This world is decayed by sin. This fact is made more and more apparent each day.
What is done is done, and it cannot be changed. That is the unfortunate truth. Yes, the past is accounted for. But the future is not yet. So now it's how we react in the face of tragedies that make a difference.
So we mourn, yes. We pray, as we should. Our "thoughts" being with someone is a nice gesture. It's meaningful and shows you care, and really, it reflects favorably upon the state of your heart. But it changes nothing. Prayer, however, does. People will say it doesn't, but I know that when we feel unable to do anything else, prayer makes for change. Despite the tragedy in this world, we do have a good God working for us. He hears these prayers, and He puts them into effect.
A prayer for peace and comfort can go along way.
A prayer for change can do the same. However, we must then be willing to be apart of this change.
So, let us also start taking steps to make sure these tragedies happen less and less.
Tragedies compel us to feel. But they should also compel us to act. Both in comfort to those suffering, but in a preventative means as well.
This is not a post calling for our guns to be controlled, but for our love to be uninhibited.
So show love to everyone, even those who are hard to love or easy to ignore. Because your love today may keep them from future depravity.
It's something we all can do. It's something we constantly should seek to do. We should be driven by the desire to spread love, because that is what truly affects a person's heart and makes for real change.
It was love that changed me, after all. That continues to change me. So I want to take that love and not rest until everyone truly experiences it in its full capacity.
And don't be mistaken here. I'm definitely talking about the love of Jesus being the ultimate source. It is for sure His love that changed me - I want to be unapologetically clear about that.
So let us act in this love. Let us be moved towards change. Let us constantly brainstorm and pray and work and act until we die to combat the evil of this world with true goodness. It's not enough to just believe in good. We must make for good. This is the mission that should take us over and drive us. And then, maybe we'll see these tragedies happening less and less.
I know the question of "how?" still lingers a bit. I suppose that's different for everyone. Pray on it diligently; I am certain God will reveal the answer to you.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
What Is Good?
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn of many brothers.
So it can be inferred that God's purpose is for us to be conformed to the image of Christ. That is the ultimate goal - total redemption and thus holiness. We must understand what is truly good and what is truly God's purpose to really get this verse, because I feel like this is one often taken out of context. Our definition of good is different than God's definition, and who are we to argue against Him, as we concede that He is all-knowing and perfect while we are just human?
So when things don't go our way or by our flawed definition of good, we cannot conclude that God is not good. We can only conclude that we don't know what good is, and just trust that God is working all things together so that we will be made into the image of Christ. That perspective helps things go down the throat more smoothly, I think.
But it starts with changing our definition of good and truly understanding God's purpose.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn of many brothers.
So it can be inferred that God's purpose is for us to be conformed to the image of Christ. That is the ultimate goal - total redemption and thus holiness. We must understand what is truly good and what is truly God's purpose to really get this verse, because I feel like this is one often taken out of context. Our definition of good is different than God's definition, and who are we to argue against Him, as we concede that He is all-knowing and perfect while we are just human?
So when things don't go our way or by our flawed definition of good, we cannot conclude that God is not good. We can only conclude that we don't know what good is, and just trust that God is working all things together so that we will be made into the image of Christ. That perspective helps things go down the throat more smoothly, I think.
But it starts with changing our definition of good and truly understanding God's purpose.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
You Got Engaged? BOOOO!
What does it say about the state of our hearts that we cannot appreciate another's good news because it's not happening to us?
You know, I do notice the multiple stories scattering my news feed about a recent engagement. And I chuckle a bit, in the ironic sense, because I'm so far from that sort of life, yet people I went to grade school with are getting hitched. And I can appreciate a joke made by my single friends in regards to that, because I respect humor. And yes, I will even post the song "Another One Bites the Dust" every time I see such announcements (because a bit of the cynic left in me questions sometimes if these people really know what they're getting into).
But there is something so disheartening by one of the common responses to engagement, marriage and baby notifications by single folk, because we take an event worth celebrating, and mourn over it. We lament the occasion because it's someone getting something we want. And even when we say it in the pretense of a joke and laugh about it, somewhere at the heart, there has to be sourness. Even if we're not as bitter as we claim, even if part of us is happy for those people, there is obviously a very evident part of ourselves that is not.
Do I even have to list off the traits that this attitude purveys? Self-centeredness, discontentment, covetous, greed, envy...the list goes on.
Considering how all of us are more self-centered than we care to admit, perhaps I'll appeal to that side first and put a little "Golden Rule" into play. How would we feel to know that people were bemoaning a very special occasion in our lives? I'm reluctant now to announce my engagement (whenever it happens and let's be real, if it happens) on facebook if it's going to cause hundreds of people distress and bitterness. If you want others to join in your joy when something special happens in your life, how about we join in theirs?
