The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. ... The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:7, 18)
"It's not a religion, it's a relationship." This was a slogan that Christian hippies used to use, and I heard it frequently when I lived in California. Those hippies were onto something. Few words summarize the beginning-to-end concern of the Bible as well as the word relationships.
You could say the Bible is about God, but that cuts us out; and clearly, God occupies himself with humanity. You could say the Bible is about spirituality, but that ignores the concrete applications of Scripture which are primarily concerned with how we live together as families, churches, and within society. Ultimately, God's word guides us concerning a privileged, joyful relationship to our creator and, likewise, to loving and joyful relationships with one another. Jesus' summary of the law, for example, is love to God and love to others.
Think of the ways we get this wrong:
Those outside the Christian faith will sometimes define morality in individualistic terms. "I should be able to swing my arm in any direction as long as I don't hit anyone else" - in other words, do what you want but don't harm others. That's ultimately individualistic coexistence and not much more.
Likewise, the philosophy of Ayn Rand (objectivism) - embodied in books such as The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged - urges a kind of "high brow individualism" that is indirectly (rather than directly) beneficial to society. You may have never heard of her, but this philosophy is popular on Wall Street and among cultural elites.
And then there's us. Are Christians free from thinking in overly individualistic terms?
I think that often, as Christians, we disconnect major aspects of our faith from our relationships to God and others. We view holiness as something abstract, and thus Christian growth as something entirely cerebral. Or, we think that God expects us to grow in faith "on our own," so to speak, apart from ongoing communion with Him, grace from him, and the encouragement of others.
Some people are more relational than others. To see the primacy of relationships in God's word does not mean that we all become social - or party - animals. But even the most thoughtful among us, those who speak up less often (but often with greater wisdom), ultimately are called by God into meaningful relationships. With Him, with others, and within the church, the body of Christ.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Purpose Driven Praise and Proclamation
One of the classes currently being offered on Sunday mornings is "Holiness by Grace." The title for this class is lifted from Bryan Chapell's book, though I'm trying to draw the material primarily from 1 Peter - a portion of Scripture that well summarizes the motives for, nature of, and results of true holiness:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Notice how much is tightly packed into these verses! Drawn from phrases in the Old(er) Testament, we are given a rich statement of identity and purpose. Our daily purpose is to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light." We do this through praise, offered to God, and through witnessing to others through evangelism and mercy.
But our purpose cannot be separated from its root: our identity in Christ. Without grasping what it means to be God's chosen, royal, holy, purchased, forgiven people, we cannot live out the glorious purpose described here. We cannot proclaim joyfully what we feel only faintly.
This is another way of saying that our holiness is indeed "by grace"!
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Notice how much is tightly packed into these verses! Drawn from phrases in the Old(er) Testament, we are given a rich statement of identity and purpose. Our daily purpose is to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light." We do this through praise, offered to God, and through witnessing to others through evangelism and mercy.
But our purpose cannot be separated from its root: our identity in Christ. Without grasping what it means to be God's chosen, royal, holy, purchased, forgiven people, we cannot live out the glorious purpose described here. We cannot proclaim joyfully what we feel only faintly.
This is another way of saying that our holiness is indeed "by grace"!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Getting Humanity Under Control
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
- Genesis 1:27-28
When we think of "subduing the earth" or "having dominion," we tend to think in aggressive terms. We think in terms of domination rather than dominion, as one writer puts it. After all, sinful human beings become very domineering, using what authority they are given to self-promote and self-gratify. This relates to how we care for creation (or not), how we care for our relationships (or not), even how we care for ourselves (or not).
Many people today believe that humans have done a lousy job of caring for the planet. A recent book entitled The World Without Us speculates on what life would be like if humanity was diminished on the planet. Would the planet be better off? The author thinks so! Others, such those associated with the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement go further... much further! (Check here and here for more.)
It is interesting that the website for the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement makes this point about the origins of its ideas that humans stop breeding: "The true origins of The Movement can be found in the natural abundance of love and logic within each one of us. Our in-born sense of justice guides us to make the responsible choice."
