Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
What do you do when life tries your strength? Where do you turn when it seems like there is no one beside you along the way? How can you ever manage to make it through one more day when you can't stand your job or the classes you are in or the person you wake up to every day? And how can you ever be sure God is with you if you can't even see his face?
Fix your eyes on Jesus. This sounds pretty elementary or laughable at times, doesn't it? It appears as if the Lord views my trials and struggles as if they are trivial. He hasn't answered my prayers lately, and he hasn't seemed to show himself in my situation. So how can he ask me to fix my eyes on Jesus?
Read verse 3. "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Jesus is our example and our hope. If he did conquered, and he is living in me now, then I too can conquer. If he endured for me, why can't I endure for him? Verse 2 tells us that for the JOY set before Christ, he endured one of the most painful, brutal deaths imaginable.
Did you read that? Let me put it this way... YOU ARE HIS JOY! You can be sure God is in your situation because Christ endured the cross for you. When you feel like you can't make it through, be encouraged that Christ walked from the Garden of Gethsemane all the way to Calvary because he knew who he was dying for. If you think you are unable to make it through one more day, fix your eyes on Jesus, our beautiful, loving, gracious Savior who endured a cross to save you. You can make it through that job, that class, your marriage, whatever your struggle is with JOY as you fix your eyes on him who joyously endured death for you. So where are you looking? May you look to Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith even when it seems like there is no one else to look to.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Love... Period
1 John 4:7-11
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because GOD IS LOVE (emphasis added). This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Human beings love choice. We love to have 15 options on a menu at a fast food restaurant. We love to have a choice of countless colors for our iPod case. Customization and uniqueness are priceless in our culture here in America. Here's the problem though: for Christians, we don't have as much choice as we would like. John's words above, which reminds me much of another famous passage penned by the Beloved Apostle (ever heard of John 3:16?), do not give us an option. His first letter to the Church is full of statements that should make all of us uncomfortable. We want to be able to decide who we love based on how they treat us or how they look or act. John, who is merely echoing his Savior, is quite stern about the fact that we MUST love others if we claim to be in Christ.
Quick question: What is love? Hollywood has romanticized it. High School kids mistake it for their hormones (sorry guys...). And politicians... well, you get my point. But the biblical model of love is sacrifice and servant-hood. If God is love, and God is made known to us through Christ, then this fact must be evident. The ultimate example of love was Jesus. He is love. He put others before himself. His example of washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper showed how low he was willing to go to prove his love. As Hebrews 12 tells us, for the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross on our behalf. If that all wasn't good enough, he sent the Holy Spirit to us to guide, direct, empower, and convict us. What else do we want?
But we are willing to compromise our love. If someone in the church gets in our way, we reason that it is for the betterment of everyone that we don't love them. If they harm or wrong us, we lash out in rage. We limit our love, while Christ's love for us is unlimited. And John doesn't give us a choice. We either love or we don't. We either put others before ourselves or we don't. I believe in life, there are some gray areas. This is not one of them. God IS love. Love is who God is. He embodies and personifies love. Love is defined by God. And he clearly tells us that we must love. In fact, Jesus tells us that it is our love FOR ONE ANOTHER that will identify us as his disciples (John 13:35). This declaration comes right after Jesus washed his disciples' feet. So the question is not whether or not we are to love, who we are to love, or even how we are to love. It is if we will love. Will we simply feel some "emotion" towards others, or will we go out of our way to sacrifice for them? Will we truly be patient, kind, gentle, selfless, humble, sacrificial, desiring truth, or not? It really is simple. We must love... period.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because GOD IS LOVE (emphasis added). This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Human beings love choice. We love to have 15 options on a menu at a fast food restaurant. We love to have a choice of countless colors for our iPod case. Customization and uniqueness are priceless in our culture here in America. Here's the problem though: for Christians, we don't have as much choice as we would like. John's words above, which reminds me much of another famous passage penned by the Beloved Apostle (ever heard of John 3:16?), do not give us an option. His first letter to the Church is full of statements that should make all of us uncomfortable. We want to be able to decide who we love based on how they treat us or how they look or act. John, who is merely echoing his Savior, is quite stern about the fact that we MUST love others if we claim to be in Christ.
