Salvation: Deliverance from what??

Over the years, many have come to Christ thinking of deliverance or salvation as primarily escape from hell. Or perhaps more prominent today, salvation is deliverance from my difficult circumstances I'm currently trudging through--sort of God's way of helping me to get my life back in order. But, Christ and the New Testament writers seem to speak of the need of salvation from something far closer to home than a location in a future life or a challenging time in life. Deliverance that is granted in salvation is deliverance from the self that's infected with sin. Ephesians 2 speaks to this, as does Colossians 1. Biblically speaking, salvation is primarily about deliverance from SIN...from the old self, the dominion of evil lurking within. It is the sin within that has created the false-self and has left me estranged from my Creator. The gospel offers deliverance of the false-self enmeshed in sin. But, such a deliverance only comes to those who surrender that old self to God. And, this releasing is a death blow to be sure. Baptism is a visible sign of that blow. My emergence into the water is the burying of that false self that had to die. "If anyone wants to save his life", says Jesus "he must lose it". Many people, I find, have a difficult time seeing that sin is actually the big WHAT that we need deliverance from. Our security, satisfaction and significance holds so tightly to that false-self (the sin within) that so often we can't see that it is precisely what we need deliverance from. Surely Christ delivers us from bad situations, bad places, bad people and bad hands we've been dealt in life. . .we think this way, yet overlook the worse thing pulsing in our lives. The sin within. G.K. Chesterton the great British journalist was once asked to respond to an editorial that posed the question "What's most wrong with the world today?" Chesterton's response was simple, yet profoundly true. He wrote: "Dear Sir: Regarding your article 'What's Wrong with the World?', "I am". Yours truly, G.K. Chesterton We need deliverance from the sin within. . .daily. And, so repentance is coming to the place where we have become convinced that "I am" most what's wrong with the world. Repentance is thus the cry of a heart that needs deliverance from nothing other than one's own self. And, in a very tangible way, repentance is a bidding to die to our old self. And, lo and behold, we find that in such a death, we turn towards a God who exchanged his own life for ours. Paradoxically, as we lay down our life, we come face to face with the One who has already exchanged His life for ours. And, lo and behold, we have been delivered. In dying to the false-self, we are granted a new-self that is being renewed in the image of our Creator.

If I Stand. . .

This song has given me great joy and hope over the years. I recently listened to this and it was the perfect prayer for a close friend who is in lots of pain. Whether bursts of joy or the devastation of pain, we have a God who is deeper yet. Who is in all things and who makes all things new.

enjoy. . .

The Heidelberg Catechism

This is a beautiful reminder of the basis of all life and reality for the person who calls himself a Christ follower. It's the first question from the Heidelberg Catechism which simply reads as follows:

What is your only comfort in life and death? "That I, with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, wherefore by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him".

My Child's Soul

Friend and fellow pastor, Jeremy Mavis, recently blogged about our children's spiritual development and the cultural mandate to "outsource" our kids to specialists in every conceivable area under the sun (athletics, academics, the arts, and yes even religion). Here he wonders about the impact of outsourcing the primary role given to parents by God. . .the spiritual formation of their children. In this excerpt, He quotes from another pastor,David Wakerly, who muses over the same thing.

Here's the link: http://jeremymavis.com/2011/03/28/outsourcing-our-childrens-spiritual-development/

Outsourcing Our Children’s Spiritual Development?

Yesterday in church, Matt Jones shared about his role as a parent in the lives of his children. Specifically, Matt was alluding to his job (along with his wife, Cara) as the chief source of spiritual development for his children. While he appreciates the role of the church (particularly its programs), he does not “outsource” his primary role to the church. In other words, he doesn’t leave how his kids are going to turn out spiritually up to the church Sunday School program and mid-week gathering time. Matt said these church programs are great collaborative efforts to subsidize (not replace) what he and Cara are doing as parents with their kids.

Kudos to Matt and Cara Jones for starting this conversation in our church community. I really appreciate it.

I came across a blog post the other day that went right along with what Matt talked about:

"I have outsourced my child’s swimming development.

You see, I’m just not an expert on the subject. I haven’t studied swim theory and I am completely unfamiliar with what it takes to learn how to become a swimmer even to the most basic of levels… which I would assume is ‘not drowning’.

So – I am comfortable with giving away control of my child’s swimming ability to a professional. In fact it seems to be working; my firstborn no longer screams when he observes large bodies of water and is slowly heading towards the aforementioned ‘not drowning’ level of swimming ability.

As parents and rightly so, we want to open up our children’s worlds as wide as possible and allow them to experience life to the full. My children will study science at school but may not become scientists; maths, but may not become mathematicians. So I am comfortable allowing many of these skills to be developed by teachers far more capable than me (especially maths ☺).

