It's again been over a year since I last blogged. My wife and I had a baby (which I wrote about back then), and I started seminary. Life's been crazy. So here goes...
Have you ever felt like you didn't belong some where? Maybe it was a church service where you didn't seem to be dressed like everyone else. Maybe you were invited to a party and quickly realized that it wasn't the kind of place you should be at. Have you ever been a fan of the visiting team at a sporting event? Any of these circumstances can make you feel uncomfortable, or worse, question who you are in the first place. It's not a fun place to be (unless your team ends up winning the game, but then the locals might make things more uncomfortable for you in other ways).
In John 4, we read of a woman caught in that exact situation. Jesus comes to her home town in the neighboring region of Samaria (note that Jews had a strong disliking for Samaritans) and sits down at the town well, exhausted from a long trip. It's about noon, and the woman approaches the well to get water. Now, many have commented that the custom then and now in regions like Palestine was for the women to travel together to the well early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day, and spend some time socializing. That this woman gets her water alone at the hottest part of the day let's us know that something isn't right.
As this unnamed woman and Jesus interact, we find out what's wrong. Jesus tells her that he can offer her "living water" which will ensure that she never thirsts again, and if she wants it then she needs to only go get her husband. When the woman admits that she has no husband, Jesus responds, "You are correct in saying you have no husband. For your have had five husbands, and the man you are with now is not your husband." Awkward.
Clearly, this is a sensitive subject. The woman responds by declaring, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet..." and proceeds to ask him about the proper place for worship. Should people worship at the Temple in Jerusalem, or on the Samaritan holy mountain, Gerazim. Most preachers I've listened to attribute this sudden shift in topic to the woman being uncomfortable and wanting to avoid the issue of her marital status.
I think there's more to it.
When I think of worship, I think of belonging. When I walk into a worship space with my Church family, I belong there. I am (hopefully) accepted as I am, flaws and all. I know that in worship, I can come before God without hesitation because the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus has granted me full access to His presence. This truth was even more real for first century Jews and Samaritans. Your life revolved around your place of worship. You lived among those you worshiped with. You brought sacrifices and sung songs in this community. They knew you, and you knew them. Your worship was intimately tied into your sense of belonging.
But this woman, as evidenced by her coming to the well alone in the middle of day, was trying to avoid this sense of community. Maybe she was the brunt of the town's gossip, as they wondered why she was on to guy number six. It's hard to imagine that she would have felt welcomed in worship. On the other hand, she was a Samaritan who would have never been greeted with open arms in Jerusalem either. So where did she belong?
I believe that is at the heart of why she addresses worship with Jesus. In other words, if she is hated by the Jews and could never fit in at the Temple in Jerusalem, and if she is judged and ridiculed by her own people in Samaria, then where does she belong? What an honest, vulnerable question to pose to Jesus. And his response reveals that he acknowledges and validates her pain. "Woman," he said, "A time is coming and is now here when true worshipers will worship neither on this mountain or in Jerusalem." Instead, he tells her, true worshipers of God will do so, "In spirit and in truth" (that's a whole different blog post entirely).
Even in her painful circumstances, Jesus tells her that she belongs in the presence of God anyway. And at this news, and the confirmation that Jesus was truly the Messiah who had come to make this possible, the woman leaped for joy to run and tell her townsfolk about this man who had, "Told me everything I ever did". She would never be the same again.
This is great news! It means that we don't have to be perfect, or look a certain way to be able to come before God. We belong there. And in His presence, we find the thirst-quenching living water we've always wanted. It restores the soul, and transforms us from being timid and ashamed, to bold and confident in His love.
So don't hide from God. Don't hide from your past. Don't hide your sin and shame. Bring it all before God and know that you belong there. Know that he will take, forgive and transform it all for His glory. He will truly quench your spiritual thirst.
Oh, and don't stop anyone else from entering his presence (or your church) because they don't look or act like you, either.