Quick question: What is love? Hollywood has romanticized it. High School kids mistake it for their hormones (sorry guys...). And politicians... well, you get my point. But the biblical model of love is sacrifice and servant-hood. If God is love, and God is made known to us through Christ, then this fact must be evident. The ultimate example of love was Jesus. He is love. He put others before himself. His example of washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper showed how low he was willing to go to prove his love. As Hebrews 12 tells us, for the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross on our behalf. If that all wasn't good enough, he sent the Holy Spirit to us to guide, direct, empower, and convict us. What else do we want?
But we are willing to compromise our love. If someone in the church gets in our way, we reason that it is for the betterment of everyone that we don't love them. If they harm or wrong us, we lash out in rage. We limit our love, while Christ's love for us is unlimited. And John doesn't give us a choice. We either love or we don't. We either put others before ourselves or we don't. I believe in life, there are some gray areas. This is not one of them. God IS love. Love is who God is. He embodies and personifies love. Love is defined by God. And he clearly tells us that we must love. In fact, Jesus tells us that it is our love FOR ONE ANOTHER that will identify us as his disciples (John 13:35). This declaration comes right after Jesus washed his disciples' feet. So the question is not whether or not we are to love, who we are to love, or even how we are to love. It is if we will love. Will we simply feel some "emotion" towards others, or will we go out of our way to sacrifice for them? Will we truly be patient, kind, gentle, selfless, humble, sacrificial, desiring truth, or not? It really is simple. We must love... period.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Discipline vs. Wrath
Recently, I've been reading through the book of Ezekiel. As a prophet who lived during the exile of Judah and the destruction of Israel, Ezekiel saw a lot of tragedy and death. Most of us would have broken down and quit if we had witnessed the sorts of things this man of God went through daily. But even with the difficult, and sometimes laughable things he was called to do, Ezekiel remained faithful.
His message was simple: the nation of Israel had sold herself out to the surrounding nations for protection, rather than trusting in her God. She began to live like them, fight like them, and even worship their gods, all in the name of safety. In response to this, God was going to allow the great nation of Babylon (present day Iraq) to destroy and enslave her. The other surrounding nations would have a part in this punishment as well.
About three-quarters of the way through this book, Ezekiel's message from the Lord shifts. It goes from being about the wrath and punishment of God to his grace and desire for his people to repent and receive life again. In Ez. 37, we find the breathtaking image of the army of dead bones being raised to life. But for the neighboring nations, the future is not so bright. Tyre, Sidon and even Egypt will all be destroyed by the wrath of God. So what's the difference? Why restoration for Israel, but destruction for the others?
Hebrews 12: 4-7 tells us that suffering and trial serve as discipline for those who the Lord loves and has called. Israel had to suffer and be deported if they were ever going to see what they had been missing and how drastic their sin was. It was God's way of refining and disciplining his people. In the end, if they called out to him in repentence, the end result was going to be restoration and healing. But for the surrounding nations who never would worship the only true King of the universe, their suffering was judgment and wrath for their wickedness. God calls both sides wicked at times. The difference is that one of them was going to receive a heart of flesh and a new spirit, while the others would stay calloused and evil in their ways. Discipline vs. Wrath.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad things happen at all? How could a loving God allow such events and situations to happen when people apparently don't deserve it? This has become clear to me... The question isn't whether or not you and I will suffer, or even why we will suffer the ways we do. The question, rather, is what side will we be on when we do? If wrath, then the punishment is truly our fault in the first place. But God is still loving, because he wouldn't punish if he didn't care. If discipline, then God is clearly loving because he is using the suffering to change us and mold us into the men and women he's called us to be. The final question: will we love him through the trials or blame him and turn away? In the end, that is up to us.