But I guess the crux of it is learning to be content and whatever the opposite of "self-focused" is ("others-focus" just doesn't quite describe what I'm going for here). Of course I truly believe that this is impossible without a relationship with Jesus; it's hard to focus ourselves into such a permanent attitude apart from Him. I say this because in order for those changes to manifest themselves in our lives, we need to truly understand and appreciate what we have in Him as well as a knowledge in how He works in our individual lives.
Everyone has their own lot. And if Jesus is our lot, then we have enough. But I suppose the key is truly believing that. If not, then we will always want what others have and feel bitter over not having it. What do we esteem as true value? If it is ourselves and our circumstances above all else, then naturally we are going to be upset when someone else prevails and we don't. But if it is Jesus and then others, then we first are wholly satisfied by him, despite external circumstances, and secondly are truly happy for the good things that happen in other people's lives.
"...in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
It's just the implication of becoming upset, if you will, when people get engaged or whatnot settles unfavorably on me, because if we're lamenting others' good fortunes, than would we celebrate their misfortunes? Do we then feel better about ourselves when we see that a relationship has fallen apart? Those are the things that are not to foster joy.
Instead, let us genuinely and sincerely rejoice when someone has good news. Let us celebrate with them and not focus on what we don't have, but lift up what they do have.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice." Romans 12:15
A Companion Post to This
You know, I do notice the multiple stories scattering my news feed about a recent engagement. And I chuckle a bit, in the ironic sense, because I'm so far from that sort of life, yet people I went to grade school with are getting hitched. And I can appreciate a joke made by my single friends in regards to that, because I respect humor. And yes, I will even post the song "Another One Bites the Dust" every time I see such announcements (because a bit of the cynic left in me questions sometimes if these people really know what they're getting into).
But there is something so disheartening by one of the common responses to engagement, marriage and baby notifications by single folk, because we take an event worth celebrating, and mourn over it. We lament the occasion because it's someone getting something we want. And even when we say it in the pretense of a joke and laugh about it, somewhere at the heart, there has to be sourness. Even if we're not as bitter as we claim, even if part of us is happy for those people, there is obviously a very evident part of ourselves that is not.
Do I even have to list off the traits that this attitude purveys? Self-centeredness, discontentment, covetous, greed, envy...the list goes on.
Considering how all of us are more self-centered than we care to admit, perhaps I'll appeal to that side first and put a little "Golden Rule" into play. How would we feel to know that people were bemoaning a very special occasion in our lives? I'm reluctant now to announce my engagement (whenever it happens and let's be real, if it happens) on facebook if it's going to cause hundreds of people distress and bitterness. If you want others to join in your joy when something special happens in your life, how about we join in theirs?
But I guess the crux of it is learning to be content and whatever the opposite of "self-focused" is ("others-focus" just doesn't quite describe what I'm going for here). Of course I truly believe that this is impossible without a relationship with Jesus; it's hard to focus ourselves into such a permanent attitude apart from Him. I say this because in order for those changes to manifest themselves in our lives, we need to truly understand and appreciate what we have in Him as well as a knowledge in how He works in our individual lives.
Everyone has their own lot. And if Jesus is our lot, then we have enough. But I suppose the key is truly believing that. If not, then we will always want what others have and feel bitter over not having it. What do we esteem as true value? If it is ourselves and our circumstances above all else, then naturally we are going to be upset when someone else prevails and we don't. But if it is Jesus and then others, then we first are wholly satisfied by him, despite external circumstances, and secondly are truly happy for the good things that happen in other people's lives.
"...in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
It's just the implication of becoming upset, if you will, when people get engaged or whatnot settles unfavorably on me, because if we're lamenting others' good fortunes, than would we celebrate their misfortunes? Do we then feel better about ourselves when we see that a relationship has fallen apart? Those are the things that are not to foster joy.
Instead, let us genuinely and sincerely rejoice when someone has good news. Let us celebrate with them and not focus on what we don't have, but lift up what they do have.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice." Romans 12:15
A Companion Post to This
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
#PinterestProbz
I was going to delete my pinterest.
Because it caters to such vanity and a distinct self-focus.
It breeds covetous and discontentment.
Promotes materialism.
For the most part.
It's all about craving what we don't have, right? Create boards to drool over full of trinkets that aren't in our life. Trinkets we don't need in our lives, making it easy to stare at endlessly and obsess over. Or creating boards that just contribute to the sad emphasis that our culture puts on appearance. Not that fashion or looking presentable is bad - of course not - but we make an idol of it, base some much of our own worth and other's worth on it, and pinterest just encourages that unhealthy practice.
And it struck me how much of a waste of time it was. And how it falls in line with values that I've come to hold in contempt because it so strikingly contradicts everything Jesus holds to.