Based on this statement, human beings are born with "an abundance of love and logic." Perhaps this is what it means to be made in God's image? Yet wait a minute... the same website also uses adjectives like these to describe humanity: greedy, amoral (!), and callous.
The truth is, "Voluntary" gets it more right than we may realize. On the one hand, we human beings are born glorious -- with "love and logic." On the other hand, we are a fairly destructive lot. If we're not cutting down the trees, we're busy cutting down one another. This paradox makes sense according to Genesis: we were made in God's image (Genesis 1-2), and yet fell into sin (Genesis 3). We are made in God's glorious image, yet we think and act all too often like animals.
If we stop at Genesis 3, voluntary extinction is not a bad solution to the problem we've caused the planet - except that it would be adding further disobedience to God, who said "be fruitful and multiply"! Yet God has given us much more than Genesis 1-3. God so loved the world that he gave us his Son, Jesus Christ, in order that the image of God in mankind might be properly understood and lived once again. God's creation of the world is actually confirmed by His insistence that it be redeemed; but he doesn't start by trying to save "the planet" as by saving human beings, the caretakers of the planet and his prized creation.
Apart from Jesus, getting humanity under control is an impossible task. Every generation learns through fresh disillusionments that there is an explosive arsenal of evil in humanity - and those who are most wise realize it's not just "out there" but "in here."
Yet through Jesus Christ, men and women can once again be subdued by their Creator, even learn to love their Creator. And then we will learn what it means to rightly "subdue" the earth - not in self-interest but in service to others.
* * *
NOTE: Does any of what is said above lead you to think that humans should NOT be concerned about the environment? I hope not.
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
- Genesis 1:27-28
When we think of "subduing the earth" or "having dominion," we tend to think in aggressive terms. We think in terms of domination rather than dominion, as one writer puts it. After all, sinful human beings become very domineering, using what authority they are given to self-promote and self-gratify. This relates to how we care for creation (or not), how we care for our relationships (or not), even how we care for ourselves (or not).
Many people today believe that humans have done a lousy job of caring for the planet. A recent book entitled The World Without Us speculates on what life would be like if humanity was diminished on the planet. Would the planet be better off? The author thinks so! Others, such those associated with the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement go further... much further! (Check here and here for more.)
It is interesting that the website for the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement makes this point about the origins of its ideas that humans stop breeding: "The true origins of The Movement can be found in the natural abundance of love and logic within each one of us. Our in-born sense of justice guides us to make the responsible choice."
Based on this statement, human beings are born with "an abundance of love and logic." Perhaps this is what it means to be made in God's image? Yet wait a minute... the same website also uses adjectives like these to describe humanity: greedy, amoral (!), and callous.
The truth is, "Voluntary" gets it more right than we may realize. On the one hand, we human beings are born glorious -- with "love and logic." On the other hand, we are a fairly destructive lot. If we're not cutting down the trees, we're busy cutting down one another. This paradox makes sense according to Genesis: we were made in God's image (Genesis 1-2), and yet fell into sin (Genesis 3). We are made in God's glorious image, yet we think and act all too often like animals.
If we stop at Genesis 3, voluntary extinction is not a bad solution to the problem we've caused the planet - except that it would be adding further disobedience to God, who said "be fruitful and multiply"! Yet God has given us much more than Genesis 1-3. God so loved the world that he gave us his Son, Jesus Christ, in order that the image of God in mankind might be properly understood and lived once again. God's creation of the world is actually confirmed by His insistence that it be redeemed; but he doesn't start by trying to save "the planet" as by saving human beings, the caretakers of the planet and his prized creation.
Apart from Jesus, getting humanity under control is an impossible task. Every generation learns through fresh disillusionments that there is an explosive arsenal of evil in humanity - and those who are most wise realize it's not just "out there" but "in here."
Yet through Jesus Christ, men and women can once again be subdued by their Creator, even learn to love their Creator. And then we will learn what it means to rightly "subdue" the earth - not in self-interest but in service to others.
* * *
NOTE: Does any of what is said above lead you to think that humans should NOT be concerned about the environment? I hope not.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Good Day Theology
"Sanctification...is a thing which depends greatly on a diligent use of Scriptural means. When I speak of "means," I have in view Bible-reading, private prayer, regular attendance on public worship, regular hearing of God's word, and regular reception of the Lord's Supper. ... I can find no record of any eminent saint who ever neglected them."
