“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then misapplying the wrong remedies.” ~ Groucho Marx
“The trouble with radicals is that they only read radical literature, and the trouble with conservatives is that they don't read anything.” ~ Thomas Nixon Carver
I think I first became slightly annoyed and dissatisfied with politics at the tender age of nine. You see I was personally inconvenienced by politics and politicians in general when all three major networks agreed to rotate the live coverage of the Watergate hearings for 4 months. I would come home from school looking for the mindless distraction of watching my favorite cartoon or age appropriate programming, only to find various Senators and Representatives grilling Dean, Liddy, Haldeman and Ehrichlman. It’s been all down hill from there. I saw a bumper sticker this week that simply read; “Elect somebody different.” Let’s face it; politics, in general boils down to the fact that we have been personally inconvenienced in some way, shape or form and we want something different.
I am surrounded by conservatives and I am okay with that. I know that their political position for the most part has been formulated by their world-view and Christian convictions. One of the downsides however is that it is easy to fall into the trap of getting insular where you think everyone shares your same political ideals. When I was in college I got caught up in the political fervor of the era and joined Young Republicans and had the opportunity to hear Ronald Reagan speak in person on the campus of a local community college. Looking back on my experience it is not surprising to me to see young Americans caught up in the current climate of “Hope and Change.” I am by conviction conservative in my politics but I am keenly aware that neither major political party can claim the moral high ground because that belongs to God, and God alone. I cannot reconcile how either party can claim the moniker of "compassionate" or "caring" when neither exhibits any civility or respect to the other or it's constituents. To be frank, I have grown weary of both parties and the endless rhetoric that the process produces. I suppose this next statement only betrays my cynicism, but whether either party cares to admit it, I think both sides of the aisle may have a little "lemming DNA" sprinkled into the gene pool.
At the onset I want to caution you not to misunderstand my view of politics. They are a necessary institution set up by God. The Apostle Paul tells us very clearly in Romans chapter 13 that we are to be subject to governing authorities and that resisting them is resisting what God has appointed. Our general posture as Christians is that of submission but not mindless obedience. Government holds no terror for the believer who knows God is sovereign over all things. Solomon reminded us of this when he penned; “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.”
I may not understand, but I do respect those who feel called to wade into the quagmire of politics. I agree with Plato when he states; “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” I am interested in politics, just not to the same level as others. I try to stay abreast of current issues and unless providentially hindered, I always make it a point to vote. I also do not considered myself particularly “enlightened” and I have two good resources that remind me that I am not as clever as I think I am; my lovely wife and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
I read with a bemused grin many posts on social networking pages of countdowns to the next election and comments related to various parties’ slogans and representatives. Often we make light of the ruling party's tag line, and one that I frequently see is related to the current administration’s campaign promise for Hope and Change. But I have a question for my fellow Christians; how is the true hope and true change that comes with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ working in us and for us? And what are we doing to bring that real Source of hope and change to those still looking for it?
Christianity by it’s very nature is an optimistic faith. The Bible repeatedly talks about our future and current condition in God’s economy of hope, peace and joy. How is that working for you and me in our daily pursuit of God and His righteousness? If we truly believe that we have real hope and change this should be written all over our lives in the way we interact with one another and with those still looking for it in anything and everything other that it’s true Author.
Recently my Pastor preached a sermon on Matthew 5:6 which states; “"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” He spoke about the believer’s desire for both personal righteousness and moral purity, but also how we should share in God’s desire for righteousness and justice in this present world. If anything the current political climate should make us all aware that the world is seeking after something to satisfy them, but they are just looking for hope and change in the wrong places. That desire is something that can be used as an opportunity to present the Gospel rather than a point of ridicule. We have been blessed with the reward of lasting peace, hope and joy and hopefully that has been evidenced by an immediate and ongoing change in the way we live. Paraphrasing the message of my Pastor’s sermon; that change or pursuit of righteousness which starts at the moment of our salvation is marked by an ongoing hunger for change that is continual, concentrated and all consuming. If our hope and change is marked by this it cannot help but bleed over into how we view, interact and affect the world around us.
I have posted these statements by John MacArthur before but I think they bear repeating. “We cannot protect or expand the cause of Christ by human political and social activism, no matter how great or sincere the efforts. Ours is a spiritual battle waged against worldly ideologies and dogmas arrayed against God, and we achieve victory over them only with the weapon of Scripture. God has above all else called the church to bring sinful people to salvation through Jesus Christ. If we do not evangelize the lost and make disciples of new converts, nothing else we do for people—no matter how beneficial it seems—is of any eternal consequence.”
I respect and encourage every Christian who feels called to be actively involved in politics and the political process, and would not try to dissuade anyone from doing so. God grants each of us with unique opportunities, platforms and forums to proclaim His matchless grace and mercy. We need to use these opportunities so He can bring lasting hope and change to His creation. How is our hope and change working in us?
