tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126356102024-03-08T03:02:36.301-08:00The Great Sort OutMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-79712370400978360052012-06-07T21:03:00.001-07:002012-06-07T21:03:42.079-07:00The Other Side of Grace<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What is grace? What does it accomplish for us -- Christians in relationship with God?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, grace is a gift from God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ephesians 2:1 says we "were dead in the trespasses and sins in which [we] once walked," that in our brokenness, we merely looked to the world and culture around us to cue us on how to live. We "lived in the passions of the flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The grace of God is that though we were offensive to Him in such a state, He loved us and saved us from that sinful state. This salvation hinges on our embracing of God's sacrifice in Jesus' death, and confidence in the fact that He rose from the grave in new life. "For by grace you have been saved <i>through faith" (</i>Eph. 2:8). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But is that it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grace is forgiveness of our sins for those who believe... We and God are <i>straight, </i>and nothing else changes? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think this is how I have lived much of my Christian faith: "sure, I'm forgiven because I allow Jesus' sacrifice to be enough to right my wrongs... but these sins that I hate committing won't really cease until I go to Heaven." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But that's not really the picture Ephesians 2 paints at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ephesians 2:4-7 says: "But God, being rich in mercy [yeah, yeah. got it - forgiveness], because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses [yep, God's love is great], <b>made us alive</b> together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and <b>raised us up</b> with him and <b>seated us with him in the heavenly places</b> in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he <b>might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us</b> in Christ Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whaaaaa...? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is ANOTHER SIDE to grace?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This blows me away! You mean I can actually <i>live for real...</i> now?! In the eternal realm, I'm already positioned in a place of high esteem, but within this current existence Christ is only going to continue to reveal how kind He is toward us who embrace Him? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His grace is<i> <b>immeasurably rich... for life!!!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think there are a few ways in which I can now go on in life after realizing this little Scriptural treasure:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could doubt it. "This isn't for me. This doesn't describe my experience." Such a posture is like God handing me a big gift-wrapped box, only for me to relax my grip and let the gift fall to the ground.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could play the grammar game and interpret it as a future promise. "Well, the <i>coming ages </i>are arguably not here yet... that's Heaven." But that ignores that all of what Christ has done for us WAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED; "made us alive... have been saved... raised us up... seated us..." Had all things happened to us only for us to remain unchanged? I think not.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could embrace God's grace in faith and live anew. I could get excited about the notion that God actually desires more for my existence than the dreariness of the day in and day out... and then go seek it out!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The other side of grace is only realized, however, when the fear that paralyzes us is addressed. God's perfect love casts out all fear. Seek His face, behold the kindness of the King, and we will find the constitution to dare to live... abundantly. That's the Kingdom coming, His will done on earth as it is in Heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's exciting to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13140179175356889831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-44261984422154274742012-05-19T13:25:00.000-07:002012-05-19T13:25:12.327-07:00UnpackageableI am thoroughly enjoying life right now!<br />
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So many exciting things are happening:<br />
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I finished my thesis and graduated from Grad School.<br />
I proposed to the love of my life and she said "yes!"<br />
Trying to figure out how to "do church," our little <a href="http://www.hisdwelling.org/">community</a> has seemed to
rediscover the <br />
importance of pursuing God's presence and we're excited to see what happens when we give Him<br />
room to act.<br />
And just this week, a church in St. Pete, FL expressed interest in financially
backing a non-profit<br />
coffee house & sandwich shop business that Cary and I could
potentially start up & manage and<br />
use to foster community and belonging. Now there's a lot of things to research and people's brains <br />
to pick in the months/years to come.<br />
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I have much for which to be thankful. I've pressed through adversity only by the grace of God and His generous provision and emerged victorious. I've prioritized community and relationships that edify and uplift me - that foster growth and maturity - and have begun to see my true self surface. Doors have been open for opportunities in the future. And my faith is dynamic and the power of God is manifesting!<br />
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Within the last few weeks, God has re-taught me an important lesson about Himself:<br />
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God doesn't fit very well in a box. He is <i>unpackageable</i>.<br />
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I think that's why the Ark of the Covenant was temporary; God was compelled to reveal Himself in newer, fresher, more spectacular ways. Only through the dynamic person of Jesus of Nazareth, and the Spirit's movement through a multi-million member Church could He truly be adequately represented on earth.<br />
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I am blogging all of this to remember; Scripture commands us to remember the good works of God. In a recent sermon by my friend, brother in the faith and ministry partner, Michael Clancey shared how God had ceased to "show up" as he entered a new season of his life. No longer could he rely on his trusted method of encountering God through solitude and worship. Michael used to trust that if he postured himself on the floor, put on worship music in the privacy of his room, and attributed praise to the worthy God, that He would show up and His presence would be felt... That method worked great for that season, when he needed to foster an intimacy with his Heavenly Father. But too much isolation can become harmful. God wanted to show up in a new way. I think He also doesn't like to become part of a formula; do this + that --> encounter with God. The lesson Michael took from this was that God wanted to reveal Himself in community, where He would be encountered in the midst of a community of grace.<br />
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When he shared this, I was reminded of a similar box-breaking experience I had in college.<br />
I had only known & walked with God for about 7 years, and only attended one church. I knew I could expect God to interact with me in a select few ways: I could feel comfort and peace in worship, I could learn wisdom and truth from Scripture, and I could glean guidance from partnering with other Christians, as they share their insights.<br />
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When it actually came time for me to transfer to a four-year university to finish my undergraduate degree, I made a pretty big life change and moved away from the only home I ever knew. This change occurred in a time of my life when my faith was considerably unstable; I had had nearly all my understanding of Christianity challenged, and seriously doubted whether my core identity as a Christian was merely founded on wishful thinking.<br />
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So entering a private Christian university culture was a bit unnerving to me as a disillusioned, skeptical, confused young man. I wanted out in some regards (waking up for early prayer with roommates, when I seriously doubted anyone was listening to us was cause for many grumpy mornings), but more than anything, I wanted to be reassured that all I had known throughout my adolescence was not a sham.<br />
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That reassurance came as the box in which I held God burst at the seams...<br />
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It was shortly after my 21st birthday, when I had come to enjoy taking pictures with my birthday gift, a digital camera. There was a particularly captivating sunset that afternoon, and seeking a higher vantage point, I visited my upstairs neighbor in order to use her balcony. She permitted me access to her balcony, and I took this panoramic shot.<br />
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As I left, my neighbor Amber stopped me and told me to read Psalm 77. I thought that odd, but thanked her nonetheless and left. That night, I sat at my desk and opened my Bible to read that Psalm.</div>
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It opened <i><b>directly</b></i> to Psalm 77.</div>
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Thinking that was interesting, I then proceeded to read the following:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-77-1" style="position: relative;">I cried out to God <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15095A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>for help;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-1" style="position: relative;">I cried out to God to hear me.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-2" id="en-NIV1984-15096" style="position: relative;">When I was in distress, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15096B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>I sought the Lord;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-2" style="position: relative;">at night <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15096C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>I stretched out untiring hands <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15096D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-2" style="position: relative;">and my soul refused to be comforted.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15096E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-77-3" id="en-NIV1984-15097" style="position: relative;">I remembered <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15097F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>you, O God, and I groaned; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15097G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-3" style="position: relative;">I mused, and my spirit grew faint. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15097H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup><span class="selah" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-4" id="en-NIV1984-15098" style="position: relative;">You kept my eyes from closing;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-4" style="position: relative;"><b>I was too troubled to speak</b>. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15098I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-5" id="en-NIV1984-15099" style="position: relative;">I thought about the former days, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15099J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-5" style="position: relative;">the years of long ago;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-6" id="en-NIV1984-15100" style="position: relative;">I remembered my songs in the night.</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-6" style="position: relative;">My heart mused and my spirit inquired:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-77-7" id="en-NIV1984-15101" style="position: relative;"><b>“Will the Lord reject forever? <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15101K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup></b></span><b><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-7" style="position: relative;">Will he never show his favor <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15101L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>again?</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-8" id="en-NIV1984-15102" style="position: relative;">Has his unfailing love <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15102M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>vanished forever?</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-8" style="position: relative;">Has his promise <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15102N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>failed for all time?</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-9" id="en-NIV1984-15103" style="position: relative;">Has God forgotten to be merciful? <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15103O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup></span></b><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"><b> </b></span><span class="text Ps-77-9" style="position: relative;"><b>Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”</b> <span class="selah" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah...</span></span></span></span></div>
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I was dumbfounded. This Scripture perfectly reflected the state of my heart. Why did this girl tell me to read this? My mind began to race, searching for some reasonable explanation for this perfect alignment of Scripture, timing and personal circumstance. Surely this girl must have heard what I was going through and wanted to encourage me, or had read it herself recently and wanted to share.</div>
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None of that was the case, however. When I inquired, she simply told me that God had told her to say it...</div>
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This was my first experience of the unexplainable. I had never known God to display Himself in such a miraculous way. When God used someone to speak to me in the past, I could always just caulk their words up to their own intellect or understanding for composing the content. Someone from church once said that God gave us minds, so we should use them. In this sentiment, God remains transcendent, intangible. But here, God was immanent, <i>personal</i>, and involved directly. </div>
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My faith was restored and enhanced from this experience. I had a new fervor and hunger to encounter God in fresh, new, exciting ways. I went to a church that had a prophecy ministry and received a message about my life that was uncanny; with incredible accuracy, these people I have never met before were disclosing things to me about my walk and character that they had no business knowing. I didn't feel exposed or violated; being known only through God's revelation was comforting. I was known by the God that created the universe, and according to this prophetic message, He had big things in store for my life. I have always held on to the message to encourage me and remind me of how big God is. That message I received back then seems to be ready to manifest in my life at any moment.</div>
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You see, as our community continues to choose to pursue the presence of God through His Holy Spirit, inviting Him to participate in our experiences, we are beginning to see incredible things happen. There is a phenomenon that happens when the Spirit decides to move powerfully, where when one is prayed for, the weightiness of the Holy Spirit can become so gloriously heavy and lovely that the person is overcome and collapses. It is a state of incredible comfort and love. We are starting to experience that in our church! Other gifts are bound to follow. We are hungry to prophesy, speak in tongues (foreign or even a heavenly language is uttered), heal diseases, injuries, and deformities... Scripture commands to eagerly desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1). There are many ways God desires to manifest in willing believers to display His glory so long as we honor God by loving others with these gifts. They are not our possessions to hoard; they are for others to encounter the power of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.</div>
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Is this not what is missing in most churches in America? 95% of the things we do as a Church are doable apart from God, when 95% of what the early church did was doable only by the power of God. </div>
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I am so excited to be a participant of a community that eagerly desires God to be intimately involved in the process of our lives. I want to tell really cool stories of the caliber of amputated limbs being re-grown simply by proclaiming it in the Name of Jesus. I want to tell how drug addictions are conquered and marriages are restored. I want to tell how people who have only known isolation and loneliness now have found belonging and family in the Church. I want to show the world that the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is capable of transforming a lost nation to truly know joy and purpose.</div>
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If the Church in America actually exhibited these types of experiences of God, many will be freaked out, including those in the church. Some may be offended, intimidated or challenged to re-examine their perspective on life and the choices they make. Some will repent and adjust their lives to make room for such an unpackageable God. Some will not. This is both the beauty and tragedy of our state. Some come to faith and others deny God the honor due His Name. My prayer is that He be known, however. As it is now, God can be ignored in our culture and that just doesn't sit well with my soul... The world needs to encounter God again, and it will only happen when His Plan A (the Church) decides to take their gift of faith seriously and partner with Him.</div>