His message was simple: the nation of Israel had sold herself out to the surrounding nations for protection, rather than trusting in her God. She began to live like them, fight like them, and even worship their gods, all in the name of safety. In response to this, God was going to allow the great nation of Babylon (present day Iraq) to destroy and enslave her. The other surrounding nations would have a part in this punishment as well.
About three-quarters of the way through this book, Ezekiel's message from the Lord shifts. It goes from being about the wrath and punishment of God to his grace and desire for his people to repent and receive life again. In Ez. 37, we find the breathtaking image of the army of dead bones being raised to life. But for the neighboring nations, the future is not so bright. Tyre, Sidon and even Egypt will all be destroyed by the wrath of God. So what's the difference? Why restoration for Israel, but destruction for the others?
Hebrews 12: 4-7 tells us that suffering and trial serve as discipline for those who the Lord loves and has called. Israel had to suffer and be deported if they were ever going to see what they had been missing and how drastic their sin was. It was God's way of refining and disciplining his people. In the end, if they called out to him in repentence, the end result was going to be restoration and healing. But for the surrounding nations who never would worship the only true King of the universe, their suffering was judgment and wrath for their wickedness. God calls both sides wicked at times. The difference is that one of them was going to receive a heart of flesh and a new spirit, while the others would stay calloused and evil in their ways. Discipline vs. Wrath.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad things happen at all? How could a loving God allow such events and situations to happen when people apparently don't deserve it? This has become clear to me... The question isn't whether or not you and I will suffer, or even why we will suffer the ways we do. The question, rather, is what side will we be on when we do? If wrath, then the punishment is truly our fault in the first place. But God is still loving, because he wouldn't punish if he didn't care. If discipline, then God is clearly loving because he is using the suffering to change us and mold us into the men and women he's called us to be. The final question: will we love him through the trials or blame him and turn away? In the end, that is up to us.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Relevancy vs. Reality
In Acts 2:42-47 we are told of the lifestyle of the early Church. These people were radical, devoted, and sold out for the Gospel of Jesus. The truth of Peter's sermon earlier in chapter 2 had sunk in and changed thousands of lives. Thousands of people became so convicted and passionate about Christ that they literally sold everything they owned and gave to every one who had need. We are told that they devoted themselves daily to the apostles' teaching and worship. This wasn't just a new hobby or interest. Jesus hadn't just changed their morality, beliefs, or behavior. He had changed their reality.
What I find interesting is that these men and women of the early Church were not interested in being relevant. Their message certainly transcended cultures and language barriers. They met people where they were just as their Lord had done during his time here. But what brought the Church both the favor of God and men was not how fancy their show was. It was not how "modern and relevant" their worship was. Instead, what caught the attention of the people was how real the Holy Spirit was in their lives. This reality was what the people needed. This concept remains the same today.
Beyond our fancy worship, our big lights, and our "relevancy", people ultimately want reality. If they wanted a great concert, they'd go see Lady Gaga. If they wanted comfort, they'd go to Starbucks. The world needs Christ, and him alone. How we share Him to the world will change from culture to culture, but Jesus doesn't need our relevancy to change the world. He needs our obedience and our adoration, constantly. Are we daily taking up our crosses to follow him? Are our lives daily marked by the fruit of the Spirit? The Savior of the universe does not just want to be something to busy our lives. He wants to consume our lives. He wants to transform us into his likeness. It isn't about how good the show or the technology is. The world has enough of that. Instead, the world needs to see the power in a Holy Spirit-transformed reality. Let us live that reality to the fullest to the glory of God.
What I find interesting is that these men and women of the early Church were not interested in being relevant. Their message certainly transcended cultures and language barriers. They met people where they were just as their Lord had done during his time here. But what brought the Church both the favor of God and men was not how fancy their show was. It was not how "modern and relevant" their worship was. Instead, what caught the attention of the people was how real the Holy Spirit was in their lives. This reality was what the people needed. This concept remains the same today.