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” ~ Titus 2:14-15
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
That's my King
Recently a fellow church member posted this video on their social networking page and I found it to be very inspiring. It is based on a sermon titled "Seven Way King" by Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockeridge. With a moniker like that it is not very surprising that he ultimately became a minister.
According to Wikipedia; "Lockridge was born in Robertson County, Texas, the oldest of eight children and the son of a Baptist minister. A graduate of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, he worked for two years as a high school English teacher. In 1940 in Dallas, he felt led to preach. In 1941 he married Virgil Mae Thomas but they never had any children."
Wikipedia goes on to say; "In 1942, he accepted his first pastorate at Fourth Ward Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. In August 1952, he was named pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego where he served until retiring in 1993. During Lockridge's tenure at Calvary Baptist, a predominantly African-American congregation, his ministry reached more than 100,000 people. He preached at crusades, revivals, religious rallies and evangelistic conferences around the world." Here is how Dr. Lockeridge presented His King, Jesus Christ:
"My King was born King.
The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King.
He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King.
He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King.
He’s the King of righteousness.
He’s the King of the ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of glory.
He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him?
Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me.
Do you know my King?
David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork.
My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
Well, well, He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
That’s my King.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s Savior.
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s honest.
He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.
Well, He’s the loftiest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That’s my King.
He’s the miracle of the age.
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He’s strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and
He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
Well, my King is the key of knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway of glory.
He’s the master of the mighty.
He’s the captain of the conquerors.
He’s the head of the heroes.
He’s the leader of the legislatures.
He’s the overseer of the over comers.
He’s the governor of governors.
He’s the prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah.
His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable.
He’s indescribable. Yes.
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him.
You can’t get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.
Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my King. Yeah.
He always has been and He always will be.
I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.
There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
You can't impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.
That’s my King! That’s my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power.
Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.
Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever.
How long is that?
And ever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen."
According to Wikipedia; "Lockridge was born in Robertson County, Texas, the oldest of eight children and the son of a Baptist minister. A graduate of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, he worked for two years as a high school English teacher. In 1940 in Dallas, he felt led to preach. In 1941 he married Virgil Mae Thomas but they never had any children."
Wikipedia goes on to say; "In 1942, he accepted his first pastorate at Fourth Ward Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. In August 1952, he was named pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego where he served until retiring in 1993. During Lockridge's tenure at Calvary Baptist, a predominantly African-American congregation, his ministry reached more than 100,000 people. He preached at crusades, revivals, religious rallies and evangelistic conferences around the world." Here is how Dr. Lockeridge presented His King, Jesus Christ:
"My King was born King.
The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King.
He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King.
He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King.
He’s the King of righteousness.
He’s the King of the ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of glory.
He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him?
Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me.
Do you know my King?
David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork.
My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
Well, well, He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
That’s my King.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s Savior.
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s honest.
He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.
Well, He’s the loftiest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That’s my King.
He’s the miracle of the age.
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He’s strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and
He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
Well, my King is the key of knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway of glory.
He’s the master of the mighty.
He’s the captain of the conquerors.
He’s the head of the heroes.
He’s the leader of the legislatures.
He’s the overseer of the over comers.
He’s the governor of governors.
He’s the prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah.
His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable.
He’s indescribable. Yes.
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him.
You can’t get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.
Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my King. Yeah.
He always has been and He always will be.
I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.
There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
You can't impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.
That’s my King! That’s my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power.
Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.
Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever.
How long is that?
And ever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen."
That's My King! from Albert Martin on Vimeo.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Time in a bottle
“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snow flake.” ~ Francis Bacon
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-16
As my wife and I were turning in for the night she remarked that in previous era’s we both have probably exceeded our life expectancy. Now that idea may seem discouraging to some, but for me I find that encouraging and inspiring. Through the miracle of modern science and the providence and grace of God the average life span for men and women has exponentially increased over the centuries. Have you stopped to consider why God is allowing us to live longer in this century and for what possible purpose?
What child (or adult) has not contemplated time travel or living in another time period? If you are Shirley MacLaine you already have, but I digress. While living in another era may sound like a lark, stop and ponder the average life expectancy in other time periods. If we lived in Classical Greece, Rome, Medieval times or even Colonial America our life would typically come to an end before we reached 30. Even up to the 1800’s the average life span did not exceed 40 years of age. But starting in the 1900’s it increased to 47 and increased each century to where in our current time the average life span has reached 76 years of age.
The Bible mentions the word "time" in more than 600 instances. Do we ever stop and consider the great gift of time we have been granted by God? Do we ever take a moment to contemplate just how we are using that time for His honor and glory? I am a history buff and one of the things that occasionally startles me is how God greatly used people at what I consider a very young age. But what I have convenient forgotten is that maybe these individuals had candles that burned brightly because they remembered their Creator in the days of their youth, (Ecclesiastes 12:1), and knew their time was limited to serve God. We in turn seem to fritter away our time and then get “serious about God” when we get older because we see the day light fading.