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There is more to Psalm 77 that is fitting for this post, and when I read it all those years ago, I don't think I understood its significance.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-77-10" id="en-NIV1984-15104" style="position: relative;">Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-10" style="position: relative;">the years of the right hand <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15104Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>of the Most High.”</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-11" id="en-NIV1984-15105" style="position: relative;"><b>I will remember the deeds of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b>;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-11" style="position: relative;">yes, I will remember your miracles <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15105R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>of long ago.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-12" id="en-NIV1984-15106" style="position: relative;">I will meditate <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15106S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>on all your works</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-12" style="position: relative;">and consider all your mighty deeds.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15106T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="text Ps-77-13" id="en-NIV1984-15107" style="position: relative;">Your ways, O God, are holy.</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-13" style="position: relative;">What god is so great as our God? <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15107U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-14" id="en-NIV1984-15108" style="position: relative;">You are the God who performs miracles; <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15108V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-14" style="position: relative;">you display your power among the peoples.</span></span></b><span class="text Ps-77-15" id="en-NIV1984-15109" style="position: relative;"><b>With your mighty arm you redeemed your people</b>, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15109W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-15" style="position: relative;">the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. <span class="selah" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-77-16" id="en-NIV1984-15110" style="position: relative;">The waters <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15110X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup>saw you, O God,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-16" style="position: relative;">the waters saw you and writhed; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15110Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-16" style="position: relative;">the very depths were convulsed.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-17" id="en-NIV1984-15111" style="position: relative;">The clouds poured down water, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15111Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-17" style="position: relative;">the skies resounded with thunder; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15111AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-17" style="position: relative;">your arrows <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15111AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup>flashed back and forth.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-18" id="en-NIV1984-15112" style="position: relative;">Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15112AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-18" style="position: relative;">your lightning <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15112AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup>lit up the world;</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-18" style="position: relative;">the earth trembled and quaked. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15112AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-77-19" id="en-NIV1984-15113" style="position: relative;">Your path <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15113AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup>led through the sea, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15113AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-19" style="position: relative;">your way through the mighty waters,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-19" style="position: relative;">though your footprints were not seen.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-77-20" id="en-NIV1984-15114" style="position: relative;">You led your people <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15114AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)"></sup>like a flock <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV1984-15114AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-77-20" style="position: relative;">by the hand of Moses and Aaron.</span></span></span></div>
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The Psalmist recalled the miraculous deliverance of the people of God from Egypt as a testimony to God's faithfulness and provision. When times seem dire, it is the past experiences of God that are incredible gifts to sustain us in faith. I know this exciting and enjoyable season of life will wane, and I will again know despair and confusion. This is the rhythm of life as we know it this side of eternity. But I will choose to remember and believe that God does indeed move powerfully in our lives. He is alive, and He loves us dearly, for He gave us His Son to make our connection complete and unbreakable. </div>
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What is next? I have no idea! But it sure will be an adventure, and that ignites my heart to live richly. If all these dreams of the miraculous occurring fizzle and deflate, if nothing comes of the opportunity to operate a community-fostering business, I choose to remember God's faithfulness. His grace is sufficient for me. And for that I am thankful.</div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13140179175356889831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-62261841877159366262011-09-18T20:13:00.000-07:002011-09-18T22:33:00.595-07:00Newness of Life in the Good News of the KingdomI recently heard a sermon on the text in John 11, the story of the raising of Lazarus, and what angle the preacher took with the story has sat in my mind for some time now. I cannot shake the truth of it and feel a need to gnaw awhile on it in hopes to have it become a part of me, to shape me and transform me into a more godly man. The preacher taught on the attentiveness of Jesus in the story as a key aspect of his ministry. Let's explore here together the importance of being present in the moments and events we find ourselves.<br /><br />Why would Jesus weep over Lazarus' death when He knew the end of the story, that Lazarus would live? We know from earlier in the story (11, 14-15) that Jesus deliberately postponed going to Bethany where Lazarus was ill, in order to allow Lazarus to die, so that He could revive him four days after passing (truly a miraculous display of Jesus' power and glory). If Jesus knew the end game, should he have shed tears for such a loss that ultimately would be reversed? Imagine you had the supernatural ability to foresee when a loved one would die, and this person got in a horrible car accident. Would you doubt whether they would survive this trauma if your vision of their real death was still far off? No. It is not their time to die, so you would trust they'll pull through. The emotional charge of that moment, due to the uncertainty of what's to come, becomes neutralized by the foreknowledge. You know, now that I think about it, it is quite wonderful that we cannot know the fate of our lives, for I think we would be tempted to further disengage in our lives, being distracted by what is to come and preoccupied so heavily with the future that we miss the present. But I digress. <br /><br />Why was Jesus "deeply moved and greatly troubled"? This gospel account reports that Jesus was violently agitated on two different occasions within this scene, first upon Mary's lament and weeping at their meeting, then upon going to and seeing the tomb. This word in the Greek has connotations of the act of a wild beast snarling and growling in anger. I can think of only three options to explain it: the author could be wildly dramatizing Jesus reaction, Jesus could be a fantastic actor and puts on a show (because let's be honest, if He knew what was to come, this behavior seems a little bit over the top), or Jesus was having an authentic response to the death and emotion of the event and what impact it was having on the community. Of course, the first two options are false in that it's completely out of character for both the author and Jesus to compromise the accuracy and authenticity of their account and character (respectively). <br /><br />But why was Jesus so upset? It's simple yet profound. He fully entered the moment and allowed Himself to experience and feel the present. In seeing the grief and sorrow of Lazarus' sister Mary, Jesus wept with those who wept. He had and expressed empathy. In seeing the grave - the tomb - Jesus angrily groaned over the reality of death. I am reminded of the Genesis account where God created life, and breathed life into humanity. The fact that death exists, that sin entered the equation and mettles with His good plan for life and flourishing, greatly angered Jesus. Death and decay is not good. In God's plan in creating immortal beings, death is abnormal and contrary to His intentions for us. <br /><br />I cannot help but think about my Grandpa, who after recently falling and cracking his top vertebra, has had complications and returns to the hospital. His recovery is very slow; it is uncertain whether he will recover, if he has the strength to pull through. He is, after all, ninety one years old; he has had a fantastic run, living an honorable life, full of sacrificial service to country and family, a model of steadfast devotion and loyalty. I admire Grandpa George immensely. <br /><br />I also cannot help but think Grandpa George despises death too. I have picked up over the years how frustrating the aging process has been for him, needed new knees, keeping up with dozens of daily medications, worrying about whether his wife will fall again and do more damage than before. I don't blame him. I think this account of Jesus here in John 11 gives us permission to loathe death. It is, in a weird, paradoxical way, unnatural. <br /><br />What should we learn from this story? For sure, physical death is not the end. Martha was right that there is a resurrection on the last day, when all will rise again (11:24). Whether you arise an "immortal horror or an eternal splendor" (C. S. Lewis), depends on whether or not you know and are known by the Almighty. <br /><br />But there is more: I think Jesus shows us by example how we are to engage the trials of this world. He is not absent in thought and emotion, constantly preoccupied with shame of the past or anxiety for the future; nor does He flee all consciousness with distraction, intoxication or escapism. No. He fully engages every moment and experiences it all. He is present with people and prepared to offer Himself fully to all present. His relationships are rich. His interactions have significant and transformative impact on others. <br /><br />What would it look like to embrace the present as the people of God, a Holy Nation? What if our attentiveness to the present was a key aspect to functionally becoming set us aside to be different and significant for God's purposes - His purposes of ushering in a new order to this existence? I pray this for my Grandpa, that in the midst of his pain, frustration and fear, he may press into the rawness of his experience and find there the Gracious God who knows the pain of death because He walked through it Himself and came out the other side, and in finding Him there, find the gift of His comfort and peace through the Holy Spirit to eventually enter this temporary death boldly and joyfully. I pray he knows God to be that loving and caring and gracious, that he can trust God to be enough for all that temporarily ails him. I pray it for my dad and my uncle, who face losing their dad, and in the meantime, need to figure out what to do for their mom so she receives the support she needs and will need. I pray it for my Grandma Janice, that she can boldly face the severity of their state - how awful it is - and that she can lean on the promises of the newness of life in Christ that's available even now in part (and fully after death) and be comforted, knowing a peace that surpasses all understanding. <br /><br />And I pray it for you and me, that in all of our lives' circumstances, we courageously embrace the moments we've been given and cease to cheat those in our lives of the gift of our whole beings. It takes a radical reliance on the presence of God and His power in us to operate this way... that was God's intent all along. I look forward to the day when the people of God learn to walk in this holy way, more fully trusting God and themselves with what power we've been bestowed as bearers of His Spirit to share ourselves with the world and recreate new life in the broken and dying world. This is the Kingdom of God that is advancing. This is the Good News which is changing the world.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-21109412436674321052011-08-01T08:21:00.000-07:002011-08-01T09:08:20.215-07:00Grace Amidst DesolationI have had one of the most unsettling, unproductive seasons of my life these last several months. It has been marked by discouragement, frustration, distraction, unrest, confusion, and occasionally despair. <div>
<br /></div><div>Essentially, I have needed to be progressing with the writing of my thesis in order to finish and complete my graduation requirements for my Master's come October. At first, I attempted to plug away and get things done, but there came a point where I was so discouraged, so unfocused, that I stopped trying, and walked away from the whole process for over a month. Part of it was writer's block, part was that life just got incredibly messy, and I needed to move (and of course, looking for a new place, not finding one until two weeks after losing your current place, having everything in storage, needing to move in two stages, etc. does not at all lower the stress any). Yesterday, I was processing with my girlfriend Cary, and realized that a good portion of my disengagement in my academics was due to the fact that I am petrified of what is next. To finish is to be forced to move forward with life. I have no idea what that entails; the sin in me, my flesh, wants to have control of this when there is none to be had. It is God's territory, the future, and my disengagement was my fearful attempt to control the situation, even if it meant pain and costly misfortune financially... Funny how immature and selfish we can be.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>As I resolved to break from academics, to rest in failing, I asked God to be with me in the process. He has been very faithful. I have not experienced the level of perceived condemnation that I would normally have taken upon myself in such failure. I almost feel as if God gave me permission to disengage from being responsible, from performing as one ought. This time has been an exercise in receiving grace, and His pardon has been full and sufficient. I have known it especially well through the love and support of those around me, those in my church and Cary. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I think there is a precedent of God working in this way, found in the story of Israel. Jewish history is riddled with occasion after occasion of them missing the mark, yet God remains faithful to them as a people and ultimately He "will banish ungodliness from Jacob" and "take away their sins" through the Deliverer (Romans 11:26-27). I have entered a season of completely missing the mark and have been met with acceptance and grace. I have not yet known such love as I am experiencing through this time. God truly has been using this season of my life, this wandering in the desert, to show me how enduring is His love, that He would send me manna from above, provide water from a rock, protection from poisonous snakes as I gaze upon the one lifted up. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I think my heart is nearly ready for the promised land, that next chapter of life marked by blessing and abundance, homecoming and joy and victory. I needed to fail, wander, and ponder my own ineffectiveness that I may press more into the provision of God. I'm not out of it yet, but I faintly see the dawn breaking. </div><meta charset="utf-8">Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13140179175356889831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-61486266853804547522011-05-04T09:43:00.000-07:002011-05-04T10:56:13.319-07:00What's that smell ?!"When nothing else subsists from the past, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered · the smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, like souls · bearing resiliently, on tiny and almost impalpable drops of their essence, the immense edifice of memory" -Marcel Proust "The Remembrance of Things Past"<br /><br />As I was running yesterday, listening to worship music and often singing along through panting breaths, lifting my hands in praise, I was occasionally bombarded by the wafts of lilacs in bloom. It was intoxicating. I instantly wanted to dance, to hug a stranger, to kiss away tears; life was just too grand in that moment - the Spirit too whelming - to be burdened with the worries and fears of this world. It smelled like Heaven on earth. It smelled like the Kingdom of God had fully broken forth into our world and abundant, eternal life was realized. <br /><br />The apostle Paul illustrates the phenomenon of Christians living out their identity in generous love, describing it as the aroma of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-16; Eph. 5:1-2; Phil. 4:18). He most likely associated this aroma with the animal sacrifices made at the Temple, i.e. barbeque. While I love the scent of meat roasting on a fire, this sacrifice of self-denying love toward others seems better suited to be associated with Spring flowers. There is something about the unique sweetness of flowers, paired with the vibrant colors of Spring to usher in the declaration of new life. With God's Kingdom coming, marked by New Life in Christ, I trust the aroma of Christ from His Bride will overpower the stench of death that emits from this evil world. <br /><br />This is the picture the Spirit gave me as I ran in Christ. As we live out our identity as Christ's spotless Bride, our aroma will captivate those being saved. I pray as we Christians walk in freedom, we will smell the aroma of Christ, and remember the long legacy of the Saints, joining them throughout history in praise to our God, the Redeeming One. Bride, remember His promise to quickly bring justice to His chosen ones. Be diligent in prayer for His Kingdom to reign over the earth. Like a familiar smell can bring back to mind the most ancient of memories, allow your sacrifice to God to be the aroma of Christ, calling to mind the faithfulness and steadfast love of our God, the reason for our devotion, the source of our holiness.<br /><br />M. RobertsonMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-25757695628868084692011-04-14T08:46:00.001-07:002011-04-14T08:46:25.203-07:00Kingdom Came!When I left my house to go to the coffee house to read and see my girlfriend, I had not expected to be kissed by a 57 year-old Vietnam Vet, homeless and carrying a tall can of beer under his clothes. Twice.