I know not everything on there is vain. So much of it is, though - at least to me. I guess it just struck me of how little actual importance it all is in light of the dire needs of this world and what God truly calls us to do and be. I can't worry so much about what I'd wear if I had money or how I'd decorate my house if I had one or what little trinkets will be present at the wedding I may not even have. How can I be content with the life I have and live out a truly simple, but radically giving life if caught up in the culture that Pinterest inherently promotes?
So I was going to be done with it, making it a very short-lived venture on my part.
But there's this lesson God has been teaching me as of late. Not to abandon these things that I detest, that I find unfavorable, that I want nothing to do with. But to redeem them.
So instead of pinning things I want and putting such a stock on things that will be completely meaningless one day, I can use it for so many other things. To draw attention to the beauty of God's creation. To pin Bible verses and other spiritual things for encouragement.
Like Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
I can use my Pinterest account to champion those things, but by God's definition, not this world's. There is a definite distinction, yet we still tend to confuse the two.
This isn't to condemn anybody else's use of Pinterest. These are just the convictions I felt personally placed on my heart in line with what God's been revealing to me and doing in my life as of late and an exploration of the remedy of them as I continue to explore what it means to live radically in the name of Christ. And I feel like I was using Pinterest in a self-involved, shallow way, but I know that it can be used to glorify God if I approach it using a different emphasis.
If you wanna see me attempt to do this, y'all can follow me on Pinterest here: https://pinterest.com/channyt/
Because it caters to such vanity and a distinct self-focus.
It breeds covetous and discontentment.
Promotes materialism.
For the most part.
It's all about craving what we don't have, right? Create boards to drool over full of trinkets that aren't in our life. Trinkets we don't need in our lives, making it easy to stare at endlessly and obsess over. Or creating boards that just contribute to the sad emphasis that our culture puts on appearance. Not that fashion or looking presentable is bad - of course not - but we make an idol of it, base some much of our own worth and other's worth on it, and pinterest just encourages that unhealthy practice.
And it struck me how much of a waste of time it was. And how it falls in line with values that I've come to hold in contempt because it so strikingly contradicts everything Jesus holds to.
I know not everything on there is vain. So much of it is, though - at least to me. I guess it just struck me of how little actual importance it all is in light of the dire needs of this world and what God truly calls us to do and be. I can't worry so much about what I'd wear if I had money or how I'd decorate my house if I had one or what little trinkets will be present at the wedding I may not even have. How can I be content with the life I have and live out a truly simple, but radically giving life if caught up in the culture that Pinterest inherently promotes?
So I was going to be done with it, making it a very short-lived venture on my part.
But there's this lesson God has been teaching me as of late. Not to abandon these things that I detest, that I find unfavorable, that I want nothing to do with. But to redeem them.
So instead of pinning things I want and putting such a stock on things that will be completely meaningless one day, I can use it for so many other things. To draw attention to the beauty of God's creation. To pin Bible verses and other spiritual things for encouragement.
Like Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
I can use my Pinterest account to champion those things, but by God's definition, not this world's. There is a definite distinction, yet we still tend to confuse the two.
This isn't to condemn anybody else's use of Pinterest. These are just the convictions I felt personally placed on my heart in line with what God's been revealing to me and doing in my life as of late and an exploration of the remedy of them as I continue to explore what it means to live radically in the name of Christ. And I feel like I was using Pinterest in a self-involved, shallow way, but I know that it can be used to glorify God if I approach it using a different emphasis.
If you wanna see me attempt to do this, y'all can follow me on Pinterest here: https://pinterest.com/channyt/
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Delusion of Complacent Christianity
We compromise so much of our Christianity, and I don't mean in the way of morals and law and the such, but that we subscribe more to a worldly lifestyle than a Godly one, and we do this more than we know. We do this every time we put ourselves before God, or before anyone else for that matter, with our time, money and aspirations, which is practically all the time.
Yet we excuse it - heck, we see nothing wrong with it - because we consider ourselves "upstanding" because we don't do this or that certain "immoral" thing. But we still take on the world's self-centered philosophy all too easily, holding on tight to the ideals of how we think our lives should go, seeking comfort above all and living a life that searches for security in all the wrong places (our jobs, our relationships, etc) instead of surrendering ALL to God. From dreams to finances, we rarely let God be apart of that, and at the end of the day, we're seeking our own self-furtherance instead of the Kingdom.
Who lives a life in which the main aim is spreading the Gospel as well as always actively living it out? Don't we concern ourselves much more with the things of man than heavenly things, barely taking any consideration to the fact that we're all going to die someday, and then what will we have to say of our lives? What will any of this matter when we're dead and forgotten? All else will fade away except our souls and God.
