Jesus Christ and Sports part 2

A Positive thing that major sporting events indicate.

One thing that I believe is a good thing about major sporting events in general, is that in a way, it has taken the place of war. Think about it. The fact that we have Olympics, World Cup, etc., shows that we have unprecedented peace and prosperity on our land. It wasn’t too long ago when certain sporting events couldn’t take place because of the danger.
Back in ancient times, the reasons for a city or nation rejoicing together was because of a major conquest or a fending off of an enemy. A much more worthy reason to rejoice, to be sure. However, we now do battle in the stadiums in the world, and we are not killing anyone.
If we are spending money on athletes, that is money that is not going towards training soldiers and making weapons. It is a ‘lesser of two evils’ situation, for sure, since sports can have its evil, which I will talk about next.
But I still maintain that it is something that we should be thankful for!

Jesus Christ and Sports part 1

Outside Christendom, there are three basic reactions to the arrival of a major sporting event. The first is by the fans of the sporting event. This is easy enough to spot, and ranges from mild enthusiasm to outright fanaticism. The next group are those who have no real care or understanding of the sporting event in general, so they are mostly indifferent. The third group emerges as the second group becomes inconvenienced or made to feel inferior because of the sporting event. This can be especially contentious when a wife is ignored or disregarded due to sporting event that to her seems to have little or no significance. It causes problems in other people when something they love, (ie a TV series) is interrupted for coverage of the sporting event.

Inside Christendom, the groups are very similar, but there is a slight difference. The third group will often revert to self-righteousness. As in, they will act like martyrs who are being persecuted for their love for Jesus, which outweighs their love for the sporting event, unlike the other immature Christians who have succumbed to the devil’s sporting event; conveniently overlooking their own fanaticism when the season finale, or concert, or the other thing that they love comes into view and challenges their own love for Jesus.
I am ashamed to say that I have been the self-righteous ‘martyr’ and the fanatic.

I’ll talk more about the balance later.

Once a year risk...

One of the most difficult things to see in the life of a Christian in the sprint mentality in regards to risk.
What I mean is the idea that we can just pump out 100m and then walk it out for few km and hope to win the race.
This plays out in the area of “risk taking” or “leaps of faith” or whatever you want to call it.
It usually plays out something like this:

A relatively new Christian has some musical ability, but is incredibly shy. People around him encourage him to play on the worship team, and he confesses that God has been leading him to this. Finally, after much encouragement, maybe some rebuke, he gets up there and plays a set on the worship team, and he loves it! And life is exciting, and his obedience gives him confidence to be obedient in other areas.
However, before too long, it isn’t a big risk anymore. He is comfortable up on stage, and God is calling him to new risks. However, this time there is more resistance. Whenever God calls him to a new risk, Satan slinks up and whispers, “Hey, you’re already on the worship team, what more does God want? That was really hard for me!”
Now what was once a source of joy in God actually hampers spiritual growth as it become an agent of justification for all sorts of small, yet soul-draining compromise.

(of course, the worship team is just an example, it can be any area of service or risk...)

I unfortunately see this in myself as well. I want to be ready to obey whenever God calls, but there is a strong tendency to live off of the obedience of yesterday, but Jesus calls us to take up our cross each day.

The worst thing about it is that when I choose to ignore these prodding's, life becomes incredibly boring, and so does God. And I blame Him, but the boredom in my life is no one's fault but my own. Let’s get off the couch, there is no one, or nothing else worth living for.

Predator or Protector: What Kind of Man are You 2010

An updated version of an old blog, seems to be relevant right now.

"Wild at Heart" has been a huge thing, at least in the Christian community lately. It's call for boys to be men, it's declaration that all the longings for beauty and battle in men are God given and to be honored and embraced. But how does that translate to our culture of latte's and LCD TV's? How do we engage in battle for a beauty in this culture? That answer might surprise you.