<br /><br />It all started when "Laughlin" (like the city) asked me in passing for just a dollar, to buy a blanket, and I gave him five (had no change). Leaving, he said, "God bless you." I seriously doubt he knew that God would, that very moment, do just that. I said the same, but added, "Can I pray for you?" Laughlin either did not hear me or didn't understand, because I had to repeat myself twice. Once he understood my offer, he gratefully came to sit down beside me, and in a fervor, grasped my hands and began to pray, caressing my hands with his crackled ones. He started by declaring a most profound truth, that when two or more are gathered, there the Church is. He said it over and over as if to convince himself that indeed the Church had the answers to his problems. He continued to pray for forgiveness. He even professed faith in Jesus as the source of redemption. I sensed it was quite heart-felt, and I knew then there was more to do with him that night. <br /><br />When he was done, I prayed over him, and declared forgiveness over him. He heaved emotionally, as if the words struck him tangibly. For so long, he longed to hear such good news. <br /><br />When we were done praying, there was still great distress on his face. I asked him what was going on inside him, and he just began sharing his life. At that moment, he really missed a good friend, Martin. He had died. He told me that he was his closest friend and partner, as Laughlin is a bisexual. This did not deter me from staring straight into his eyes to show my acceptance of him. I felt like God wanted me to be Christ for him, and I know these are the ones Jesus flocked to. He also told me how he was dishonorably discharged from the Vietnam War for refusing to fight. He went into the war, having to serve two years, because of a drug charge; it was either jail or war, and he chose war for fear of being raped. Wouldn't you know, he ended up in jail anyways, and the pattern of serving time, being released, and falling back into trouble continued. His largest stint of some 18 years occurred when he did an errand for his drug dealer, by holding a gun to another users head as the dealer searched the apartment to collect on a debt. Well, the guy tried to grab the gun from Laughlin and it went off, killing him. <br /><br />You can expect that Laughlin was not in a place to have much hope for his eternal security, let alone hope for this life. He prayed for the bare minimum, enough to just get by. I questioned that idea, asking whether he thought God wanted to give him more. I began to share the gospel of God's Kingdom, how Jesus desired release for the captives, and that His people walk in freedom now. <br /><br />I think it was around then that another joined us. "Amal" was another guy living on the streets that broke into our conversation by asking me what Church I went to. He had not heard of it, and was roaming more of the downtown area, farther north from where I attend. He joined us and conversation bounced back and forth between how hard it is to be on the streets (and some good resources they knew of on how to get by) and the gospel of the Kingdom. I shared with them both from Mark 1:15: "The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" I described that God's will was that now, with the coming of His Son to earth, Heaven would crash down into this world, and His ways would be known and lived out, bringing peace and justice. <br /><br />Amal slipped away to grab his coffee. He eventually left after using my phone to call another Christian guy who was going to put him up for the night. It was in those times that I was able to share more of the Father's heart for the poor in spirit. I gave Laughlin my Bible and told him to read Luke, but with eyes looking to who Jesus sought after. He knew the answer already; he said the lowest of the low. I hope and pray he meditates on that truth, as he still doubts his chances of being redeemed from the pit. I shared Psalm 103 with him too. Right before we parted, we exchanged email addresses. He made me promise that I stay in touch and "continue to water the seed that I planted tonight." I assured him that I will, but encouraged him with one last scripture: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. I am not angry." The Father is the vinedresser; He watches over and tends to the health of the vine's growth. <br /><br />After that first prayer of absolving sin, Laughlin embraced my head and kissed my temple. When we at last parted, he embraced and kissed me again. He said I was one of the most beautiful souls he had ever seen. <br /><br />I don't know if I'll see Laughlin again in this life. I'd like to think I will sit by him at the wedding banquet on that glorious day when Christ returns for His Bride. I tried emailing him at both addresses he gave me, but they didn't go through. I wanted to share with him from 1 John, how God is perfecting us in His love, that I saw God's hand on his life and that he should be encouraged and hopeful of the favor God has on him as a beloved son. It is a truth I am coming to know greatly. It is a truth that gave me the confidence to offer to pray for him as he was walking away, probably to go buy beer. Instead we spent a few hours in Church fellowship.<br /><br />My friends, I experienced the Kingdom of God crash down into this world, where brokenness began to mend. His Kingdom came! And it is humbling to acknowledge it was me God chose to use. Bride of Christ, do you know who you are? Do you walk in your identity? Gaze into the eyes of your Lover to see how beautifully you are received. Walk in the freedom into which that love releases you. Give feet to the good news of our redemption and restoration, and captivate our discontent and jaded audience with your dance to our Father. It's time to shine.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-66375635649653475532011-02-02T11:48:00.000-08:002011-03-22T15:25:55.308-07:00Is greater effectiveness in attaining the abundant life possible?There are several biblical principles that are quite familiar to any practicing Christian but I believe are seldom understood to a substantially beneficial degree. I have read hundreds of times Jesus' metaphor of the Vine and branches, illustrating the principle of Abiding in Christ; I can tell you much about it, but I'm afraid I do not do it well at all. This same familiarity applies to the concept of the Kingdom of God. Around 50 percent of the parables of Jesus describe in some sense this reality. Do I operate throughout life with any semblance of concern for such a reality, however? To name one example of thousands, do I get in my car and commute to work/school in such a way where I intentionally promote/advance the Kingdom of God, or is this concept (like Abiding) so ethereal - so intangible - that I simply understand on an elementary level, not at all living it out proactively?<br /><br />This leads to the issue of self-evaluation. I trust the occasional examination of one's spiritual health is necessary, and albeit I am my own worst critic, I hunger for more growth, more godliness more often than not. All said and done, I look upon my life and fear what little progress I see toward maturity and obedience will be my condemnation. <br /><br />Trust that even as I wrote this confession, I recall the mercy and faithfulness of God, and feel my words are more weighty than are accurate. Grace is radical acceptance, for which I am humbly grateful. I trust positionally, I am holy and blameless, in God's favor and secure. Practically, as I display holiness and godliness as an ambassador to Christ, I desire to do more. As a member of God's family, I desire more intimacy; I desire that that truth resonate and shape my life more than it does. <br /><br />Now I have arrived at my proposition. It is not my own, but one I adopt as it aligns with Scripture. <br /><br />What if the abundant life (marked by intimacy with God), is attainable if only we understood the principle of Abiding more clearly? What if Abiding was the key to our greatest concerns as Christians: to love God and others (Great Commandment), and to make disciples (Great Commission)? What if the Kingdom of God was here now - not just something to look forward to when Christ returns - but able to participate in now, as we grow in Christ-likeness? Could our bondage to the patterns of this world (Satan's reigning Kingdom marked by sin and death) truly be abolished in Christ, as He claimed He did? Could we experience significant freedom from sinful ways? Could living this freedom out in the world be what Jesus meant by us being salt and light to the world? Could we see a dramatic shift (and, in fact, participate in the cause) so that the world is controlled not by evil, but is submissive to God's righteous standard (cf. Ephesians 3:10)? <br /><br />I want to explore these ideas. I want to test whether this is a forecast for how God intends to usher in the New Age, or if significant bondage and mediocrity are what we have to look forward to in this life. But mainly, I want (nay I need) help in learning how to abide in Christ. I need the Body of Christ (you fellow believers) in order to do this. Is this not just describing discipleship, an element to our faith so often left ambiguous on how to do it well? <br /><br />If you are curious, passionate, confused, knowledgeable, etc. of such things as these, will you consider joining me to study and grow? I want to facilitate a Bible Study where your processing and interaction is just as important as any content I may compile and present.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-13748147706821088692010-12-04T16:37:00.000-08:002010-12-04T16:38:39.642-08:00Miserable Affection“For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face” (Psalm 11:7)
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<br />These last several weeks of defeat, bouncing back and forth between rebellion and repentance, has reminded me of the fact that the only good in me is that part of me touched and empowered by the Spirit of God inside of me. When I do good, it is the Lord’s life in me acting out good. What a glorious grace, that He would endure such grief to be with and in me! It breaks my heart and I hate all the more my frailty, my taintedness. I am angry at my state. I want to run far away from everything. And yet, there He is, persistently fixed to convince me of his radical devotion to me. I am undone by his love. I am humbled to a heap of sloppy mush, so uncomfortable in this acceptance, I know not what to do – I have no structure to act, to respond. I can’t even turn away from his loving gaze. I want to laugh at how pathetically helpless I am, rebuke Him for causing such discomfort. I am beholding the Lord’s face. He has made me upright by prostrating me with the weight of his love. He has made me righteous through the work of His Son, Jesus, on the cross. Enough already, God. Okay, maybe a little more.
<br />Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-81722608530933136422010-10-06T19:30:00.000-07:002010-10-06T19:34:13.025-07:00Restored?I have a question for my Christian friends. <div><br /></div><div>Are you experiencing restoration?</div><div><br /></div><div>Is this not the mark of God's presence in our lives? Should this aspect of our lives not point to the worth and wisdom of our God, as people ponder why we are more gracious, loving, healthy, balanced, whole... than the rest of this broken world?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-74234907297673447962010-08-21T22:10:00.000-07:002010-08-21T22:53:57.157-07:00Upside DownThe more I try to figure these out and make things work in life, the more disoriented and disturbed I become. I feel upside down. One is not particularly functional upside down. It's unnatural. It's a bit moronic as well. Trust I am describing myself and not anyone else. I will avoid outright accusing others of their depravity for the moment and settle with personal confession. <div><br /></div><div>My mental capacity is horribly inadequate. I cannot attain a satisfying understanding of why the world is as corrupt as it is; the problem is exasperated when the God factor is considered. How can He allow the suffering and evil if He is so good? If He is who He says He is, knowing all and will all in His absolute sovereignty, then how and why the torment of loss and death? </div><div><br /></div><div>My faculties for improvement fare no better. I will myself to live righteously, according to the notions of good that I judge to be best, only to find I have a skewed concept of right and wrong, or my actions have unforeseen consequences that should have been understood, for they are nothing new. I make the same mistakes over and over again. I do not learn from my mistakes. I trust still that I know best and can dig myself out of the hole. </div><div><br /></div><div>But then there is the issue of fear. How many wasted years have there been due to the fear of failure, rejection, abandonment, disappointment. The very things we fear come about because of our fear of them. They are self-produced. I fear failing, and therefore, do not do which leads to failure. I avoid loving and being loved because I do not want to be rejected, only to be rejected for my failure to provide the very thing people need and want. </div><div><br /></div><div>I try so hard not to fail in this Abundant Life promised us and am so afraid that I will miss out on what God has for me, that I accomplish my fears and miss out on Life. I try to stand on my own feet, thinking it is the right way to get to where I need to go, only I end up upside down. </div><div><br /></div><div>When am I going to believe the Gospel?</div><div><br /></div><div>When am I going to start to trust that all is taken care of and accomplished for me, and I am freed to live as I was intended to, all because Christ came and died, rose again, and gave us His Spirit to live in us, and quicken us to Life? </div><div><br /></div><div>When am I going to flip upside down and start living the Kingdom way? </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to die to find life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to risk loving to be loved. This is not to say I can think of loving acts as a means to the end of getting my needs met, as if I just need to strategize and manipulate others to cause things to happen. I need to truly regard this lingering and compelling drive to control my life as the death of me, and toss it aside, not trusting that I can wield fortune for myself. Only then will I find life when I'm not looking for it. Only then will God have the room to move in me to be a blessing to others. Only then will I discover that it is in the union with my God that Life occurs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is this not completely absurd? The world does not comprehend this. It is foolishness. It is fantasy. It is fanatic. It is "unhealthy." According to the world, the Kingdom way is upside down and leads to craziness. </div><div><br /></div><div>But being upside down is what puts us rightly in place for Life. I am dying for Life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am dying for it.</div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-20855069967097157202010-04-17T18:39:00.000-07:002010-04-25T13:54:30.048-07:00The Good SoilI wrote a while ago about my basil plant. I have an update and an analogy to the faith. <div><br /></div><div>Last I shared, the woody-stemmed, larger plant was blossoming. The smaller one wasn't doing as well. Both of those produced smaller leaves, but many. But that was about it... my plants plateaued at this stage for months. </div><div><br /></div><div>I saw a basil plant at the supermarket. It was in the tiniest little pot, but there were lots of shoots and these big leaves. I bought it and replanted it in more soil. It was fine for a couple days, but then it all started to wilt. My new plant died. Now, all that is left are these trimmed stems, turned dry and brown. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I decided to pay more attention to my faithful plant. I decided to give it more soil, like I did the failed, new plant. I found a bigger container and added more soil. </div><div><br /></div><div>Something profound happened. The thing exploded, again! Except this time, the leaves grew so much larger. I got out of my plant (grown from seed) what I desired from the one I bought - these substantial leaves! </div><div><br /></div><div>Not only that, but the smaller plant within the same pot as old faithful, is doing just as well as its bigger brother. </div><div><br /></div><div>What can be learned from this? I am reminded of a parable Jesus gave. Mark 4 describes how the Kingdom of God is like one who sows seed, and some falls upon the road, some among the rocks, some among the thorns, and some among good soil. The seed upon the road is snatched up by birds; the rocky seed sprouts quickly, but wilts with no substantial roots taking hold; the thorns choke out the growth and the good soil flourishes. This is a metaphor for hearing the Word of God, his gospel, and how our environment affects what response we have to it. I have heard the gospel and for years, I have grown, only to be hindered in some way from thriving. I see how my choices, those things I CAN do, in my freedom, still are not beneficial, though perhaps permissible (1 Cor 10:23). I CAN surround myself with things, and gadgets and flood my eyes with titillation and distraction. But they do not edify. They are thorns. When I sit among vile things, numb to their influence, I rest upon rocks, and His good news will not amount to much, but wither. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unless I transplant myself among good soil.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did this with my plants, and they flourished. I gave them a more suitable environment to thrive and grow, bearing good fruit. Why can't we do the same thing for ourselves? Why can't we change our environments to better receive the good news of the Word (John 1:14-17)? What's stopping us? Our selfish pride, not wanting to be told how to live? Fear that the gospel may take us places we are uncomfortable in, losing control of what mundane lives we can live apart from God? </div><div><br /></div><div>I noticed that in these last couple weeks, I have watched significantly less television. And I've been full of joy! I received more out of television that entertainment. I received a spirit of timidity and sloth, lust and loneliness. I can easily isolate myself in front of a television, and never have to deal with life, people, relationships, work, study, etc. It's an escape from reality, and as long as I plug myself up to its incessant flow of content and flickering images, I can ignore reality. Wow, what abundant life that offers (John 10:10)! </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, there are other vices in my life that choke out my flourishing. I'm seeing how my compulsion to check Facebook is drawing me into similar patterns as television did (and still does when I feel particularly lazy).</div><div><br /></div><div>My questions are these: What in your lives prevents you from flourishing? Could you benefit from new scenery? What can you strip from your lives to foster new growth and break free from stagnation and puny fruit? What thorns choke life out of you and need to be removed from your lives?</div><div><br /></div><div>Are you going to act upon this and thrive?</div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-4521973582101878362010-04-16T11:58:00.000-07:002010-04-16T12:26:18.736-07:00Born of the Spirit"Everyone born of the Spirit is blown by the Wind..." -- Jason Upton<div><br /></div><div>I was running my fourth lap around the lake when I passed up, for the second time, an elderly man walking with two canes, named Carroll. I jogged twenty yards past, and felt compelled to stop. Asking if I could walk with him, we continued to around the lake chatting. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm glad I didn't keep running. We talked about nature (moose), gardening, television, his wife volunteering at the library, his recent hip surgery, my seminary education... and how his knee is in need of surgery/replacement. At the end, I asked if I could pray for his knee, and we did. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let me tell you. I could tell that meant a lot to him. He mentioned once how he and his wife went to church, but he started confessing after the prayer his faith in Christ with much humility and gratitude to God! </div><div><br /></div><div>We need to voice our faith with confidence. We need not be ashamed of the God who saves. We need to be willing to go wherever and do and say as the Spirit compels us. </div><div><br /></div><div>Have you been blown by God somewhere or to someone recently?</div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-23305648168121731412010-04-11T11:07:00.000-07:002010-04-11T12:58:33.885-07:00Heaven on Earth GlimpsedI've been having one of those weeks, where things are just making sense. And it isn't so simple as to say it is just this one way, excluding this or that. I am experiencing the joy of the LORD, and it is as if in His grace, the mysteries of the universe are revealed. If I could sum it up, it is paradox; God is both thoroughly pleased with the unfolding outcomes of His providence and the world's response, and at the same time, righteously angered and vexed with the rebellious and ignorant ways of humanity. I think this is possible because God is infinite and beyond time as we experience it.<br /><br />I want to share a vision I believe God to have given me in grace, and I hope it edifies those who read this to better grasp the majesty of the Great God. I need to set the vision in context, however, which I will do now through narrative.<br /><br />My journey of discovering God is going on its thirteenth year. Many of those years have been spent bouncing back and forth between treasuring the grace poured out on me (and fellow believers that we could even know Him) and writhing in the torture of not being able to offer up the level of devotion and honor due Him. This more unpleasant aspect of the Christian journey has found a new dimension of brilliance after spending a season discovering a most true and wonderful aspect of God: I had revealed to me the glory and majesty of God, grasping more fully the splendor of His Holiness. Do YOU comprehend what it means for God to be fully separate and other than you and I? We commit a grave error and dishonor to God when we consider Him altogether like us (see Psalm 50, and note the attitude of God in His frustration and anger toward an irreverent people). No, I'm serious. Stop and read it. I want the gravity of such a posture with God to settle into the depths of your soul. You should feel convicted and and undone, much like Isaiah felt before God (Isa 6).