I guess I'm increasingly seeing the vanity in so many of our practices. Things that we take on willingly, yet upon deeper inspection are really bred from the world and are far from what Jesus actually called us to do. To follow Jesus when He walked the Earth was to drop everything and give all wholeheartedly to Him. His disciples left their jobs, left their families, left every idea they originally had for how their lives were going to turn out to follow Him - He was literally their lives. So why would the definition of following Him change now?
I wrestle with this daily. Because I don't think I follow Christ as I really should. I don't think most of us do. We shouldn't be fitting Christ into our lives, but giving our lives fully to Him. The only question we should be asking ourselves in regards to our lives, our plans, etc is "How can I spread the Gospel, the love of Jesus?" and as God reveals that to us, letting everything else fall into place. I'm sick of asking "How can I get myself here in regards to my finances or to this place in regards to my career?" and having those questions dictate the direction, decisions, and motivation of my life. I want to be concerned with nothing but how to get this world to where it should be with Jesus. That's all.
Mark 8:34-38
And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words win this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Yet we excuse it - heck, we see nothing wrong with it - because we consider ourselves "upstanding" because we don't do this or that certain "immoral" thing. But we still take on the world's self-centered philosophy all too easily, holding on tight to the ideals of how we think our lives should go, seeking comfort above all and living a life that searches for security in all the wrong places (our jobs, our relationships, etc) instead of surrendering ALL to God. From dreams to finances, we rarely let God be apart of that, and at the end of the day, we're seeking our own self-furtherance instead of the Kingdom.
Who lives a life in which the main aim is spreading the Gospel as well as always actively living it out? Don't we concern ourselves much more with the things of man than heavenly things, barely taking any consideration to the fact that we're all going to die someday, and then what will we have to say of our lives? What will any of this matter when we're dead and forgotten? All else will fade away except our souls and God.
I guess I'm increasingly seeing the vanity in so many of our practices. Things that we take on willingly, yet upon deeper inspection are really bred from the world and are far from what Jesus actually called us to do. To follow Jesus when He walked the Earth was to drop everything and give all wholeheartedly to Him. His disciples left their jobs, left their families, left every idea they originally had for how their lives were going to turn out to follow Him - He was literally their lives. So why would the definition of following Him change now?
I wrestle with this daily. Because I don't think I follow Christ as I really should. I don't think most of us do. We shouldn't be fitting Christ into our lives, but giving our lives fully to Him. The only question we should be asking ourselves in regards to our lives, our plans, etc is "How can I spread the Gospel, the love of Jesus?" and as God reveals that to us, letting everything else fall into place. I'm sick of asking "How can I get myself here in regards to my finances or to this place in regards to my career?" and having those questions dictate the direction, decisions, and motivation of my life. I want to be concerned with nothing but how to get this world to where it should be with Jesus. That's all.
Mark 8:34-38
And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words win this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
What Sets a Christian Apart?
That's been on my mind for the past couple of days. What makes us different? What separates us from anyone else? There has to be something or else why would Christianity be anything to desire? Why would anyone come to Christ if our lives do not show that Christ offers something different and better than the world and ourselves outside of Him?
The question popped into my mind as I was with other Christians. If a non-believer was in our midst, would anything in how we were set us apart from them? Not in a way of being "holier" or "better", but would there be a difference? If none of us said a thing about the faith we subscribed to, would they know that we were Christians? That something was different about us?
I think we're set apart by our perspective (the way we see things and through Whom we see everything), our objective (why we do things) and for whose behalf we act on (not our own).
Perspective. Knowing what eternity offers so that we are not concerned with the material or discouraged with our temporary circumstances. Knowing the worth that God has placed on the human soul and doing all we can to love them above all else, because we realize that's more important than anything, including furthering ourselves. Our perception of tragedy, disappointment, and even seemingly good circumstance is affected by Jesus. Like a filter on Instagram, Jesus affects how the world looks to a Christian.
We are characterized by our words (uplifting, encouraging, and unifying - to build up, not break down, yet still saturated in truth) and our attitude, which like our perspective is determined not by circumstances, but set upon the unchanging goodness of our Lord. It is always hopeful, always knowing that the Ultimate Positive (that is, love that breeds grace and all that it leans to for eternity) remains untainted by anything else we may experience.
This is what sets us apart. And this is what we must openly display and champion. Not in order to assert that we are holy (for in ourselves, we are not), not as a claim that we are better than anyone else, but that everything we are bears testament to the One who is better. Our difference lies in the fact that we are not of ourselves, but that Jesus shines through us so that people many see Him, be drawn to Him, and want Him in them as well.
The question popped into my mind as I was with other Christians. If a non-believer was in our midst, would anything in how we were set us apart from them? Not in a way of being "holier" or "better", but would there be a difference? If none of us said a thing about the faith we subscribed to, would they know that we were Christians? That something was different about us?