- J.C. Ryle, "Holiness"
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
- Jesus
As a young Christian I used to carefully monitor what made for a "good day" and what made for a "bad day." I quickly concluded that a day begun in God's word and prayer led more directly to what I considered a "good day."
Was this childish thinking?
We should never be legalistic or, as C.S. Lewis would call it, "mercenary" regarding those times we spend in the word and prayer. That is, we should never think we win some points from God because we slogged through a chapter of the Bible and prayed for a few minutes.
However, the longer I walk with the Lord the more I find this truth reinforced: A day begun with my mind on God's truths, and with my cares cast upon him in prayer, is bound to affect my day for the better. More specifically, it's bound to affect my attitude for the better. It's not that things will go "my way," so to speak; rather, that whether things go my way or not, I'll be more prepared. I'll have my mind set more firmly on things above, and therefore able to keep things here below (whether gifts or trials) in the right context.
Earlier this week we reflected on "the word of grace." If God's word indeed draws us close to the Living Word, Jesus Christ, isn't that a great start to any day?
What is your theology of a good day?
- J.C. Ryle, "Holiness"
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
- Jesus
As a young Christian I used to carefully monitor what made for a "good day" and what made for a "bad day." I quickly concluded that a day begun in God's word and prayer led more directly to what I considered a "good day."
Was this childish thinking?
We should never be legalistic or, as C.S. Lewis would call it, "mercenary" regarding those times we spend in the word and prayer. That is, we should never think we win some points from God because we slogged through a chapter of the Bible and prayed for a few minutes.
However, the longer I walk with the Lord the more I find this truth reinforced: A day begun with my mind on God's truths, and with my cares cast upon him in prayer, is bound to affect my day for the better. More specifically, it's bound to affect my attitude for the better. It's not that things will go "my way," so to speak; rather, that whether things go my way or not, I'll be more prepared. I'll have my mind set more firmly on things above, and therefore able to keep things here below (whether gifts or trials) in the right context.
Earlier this week we reflected on "the word of grace." If God's word indeed draws us close to the Living Word, Jesus Christ, isn't that a great start to any day?
What is your theology of a good day?
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Word of Grace
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:32)
This past Sunday, Joe spoke about three essentials for biblical ministry:
1. The word of grace
2. Believing prayer
3. The shared ministry of Christ
One point that was especially helpful to me: the reason God's word is called "the word of grace" is because it brings us to the living word, Jesus Christ.
How easy it can be to misuse the Bible! We can reduce it to either a textbook or a storybook. Either gets old after a while, and fails to inspire. But if we understand how the Bible leads us to the Living Word, to the resurrected Jesus, we will not grow bored with this book. Because a relationship with Jesus Christ is the very essence of life - eternal life.
Taking this another step further: We wish to say that God's word is the foundation of every ministry at New Covenant. If this is so, then every ministry should evidence a walk with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. We should be drawing from his power, enjoying his presence, and conducting ourselves in a way that exhibits his character.
It's not enough to say we are biblical. We need to truly evidence the power and joy of the gospel - the word of grace - in all we do. Lord, may it be so!
This past Sunday, Joe spoke about three essentials for biblical ministry:
1. The word of grace
2. Believing prayer
3. The shared ministry of Christ
One point that was especially helpful to me: the reason God's word is called "the word of grace" is because it brings us to the living word, Jesus Christ.
How easy it can be to misuse the Bible! We can reduce it to either a textbook or a storybook. Either gets old after a while, and fails to inspire. But if we understand how the Bible leads us to the Living Word, to the resurrected Jesus, we will not grow bored with this book. Because a relationship with Jesus Christ is the very essence of life - eternal life.
Taking this another step further: We wish to say that God's word is the foundation of every ministry at New Covenant. If this is so, then every ministry should evidence a walk with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. We should be drawing from his power, enjoying his presence, and conducting ourselves in a way that exhibits his character.
It's not enough to say we are biblical. We need to truly evidence the power and joy of the gospel - the word of grace - in all we do. Lord, may it be so!