I think I will just come right out and say that most guys believe that they are the good guy. The bad guys are out there somewhere: hurting, abusing, and otherwise degrading women. You are most prone to think this way if you have had a dramatic change in your life where you treat woman much better than you have previously. But make no mistake, the person you are protecting the women in your life from is primary YOURSELF. Yes you.

There are two general desires that our actions around females will emanate from: Our desire to be a protector and our desire to be a predator.

The predator may not even be aware he is a predator, but he only need as these types of questions to determine whether he is protecting women or preying on them: Am I doing everything in my power to protect this girls heart? Am I being as clear as possible about my intentions? Am I avoiding deep, soul connecting moments and conversations? (those conversations are appropriate when you have made your intentions clear to a girl!)

How many times have you seen it happen? Male A spends countless hours with female B under the guise of “we’re just friends”. Eventually (it can happen both ways), female B develops feelings for male A, and male A responds, “What? I had no idea! I thought we were just friends!” That’s garbage.

I see many predators in the church. I see a predator in myself from time to time, and by God’s grace, I am becoming more of a protector.

I understand the feelings of strength and masculinity that come from having these conversations and moments with a girl. But we have to face up to the fact that to draw out a woman’s heart when we have no intention of marriage, is cowardly and evil. We need to have our needs for significance and masculinity met in how God sees us, not how women treat us.

The protector sees girls not as a way to boost his own ego, but as precious treasures that he is charged by God to protect. Each young lady that is your friend puts you in the place of responsibility to fight and protect her heart. That means you watch what you say, you don't imply more than you want out of the relationship. That means you watch how flirty you are, you don't imply more than you want out of the relationship. And it means you are wiling to have the DTR talk (define the relationship) as often as it takes to make sure that your coming across the way you intend: as a loving brother. YOU PROTECT HER HEART!

So where does this fight come in? Well, you have to fight yourself. You have to fight to keep your mind on who you are before God, because if you don't, you will feel insecure and will need to have your confidence boosted by your girl friends, and therefore become a predator instead of a protector.

One Danger of Preaching

In my admiration of other preachers, I noticed a real danger that we could have here in north america. Let me back up a bit.

A good preacher will be connected to God. He will be in tune with what God is speaking.

When a preacher preaches, God will want to say things to individuals through that preacher. The things that God will say will often confront individuals in a very personal way, a way that will make an individual feel deeply understood and loved.

Because we have a very man centered culture, people are hard-wired to give praise and glory to human beings rather than to God like the people at Lystra were (Acts 14:8-18).

So this is a message for preachers and people.

People: when you feel deeply understood and loved, remember that it is God’s love you are experiencing, not a deep connection to a preacher. Especially those who are on or radio etc.

Preachers: this should strike fear in your heart, that people would give you glory where God should be getting it, feeling loved and understood by you when it is God that is really loving and understanding them.

May we be like Paul and Barnabas who, in the previously cited chapter,

“tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.’”

Reality.

One of the most disturbing things I have seen, both in myself and around me is the propensity to test everything by personal experience.

Is this always wrong? No. However, I have noticed a disturbing tendency for even Christians to disagree with a sermon, a doctrine, or a Bible verse not because of any particular reason besides the fact that it just rubs them the wrong way.

This could go in a number of directions, but one direction is coming up.

A prime example is the idea that God knows the future. Many Christians simply hate the idea that they are not surprising God with their good deeds. That God is not relieved that we did something in obedience, like God is up in heaven thinking, "I don't know, if Thomas doesn't talk to John about me, it might just ruin everything!"

the thinking is, "If people believe that their actions don't make any difference in how things end up, then they won't do anything." The thing is, if you only act in hopes that your actions will have some incredible significance in history, then you are only motivated by your own glory anyway, and as Christians, we are called to be motivated by love for God.

Would you do something for God if no one noticed? If it cost you a lot, and people not only ignored it, but scorned your actions as selfish and prideful? Is it enough for you that God has noticed?

As Christians, we do use our experiences to test what is right and wrong. However, that is not our ultimate court. Our ultimate court is God's word. Beware when you feel more passionately about your experiential sense of right and wrong than the Biblical right and wrong.

