Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
...to loose the chains of injustice
*I tried to post this two days ago but blogger was down. In hindsight, now it seems almost prophetic*
There is so much hypocrisy in the a world that is so quick to point out the flaws of Christians.
At lunch today, the conversation found its way to Gilligan's island and how each of the characters is modeled after the seven deadly sins. I was amazed to watch these people rattle off the list (one that I have not memorized). For people so aware of them, it's a wonder their lives don't reflect it. The passage in Isaiah 58 that I quoted refers to hypocrisy in fasting and reminds us to take the focus off ourselves and do God's work. Many Christians have responded to this call and lived lives of self-denial to accomplish God's heart for humanity. To my knowledge sinful, imperfect Christians have accomplished more for the oppressed than those sitting on the sidelines pointing fingers at how sinful we are. Now I will be the first to admit my own shortcomings, but please, if you're not part of the solution to a problem refrain from pointing out the flaws of people who already acknowledge their sinfulness and need for a Saviour.
I quote this passage for a different purpose, not to criticize, but to honor those who have been convicted by it and have lived lives that demonstrate true love and humility.
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
And as a blessing
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
There is so much hypocrisy in the a world that is so quick to point out the flaws of Christians.
At lunch today, the conversation found its way to Gilligan's island and how each of the characters is modeled after the seven deadly sins. I was amazed to watch these people rattle off the list (one that I have not memorized). For people so aware of them, it's a wonder their lives don't reflect it. The passage in Isaiah 58 that I quoted refers to hypocrisy in fasting and reminds us to take the focus off ourselves and do God's work. Many Christians have responded to this call and lived lives of self-denial to accomplish God's heart for humanity. To my knowledge sinful, imperfect Christians have accomplished more for the oppressed than those sitting on the sidelines pointing fingers at how sinful we are. Now I will be the first to admit my own shortcomings, but please, if you're not part of the solution to a problem refrain from pointing out the flaws of people who already acknowledge their sinfulness and need for a Saviour.
I quote this passage for a different purpose, not to criticize, but to honor those who have been convicted by it and have lived lives that demonstrate true love and humility.
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
And as a blessing
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wrong motives?
Sometimes I wonder if I have a passion for argument rather than evangelism. Is it a pride issue? Do I just want to prove I'm right? Paul warns Timothy that quarreling ruins those who listen. I pray that I would learn how to speak passionately and incisively and avoid useless arguments that have no bearing on the Gospel. Granted, God cannot use my silence, but attempting to argue anyone into the faith is like trying to clean out earwax with cotton swabs- it bears the risk of pushing them further away.
"24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:24-26
"9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." Titus 3:9
" 14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." 2 Timothy 2:14
"24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:24-26
"9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." Titus 3:9
" 14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." 2 Timothy 2:14
"...So do not be ashamed"
I've always known 2 Timothy 1:7 to be an encouragement against fear. More specifically, fears like that of the future, speaking, people's opinions, etc.
Yesterday, I allowed myself to keep reading and discovered exactly which fear Paul was addressing. I'm guilty of boxing in this verse and failing to understand it in context.
"7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.."
God has not given us a spirit of timidity so that we can testify about him. My previous understanding of these verses addressing fear in general has been done away with and it makes so much more sense now. When it comes to testifying about Jesus, timidity has no place, in its stead are Power (through the Holy Spirit), Love (first for God, then for those with whom we share also through the Spirit) and *Discipline (I have some ideas here but I'm still thinking about this one).
I don't speak as one who has arrived and perfected these principles, but I am more aware of how much God has provided for us, and has made his provision known through his word. If only I knew it as well as I should, I would be so much more encouraged! I pray that I would be a good steward of these gifts, and step out in faith and put them to work.
*Maybe discipline involves the acquisition of knowledge, both Biblical and otherwise, which the Holy Spirit will bring back to our recollection as needed. I believe as knowledge increases, fear and shame decrease.
Yesterday, I allowed myself to keep reading and discovered exactly which fear Paul was addressing. I'm guilty of boxing in this verse and failing to understand it in context.
"7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.."
God has not given us a spirit of timidity so that we can testify about him. My previous understanding of these verses addressing fear in general has been done away with and it makes so much more sense now. When it comes to testifying about Jesus, timidity has no place, in its stead are Power (through the Holy Spirit), Love (first for God, then for those with whom we share also through the Spirit) and *Discipline (I have some ideas here but I'm still thinking about this one).
I don't speak as one who has arrived and perfected these principles, but I am more aware of how much God has provided for us, and has made his provision known through his word. If only I knew it as well as I should, I would be so much more encouraged! I pray that I would be a good steward of these gifts, and step out in faith and put them to work.
*Maybe discipline involves the acquisition of knowledge, both Biblical and otherwise, which the Holy Spirit will bring back to our recollection as needed. I believe as knowledge increases, fear and shame decrease.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Relevant + Evangelism
I've started this blog to iron out the wrinkles in my thoughts on evangelism- more specifically, my experience with it. It's my hope that if I end up sharing it, it will have an edifying and clarifying effect, rather than add to the noise that already exists in the minds of people and on the internet.