In His Grace
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Rocking Chair Theology: A Perfect Mess
Since the birth of my son Judah two months ago, I've had the chance (through hours of lost sleep and crying, which hasn't always been his) to do a lot of thinking and reflecting. While I have a blog entry on the racial and systemic mess that is our great nation on hold, I thought I would take some time to share what comes to me while I sit in Judah's glider and rock him to sleep.
During his two month check up at the pediatrician, Judah was measured, weighed, and given his first vaccinations. The cries and screams that our child let out during those shots broke my heart. I never want him to feel any pain, but I suppose that is the nature of this life. Anyway, that's not even the point to all of this. As our pediatrician went over his numbers and patterns, she confidently declared, "He's doing perfect!"
Perfect!? Perfect?!
I love my son with all of my heart in a way I never thought possible, no matter how much my parents told me they loved my brother. And don't get me wrong; even the difficult and frustrating moments are worth while.
But perfect? I mean, I know Judah is growing at a proper rate. But surely as a mother, our doctor has to know how not perfect this thing can be. Late nights and early mornings. Crying, fussing, and crying some more. Frankly, parenthood is exhausting even with all the cute smiles and beautiful moments.
As I held him in his chair after a long screaming session (he did have three painful shots today after all), I looked down at him and thought to myself, "Perfect? With all the crying and diaper changes, of course he is still perfect. He is a perfect mess. He's my perfect mess" And then the Holy Spirit, as he often has done while I sit in that chair, impressed upon me an encouraging thought. This is the same way that God sees me as perfect in Christ. He's knows I'm a perfect mess. He knows how I cry and complain and want everyone to pay attention to me all of the time. He sees my crazy, and often twisted thoughts even before they enter my mind and yet he loves me infinitely more than I could ever love Judah.
So there in that chair I was reminded of scriptures from the Bible like Hebrews 6:1, "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity..." or Philippians 1:6 "...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." It's refreshing to know that we are works in progress. Our calling as human beings made in God's image is to continue on in maturity, being molded into the likeness of Jesus Christ. But our Father doesn't expect perfection immediately, or really any time soon for that matter. Judah is going to mature and grow even as he cries, screams, ruins many diapers, and costs us a lot of money as a family. He's a mess. But it takes that messiness to lead him and all of us to perfection and maturity.
I'm getting the hang of changing his diapers. I'm learning not to get frustrated and angry when he cries and screams (no, I'm not a perfect parent. Don't judge me.). I'm learning that all of these things are a part of the growing process. God changes us without being scared off by our messes, holds us while we kick and scream, and gives us nourishment by His Holy Spirit. And when He looks at us through the lens of Christ's righteousness, he doesn't see the mess. He sees a perfect mess. His perfect mess.
During his two month check up at the pediatrician, Judah was measured, weighed, and given his first vaccinations. The cries and screams that our child let out during those shots broke my heart. I never want him to feel any pain, but I suppose that is the nature of this life. Anyway, that's not even the point to all of this. As our pediatrician went over his numbers and patterns, she confidently declared, "He's doing perfect!"
Perfect!? Perfect?!
I love my son with all of my heart in a way I never thought possible, no matter how much my parents told me they loved my brother. And don't get me wrong; even the difficult and frustrating moments are worth while.
But perfect? I mean, I know Judah is growing at a proper rate. But surely as a mother, our doctor has to know how not perfect this thing can be. Late nights and early mornings. Crying, fussing, and crying some more. Frankly, parenthood is exhausting even with all the cute smiles and beautiful moments.
As I held him in his chair after a long screaming session (he did have three painful shots today after all), I looked down at him and thought to myself, "Perfect? With all the crying and diaper changes, of course he is still perfect. He is a perfect mess. He's my perfect mess" And then the Holy Spirit, as he often has done while I sit in that chair, impressed upon me an encouraging thought. This is the same way that God sees me as perfect in Christ. He's knows I'm a perfect mess. He knows how I cry and complain and want everyone to pay attention to me all of the time. He sees my crazy, and often twisted thoughts even before they enter my mind and yet he loves me infinitely more than I could ever love Judah.
