I have a good friend that has encouraged me in my walk with the Lord for some time now. We have tried multiple different methods of accomplishing this other over the couple of years that we've known one another - the classic accountability structure, phone calls, emails, prayer journals, etc. In the past, he's had to bluntly tell me that I needed to stop doing something... other times he's told me I needed to start doing something. I've always appreciated his encouragement and I know that there have been several dark periods in my life that would have carried on for a longer period of time if he hadn't been there to challenge or encourage me. Nonetheless, I have found that he encourages me to live a godly life the most when I see him living a godly life.
My wife and I recently had our second child (Meghan Colleen) and life has been somewhat hectic. I took a break from the chaos the other day and called up my friend to see if he wanted to go to a local coffee house and study together. I met him there as planned but before he began studying, I noticed that he was spending some time in the Word and journaling. I hadn't done so in a couple of weeks and, quite frankly, watching him spend time in the Word created a longing desire for me to do the same.
I think that this type of "accountability" or encouragement is one of the most affective means of leading others closer to God. While it will often be beneficial and necessary for me to exhort or confront my friends and family concerning our relationships and walks with the Lord, I think a godly lifestyle on my part will always resonate louder and give ample opportunity for the Holy Spirit to personally encourage or convict those around me.
I thank God for the believers He has placed around me.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Come, Let Us Return to the Lord
I found this beautiful response to God's judgment in Hosea 6 this morning. I thought I would share it:
"Come, let us return to the Lord.I've been studying the book of Hosea for a while now and I'm amazed at how many references there are to the coming king. This morning, I praise God for His faithfulness to us in the midst of our unfaithfulness towards Him... "so let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn..."
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the thrid day
That we may live before Him.
So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth."
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Obedience to the Word of God
Yesterday I posted about my desire to wed my doctrine more securely to my life.
Last night I found an old friend's blog. He recently renamed it "The Champion of Truth (when it benefits me)". Previously it was only "The Champion of Truth." His reason for appending "when it benefits me" to his blog title can be found here. In short, he was convicted by the same "divorce" concept God has been teaching me about lately.
This morning, I began reading the Old Testament book of Hosea and noticed the obvious connection between verse two and verse three of chapter one. God told Hosea to take an adulteress wife (verse 2) and he did (verse 3). Chapter one records no hesitations by Hosea, no questioning God and no disobedience on his part. This is in stark contrast to the people of Israel who God has asked Hosea to rebuke on his behalf.
I'm thankful to God for His continual conviction in this area and hope that it will lead to a sincere change in my character for the good.
Last night I found an old friend's blog. He recently renamed it "The Champion of Truth (when it benefits me)". Previously it was only "The Champion of Truth." His reason for appending "when it benefits me" to his blog title can be found here. In short, he was convicted by the same "divorce" concept God has been teaching me about lately.
This morning, I began reading the Old Testament book of Hosea and noticed the obvious connection between verse two and verse three of chapter one. God told Hosea to take an adulteress wife (verse 2) and he did (verse 3). Chapter one records no hesitations by Hosea, no questioning God and no disobedience on his part. This is in stark contrast to the people of Israel who God has asked Hosea to rebuke on his behalf.
I'm thankful to God for His continual conviction in this area and hope that it will lead to a sincere change in my character for the good.
Monday, December 17, 2007
A Doctrine Divorced from Life
Found within the introduction to Bonhoeffer's Life Together is the following testimony to his life:
This quote is important to me because it says what I'm searching for. In the course of my seminary education, I feel that I've somewhat divorced my intellectual studies from my life. I find myself constantly thinking about and questioning theology, but failing to live that which I study. If I were to study a theology that represents what I live, I am afraid to admit what the titles of the books might sound like or what the topics found within those books might be.
I look forward to reading Bonhoeffer because it is apparent that his life theology echoed his lectures and writings.
"For him, Christianity could never be merely intellectual theory, a doctrine divorced from life, or mystical emotion, but always it must be responsible, obedient action, the discipleship of Christ in every situation of concrete everyday life, personal and pubic. And it was this that led him to prison and death."While I've opened this book with the intention to read it several times within the last five to six years, I have never made it through the first chapter. It seems that school or work always gets in the way. Though my work has by no means lessened, I am now free from school and look forward to reading more often.
This quote is important to me because it says what I'm searching for. In the course of my seminary education, I feel that I've somewhat divorced my intellectual studies from my life. I find myself constantly thinking about and questioning theology, but failing to live that which I study. If I were to study a theology that represents what I live, I am afraid to admit what the titles of the books might sound like or what the topics found within those books might be.