I've been thinking a lot of the concept of Relevant Evangelism. I'm not sure what it is yet- I just coined the phrase today. Or maybe I didn't coin it, maybe it already exists. The idea behind it is that it is possible to share the gospel in a way that is personally, spiritually, culturally, historically and scientifically relevant.
I preface all further thoughts with a statement that I read in Josh McDowell's The New Evidence: "If our apologetic prevents us from explaining the Gospel to any person, it is an inadequate apologetic." At the core of Christian apologetics is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the declaration that not only is there a God, but he came down from the comfort and perfection of Heaven to live among sinful men in a broken and fallen world; to die to himself and for those who reject and accept him alike; to rise again and conquer sin, death, the Devil and hell; and most importantly to reconcile us to himself and to purchase for us an eternity in perfect, holy, awesome and blissful fellowship with him and everyone who has called upon his name. This wonderful gospel (and a desire to make it known) must be the driving force behind any dialogue we have about our faith.
So how do we intelligently and passionately share, explain and defend this gospel? How do we present it in a way that those who hear will have no choice but to make a decision, after fully understanding the gospel and its implications, to accept or reject it? I believe God is able to use a variety of ways to accomplish his purposes. Sometimes, the way to do this is to bring out a tract and walk through the Four Spiritual Laws or the Ten Commandments. But from personal experience, not everyone is at a point spiritually where they are even willing to acknowledge God exists, much less be subject to his laws.
Thankfully, God has raised up an army of intellectual and spiritual warriors who have undertaken the task of [studying to present themselves to God as one approved, workmen who do not need to be ashamed, who correctly handle the word of truth]. I believe this is does not apply only to the Bible. I believe that every word, spoken or written; scientific or not; religious or secular needs to be correctly handled so that the truth may be discerned and lies discarded. These warriors have gone into hostile territory, both academic and religious, to seek the truth and make it available to Christians everywhere. Many have produced excellent works that are scientifically relevant and logically sound. With such a vast array of resources, the evangelical Christian has a responsibility to arm himself with this knowledge (after first equipping himself with a thorough knowledge of the Word of God and the Gospel) and boldly declare it to an increasingly skeptical yet desperate world.
Finally, Romans 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse". This verse declares creation as the obvious evidence for a creator. The irony in this is that the more scientifically and technologically "advanced" we become, the more OBVIOUS this truth should be: the degree of precision, detail and complexity present in the universe can only be the result of an intelligent and intentional mind. Sadly, this is not so.
I have to pray that I would read, learn and meditate on truth, and correctly handle and apply it when and where necessary, with all love and humility toward those with whom I share it. For this task I rely not on myself but on the Spirit of Truth himself, the Holy Spirit.
I've been thinking a lot of the concept of Relevant Evangelism. I'm not sure what it is yet- I just coined the phrase today. Or maybe I didn't coin it, maybe it already exists. The idea behind it is that it is possible to share the gospel in a way that is personally, spiritually, culturally, historically and scientifically relevant.
I preface all further thoughts with a statement that I read in Josh McDowell's The New Evidence: "If our apologetic prevents us from explaining the Gospel to any person, it is an inadequate apologetic." At the core of Christian apologetics is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the declaration that not only is there a God, but he came down from the comfort and perfection of Heaven to live among sinful men in a broken and fallen world; to die to himself and for those who reject and accept him alike; to rise again and conquer sin, death, the Devil and hell; and most importantly to reconcile us to himself and to purchase for us an eternity in perfect, holy, awesome and blissful fellowship with him and everyone who has called upon his name. This wonderful gospel (and a desire to make it known) must be the driving force behind any dialogue we have about our faith.
So how do we intelligently and passionately share, explain and defend this gospel? How do we present it in a way that those who hear will have no choice but to make a decision, after fully understanding the gospel and its implications, to accept or reject it? I believe God is able to use a variety of ways to accomplish his purposes. Sometimes, the way to do this is to bring out a tract and walk through the Four Spiritual Laws or the Ten Commandments. But from personal experience, not everyone is at a point spiritually where they are even willing to acknowledge God exists, much less be subject to his laws.
Thankfully, God has raised up an army of intellectual and spiritual warriors who have undertaken the task of [studying to present themselves to God as one approved, workmen who do not need to be ashamed, who correctly handle the word of truth]. I believe this is does not apply only to the Bible. I believe that every word, spoken or written; scientific or not; religious or secular needs to be correctly handled so that the truth may be discerned and lies discarded. These warriors have gone into hostile territory, both academic and religious, to seek the truth and make it available to Christians everywhere. Many have produced excellent works that are scientifically relevant and logically sound. With such a vast array of resources, the evangelical Christian has a responsibility to arm himself with this knowledge (after first equipping himself with a thorough knowledge of the Word of God and the Gospel) and boldly declare it to an increasingly skeptical yet desperate world.
Finally, Romans 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse". This verse declares creation as the obvious evidence for a creator. The irony in this is that the more scientifically and technologically "advanced" we become, the more OBVIOUS this truth should be: the degree of precision, detail and complexity present in the universe can only be the result of an intelligent and intentional mind. Sadly, this is not so.
I have to pray that I would read, learn and meditate on truth, and correctly handle and apply it when and where necessary, with all love and humility toward those with whom I share it. For this task I rely not on myself but on the Spirit of Truth himself, the Holy Spirit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)