Many of us have heard the lines from Charles Thomas Studd’s poem “Only One Life” where he pens; “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Below is the poem in it’s entirety and it is worth contemplation.
Author: Charles Thomas Studd (1860-1931)
Missionary to China, India, and Africa
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will it's fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call,
I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Singer and song writer Jim Croce wrote a song in the 70’s called “Time in a Bottle” and some of the lyrics state; “But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them. I’ve looked around enough to know that you’re the one I want to go through time with.” Croce wrote these lyrics and never got the opportunity to see his creation become a hit on the pop charts. He died at age 30 in a plane crash. He says he looked around to find the one he wanted to go through time with, yet to my knowledge he tragically died not placing his trust in Jesus Christ and did not consider who and where he would spend all of eternity.
For the believer we need to keep in the forefront of our minds that God has granted our generation the amazing gift of more time; time that can be used to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world and time that can be spent honoring and glorifying God. Placing our faith in Jesus Christ gives us the greater gift of enjoying God forever.
I occasionally look back ruefully at my youth and wish I would have spent my time differently. But like Paul states in Philippians 3:13-14 I need to forget those things which are behind and press toward the mark. I know that each day I have left is a blessing from God and my desire is to burn brightly for Him. How are you and I redeeming the time? Don’t come to the end of your life with regret with the tragic thought of; “I’ve wasted it.”
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” ~ 2 Peter 3:8-9
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-16
As my wife and I were turning in for the night she remarked that in previous era’s we both have probably exceeded our life expectancy. Now that idea may seem discouraging to some, but for me I find that encouraging and inspiring. Through the miracle of modern science and the providence and grace of God the average life span for men and women has exponentially increased over the centuries. Have you stopped to consider why God is allowing us to live longer in this century and for what possible purpose?
What child (or adult) has not contemplated time travel or living in another time period? If you are Shirley MacLaine you already have, but I digress. While living in another era may sound like a lark, stop and ponder the average life expectancy in other time periods. If we lived in Classical Greece, Rome, Medieval times or even Colonial America our life would typically come to an end before we reached 30. Even up to the 1800’s the average life span did not exceed 40 years of age. But starting in the 1900’s it increased to 47 and increased each century to where in our current time the average life span has reached 76 years of age.
The Bible mentions the word "time" in more than 600 instances. Do we ever stop and consider the great gift of time we have been granted by God? Do we ever take a moment to contemplate just how we are using that time for His honor and glory? I am a history buff and one of the things that occasionally startles me is how God greatly used people at what I consider a very young age. But what I have convenient forgotten is that maybe these individuals had candles that burned brightly because they remembered their Creator in the days of their youth, (Ecclesiastes 12:1), and knew their time was limited to serve God. We in turn seem to fritter away our time and then get “serious about God” when we get older because we see the day light fading.
Many of us have heard the lines from Charles Thomas Studd’s poem “Only One Life” where he pens; “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Below is the poem in it’s entirety and it is worth contemplation.
Author: Charles Thomas Studd (1860-1931)
Missionary to China, India, and Africa
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will it's fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call,
I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Singer and song writer Jim Croce wrote a song in the 70’s called “Time in a Bottle” and some of the lyrics state; “But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them. I’ve looked around enough to know that you’re the one I want to go through time with.” Croce wrote these lyrics and never got the opportunity to see his creation become a hit on the pop charts. He died at age 30 in a plane crash. He says he looked around to find the one he wanted to go through time with, yet to my knowledge he tragically died not placing his trust in Jesus Christ and did not consider who and where he would spend all of eternity.
For the believer we need to keep in the forefront of our minds that God has granted our generation the amazing gift of more time; time that can be used to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world and time that can be spent honoring and glorifying God. Placing our faith in Jesus Christ gives us the greater gift of enjoying God forever.
I occasionally look back ruefully at my youth and wish I would have spent my time differently. But like Paul states in Philippians 3:13-14 I need to forget those things which are behind and press toward the mark. I know that each day I have left is a blessing from God and my desire is to burn brightly for Him. How are you and I redeeming the time? Don’t come to the end of your life with regret with the tragic thought of; “I’ve wasted it.”
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” ~ 2 Peter 3:8-9
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Only a few good men?
“You can’t handle the truth!” ~ Colonel Nathan Jessup
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” ~ Job 38:1-4
Do you sometimes feel like it is just you against the world? If you do not stand in the gap or take the reins everything is bound to go wrong. Everyone is counting on you and you alone. If you don’t do it then no one will. It is easy to fall into that trap and get overwhelmed with a sense that the entire free world is counting on you to stand for a certain principle or hold true to your subculture.
My wife and I enjoy the movie “A Few Good Men”. If you are not familiar with the story; a marine has died at a military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba under suspicious circumstances. The Colonel in charge, Nathan Jessup is an imposing man who has a very inflated view of his own self worth and his command. His orders are not to be questioned because if they are not carried out, marines will die.