I think we're set apart by our perspective (the way we see things and through Whom we see everything), our objective (why we do things) and for whose behalf we act on (not our own).
Perspective. Knowing what eternity offers so that we are not concerned with the material or discouraged with our temporary circumstances. Knowing the worth that God has placed on the human soul and doing all we can to love them above all else, because we realize that's more important than anything, including furthering ourselves. Our perception of tragedy, disappointment, and even seemingly good circumstance is affected by Jesus. Like a filter on Instagram, Jesus affects how the world looks to a Christian.
We are characterized by our words (uplifting, encouraging, and unifying - to build up, not break down, yet still saturated in truth) and our attitude, which like our perspective is determined not by circumstances, but set upon the unchanging goodness of our Lord. It is always hopeful, always knowing that the Ultimate Positive (that is, love that breeds grace and all that it leans to for eternity) remains untainted by anything else we may experience.
This is what sets us apart. And this is what we must openly display and champion. Not in order to assert that we are holy (for in ourselves, we are not), not as a claim that we are better than anyone else, but that everything we are bears testament to the One who is better. Our difference lies in the fact that we are not of ourselves, but that Jesus shines through us so that people many see Him, be drawn to Him, and want Him in them as well.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
We're All So Selfish
How have we become a generation of Christians more concerned with ourselves than for others? There is a distinct lack of compassion to be witnessed, and it seems that a lot that we do, though supposedly done in the name of Christ, is highly motivated by a legalistic self-righteousness instead of love. Even in our preaching of the Gospel, which comes off more as a "well, I do it because I'm supposed to" or an assertion of our own holiness. Something bred from an idea of "you should be like me because I'm so good and have it together" as opposed to being motivated by a deep and genuine care for the well-being of our neighbor, realizing that we were once as they are and sharing what we have in Christ, so that they may experience something truly wonderful as well.
Not to mention, so many of our aims and goals are so self-motivated. We look to move forward in our career to gain security and to "do what we love" or what we're good at, but rarely is our number one aim in all that we do actually what Jesus commissioned us to do - make disciples of all the nations.
Which is why there is such a huge discord between the early church and the present day church, and I believe the root of the problem lies in the our selfishness. We are willing to actually give very little up in service to Jesus. Not our pride, definitely not our money, certainly not our dreams and security. We do not view the Gospel as the single most important thing, despite of what we may claim. We are happy to accept it for our own salvation, yet it stops there with us because we do not give everything we have to then further the spreading of the Gospel. Heck, we put more effort into making sure our hair looks nice in the morning than sharing the Gospel.
We are not eternally-minded or as compassionate as we should be, because it we were, every single second of our days would be dedicated to making sure everyone can know the love of God forever and ever.
We live a comfortable Christianity, and this faith was never meant to be comfortable. Let us instead strive to live out a radical Christianity, which is actually just Christianity at its natural state. Let us realize that the world we live in now is temporary, and everything we build in it will one day disappear unless it is built on the foundation of God. Let us stop pouring everything into what will mean nothing when we die, but start building up for what will carry over into the afterlife. When we stand before the throne, how far we made it in our career or how much money we saved or if we kept in tune with current fashion or even if our love life was successful will absolutely not matter, but rather what we did to further the kingdom of God.
My prayer is that our church can start to look like it did in the book of Acts. That our discipleship will look like it did in the Gospels. That we use all we have not for ourselves, but for our God.
If we struck out every bit of self-seeking out of our lives, we'd have something revolutionary on our hands. You can say that sometimes we have to look out for ourselves, but that's not true. God is looking out for us in a much better capacity than we could ever look out for ourselves. So let us entrust ourselves to Him, wholly - not just for a well-being, but by using all that we have to live out in service to Him. Taking advantage of every day, every opportunity, every resource to use for His greater purpose, not our own smaller ones.
We are called to follow Jesus, after all. Not just to take in His words, but to imitate His life. Examine His motives, His aims, His actions and know that His life was truly not lived for Himself. And so our lives should be lived out the same. God's agenda ultimately benefits us. Likewise, our agendas should benefit others.
The amazing thing, when we truly do live a life of selfless surrender, we are blessed with the greatest joy. The more we lose of ourselves, the more we gain of God, so ironically in our selflessness, we end up gaining so much for ourselves.
Not to mention, so many of our aims and goals are so self-motivated. We look to move forward in our career to gain security and to "do what we love" or what we're good at, but rarely is our number one aim in all that we do actually what Jesus commissioned us to do - make disciples of all the nations.
