One of the more fascinating movements in modern church history is the current movement of thousands of churches toward engaging their communities missionally. This meaning that they are living out the Gospel by meeting real needs of real people in the community surrounding their local church in order to meet them with the transformational Gospel of God.
In the past year, God has been so gracious to destroy my soul over and over again with the reality of the Gospel- that Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, became sin on my behalf and gave Himself up to horrific torture and belittlement on a cross that I might be reconciled to Him and live on mission with God's people for the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)- so much so that it feels as if I have been saved and called into fellowship and worship again. God has relentlessly pursued me and it is incredibly humbling to reflect on this reality. Sin dominates my heart and soul so much at times that it seems all I can see is darkness and insignificance. The Gospel of God dominates my soul even further with Grace and gives me hope, victory and freedom to live life on mission.
Out of this new and profound understanding of the Gospel that God has graciously hounded me with has been birthed a passion and zeal to live life on mission in order to engage lost and broken souls with this same Gospel. Many churches and Non-Profit organizations have formed and are moving forward globally with their entire vision being to engage broken and impoverished areas and people by meeting their needs and bringing hope to their communities. The success of these movements has gained much notoriety in the media and among other churches and social justice groups and has caused movement in many organizations. It has been very exciting and emotional to see so many churches, non-profits, and other organizations give generously to meet the needs of the broken and oppressed locally and globally. Personally, I have been torn apart by what God is doing around the world through His people and have been compelled to be a part of this movement as well and to make it a part of my DNA as a Christ follower.
There is one prayer I have- That as the Church Universal would pour our energy, vitality and soul into being a part of God's Movement in the world rather than the popular, cool, exciting, and successful movements of the day. This is not the first time we have seen a movement like this in America, and it will certainly not be the last. History is in many ways cyclical, and, should Christ delay His coming, the Church will slump back into a pit of apathy for the nations and the lost, and God will revive us again.
The idea is to live our lives devoted to His movement. Not our own. Let us plead with the Almighty, Sovereign, and Gracious God of the Universe that He would grant us the privilege of being apart of the movement He has summoned His people to- To join the Great Gospel of God (Mark 1:15) by engaging the world in The Restorative and Redeeming Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jul 14, 2009
A little bearing of the Soul
Confession: I care about the opinions of man way to much. This has been a struggle of mine for a very long time and I first realized it my freshman year in college. Since then I have constantly battled the temptation to do or say things for man's glory as well as to be reserved out of fear of man's judgment.
This care of man's opinion manifests itself in boasting, lying, being shy and being gregarious. I boast for glory, lie for glory, am shy out of the fear of judgment and am gregarious so people will like me. I say these in the present tense because I am far from overcoming this temptation. God and I have made great strides against it but the problem is me. I slip back in to my default mode. If, for a couple of days I don't remind myself to worry about God's thoughts of me instead of others, I drift back into my old routine.
Why do these opinions bear so much weight on me? When the opinions are negative (a mocking laugh, a glare, even an imagined looked of disdain) they make me unhappy. When the opinions are positive (a compliment) they really make me happy. Shouldn't my joy constantly be based upon God's love for me?
The root of this is singular: Idolatry.
David Clarkson say's in his discourse on idolatry that there are thirteen acts of worship (he explains them at length). Mindfulness, Intention, Resolution, Love, Trust, Fear, Hope, Desire, Delight, Zeal, Gratitude and Industry. Of the thirteen I commit idolatry (when it comes to caring what men think) in the areas of Mindfulness, Intention and Delight.
Mindfulness-"That which we are most mindful of—we make our God." If, when I am surrounded by a group of people and all I think about is how to impress or how to avoid being judged negatively, I am being mindful. That is just one example. But often I am definitely mindful of others opinions rather than God's opinion of me. This mindfulness is due only to God (Ecc. 12:1).
I'm not going to go through all thirteen (you should it's a great read, pretty convicting) but trust me, I know I am committing idolatry when I care so much about what people think.