At this point in his short life, it is highly unlikely that child No.1 will become a professional swimming athlete. His parents simply don’t have it in them to generate the kind of passion for swimming that he would need to succeed in that arena. But on the off-chance that he develops a passion for and wants to pursue a career in professional sports then I’m confident my attitude will completely change and I’ll become far more involved in the training and discipline that it will take to pursue that dream.

Far above any academic or physical achievement that my children can attain is my desire for them to have an Olympic-sized faith. I desire to have kids who can stand up to the culture of this present age and live in such a way that they demand the attention of the world. I want my children to have the kind of faith that moves mountains and stands strong against any trial or tribulation that they will face; to grow up in a way that identifies them as a living, breathing ambassador of Christ on earth.

As parents, we tend to take quite a structured view of the education of our children. Emphasis is placed on testing and exams because we are led to believe that these processes indicate or lead to success. Here in Australia this culminates with the HSC (Higher School Certificate) in the last year of High School; the mental and psychological equivalent of David facing Goliath for many kids.

So where is the structure for my son’s spiritual development? Where is the passion to see my boy become an expert in his field, a champion in his arena?

This will take more than a ‘one hour a week’ soccer practice. I need to commit fully to this process because although not every child will become an athletic champion, every child can become a spiritual champion.

We may never get up at 5:30am to take our children to swimming practice in the local pool, but what is the equivalent for your child’s spiritual journey? Let that question drive you to your knees in prayer to seek God and ask His help to engage the hearts and minds of your children as you train them in the way that they should go.

Every child is different and every child’s spiritual journey requires us to listen to the Holy Spirit closely as we strive to raise children who love God and love people.

At Hillsong church most of our families do not attend every week, in fact on average they attend once a month. Can you think of any other area in life where 25% was good enough for success? They are missing out on 75% of the training and teaching that we as a church work hard to give the children we have been entrusted with.

Don’t think for one minute I am being religious about this – I am not suggesting attendance to keep up appearances. The reality is that your child will be at Church a maximum of 70 hours this year (if you attend each week), but they will attend school for maybe 1,500 hours and STILL apparently need homework to complete their learning.

Attending church every week will not guarantee your child grows up to be a spiritual champion, but it’s a pretty good start. Deuteronomy 6 places the primary spiritual responsibility for your children on you as a parent. But we as the church occupy a unique position in the life of your family – one that cannot be replaced with clubs and teams. This is the house of God, a gathering of the saints together and an absolute essential in the lifestyle of a Christian family.

So be careful not to prioritise the preparation of your children for a future that may never eventuate. Instead, give your life to establish a legacy for your children and your children’s children.

You cannot outsource your child’s spiritual development".

-David Wakerley

Shallow Small Group

Ever had a day when you just felt like throwing in the towel?

This one made me laugh.

Gospel Growth

I've been doing training once a month for all our group leaders. We have been talking a lot about "gospel growth". This idea of gospel growth was inspired by a workshop I recently attended called "The Trellis and Vine Workshop" by Mattias Media. Great stuff.

The Scriptures are clear that God has called us to gospel growth. Colossians 1 talks about the gospel that is ever growing inside us "since the day we received it". Paul is saying here that the gospel has a life of its own. Of course, that "life" is the very life of Jesus imparted to us through the Holy Spirit. If the goal of a congregation is gospel growth, a great question to ask is "what conditions promote gospel growth in a church and in an individual life?"

We have been focusing on the "3P's" that promote gospel growth:

1. Proclamation of the Gospel-As we proclaim the gospel with the help of the Spirit the Scriptures say that it is received or rejected by men. When received, that gospel is the power of God germinating inside a heart, and it begins to grows, grow, grow. Are we proclaiming the full truth of gospel in clear and compelling ways?

2. Personal Relationships-God's main "method" grow the gospel is person to person. Like a highly contagious virus, the gospel is transmitted through intimacy and close proximity. Programs, processes, and presentations are all good...but God's main means of growing the gospel in another is YOU! Are we building personal relationships with those whom God leads into our lives?

3. Prayer- Prayer grows the gospel in others. Look at Ephesians or Colossians...Paul is constantly bathing those congregations in prayer in his epistles. He prays for their eyes, their hearts, their ears, their lives to all be showered by God's power and love so that the gospel permeates their lives. We must pray that the kingdom of God advances in the lives of people! Are we daily in prayer for those personal relationships that God has placed in our lives?

Are you and your church gospel centered?