<br /><br />This season of my life was the most profound I had experienced up to that point. God is OTHER. He burns with an intensity of glory that kills those not extended Christ's covering. To this, we should appropriately fall to our knees (and even face) in awe, fear and reverence to God, as I continually do. But that is not all.<br /><br />In continuing the story, I must share how these newly discovered gems of truth quickened me and those journeying with me to action, as the Word of God must do. A quick tangent: Imagine God in the midst of creating, <b>speaking</b> things and life into existence! What power is behind the words of God uttered from Him! What transformative and creating power does the Word of God have in regards to us as we receive! Ponder that for a moment. God's Word was having an effect on us who were seeing glimpses of God's majesty, and it was profound. We were given eyes to see how God was and how the world was, and the natural response was to grieve the state of the world, even the Church, as she is still in a state of harlotry, just like Israel before the time of Christ's first coming. We grieved and were compelled to cry out for justice to be done God by crediting Him the glory due His Name. We thought this looked like separating our flock from perceived dangers of spiritual harlotry, that we as a church would not contribute to the state of adultery by partnering with churches with particularly controversial positions on things like abortion and homosexuality. Some of my friends, I fear, are stuck in this position of writhing for fear that they will be judged harshly by a wrathful and glorious God who is serious about the state of sin and the wrong actions born out of that state, if they do not devote their life to warning others of this character of God. While this is true and God remains a God of wrath, I have yielded to God's outpouring of revelation and sense the picture is much more grand than that. I think it was this sentiment that caused alarm and hesitation in the elders of our church to oppose my group and the things we urged to happen. It was a messy and destructive process. Grace should have been extended more liberally on all sides. I pray God redeem and create new life out of the rubble. I pray all sides trend slowly and lightly forward, speaking in humility and receptive to the truth the other side can and does speak for the other. The truth is in both sides, which ties into the vision given me. I'm not there just quite yet, however. <div><br /></div><div>It was my mentor, Jerry Nelson, who I believe summed up well the next chapter of my journey, which I find myself in now and further offers a unifying truth to these two sides of the faith. He said (and I paraphrase) that what is most glorious about our God is the fact that in His Holiness and intense Glory, God is with us and offers the opportunity of relationship with Him through the Son's sacrifice. Immanuel is extending mercy to a depraved people despite how egregious our state is for Him. Remember, God is infinitely perfect and without wrong, without flaw or defect. Our very nature is compromised and it would go against the very nature of God to associate with us if it were not His nature to love gloriously and perfectly. It is for His Name's sake that He relent (Isa 48:11). </div><div><br /></div><div>You see, what the elders of my church have steadfastly proclaimed and find foundational is the fact that God is loving and gracious and adamant at pursuing us for relationship. We too, can express our devotion to God through relationship with Him and one another. This is all very biblical and beautiful. And you must also see that my small group who had revealed to us the splendor of God's majesty, on an ontological basis - His very essence - was discovering and responding to truths that are very much biblical and beautiful. Even our warnings and desires for pursuing holiness (i.e. separateness) are biblical. What once was seen as contradictory in my eyes, how my elders either had it wrong and my small group had it right, or vice versa, I see that way no more. Now, I see, as in a vision, the persons of our God like a many-faceted jewel, sparkling brilliantly from one vantage, at which the sight makes you lose your breath and you can't help but fall to your face in worship, for He is that gloriously majestic and beautiful. Only, circle about the Jewel, which is our God, and from that vantage you behold a whole different scene, with wholly different truths, yet equal in importance though different in response. It is the same God, but more complex than our minds can conceive. He truly is infinitely Holy and Glorious, full of Grace and Love, wrath and mercy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let me tie this to a couple parables that Jesus shared:</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></div><span><span>"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.</span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had bought it" (Matthew 13:44-46).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><h5><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></span></h5><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Upon beholding God, we experience a revealing of truths: of Him, of our world, and of a proper response aligned with such profound insights, and we are much like the man and the merchant in that such a treasure as God demands response, only there is not one right response. Just like the man is compelled to purchase property (where the treasure is amply located), the merchant is compelled to purchase a pearl, the object of his desire. Depending on one's vantage, a proper response may look differently than what another's response should be. You may need to buy land to build a church to serve God. You may have to adopt an orphan girl and name her "Pearl." It's going to look different depending on where we are with God. The coherence of responses, though, is that sacrifice and self-denial is required. Both the merchant and the man had to sell all that they had. We cannot only partially turn away from our worldly lives, not in the end. The more we gloriously search out the matter of God's persons (Proverbs 25:2), the more we realize we will never be the same. Sanctification is to be conformed to His likeness; do not forget that. God is jealous and will purify His Bride.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Realizing these things this week has been like entering the throne room of God, despite physically being bound to this fallen world. Heaven is a lovely notion, a reality not yet received. It has been glimpsed, however, and it steadies me for more abuse until He takes me home, into His Arms.</span></div></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-60363618009326893232010-04-07T19:45:00.002-07:002010-04-07T20:51:41.755-07:00A Theological Calibration on LifeSo, I'm a seminary student, and part of the curricula is to engage in a mentoring program that fosters character growth spiritually. I chose this semester to work on that aspect of faith for the Christian regarding confidence and identity, where the believer not only knows about God's grace, but responds to Him with adoration and service. I described it as actualizing the Scriptural description of being "more than [a conqueror.]" Romans 8:34-39 says this:<div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><blockquote>Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
<br /> "For your sake we face death all day long;
<br /> we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px;"> </span></span>No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</blockquote>I wish to start my calibration from the Scriptures with this truth from Paul. We can have the confidence that Paul had (and exhorted the Romans to have) because Jesus intercedes continually for us, who trust in Him. It says that in Hebrews 7:25 as well: "Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." The love of God rests on the Son; the love of God is in Christ Jesus! So if Jesus is interceding and acting as a mediator between us and the Father, then who or what can separate us from the intimate love our gracious God offers us? The answer is nothing! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to own this more than I do. I often fall into thinking that my sin separates me from God. That even sounds biblical. But the truth is that I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and He dwells in me. In grace, He reveals truth to me and patiently waits for me to truly own it. I can grieve the Holy Spirit in me and silence Him for a time, but grace trumps sin. That is, in part, the gospel. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started this semester more energetic than normal for me, and sought to completely alter my character, eliminating my flaws through a systematic evaluation of every lie and stronghold from the Enemy. I based this off of 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, where it says, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I do recognize that many of the character flaws I have are due to me agreeing with the lies that intend to deter me away from God (at least from my perspective). I planned to use this semester to attack every thought and test it to the knowledge of God, to see if it was contrary to Scripture. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that got exhausting and lost a lot of steam after a few weeks. That, and the excitement wore off. I still think it is a valid and useful practice and that I need to do that often, but I realize now that I was operating more out of my own ability and strength than allowing the Holy Spirit to simply nudge me when I was buying into a lie. I whole-heartedly believe that God gave us the Spirit in order to serve us. He receives great joy from doing so. How often do we feel like a burden to God for being such a mess? I feel this way, as if God will breathe a sigh of relief when we finally arrive and no longer sin. What a lie! My heart, please understand how treasured I am to God! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thought I have taken captive was this great plan I developed for myself to realize a more godly character. I developed an ideal Michael in my mind as to what I would be like fully living for God. This Michael was joyful, inviting, assertive and outgoing, readily eager to share the good news of Jesus as God with us. I imagined that I needed to be a bubbly extrovert...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not a extrovert. I can't muster it. With the help of my mentor, I began to realize that there are some aspects of my personality that do not need redeeming. I do not need to operate by default as one who pursues strangers for the gospel. This is not to say that I am off the hook from God ever wanting me to serve in that role, but I don't need to become one who feeds off of such interactions... quite the opposite occurs, in that it takes a lot of energy to play that type for me. That yoke would not be too easy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what of one of my goals to initiate conversation with random strangers with the intent of sharing my faith (at least twice a month all semester)? I had the grandest intentions... but whenever I found myself in a cafe` or bookstore around such people, it felt disingenuous in that I would more be serving my needs, in fact I'd be using them, to "better" myself. A forced gospel presentation is not authentic and edifying, it is means to a selfish end, if not motivated out of a genuine love for neighbor. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, as I found from Scripture, those encounters I imagined having are out of context with where and how the disciples witnessed. Throughout the account in Acts, when Christ's apostles and others were sharing the gospel, there was occasion for it that was fitting to the environment. Peter and others taught at the Temple almost exclusively. In that culture, religious centers acted as a recreational hang out, and the topic of discussion was religion! If I were to intrude on the man at the coffee shop, interrupting his reading to force God on Him, I would not be aligned with the Scriptural model given me. Now if this person was reading a Bible or some other Spiritual literature, and looked perplexed, I have more of a legitimate context for engaging in conversation, as there is a logical link. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I am in need of adjusting me contract goal to better suit my purpose. I need to be willing and available for God talk, but within an appropriate context. I have the thought to offer a Bible study and meal at my apartment once a week to my neighbors, the vast majority I do not know or interact with. By offering such fellowship, I anticipate it would meet several needs for my neighbors, and there would be no pressure or awkwardness to respond to a piece of paper. Who knows how many might need and want social interaction who otherwise gets very little? Who knows how many might have questions about God? Who knows how many might just need a meal? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This might flop, but I'm going to give it a try. The point is that I try to be a person I would want to encounter. I feel compelled to share what hope and joy I receive from God, and alleviate the hurt of this world by offering guidance toward the Cure. Is this not the Great Commission, to immerse and submerge and dunk everyone in the Name and subject of the Triune God, to His glory? </span></div><meta charset="utf-8"><meta charset="utf-8">Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-84800688377112324652010-03-10T19:25:00.000-08:002010-03-10T21:12:38.548-08:00Shame vs. ConvictionThe distinction was reiterated once more, this time in my formation group. I think I could benefit from meditating on this issue. <div><br /></div><div>Shame = an underlying notion of character deficiency; The shameful person believes there is something inherently wrong with him or her; It is guilt that leads to death.</div><div><br /></div><div>Conviction = an uneasiness or disappointment of one's choice or action; The convicted person realizes a behavioral failures/mistake; It is guilt that leads to repentance.</div><div><br /></div><div>2 Cor 7:8-11:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. </span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Why is it so hard to "go there"? I can write pages about how the principle should play out in theory, but when it comes to assessing my own life and my own feelings, I hesitate. I think I buy into shame more than I do conviction. It is hard to shake off shame when so often those things we do that we hate seem unavoidable; it is true bondage. It is easy to buy into the lie that there is something wrong with you when you can't measure up to the standard you set for yourself. I don't know who will read this. More than being embarrassed that I often feel incompetent, I wonder if a non-Christian viewing this would be confused, for they view themselves differently than I do myself. I wonder if they feel the pressure to measure up in some fashion, like I do according to the Biblical model of a godly, regenerate representative of God's Kingdom. I wonder if it just doesn't matter, or they have no aspiration for self-improvement, for they don't get their sense of happiness from realizing an increased spiritually healthy state. Are they then free to just be and subsequently find a sense of happiness, or are free to improve without even trying? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">What role does Satan play in twisting states for Christians? Does he invest more resources in distorting truth for the Christian, to sabotage the potential witness that believer may bring? Do we Christians have it harder than all other types of people in the world? I get that there are those who face hunger and disease and war, disasters and crime... I realize that my state could be much worse. I realize I could be on the street and not know where my next meal will come from. I realize I could be without a car and dependent on government aid and public transportation to make ends meat. I, however, know for a fact that poverty speaks very little to one's happiness, for I have been in fellowship with significantly poorer people from Nicaragua who were happier than most people I encounter in the US. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I don't expect this shame that I feel to just drop off me (unless, Jesus, you want to do that for me), but what I can choose to do is to proclaim the truth and start the healing process. I am a Child of God, a co-heir with Christ, who has the seal of the Holy Spirit, dwelling within me, who never leaves me and intercedes for me with groans that go beyond words. I am deeply loved. There is nothing that I can do, there is no depths of depravity that I can sink that will render void my saintly status of blessed. Nothing can separate me from Christ's love, not even my ignorance that it is always there, conquering though I'm blind of the results. There is no condemnation for those in Christ, and indeed, I am in Christ. I am abiding in Jesus, my vine and sustenance, for I am continually filled with the truth of God and the ways of the Kingdom. I believe and act on my faith in Christ Jesus by confessing with my heart and lips the glory of my King, who has begun establishing His Heavenly Kingdom of truth and justice. I am free, for Christ has set me free in the inner man. I no longer sin, but rather it is the sin in me, in my carnal flesh, that does evil. I eagerly await the resurrection body that I may be fully free and integrated physically with who I am now, the spiritual new life I have in Christ. ALL of my failures are forgiven and not counted against me. It grieves the Holy Spirit, but God's longsuffering is patient and enduring, able to withstand centuries of offense, for the sake of displaying His glory and worth as Sovereign Ruler, for He delivers His people, those who call upon the Name of Jesus for mercy and grace, which He gives abundantly. My God is mighty and awful. His majesty humbles me, for I am found in His favor, considered a prince. His love reigns. It is His kindness that leads me to repentance, for I trust that He believes in me, and His joy strengthens me. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Even if I amount to nothing in life, and according to the world, I have failed life miserably, I am confident that my Daddy will receive me with open arms and royal robes when this age fades. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-24873850431545654782010-02-22T13:27:00.000-08:002010-02-22T13:33:15.631-08:00Who's Your Daddy?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was recently struck with the realization that I hadn't a clue what it meant to be a child of God, for deep down, that concept unnerved me and riddled my thoughts with unreachable expectations of godliness that could not possibly apply to me.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So below will be a barrage of New Testament texts that have reference to the sonship of God by adoption. I'll attempt to piece together the beginnings of a theology on the saints' adoption as God's children, which I determine to be greatly lacking understanding in the current Christian milieu. My fears are that the enemy continues to convince us that this is made void by sin and best forgotten. My hopes and most earnest prayer is that the beauty of this </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">rema</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> of God (word or thought for the moment - cf. Ephesians 6:17) will so penetrate the depths of our souls that we find empowerment in our sonship and truly begin to live.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So here goes. I'll comment after each passage. </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matt 5:9)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These are Jesus' words from his sermon on the Mount, part of the beatitudes. I am immediately reminded of the words of Paul to the Corinthians: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">gave us the ministry of reconciliation</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." The new creation of believers in Christ are in the business of making peace and reconciling God to humanity. They are called sons of God.