Prayer Languages
Matthew Smith & Indelible Grace held a concert at New Covenant last Thursday night. I was very pleased that they not only performed music, but truly led in worship. My soul was brought nearer to Christ and strengthened.
Indelible Grace is known for putting the words of very old hymns to new tunes. Matthew Smith, who led the evening, commented that these old hymns provide words for him when he doesn't know how to pray. I concur. While hymns, at least to older tunes, are sometimes hard to appreciate, they pay large dividends if we are willing to learn a new prayer language: a language written by men and women who lived in an age unlike our own.
My favorite Indelible Grace song, written by John Berridge (1716-1793), begins with these words:
Jesus, cast a look on me
Give me sweet simplicity
Make me poor and keep me low
Seeking only thee to know
All that feeds my busy pride
Cast it evermore aside
Bid my will to thine submit
Lay me humbly at thy feet...
I greatly appreciate contemporary praise, even with its blindspots. I also appreciate hymns, especially as they teach us how to pray in new - or rather, old - ways.
Indelible Grace is known for putting the words of very old hymns to new tunes. Matthew Smith, who led the evening, commented that these old hymns provide words for him when he doesn't know how to pray. I concur. While hymns, at least to older tunes, are sometimes hard to appreciate, they pay large dividends if we are willing to learn a new prayer language: a language written by men and women who lived in an age unlike our own.
My favorite Indelible Grace song, written by John Berridge (1716-1793), begins with these words:
Jesus, cast a look on me
Give me sweet simplicity
Make me poor and keep me low
Seeking only thee to know
All that feeds my busy pride
Cast it evermore aside
Bid my will to thine submit
Lay me humbly at thy feet...
I greatly appreciate contemporary praise, even with its blindspots. I also appreciate hymns, especially as they teach us how to pray in new - or rather, old - ways.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
God's Word, Overheard
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:12)
Have you thought about these words lately? James says that if we merely hear God's word, but fail to put it into practice, we are self-deceived. What great blot can be on our record than to be not only deceived, but self-deceived! And it's not just James who makes this claim. James' master, Jesus Christ, gave words just as terrifying when he said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
This site is designed to help us reflect on God's word: how the Bible's marvelous and comprehensive message gives meaning to our lives, challenges our behavior, and directs our life together. In many cases we will reflect further on God's word preached or taught in various contexts at New Covenant.
Yet is a blog simply an avenue for more hearing, when we should be doing? I certainly hope not!
What James is condemning is what we may call merely hearing, with our ears. Yet if we are to practice God's word, we need to begin with fully engaged hearing, the kind of thoughtful meditation that causes God's word to sink down deep within us. When God's word makes its way into our lives in this way, we will indeed become doers! And that is the proper motivation to regularly ponder and discuss God's word. It is the reason Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
May this site encourage the better hearing, and then the better doing, of God's will.
* * *
NOTE: You may comment on this or any post. Comments are moderated and thus the comments do not appear immediately. You are also welcome to simply read the posts without comment.
Have you thought about these words lately? James says that if we merely hear God's word, but fail to put it into practice, we are self-deceived. What great blot can be on our record than to be not only deceived, but self-deceived! And it's not just James who makes this claim. James' master, Jesus Christ, gave words just as terrifying when he said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
This site is designed to help us reflect on God's word: how the Bible's marvelous and comprehensive message gives meaning to our lives, challenges our behavior, and directs our life together. In many cases we will reflect further on God's word preached or taught in various contexts at New Covenant.
Yet is a blog simply an avenue for more hearing, when we should be doing? I certainly hope not!
What James is condemning is what we may call merely hearing, with our ears. Yet if we are to practice God's word, we need to begin with fully engaged hearing, the kind of thoughtful meditation that causes God's word to sink down deep within us. When God's word makes its way into our lives in this way, we will indeed become doers! And that is the proper motivation to regularly ponder and discuss God's word. It is the reason Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
May this site encourage the better hearing, and then the better doing, of God's will.
* * *
NOTE: You may comment on this or any post. Comments are moderated and thus the comments do not appear immediately. You are also welcome to simply read the posts without comment.
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