So there in that chair I was reminded of scriptures from the Bible like Hebrews 6:1, "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity..." or Philippians 1:6 "...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." It's refreshing to know that we are works in progress. Our calling as human beings made in God's image is to continue on in maturity, being molded into the likeness of Jesus Christ. But our Father doesn't expect perfection immediately, or really any time soon for that matter. Judah is going to mature and grow even as he cries, screams, ruins many diapers, and costs us a lot of money as a family. He's a mess. But it takes that messiness to lead him and all of us to perfection and maturity.
I'm getting the hang of changing his diapers. I'm learning not to get frustrated and angry when he cries and screams (no, I'm not a perfect parent. Don't judge me.). I'm learning that all of these things are a part of the growing process. God changes us without being scared off by our messes, holds us while we kick and scream, and gives us nourishment by His Holy Spirit. And when He looks at us through the lens of Christ's righteousness, he doesn't see the mess. He sees a perfect mess. His perfect mess.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
You Get what You (Don't) Deserve
One thing I love about Jesus is just how counter cultural he was. Now, I realize that this phrase is grossly overused, especially in Christian circles. But it really applied to Jesus. He hung out with the outcasts and the "sinners". While many of his followers were hoping to take up arms against the Roman government, Jesus was looking for people who would lay down their lives for the Kingdom of God. Jewish teachers and leaders wanted people to follow rules. Jesus asked people to follow Him to a cross. And while every related to God based on how well they followed these laws, Jesus knew something different.
After the sermon on the mount, and after healing many sick and lame throughout the region, Jesus entered the town of Capernaum. While there, he was approached by some Jewish elders representing a Roman centurion (military leader). This centurion's favorite house servant had come down with a fatal illness, but this man has heard that Jesus had the power and authority to heal the sick. So he sent these Jewish elders to Jesus. Their interaction reveals a lot about the religious mentality of the day.
Luke 7:4-6 tells us, "When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, 'This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.' So Jesus went with them."
Notice these men and their appeal to the Lord on the basis of what the centurion deserved. The Jewish elders would have been so used to relating to God on the basis of their obedience and good behavior that this only makes sense in their minds. And Jesus plays along. But what the centurion says next is astounding.
"He (Jesus) was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: 'Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I don not deserve to have you come under my roof... But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes...'."
The elders tried to impress Jesus with the centurion's resume. He was a patriot and a religious man. We might even call him a "good person" today. But this Roman military man knew that in comparison to the man who had authority over life and death, forces of nature, and even angels and demons, he didn't deserve anything. Talk about counter-cultural...
His words were so genuine and profound that Jesus himself responded, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." The centurion's servant was healed at that moment.
So here's my simple, yet very practical question for us from this passage.
On what basis do we appeal to Jesus?
or
What do you think you do (or don't) deserve?
I believe that we get what we think we don't deserve from God. Did you catch that? In my prayer life, I have often sounded like the Jewish elders. "Lord," I'd say, "You know how much time I spend at church. You know all the things I do for you. I think I deserve to have you meet my need." I will even do this when I intercede for someone else. "God, my friend loves you and serves you will all of their heart. They even give to the church! Please, heal their body. Restore their marriage." But these things do not impress Jesus.
Faith does. Humility does. Knowing what we don't deserve is what gets Jesus' attention. I can't find a single time in the Bible when someone's faith in himself stirred Christ to heal him. Never once did Jesus say, "Daughter, your faith in how good you are has healed you." Our faith and hope is in Christ and his worth alone. When we appeal to God on the basis of our faithfulness, we will only ever get what we deserve, because compared to the perfection and holiness of God, we aren't as good as we think we are. But when we appeal to Jesus on the basis of who He is and what He's done, then we get what we don't deserve.
It's called grace. It's counter-cultural, especially here in the United States of America. And it's how things operate in the Kingdom of God.