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>...those who are considered worthy to attain to that age [of eternity] and to the resurrection from the dead... cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35-36)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oddly enough, these are Christ's words to the Sadducees regarding a quandary they presented him about marriage and heaven. For my purposes I wanted to stress the fact that such sons of God are given new resurrected bodies and cannot die. They are also made equal with the angels in that day, inferring a glory hard to fathom in our current state and thought.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:9-13)</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Faith in the person of Jesus Christ, the one true illuminating and exposing light and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"> </span>source of purpose and existence, is the only means to attain God's favor and the title of child of God, more than an adoption; a rebirth "of God" (cf John 3:3-6). There is no second-rate sonship here!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>"You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (John 11:49-52)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Caiaphas' words, the high priest during the time of Jesus' crucifixion, to his officials. Honestly, this passage perplexes me. How could he prophesy such a thing? What does this say to his culpability in pursuing such a thing if God gave him the wisdom of such a sacrifice? Anyways, I love John's commentary and foreshadowing of the ministry to the Gentiles, that God's children are "scattered abroad" and awaiting the proclamation of the gospel so that they can respond and be made new by God.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>For if you live according to... the Spirit [and if] you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us... the redemption of our bodies. (Rom 8:13-18, 23)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think this is crucial for the Church to understand. A wise man called Christianity a "serious and difficult religion." There are tasks for the Christian, mainly that we must live according to the Spirit given us, not quenching the Spirit (i.e. grieve) but die to the ways of the sinful nature. The contrary is to live as the world does, looking and behaving no differently than the world, in which case we truly have lost our saltiness and hid our light under a bowl.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Spirit reveals truth (John 16:13) and the truth is that if we are God's we are His children. This is of great comfort to me. When I actually celebrate God's closeness with me, and honor Him, I have experienced my affections changing toward His ways and His thoughts. This of course makes the Christian stand out in a corrupt and evil world, and brings persecution and suffering. This is scary only to the Christian who does not yet comprehend the peace and joy that comes from owning one's sonship and heirship. Princes and Princesses indeed we are who treasure Christ!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ... And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:24-27, 29)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Abrahamic covenant is one that through his seed (ultimately Christ himself) Abraham would start the ball for a mighty nation for God, that would bless all the earth. Has this not already begun (see Schmidt's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How Christianity Changed the World</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to discover Christ's profound impact on all of culture, often taken for granted today, e.g. we no longer have the common practice of killing newborns because they are not the preferred male)? Indeed it is the people of God that have been justified and clothed in Jesus, the perfect representation of humanity.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life (Phil 2:14-16)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Can you imagine a world where this group emerged who were free of complaint, but perfectly content and even joyous in the midst of hardship? Would they not shine so brightly, that the hungry and sick would want to join them and the self-righteous and affluent would despise them and persecute them, but to no avail?!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure... No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God (1 John 2:28 - 3:3, 9-10)</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I would believe that Satan would be very content in deceiving Christ's disciples into thinking that they were not yet considered God's children, that we have not yet been given a portion of our inheritance already, mainly Christ himself! I do not think it is too far fetched to say that the Enemy works very hard to put this into question for many believers, in attempts to discourage and paralyze the Saints. This has been my experience, and yet, I think the days are numbered that I feel defeated by sin and unworthy/unable to enjoy my God and be enjoyed by Him. You see, my hope is rising, and it is found solely in Christ, and I am pure and being purified still. Sin has lost its grip on me because God has called me His own.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote>Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments... We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:1-2, 18-21)</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some two thousand years after Christ came, our condition for understanding the gospel is somewhat different than that of the first established churches. There are many "Christians" who believe Jesus is the Christ (Savior), only they are not born of God. This passage can be taken out of context to say all who pray a prayer of belief are saved from hell. This is how I understood it growing up. I think passages like 2 Cor. 11:1-15 show that different versions of the gospel, highlighting slightly varied nuances, depicting a "Jesus" other than the true historical and </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">holy Jesus </span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">are the Enemy's schemes to ruin God's work and lead many astray.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Imagine how if Paul, within the first 20 years of establishing the Church in Corinth, was bombarded with false presentations, how much more so will we, two millennia later, have such evil ploys infiltrating our understanding of the gospel. Indeed, I believe that is why the Reformation fractured the Faith into thousands of pieces. God, in His wisdom and grace, has revealed error, and compelled repentance in his saints and disassociation from those who treasure more the kingdom that they established through worldly means and that is reinforced with worldly benefits. But to the credit of Satan, he even used this splitting to distract and cause strife. You see we have admonitions from the epistles to avoid fakers, but Jesus' spoke of how wheat would grow intermingled with the weeds. What am I trying to say with this tangent of sorts? There was a time when the followers of Christ, those true children of God, lived out their authority and so shone in a dark and evil world that they could not help but change the world, because God was with them. We saw this when the early church unraveled the pagan-worship model of religion, and radically redirected the course of culture toward the things of God, with Emperor Constantine as a landmark. Then there was a time when God raised up another son to challenge the corrupted religious institution that was completely void of the essence of Christ's gospel; that landmark was Luther, and there are many who paved the way and supported him in this re-calibration of Christianity...</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I believe there is a new time coming and indeed started, where the children of God will rise up to the challenge of being salt and light to the world once again. This is not to negate those throughout the between times who truly grasped the gospel. Those people exist. Indeed, God's grace to reveal truth throughout the age by the Spirit has not been lacking entirely. Is it not, however, becoming so dark that we are due time for the dawn to come once more?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ecumenism has been a pursuit for decades. But its premise has been to compromise, to overlook heretical doctrine and find the lowest common denominator. There has been very little defining of what "gospels" and "Jesus"s are actually embraced. And that is why even after decades of attempts to reconcile faith traditions for the common good will continue to fail. They are not all children of God, and the love for one another does not come naturally like it does for the children of God, when they own their special place in God and live abundantly through that. I believe there will be children pulled from many different traditions, whom are inclined to the true gospel, for they are hand-picked by God.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What a beautiful day that will be when the children of God raise up in confidence of their status, empowered by their God whom they gird themselves with, and so shine with a most glorious brilliance! Lord, your Kingdom come, and quickly.</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-89567417658290826712010-02-13T07:29:00.000-08:002010-02-13T09:52:50.739-08:00Chop, Chop... Ouch!For the sake of avoiding to sound overdramatic, I won't describe my rising this morning as if the Lord pulled me out of bed. I won't describe Him as compelling me to my Bible instead of following my normal routine of turning on the television. I mean if I did, if I described the start of this morning like that, I might give the impression that there is more to my life than meets the eye. I wouldn't want to imply that my life is rich with meaning, that there is a underlying story unfolding that only reveals itself at crucial turns. It would be a crime to think of thickening plots, character development, scene changes. After all, is that not what literature is for? I'm sorry, reading is fading in importance and significance; is that not what film and television is for, to quicken our hearts for fantasy and drama and meaning? I mean, we all know that such things don't really exist in the real world? That's why we are so obsessed with entertainment, glued to our TV sets and soda-sticky theatre floors. I can almost hear the crutch of the popcorn kernel and feel the resistance of the sole as I retract my shoe from its solid footing. The remote, nearly an extension of my arm. <div><br /></div><div>Nonetheless, my story must go on. It is my life, and I deem it significant even if it is not. Thus, I write. I record this moment of rising and sitting down to my Bible, which was opened to the Gospel of John. A little editing is required, for I first finished up chapter 14; heaven forbid you know what I learned from it. After all, it is entirely out of context for why I write this morning. You don't need to learn that Jesus disclosed information about the Spirit of God, how He is given to Jesus' disciples upon return his return to the Father. You need not know that how Jesus describes his connection with the Father, and with his disciples, all said in the same breathe as introducing the Spirit; it is irrelevant that you understand that those of this world will not receive the Spirit of God and cannot comprehend even His existence for they know not God nor see Him. No, it is pointless to tell how upon receiving the Spirit, those who love God will be loved by Christ and the Father and that they both will make their abode in the adopted child, no longer an orphan, for They came to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>You need not know either that because the ruler of the world approached, and Jesus felt compelled to obey His Father's will, that they left that place where they talked, and the scene changed. After all, that was chapter 14; I write to speak of chapter 15. So let us just cut all that out. It is not relevant. </div><div><br /></div><div>I write to describe my experience upon reading the first portion of the chapter, the metaphor of a grape vine. You see, Jesus described a Vinedresser as the Father, tending to the crop. The thick vine, the plant's trunk being the source of all life to the plant provides nourishment to the rest of the plant, the branches. Jesus described himself as that vine, professing Christians as his branches. The first striking detail from this metaphor that I encountered was the destruction of some of the branches coming off of the Jesus vine, those not bearing fruit are taken off from its life source and burned. That's not pleasant, so we'll just ignore that aspect. The second thing I noticed was the pruning of those branches that did bear fruit. </div><div><br /></div><div>My bought basil seeds last summer. I planted about a dozen seeds, then. It is the following winter; just about a half a year has past. I think it is fitting that only two seedlings survived. I transferred them both into a makeshift pot from an old lemonade container, and they sit on my bedroom window sill now. One was so tiny. It still is, even though I planted it about 6 months ago. The other shot straight up. It's tall and its stems grew past the stage of having softer green flesh. Woody stems developed, and it took deep roots. The problem was that it wasn't producing many leaves. I wondered what the deal was, then I realized what I had to do. Chop, chop. I pruned the little guy, chopping off long sections of stem right after the budding of green that sprouted out at points lower down. The thing looked pitiful. Bald, brown branches with just a speckle of green at its tips. I wondered if I had to scrap my little project of having fresh basil around. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then something wonderful happened. The green multiplied! I was getting double and quadruple shoots off the one, where I severed. So I did the same with his tiny basil brother plant, chopping half of the three inch guy off. In time, the little guy, too, grew exponentially, but only in leaves, not in size. The bugger is still tiny. My hope is not in him. I harvest from my pride and joy. Right now, I pruned again, and he looks pretty pathetic. But I trust more growth will come, and where once only two or three branches shot off from the trunk, I trust more will branch off and flourish. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why tell of my basil growing? When I read that the Father intends to prune those branches that bear fruit, I realized that meant me. I have been following Jesus for just over 13 years. Why in the hell am I still pursuing this... fantasy? illusion? delusion? You would think that after a couple years, maybe during college when you learn of alternative lifestyles, that I would become wise to the Christian farce and abandon it. I almost did. I've told the story before, that I was at a place where Christianity seemed explainable. The feeling of singing worship songs to a thing invisible, actually feeling euphoria, can be seen as the brain receiving auditory stimulation resulting in the production of alpha waves... Just a chemical reaction in the brain, the release of neurotransmitters and firing of neurons. Christianity fulfilled some deep social needs as an adolescent, where I felt accepted and protected from negative alternatives, like escaping in drugs or joining a gang (ha! can you imagine me in a gang?!). Finding one's identity and community is a normal psychological and sociological phenomena. I just happened to choose the Christian variety. Others are entitled to their own. There is nothing special about the Christian take. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or is there? You see, I did not walk away from Jesus in college because I asked He prove that He cared for me and wanted me a part of His team by showing up and doing something I could not explain. He did. Ask me about it some time; I'd love to tell you. Needless to say, I stayed, and I see now more clearly that God was doing some pruning on me, or at least on what image I conjured of who He was that was false and destructive. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pruning is not pleasant! That's what struck me this morning and what I want to share with you this morning. Our culture has an aversion to pain. We think happiness is found in what is pleasurable: sex, food, entertainment like TV and film, etc. Life has meaning now in our pursuit to fill ourselves with satisfaction. Life used to mean more. People used to find meaning in work. Now, work is the means to provide for the entertainment. What drama we find in life seems meaningless, because it hurts and compromises the bottom-line of obtaining our pleasure fixes. Instead, we covet the drama as depicted on screen, for it is removed and safe. We live vicariously through make-believe characters; if they are derived from real life, we further dramatize the story. Nonetheless, we feel the meaning of those characters' lives and feel connected to something greater than our own miserable lives. Have you ever stopped to wonder why you feel a need to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Why do we make everything on screen according to this model of a higher calling (save maybe <i>Seinfeld</i>, a show about nothing, the epitome of our depraved society)? Is it not because it is the very design of our lives? The thing that gives meaning to our existence? </div><div><br /></div><div>I know some who may read this buy into the naturalist model that says this universe happened by chance, that human life happened because a single-celled organism just happened to "come together" in just the right way to spawn, and millions (maybe billions) of years later we have <i>homo sapien</i>. Ot holds that there is not meaning to all of this, save what we determine, so why not have fun? I ask, why do you model your primary source of fun (i.e. stories with rich drama, where a greater purpose more important than yourselves is pursued) after something that contradicts your understanding of reality? Is there a design engraved in our souls (that inner life we perceive)? Do recognize that your worldview is a newer phenomena, for all other cultures derived meaning to life from some understanding of a higher being, whether multiple gods or the One who actually intervened on the earth hundreds of times throughout history (read a book called <i>The Holy Bible </i>if you're not familiar with these true stories). You may have verifiable, measurable knowledge to guide your conclusions; but there is other knowledge that exists cannot be measured, but comes by authority. If you think hard enough, even your foundation is based on things that cannot be measured, but you take them by faith.</div><div><br /></div><div>The postmodern perspective fares no better. Truth does not exist and if it does, there is no way of determining it, so let's just choose camps and what works for you guys is fine, but we'll choose to believe these things; your truth is yours and ours is ours... If there is one truth, an absolute Truth, and those positions that contradict the real truth are held, and the real truth discloses the reality of judgement upon unbelief and disobedience, is it not foolish, nay reckless, to assume holding unfolded beliefs is okay? This is no more than intellectual vegetation! Cognitive apathy. You willfully plug yourselves into the <i>Matrix</i> to live in fantasy. You see, you who deny the Christian claims to truth are like my little basil plant, one plant altogether different from the plant of significance, competing for nourishment from the ground, not taking root, for Christ owns the ground. Your sun is blocked by the greatness of Christ's Kingdom, which has overtaken the garden. You Christians that buy into these other thoughts, are branches that stray away from Christ and dwell in the shadows. You are confused on where you belong and will be severed lest you return. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pruning. It is going to happen. In fact, Jesus told his disciples that the reason He shared this metaphor of the vine was so that His joy may be in them and that their joy may be made full (15:11). The disciple of Christ will be cut apart. The old will be severed. This is to make room for fruit to bear. There is no more meaning for a plant than to bear fruit. There is no more meaning for the Christian than to bear the fruit of good works, those accomplishments in the world that make others wonder at whether the God they proclaim is legit. God the Father is in the business of pruning. He does it to those who belong to him. Others... tossed aside and judged already (John 3:18). The great news of the gospel is that still now, and until Christ returns in glory, there is opportunity to repent and believe (2 Peter 3:9). From eternity's vantage, all is decided. But our timeline ticks on, so hope remains. Receive the good news, I beg you. Be willing to go before the Vinedresser and receive the discipline of pruning off those things that destroy who you are. I reluctantly go for I know it will hurt, and am confident that I will turn back often in fear... but it is done for joy, for the abundant life. Though we feel the pain and question, the Lord is patient, however, and merciful to his children and will show them in time the great worth of becoming who they are intended to be. Something much more glorious will sprout up than what once was. Will you display your God-given glory with me? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-5500856640576016292010-02-10T18:20:00.000-08:002010-02-10T21:14:38.756-08:00"I Am Wrecking Ball" says the LordI am learning something new about the Christian faith. There are two parts.<div><br /></div><div>First, the power granted the children of God is mighty, if only we would utilize it. </div><div>I know this is true because we have such passages that speak to the immeasurable blessing of God's f<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">avor for empower</span>ment: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Just as it is written,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">B</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">ut in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The one who conquers, I</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> will grant him to sit with me on my throne</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev. 3:21)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">the</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">y have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">they loved not their lives even unto death. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Rev. 12:10-11)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">we should be holy and blameless before him</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10)</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I read this last one and teared up because I find it to be the most significant and glorious truth in all of history; how is it that an utterly undeserving people, worthy of nothing but wrath, should find the riches of God's grace lavished upon us, those children He adopts? If you do not know the depths of wisdom and weight of such a statement, I pray you do. I pray your hunger to know such freedom and grace captivate your whole being, down to the deepest recesses of your soul. I would love to talk about it with you if you do not know this God, who is more than generous with His love and grace to the contrite in spirit. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I digress. The power of the children of God, those heavenly citizens of God's Kingdom whom currently experience eternal life on earth, the abundant life... the power is infinite. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead <b>dwells in you</b>, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lord God, Jesus Christ, I pray that your disciples would realize the authority given them by the indwelling Spirit inside them! Your work on the cross has annihilated the strength of sin and death once for all, and if only they would live in accordance with your ways, abiding in you, would this world know and see you for who you are: most majestic and glorious, worthy of all praise! Jesus, your Kingdom come more fully now, through your people. I ask this by the authority given me as a child of God in Christ, Amen.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The second part is this:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The schemes of the Enemy to deter the Children of God from godliness are most prevalent and captivating, if only we would recognize them. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For if we did recognize these schemes, and utilize our inherited authority in Christ, the whole world would marvel at the greatness of our God, for we truly would be salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16). The Triune God looks small and inconsequential because the Regenerate don't nearly represent Him as they are intended to. The Imago Dei in humanity has been restored and enhanced by association with the Crucified Christ, if truly the saint remains in God. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I speak boldly and what can appear arrogant because I recognize the need in me to treat this for what it is. Absolute truth and not merely quaint belief based on blind faith. If I treat it as genuine factual knowledge, eventually I will be able to own its significance deep down. Right now, it rests gently on my heart, and may detach, if the Enemy has his way. I want it engraved, so I choose to treat it as bona fide knowledge. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I want to share a story from my week that finely illustrates what I talk about here. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I continually wrestle with the notion that I am not, and fail to do, good enough, in part because I do things I do not want to do (e.g. watch a lot of TV)... Or do I watch so much TV because I feel like such a failure, thus buckle under defeat? This is a thought that is ever present in my mind. I'm sure all of you have some thought that you cannot shake. This one has been mine. This also may come as a shock, as it does not mesh well with the high esteem given above to the children of God. Nonetheless, it continues to be my experience. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With that in mind, consider how I interpreted this week these Bible passages:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"If you continue in My word, then you are truly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">John 8:31, 34-36)</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." (Romans 6:4-7)</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It would appear, from my experience and thought process, that this freedom (free indeed) and newness of life spoken of was not my experience. I was left feeling more defeated than ever. Perhaps Jesus never freed me; it, after all, is conditional in its tense. Perhaps my spiritual death in Christ did not take. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I left my devotional time in the Word in a bad spot. You see, I wanted desperately to know success. Enduring success, not just sparse, intermittent victory. I wanted long-lasting and final dominance over sinful ways. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Enter my mentor. I share my frustration and depression. You know what he asked me? "How long do these Biblical truths play out in life?" Essentially, I was asked if I genuinely thought these were instantaneous events, or a life-long process. I had to answer the latter, because that is what seems to be the overwhelming testimony of Paul and other Scripture, even the collective experience of the Church. Even Abraham and Moses and David were works in progress. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I left my meeting with my mentor wiser, but not any happier. Why was I not content with that answer? Why did I still long for victory, now, happily ever after? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It hit me later that day as I worked to take captive every thought, especially this one. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You see, I thought that if I could exercise authority and victory over sin and find freedom from its enslaving bondage, then I wouldn't have to burden God with my failing as much. I wouldn't have to rely on Him for security as much. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I hope you caught the error. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Also, I wanted victory now, and had grown horribly impatient with the process of sanctification because I convinced myself that such results were expected in reality... At least, that is how resolution is depicted on television. Wait, is television not reflective of reality? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Are you beginning to see how crafty the schemes of the Enemy are? Satan will use the very phenomenology of television to distort our perceptions of reality, aiming to discourage and deter us from the truth and beauty of Scripture. I selfishly framed my perception of reality around lies, covertly implanted by the enemy. Satan will use our sinful flesh, hungry for satisfaction, the evil world full of its dominating forces and powers of darkness, and his craftiness and half-truths to raise up speculations and every lofty thing against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Here is the truth. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Christian is in possession of divinely powerful weapons, capable of demolishing </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">fortresses</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. In Christ, the Christian destroys those speculations and lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God, taking captive every thought to the obedience of Christ, who is Truth. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">There is power in the Christian to be more than a conquerer. That power is God himself. We confess that the very Spirit that rose Christ from the dead dwells in us, and that same Spirit leads us to all truth (John 16:13). God is our wrecking ball, mighty in battle to level the fortresses of deceit and wicked contempt brought against humanity. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The LORD is a warrior;<br /> The LORD is His name</span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Exodus 15:3)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">LORD Jesus, the Great I AM, One with the Father, Yahweh: Great is your Name in all of creation! I adore you for who you are. I do not even need to mention what great deeds you do for your people, you inherently are beyond my comprehension of all that is good. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I confess my failure. I am but dust. And yet your grace is enough to turn this dust into your son. Amazing grace! Thank you, hallelujah! Do not keep this truth from my heart. Strengthen more my gratefulness of your love for me. Truly, who could be against me? Not even myself! Help me and others to dwell richly in these thoughts of how precious you are, Lord. As I act justly, allow me to know your sense of justice and righteousness, that what pleases you. As I love your mercy and kindness, guide me in ways in which I can display mercy to those who need to see your better way. As I walk humbly with you, will you illumine this dark and evil world to see just how precious your grace is toward a depraved humanity? This is my desire. Your Kingdom come quickly. Amen.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p></span>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-15860765847372309672010-01-12T11:25:00.000-08:002010-01-14T11:22:33.113-08:00The SovereignHave you ever been extremely sorrowful, almost lost for the disrepair of your state seemed beyond hope, yet you were at peace, even satisfied, with your circumstances? <div><br /></div><div>The world, for the most part, does not understand joy. It operates in the context that joy is synonymous with happiness, contingent on the relative pleasantness of one's state. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am approaching this point of sorrowful yet at peace. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am joyful. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I base this joy on my knowledge of God. Life sucks. People suck. They disappoint eventually. God is altogether not disappointing, so far as He is faithful, pure and good. I know that in Christ, God has revealed a glorious love, one that leaves any benefit that this world can offer in want. </div><div><br /></div><div>The million dollar question: how can such a loving and perfect God allow such deplorable conditions to exist? Why not rid our condition of evil? Going further back, why allow sin to exist at all? Could He have not prevented it in the first place? Is He not responsible, via neglect, for sin and evil? How can we trust and worship a god who sovereignly chooses this scenario? </div><div><br /></div><div>I have plenty of thoughts on this? None of them commandingly demands adherence. I think what satisfies my angst is a picture of God that He revealed to me, one of impeccable beauty, power, love, healing, reconciliation... The purpose of the mess is to reveal the infinite worth of the Absolute. A glass of pure water cannot be appreciated and enjoyed for its inherently good quality unless one has known experientially of a muddied, metallic water. We cannot fathom the glorious perfections of God unless we knew intimately Depravity. But the analogy fails when considering the lack of power that water has to illustrate what emotional baggage such an experience has on the participant; God, in contrast, is powerful to make right our circumstances for his recipients of mercy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Still, why some and not all? Why send anyone to Hell? How unfair is that? We are quick to call foul, never realizing that if this was his design, we would never have the free will we so desperately treasure, to choose him or not (if one wanted to reject salvation, they couldn't if all were saved). Our human agency is rendered inconsequential and meaningless, void of any value unless humanity maintains responsibility, a free and independent will exercised by the soul, apart from God's determining. Is it not our choice to rebel that led us to this mess, and ultimately our fault, not God, for our state? Can we rightly say that the sun is at fault and the cause of the dew to settle at night for lack of its rays presence (Edwards' argument)? Likewise, can we blame God for not upholding humanity, preventing a Fall from grace? Is He not just to punish such rebellion in the way He determines sovereignly, just as He is sovereign to choose to prevent or not our demise? </div><div><br /></div><div>To the one who has no concept of God's infinite greatness and love, the problem of evil is an unconquerable mountain. To those that glimpse this, and have a notion that this universe and all that is in it is designed and purposed to display a Great God, the problem of evil is a bit more inconsequential (Phil 3:7-11).</div><div><br /></div><div>I have joy because my God is becoming increasingly lovely in my comprehension of Him. What is man that you are mindful of him? How great is our God for making relationship with Him possible!</div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-52234033855304935592009-12-07T08:44:00.000-08:002009-12-09T12:47:21.144-08:00That Great Tree's Gift to HumanityI watched the movie <i>The Messenger, </i>which tells the story of Joan of Arc. While I recognize that stylistic dramatization was utilized, and accounts were doctored to better tell the moviemaker's story, I was struck by one scene in particular and started a thought that seems profound. <div><br /></div><div>The scene was of Joan's imprisonment by the English church. The apparition played by Dustin Hoffman commented of Joan's visions, questioning the interpretation of the message, accusing her of simply reading into them what she wanted; doubt whether God intended her to lead an army against the British was established. </div><div><br /></div><div>This idea reminded me of the account of Adam and Eve. Just how perceptive have we become after partaking of the fruit? </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is my thought: What if what we obtained from the fruit was not discriminating knowledge between good and evil, but simply the awareness of such things. </div><div><br /></div><div>Those two partook and realized they were naked. Awareness of wrong occurred. They experienced shame from their nakedness. What if they did not acquire specific knowledge of the need for modesty? Who's to say that is evil? We impose perversion on nakedness because we associate it with sex. But baby and infants are unaware of their nakedness. If they are in Adam, would they not from conception feel that same shame?</div><div><br /></div><div>I propose that the knowledge of good and evil we obtained is indistinguishable. The reason Adam and Eve covered themselves was because they became self aware and exposed. Covering was more an instinctual, subconscious response to the awareness of evil, now aware of evil's presence and existence, now aware - rather, fixated - on the self, and so felt a vulnerability. Exactly here is where perception and reality meet. We think we really do hold God's power of determining good and evil, by individually deeming things good or bad according to our preference, but that is an illusion. With the collection of humanity deeming things right or wrong, divorced from objectivity, the degrees of variation become deafening. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why am I making such a fuss in dismantling sin's original effect? If we had true, objective, absolute, distinguishing knowledge of good versus evil, would we not be able to judge which doctrines are evil and destructive and which are of God and live-giving? </div><div><br /></div><div>The way I see it, the knowledge of good and evil from that Great Tree did not make us at all like God; we just think we are like Him, lying to ourselves. The serpent told a bold-faced lie when he said that we surely wouldn't die, for we had died. We took our focused priority off God and placed it on ourselves. God was our life source; still is. Now, we turn our focus inward, toward the self, thinking erroneously that the gods we see in ourselves are sufficient for life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am becoming increasingly convinced that a faith in Christ that does not take this aspect into account is an inadequate faith. Are we as Christians so ineffective because we don't allow God to become our focus? We, as a whole, are human-centered Christians who see God as a means, not the end. Our eyes never leave either the self or others around us. Is not salvation defined as this: "T<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(41, 48, 59); line-height: 18px; font-family:Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">his is eternal life, that <b>they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ</b> whom You have sent” (John 17:3, NASB) or “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the <b>surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus </b>my Lord” (Philippians 3:7, NASB)? Intimately <i>knowing </i>our God is of the utmost concern, yet we have no hunger for Him; our hunger is for what we can get from Him, still, with our focus fixed on the self. This is a lordship issue. We dismiss the reality of Jesus' lordship, thinking it is optional or insignificant facet of the faith compared to the worth of our comfort and control.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Verdana, Arial, serif;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:medium;">Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Forget the self, and what you perceive is a need, and forsake your hunger for things, people, anything that is not the Triune God. Rest completely in the person of God, and see if you come away in want. Make Him Lord. Dare not dismiss the thought that God may be more significant inherently than yourself, for this surely seems to be what it is all about. </span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-40505164208491923172009-10-05T08:19:00.000-07:002009-12-20T11:22:58.508-08:00Election<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So there's a great little site found </span></span><a href="http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/articles/sup_infr.