This is a great little interview of Jeff Vanderstelt on the centrality of the gospel. A gospel-centered life is goes well beyond "getting saved". And, a gospel-centered church is much more than church with gospel preaching. Because the gospel is the power of God, it cannot be reduced into bite size peices within our lives or the life of the church. The gospel is multi-faceted and an ever expanding and growing reality within the life of a believer and the life of a church. I encourage you to keep a pen and paper handy and jot down some notes. Then, beased on your notes, assess yourself. Are you and your congregation truly gospel centered?

Justin Anderson & Jeff Vanderstelt talk Gospel Centrality from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

Glorying in the Cross

The word salvation in the life of the Christian loses its luster after time. We talk about being saved in a very objective, rational sort of way. Yet, anyone saved from death would never simply discuss their deliverance in a merely factual way.

Take note of your thoughts, attitudes and words pertaining to the gospel. Does the cross still grip you? Does it stun or amaze you? Perhaps the right questions for maturing believers is not "have I been saved?", but rather am I today stunned, amazed and overwhelmed by Jesus' work on the cross? I would argue that if we are not deeply affected by glorying in what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, then our salvation is becoming way too much a past event instead of a present reality.

I don't know about you, but I need the gospel daily. And, yes, God did "save" me in the past. But, I also need deliverance each day. And, He delivers by distributing his grace freely to my area of need. The freshness of experiencing the gospel daily has been helping me stay routinely overwhelmed by the cross.

Are you currently stunned, amazed and overwhlemed by what your Lord did for you? Does your obedience to Christ arise out of sheer obligation to do the "Christian" thing, or in loving response to the grace offered you in Christ?

How do we keep our faith fresh and amazing? Never, ever cease meditating upon or glorying in the cross of Christ.

Eyes to see

Josh Bell, the world renown violinist was asked to participate in an experiment with the Washington Post which asked the question, "In an ordinary setting, at an inappropriate hour, would people notice beauty?" The answer should not shock us. The worlds greatest violinist played some of the most intricate and beautiful pieces of music ever composed for almost an hour in a busy subway station in Washington DC on an ordinary Friday morning (disguised in a pair of blue jeans and baseball hat) and went virtually unnoticed.

The result of the Posts experiment (people do not see beauty when its staring them in the face) should not surprise us. The Scriptures say that our sin nature eclipses our ability to see beauty, grace, truth, God. The most shocking social experiment revealing this simple fact was the incarnation. The apostle John sadly reports "He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, and his own received him not."

As I watch this incriminating video, it drives home the realization that God Himself walked this earth full of grace and truth (John 1:14), but because he had no worldly beauty or majesty attached to him, we despised him and esteemed not. The eyes that were fashioned to gaze upon and bring glory to their Creator, ignored their Creator. How sad.

Are we any less blind today? Do you have eyes and still fail to see? Are you like those in the Metro Station who scurry past beauty and grace, when it comes incognito, or are you like one of those who stopped, recognized and received? Not many noticed Jesus. Most ignored, but some were compelled to stop in their tracks. Disciples are those called by God to stop, recognize and receive Him.

Not many see. "But, to all who receive Him. . .He grants the rights to become children of God" (John 1:12).

Enjoy.

A Christmas Meditation

Psychologist Urie Brofenbenner defines a family as "a group of persons who possess and implement an irrational commitment to each other's well-being." An interesting way of defining family. . .an irrational commitment to the well being of one another. This odd, yet perceptive definition explains perfectly what family is all about.

Today it's snowing and the roads are less than optimal, but tonight Ann, the kids and I will be packing up and driving 1200 miles eastward to visit my family in Delaware. Irrational? Some might think so. And, after 26 potty breaks, 150 oz. of caffeinated substances and 14,000's "are we there yet" echoing from the back of the mini-van, the trip begins to feel more and more irrational by the minute. But, the moment we embrace our loved ones and reunite, all else is forgotten. Why? Because it's family. Have you ever considered how irrational family love actually is? Reminds me of that old song "The things we do for Love". Love for our family moves us to do some insane things for the well-being of one another. And, to those who are outside our families, the things that we do for love can easily be construed as weird, weak, foolish, and insane.

Musing over family commitment reminds me of God's own commitment to His family. You and I have an irrational commitment to our own families. Yet, in the incarnation we see a whole new level irrationality to the well-being of family that verges on absurdity. In Christ, God did something completely senseless; he entered human history by becoming our elder brother. And, he became a brother like no other brother we will ever know. This brother's love went so deep that he was pleased to "be wounded for our transgression and crushed for our iniquities". Punishment for sin was directed towards the whole human family, no exceptions. And, just when we thought there was no hope for humanity, this elder brother stepped into the story in Jesus Christ and took the bullet, if you will, for his family. The family he came to save, ironically, nailed Him to a cross. And, the Scripture says that "He who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Our elder brother died our death so that we might live.