After the sermon on the mount, and after healing many sick and lame throughout the region, Jesus entered the town of Capernaum. While there, he was approached by some Jewish elders representing a Roman centurion (military leader). This centurion's favorite house servant had come down with a fatal illness, but this man has heard that Jesus had the power and authority to heal the sick. So he sent these Jewish elders to Jesus. Their interaction reveals a lot about the religious mentality of the day.
Luke 7:4-6 tells us, "When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, 'This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.' So Jesus went with them."
Notice these men and their appeal to the Lord on the basis of what the centurion deserved. The Jewish elders would have been so used to relating to God on the basis of their obedience and good behavior that this only makes sense in their minds. And Jesus plays along. But what the centurion says next is astounding.
"He (Jesus) was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: 'Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I don not deserve to have you come under my roof... But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes...'."
The elders tried to impress Jesus with the centurion's resume. He was a patriot and a religious man. We might even call him a "good person" today. But this Roman military man knew that in comparison to the man who had authority over life and death, forces of nature, and even angels and demons, he didn't deserve anything. Talk about counter-cultural...
His words were so genuine and profound that Jesus himself responded, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." The centurion's servant was healed at that moment.
So here's my simple, yet very practical question for us from this passage.
On what basis do we appeal to Jesus?
or
What do you think you do (or don't) deserve?
I believe that we get what we think we don't deserve from God. Did you catch that? In my prayer life, I have often sounded like the Jewish elders. "Lord," I'd say, "You know how much time I spend at church. You know all the things I do for you. I think I deserve to have you meet my need." I will even do this when I intercede for someone else. "God, my friend loves you and serves you will all of their heart. They even give to the church! Please, heal their body. Restore their marriage." But these things do not impress Jesus.
Faith does. Humility does. Knowing what we don't deserve is what gets Jesus' attention. I can't find a single time in the Bible when someone's faith in himself stirred Christ to heal him. Never once did Jesus say, "Daughter, your faith in how good you are has healed you." Our faith and hope is in Christ and his worth alone. When we appeal to God on the basis of our faithfulness, we will only ever get what we deserve, because compared to the perfection and holiness of God, we aren't as good as we think we are. But when we appeal to Jesus on the basis of who He is and what He's done, then we get what we don't deserve.
It's called grace. It's counter-cultural, especially here in the United States of America. And it's how things operate in the Kingdom of God.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
"Don't Judge Me!"
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life." You know this one. John 3:16
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD. 'Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and future.'" You might even know this one too. Jeremiah 29:11.
Oh, how about...
"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Another good one for the ole bumper sticker. Philippians 4:13
Hmmmm... oh, a new favorite of the millennial generation...
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged..." So where's that from?
Anyone? Where in the Bible is that passage? Can someone tell me?
Matthew 7:1. Or a similar rendering in Luke 6:37. I'm sure you knew that though. And I'm sure you know the context as well, right? Like where Jesus was when he said that, what he was talking about just before he spoke those words, and what he said just immediately after.
My generation has a serious problem, one that I certainly struggle with as well. It's one that we inherited, if I may type honestly. We grew up in a "Christian culture" where memorizing short Bible verses plucked out of context was a key spiritual discipline. We were told that if you were having a bad day, just quote one of those verses that I mentioned above and suddenly we would be able to conquer the world. Stressing for your science test? Well, you can do all thing through Christ! Feeling weak and vulnerable? His grace is sufficient for you (and something about power, perfection, and weakness). Not sure of what college you should go to, or who you should marry and how many kids you are going to have? Have no fear, because God knows the plans He has for you! And they all are good ones too. See what I'm saying?
Memorizing and quoting Scripture is not a bad thing at all. Jesus did it, as did his followers. The difference is that Jesus and his early followers didn't view Scripture as a series of individual quotes to be taken out of context and used for their own situations (plus they didn't really have the New Testament back then). The Bible was God's story of redemption and grace. It was all and always had been about Him and how He interacted with flawed and broken humans to bring about His purpose in the world. When Jesus did quote Scripture, it was always for a purpose outside of his immediate need. I could go into this more, but for now we should simply understand that the Bible didn't have split up chapters and verses that could be ripped away from each other and used for whatever purpose someone desired. Jesus and his early followers saw Scripture as one cohesive story.