A team of JAG attorney’s including Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee is sent to investigate after the arrest of two marines named Dawson and Downey. The accused are charged with giving their fellow marine Willie Santiago a “Code Red” which was a form of hazing another soldier into a better performance and meeting the expected code of conduct. The Code Red goes awry and Willie dies. Dawson and Downey claim that they were just following the orders of their commanding officers, yet these same officers deny any involvement or complicity in the death.
There are two key scenes in the movie that show the heart of the issue; Colonel Jessup’s testimony during the court martial hearing and the reactions of Corporal’s Downey and Dawson when the verdict is read.
Jessup believes in his heart that he is an honorable solider and in a sense he is right; he has sworn to protect something true and right. But in his desire to protect liberty he has taken it upon himself to determine how it should be protected and if there are casualties along the way, so be it. His orders and pronouncements are sacrosanct and should not be questioned and his motives, in his mind, are beyond reproach. Under cross examination by Kaffee he rages; “Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way.”
Jessup started out with the right purpose; to protect the honor and integrity of the uniform he wore and the country he represented. But he ultimately lost sight of that purpose and felt that he could justify those actions because of what he thought he was protecting. His perception was that he was free to adjust or re-write the marine corps code of conduct and break the rules (and law) to fulfill that mission. He thinks he needs to be “on that wall” because if he isn’t then who will? He believes they do not know what he knows, and that others are not capable or discerning enough to do it like only he can.
What is our view of our fellow Christians outside of our subculture? Do we think that they are incapable or discerning enough to stand for biblical truth and inerrancy like only we can? Do we as believers fall into the trap of “the end justifies the means” or think that because we are fighting to protect our subculture or movement that it gives us license to despise others that do not do it the way we think they should? Have we unconsciously violated 1 John 3:15a in the process? Or are we like Peter in Galatians 2; holding up the "walls" of our subculture to the exclusion of the "gentile believers"? We think that we are standing for God and that if we don’t Christendom stands in the balance. We think we are a dying breed or the last of “a few good men.” If people challenge your perceptions or question your motives do you think they have “messed with the wrong marine”?
The prophet Elijah felt that way in I Kings 19:14 when he stated; “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” But the Lord reminded Elijah in verse 18 that he was not alone, and there were 7,000 left in Israel who had not compromised or forsaken Him. Elijah felt alone and maybe had an over inflated view of his own importance for the sake of the kingdom. He had forgotten that God was and is sovereign over all. Men, movements and subcultures come and go, but God is unchanging and the only constant. He doesn’t need us, we need Him.
I mentioned that there were two key scenes in the movie; the other was when the verdict of a dishonorable discharge for conduct unbecoming of a marine. The two marines stand mystified at the decision of the court and Downey says; “What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong.” You can see the wheels turning in the mind of Corporal Dawson when he states; “Yeah, we did. We were supposed to fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie.”
Are we fighting the wrong battle? Are we fighting for what we think is right or are we fighting for “Willie”. The “Willies” we are supposed to be fighting for are those who have not been changed by the light of the Gospel. I am perplexed at times over what we choose to expend our energy on, and where we draw the battle lines within the body of Christ. The truth of the matter is souls are dying and going to hell each and every day and we would rather contend for our personal hobby horse than expend that same amount of energy to share the Gospel.
There is a fine line between over estimating our value for the furtherance of God’s divine plan while underestimating the impact, both good and bad we can make for His purposes. Are we standing on the wall or are we fighting for Willie?
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” ~ Matthew 25:40
“Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” ~ Job 42:1-2
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” ~ Job 38:1-4
Do you sometimes feel like it is just you against the world? If you do not stand in the gap or take the reins everything is bound to go wrong. Everyone is counting on you and you alone. If you don’t do it then no one will. It is easy to fall into that trap and get overwhelmed with a sense that the entire free world is counting on you to stand for a certain principle or hold true to your subculture.
My wife and I enjoy the movie “A Few Good Men”. If you are not familiar with the story; a marine has died at a military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba under suspicious circumstances. The Colonel in charge, Nathan Jessup is an imposing man who has a very inflated view of his own self worth and his command. His orders are not to be questioned because if they are not carried out, marines will die.
A team of JAG attorney’s including Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee is sent to investigate after the arrest of two marines named Dawson and Downey. The accused are charged with giving their fellow marine Willie Santiago a “Code Red” which was a form of hazing another soldier into a better performance and meeting the expected code of conduct. The Code Red goes awry and Willie dies. Dawson and Downey claim that they were just following the orders of their commanding officers, yet these same officers deny any involvement or complicity in the death.
There are two key scenes in the movie that show the heart of the issue; Colonel Jessup’s testimony during the court martial hearing and the reactions of Corporal’s Downey and Dawson when the verdict is read.
Jessup believes in his heart that he is an honorable solider and in a sense he is right; he has sworn to protect something true and right. But in his desire to protect liberty he has taken it upon himself to determine how it should be protected and if there are casualties along the way, so be it. His orders and pronouncements are sacrosanct and should not be questioned and his motives, in his mind, are beyond reproach. Under cross examination by Kaffee he rages; “Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way.”
