is the context of the sin and the sinner. What they like and what the don't like and even the depth of morals and ethics within the culture we are living. Like I said when answered my question at the beginning I mentioned the scripture are the early church from the book of Acts and I truly believe that is the answer but how it is carried out is what needs to be dealt with in great caution and with the utmost love for the people in the culture we live.
The teaching of the bible, prayer and fellowship is of great importance, but I would do it differently with the youth I worked with in NY then I would with the youth I work with in Colorado. The particulars I won't talk about here but a common theme within the scriptures we see specifically is Paul dealing with is culture and the gospel within that culture. The truth of Jesus never changes, but how its communicated is! Jesus is always without sin, God in flesh, substitutionary death on the cross, resurrection from the dead, accession to the right hand of the Father, the coming judgment of mankind and eternal bliss or eternal destruction will never change, but again the context of how that brought to people is different. In todays America you can street preach, but for the most part it won't be effective like it would have been 50-100 years ago (this is something I'm strong with and like to do, so its huge for me to say its not a good thing nowadays). One thing is that relationship are big to people of the younger generations (Gen X and younger).
These emerging generations are not people you can just earn trust with. You have to earn there trust through relationship and showing you care. There are many things that I have learned that I'm good but that just wouldn't work with todays culture most of the time. Another thing in the text we see is that in Acts 17, 18 and the later chapters when Paul was in Rome, he was using the culture to preach the gospel, but while he did that he knew the culture first before he went and preached to the culture. These things were even different in Paul's missionary journeys so we need to be sensitive with love and truth to all we come across.
With some of what I have said has been challenging over the past few months in various forms and various times and have had to ask myself one simple question that keeps me thinking; whats in a contextual church ministry? And how is that carried out in the context i'm ministering in? This question is one that I keep looking back to and can never forget cause just from when I was a teenager to my twenties to now my thirties things have changed more times then I can count. As you minister to God's people I pray and hope you aim to glorify our great God and savior, Jesus Christ!
This is the issue that in this blog that I will deal with, there are many others that will be talked about in future blogs but for now I want to talk about cultural bearers. As a culture Jews were very family oriented, sabbath keepers (along with the rest of the torah), Rabbinically oriented in spiritual things; just to mention a few. With looking at just these three I will look to not necessarily handle what it was to be a Jewish believer in the 1st century church, but for us to understand that things were very different from the early church to the modern church, as has been an issue in the church from century to century. Like I said the early church did things different like meet in homes and also they would go to temple on Saturdays as to keep sabbath (sabbath was Friday sun down to Saturday sun up). This would just be plain weird for the church to do today nowadays (unless your a messianic Jew).
I want to say just as the early church dealt with contextual issues (Acts 6:1-6, 15:1-29) so do we in the modern church. Now don't get me wrong I'm not getting all emergent on people, but I do believe that we as the church need to deal with the emerging generation as what is commonly known as "the un-churched" (a term about people that didn't grow up in the church or within the confines of church terms/issues). First off , one of the biggest things is we do not live in a Christian nation, with Christian morals or Christian ethics. I make this bold a statement cause of the allowance of non-religious terms in everyday life, the pluralistic teachings we have in schools, the acceptance of sin in any form and the acceptance of non-Christian things from so called Christians. I'm not looking to beat up these so called Christians, I just want to make a point that America is not a Christian nation as so many think it is.
This issue is one that is tough as all cities and states are different. I can attest to this since I grew up in Cleveland, OH moved to Nyack, New York (just 30 minutes north of NYC) and now live in Colorado Springs, CO. One thing has remained the same and will always remain the same no matter where I live. The issue that we deal with sin everywhere we go and we also deal with fallen people in a fallen and depraved world. This will never change and will always influence what we do and who we talk to in our daily lives. What does change is the context of the sin and the sinner. What they like and what the don't like and even the depth of morals and ethics within the culture we are living. Like I said when answered my question at the beginning I mentioned the scripture are the early church from the book of Acts and I truly believe that is the answer but how it is carried out is what needs to be dealt with in great caution and with the utmost love for the people in the culture we live.
The teaching of the bible, prayer and fellowship is of great importance, but I would do it differently with the youth I worked with in NY then I would with the youth I work with in Colorado. The particulars I won't talk about here but a common theme within the scriptures we see specifically is Paul dealing with is culture and the gospel within that culture. The truth of Jesus never changes, but how its communicated is! Jesus is always without sin, God in flesh, substitutionary death on the cross, resurrection from the dead, accession to the right hand of the Father, the coming judgment of mankind and eternal bliss or eternal destruction will never change, but again the context of how that brought to people is different. In todays America you can street preach, but for the most part it won't be effective like it would have been 50-100 years ago (this is something I'm strong with and like to do, so its huge for me to say its not a good thing nowadays). One thing is that relationship are big to people of the younger generations (Gen X and younger).