Today, we grab one phrase or one sentence and create entire theologies out of it without even questioning whether or not the original writer meant it that way in the first place. The every day Christian has not been taught how to "exegete", or pull the meaning out of the text through careful study and respectful examination. After all, that's for seminary graduates. And who has time for that sort of study anyway? So that's one problem.
A second problem, ironically, is what I'm doing right now. Blogging. Social Media.
We all have a voice, with little to no filter and certainly no authority over us to keep us from saying something stupid. So trolling and bullying and youthful ignorance (guilty) have a huge platform to say whatever they want, and eventually their opinions become commonly agreed upon. Now, I'm not claiming to be some expert or theologian. But I do hold to what my philosophy professor, Dr. Esther Meek, drilled into our heads at Geneva College. Before I can critique, criticize, or even form my own opinion on a subject, I had better have thoroughly read and researched the topic and its experts. And even then, I still don't really have a right to say much. Shut up, and listen.
So what does Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:36 have to do with this? Well, for us Christian millennials, most discussions surrounding morality and our ethical choices inevitably come back to this verse (even for people who wouldn't call themselves Christians). I imagine that somewhere along the line in debates and conversations regarding morality, someone read these words from Jesus and decided "Yes! See? Jesus said no one can judge me or my actions, so there. No one can judge me. If I want to do X or Y, then I can do X or Y and they just have to grin and bear it. Only God can judge."
But Jesus wasn't giving us a bullet in our ethical-debate gun. He wasn't giving us an out for our morality. How do I know? Context. These texts are found in the middle of Jesus' famous "Sermon the Mount" where he gives a glimpse into what life in His Kingdom should look like. If you decide to sign up and play on Jesus' team, here's how things will go: (just a few examples)
You will be blessed even when things around you seem to fall apart (Matthew 5: 1-12).
That person who cut you off in traffic? Forgive them, and let them drive as slowly ahead of you as they'd like (This happened to me today. And well yeah, I didn't do too well). After all, flipping them off would be the same as killing them in Jesus' Kingdom (5:21-22, 43-47).
Your religious duties should be done humbly in order to please God and God alone (Matt. 6:1-18). Jesus liked some forms of religion, by the way. But that's a different blog...
There's no room for worry and anxiety in Christ's domain. After all, if God cares for the lilies of the field, won't he care for you (6:25-34)?
The sermon on the mount was all about how our relationships with God and one another should look radically different in the Kingdom of Heaven than in the kingdom of this world. And in the middle of this message Jesus says, "Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:36). But Jesus is not saying this so we can look someone in the eye after we've broken God's standards and say, "Jesus told me you can't judge me." He's telling you and me that WE can't judge or condemn or withhold forgiveness. Don't worry about the judgmental "speak" in someone else's eye. Let's pull out that giant cross-beam of self-righteousness and entitlement from our own eyes first...
Jesus clearly reinforced the moral standards that the Father laid down in the Old Testament. That's the whole point of the sermon on the mount. If we have encountered his love and mercy, then our lives should look drastically different. We should want to please God, not ourselves. Pleasing God always involves loving and serving others. It always looks like imitating Jesus. Always. After all, Jesus pleased the Father perfectly.
In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus states that not only did He come to uphold the law, but He came to fulfill it. He knew that for us imperfect, messed up humans, we couldn't fulfill the whole law on our own. If we want to base our relationship with the Almighty Creator of the Universe on our morality and ethics then, "I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of God." And those guys got paid to follow the law. But if our righteousness is given to us by Jesus, who was perfect in everything He did, then we inherit the kingdom as well as a new heart full of devotion and desire to please God. Christ fulfilled the law and then was murdered and rose from the grave so that we might receive that righteousness that none of us could ever earn by our own merit.