Jessup started out with the right purpose; to protect the honor and integrity of the uniform he wore and the country he represented. But he ultimately lost sight of that purpose and felt that he could justify those actions because of what he thought he was protecting. His perception was that he was free to adjust or re-write the marine corps code of conduct and break the rules (and law) to fulfill that mission. He thinks he needs to be “on that wall” because if he isn’t then who will? He believes they do not know what he knows, and that others are not capable or discerning enough to do it like only he can.
What is our view of our fellow Christians outside of our subculture? Do we think that they are incapable or discerning enough to stand for biblical truth and inerrancy like only we can? Do we as believers fall into the trap of “the end justifies the means” or think that because we are fighting to protect our subculture or movement that it gives us license to despise others that do not do it the way we think they should? Have we unconsciously violated 1 John 3:15a in the process? Or are we like Peter in Galatians 2; holding up the "walls" of our subculture to the exclusion of the "gentile believers"? We think that we are standing for God and that if we don’t Christendom stands in the balance. We think we are a dying breed or the last of “a few good men.” If people challenge your perceptions or question your motives do you think they have “messed with the wrong marine”?
The prophet Elijah felt that way in I Kings 19:14 when he stated; “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” But the Lord reminded Elijah in verse 18 that he was not alone, and there were 7,000 left in Israel who had not compromised or forsaken Him. Elijah felt alone and maybe had an over inflated view of his own importance for the sake of the kingdom. He had forgotten that God was and is sovereign over all. Men, movements and subcultures come and go, but God is unchanging and the only constant. He doesn’t need us, we need Him.
I mentioned that there were two key scenes in the movie; the other was when the verdict of a dishonorable discharge for conduct unbecoming of a marine. The two marines stand mystified at the decision of the court and Downey says; “What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong.” You can see the wheels turning in the mind of Corporal Dawson when he states; “Yeah, we did. We were supposed to fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie.”
Are we fighting the wrong battle? Are we fighting for what we think is right or are we fighting for “Willie”. The “Willies” we are supposed to be fighting for are those who have not been changed by the light of the Gospel. I am perplexed at times over what we choose to expend our energy on, and where we draw the battle lines within the body of Christ. The truth of the matter is souls are dying and going to hell each and every day and we would rather contend for our personal hobby horse than expend that same amount of energy to share the Gospel.
There is a fine line between over estimating our value for the furtherance of God’s divine plan while underestimating the impact, both good and bad we can make for His purposes. Are we standing on the wall or are we fighting for Willie?
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” ~ Matthew 25:40
“Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” ~ Job 42:1-2
Monday, April 12, 2010
Character assassination
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” ~ A.W. Tozer
We all have friends and family members that when we think of them we say; they are quite a character. This can be taken many different ways. It can mean that they are funny and we enjoy their company immensely or it can mean that they exhibit traits, attributes or features that we find particularly unsettling. But we kindly use the label "character" because we are far too gracious to call them rude, crude and socially unacceptable.
There are character traits that we value in others and ones we tend to find not so attractive. Who does not value character traits of honesty, loyalty, friendliness, patience and kindness? And we likely all universally tend to dislike those that we perceive as loud, abrasive, harsh, unkind, cold and indifferent. We evaluate the character of others probably on a daily basis. We are all likely familiar with the anonymous quote; “Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking.” I would submit to you that statement is only half right; it matters what we do when people are not looking and when they are based on who we ultimately represent.
When someone is asked to define the character or attributes of God what immediately comes to mind? For some it is that God is love but for others it is that God is wrathful and jealous. We all tend to migrate to the idea of God that we value or admire the most, but in doing so we run the risk of misunderstanding or misrepresenting God to ourselves and others. While the three attributes I have listed are part of what makes up God, they do not completely define His infinite character. If we have a wrong view of God and in turn misrepresent Him to the world we are in essence performing a subtle type of character assassination of the Most High God.
What is character assassination? Wikipedia defines it like this; “Character assassination is an attempt to tarnish a person's reputation. It may involve exaggeration or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person. It is a form of defamation and can be a form of ad hominem argument. For living individuals targeted by character assassination attempts, this may result in being rejected by his community, family, or members of his or her living or work environment. Such acts are often difficult to reverse or rectify, and the process is likened to a literal assassination of a human life. The damage sustained can last a lifetime or, for historical figures, for many centuries after their death.”
Wikipedia further developed the definition by stating; “In practice, character assassination may involve doublespeak, spreading of rumors, innuendo or deliberate misinformation on topics relating to the subject's morals, integrity, and reputation. It may involve spinning information that is technically true, but that is presented in a misleading manner or is presented without the necessary context. For example, it might be said that a person refused to pay any income tax during a specific year, without saying that no tax was actually owed due to the person having no income that year.”