The fact of the matter is: My joy should be constantly based upon God's love for me and God's love is the reason He should be worshiped above all. I really don't need to impress anyone. I don't need to fear anyone. As long as I seek to fervently glorify God, it'll be alright.
C.S. Lewis says in The Weight of Glory: "We should hardly dare to ask that any notice be taken of ourselves. But we pine. The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely this point of view, the promise of glory, in the sense described, becomes highly relevant to our deep desire. For glory means good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment and welcome into the heart of things...Perhaps it seems rather crude to describe glory as the fact of being 'noticed' by God."
I often wonder why, when we do an act for God and then, like a young child to his father cry out "Hey, look what I did! I did this for you!"? We should seek the notice of God, not man...What other way than to tell God what you did rather than those around us? Doing so may make one more inclined tell God of his "good deed" instead of others. This childlike enthusiasm for pleasing God could stir up a passion and enjoyment for being righteous. I think it would be a good remedy for me if I took pleasure in my victories and works for God and enjoy them by saying to our Lord "God look what I did! That was for you alone!"
This isn't a self-inflicting "Oh my Lord I am so depraved, I am the wretched scum of the earth" pity post. Yes, I am depraved, but I've been redeemed and I have so much joy in the cross. This post was for Spiritual growth purposes for the community (me included). I have no doubt that at least a few people have read this can relate in some way, there's nothing new under the sun and I am not alone in my sin, someone somewhere has done the same thing.
As Steve Timmis says in Total Church "Biblcial Spirituality is not about contemplation; it is about reading and meditating on the word of God. It is not about detached silence; it is about passionate petition. It is not about solitude; it is about participation in community." This book lays our three practical actions for biblical spirituality: Prioritize prayer with others over prayer alone, we must not separate our relationship with God from our relationship with others and we need to exhort and encourage one another daily. I hope I may have accomplished the latter two in this post. I'm not a perfect man and I am not always right, to write like I was both would be a lie and prideful. I want to daily loose control of my life to Christ and I think the best way to do this is with others. Lets loose control.
Soli Deo Gloria
This care of man's opinion manifests itself in boasting, lying, being shy and being gregarious. I boast for glory, lie for glory, am shy out of the fear of judgment and am gregarious so people will like me. I say these in the present tense because I am far from overcoming this temptation. God and I have made great strides against it but the problem is me. I slip back in to my default mode. If, for a couple of days I don't remind myself to worry about God's thoughts of me instead of others, I drift back into my old routine.
Why do these opinions bear so much weight on me? When the opinions are negative (a mocking laugh, a glare, even an imagined looked of disdain) they make me unhappy. When the opinions are positive (a compliment) they really make me happy. Shouldn't my joy constantly be based upon God's love for me?
The root of this is singular: Idolatry.
David Clarkson say's in his discourse on idolatry that there are thirteen acts of worship (he explains them at length). Mindfulness, Intention, Resolution, Love, Trust, Fear, Hope, Desire, Delight, Zeal, Gratitude and Industry. Of the thirteen I commit idolatry (when it comes to caring what men think) in the areas of Mindfulness, Intention and Delight.
Mindfulness-"That which we are most mindful of—we make our God." If, when I am surrounded by a group of people and all I think about is how to impress or how to avoid being judged negatively, I am being mindful. That is just one example. But often I am definitely mindful of others opinions rather than God's opinion of me. This mindfulness is due only to God (Ecc. 12:1).
I'm not going to go through all thirteen (you should it's a great read, pretty convicting) but trust me, I know I am committing idolatry when I care so much about what people think.
The fact of the matter is: My joy should be constantly based upon God's love for me and God's love is the reason He should be worshiped above all. I really don't need to impress anyone. I don't need to fear anyone. As long as I seek to fervently glorify God, it'll be alright.
C.S. Lewis says in The Weight of Glory: "We should hardly dare to ask that any notice be taken of ourselves. But we pine. The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely this point of view, the promise of glory, in the sense described, becomes highly relevant to our deep desire. For glory means good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment and welcome into the heart of things...Perhaps it seems rather crude to describe glory as the fact of being 'noticed' by God."