So don't use this passage as a way of justifying yourself and getting out of living differently. The Son of God didn't die a brutal death on a Roman Cross so we could shout "Don't judge me!" He died so that when we are wronged and when we are hurt, we can look at the other person and forgive them. He died so that we would want to serve and live for the God of all Creation in a way that leads us to serve and love even our worst enemy. I know this is a lot more difficult than simply doing what we want and asking God to forgive us later. But it's why Christ came. And it's what faith requires of us.
Yes, God is the only true judge. And we are all guilty. But for some reason, like John 3:16 states, Jesus went from preaching a sermon on the mount by the Sea of Galilee to later being hung on a cross on the mountain of Calvary in order to break the chains of moralistic legalism or relativism that keep us all in slavery. He didn't come to be your buddy whose quote you put in your status update or cute meme.
He came to be the Lord who sits on the throne of your heart. And that's exactly where He belongs. For He is a good and gracious King, and His kingdom has no end. Does he hold that place in your life?
You be the judge.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD. 'Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and future.'" You might even know this one too. Jeremiah 29:11.
Oh, how about...
"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Another good one for the ole bumper sticker. Philippians 4:13
Hmmmm... oh, a new favorite of the millennial generation...
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged..." So where's that from?
Anyone? Where in the Bible is that passage? Can someone tell me?
Matthew 7:1. Or a similar rendering in Luke 6:37. I'm sure you knew that though. And I'm sure you know the context as well, right? Like where Jesus was when he said that, what he was talking about just before he spoke those words, and what he said just immediately after.
My generation has a serious problem, one that I certainly struggle with as well. It's one that we inherited, if I may type honestly. We grew up in a "Christian culture" where memorizing short Bible verses plucked out of context was a key spiritual discipline. We were told that if you were having a bad day, just quote one of those verses that I mentioned above and suddenly we would be able to conquer the world. Stressing for your science test? Well, you can do all thing through Christ! Feeling weak and vulnerable? His grace is sufficient for you (and something about power, perfection, and weakness). Not sure of what college you should go to, or who you should marry and how many kids you are going to have? Have no fear, because God knows the plans He has for you! And they all are good ones too. See what I'm saying?
Memorizing and quoting Scripture is not a bad thing at all. Jesus did it, as did his followers. The difference is that Jesus and his early followers didn't view Scripture as a series of individual quotes to be taken out of context and used for their own situations (plus they didn't really have the New Testament back then). The Bible was God's story of redemption and grace. It was all and always had been about Him and how He interacted with flawed and broken humans to bring about His purpose in the world. When Jesus did quote Scripture, it was always for a purpose outside of his immediate need. I could go into this more, but for now we should simply understand that the Bible didn't have split up chapters and verses that could be ripped away from each other and used for whatever purpose someone desired. Jesus and his early followers saw Scripture as one cohesive story.
Today, we grab one phrase or one sentence and create entire theologies out of it without even questioning whether or not the original writer meant it that way in the first place. The every day Christian has not been taught how to "exegete", or pull the meaning out of the text through careful study and respectful examination. After all, that's for seminary graduates. And who has time for that sort of study anyway? So that's one problem.
A second problem, ironically, is what I'm doing right now. Blogging. Social Media.
We all have a voice, with little to no filter and certainly no authority over us to keep us from saying something stupid. So trolling and bullying and youthful ignorance (guilty) have a huge platform to say whatever they want, and eventually their opinions become commonly agreed upon. Now, I'm not claiming to be some expert or theologian. But I do hold to what my philosophy professor, Dr. Esther Meek, drilled into our heads at Geneva College. Before I can critique, criticize, or even form my own opinion on a subject, I had better have thoroughly read and researched the topic and its experts. And even then, I still don't really have a right to say much. Shut up, and listen.