In his book “The God Delusion” scientist and author Richard Dawkins describes his view of God. He states; “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction; jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser…” This is not the God I have come to know and love, and not the God I picture when I read my Bible. The question is how did Dawkins arrive at this conclusion? Did he reach this conclusion based on a limited understanding or reading of scripture or was he raised in an environment where this was how God was portrayed? Was this the image of God put on display to him by those professing to be believers or “Christians”? Was God only presented to him as a angry cosmic figure waiting to drop the hammer on His creation the minute they failed to toe the line?
The question I pose to each of us is this; if we are called to be ambassadors for Christ how are we doing in our assignment? An ambassador is the authorized representative or messenger for the sovereign he is answerable to. Are we presenting God; all of God and His total character and attributes or just the ones we prefer? If the world has a misconception of who God is and what His plan and will are for the life of every human who is to blame? If the world declares war on God is it because His ambassadors have misrepresented Him and His intentions?
We need to be careful that we not just present God as the righteous judge, but also as the only merciful source of clemency for the condemned prisoner on death row. Without a doubt the supreme paradox is that God hates and judges sin, but he also is patient, long suffering, merciful and gracious. A.W. Tozer has written extensively on the attributes of God and in one of his books titled “The Knowledge of the Holy” he very succinctly states; “The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God.”
What are our thoughts of God and how do we worship and represent Him to the world?
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” ~ II Corinthians 5:20
We all have friends and family members that when we think of them we say; they are quite a character. This can be taken many different ways. It can mean that they are funny and we enjoy their company immensely or it can mean that they exhibit traits, attributes or features that we find particularly unsettling. But we kindly use the label "character" because we are far too gracious to call them rude, crude and socially unacceptable.
There are character traits that we value in others and ones we tend to find not so attractive. Who does not value character traits of honesty, loyalty, friendliness, patience and kindness? And we likely all universally tend to dislike those that we perceive as loud, abrasive, harsh, unkind, cold and indifferent. We evaluate the character of others probably on a daily basis. We are all likely familiar with the anonymous quote; “Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking.” I would submit to you that statement is only half right; it matters what we do when people are not looking and when they are based on who we ultimately represent.
When someone is asked to define the character or attributes of God what immediately comes to mind? For some it is that God is love but for others it is that God is wrathful and jealous. We all tend to migrate to the idea of God that we value or admire the most, but in doing so we run the risk of misunderstanding or misrepresenting God to ourselves and others. While the three attributes I have listed are part of what makes up God, they do not completely define His infinite character. If we have a wrong view of God and in turn misrepresent Him to the world we are in essence performing a subtle type of character assassination of the Most High God.
What is character assassination? Wikipedia defines it like this; “Character assassination is an attempt to tarnish a person's reputation. It may involve exaggeration or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person. It is a form of defamation and can be a form of ad hominem argument. For living individuals targeted by character assassination attempts, this may result in being rejected by his community, family, or members of his or her living or work environment. Such acts are often difficult to reverse or rectify, and the process is likened to a literal assassination of a human life. The damage sustained can last a lifetime or, for historical figures, for many centuries after their death.”
Wikipedia further developed the definition by stating; “In practice, character assassination may involve doublespeak, spreading of rumors, innuendo or deliberate misinformation on topics relating to the subject's morals, integrity, and reputation. It may involve spinning information that is technically true, but that is presented in a misleading manner or is presented without the necessary context. For example, it might be said that a person refused to pay any income tax during a specific year, without saying that no tax was actually owed due to the person having no income that year.”
In his book “The God Delusion” scientist and author Richard Dawkins describes his view of God. He states; “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction; jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser…” This is not the God I have come to know and love, and not the God I picture when I read my Bible. The question is how did Dawkins arrive at this conclusion? Did he reach this conclusion based on a limited understanding or reading of scripture or was he raised in an environment where this was how God was portrayed? Was this the image of God put on display to him by those professing to be believers or “Christians”? Was God only presented to him as a angry cosmic figure waiting to drop the hammer on His creation the minute they failed to toe the line?
The question I pose to each of us is this; if we are called to be ambassadors for Christ how are we doing in our assignment? An ambassador is the authorized representative or messenger for the sovereign he is answerable to. Are we presenting God; all of God and His total character and attributes or just the ones we prefer? If the world has a misconception of who God is and what His plan and will are for the life of every human who is to blame? If the world declares war on God is it because His ambassadors have misrepresented Him and His intentions?
We need to be careful that we not just present God as the righteous judge, but also as the only merciful source of clemency for the condemned prisoner on death row. Without a doubt the supreme paradox is that God hates and judges sin, but he also is patient, long suffering, merciful and gracious. A.W. Tozer has written extensively on the attributes of God and in one of his books titled “The Knowledge of the Holy” he very succinctly states; “The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God.”
What are our thoughts of God and how do we worship and represent Him to the world?
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” ~ II Corinthians 5:20
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Fix your eyes
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." -- Leo Tolstoy
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” ~ I Timothy 1:15-16
Do you know someone who cannot keep a secret? When I just posed that question to you I am sure the image of one or more people immediately came to mind. What is probably worse yet is that we all have probably had the excruciating experience of sharing a secret or something of a very personal nature with someone only to have that confidence betrayed.