I look forward to reading Bonhoeffer because it is apparent that his life theology echoed his lectures and writings.
Does Heaven Limit Our Freedom?
I ran across this post from John Piper in my feed reader this morning... very interesting. I've never read the essay that he references, but I think I may take the time to do so in the near future.
In short, the question revolves around the lack of sin in heaven. Does God revoke our ability to sin or is the desire to sin simply overwhelmed by the presence of God? That may be excluding a middle somewhere... I'll have to read the entire essay and let you know. The essay is by Edwards (didn't see that one coming) and is quite long.
In short, the question revolves around the lack of sin in heaven. Does God revoke our ability to sin or is the desire to sin simply overwhelmed by the presence of God? That may be excluding a middle somewhere... I'll have to read the entire essay and let you know. The essay is by Edwards (didn't see that one coming) and is quite long.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A Biblical Approach to a Secular Christmas
There seems to be three primary reactions that Christians have to the secular extravaganza surrounding Christmas. In general, I can observe those who indulge, those who abstain, and those who ride the fence. Concerning that third group, I find its members largely marked by indecisiveness brought forth from the fear of being wrong, assumed practicality, and ambiguous gut feelings. I have been a member of the third group for several years now.
My goal this season was to remove myself from the third group and to find a home among either the indulgers or the abstainers. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the third group I must reject, but rather, the indecisiveness that is so prevalent among them.
Christians should not indulge, abstain, or remain indecisive in the secular celebration of Christmas. Rather, we should apply here the same biblical teachings that we observe throughout the rest of the year. Scripture has made it abundantly clear that we are not to love the world or the things of the world (1 John). At the same time, however, it is taught that we should not remove ourselves completely from the culture in which God has placed us. In light of the fact that Scripture has required separation but not removal, and because Scripture does not directly command believers to remember the birth of Christ, I have come to the conclusion that a happy medium can be found outside of indecisiveness that has previously prevented me from committing to either of the extremes.
Christians should not indulge in the secular celebration
There are those Christians that give no thought to the secular celebration, the frame of mind that encourages it, or what their biblical response to that celebration might look like. Most of these Christians are not purposely neglecting their biblical response. Rather, they have allowed their lack of knowledge to entrap them in sin. The Bible condemns the total indulgence of secular or worldly affairs. As believers, our approach to the secular celebration of Christmas must be directed with the same wisdom and judgment that we approach our daily lives in a secular world. The extent to which we indulge in secular activities is directly related to our Christian obligations.
I find three problems with total indulgence. We neglect our obligation to be separated from the world. We neglect our obligation to have no gods before the Lord, and we neglect our obligation to be content in what we have been given. Possibly the greatest concern that Christians should have during the Christmas season should be the materialistic mindset that drives our culture. This mindset is what makes it inappropriate for a Christian to indulge completely in the secular celebrations surrounding Christmas. When we allow the pursuit of gifts and the joy of receiving to turn into a god, we instantly neglect our obligation to be separated from the world, to have no other god than our God, and to be content in all we have. One cannot be completely immersed in what Christmas has become to the secular world without at the same time chasing the materialistic dream.
Christians should not abstain from the secular celebration
It is true that Christians should not indulge in the secular celebration to the extent that we forsake our biblical obligations, but it is just as clear from Scripture that we are not to abstain completely from the culture in which God has placed us. There exists a large population of believers that would be pleased if Christians did not associate with anything secular at all. Following the model of Jesus, it is clear from scripture that we are intended to be actively involved in the culture around us. Furthermore, while the Christmas season, as celebrated by believers, is extremely beneficial to both believers and non-believers alike, it is not set aside in Scripture as an ordinance that must be practiced with specifications. On account of this, I have a hard time accepting arguments which deny the Christian any involvement in the secular celebration. If this were the case, would we not have to apply the same practices to birthdays, retirement parties, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and even the weekend sale at the mall? All of these are secular events. Some of them even carry very strong Christian values with them. I do not believe that I, as a Christian, have any more obligation to abstain from the secular celebration of Christmas than I do to abstain from the secular celebration of Mother's Day. Rather, as a believer, I must employ the wisdom and guidance that God has promised me through His gift of the Holy Spirit.
Christians should apply the same biblical standards to a secular Christmas that we apply to our lives the other 11 months of the year
The longer that I continued to think about this dilemma, the more I was convinced that it wasn't actually a dilemma at all. I had developed my bad theology because of my poor understanding of spiritual discipline and an incorrect understanding of my biblical obligations towards the Christmas story.