I suppose we're all irrationally committed to the well-being of our loved ones. But, no one....I mean, NO ONE has shown more a more irrational commitment to His family than Jesus Christ. From the cradle to the cross Jesus' love for his brothers and sisters was absurd. His grace defied human explanation. His love is so irrational that those outside the family, cannot make sense of it. They see Christ's work as weak or foolish (I Corinthians 1). Of course to those of us in the family, the gospel is the power of God. It's everything!

Christmas always brings families together. It's a time when we are often expressing an irrational commitment to our own families. And that can be challenging, frustrating and even painful. This Christmas as you mesh your lives with your family, let's remember the member of our collective family whose insane love won everything for you and I. As, we become grateful of such love, may we go and model that same love to our friends and families.

God Bless you and Merry Christmas!

In favor of small-ness

Most of us cringe over the idea of “Big Government”. We recognize that the bigger the organization, the more impersonal it becomes. Is not the same true of a church?
Do you actually believe that people who do not know the particulars of your personal life can honestly help you when you are facing a big life challenge? If so, think again.

When my wife’s mom was dying with cancer, our small group was amazing. They knew the right questions to ask, the right meals to prepare, they knew how to pray for us. They know how to love us. They could tell when Ann or I were having a bad day. They offered their presence with helping hands, open ears, tearful eyes and traveling feet. . .feet that trod all the way down to Minneapolis to comfort Ann, both before and after her mom’s death. Our small group was the Body of Christ ministering to us in day to day particulars of our lives!

During this time, the church at large offered a significant thing too. They offered their condolences and sent beautiful sympathy cards. They offered help from a distance. And, for this I am eternally grateful. But, the reality is that the church at large could never begin to know, understand or share the particulars of our personal crisis. And, the reality is that without a small group, all aspects of the personal and particular would have gone largely unmet. But, thanks to our small group, the Body of Christ at Hayward Wesleyan Church was able to find its way deeply into the specific needs of personal loss.

Big governments and big churches do some things extremely well. But, the personal and particular issues pertaining to everyday life can only be adequately met through small-ness. There’s no other way. In relational matters, smaller is always better.

Instead of fussing over big-government or mega-churches, be proactive and embrace small-ness within those larger contexts. Immerse yourself in a community and begin making a difference.

Common Grace

Common Grace. The word itself sounds like an oxymoron. After all, is there anything common about grace? But, what is meant by common grace is a kind of grace that is common to us all humanity. Within the fabric of this universe grace is intricately woven. It's available and ready to all irregardless of age, sex, color or religion. All that is required is the eyes to see it.

It's purpose? Well, one purpose, I believe, is to illicit a response of grateful praise. When we see grace it moves us. It melts us.

Common Grace comes in all shapes and sizes in this universe. It's in warm smiles. Brown-eyed Susan's. Sunrises on the Atlantic. The pattering of rain on the earth. It's felt in human touch. It's heard in the cry of a newborn. It's found in the eyes of the elderly. It's so present beside a friend in a time of crisis. It appears in the colors of fall, the first shoots of spring, the crisp purity of a winter morning or a summer swim.

And, the list goes on.

Built into the DNA of this world is grace. Life is tough. It's broken, fractured, splintered, dysfunctional and dying on one level. Yet, on another deeper level this world is poetic as any Shakespearean sonnet. It's full of rhythm and meter and order and beauty. And, at times we catch a glimpse of this fiber grafted deeply into this world and the only word that surfaces. . . is grace. A Gerald Manly Hopkins aptly put it, "this world is full of the grandeur of God."

And, so it is. And, on days when the surface of my life is mired in sin. . .be it dealing with others sin, or all too frequently lying in my own quagmire of depravity, I know that deeper still is grace. Common grace. Of course, such grace cannot forgive my sins or the sin of this world. But it does point me back to the One who can.

Today we sang a beautiful song in church entitled "For the Beauty of the Earth". A song teeming with images of common grace. Embrace this song and read the words closely.

For the Beauty of the Earth
by Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1864

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour,
Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight;
For the mystic harmony,
Linking sense to sound and sight;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on Earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy church that evermore,
Lifteth holy hands above;
Off'ring up on ev'ry shore,
Her pure sacrifice of love;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the martyrsÕ crown of light,
For Thy prophetsÕ eagle eye,
For Thy bold confessorsÕ might,
For the lips of infancy.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy virginsÕ robes of snow,
For Thy maiden mother mild,
For Thyself, with hearts aglow,
Jesu, Victim undefiled.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thyself, best Gift Divine,
To the world so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heaven.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

Friendship. . .an end to itself. . .