Defining.

Here are a few words that probably best express how life has been for me lately. Not the happiest thing in the world, but maybe it will encourage you too keep on track.

Oh, how You know the feeling...

to stare into the eyes of a love so true,
watch him strip himself of everything
that is keeping him alive.
everything he's ever owned of value.
Because he's stumbled upon the smell of feces
and can't stop thinking about it.

Is there yet a man in Judah
who will fight for what is beautiful?

Or is there only those who curse the truth?
Smear disgrace on their chest and arms like sunscreen?
And their mouths drip with festering platitudes.
Their hands so filthy that they poison the soil
as they dig their own graves.

Is there yet a man in Judah
who will fight for what is pure?

Selah.

I left because of you…

This is the first time in my life I’ve been officially accepted into church leadership.

It is kind of strange, because in some ways, not much changes.

I do basically all the same sorts of things I did when I volunteered, just a little bit more so. But I have had a long history with the church.

I have historically had a lot of complaints against the church in general, and often against the church I attended specifically.

I have done my best to ignore issues of preference (music for example) and tried to focus on things that I genuinely believe are heart issues, and even tried to keep those to a very select audience. I know the warnings in the bible against divisiveness.

I think that amongst my generation, I was, in fact, one of those who complained the least about certain petty things. I actually really love a lot of the church. In fact, I would often find myself trying to defend the church and church attendance in general.

But nothing could prepare me for this change in perspective.

One day, I found that a family at our “church” (congregation, gathering, whatever you want to call it) left to another church. And they left because of me.

The issue was there was a certain standard that they upheld at home, and I was organizing youth events, and one of the events we did usurped what they were trying to teach their kids.

Now, if I told you the specific issue, most people would probably be on my side, but that’s not the point. I caused someone to leave. My choices. My leadership.

All this to say, you just don’t know what your talking about, until you come under the scrutiny of leadership position. Imagine some humble, loving people feeling too intimidated by your position and not wanting to talk to you about it, but feel rather that leaving is the answer. It has taught me a lot.

One of the biggest things, is that I hope people would talk to their leaders rather than about them. I know it can be intimidating, or you may think they don’t have the time, but it is so much more appreciated than just leaving or harbouring feelings.

There may be a day when I offend people for the right reasons. In that day, I hope to be given the grace to stand my ground. But in the meantime, I pray for the humility to ask for forgiveness, and honour those who have come back and celebrate the great gift of Jesus Christ with me.

Can I pick the story?

It’s the little things that tend to throw me for a loop.

Today was one of those days where dinner took a little extra time. We had a roast with gravy and mashed potatoes and green beans. Those stupid green beans take forever to cut.

I was a little later than I had hoped for dinner, so I had to run out for ball hockey: something that I had organized to be from youth to young adults, a kind of mingling activity, plus a lot of fun.

Near the end of the game I found out my sister had phoned one of my friends to babysit, very odd since I don’t know if this guy has ever babysat in his life. It was a sign of desperation; she really wanted to go somewhere tonight.

I got home to my one of my biggest fear: the dinner mess had not been touched. Pots open, roast sitting on the counter, potatoes and green beans slowing going hard.

All those negative thoughts rushed into my head: “this is so unfair! Don’t those guys see what I do for them?”

I really did try to look away from what was in front of me, but I just couldn’t. It was right in my face. My brother and sister off doing social events, leaving me with a huge mess and a crying niece. So I did the only thing I could muster the strength for. I went outside and prayed.

It helped a little, so I went back in side, and started to clean up, and not focus so much on what was in front of me. I honestly started feeling sorry for myself, wishing that I at least had someone to talk to.

Gwyn was still crying for her mother. I decided to go in and try and comfort her, knowing full well she could just get mad at me. She does that sometimes, I know she doesn’t mean it, but in situations like this, it is kind of hurtful.

So I went in, and thank God, she was really sweet: “All I want to do is read my Bible story”. She said in between sobs.

“Alright Gwyn, I’ll read you one”.