Beyond our fancy worship, our big lights, and our "relevancy", people ultimately want reality. If they wanted a great concert, they'd go see Lady Gaga. If they wanted comfort, they'd go to Starbucks. The world needs Christ, and him alone. How we share Him to the world will change from culture to culture, but Jesus doesn't need our relevancy to change the world. He needs our obedience and our adoration, constantly. Are we daily taking up our crosses to follow him? Are our lives daily marked by the fruit of the Spirit? The Savior of the universe does not just want to be something to busy our lives. He wants to consume our lives. He wants to transform us into his likeness. It isn't about how good the show or the technology is. The world has enough of that. Instead, the world needs to see the power in a Holy Spirit-transformed reality. Let us live that reality to the fullest to the glory of God.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Purpose-Killing Pit Stops
Gen. 11:31- 12:1
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."
We all want to know God's plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 stands out as one of the most quoted passages in the Bible because it seems to imply that the Lord knows the plans he has for us, plans which many of us seem to really like! But can we become derailed? Is it possible that we are so willing to take the easy way, that we actually miss God's way?
Lately, I have really been identifying with the story of Abram. The Lord calls him to leave his family, his former way of life, and head to a land that was completely foreign and unknown. What makes this even better is that the final destination is really unknown to Abram. But he trusted God and finally landed in Canaan where his descendants would grow up into the nation of Israel that we know today.
But what about his father, Terah? Before the Lord calls Abram away, we are told that Terah was already heading to Canann with his family. But somewhere along the way, Haran seemed more appealing. Something about that pit-stop was too comfortable for Terah and his family. It wasn't until Abram answered the call of God that this family ended up where it was suppose to. By leaving the land of his father, Abram left behind the doubts, the distractions, and the disobedience that had plagued the previous generation. As Gen. 15:6 tells us, Abram's faith in the Lord was credited to him as righteous.
There are things that come up in our lives that seem comfortable or easy. Or they seem to be the plan God has for us when they might not be. These purpose-killing pit stops can take away valuable time from what He really intends to be our calling. We will learn things while in these pit stops, but we should not follow in the footsteps of Terah who's life ended while at one such stop. Move on to the Canaan that God intends for you, and leave the land of doubts, distractions, and disobedience that may have been the mark of your life of the lives of others around you!
Live for the Kingdom,
Troy
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."
We all want to know God's plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 stands out as one of the most quoted passages in the Bible because it seems to imply that the Lord knows the plans he has for us, plans which many of us seem to really like! But can we become derailed? Is it possible that we are so willing to take the easy way, that we actually miss God's way?
Lately, I have really been identifying with the story of Abram. The Lord calls him to leave his family, his former way of life, and head to a land that was completely foreign and unknown. What makes this even better is that the final destination is really unknown to Abram. But he trusted God and finally landed in Canaan where his descendants would grow up into the nation of Israel that we know today.
But what about his father, Terah? Before the Lord calls Abram away, we are told that Terah was already heading to Canann with his family. But somewhere along the way, Haran seemed more appealing. Something about that pit-stop was too comfortable for Terah and his family. It wasn't until Abram answered the call of God that this family ended up where it was suppose to. By leaving the land of his father, Abram left behind the doubts, the distractions, and the disobedience that had plagued the previous generation. As Gen. 15:6 tells us, Abram's faith in the Lord was credited to him as righteous.
There are things that come up in our lives that seem comfortable or easy. Or they seem to be the plan God has for us when they might not be. These purpose-killing pit stops can take away valuable time from what He really intends to be our calling. We will learn things while in these pit stops, but we should not follow in the footsteps of Terah who's life ended while at one such stop. Move on to the Canaan that God intends for you, and leave the land of doubts, distractions, and disobedience that may have been the mark of your life of the lives of others around you!