Maybe I'm weird. . .I dunno. But, I received this little promotional pamphlet in the mail called "Friend-o-nomics" subtitled "How Friendliness Can Make Your Church Grow" and am staring at it dumbfounded and in disbelief. It is a pamphlet written by a huge Christian publisher for Christians.

The booklet's premise is simple: "The bottom line is you can grow your church by being friendlier (pg. 3)". As I peruse the booklet I see a writer who does not see friendship as a gift of God that is an end unto itself. Rather, friendship is a means to an end....something that is useful to the business of "growing YOUR church".

Again, am I weird or do the underpinings of such a philosophy demean the great command to "love your neighbors as yourself". The goal of this little pamphlet reveals the secret techniques to love (befriend) your neighbor, in order to get something from your neighbor (their church attendence).

Hmmmm.....brings up a few questions in my mind. First, is loving another as a means to an end acceptable so long as the end is a good one (growing your church)? Love them for the purpose of getting them to come to YOUR church? Although, splattered with good intentions, the problem with this is that friendliness, in the end, is conditional, and that is simply not Biblical because we are called to offer unconditional love.

It is necessary for us to think about our underlying motives that drive our love. For Jesus, the underlying motives of his heart were always sourced in the world of His Father. Smiling, physical touch, eye contact and practicing presence (all methods of friendliness in the booklet) were not strategies for achieving some hidden goal of numeric success! For goodness sakes, how ridiculous! No, these attributes emerged out of a heart that was full of the Father's pleasure. Loving others is its own end.

You see the common graces of life, like smiling, cannot be reduced to a scientific mechanism to increase Sunday morning attendance. No, smiling is the the natural result of a heart whose heart is filled with joy and desires to connect with another human heart. In the same vein, there should be no other motive for eye contact other than the joy and grace of locking eyes with one who is made in the image of God. Christians should never reduce such sacred pleasures to mechanistic practices to get what we want.

Of course, the ramifications of conditional friendliness are obvious. What happens if I befriend you and you refuse to come to my church? Or, if spend time with you and get to know you and you choose to another church? The booklet doesn't say, but the implications are obvious: move one to someone else.

I remember having a co-worker in college who had a second job selling Amway. Let's call him John. I used to get a kick out of watching "real-John" transform himself into "Amway-John" at a moments notice. He would spot his unsuspecting victim, shine those pearly whites, compliment often and engage his entire being in the conversation. And, just when he experienced true engagement with the other, he'd launch into the latest products and talk pyramid schemes. His approach was flawless, yet his friendliness was insincere. Why? Anyone with half a brain knows why. . .his friendliness was sourced in sales, not sincerity. God forbid our friendliness as Christians are motivated by securing seats instead of simply loving the other! Perhaps someone will argue that duping someone into Church attendence is better that duping them into a pyramid scheme. Well, I'd argue that its fundamentally worse.

As believers God changes our hearts. He reorients our entire lives. Because of Jesus everything we thought and believed has been radically transformed and remade. And, one of the quintessential things that change is our motives for loving others. Paul says, "We regard no one from a wordly point of view any longer" (2 Corinthians 5:16). It's normal for wordly people to use friendliness and love for ulterior motives. The world loves to get something. But, far be it for Christians to do such an unspeakable thing! The apostle John drives this principle home by pointing out that our reason for loving has radically been altered. He writes, "we love because He first loved us." The motive for loving friendship in the kingdom? To be a loving friend. . .plain and simple. God loves because its in His nature to do so. We love because we have the divine nature inside of us. There is no hidden motive.

Please consider this point: If friendship with Jesus Christ is not enough to transform you into a friendly person , then you may fundamentally misunderstand Jesus Christ.

Church, let us not objectify friendliness into a science of well calculated smiles, gestures and proper introductions in order to fill pews, or get what we want out of others. No, let's not swim in the shallow end any longer. Love must be sincere.

Instead, let's sink our teeth into the One who befriended us when we were enemies to Him. Let's remember how he showed true friendship to us, not in carefully calculated smiles, but in carrying a cross in our place, embracing our burdens and taking blows on our behalf. Now, that's true friendship.

And, let's never forget that His motive for our friendship was not to get something from us (good greif, what do we even have to offer the living God?) No, his friendliness emerged out of the goodness of His character. God is love. He gave, not to get. He gave simply to give. And, it should always be true of us too.

When asked why we are different. . .why we are friendly. . .why we give above and beyond. . .why we sacrifice ourselves for the good of others, we need not point to some pragmatic method, a strategy for growth or a calculated science for "winning others over". No, the reply need be nothing more than one word: Jesus.

“The apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “be renewed in the spirit of your minds”. In my preparation for a spiritual formation class on the book of Ephesians, I was perplexed by Paul's statement. What does it mean to be renewed in the spirit of the mind? Didn't know that the mind had a spirit.