Which is why there is such a huge discord between the early church and the present day church, and I believe the root of the problem lies in the our selfishness. We are willing to actually give very little up in service to Jesus. Not our pride, definitely not our money, certainly not our dreams and security. We do not view the Gospel as the single most important thing, despite of what we may claim. We are happy to accept it for our own salvation, yet it stops there with us because we do not give everything we have to then further the spreading of the Gospel. Heck, we put more effort into making sure our hair looks nice in the morning than sharing the Gospel.
We are not eternally-minded or as compassionate as we should be, because it we were, every single second of our days would be dedicated to making sure everyone can know the love of God forever and ever.
We live a comfortable Christianity, and this faith was never meant to be comfortable. Let us instead strive to live out a radical Christianity, which is actually just Christianity at its natural state. Let us realize that the world we live in now is temporary, and everything we build in it will one day disappear unless it is built on the foundation of God. Let us stop pouring everything into what will mean nothing when we die, but start building up for what will carry over into the afterlife. When we stand before the throne, how far we made it in our career or how much money we saved or if we kept in tune with current fashion or even if our love life was successful will absolutely not matter, but rather what we did to further the kingdom of God.
My prayer is that our church can start to look like it did in the book of Acts. That our discipleship will look like it did in the Gospels. That we use all we have not for ourselves, but for our God.
If we struck out every bit of self-seeking out of our lives, we'd have something revolutionary on our hands. You can say that sometimes we have to look out for ourselves, but that's not true. God is looking out for us in a much better capacity than we could ever look out for ourselves. So let us entrust ourselves to Him, wholly - not just for a well-being, but by using all that we have to live out in service to Him. Taking advantage of every day, every opportunity, every resource to use for His greater purpose, not our own smaller ones.
We are called to follow Jesus, after all. Not just to take in His words, but to imitate His life. Examine His motives, His aims, His actions and know that His life was truly not lived for Himself. And so our lives should be lived out the same. God's agenda ultimately benefits us. Likewise, our agendas should benefit others.
The amazing thing, when we truly do live a life of selfless surrender, we are blessed with the greatest joy. The more we lose of ourselves, the more we gain of God, so ironically in our selflessness, we end up gaining so much for ourselves.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
When Man Attempts to Redefine Christianity, It Ceases to be Christianity
There has to be an absolute truth, and that truth must be set by someone who is all-knowing. Who else is all-knowing but the Creator of the universe, without whom there would be nothing? He created the world - us included - and set the standards. We don't have to follow them, but it's futile to dispute, for we would be fighting against an all-powerful God and proclaiming that we - mere humans, a creation - know better than Him.
This is the definition of pride. Let us humble ourselves, admit that we know nothing, and trust in God rather than our own meager knowledge. Instead of trying to make the workings of the world bend to our own flawed logics and limited perspective, let us set our minds instead on knowing God more and allowing Him to reveal His truth instead of trying to redefine truth by what we think will work best.
Maybe when we create a universe, then maybe we can have a say in things. But until that happens, let us accept the truth and power of our omniscient and omnipotent God in our humility instead of trying to created an altered religion of our own.
This was written in response to the practice that some have of compromising Scripture and contorting Christianity to fit their own notions and expectations. Disputing God's ways and trying to form them into what we think is right, neglecting to respect that God's ways are much higher than ours and cannot fit into our little box. If we don't understand His ways, it does not mean that they're flawed or nonsensical - it just means our knowledge and "logic" is limited and we need greater truth revealed divinely to us.
Commonly I see the veracity of the Bible as well as its modern day application disputed, even within the realm of Christians. Also, there are some people who have accepted Jesus as their way to God, but will argue that He is not the only way to God and other people can find a way to God through a different path. That's us tampering with the clear definition of Christianity and trying to make it something human rather than something of God. Once again, it's pride. If every human had the right to make Christianity into what they want, based on what they think, then we'd have no way of truly knowing which definition was right. That's why there needs to be an absolute truth. And as I started out this blog by saying, God is the author of this absolute truth. He is clearly the only One who knows truth. You don't have to believe that, but if you don't, then you also have to concede your beliefs of God as a all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God. You are entitled to believe whatever you want, but know then that you are not believing in the Christian God, but a God of your own creation. Which is idolatry by definition.
Here's the thing. The Bible is truly God's Word because of the effect of the Holy Spirit living inside of all believers, including the ones who wrote the Bible, and if you have experienced the Holy Spirit, then you know His ability to do things in the one whom He inhabits that are truly and only of God, not of that person. The Bible is correct in its current form because God is sovereign with His hands over everything, and He of course has the power to preserve His Word in the way He wants it. Even from human error, because is God not clearly much greater than man? To read the Bible by a "pick and choose" method in fear that some things might have been 'lost in translation' and to dismiss its complete value because it was written thousands of years ago shows both a disrespect and mistrust of God and His power and influence.