Live for the Kingdom,
Troy
Monday, June 27, 2011
Golden Calf Jesus
Hey guys, sorry if my videos always seem a little long. I just can't help it some times. Hope you don't mind. Oh and wait for the "Stop button" fail at the end. Click... click. But comment, get the word out. We are trying to change the world here! Love ya'll
-Troy
-Troy
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Wear Your Brokenness Proudly (Video)
Sorry if It is a little long. It is my first attempt so I will get the hang of it. Two things: First, I am trying to get the hang of the video thing, so if anyone knows how to upload it in a way that doesn't mess up the sound and desyncrinize it, let me know. And secondly, I correct myself. Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours... just a little mistake and slip of the tongue. Anyways, enjoy!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
It's Been a Long Month
So I realized that it has been a month since I last wrote an entry. As I sit here watching the Penguins play the Lightning, I figure now is as good a time to blog as any. The title to this entry really says it all; it has been a long month. During that time I had Gary's funeral, reunions with people from my high school years at church, massive changes with UpperRoom (the ministry I have been president and worship leader of for 2-3 years at Geneva College), and time to consider what my future is going to look like. If I can reflect on the last four weeks, one word comes to mind: change. I would also like some of your thoughts. Am I crazy? Do you relate? Give me your input...
After Gary's funeral, the youth ministry just has not been the same. I can tell the huge hole that is left now that he is gone. His joy, his faith, and his serivce all played such an enormous part in our community, youth ministry, and his family and has been missed more than words can express. The ministry, and my life, is different because he is no longer with us. I can't say that I have cried much, but then again, it is hard to even believe that it has been real. But I guess this is what happens during a grieving process. Do you all agree? Have you found this process to be different for you in your life from person to person?
I also think about ending my years in college and looking at the process of moving on and into my future. Geneva has been a major part of my life, changing me and transforming me into the young man I am now. I find that I am beginning to see the impact of the people and places that I have been around for the last four years, and as I prepare to leave, I am experiencing a bit of grief. For those of you graduating, are you going through something similar? Are you finding that you will miss where ever you are, or is this a time of transition that you are handling well? I know that as I leave UpperRoom in the hands and care of the next generation, I am both encouraged and sad. Encouraged that God is going to do even greater things on campus through these men and women. Sad that I will not be there to be a part of it. But I guess this is life, and what it means to be a leader.
Either way, change is all around in my life, from the people to the places and events. I am strengthened because I know God remains the same and is my rock whom I can cling to. If you feel like your life is out of control, know that the Lord of all creation has a plan and path for you to take that will lead you to become the best man or woman you can be. I feel that even if life doesn't give us wealth and comfort, knowing that we are exactly who we were made to be is a great enough blessing. So let's allow Christ to be Lord over our lives, trusting that as things change all around us, he never will.
God bless you guys!
After Gary's funeral, the youth ministry just has not been the same. I can tell the huge hole that is left now that he is gone. His joy, his faith, and his serivce all played such an enormous part in our community, youth ministry, and his family and has been missed more than words can express. The ministry, and my life, is different because he is no longer with us. I can't say that I have cried much, but then again, it is hard to even believe that it has been real. But I guess this is what happens during a grieving process. Do you all agree? Have you found this process to be different for you in your life from person to person?
I also think about ending my years in college and looking at the process of moving on and into my future. Geneva has been a major part of my life, changing me and transforming me into the young man I am now. I find that I am beginning to see the impact of the people and places that I have been around for the last four years, and as I prepare to leave, I am experiencing a bit of grief. For those of you graduating, are you going through something similar? Are you finding that you will miss where ever you are, or is this a time of transition that you are handling well? I know that as I leave UpperRoom in the hands and care of the next generation, I am both encouraged and sad. Encouraged that God is going to do even greater things on campus through these men and women. Sad that I will not be there to be a part of it. But I guess this is life, and what it means to be a leader.
Either way, change is all around in my life, from the people to the places and events. I am strengthened because I know God remains the same and is my rock whom I can cling to. If you feel like your life is out of control, know that the Lord of all creation has a plan and path for you to take that will lead you to become the best man or woman you can be. I feel that even if life doesn't give us wealth and comfort, knowing that we are exactly who we were made to be is a great enough blessing. So let's allow Christ to be Lord over our lives, trusting that as things change all around us, he never will.