My studies led me to the conclusion that the spirit of the mind is that place in our minds that runs deeper than information processing. The spirit of the mind is that part of the mind that allows us to make sense of the world and our life. It is the place of our “worldview”. To explain this better, let me use the computer as a metaphor. In calling for the renewal in the spirit of the mind, Paul wants to encourage his readers to not just put a new program called “Gospel” onto an old operating system. Rather, he is urging the church to junk the old operating system. . .the old system of processing and making sense of information. . .and replace it with an entirely new operating system!

To many Christians today, the gospel has become one more program in an already overloaded and overwhelmed operating system. It takes its residence in the “religion” folder and might be held in higher esteem than other programs, but it is still just one more program. It’s easily added and installed with just a click of the mouse. . .and unfortunately, but all too true, often uninstalled with simply a click. The world looks on at this and wonders if there is a God why people’s lives are not radically transformed by the power of the gospel. And, the answer is simple. The gospel cannot run as merely a program.

You see, the gospel can’t be downloaded to our lives, for our personal use and enhancement. You can’t simply add the gospel to the old operating system. No the gospel is the power of God precisely because it actually is the new operating system of our lives. The gospel redefines reality and reframes all of life.

The prophet Isaiah cried out “I am undone” when the presence of God fell upon him. And, that’s what the gospel does. It un-does us. It undoes the old operating system and replaces it all at once.. Everything we thought and perceived about life and reality is no longer operable and compatible, and “all things have become new”. Not only does it render the old system inoperable, but it does a thorough scan on all the running programs of our lives and renders many of them incompatible with the new software. Those programs may not be deleted from our lives, but must be reinstalled and learn to run in an entirely different way. The gospel, praise God, erupts and disrupts our lives all at once. Everything about our old way of doing life is incompatible with the new life of God pulsing inside us. And, this is why Paul calls us to be renewed in the deepest recesses of our minds. . .the way we perceive all of life and reality must experience radical renewal in the way of Jesus. And, I give thanks to God that I am being renewed day by day in the spirit of my mind, to resemble more and more the image of my Creator”.


Of course, the words above are more than just a sample of my teaching. Some of these thoughts lie at the core of my heart regarding THE GREAT NEED TO REFRAME AND RESHAPE HOW WE PRESENT AND TRAIN PEOPLE IN THE GOSPEL IN OUR EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP TODAY. I am deeply convicted about this as I realize that many, many of my peers, both near and afar, have a fundamental misunderstanding of the implications of the gospel in their life. We need prayer and we need new ways of being as Christians that help to bring a sense of potent reality to the gospel today.

The Other Side of the Tracks

My brother-in-law Tim loves Jesus as much as anyone that I've ever met. His life is full of grace and ease even though he pastors a church in one of the roughest areas of Atlanta and deals with overwhelming obstacles on a daily basis. He always challenges me to take a deeper look at poverty and racial reconciliation from a Jesus standpoint.

Whenever I'm brave enough to open my eyes to peer in the direction of such injustices, I find Jesus in that place staring back at me. He mourns and suffers along with the oppressed. It discomforts me to see Jesus on the "other side" of the proverbial "tracks". I mean after all, I am a disciple which means that I'm supposed to be with Jesus, right? So, why am I not with Him? Why the chasm between he and I? Why don't I want to follow Him into the place of injustice and suffering and oppression? Why does Jesus cross the tracks, when I refuse to leave my place of comfort?

Many American Christians think discipleship is about bringing Jesus with you wherever you go. But, that's not the call of Jesus! His call is to follow Him wherever He goes. And when I read my Bible I'm finding that Jesus goes into some pitifully painful places.

So, this week He has cleared my vision enough to see that He is staring back at me as I look into the eyes of those from the other side of the tracks. Although it shatters my plans for where I want to take Jesus, maybe I'll cross over and see where Jesus might want to take me.

Attractional vs. Missional Church

This is a cool little video that highlights the paradigmic shifts taking place in American evangelicalism. It compares and contrasts the attractional way of doing church with a missional way of doing church. Many people wonder what is meant by this new buzz-word called "missional". Although the word is new, the idea is as old as the ministry of Jesus. Check it out.

Idols

Idol worship is not merely some phenomenon of the past. It's as real and potent today as in the ancient world. But instead of idols being erected on "every high hill and every spreading tree" as in the days of Jeremiah, today they are found everywhere. Idols are in our recreation, at our work, in our relationships, in our homes and in our politics. They stand erected everywhere the human heart gazes. Only that we might have the eyes to see that we are an idol-saturated culture..

When any "good thing becomes an ultimate thing”, says Tim Keller, "it becomes an idol". What a great working definition of idolatry.