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. It outlines the various views of election. Most have heard of Calvinism and Arminianism. The debate is actually a bit more extensive, with various Calvinistic positions. I'm going to highlight some of the most adopted positions. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">But first I think it is important to say a little bit about why I think this issue is important. The term "election" appears all over the New Testament. It refers to those who will attain salvation. Grasping a better understanding on what this involves (God's role, the individual's role, etc.) will strengthen the witness of the Church, as assurance of one's salvation has a motivating effect. Also, knowing God's intent for saving people, and why we even find ourselves in this situation, can speak to God's character, and the purpose for creation and existence and offer a pretty coherent explanation for why Christian experience is so "diverse" in its presentation. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So let's get to it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Arminian View:</span></span><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God creates </span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God permits the Fall of humanity</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God provides salvation for all </span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God calls all to salvation</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God elects those who believe (contingent on the person's choice</span></span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Now there is a condition to God's provided salvation: any who choose to believe in the crucified Christ as Lord and Savior are saved... This begs the question, was Charles Finney right in saying one can will to desire, thus seek, God apart from the Lord revealing Himself to the person (See the concluding remarks on the issue of free will below for my answer to this)? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The distinguishing aspect of Arminianism lies in the thought that the opportunity of salvation for any given person is contingent on that person's will to choose God and his gift of grace (salvation). Said differently, the human controls his or her own fate, since the determining factor is solely in his or her power.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Now the Scriptures have certain passages that do not mesh well with this position. Romans 9-11 is one such passage. Arminianists interpret these chapters regarding the Elect and God's purposes for it by defining election in a unique way. They see Romans 9-11 as having a distinction between election to salvation and election to service or function. So when Esau is hated, and his fate determined even before being born or doing good or bad, God's lack of election is for Esau's function/service, having no factor on his salvation. They would still posit that Esau (let's avoid the issue of pre-Jesus humans and the weird question of how they relate to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and use Esau as a type, one way to describe one's role/characteristic/etc.) could choose salvation even though he was not elect. Election is an issue of service to God. I will come back to this interpretation later.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Supralapsarian View - </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica;font-size:small;"><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God elects some, reprobates the rest</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God creates</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God permits the Fall</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God provides salvation for the elect</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God calls the elect to salvation</span></span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Notice the Elect are chosen before creation occurred. Why? To what purpose does this serve? I believe this act best illustrates God's authority and majesty, establishing His rightful Sovereign choice to save whomever He pleases. The logical questions such a statement arouse are, "Why should/must God have to decide? Is there anything at stake if God does not make the choice? If He does not make the choice, but rather the human does, is there a challenge to God's authority?"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Infralapsarian View:</span></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God creates</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God permits the Fall</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God elects some, passes over the rest</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God provides salvation for the elect</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God calls the elect to salvation</span></span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The difference between Infra- and Supra- positions is over the sequence of events. The Infralapsarian position does not see a need in having God choose to save before the Fall, but rather the election is a response or reaction to the Fall. Supralapsarianism is unique in that God begins with this act, highlighting His Sovereign Authority. One Arminian attempt at reconciling the Supra- position's biblical accuracy with their need to maintain human authority is to say that God's early election is based on His foresight of their choice to choose. Here we must come back to the Esau issue. What is most valued is the idea of human autonomy, apart from God's influence. I cannot read Romans 9-11 as election to service, divorced from impacting salvation, just as I cannot justify saying that God foreknew the person's choice, thus electing them based on the human's decision. The phrasing makes it clear: "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">for though the twins </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">were not yet born</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">had not done anything good or bad</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, so that </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God's purpose according to His choice would stand</span></span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">NOT BECAUSE OF WORKS</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> but because of Him who calls...I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION" (Romans 9:11, 15 emphasis mine). Now I edited out some text, but I did not change the pericope's meaning; this is all a single thought. The purpose that God chose Jacob and not Esau was to ensure His choice was the decisive factor, not works, in whom He would have mercy/compassion on and whom He wouldn't (all need mercy for all are depraved, just not all will be shown mercy/compassion). This text makes it clear that human merit has little place in this matter of election (shall we just define the "elect" as those God purposes to have mercy/compassion on?).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Issue of Free Will (i.e. Human Agency)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We could benefit from addressing God's permitting of Evil (The Fall). We say that God has no hint of evil, and rightly so. The existence of evil, however, must have an origin. If it did not come from God, from where did it? The most adopted and logical explanation is found in the idea of free will. If created beings, made perfect and reflective of a sovereign God, free and perfect in His own right, is given the choice to rebel or remain obedient, God would not be the author of Evil, but rather the creature would be, if they so chose to rebel. This meshes very well with the Arminian position because it speaks to the power given to the person. It is a bit more messy in trying to fit it with the Supra- position; but in my opinion it is possible.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Now I claim one is a fool who denies the reality of humans having choice. We are free to choose from varying options. So the tension of choosing God and God electing one for salvation (regardless if the person wishes for the contrary) needs to be addressed. This is the debate</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> over Theodore Beza's "Irresistible Grace" (from TULIP). This concept concerns itself with the notion that one does not have a free will if in fact God's grace is irresistible. If one cannot resist it, one does not have a choice. God's will trumps that of the human's. If this happens, then, they [Arminians] argue that God must be responsible for the creation of Evil. If God forces one's hand toward good, then naturally, those He does not force toward good will veer toward evil by default, essentially making God responsible for evil by neglecting. They argue that since God cannot be evil and He would have to be if He was responsible for its creation, then the Supra- position cannot be accurate.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Allow me to give an alternative interpretation. Can God permit one of His creature's to have an independent will, apart from the mandate of God's Sovereignty? Our experience indeed seems to suggest just that, where we are not magically pulled one way toward God as if there were an invisible string. Can God present a message of love and hope through Christian representatives</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> to a person, one with the choice to choose it or not? Again, our experience seems to suggest so. We see some that immediately take the message with rejoicing; others take a while to warm to the message, sometimes over decades; still others never embrace the message. If the message is eventually accepted, it is done so because it would seem foolish to not. If it is rejected, it is because the person chose so. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">That is all from the perspective of the recipient. Now consider the Presenter's perspective (given that God usually </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">uses those whom have embraced the message to some degree, the ultimate source of the message, the author of it, is God through Christ and the Holy Spirit). God impresses on the recipient a message that illustrates the goodness of the Source. If God is infinitely great, and this is reflected in the message, then there should be an irresistible nature to the message of grace. How, then, can one choose not to embrace God, for surely there are those who do not? There are three possible explanations: God is, then, not infinitely great, or the message was inadequately presented, or He indeed did have an electing purpose and did not choose this particular person. I believe the two last options occur often, with an inadequate presentation explaining why some take a while to embrace the message; the first is just ludicrous. Throughout this entire time, the choice is the person's, yet God maintains His choice. God is not frustrated or thwarted by one's slow acceptance of His grace, given He elects them and they do not respond immediately. He understands that His human ambassadors are broken and inadequate to represent Him. He is no less glorious, but more so for that very reason (of using a handicap of depraved humanity to propagate His gospel). And God cannot be held responsible for His infinite greatness and irresistibility. It is His choice to sufficiently display that to some. I equate it to a boy who, having several battery-operated toys, chooses to install some with batteries but not others. Is the boy evil for neglecting some toys over others? Do the toys have an inherent worth or right equal to that of the boy? God, in not choosing someone, is not doing anything evil. The evilness (or rather, depravation of source) cannot be rightly transferred to Him but must remain on the human (that is their state according to their own choice, say to deny their need for batteries); the toy's immobility remains its own shortcoming, not the boy's. Likewise it is the human who responds according to his or her will whether they choose God (or neglect their need for grace). The reality, then, appears that decisions over salvation are a collaboration of wills, where God wills some to salvation, and because of His irresistible nature, they respond independently with acceptance; those not elected are left to their own will, and independently reject G</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">od (c.f. Romans 3:10-18).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Yet, the original sin needs to be examined. Adam and Eve were perfect creatures, without fault. God saw them as "very good" and He would not say such a thing if there was any hint of deficiency in their nature. I think the phrasing provided by the website is most useful; God permitted the Fall. He did not cause it; He did not force their hand, but offered opportunity to rebel, a quite needed option for free will to exist lest they truly be automatons. The existence of evil in the human nature resulted from the will of humans, not God. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The existence of evil originally, in the serpent, whom we identify as Satan, is another matter. I think it is most relevant to this discussion to ask "how did Satan happen to become evil?" And if he is one and the same as Lucifer, the fallen angel, how could a creature quite different from that of humans fall from grace, for they are described as not having a free will, but restrained to do the bidding of their Master? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I think one needs to start with the assumption that God is, in fact, terribly awesome, completely sovereign and accountable to no one. He can do as He pleases, do what He pleases, only bound by His own nature, fully perfect and good. What if God, desiring to display His infinite greatness, conspired a plan to convey His glorious Holiness, set apart completely from anything that can ever be? What if the only way to display this was by contrasting it to something altogether different? He could create a perfect creature, similar in nature to Himself but not equal, thus capable of corruption. And in His wisdom, He could grant volition to that creature, opening opportunity for rebellion. I believe this is how it occurred. God permitted Lucifer to fall from grace, to have him challenge God for the right to reign, in a sense setting up a competition over worthiness. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Would it not, then, be completely logical to conclude that the supralapsarian position most aligns with this scenario? God elects before everything else occurs, because He anticipates that their choice for God will adequately display His worthiness, as He simply has to reveal glimpses of His nature to the elect and they respond. His Glory is displayed in their choice; His original intent is accomplished. His wisdom is proven in His plan (Ephesians 3:10). And what God most desires, that of having Himself known, considers it right (i.e. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">just, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">or</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> righteous</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> even... the opposite of evil) to have Himself displayed in contrast to the corruption and depravity of humanity and angelic rebellion. A sovereign God, who has the authority to determine right from wrong, must be trusted as more capable of discerning righteousness over a depraved human (see my next post </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">That Great Tree's Gift to Humanity</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">). </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">All other views fall drastically short in elevating God as most glorious and most sovereign. Holding such positions is to deny God His nature, thinking humanity, and its eternal security more important than it is, mainly greater than God's worth being manifested. Is this human-centeredness not a product of the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason?</span></span></span></span></i></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> </span>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-35195170911399734942009-09-19T14:07:00.000-07:002009-09-19T14:12:04.241-07:00Epistle to the True Church<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Michael, a teacher of the Scriptures regarding the true Faith in Jesus of Nazareth; to the Church in America, the true sheep who are capable of hearing the voice of our Good Shepherd and flock to Him but flee from strange voices (John 10:4-5), greetings in Christ Jesus, our LORD – the only Sovereign authority in our lives pertaining to spiritual things – and grace and peace be upon you in this ever darkening hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I write to you this day for I see the Scripture unfolding all around me and want to encourage you to take seriously the call to follow our God down the path of godliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember Jesus’ own words and be concerned: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the gate is small and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it</b>” (Matt 7:13-14).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I grew up and became a believer in the mid to late nineties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I only experienced Church in the context of a seeker-sensitive orientation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My friends, I am becoming more convinced by the day that this drive to fashion our faith in an attractive way is grossly missing the mark, for it shows that those who adopt such practices have no faith in the power of the Gospel to save.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” and in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:27.0pt;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:27.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify">And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we put on rock shows for Jesus for a Sunday gathering, we appeal more to the ways of Man than we do the ways of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And when this fatal error is made, I fear it proves that most churches do not know the God they claim to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rather, they have fashioned an image of God that is altogether like their depraved selves, taking upon their lips the statutes of God and twisting the Holy Word for their purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you are truly of the elect, I trust you sense the error of these ways lest you are deceived beyond rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Read Psalm 50 and tremble in repentance lest you be torn to pieces one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Such goats think you serve God, but they serve their idol of God, a god most concerned with the salvation of mankind. Thinking the faith needs to be attractive to a lost and blind world, they make their faith man-pleasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They prove they have no concept of the Spirit of God as essential for the revealing of truth (John 16:13).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What about you, do you lack the Spirit yourselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pray as King David did in the Psalm 51, especially verse 11: “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I, of course, have to ask whether you have the Spirit because so many claim they do but show know fruit of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember, the fruit of the Spirit is first and foremost Love – love for God <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">with all your being </b>(Gal 5:22; Deut 6:5)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Because of the ways in which you, the Church have conducted yourselves, I am deeply concerned that you are ignorant of the vital doctrine of regeneration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is in part that I perceive many to be in the Church are either false teachers, deceived goats perfectly satisfied with any garbage to eat, or deceived sheep not knowing any better for they have not heard the voice of the Shepherd yet to lead them to greener pastures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Please read the Word!