“Can I pick it?” She asked as always.

“Sure.” She snuggled up and turned to a familiar picture with a boy wearing a coat of many colours.

I almost couldn’t read. I was tearing up. It was just what I needed. The title of the story was: “The Forgiving Prince” I remembered the line, “What you intended for evil, God has used for good.

I remembered how spoiled I am. All I have to deal with is a lonely night and a few dished, Joseph had to deal with many lonely nights in prison. Jesus had his share of lonely nights too. And neither of them had done anything to deserve them.

Thank You so much Jesus. You heard the prayers of a winy little boy tonight. You don’t just tell us how to act, you were there. You don’t just tell us you love us, You show us.

Jerry

I go for a lot of walks.

On this walk I was, ironically, sitting down.

Sitting down with a great view of this beautiful little city.

A man on a bike stopped just off to my right and said, “enjoy this.”

He continued on. This man had strong opinions, but he loved Our city.

By most accounts, this was a strange looking man. Long black hair, a bike helmet with two small side view mirrors on it, black jeans with masking tape around the bottoms, and all sort of reflective stickers and a vest on. But he had a lot to share about life, and death.

One of his strong opinions centered around Christians. The Nazi’s were Christians. Pretty much every atrocity that was every committed was done in the name of “some Jewish corpse”.

Was I offended by this? I’m not sure. More than anything, I just wanted him to know what was true. But I just listened. One of the few things I said was in response to his statement when he leaned close to me and said,

“I have good news: your not a dirty rotten sinner!”

With a smile I responded, “yeah, not anymore!”

Then he launched into his philosophy about how only those with 100% cruel intent were actually evil. I thought of the verse that talked about how an apple tree doesn’t bear figs, and a fountain of bitter water does not give for sweet water. But I didn’t have to. I just listened to him. And for me, that was okay.

It isn’t always okay. I think the reason why I was okay to not talk was because I knew in my heart I wasn’t afraid too.

As my awareness of the evening’s activities became more pressing, I excused myself, with one thing I really felt I needed to say.

This thing would be trite and meaningless in many contexts, but in this one, somehow, I think it meant a lot. Was it my idea to say it? Probably not. But I knew I had to say it, and it makes a lot of sense now as I reflect on it. So from about street’s width away, I called out my last words to him:

“God Bless, my friend!”

belonging...

What desparate things would a man do to feel like he belonged?

How would a man walk if he knew where he belonged?

subtle arrogance.

I was inspired to share this little story by a new friend, so here goes.

I was reading the SS 11 text book, since I'm teaching SS 11 right now, and the topic is WWII. I'm just at the beginning. How the treaty of Versailles was really harsh on the Germans, to the point were there was no way that they could pay back their debt.

Another interesting note, the American president at the time, wanted a treaty that emphasized forgiveness, which may have lead to the avoidance of WWII! Anyway...

So the first thing I realized was that Germany, albeit for a short time, was an oppressed country! People were hungry, and poor, and out of work, and the world was like, "Pay up!"

At the same time, Canada (and the US) was going through a depression, and socialist parties were gaining momentum because of the hard times. The people figured democracy didn't work, so we should try something else. And it wasn't even as bad in Canada as it was in Germany!!

Now in comes Hitler, makes all these promises to get people back on their feet, and when he does come to power, he actually delivers!!

Now tell me we wouldn't follow a guy who brought us out of the suffering and misery of a depression? Most of us don't even know what a depression is like, though we may soon find out. What would it be like to look your family in the eyes when they tell you they are hungry, are we going to eat tonight, and this guy gets you a job, and feeds your family?

The fact is, we turn to false saviors everyday. Not all of them have the immediate repercussions of an Adolf Hitler, but we do anyway.

Any Savior besides Jesus Christ is idolatry, and Christians need to be careful they don't see themselves as morally superior to even the Nazis! For it is by grace we are saved. Of course, that doesn't mean we excuse the behavior at all. sin is sin.

Just a little something I noticed while reading a text book.

If you want to know a guy...