And Jesus is the only means of salvation (as in, the only path to God), because the point of salvation is to get us back in union with God (reconciliation), which we can't have in ourselves alone because we are sinners and God is holy (and thus in His perfect holiness can have nothing to do with sin or else He'd cease to be pure). So Jesus is the way to God by atoning for our sins by being perfect, allowing Him to take on our sins because He had no sin of His own that needed atoning for, and by accepting His sacrifice, we are made clean and redeemed from our sin, so that we can with God now, and there's no other way to attain that holiness that will reconcile us with God and make us worthy of His true presence, because no amount of work we do will make up for the sin that's there.
If you don't believe in the Gospel, then okay. But if you do and you truly know the Gospel, then you cannot say that the Gospel is just one of many ways to God, because that contradicts Jesus's sacrifice. If there is another way to be reconciled with God, then that renders Jesus's work on the cross completely pointless, and it wouldn't have been necessary to begin with.
These basic truths about God's sovereignty, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and the story of the Gospel demolish certain forms of "liberal" Christianity, which isn't really Christianity, but a rather perverted form of it in which man worships himself by trusting in his own judgment and setting the standard from his own mind instead of worshiping, trusting, and learning from God.
(Note: I don't mean 'liberal' as some evil, disgusting word like a lot of people do, but rather I'm just using it as a way to define a certain belief, so please don't take that as condemnation or an insult. I'm actually very liberal in my politics; just not in my Christianity.)
A person is perfectly entitled to pick and choose what they want to believe in, and they're entitled to base their beliefs on their own opinions and such, but it doesn't mean it's absolute truth and it certainly is not Christianity. It may be derived from Christianity and have its roots in Christianity, but true Christianity is defined by God, not by man. He gave us a definition, and if we add or take away from it, then we find ourselves dealing in something that is not of Him, but of ourselves.
Lastly, I saw this post on tumblr earlier which deals with a lot of the same themes I just blogged about. Check it out: http://abideinhislove.tumblr.com/post/35477452112/we-must-all-learn-to-hear-what-we-do-not-like
This is the definition of pride. Let us humble ourselves, admit that we know nothing, and trust in God rather than our own meager knowledge. Instead of trying to make the workings of the world bend to our own flawed logics and limited perspective, let us set our minds instead on knowing God more and allowing Him to reveal His truth instead of trying to redefine truth by what we think will work best.
Maybe when we create a universe, then maybe we can have a say in things. But until that happens, let us accept the truth and power of our omniscient and omnipotent God in our humility instead of trying to created an altered religion of our own.
This was written in response to the practice that some have of compromising Scripture and contorting Christianity to fit their own notions and expectations. Disputing God's ways and trying to form them into what we think is right, neglecting to respect that God's ways are much higher than ours and cannot fit into our little box. If we don't understand His ways, it does not mean that they're flawed or nonsensical - it just means our knowledge and "logic" is limited and we need greater truth revealed divinely to us.
Commonly I see the veracity of the Bible as well as its modern day application disputed, even within the realm of Christians. Also, there are some people who have accepted Jesus as their way to God, but will argue that He is not the only way to God and other people can find a way to God through a different path. That's us tampering with the clear definition of Christianity and trying to make it something human rather than something of God. Once again, it's pride. If every human had the right to make Christianity into what they want, based on what they think, then we'd have no way of truly knowing which definition was right. That's why there needs to be an absolute truth. And as I started out this blog by saying, God is the author of this absolute truth. He is clearly the only One who knows truth. You don't have to believe that, but if you don't, then you also have to concede your beliefs of God as a all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God. You are entitled to believe whatever you want, but know then that you are not believing in the Christian God, but a God of your own creation. Which is idolatry by definition.
Here's the thing. The Bible is truly God's Word because of the effect of the Holy Spirit living inside of all believers, including the ones who wrote the Bible, and if you have experienced the Holy Spirit, then you know His ability to do things in the one whom He inhabits that are truly and only of God, not of that person. The Bible is correct in its current form because God is sovereign with His hands over everything, and He of course has the power to preserve His Word in the way He wants it. Even from human error, because is God not clearly much greater than man? To read the Bible by a "pick and choose" method in fear that some things might have been 'lost in translation' and to dismiss its complete value because it was written thousands of years ago shows both a disrespect and mistrust of God and His power and influence.
And Jesus is the only means of salvation (as in, the only path to God), because the point of salvation is to get us back in union with God (reconciliation), which we can't have in ourselves alone because we are sinners and God is holy (and thus in His perfect holiness can have nothing to do with sin or else He'd cease to be pure). So Jesus is the way to God by atoning for our sins by being perfect, allowing Him to take on our sins because He had no sin of His own that needed atoning for, and by accepting His sacrifice, we are made clean and redeemed from our sin, so that we can with God now, and there's no other way to attain that holiness that will reconcile us with God and make us worthy of His true presence, because no amount of work we do will make up for the sin that's there.