God bless you guys!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Good and Faithful Servant
There are cetain people in life who teach you what it means to be selfless and to love others sacrificially. Such a person has a lasting impact on you and changes your life forever. Gary Blum was one of those people in my life and today, March 19, 2011 he passed away unexpectantly from a heart attack. He is now at rest after a life of loving service. I cannot put into words what his loss means to me. The only way I can express myself right now is through my guitar. This video is rough, I admit, but it's how I feel right now. So for those of you who knew Gary and can't wait to see him again, enjoy. For the rest, maybe this will give insight into the legacy he has left. God bless my friends.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Our Lazy Faith: What is Going on with the Church?
If you have been following developments within the faith of the Western Church over the last decade or more, you may notice a number of odd and worrying things take place. The rise of modern contemporary worship has driven most younger people away from the more "traditional" churches that once decorated the blocks of towns and cities accross America. I know firsthand that this movement has sought to bring passion and energy back into the worship of the Church, hoping to reach out to today's technologically driven society. In response, those who hold to the more liturgical forms of worship have claimed that those in the contemporary movement are only seeking their own emotional needs rather than a desire to truly worship the God of the Bible. They have an argument in many cases.
Meanwhile, new emerging and emergent Churches seek to find new ways of reaching out to the lost, broken world that both parties claim to be Biblical. And the debates are not solely ecclesiological (focused on the church and how it should operate), but theological as well (a trend which is only about 2000 years old). As I type this, Pastor Rob Bell's new book Love Wins has already caused great controversy and debate just days after its release. The quesions are raised as to whether or not he is a universalist, what his view of hell really is, and what he sees as truly constituting the Gosepl. Regardless of how Bell's book is received, there are sure to be divisions in many places.
So what is wrong with the Church? I believe all of what I have mentioned stems from a problem articulated by Bell himself, as well as my friend and fellow blogger David Ketter. We have become so individualistic as believers in the West that each of us carries our own form of dogmatism. In other words, because my faith is my faith, I know I am right, and I know that anyone who disagrees with me is either mistaken or heretical and clearly does not know God like I know him. Now, while it is great to be certain of truth and what we believe, the problem is that many of us do not have the time, training, or tenacity to study Scripture properly. Couple this with the fact that we have nearly forsaken authority and wisdom from those more seasoned Christians in our lives, and we really have a problem.
Over the past four years of my educational endevours at Geneva College, I have discovered just how difficult and time consuming it is to dive into the Bible in a way that challenges me and gives me greater insight into truth. It has take me entire semesters to learn the proper ways to read and interpret the Word of God. Most theologians and pastors would probably say they even have a long way to go in this process.
But let's face it: most of us grab a quick devotion guide, read for 5-10 minutes over a cup of coffee, and then head to school or work for the day. I know this to be true of my younger generation, but I would bet that the same can be said of working adults as well. Though there is nothing overtly wrong with this, I believe it points to our spiritual laziness. We are not gaining a deeper understanding of the principles of biblical interpretation that unlock some of the mysteries of our faith and the Bible. After all, we simply don't have time. Or do we?
Maybe the problem is that we are lazy. Maybe we actually do have some extra time on our hands that we could give over to the spiritual disciplines that God uses to transform us each day. Maybe the problem is that we become so burnt out, so inudated with information that the last thing we want to do after a long day is sit down for half an hour or more and simply read and pray. While I sypathize with this situation, the problem is that spiritual maturity is not like a trip to McDonald's or Burger King. You do not order what you want and get it hot and ready in 2 minutes (and even that would be too long). It takes time, patience, struggle and discipline to experience growth. Not to mention, we have forsaken the wisdom and insight of pastors and elders who have been in the faith for a much longer period of time than we have. How in the world are we ever going to have the maturity, boldness, and power to impact this world for the Gospel if we do not even really know what the message is?
While I am sure that I will talk about this in more detail with examples in the future, I just want to get all of us thinking about our own lazy faith, and challenge us to get real for a second. We all have the time. We all have an extra hour or even more to spend with the Lord. We do, only if we really view our faith as the central aspect of our lives. Otherwise, it is easy to throw our time away doing nothing. Am I there yet? Not at all. But I know I'm convicted.