When wood or stone was carved in the ancient world, and deified, it was still considered mere wood and stone to the true Creator God. So, if the idolatry is not in the object itself, wherein lies the problem. The problem of idolatry lies never in object of the affection (the wood or stone itself), but the human heart. Idols have less to do about what's erected in the city square and a lot more to do with what's erected in the internal chambers of the human will.

The moment a good thing become an ultimate thing, it becomes our idol. Our idol might be our job, a relationship, sex, money or extreme sports. All good things created good by God for our enjoyment. But, make the good gifts of God into ultimate gifts we cannot live without and you've just erected yourself an idol.

And,keeping up with our idols is stinking labor intensive. We run and pant, ever chasing and pleading for our idol to fill us (ever see an addict on a binge?). The lie that perpetuates the racing and panting is the erroneous belief that a good thing can offer ultimate things..."It will buy me security, It will bring me significance and It will make me satisfied" we tell ourselves. The truth is that they cannot. Idols offer everything and deliver nothing. They require more and more of us, even our soul, and all the while give us nothing. Yes, idol worship is toilsome work.

Interestingly enough, when we make a good thing our god, we lose not only the replace the real God, ironically are deprived of the ‘goodness’ of that which we idolize. That good thing that we bow to, in the end becomes despicable to us because we have forced it to fill a hole that God Himself only can fill.

C.S. Lewis puts it well. "The woman who makes a dog the centre of her life loses, in the end, not only her human usefulness and dignity but even the proper pleasure of dog-keeping. And, the man who makes alcohol his chief good loses not only his job but his palate and all power of enjoying the earlier (and only pleasurable) levels of intoxication". Whether your ultimate lover is your dog, your Jack Daniels, your buff body or your 401K, your fixation on secondary things over primary things will lead to the collapse of those things you adore.

C.S. Lewis goes on and says, "Every preference of a small good to a great, or a partial good to a total good, involves the loss of the small or partial good for which the sacrifice was made. Apparently the world is made that way. If Esau really got his pottage in return for his birthright, then Esau was a lucky exception. You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first."

Hearken, all you idol worshippers! What you worship, will not only NOT give you what you want. . .but will leave you despising and detesting your object of worship.

So, what good thing have you been subtely making into an ultimate thing?

Bonhoeffer

I want to take a moment to plug a new book a couple friends of mine have been reading and proclaiming "excellent". It's a new biography of German disciple and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer's writings have always landed near my own heart. Bonhoeffer's greatest legacy is not his writings, but his own life. His life was a gift to the Body of Christ. And, his life continues to challenge and encourage Christians swimming in a sea of spiritual mediocrity. I encourage you to pick up this book.

It would be a missed opportunity not to pepper you with a Bonhoeffer quote at this juncture. Here's some of his thoughts on grace that we find in his classic book The Cost of Discipleship:

"Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. . .Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God".

What Lurks Beneath

Growing up I was especially fond of playful days on the Atlantic reveling in the waves, enjoying fun in the sun and waiting for the next set of waves to surf in. As I look back, I’m mindful of how naïve I was to the hidden dangers that lurked beneath my feet. The ocean is a powerful force to contend with. Even a calm day on the surface can be misleading to one of the most powerful forces of the ocean: the undertow. The pulse of the tide is one of the most underestimated forces of nature. In fact the undertow claims more lives each year than the jaws of the infamous Great White shark. Unlike Jaws, the ocean’s way is not to devour a victim in one bite, but rather draw the victim out to sea by pulling him away from safety and eventually into the clutches of the deep.

The effectiveness of the undertow lies in its subtleties. A surfer is so preoccupied by the enjoyment of the ocean(cool water, monster waves, and great rides) that she becomes unaware of that forces that lurk beneath the surface. . . . until it’s too late. The ocean claims another unassuming victim.

As I ponder the subtle dangers of the ocean, I’m reminded of sin. It too involves a subtle, yet sinister pull. . .it has a pulse, a life of its own, that little by little pull us from safety and then beneath the surface. Of course, above sea level, the pleasure of sin is as appealing as a great day at the beach. It’s glossy surface and cool waters look inviting, even refreshing. And, so we bask in its pleasure and feel satisfied.

Yet, all the while, there is another side of sin that lurks beneath, unseen to the human eye. Like a deadly undertow, it is an ever present pulse that lures us away from safety into a place where we are in way over our heads. And, we find ourselves treading rough waters alone and in a panic.

Let’s be honest. There is force to sin that no man is his own power can contend with. Evil has the power to sink ships and erode continents. So, what makes us doggie-paddlers think we can out swim its waters without being devoured?