If you don't believe in the Gospel, then okay. But if you do and you truly know the Gospel, then you cannot say that the Gospel is just one of many ways to God, because that contradicts Jesus's sacrifice. If there is another way to be reconciled with God, then that renders Jesus's work on the cross completely pointless, and it wouldn't have been necessary to begin with.
These basic truths about God's sovereignty, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and the story of the Gospel demolish certain forms of "liberal" Christianity, which isn't really Christianity, but a rather perverted form of it in which man worships himself by trusting in his own judgment and setting the standard from his own mind instead of worshiping, trusting, and learning from God.
(Note: I don't mean 'liberal' as some evil, disgusting word like a lot of people do, but rather I'm just using it as a way to define a certain belief, so please don't take that as condemnation or an insult. I'm actually very liberal in my politics; just not in my Christianity.)
A person is perfectly entitled to pick and choose what they want to believe in, and they're entitled to base their beliefs on their own opinions and such, but it doesn't mean it's absolute truth and it certainly is not Christianity. It may be derived from Christianity and have its roots in Christianity, but true Christianity is defined by God, not by man. He gave us a definition, and if we add or take away from it, then we find ourselves dealing in something that is not of Him, but of ourselves.
Lastly, I saw this post on tumblr earlier which deals with a lot of the same themes I just blogged about. Check it out: http://abideinhislove.tumblr.com/post/35477452112/we-must-all-learn-to-hear-what-we-do-not-like
Monday, October 29, 2012
Finding Joy in the Hope for Joy
John 16:21-22
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
What a great comfort this passages is! And all the more reason to be eternally minded! This is one of those passages in which the principle of hope rests on and shows how joy can be found in hope, knowing not just that a better day is coming, but a day so good that it makes us forget everything terrible we experienced leading up to it.
But for me, the best sentence in this passage is found in verse 22: "and no one will take your joy from you." This joy Jesus describes her is not fleeting human emotion. It's not temporal or just for a season. It's permanent, and no one will ever be able to take it away from us.
This is what we have to look forward to - essentially, perfection. Resting in such hope for that joy can bring us a sturdy joy even now in the midst of our trials. Such hope certainly helps ease up the weight of our trials, for we know that something good will come of them. This pain is only for a season. The joy that Jesus offers us, however, is eternal.
We have access to that joy now. Because it's an internal joy bred from our hope in Jesus, not one dependent on outside circumstances. A joy that rests in our infallible Jesus has no reason to ever fade. Let us welcome in that joy now as we continue to hope for the day where everything external will bring us joy, too. A day that will come in our eternity spent with Christ Jesus.
Take heart in this today!
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
What a great comfort this passages is! And all the more reason to be eternally minded! This is one of those passages in which the principle of hope rests on and shows how joy can be found in hope, knowing not just that a better day is coming, but a day so good that it makes us forget everything terrible we experienced leading up to it.
But for me, the best sentence in this passage is found in verse 22: "and no one will take your joy from you." This joy Jesus describes her is not fleeting human emotion. It's not temporal or just for a season. It's permanent, and no one will ever be able to take it away from us.
This is what we have to look forward to - essentially, perfection. Resting in such hope for that joy can bring us a sturdy joy even now in the midst of our trials. Such hope certainly helps ease up the weight of our trials, for we know that something good will come of them. This pain is only for a season. The joy that Jesus offers us, however, is eternal.
We have access to that joy now. Because it's an internal joy bred from our hope in Jesus, not one dependent on outside circumstances. A joy that rests in our infallible Jesus has no reason to ever fade. Let us welcome in that joy now as we continue to hope for the day where everything external will bring us joy, too. A day that will come in our eternity spent with Christ Jesus.
Take heart in this today!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
How I Personally Think Bipartisan Politics Fits Into Christianity
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Let's do some word substitution in that verse up there:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of [Democrat] and [Republican], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
I think that could be good to hold on to during this election season. By all means, pick a party and vote in accordance to that. Just remember that a person's Christianity is not defined by their political preference. And let us neither tear down each other nor demean another's walk with God because of their opposing political choices. Because it's not about that.
If you're serving Christ, it doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican or a Libertarian. Doesn't matter, because you're still accepted by God, regardless of who you're voting for in two weeks.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Let's do some word substitution in that verse up there:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of [Democrat] and [Republican], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
I think that could be good to hold on to during this election season. By all means, pick a party and vote in accordance to that. Just remember that a person's Christianity is not defined by their political preference. And let us neither tear down each other nor demean another's walk with God because of their opposing political choices. Because it's not about that.
If you're serving Christ, it doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican or a Libertarian. Doesn't matter, because you're still accepted by God, regardless of who you're voting for in two weeks.
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