As to my poor understanding of spiritual discipline, it has become evident to me through the writing of this post that my lack of spiritual discipline is not a seasonal problem, but rather, a lifestyle problem. This is the indulger inside of me. Putting up a Christmas tree in my living room is not a sin in and of itself. It is only a sin when I value it above my relationship with God. I anticipate bringing it home more than I anticipate my Savior's return. I get frustrated trying to take it through the front door. I am given to pride when is finally standing tall and decorated in the corner. The Christmas tree is not the problem. The problem is my heart. Sin can manifest itself during the secular celebration of Christmas just as easily as it can manifest itself during the final exam season.
As to my incorrect understanding of my biblical obligations, I realized how shallow it is for me to think that God would place such a high importance on celebrating His Son's birth only once a year. The fact is that Scripture doesn't even ask me to celebrate Christ's birth during December. Rather, it requires that I continually look for my Savior's second advent. One of the ways in which I am able to do this is by recalling God's faithfulness to Adam and Eve, Abraham, David, and all of humanity to send our Redeemer in His first advent. With this truth in mind, I realize that what believers typically understand as the Christmas story should be celebrated year round with the anticipation of Christ's second advent.
Conclusion
So what will I be doing this Christmas season? I'll be spending time with my family opening presents in front of a Christmas tree because it's December in a secular world and talking about God's great gift in Jesus because that's what being a Christian is about... regardless of the month.
This post is part of a synchroblog. The topic for December was "Redeeming the Season." You will find the other posts in this month's synchroblog below:
Remembering the Incarnation at The Assembling of the Church
Recapturing the Spirit of Christmas at Igneous Quill
Swords into Plowshares at Calacirian
Fanning the Flickering Flame of Advent at Out of the Cocoon
Lainie Petersen at Headspace
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian
Brian Riley at at Charis Shalom
Secularizing Christmas at JohnSmulo.com
There's Something About Mary at Hello Said Jenelle
Geocentric Versus Anthropocentric Holydays at No More
Celebrating Christmas in a Pluralistic Society at Journeys in Between
The Ghost of Christmas Past at Decompressing Faith
Redeeming the season -- season of redemption by Steve Hayes
What's So Bad About Christmas? at One Hand Clapping
The Obligation of Christmas at JonathanBrink.com
A Biblical Response to a Secular Christmas by Glenn Ansley
My goal this season was to remove myself from the third group and to find a home among either the indulgers or the abstainers. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the third group I must reject, but rather, the indecisiveness that is so prevalent among them.
Christians should not indulge, abstain, or remain indecisive in the secular celebration of Christmas. Rather, we should apply here the same biblical teachings that we observe throughout the rest of the year. Scripture has made it abundantly clear that we are not to love the world or the things of the world (1 John). At the same time, however, it is taught that we should not remove ourselves completely from the culture in which God has placed us. In light of the fact that Scripture has required separation but not removal, and because Scripture does not directly command believers to remember the birth of Christ, I have come to the conclusion that a happy medium can be found outside of indecisiveness that has previously prevented me from committing to either of the extremes.
Christians should not indulge in the secular celebration
There are those Christians that give no thought to the secular celebration, the frame of mind that encourages it, or what their biblical response to that celebration might look like. Most of these Christians are not purposely neglecting their biblical response. Rather, they have allowed their lack of knowledge to entrap them in sin. The Bible condemns the total indulgence of secular or worldly affairs. As believers, our approach to the secular celebration of Christmas must be directed with the same wisdom and judgment that we approach our daily lives in a secular world. The extent to which we indulge in secular activities is directly related to our Christian obligations.
I find three problems with total indulgence. We neglect our obligation to be separated from the world. We neglect our obligation to have no gods before the Lord, and we neglect our obligation to be content in what we have been given. Possibly the greatest concern that Christians should have during the Christmas season should be the materialistic mindset that drives our culture. This mindset is what makes it inappropriate for a Christian to indulge completely in the secular celebrations surrounding Christmas. When we allow the pursuit of gifts and the joy of receiving to turn into a god, we instantly neglect our obligation to be separated from the world, to have no other god than our God, and to be content in all we have. One cannot be completely immersed in what Christmas has become to the secular world without at the same time chasing the materialistic dream.