Some people say that if you really want to know what a guy is like watch him play sports. I agree. I've know some pretty soft-spoken guys that are absolute goons on the turf. But I have noticed another one.

Maybe this is with all people, but if you want to know how insecure a guy is, watch how he reacts when somebody cuts him off, or does something else inappropriate in traffic. Chances are he'll do this:
1.Immediately get mad, perhaps swear, or display other uncommon behaviour
2.He will continue to talk about it, even though you try to bring up another topic.
3.He will tell this story to the first friend he meets, and all the rest of his friends for the rest of the week, and even beyond that if the topic comes up.

I can't say what exactly is the source of this, but I know for me, I really want to be right. I need everybody in the world to tell me that "the other guy" was wrong, and idiot, unsafe, etc., and that I am a skilled, competent driver. Ha ha. If I was really confident in my driving ability, I would be able to let it go, and sometimes I can. It all comes down to having my value in how Christ sees me, not the people I'm driving with, not my friends, not anyone else.

Anyway, ladies, if your wondering if this guy is "the one" watch how he reacts in traffic...

Pity Party

If I start on a sadder note, I usually pick it up by the end of my post, but I'm not making any promises, this could be depressing.

I don't think a lot of the following thoughts are very healthy, and they are also very selfish, but I will allow myself this one time to be completely honest, especially since it appears as though no one really ever reads this... (see comments for the past 12 posts... 0 comments, 0 comments, etc.)

I was struck by my situation today, because I feel like it is uncommon.

I am in the grocery store, buying my sister a little Valentine's gift, shopping for my family, getting ready to take care of my niece, who lives at my house. I am not going out tonight, I am taking care of her. When I go out tomorrow night, I am taking her with me so that my sister can have a weekend away with her friend.

Sound a little self-righteous? Well it is.

Here's the thing. I am still single. 5 years now. Not a single date.

My love life is a combination of rejection, disappointment, and being the reject-er. Sometimes it is really harsh being the reject-er, because you look into that persons eyes and you see that all-to-familiar pain, and now you are the source of it.

There are a lot of things that bother me about that. Namely it is hard to not think, "what is wrong with me?" Doesn't this sound like a good profile?:

27 year old male, physically fit, healthy eater, leader in local congregation, cares for/lives with younger sister and niece, singer/songwriter, Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Education, cooks, cleans, responsible, committed, passionate, and above all, loves Jesus with all His heart.

Maybe arrogance is my problem... :)

Seriously though, humility is not denying what God has done in me. I don't know. The biggest problem is, that sometimes these facts lead to believe that God does not love me. Either He can't control what is going on, or He doesn't care enough to change anything.

But you know what? I refuse to believe that. I know God. He is good. Not only that but His plans are so much better than mine. I know that He deeply desires to give us everything we ever could want, which is why He gave Himself to us... because even though we don't realize it sometimes, the only thing that will every truly make us go, "I don't want anything else," is to be with God. Even finding the most amazing girl in the world won't fix me.

So now that that is over, I'm free to move on with my life.. ha ha. This will continue to come up, but as His grace increases, I will love Him more and more, and one day I'll really be able to say,

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

You can pray for me if you think of it.

Protecting the Heart.

I have already written a lot about men, especially single men, and what it means to be entrusted with the hearts of women around them. I have a couple of things to add.

It is easy to tell a guy to protect the women around them, and they’ll take that on, or at least they will to the best of their understanding. The problem is, when I tell a guy to protect the hearts of the girls around them, the one they have to protect the girls around them from is themselves.

That’s right. I’ll give an example.

Your friend Tanya is looking a little down at church. You ask her is everything alright. She assumes you mean it the way most people do, and says, “yes”. But you, being the caring guy you are, insist, “No really, are you alright?” She ends up spilling a story about her ex-boyfriend and how he’s into drugs, and she want to help him, etc., etc. So you sit down and listen to her, and when she opens up the conversation for a bit of help you respond with, “You know, God loves your ex more than you do, and it is probably best to just let Him handle it.”
She visible looks better, and thanks you for listening and for your advice. You go away feeling like the nice guy, the hero.