I am going to let you in on something. It is not something I am proud of, but I admit it freely. I am a sinner and I commit sins every day. I am not being flippant and I do not take this fact lightly. On the contrary it pains me greatly. It bothers me because I know that the Bible teaches that God abhors sin, and just one sin, no matter how insignificant or inconsequential I may think it is, is an affront to God. It also pains me because I know my sin grieves the indwelling Holy Spirit, and I am daily reminded through the Gospel that my salvation came at a terrible price in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I have a debt I can never repay and a salvation from God’s wrath and the punishment of hell that I so rightly deserve. I have a salvation that I can never earn nor deserve and because of this any sin I commit is an insult to that gift.
The Apostle Paul knew that his past was not a secret to anyone and he humbly admitted that he was the chief of sinners. He did not try to hide behind any self righteousness of what he did for the Lord after His conversion. We know from the record in scripture he did more to further the message of the Gospel than any of us will likely do in our life time. Paul did not trot out any of his accomplishments for God and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wave it around in shameless self promotion. He knew he was chief of sinners and this drove him on a daily basis to live out his salvation for the glory and honor of the One who earned his redemption.
In Romans 7 Paul has a very telling confession of his struggle to live out the Gospel. He shares in verse 15 how he doesn’t understand his own actions and acknowledges that he does things that he himself hates. And in verse 18 he states unequivocally that he knows that nothing good dwells in him. Here is a man who could echo I Peter 2:9 and honestly and truthfully state that he had proclaimed the excellencies of the risen Lord, but he did not parade that as his means to judge the sins of others and was totally focused on working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)
The Apostle Paul is the author of the letter to the church at Galatia and one of the most recognized verses from this epistle is Galatians 2:20 where he talks about being crucified with Christ. In his book “My Utmost for His Highest” Oswald Chambers wrote about this passage and also Romans 6:6 where Paul states; “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Chambers writes; “Co-crucifixion. Have you made the following decision about sin—that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you—not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified—just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision Paul urged us to do in this passage.”
Have you and I reached a point in our Christian walk where we care more about presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, (Romans 12:1), rather than looking to our right or our left and comparing ourselves to others? Are we more focused on whether or not others are toeing the line than searching our own hearts on a daily basis for any sin that we may be holding on to? Are we more concerned with working out our own salvation with fear and trembling or are we worried that someone somewhere is getting away with something that we think is wrong? Are we jealous for God or just jealous that they are doing something that deep down inside our heart we secretly wish we could do?
Are you and I more concerned with the sins of others or the world than we are our own? Are we trying to shift our gaze onto others to avoid looking at ourselves because we are afraid of what we will find...or do we already know our own dirty little secret? While I am concerned about my fellow Christians and I desire that they are growing in grace and truth, my first and primary focus should be inward, and asking God to see if there be any wicked way in me. You and I can both be thankful that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith and not one another...I am crucified with Christ; yet not I but Christ lives in me.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” ~ Psalm 139:23-24
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." ~ Hebrews 12:1-2
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” ~ I Timothy 1:15-16
Do you know someone who cannot keep a secret? When I just posed that question to you I am sure the image of one or more people immediately came to mind. What is probably worse yet is that we all have probably had the excruciating experience of sharing a secret or something of a very personal nature with someone only to have that confidence betrayed.
I am going to let you in on something. It is not something I am proud of, but I admit it freely. I am a sinner and I commit sins every day. I am not being flippant and I do not take this fact lightly. On the contrary it pains me greatly. It bothers me because I know that the Bible teaches that God abhors sin, and just one sin, no matter how insignificant or inconsequential I may think it is, is an affront to God. It also pains me because I know my sin grieves the indwelling Holy Spirit, and I am daily reminded through the Gospel that my salvation came at a terrible price in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I have a debt I can never repay and a salvation from God’s wrath and the punishment of hell that I so rightly deserve. I have a salvation that I can never earn nor deserve and because of this any sin I commit is an insult to that gift.
The Apostle Paul knew that his past was not a secret to anyone and he humbly admitted that he was the chief of sinners. He did not try to hide behind any self righteousness of what he did for the Lord after His conversion. We know from the record in scripture he did more to further the message of the Gospel than any of us will likely do in our life time. Paul did not trot out any of his accomplishments for God and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wave it around in shameless self promotion. He knew he was chief of sinners and this drove him on a daily basis to live out his salvation for the glory and honor of the One who earned his redemption.