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Romans 8 speaks of the distinction between true saints and the lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The mindset (“set your mind”) spoken of is so much more than an intellectual, cognitive bent toward the things of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the Greek, this word has a connotation of the entire self including thoughts, attitudes, emotions, will… Those that walk according to the Spirit have a radically different orientation toward the things of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fellow sheep, if you are dissatisfied with what comes from your pulpit, and feel malnourished, start now: pick up your Bibles and enjoy the pure milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Meditate day and night on the richness of His Glory that is found on those pages, working out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Perhaps then, as by hearing the Word you believe, passages like 2 Cor 3:18 and 2 Peter 1:3-10 will come to life to you and you will feel compelled to bear the worthwhile burden of remaining rooted to Christ, proving that you are being regenerated, “making your call and election sure.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This sacrifice to endure is our joy and strength, for those who have the Spirit and count all things loss (excrement, really) compared to knowing Christ “and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Phil 3:10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Beloved Brethren, do not be so deceived to think the wrath of God is satisfied for all time by Christ on the Cross. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course, Jesus’ sacrifice earns Him the right to possess all authority in Heaven and on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He will rightly intercede on behalf of those who place their trust in Him (Hebrews 7:25).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I warn against the impending wrath because it is foolishness to find security in Christ against the wrath to come when in fact many of you are indeed not “in Christ” (Romans 8:1).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You need look no farther than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">the Revelation of Jesus Christ </i>to see that there are stern warnings to the churches of their lack of diligence and wisdom and will be outside Christ’s protection lest they “be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As far as those who contend for the true faith, and I trust you know who you are: be ever diligent in keeping centered to the proper expression of our faith. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, speak out against false teachers, willing to go to the grave for the integrity of the Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But I urge you, do not become embittered and resentful for the state of the Church and of those who tarnish the Name of God (for honestly, who can overstep the Sovereign and thwart His intentions with their wickedness?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Above all else, clothe yourselves in love, finding the balance of speaking truth and loving enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am finding it easiest to bear with great patience these vessels of wrath (Romans 9:22) by taking the yoke Jesus offers; Love God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Share with the world how much you treasure His infinite worth, for He is, apart from what He has done for us, greatly majestic and perfect in glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What benefit we have (salvation to those who believe) is icing on the cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we love Him with our whole being, we will be good stewards of the faith allotted to us, and the world will see Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This will also prevent us from thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3), where we recall from how deep Christ is pulling us up from our depravity in light of His benevolence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is a heaviness in the air, Beloved, and I pray earnestly that Christ return soon to take those who are prepared (Matt 25:1-13). Are you prepared?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Are you watchful for the return of our Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I finish writing this letter during Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets, the Coronation of the Messiah, when He likely will return (for He fulfilled so many of the Jewish Feasts on His first coming on their actual observances).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course, I speculate and have no way of knowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But again I beg you: prepare yourselves by turning to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Repent and believe the gospel since His Kingdom has come and will be fully realized when He returns in glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I fear those who are not ready for His return may be left to endure the tribulation, without the aid of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pray and ask God to spare you this ordeal by showing you mercy and grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so I end with the Word from the apostle Peter:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:27.0pt;margin-bottom: 16.0pt;margin-left:27.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops: 31.5pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(2 Peter 3:4-18)</p> <!--EndFragment-->Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-84432529407597638242009-08-26T20:32:00.000-07:002009-08-26T20:45:33.370-07:00Fear as Motivator for Selfless Devotion to God<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; "><div class="UIStoryAttachment" ft="{"type":"attach"}" style="margin-top: 6px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_BlockQuote" style="border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 8px; "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Caption" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); padding-top: 3px; "><a href="http://wicketgateprojects.blogspot.com/2009/06/from-wall-fire-nate-pfeil.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://wicketgateprojects.blogspot.com/2009/06/from-wall-fire-nate-pfeil.html</span></a></div></div></div></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="UIIntentionalStory_Names" ft="{"type":"name"}" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><div id="id_4a95fde83be0d1e52231800" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I watched the video and read the comments in response and came up with this conclusion: You are a FOOL. Period. WE ALL are more depraved than we know. But what I was actually going to say is that you are a fool if you do not test Nate Pfeil's message in Scripture</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, regardless of what side you take. He quotes Scripture throughout - and everything he says is based on Scripture... Read the Book! Research where in the Word he gets his position from. If you think you have a contrary position to what he said, find what Scripture you base it on... and here's the KEY: view your rebuttal Scripture through the lens of whether it reveals the Sovereign Glory of God and not what sits well with your heart (your heart is full of deceit - Jer 17:9). We have this AMAZING book to be our teacher of truth. DO NOT TRUST what notions you feel about God to be Gospel truth but what is in the Word. Do not be one who hardens his or her heart to the GRACE assured in the video just because you feel offended and think his...method unloving, throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Jesus was not "loving" in the sense He was to the poor in spirit when He railed on the religious Pharisees... Jesus was ruthlessly hard on them. Yet many condemn Nate's approach as not reflective of Christ's ways... My heart is heavy first because I do all I and Nate speak against here </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">too and need to repent; but also for the games we play in trying to prove how right or wrong the professed Word of God is from one another when it clearly magnifies the Lord and not man, the essential measure rod we all should apply... I fear you don't find messages like Nate's pleasing because it is the stench of death to you (2 Cor 2:15-16). I find it most pleasing because He represents the God I see in His Word, one obsessed with His Glory (for good reason) more than the well-being of a perverse people. I'm tired of it being about us. He is so much more exciting than anything I can offer.</span></span></span></div></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then my friend commented and asked: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This fellow and Washer have caused me to wonder if fear of damnation is enough to motive a person to truly follow God. How can a desire to preserve your soul from pain turn into the selfless devotion to God that is at the heart of Christianity?</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />I also disagree with your comment about God being obsessed with his glory. Philippians 2 seems to </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">suggest that God glorified Christ because of his humility and concern for "the well-being of a perverse people." Obviously, we are meant to learn that concern for our own well-being is ungodly but God's glory seems to be enhanced by the fact that he is willing to give it up for us.</span></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "></span>Then I responded:</span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If a 16-yr-old just got her license to drive and her dad, at a party, hands her the keys to a brand new Bugatti Veyron, who will get the glory? Her or the dad? Who did the more impressive act? I use this as illustrastion because the HUMBLE act of making propitiation for an utterly undeserving people, and the cost of the act (the full wrath of </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God being poured out on His perfect, sinless Son) point to how great He is; the method is just that, not purpose. </span></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That's just the human argument. Look at Scripture: Romans 3:21-26 "to demonstrate His righteousness"; 9:22-23, Psalm 50:15-23, Isa 48:9-11. Is God's glory an after-thought to His loving "giv[ing up] for us"? </span></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As far as fear by enough to motivate "a person to truly follow God," consider this: God's ultimate purpose in creating and restoring Creation is to make His internal glories (at the time) external, specifically on the cross - research (supra)lapsarianism (sp?). If God made us with the intent for His Glories to be known, and He uses fear to motivate us to get into the Book to find out who He truly is, what harm has occurred, and who is the clay to tell the Potter what is just and right (Romans 9, see end of Job too)? This answers your question: the fear of damnation leads to the desire to preserve your soul, which in turn makes you go to the Book to find </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">out how to truly follow God; the Book teaches you who God is (when you, with contrite spirit take off the man-centered glassed that have distorted the Word before) and when you truly know Him, you know His worth and you naturally devote yourself to Him selflessly, for He is worth it!</span></span></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Add Isaiah 53:10 to prove God is obsessed with His glory. Why else would the Father be PLEASED to CRUSH HIM [Jesus], His only begotten Son?! The display on the cross was intentional; it displays the glory of God more than anything! If you don't see that you are blind, and in danger of falling in the ditch of man-pleasing... God reveal this to your sheep!</span></span></span></div></span>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-53036190789397189822009-08-21T21:09:00.000-07:002009-08-22T00:32:08.749-07:00The Man-Pleasing GospelIs it possible that, in our drive to share our Christian faith with the world, by thinking critically through our message, taking into consideration posture and presentation, we have only adjusted and adapted the message as to lose its original content?<div><br /></div><div>Are we not more concerned with pleasing Man (humanity) than God when we compromise the gospel to make it more attractive to the masses?</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consider how infrequently we take into consideration these Scripture truths concerning Kingdom exclusivity and difficulty:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Matthew 7:13-14:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, <b>and there are many who enter through it.</b> For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, <b>and there are few who find it.</b>"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><p>Matthew 7:21-23:</p><p>"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'"</p><p>Matthew 10:32-39:</p><p></p><p>Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. . <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life </span>for My sake <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">will find it.</span></span></p><p></p><div>Matthew 13:10-16:</div><div><br /></div><div>And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; <b>because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.</b> In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,<p> 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; <b>FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'</b></p><p>But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.</p><p>Matthew 13:47-50</p><p>"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, <b>but the bad they threw away.</b> So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and <b>take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."</b></p><p>Matthew 15:7-14</p><p></p><p> "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:<br /> '<b>THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,<br /> BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.<br /> 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,<br /> TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"</b></p><p>After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?" But He answered and said, "<b>Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."</b></p><div>Matthew 16:24-28:</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. <b>For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?</b> Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 6px;"> </span></span>Son of Man coming in His kingdom."</div><div><br /></div><div>Matthew 19:16-26:</div><div><br /></div><div>And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing <b>shall I do </b>that I <b>may obtain eternal life</b>?" And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is <b>only One who is good</b>; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" Jesus said to him, "<b>If you wish to be complete</b>, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and <b>come, follow Me</b>." But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, <b>it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God</b>." When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "<b>Then who can be saved</b>?" And looking at them Jesus said to them, "<b>With people this is impossible</b>, but <b>with God all things are possible</b>."<div><br /></div><div>The <i>overwhelming </i>sense I get is that passages like this are ignored because they are too difficult to assimilate with the false gospel that has morphed and/or sifted into the sub-conscience of Christendom. Somehow (probably Satan speaking through his mouthpieces, the false teachers (Matt 16:23, 2 Timothy 4:3), at some time, we were fed the lie that in order to be effective for the Kingdom of God, we have to persuade all people into thinking God and His ways are beneficial to the pursued. </div><div><br /></div><div>When that [pragmatic, beneficial character of God being able to meet the selfish perceived wants/needs as an acceptable presentation of the gospel] is our preconception, our end becomes to manipulate the minds of men by distorting the image of God to fit the perceived attractiveness of God to the manipulated/deceived. This is making God something He is not. It makes Him small and controllable. Rather, it simply becomes an idol, and all who associate with it become idol worshippers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our end should be not to compromise the presentation of God to make Christianity inclusive and alluring, but to magnify the Lord, proclaiming His [Christ Jesus'] worth and glory. The Sheep ("brothers of Mine") will then be fed and the Church will not continue to gather more and more goats into its flock (Matt 25:31-46). The Sheep will be fed because the Church will finally be doing as it is meant to, and the worth of our inheritance - our hope and strength - which is Jesus (because He is Lord and worthy to judge the living and the dead - to reign over creation because He is infinitely great) will be realized and will empower the saints to boldness. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Man-pleasing gospel and the "Church" which presents it needs to be exposed by the Light. Repent all who are <i>tickled</i> by such notions of the Faith, that God may graciously have mercy on the humble (Isaiah 30:9-18). When they don't, true saints, stand firm and unashamedly on the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16) - not this man-pleasing rubbish - and proclaim it on the rooftops till you are silenced by death from persecutors or Christ comes in Glory once more, and all will be on bended knee (Philippians 2:10). </div></div><p></p></div></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12635610.post-4864428829374033172009-08-04T13:12:00.000-07:002009-08-04T13:33:03.982-07:00Final Thoughts on PersecutionIt's been a while since I wrote on this. Any who read it probably got the sense that I was being quite intense. That's accurate. I was also being reactionary. I get the overwhelming sense that the Christian milieu these days think we are at a time of rest. I hate this notion. I believe we are in the end times, and it started when Jesus came to earth. End times are not for resting. Rest is connected with apathy, and we as the Church cannot afford to be complacent when we have the greatest news we will ever hear and we aren't sharing it with everyone. All because we think it's a resting season. <div><br /></div><div>I believe in seasons. I will even concede that there is a season of rest, and a season for persecution. I am not getting stones thrown at me currently, or fired for my faith, so it's probably safe to say I, personally, am in a season of rest (from persecution). </div><div><br /></div><div>We are never to rest from proclaiming the worth of God. There is no greater purpose for a Christian. And it will be for that reason that persecution will be, or at least should be, visible in the church throughout these end times. Collectively, we all will not experience persecution or tolerance together. We experience our own seasons as we live out our own faith and because we are not all on the same page, waging battle against the same evil power at the same time, some will find the faith journey as gruesome one moment, and rewarding and victorious the next. </div><div><br /></div><div>My roommate also mentioned the issue of the Tribulation, where everything is turned up 50 degrees in intensity. I think it goes without saying, because political and economical powers of oppression will be inescapable that persecution will be rampant and unavoidable (unless you recant or compromise the true faith). I'm just saying we should not fear persecution, or think it is optional, or that the integrity of our witness, as adamantly compelled to proclaim Christ as worthy of all glory and praise, is open to debate and dilution. </div><div><br /></div><div>A diluted faith will not bring about persecution for it does not offend. Do not be afraid of fighting the good fight, or running the race well. The reward is Christ. He is our prize and there is none greater, especially not any rest we might experience if we compromise. </div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966307711738180176noreply@blogger.com0