In this situation, the male feels like he has done his job, he has protected the girl, he has saved the day, that’s what God made him for, isn’t it? Not really. Inside there is evil afoot. The man is using this situation to pump up his pride, and he also opened the door for this girl to have feelings for him, even though he has no intention of persuading her or committing to her. He just wants to feel manly himself.

I’d say the biggest issue is that when most guys hear that they have to protect girls hearts, they think the enemy is out there. When the real enemy is in their own heart. Their selfishness. Their pride. Their saviour complex.

I want to see the guy who will do what’s right in regards to protecting the hearts of their female friends, even if it means all their female friends will hate them for it. That may mean, NOT siddling up when the girl is depressed. That may mean NOT flirting when the girl has put themselves in a potentially embarrassing position by flirting with you. And the end result is all female onlookers and their gossip community thinking, “What a jerk!”.

Are you willing to make that sacrifice?

"The essence of manhood is self-sacrifice"

- Matt Chandler

Victory vs Failure

A Man stands upon the battle field. His armour is broken and worn. His legs feel as though they are about to collapse under him, and the sword in his hand may as well be a giant boulder with a handle. He looks in front of him and sees a vast army without mercy, filled with hatred and united to the end of sending him to the next life. He looks behind him so see a ragged group of men who are looking to him to decide whether they run or turn and fight.

He raises his sword and runs towards the opposing army. Though anyone would tell you it is foolishness, his followers pursue with a determination that was teetering on the verge of extinction a moment ago; they know this is the right choice.

There is something about this scene, one I have seen in several movies, that resonates with me. The man who, with no victory in sight chooses to fight on rather than to give up.

Is this man fighting for victory? How can he be? Victory is impossible. He is fighting for something else. We all want that. That deep purpose we can fight for, even when victory is impossible.

But what have we gone to? We men have embraced guaranteed victory, we fight for victory alone. We enter into battles we are almost sure to win, and then we wonder why we are bored.

What about those men who are crushed by feelings of failure? Is it possible that you too are fighting for victory? We need to fight for something, someone else, and there is only one worth pouring all our heart and effort into.

I fight for Jesus Christ. Maybe this sounds cheesy. Maybe too abstract. But it is hard, and I face failure constantly, and sometimes it is too much because I lost track of why I am fighting. In other words, I fight for victory rather than for Him; for love for Him.

Is He valuable enough to fight your whole life, fail everyday, and only see victory on your deathbed? Yes He is that valuable. He is eternal. He has all the power, justice, might, strength and beauty that I long for and then more than I could ever imagine.

For me though, I don’t have enough faith, and He has to give me victory sometimes, otherwise I would crumble. I wish I had more faith, and more love. Faith that I wouldn’t need the reminders of His victory, His strength, and His presence so often to carry on. I hope there are many of you out there that have that kind of faith.

What about you? Maybe you have been running from those battles that you might lose. Maybe the only battles you fight are in warcraft, or at the gym, or vicariously through your favourite sports team or movie. “I always win, just like Bruce Willis”. Ever wonder why Braveheart had more staying power than Die Hard? Because Braveheart speaks to real life: failure, but fighting on. Die Hard is pure victory. Everybody wins. It is fake and you know it, and not just because he tuck-and-rolled his way to safety after falling of a fighter jet.

So my question, and I would say, God’s question is:

Will you fight on today?

Where in the world is Adventure?

This weekend my pastor and I traveled to a small town of about 300 people called "Burton".

I have never heard of this place before. Being there was actually a little bit depressing for me in a way. There were virtually no families in the town, only retired people, and I just felt extra-specially insignificant in that little town. Like even if I was the most popular person in town, the world wouldn't care. Strange.