So while we disagree with one another over musical styles, or call out "heretic" before we've even read Love Wins, we must ask ourselves if we are giving God the time he deserves and whether or not we are allowing others to speak into our lives. It is easy to be a backseat-theologian. It is difficult to jump up front and allow God to direct our spiritual growth. It will be risky and even a little dangerous to our own egos and biases, but maybe this is exactly what we need if we are to be the Body of Christ God has saved us to be. After all, isn't Christ worth it?
Meanwhile, new emerging and emergent Churches seek to find new ways of reaching out to the lost, broken world that both parties claim to be Biblical. And the debates are not solely ecclesiological (focused on the church and how it should operate), but theological as well (a trend which is only about 2000 years old). As I type this, Pastor Rob Bell's new book Love Wins has already caused great controversy and debate just days after its release. The quesions are raised as to whether or not he is a universalist, what his view of hell really is, and what he sees as truly constituting the Gosepl. Regardless of how Bell's book is received, there are sure to be divisions in many places.
So what is wrong with the Church? I believe all of what I have mentioned stems from a problem articulated by Bell himself, as well as my friend and fellow blogger David Ketter. We have become so individualistic as believers in the West that each of us carries our own form of dogmatism. In other words, because my faith is my faith, I know I am right, and I know that anyone who disagrees with me is either mistaken or heretical and clearly does not know God like I know him. Now, while it is great to be certain of truth and what we believe, the problem is that many of us do not have the time, training, or tenacity to study Scripture properly. Couple this with the fact that we have nearly forsaken authority and wisdom from those more seasoned Christians in our lives, and we really have a problem.
Over the past four years of my educational endevours at Geneva College, I have discovered just how difficult and time consuming it is to dive into the Bible in a way that challenges me and gives me greater insight into truth. It has take me entire semesters to learn the proper ways to read and interpret the Word of God. Most theologians and pastors would probably say they even have a long way to go in this process.
But let's face it: most of us grab a quick devotion guide, read for 5-10 minutes over a cup of coffee, and then head to school or work for the day. I know this to be true of my younger generation, but I would bet that the same can be said of working adults as well. Though there is nothing overtly wrong with this, I believe it points to our spiritual laziness. We are not gaining a deeper understanding of the principles of biblical interpretation that unlock some of the mysteries of our faith and the Bible. After all, we simply don't have time. Or do we?
Maybe the problem is that we are lazy. Maybe we actually do have some extra time on our hands that we could give over to the spiritual disciplines that God uses to transform us each day. Maybe the problem is that we become so burnt out, so inudated with information that the last thing we want to do after a long day is sit down for half an hour or more and simply read and pray. While I sypathize with this situation, the problem is that spiritual maturity is not like a trip to McDonald's or Burger King. You do not order what you want and get it hot and ready in 2 minutes (and even that would be too long). It takes time, patience, struggle and discipline to experience growth. Not to mention, we have forsaken the wisdom and insight of pastors and elders who have been in the faith for a much longer period of time than we have. How in the world are we ever going to have the maturity, boldness, and power to impact this world for the Gospel if we do not even really know what the message is?
While I am sure that I will talk about this in more detail with examples in the future, I just want to get all of us thinking about our own lazy faith, and challenge us to get real for a second. We all have the time. We all have an extra hour or even more to spend with the Lord. We do, only if we really view our faith as the central aspect of our lives. Otherwise, it is easy to throw our time away doing nothing. Am I there yet? Not at all. But I know I'm convicted.
So while we disagree with one another over musical styles, or call out "heretic" before we've even read Love Wins, we must ask ourselves if we are giving God the time he deserves and whether or not we are allowing others to speak into our lives. It is easy to be a backseat-theologian. It is difficult to jump up front and allow God to direct our spiritual growth. It will be risky and even a little dangerous to our own egos and biases, but maybe this is exactly what we need if we are to be the Body of Christ God has saved us to be. After all, isn't Christ worth it?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Constant Reminders
Let's face it, all of us do dumb things that get us into trouble. It doesn't matter how hard we try, we always seem to find a way to mess it up. We open our big mouths, we treat others in ways that we know they don't appreciate, we fail to meet a responsibility, or a number of other stupid mistakes and choices that we could possibly make.