In Romans 7 Paul has a very telling confession of his struggle to live out the Gospel. He shares in verse 15 how he doesn’t understand his own actions and acknowledges that he does things that he himself hates. And in verse 18 he states unequivocally that he knows that nothing good dwells in him. Here is a man who could echo I Peter 2:9 and honestly and truthfully state that he had proclaimed the excellencies of the risen Lord, but he did not parade that as his means to judge the sins of others and was totally focused on working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)
The Apostle Paul is the author of the letter to the church at Galatia and one of the most recognized verses from this epistle is Galatians 2:20 where he talks about being crucified with Christ. In his book “My Utmost for His Highest” Oswald Chambers wrote about this passage and also Romans 6:6 where Paul states; “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Chambers writes; “Co-crucifixion. Have you made the following decision about sin—that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you—not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified—just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision Paul urged us to do in this passage.”
Have you and I reached a point in our Christian walk where we care more about presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, (Romans 12:1), rather than looking to our right or our left and comparing ourselves to others? Are we more focused on whether or not others are toeing the line than searching our own hearts on a daily basis for any sin that we may be holding on to? Are we more concerned with working out our own salvation with fear and trembling or are we worried that someone somewhere is getting away with something that we think is wrong? Are we jealous for God or just jealous that they are doing something that deep down inside our heart we secretly wish we could do?
Are you and I more concerned with the sins of others or the world than we are our own? Are we trying to shift our gaze onto others to avoid looking at ourselves because we are afraid of what we will find...or do we already know our own dirty little secret? While I am concerned about my fellow Christians and I desire that they are growing in grace and truth, my first and primary focus should be inward, and asking God to see if there be any wicked way in me. You and I can both be thankful that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith and not one another...I am crucified with Christ; yet not I but Christ lives in me.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” ~ Psalm 139:23-24
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." ~ Hebrews 12:1-2
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Something we never outgrow
"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation [under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." ~ Colossians 1:21-23
"You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else. No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop. You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel." ~ John Piper
The video posted was downloaded from the "Desiring God" web site and is an excerpt of a message by Pastor and author John Piper.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2007/2389_The_Gospel_in_6_Minutes/
Recently the President of my alma mater, Stephen Jones wrote this very important statement; "Judging by our practice, it might be safe to say that many Christians have tended to view the Gospel's importance to Christian living as finished at the point of salvation (and up until this year I would have included myself in that group.) The biblical picture, however is that the Gospel has continuing value to believers--something meriting frequent repetition even to the saved (I Corinthians 15:1-2; Romans 1:15). The Gospel is meant to change the remainder of our lives (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)"
The Gospel is the source of our atonement, redemption and for on-going holy living and sanctification. The letters to the early church all stressed the ongoing importance of the Gospel not only for our salvation but also for our continued spiritual growth and avoidance of sin. The Bible constantly reminds us that we need to remember the Gospel and the grace in which we stand. Other than the Bible itself I would highly recommend "The Pursuit of Holiness" and "The Disciplines of Grace" both by Jerry Bridges which through scripture show the importance of the Gospel for holy living.
We never outgrow the need to preach the Gospel to ourselves on a daily basis. It is as relevant to the believer just as it is to the seeker.
"On Christ, and what he has done, my soul hangs for time and eternity. And if your soul also hangs there, it will be saved as surely as mine shall be. And if you are lost trusting in Christ, I will be lost with you and will go to hell with you. I must do so, for I have nothing else to rely upon but the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived, died, was buried, rose again, went to heaven, and still lives and pleads for sinners at the right hand of God." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon.
For more on the Gospel visit http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/video/What-Is-The-Gospel---John-Piper
"You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else. No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop. You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel." ~ John Piper
The video posted was downloaded from the "Desiring God" web site and is an excerpt of a message by Pastor and author John Piper.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2007/2389_The_Gospel_in_6_Minutes/
Recently the President of my alma mater, Stephen Jones wrote this very important statement; "Judging by our practice, it might be safe to say that many Christians have tended to view the Gospel's importance to Christian living as finished at the point of salvation (and up until this year I would have included myself in that group.) The biblical picture, however is that the Gospel has continuing value to believers--something meriting frequent repetition even to the saved (I Corinthians 15:1-2; Romans 1:15). The Gospel is meant to change the remainder of our lives (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)"
The Gospel is the source of our atonement, redemption and for on-going holy living and sanctification. The letters to the early church all stressed the ongoing importance of the Gospel not only for our salvation but also for our continued spiritual growth and avoidance of sin. The Bible constantly reminds us that we need to remember the Gospel and the grace in which we stand. Other than the Bible itself I would highly recommend "The Pursuit of Holiness" and "The Disciplines of Grace" both by Jerry Bridges which through scripture show the importance of the Gospel for holy living.
We never outgrow the need to preach the Gospel to ourselves on a daily basis. It is as relevant to the believer just as it is to the seeker.
"On Christ, and what he has done, my soul hangs for time and eternity. And if your soul also hangs there, it will be saved as surely as mine shall be. And if you are lost trusting in Christ, I will be lost with you and will go to hell with you. I must do so, for I have nothing else to rely upon but the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived, died, was buried, rose again, went to heaven, and still lives and pleads for sinners at the right hand of God." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon.
For more on the Gospel visit http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/video/What-Is-The-Gospel---John-Piper
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