I was talking alot to the couple who had provided accomodation for us. What did I get from their stories? Adventure. Not only was there just intense relationship and love between them and some of the people that had dropped into their midst, they had started this whole "care pack to Afganistan" thing, since their son was in the army. It started with their church making up some care packs, and in a few months they were getting newspaper interviews, and a call from National defense saying, "Can you stop this please, we are getting so much stuff it is a security risk"!!! Her response? "I don't have any control over this!"
I saw the newspaper clippings! They had been on national news as well!

As I pondered these things, one phrase popped into my head.

"Adventure is about obediance, not location."

If you are seeking adventure, significance, purpose, vision, it doesn't matter where you are. What matters is that you are obediant to God. That doesn't have to be mistical at all. Just be obediant to what God has in His word! This could be as simple as asking someone to come over for dinner, let them into your world, you home. It can be as simple as telling someone how they have impacted your life. Sound like a small thing? It can be incredibly risky, and some people are too scared to do it!

I challenge all readers with this. Next time you meet someone, and they seem to you like they are being obediant to God to the best of their ability, ask them: "Are you bored?"

Social Over Information

There are some “new ideas” in teaching these days. I put parentheses because I’m a firm believer in “there is nothing new under the sun”. Anyway. One of these is that teachers should be teaching how to sift information, rather than just to absorb information. I find this to be very biblical as well as missing from the church in general. One of the strategies a person can used in sifting information is to discern where a person is coming from. If I just launched into my topic, without telling you where I was coming from, then you would have to assume my experiences and my reasons for being passionate about a certain topic, and you would not be able to balance it out. So here is my topic: social justice.

There has been a pendulum swing with social justice of late. People are seeing that the church has in many ways become irrelevant, and separated itself from the society it is trying to save. Well intentioned people are building a passion to see the church as a whole take Jesus’ words through James more seriously:

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

We are shifting away from the amount of reverence and respect we have for those who have high positions in the church, and now are more impressed by those who have started some amazing street ministries or record labels that show the love of Jesus Christ in practical ways.

The problem is that we were never meant to hold either of these people in too high of esteem. We are supposed to be looking to Jesus as our example, and not people. So in this very well intentioned revival, do we risk a new type of Roman Catholic church? Do we risk a legalism that says, “if your not out serving hot chocolate on a Friday Night, then there’s the door?” Am I saying this movement is bad? Most definitely not.

Here is what I am saying: We cannot inspire any action without preaching Jesus Christ as our motivation. Too many well intentioned and talented preachers rely too much on guilt tactics and, “look at what these amazing people are doing!” Again, sometimes this can be okay. But to base a whole movement on these is simply blasphemous. We need to remember that God is not pleased with our deeds, He is pleased with our faith (Isa 64:6, Heb 11:6). So to make a long story short, we need to be reminding ourselves of the greatness of God and His sacrifice, and out of that will come the faith and the works. If it comes out of anything else, then there is a problem.

Also, this issue of social justice is very difficult for people who, despite what they may want, are called to minister to those in the church. To those who are already saved. I believe I am one of those people. I have repeatedly been discouraged and frustrated at my attempts to have a ministry outside of the church, but I have seen time and time again my strongest spiritual gives flow in preaching, teaching, leading worship, and discipling. Any those that read that need to know that, because that is my bias. I have been criticized, albeit indirectly, relentlessly by those I admire because my calling is not to downtown. Or overseas. It is good for me though, because I can pursue what God has for me without having man’s esteem or my own pride to worry about so much. But I worry for those who are like me. Do they too feel the weight of being told, “get out there and do something!” I have questioned even my salvation numerous times because of a passionate person who has been called outside the body of believers to minister. How many people like me are relentlessly banging there head against a wall because this is what they are taught, but God wants them to minister to His children?

Let’s filter the information we get, and make Christ the center of all we do. That’s what I’m trying to say here.

There are some “new ideas” in teaching these days. I put parentheses because I’m a firm believer in “there is nothing new under the sun”. Anyway. One of these is that teachers should be teaching how to sift information, rather than just to absorb information. I find this to be very biblical as well as missing from the church in general. One of the strategies a person can used in sifting information is to discern where a person is coming from. If I just launched into my topic, without telling you where I was coming from, then you would have to assume my experiences and my reasons for being passionate about a certain topic, and you would not be able to balance it out. So here is my topic: social justice.