Beneath the cresting waves, dancing gulls and a pleasant sunsets of our lives is a dark, mysterious pulsing tide loose in the world. That force exists to pull you and I away from our Creator. It wants to get you in its grip and pull you far out of reach of safety and security.

Perhaps you know that in some particular area of your life that you are over your head. You are treading in tumultuous waters…and you can feel its subtle undertow bringing you to a place you have not been before.

You may be thinking, “I think I can make it”. “I haven’t drowned yet”. And, perhaps you can swim against the tide of sin for a season. But, it is no long term solution. In the battle against the restless pulse of sin, the Scripture is clear. “If any man thinks he stands, may he take heed lest he fall". And, you will fall. . .into the bottom of a dark, lifeless place. If you are in over your head right now, do yourself a favor and cry out. . .admit you are drowning. Perhaps someone on shore will hear you.

Fortunately, the Scripture teaches that we have been graced by a great lifeguard who is constantly scanning the shoreline looking for the wayward, the loss and the drowning. He knows where we are and understands the force that lurks beneath our toes. In fact, He has swam this shoreline and conquered the tide of sin. Fortunately for us, He specializes in rescue missions.

Those that look to Him and cry for help, though they are drowning, will be saved.

No More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps

A blog site wouldn't be complete without its own home-grown book critic. And, I can't think of a more trust-worthy critic than my good friend Jessica Heyworth. Jessica is always chewing on good thoughts and usually found with some book in her hands. If its not curriculum for one of her four home-schooled kids, she's reading something on becoming a more devout follower of Christ, a more faithful wife or enduring mother. I trust her instincts and always enjoy hearing what her mind has been musing on. So, this month (yes, Jessica I expect monthly reports :)) Jessica is reviewing a book called "Nor More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps". Ouch...the title already sounds convicting to me. Actually, its more geared towards parents and the ways we raise our children. Enjoy Jess' review. . .especially all you parents out there with young children. I know I'm gonna pick up a copy of this book!




No More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps
By Paul Coughlin

A review: By Jessica Heyworth


No More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps is a thought provoking book of practical advice, pointing out helpful guidelines on how to raise courageous, assertive children. At the same time, this book points out the dangers and pitfalls of over-protecting parenting. If you are interested in raising children who are strong in their character and confident in who they are in Christ, this book is for you. Don’t be surprised however, if the Holy Spirit starts working on your own heart as you read through the chapters. This book delves into an area of Christianity that is often misunderstood and neglected, meekness. If we as parents teach our children the wrong definition of meekness, (for example; teaching them to be soft, compliant and pleasant), we are on our way to “creating a nation of wimps”. The author Paul Coughlin describes meekness as… “knowing who we are, believing that what God says is true and then submitting to Him in obedience because we love Him.” As he highlight the differences between meekness and courage, he packs a hard punch when he starts talking of the timid living parents are passing down to their children by their so called “protecting”. Paul argues that by keeping our children from the inevitable hardships and challenges in life, we could stunt their emotional growth, never allowing them to recognize their true weakness and strengths. Talking largely about courage and the lack of it in our society, Paul points out the problems of our nation and how we as Christians are raising untold numbers of timid, psychologically fragile, anxiety ridden kids. He masterfully spells out what courage really looks like by saying, “courage was once reserved for the kind of behavior requiring sacrifice and suffering on behalf of a person for the common good, part of the definition of righteousness that’s found especially in the Bible.”

With profound words backed by Scripture, this book brings a bright light on some of the rarely touched subjects in the Christian realm. It dives into the “Dangers of a Nice Christian Upbringing” and gives wholesome advice in “Help for Bullies and Victims”. It teaches a controversial subject asking “Where are the courageous?” in a clear, passionate way. The author relates with parents as he walks us through areas of insecurities that we might unknowingly be passing down to our kids. Some questions we can ask ourselves as we read through the book could be…
1) Are our children able to think intuitively and stand up for themselves?
2) Are they able to courageously defend someone who is being mistreated or bullied?
3) Am I overprotecting my children by rescuing them from every hardship they might encounter?
As a parent realizing the God given responsibility to protect and train my children, the book No More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps, has helped me to keep my parenting balanced. It has helped me to reflect on the importance of not leaning too far on the side of over-protection. It also has encouraged me to continue to train our children to be courageous, not just to “be nice”. As we all live life and continue on this journey together, I pray that we can work to raise children that will be bold in their faith, courageous in difficult situations and confident in their God given abilities. This book has been an inspiration to me and I hope it will be for you as well.
Are you timid or way too passive in life? Are you fearful of what people might think of you if you take a stand against wrongdoing? Do you want your children or be able to take risks, connect with others and be tough enough to “wield the sword of defiance against dark forces”? If so, don’t hesitate to read this book!