So what does Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:36 have to do with this? Well, for us Christian millennials, most discussions surrounding morality and our ethical choices inevitably come back to this verse (even for people who wouldn't call themselves Christians). I imagine that somewhere along the line in debates and conversations regarding morality, someone read these words from Jesus and decided "Yes! See? Jesus said no one can judge me or my actions, so there. No one can judge me. If I want to do X or Y, then I can do X or Y and they just have to grin and bear it. Only God can judge."
But Jesus wasn't giving us a bullet in our ethical-debate gun. He wasn't giving us an out for our morality. How do I know? Context. These texts are found in the middle of Jesus' famous "Sermon the Mount" where he gives a glimpse into what life in His Kingdom should look like. If you decide to sign up and play on Jesus' team, here's how things will go: (just a few examples)
You will be blessed even when things around you seem to fall apart (Matthew 5: 1-12).
That person who cut you off in traffic? Forgive them, and let them drive as slowly ahead of you as they'd like (This happened to me today. And well yeah, I didn't do too well). After all, flipping them off would be the same as killing them in Jesus' Kingdom (5:21-22, 43-47).
Your religious duties should be done humbly in order to please God and God alone (Matt. 6:1-18). Jesus liked some forms of religion, by the way. But that's a different blog...
There's no room for worry and anxiety in Christ's domain. After all, if God cares for the lilies of the field, won't he care for you (6:25-34)?
The sermon on the mount was all about how our relationships with God and one another should look radically different in the Kingdom of Heaven than in the kingdom of this world. And in the middle of this message Jesus says, "Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:36). But Jesus is not saying this so we can look someone in the eye after we've broken God's standards and say, "Jesus told me you can't judge me." He's telling you and me that WE can't judge or condemn or withhold forgiveness. Don't worry about the judgmental "speak" in someone else's eye. Let's pull out that giant cross-beam of self-righteousness and entitlement from our own eyes first...
Jesus clearly reinforced the moral standards that the Father laid down in the Old Testament. That's the whole point of the sermon on the mount. If we have encountered his love and mercy, then our lives should look drastically different. We should want to please God, not ourselves. Pleasing God always involves loving and serving others. It always looks like imitating Jesus. Always. After all, Jesus pleased the Father perfectly.
In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus states that not only did He come to uphold the law, but He came to fulfill it. He knew that for us imperfect, messed up humans, we couldn't fulfill the whole law on our own. If we want to base our relationship with the Almighty Creator of the Universe on our morality and ethics then, "I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of God." And those guys got paid to follow the law. But if our righteousness is given to us by Jesus, who was perfect in everything He did, then we inherit the kingdom as well as a new heart full of devotion and desire to please God. Christ fulfilled the law and then was murdered and rose from the grave so that we might receive that righteousness that none of us could ever earn by our own merit.
So don't use this passage as a way of justifying yourself and getting out of living differently. The Son of God didn't die a brutal death on a Roman Cross so we could shout "Don't judge me!" He died so that when we are wronged and when we are hurt, we can look at the other person and forgive them. He died so that we would want to serve and live for the God of all Creation in a way that leads us to serve and love even our worst enemy. I know this is a lot more difficult than simply doing what we want and asking God to forgive us later. But it's why Christ came. And it's what faith requires of us.
Yes, God is the only true judge. And we are all guilty. But for some reason, like John 3:16 states, Jesus went from preaching a sermon on the mount by the Sea of Galilee to later being hung on a cross on the mountain of Calvary in order to break the chains of moralistic legalism or relativism that keep us all in slavery. He didn't come to be your buddy whose quote you put in your status update or cute meme.
He came to be the Lord who sits on the throne of your heart. And that's exactly where He belongs. For He is a good and gracious King, and His kingdom has no end. Does he hold that place in your life?
You be the judge.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Love Just Because
I was tired of having to pay a lot of money for something I rarely used.
So my options were either:
1) Use it more or
2) Cancel it and find something cheaper
Clearly, I chose option 2.