There has been a pendulum swing with social justice of late. People are seeing that the church has in many ways become irrelevant, and separated itself from the society it is trying to save. Well intentioned people are building a passion to see the church as a whole take Jesus’ words through James more seriously:

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

We are shifting away from the amount of reverence and respect we have for those who have high positions in the church, and now are more impressed by those who have started some amazing street ministries or record labels that show the love of Jesus Christ in practical ways.

The problem is that we were never meant to hold either of these people in too high of esteem. We are supposed to be looking to Jesus as our example, and not people. So in this very well intentioned revival, do we risk a new type of Roman Catholic church? Do we risk a legalism that says, “if your not out serving hot chocolate on a Friday Night, then there’s the door?” Am I saying this movement is bad? Most definitely not.

Here is what I am saying: We cannot inspire any action without preaching Jesus Christ as our motivation. Too many well intentioned and talented preachers rely too much on guilt tactics and, “look at what these amazing people are doing!” Again, sometimes this can be okay. But to base a whole movement on these is simply blasphemous. We need to remember that God is not pleased with our deeds, He is pleased with our faith (Isa 64:6, Heb 11:6). So to make a long story short, we need to be reminding ourselves of the greatness of God and His sacrifice, and out of that will come the faith and the works. If it comes out of anything else, then there is a problem.

Also, this issue of social justice is very difficult for people who, despite what they may want, are called to minister to those in the church. To those who are already saved. I believe I am one of those people. I have repeatedly been discouraged and frustrated at my attempts to have a ministry outside of the church, but I have seen time and time again my strongest spiritual gives flow in preaching, teaching, leading worship, and discipling. Any those that read that need to know that, because that is my bias. I have been criticized, albeit indirectly, relentlessly by those I admire because my calling is not to downtown. Or overseas. It is good for me though, because I can pursue what God has for me without having man’s esteem or my own pride to worry about so much. But I worry for those who are like me. Do they too feel the weight of being told, “get out there and do something!” I have questioned even my salvation numerous times because of a passionate person who has been called outside the body of believers to minister. How many people like me are relentlessly banging there head against a wall because this is what they are taught, but God wants them to minister to His children?

Let’s filter the information we get, and make Christ the center of all we do. That’s what I’m trying to say here.

Boldness vs Humility

Boldness vs Humility

Some conversations got me thinking about our claims that we have access to God. Isn't awfully presumptuous of us to think that we are of His elect? That we can "approach the throne boldly"? How can we be comforted by thoughts of Jesus coming with all His glory, when we are not sure who's side we will be on?

I love metaphors.

So lets say the brakes go on your car. You get a ride to work and your worried all day about what you will do with your car. You call a buddy when you get home and tell him your situation and ask if he can help. He says sure.

Expecting a ride, you come out the next morning to find your buddy in your driveway cleaning up some tools. "What's going on?" You ask.

"I fixed your brakes, but new ones in, I even tested them. Your good to go."

How would you react? What if you said, "Thanks man, but I'll just take a ride to work."
"what? Why?"
"I'd just feel better getting a ride."
"what, you don't believe me? Look, I've been fixing cars for years! Look, I have your old brakes out here on the driveway! I'm all dirty from fixing your car!"

So at what point is your fear an insult to your friend? you could excuse it by saying, "I don't know much about cars, and I just don't know how he did it, I don't' feel safe."

Same thing with the cross man. At what point does it become an insult to say, "Look God, I just don't believe I'm saved, that I'm on your side. Sorry."
"What? Here's your sin on the cross! Here is the blood poured out! I'm God! I never lie! I never mislead anyone! If you can't trust Me, who can you trust!"

Sure, you can say, "what if I interpreted it wrong." Well, I'll tell you what, if we as Christian interpreted this wrong, then we don't have a faith at all, so if you can't trust this one, you might as well give up on the whole deal.

I hope this makes sense.