For me, I constantly find myself unable to keep up with the whole host of things I have gotten into. School, my part time job at my Church, leading worship, being president of a ministry at Geneva College, and maintaining my relationships with friends and my girlfriend are all things that I have filled my life with. The fact is, I enjoy them all, at least to some extent. I also feel as if they are all fulfilling in some way or another. Unfortunately, I've never been able to juggle them as well as I would like. I get worn out.
But don't we all do this? Our society tells us that the key to success is to do as much as you can as well as you can. The younger generation today has bought into the idea that in order for them to look as attractive to jobs and colleges as they can, they must fill their lives with as many random and sometimes disconnected activities and projects as possible. I can tell you this from experience. The problem with this mentality is that it wears kids out and frustrates them from doing the very things that they are most passionate about. I didn't get into college because of the dozens of things I was involved in. I got in because of my writing ability and my grades. So my first thought is: specialize in something. Become really good at it and sell it to whomever needs to know. Employees, schools, friends, everyone should know that you are good at what you do, not that you can juggle 80 million things at once.
My second thought is based again on my own experience. Sometimes we can begin to do so much that we do wear ourselves down and become completely ineffective in everything we do. I discovered this lesson when I was diagnosed with mono last fall. It may not be the worst thing you could be diagnosed with, but like some of the worst, it stays with you for life. It runs you down and weakens your immune system. You body just can't do the things it used to, and I do a lot. I am constantly reminded that I can't keep running myself ragged. I need sleep. I need time off. I need a chance to relax and unwind. Mono has forced me to learn this. And when I become stubborn and think I can do it all, I become run down and worn out again, forced to stay in my bed. It truly is a constant reminder.
So don't let your lifestyle run you down. Don't let something in your past become a constant reminder of the mistakes you have made over the years. Learn to be really, really good at whatever you are passionate about and run after that, not everything you possibly can. This way, you will be able to keep your life in check and never need one of those constant reminders.
For me, I constantly find myself unable to keep up with the whole host of things I have gotten into. School, my part time job at my Church, leading worship, being president of a ministry at Geneva College, and maintaining my relationships with friends and my girlfriend are all things that I have filled my life with. The fact is, I enjoy them all, at least to some extent. I also feel as if they are all fulfilling in some way or another. Unfortunately, I've never been able to juggle them as well as I would like. I get worn out.
But don't we all do this? Our society tells us that the key to success is to do as much as you can as well as you can. The younger generation today has bought into the idea that in order for them to look as attractive to jobs and colleges as they can, they must fill their lives with as many random and sometimes disconnected activities and projects as possible. I can tell you this from experience. The problem with this mentality is that it wears kids out and frustrates them from doing the very things that they are most passionate about. I didn't get into college because of the dozens of things I was involved in. I got in because of my writing ability and my grades. So my first thought is: specialize in something. Become really good at it and sell it to whomever needs to know. Employees, schools, friends, everyone should know that you are good at what you do, not that you can juggle 80 million things at once.
My second thought is based again on my own experience. Sometimes we can begin to do so much that we do wear ourselves down and become completely ineffective in everything we do. I discovered this lesson when I was diagnosed with mono last fall. It may not be the worst thing you could be diagnosed with, but like some of the worst, it stays with you for life. It runs you down and weakens your immune system. You body just can't do the things it used to, and I do a lot. I am constantly reminded that I can't keep running myself ragged. I need sleep. I need time off. I need a chance to relax and unwind. Mono has forced me to learn this. And when I become stubborn and think I can do it all, I become run down and worn out again, forced to stay in my bed. It truly is a constant reminder.
So don't let your lifestyle run you down. Don't let something in your past become a constant reminder of the mistakes you have made over the years. Learn to be really, really good at whatever you are passionate about and run after that, not everything you possibly can. This way, you will be able to keep your life in check and never need one of those constant reminders.
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