There's been an 800 lb. gorilla roaming the chambers of my heart that I've barely even noticed until recently. He can feed off of most anything. He spends most of the time throwing away all that is good and right and chewing on the imperfections that are left. His name is Judgmental Attitude, and he's quite skilled at putting the gracious little monkey in my heart, Bold Adventure, under lock and key. You see, Bold Adventure is eager to please the Lord in faithful obedience, venturing out into new and deeper territories of relationships in order to communicate the Gospel. Judgmental Attitude is heavy and fairly immobile. The pursuit of new and deeper relationships seem like hard work and because he feeds on all that is wrong, anything that requires exertion comes close to giving him a heart attack.
Thankfully the Spirit of God has sent a helper to Bold Adventure, a helper to liberate him from the chains that Judgmental Attitude seeks to keep him in. This helper is Charitable Judgment.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Church Motives
Commitment and transformation are results of a Christian faith growing out of God's revelation. Those who are Christians are part of the Church. One of the main motives a Christian goes to church is to grow in the knowledge of God (which can only come by God's revelation) by witnessing the work that God is doing in the lives of fellow believers. This desire is essential to a biblically based community. This is what gathers believers together in humility, wonder, and joy. The church is where we celebrate revelation.
So why do you go to church? Is it just a religious routine? Are you trying to impress and win the approval of others? Do you gather for validation of your social opinions, political views, parenting skills? Is the church a place for you to create business contacts or catch up with people with the similiar hobbies? Or do you gather with others who revel in the revelation of Christ's work done unto and through the members of His body? Is the Gospel the common denominator that draws your church together for worship or is there another common factor among your fellow congregants? Is church a self-affirming experience for you or a humbling one?
Are your church habits more like the wise lamb who humbly looks to safety in the flock that stays close to the Shepherd or are you the proud goat that relies on your own cleverness that allows you to explore and wander wherever you please, wandering in and out of flocks and herds, constantly looking to create an opening in the fence other than the gate?
The opposite of revelation speculation. Our relationship with God begins with Him revealing Himself to us, opening our eyes and ears so that we may know Him. Those who have no revelation are seperated from truth, they see and know nothing. They speculate on what they hope a god might be like. in their blindness they cannot see beyond themselves and therefore see themselves and their opinions and speculations as the center of the universe. Only the Gospel of Christ and Him crucified, a Gospel that comes not just with words but with power, the Holy Spirit and deep conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5) can give sight to the blind and ears so that they may hear the revelation of the Good News.
Thirsty for more? Doctrine
So why do you go to church? Is it just a religious routine? Are you trying to impress and win the approval of others? Do you gather for validation of your social opinions, political views, parenting skills? Is the church a place for you to create business contacts or catch up with people with the similiar hobbies? Or do you gather with others who revel in the revelation of Christ's work done unto and through the members of His body? Is the Gospel the common denominator that draws your church together for worship or is there another common factor among your fellow congregants? Is church a self-affirming experience for you or a humbling one?
Are your church habits more like the wise lamb who humbly looks to safety in the flock that stays close to the Shepherd or are you the proud goat that relies on your own cleverness that allows you to explore and wander wherever you please, wandering in and out of flocks and herds, constantly looking to create an opening in the fence other than the gate?
The opposite of revelation speculation. Our relationship with God begins with Him revealing Himself to us, opening our eyes and ears so that we may know Him. Those who have no revelation are seperated from truth, they see and know nothing. They speculate on what they hope a god might be like. in their blindness they cannot see beyond themselves and therefore see themselves and their opinions and speculations as the center of the universe. Only the Gospel of Christ and Him crucified, a Gospel that comes not just with words but with power, the Holy Spirit and deep conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5) can give sight to the blind and ears so that they may hear the revelation of the Good News.
Thirsty for more? Doctrine
Plow Forward
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” - Jesus Christ, Luke 9:62
It helps to think a little about plowing to better understand this passage. If my heart is fixed on what is not straight forward then my eyes are always looking back. If I was to plow while looking back I'd never plow in a straight direction forward. Many religious people claim to "plow" while their hearts are fixed on a god (and christ) of their own making. They plow in vain because their hearts have not been turned towards the true Christ and are therefore blind to the kingdom of God which is the straight and narrow path directly ahead. If Christ is in us then we plow with eyes and heart forward. Perfectly? No. But ultimately? Yes. (parallel passage Psalm 127:1 "Except the Lord build the house, the builders labor in vain.") Philippians 1:5-6 " because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
also this verse from Luke 9 is a response from Christ from those who claim they want to follow Christ but have other priorities to take care of first. Basically these people are saying they'll follow Christ as long as they can still have other god's before Him (a violation of the First Commandment) or that they'll seek the kingdom of God as long as they don't have to "seek it first" (Matt.6:33). Like many people today they're willing to "hang out" with Jesus, go through some motions and offer up some lip service, but they're not ready to make Him Lord of their lives... they're not ready for an eternity of worship.
To borrow from a quote of Driscoll's book, DOCTRINE, Tim Keller explains worship as such: "To glorify something or someone is to praise, enjoy, and delight in them. When something is useful you are attracted to it for what it can bring you ...or do for you. But if it is beautiful, then you enjoy it simply for what it is. Just being in its presence is its own reward. To glorify someone is also to serve or defer to him or her. Instead of sacrificing their interests to make yourself happy, you sacrifice your interests to make them happy. Why? Your ultimate joy is to see them in joy."
"The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever."
Are you ready to plow forward?
It helps to think a little about plowing to better understand this passage. If my heart is fixed on what is not straight forward then my eyes are always looking back. If I was to plow while looking back I'd never plow in a straight direction forward. Many religious people claim to "plow" while their hearts are fixed on a god (and christ) of their own making. They plow in vain because their hearts have not been turned towards the true Christ and are therefore blind to the kingdom of God which is the straight and narrow path directly ahead. If Christ is in us then we plow with eyes and heart forward. Perfectly? No. But ultimately? Yes. (parallel passage Psalm 127:1 "Except the Lord build the house, the builders labor in vain.") Philippians 1:5-6 " because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
also this verse from Luke 9 is a response from Christ from those who claim they want to follow Christ but have other priorities to take care of first. Basically these people are saying they'll follow Christ as long as they can still have other god's before Him (a violation of the First Commandment) or that they'll seek the kingdom of God as long as they don't have to "seek it first" (Matt.6:33). Like many people today they're willing to "hang out" with Jesus, go through some motions and offer up some lip service, but they're not ready to make Him Lord of their lives... they're not ready for an eternity of worship.
To borrow from a quote of Driscoll's book, DOCTRINE, Tim Keller explains worship as such: "To glorify something or someone is to praise, enjoy, and delight in them. When something is useful you are attracted to it for what it can bring you ...or do for you. But if it is beautiful, then you enjoy it simply for what it is. Just being in its presence is its own reward. To glorify someone is also to serve or defer to him or her. Instead of sacrificing their interests to make yourself happy, you sacrifice your interests to make them happy. Why? Your ultimate joy is to see them in joy."
"The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever."
Are you ready to plow forward?
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