Christians should not abstain from the secular celebration
It is true that Christians should not indulge in the secular celebration to the extent that we forsake our biblical obligations, but it is just as clear from Scripture that we are not to abstain completely from the culture in which God has placed us. There exists a large population of believers that would be pleased if Christians did not associate with anything secular at all. Following the model of Jesus, it is clear from scripture that we are intended to be actively involved in the culture around us. Furthermore, while the Christmas season, as celebrated by believers, is extremely beneficial to both believers and non-believers alike, it is not set aside in Scripture as an ordinance that must be practiced with specifications. On account of this, I have a hard time accepting arguments which deny the Christian any involvement in the secular celebration. If this were the case, would we not have to apply the same practices to birthdays, retirement parties, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and even the weekend sale at the mall? All of these are secular events. Some of them even carry very strong Christian values with them. I do not believe that I, as a Christian, have any more obligation to abstain from the secular celebration of Christmas than I do to abstain from the secular celebration of Mother's Day. Rather, as a believer, I must employ the wisdom and guidance that God has promised me through His gift of the Holy Spirit.
Christians should apply the same biblical standards to a secular Christmas that we apply to our lives the other 11 months of the year
The longer that I continued to think about this dilemma, the more I was convinced that it wasn't actually a dilemma at all. I had developed my bad theology because of my poor understanding of spiritual discipline and an incorrect understanding of my biblical obligations towards the Christmas story.
As to my poor understanding of spiritual discipline, it has become evident to me through the writing of this post that my lack of spiritual discipline is not a seasonal problem, but rather, a lifestyle problem. This is the indulger inside of me. Putting up a Christmas tree in my living room is not a sin in and of itself. It is only a sin when I value it above my relationship with God. I anticipate bringing it home more than I anticipate my Savior's return. I get frustrated trying to take it through the front door. I am given to pride when is finally standing tall and decorated in the corner. The Christmas tree is not the problem. The problem is my heart. Sin can manifest itself during the secular celebration of Christmas just as easily as it can manifest itself during the final exam season.
As to my incorrect understanding of my biblical obligations, I realized how shallow it is for me to think that God would place such a high importance on celebrating His Son's birth only once a year. The fact is that Scripture doesn't even ask me to celebrate Christ's birth during December. Rather, it requires that I continually look for my Savior's second advent. One of the ways in which I am able to do this is by recalling God's faithfulness to Adam and Eve, Abraham, David, and all of humanity to send our Redeemer in His first advent. With this truth in mind, I realize that what believers typically understand as the Christmas story should be celebrated year round with the anticipation of Christ's second advent.
Conclusion
So what will I be doing this Christmas season? I'll be spending time with my family opening presents in front of a Christmas tree because it's December in a secular world and talking about God's great gift in Jesus because that's what being a Christian is about... regardless of the month.
This post is part of a synchroblog. The topic for December was "Redeeming the Season." You will find the other posts in this month's synchroblog below:
Remembering the Incarnation at The Assembling of the Church
Recapturing the Spirit of Christmas at Igneous Quill
Swords into Plowshares at Calacirian
Fanning the Flickering Flame of Advent at Out of the Cocoon
Lainie Petersen at Headspace
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian
Brian Riley at at Charis Shalom
Secularizing Christmas at JohnSmulo.com
There's Something About Mary at Hello Said Jenelle
Geocentric Versus Anthropocentric Holydays at No More
Celebrating Christmas in a Pluralistic Society at Journeys in Between
The Ghost of Christmas Past at Decompressing Faith
Redeeming the season -- season of redemption by Steve Hayes
What's So Bad About Christmas? at One Hand Clapping
The Obligation of Christmas at JonathanBrink.com
A Biblical Response to a Secular Christmas by Glenn Ansley
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Bumper Sticker Theology
I saw a bumper sticker this morning that said "1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given".It's cute, but it's also bad theology. Unless you hold to a universal atonement, something about this bumper sticker should bother you. While there's not really anything that I can (or should) do about bumper stickers like this one, they do make me think about how often I allow bumper sticker theology into my own life.
I think that we, as believers, are extremely prone to neglecting our verbal theology. Where we are thoughtful in our written doctrine, we are often irresponsible in our its verbal counterpart. When I fail to think about what I am saying, I do a disservice to the Lord and to the church.
So, while the bumper sticker's intended message completely missed the mark this morning, I am thankful that it has reminded me how important the words I choose to express my faith are to those around me.
I think that we, as believers, are extremely prone to neglecting our verbal theology. Where we are thoughtful in our written doctrine, we are often irresponsible in our its verbal counterpart. When I fail to think about what I am saying, I do a disservice to the Lord and to the church.
So, while the bumper sticker's intended message completely missed the mark this morning, I am thankful that it has reminded me how important the words I choose to express my faith are to those around me.
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