I often wonder why, when we do an act for God and then, like a young child to his father cry out "Hey, look what I did! I did this for you!"? We should seek the notice of God, not man...What other way than to tell God what you did rather than those around us? Doing so may make one more inclined tell God of his "good deed" instead of others. This childlike enthusiasm for pleasing God could stir up a passion and enjoyment for being righteous. I think it would be a good remedy for me if I took pleasure in my victories and works for God and enjoy them by saying to our Lord "God look what I did! That was for you alone!"
This isn't a self-inflicting "Oh my Lord I am so depraved, I am the wretched scum of the earth" pity post. Yes, I am depraved, but I've been redeemed and I have so much joy in the cross. This post was for Spiritual growth purposes for the community (me included). I have no doubt that at least a few people have read this can relate in some way, there's nothing new under the sun and I am not alone in my sin, someone somewhere has done the same thing.
As Steve Timmis says in Total Church "Biblcial Spirituality is not about contemplation; it is about reading and meditating on the word of God. It is not about detached silence; it is about passionate petition. It is not about solitude; it is about participation in community." This book lays our three practical actions for biblical spirituality: Prioritize prayer with others over prayer alone, we must not separate our relationship with God from our relationship with others and we need to exhort and encourage one another daily. I hope I may have accomplished the latter two in this post. I'm not a perfect man and I am not always right, to write like I was both would be a lie and prideful. I want to daily loose control of my life to Christ and I think the best way to do this is with others. Lets loose control.
Soli Deo Gloria
A Great Example
To learn truths from scripture there are a couple of routes you could take. Different principles come to us in the way you observe the text. There are some doctrines that are based from straightforward statements by Jesus in the Gospels and by the various authors of other books. For example, the great commission is pretty straight forward in Matthew 28:18-20. This is the basis of our belief that we are to be missional disciples of Christ.
Another way that principles are gained from the Word of God is by examining situations as they are described in narrative. The key in all of this is repetition. If an event occurs many times based on the same thing it is safe to say that this is a norm. Some say that that speaking in tongues is the sign that one is filled with the Holy Spirit. They gather this from the three times that speaking in tongues is mentioned in Acts chapters 2,11 and 13 (I am not debating whether gifts have ceased or not just whether speaking in tongues is normative when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone). But the truth of the matter is that of the seven times that the Holy Spirit is mentioned coming upon people in Acts (2:1-4; 4:8; 4:31; 6:8-7:59; 9:17-20; 13:50-52; 19:6-8) the repeated action in every instance was boldness of speech. Speaking in tongues occurred only three of the seven times. It would be true to say that boldness in proclaiming the word of God is a sign that one is filled with the Spirit rather than speaking in tongues.
One other way that a principle can be gathered is by observing a godly individual in the scriptures. Great men and women like Paul, Daniel, Esther and of course Jesus. With all of this we must have common sense. We are not all called to debate Greek stoics on Mars Hill or be thrown into a lions den or save the Jewish people from being exterminated by an ancient king and especially die on a cross for the sins of all. What we look for is the character underlying their actions. Paul was humble, Daniel was principled, Esther was bold and Jesus...well he was perfect. We can't emulate that perfection but we can try. Trying to be like Jesus is our goal as Christians though we'll never succeed in this life.
Aft of this long winded spiel on interpreting the Bible I would like to get to the point of my post: Jesus as an example of love. This may sound cliche, and this may be true but Paul said himself that he repeated key truths to his readers for their memory. I am in no way Paul but I don't think we can repeat enough the necessity for us to love like Christ or give remembrance to his love.
Basically the point that I am trying to reach is that the Divine is our picture of how to love. The instances in Scripture that exemplify Christ's love are many. Jesus said He loved us and so proved that love by going to such lengths as to even hang upon a cross and bear the sins of every human under the the sun. He did this so we, who are so grievously undeserving, could enjoy the grace and showering blessings of the Lord. Jesus served to us this reality: that true joy could be ours, and peace...and the greatest situation ever imaginable, communion with the Divine. Even before God told man that he was loved, He was working, a plan was in motion (Gen. 3:15), His love is ever being manifested throughout time.