These emerging generations are not people you can just earn trust with. You have to earn there trust through relationship and showing you care. There are many things that I have learned that I'm good but that just wouldn't work with todays culture most of the time. Another thing in the text we see is that in Acts 17, 18 and the later chapters when Paul was in Rome, he was using the culture to preach the gospel, but while he did that he knew the culture first before he went and preached to the culture. These things were even different in Paul's missionary journeys so we need to be sensitive with love and truth to all we come across.
With some of what I have said has been challenging over the past few months in various forms and various times and have had to ask myself one simple question that keeps me thinking; whats in a contextual church ministry? And how is that carried out in the context i'm ministering in? This question is one that I keep looking back to and can never forget cause just from when I was a teenager to my twenties to now my thirties things have changed more times then I can count. As you minister to God's people I pray and hope you aim to glorify our great God and savior, Jesus Christ!
Friday, February 25, 2011
heart felt passion
Its been a while since I have blogged and been very necessary for me and I believe others to hear. I have a confession to make and this is the best way I can with the situation. Over the past couple years I have been stagnant in my personal study of the word. I have gotten the mentality of I know the doctrines of the bible so I'm good. Now don't get me wrong I have still been reading the bible this whole time but it was for the most part with a I've read this before mentality and not the mentality that I had when I first believed which was cause I wanted to know everything I could about God and the bible. This has brought me to a point of reflection upon my heart and mind!
I have now been a believer for 7 years and have been involved in ministry with the walls of the church for 6 of those years, have been to bible college and read everything I can from great theologians of the past and present, but I lost my view in light of what needs to be one of the central points of my life as well as every believers daily life; the study of the bible in a personal and relevant way! Recently I have been reading through the gospel of Mark and I'm loving it. I'm not putting the teachings of Jesus above the rest of scripture (which I believe is wrong and even Jesus himself didn't do that). I'm just looking at Jesus in a new way and how he has open my eyes to love God and people in a very separate and personal way. My homiletics professor (my preaching class) said if I am to preach to people in any way shape or form I will need to love them and not just cause I preaching to them but as people!
This fresh love for God and people has only come through the lens of the bible and what was going on when Jesus walked the earth. He loved people, but also condemned people, he cast mercy on people but is able to just justly over them. He is God of gods, Lord of lords, King of kings, the only one sufficient to save people from sin, self, satan, judgment, death, wrath and pour out true love directly from God Himself! This is a short blog but one that comes from an individual that loves the word of God and teaches it as a lifestyle in word and deed as a passion. I'm not looking to give anyone steps or the perfect way to study the bible. This blog is not about hermeneutics or a proper exegesis, just a confession from the heart of a sometimes prideful man that wants to follow his God with all he has.
In the future I will be blogging more and more about theological and ministerial issues. Please feel free to interact with any blogs. peace!
I have now been a believer for 7 years and have been involved in ministry with the walls of the church for 6 of those years, have been to bible college and read everything I can from great theologians of the past and present, but I lost my view in light of what needs to be one of the central points of my life as well as every believers daily life; the study of the bible in a personal and relevant way! Recently I have been reading through the gospel of Mark and I'm loving it. I'm not putting the teachings of Jesus above the rest of scripture (which I believe is wrong and even Jesus himself didn't do that). I'm just looking at Jesus in a new way and how he has open my eyes to love God and people in a very separate and personal way. My homiletics professor (my preaching class) said if I am to preach to people in any way shape or form I will need to love them and not just cause I preaching to them but as people!
This fresh love for God and people has only come through the lens of the bible and what was going on when Jesus walked the earth. He loved people, but also condemned people, he cast mercy on people but is able to just justly over them. He is God of gods, Lord of lords, King of kings, the only one sufficient to save people from sin, self, satan, judgment, death, wrath and pour out true love directly from God Himself! This is a short blog but one that comes from an individual that loves the word of God and teaches it as a lifestyle in word and deed as a passion. I'm not looking to give anyone steps or the perfect way to study the bible. This blog is not about hermeneutics or a proper exegesis, just a confession from the heart of a sometimes prideful man that wants to follow his God with all he has.
In the future I will be blogging more and more about theological and ministerial issues. Please feel free to interact with any blogs. peace!
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