So here we are, back on my original blogger site, reading my thoughts and musings because I have a family budget that needs to be honored and adhered to. As well it should be. And my previous domain provider was simply too expensive in general, let alone the fact that I was blogging once every four months or so.
To all 2 of you who read this, welcome back! (I'm only sort of joking). However, depending on if I can find a better, cheaper provider, I may send this back to troymillerministries.com, or something like that.
It's been a while, so where should I catch up? If you didn't check out my aforementioned website, I am leading Contemporary worship at Christ UMC outside of Pittsburgh. I met, dated, and married the new youth director at the church. Her name is Melody. She's pretty cool. And now we are having a child come mid-October. So needless to say, the last two years or so have been crazy! I'm learning that the old adage is true: The only constant is change. This is especially the case when you have tried to surrender your life to the care and control of God.
I've always wondered why God doesn't just drop His plan for you in your lap and let you have at it. Why doesn't He seem to answer all my prayers the way I want Him to and block me from any and all bad situations? Over these last few years, I think I'm starting to understand (at least a small part of) the reason for this. As a stubborn, complicated human, I've come to see that if I had all the answers I had asked for and knew exactly where I needed to be and when, then I would neglect and forget the One who answered my prayers in the first place. Our Creator isn't a Genie. He doesn't bow to our every wish because He is first and foremost to be worshiped as Lord of All. When I simplify my relationship with Him to one between a person and a magic 8 ball, then I have made the things God gives me into my object of worship, rather than God himself. And God doesn't share affection. I wouldn't love my wife only because she cooks good meals for us. I love her because she is Melody Anne. I love her because of who she is. Period. The same should be said of my love for my Heavenly Father.
So it is my prayer for you that you would love and lean on Jesus Christ not only because he blesses you. Lean, not only because of what He does for you. Lean and love because he deserves nothing less. Love because He IS everything we've been looking for. And even when He doesn't give you the answers, love Him even more, just because.
In His Grace
So my options were either:
1) Use it more or
2) Cancel it and find something cheaper
Clearly, I chose option 2.
So here we are, back on my original blogger site, reading my thoughts and musings because I have a family budget that needs to be honored and adhered to. As well it should be. And my previous domain provider was simply too expensive in general, let alone the fact that I was blogging once every four months or so.
To all 2 of you who read this, welcome back! (I'm only sort of joking). However, depending on if I can find a better, cheaper provider, I may send this back to troymillerministries.com, or something like that.
It's been a while, so where should I catch up? If you didn't check out my aforementioned website, I am leading Contemporary worship at Christ UMC outside of Pittsburgh. I met, dated, and married the new youth director at the church. Her name is Melody. She's pretty cool. And now we are having a child come mid-October. So needless to say, the last two years or so have been crazy! I'm learning that the old adage is true: The only constant is change. This is especially the case when you have tried to surrender your life to the care and control of God.
I've always wondered why God doesn't just drop His plan for you in your lap and let you have at it. Why doesn't He seem to answer all my prayers the way I want Him to and block me from any and all bad situations? Over these last few years, I think I'm starting to understand (at least a small part of) the reason for this. As a stubborn, complicated human, I've come to see that if I had all the answers I had asked for and knew exactly where I needed to be and when, then I would neglect and forget the One who answered my prayers in the first place. Our Creator isn't a Genie. He doesn't bow to our every wish because He is first and foremost to be worshiped as Lord of All. When I simplify my relationship with Him to one between a person and a magic 8 ball, then I have made the things God gives me into my object of worship, rather than God himself. And God doesn't share affection. I wouldn't love my wife only because she cooks good meals for us. I love her because she is Melody Anne. I love her because of who she is. Period. The same should be said of my love for my Heavenly Father.
So it is my prayer for you that you would love and lean on Jesus Christ not only because he blesses you. Lean, not only because of what He does for you. Lean and love because he deserves nothing less. Love because He IS everything we've been looking for. And even when He doesn't give you the answers, love Him even more, just because.
In His Grace
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Where are You Looking?
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.
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.
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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