We are called to love. To love God, to love those around us (Matt. 36-38). In whatever case, our love should be predicated upon God's love for us and how it was and forever is being worked out. In our love for God actions amplify our words. A follower of Christ bears fruit of that following. Actions of love are the truths of love being manifested in reality just as works for God is the truth of your love for Him being manifested in reality. If you truly Love God, serve Him. If you truly love one another, serve each other.We were served by Christ when he carried the most tremendous and super-voluminous burden that could ever be imagined, our sin. We should serve each other, let us carry burdens for love and Christ's example and forever let the end purpose be the glory of God. That is God's purpose for our lives.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
If we are a believers, Christ lives in us now. Our desires should be his desires. He loved us, let us love others. We have to loose control of our lives daily. That's the process of sanctification, daily giving up control and daily giving control to Christ. Let's loose control.
Soli Deo Gloria
Another way that principles are gained from the Word of God is by examining situations as they are described in narrative. The key in all of this is repetition. If an event occurs many times based on the same thing it is safe to say that this is a norm. Some say that that speaking in tongues is the sign that one is filled with the Holy Spirit. They gather this from the three times that speaking in tongues is mentioned in Acts chapters 2,11 and 13 (I am not debating whether gifts have ceased or not just whether speaking in tongues is normative when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone). But the truth of the matter is that of the seven times that the Holy Spirit is mentioned coming upon people in Acts (2:1-4; 4:8; 4:31; 6:8-7:59; 9:17-20; 13:50-52; 19:6-8) the repeated action in every instance was boldness of speech. Speaking in tongues occurred only three of the seven times. It would be true to say that boldness in proclaiming the word of God is a sign that one is filled with the Spirit rather than speaking in tongues.
One other way that a principle can be gathered is by observing a godly individual in the scriptures. Great men and women like Paul, Daniel, Esther and of course Jesus. With all of this we must have common sense. We are not all called to debate Greek stoics on Mars Hill or be thrown into a lions den or save the Jewish people from being exterminated by an ancient king and especially die on a cross for the sins of all. What we look for is the character underlying their actions. Paul was humble, Daniel was principled, Esther was bold and Jesus...well he was perfect. We can't emulate that perfection but we can try. Trying to be like Jesus is our goal as Christians though we'll never succeed in this life.
Aft of this long winded spiel on interpreting the Bible I would like to get to the point of my post: Jesus as an example of love. This may sound cliche, and this may be true but Paul said himself that he repeated key truths to his readers for their memory. I am in no way Paul but I don't think we can repeat enough the necessity for us to love like Christ or give remembrance to his love.
Basically the point that I am trying to reach is that the Divine is our picture of how to love. The instances in Scripture that exemplify Christ's love are many. Jesus said He loved us and so proved that love by going to such lengths as to even hang upon a cross and bear the sins of every human under the the sun. He did this so we, who are so grievously undeserving, could enjoy the grace and showering blessings of the Lord. Jesus served to us this reality: that true joy could be ours, and peace...and the greatest situation ever imaginable, communion with the Divine. Even before God told man that he was loved, He was working, a plan was in motion (Gen. 3:15), His love is ever being manifested throughout time.
We are called to love. To love God, to love those around us (Matt. 36-38). In whatever case, our love should be predicated upon God's love for us and how it was and forever is being worked out. In our love for God actions amplify our words. A follower of Christ bears fruit of that following. Actions of love are the truths of love being manifested in reality just as works for God is the truth of your love for Him being manifested in reality. If you truly Love God, serve Him. If you truly love one another, serve each other.We were served by Christ when he carried the most tremendous and super-voluminous burden that could ever be imagined, our sin. We should serve each other, let us carry burdens for love and Christ's example and forever let the end purpose be the glory of God. That is God's purpose for our lives.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
If we are a believers, Christ lives in us now. Our desires should be his desires. He loved us, let us love others. We have to loose control of our lives daily. That's the process of sanctification, daily giving up control and daily giving control to Christ. Let's loose control.
Soli Deo Gloria
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