Recent Quote by Rick Warren
I recently read this quote from Rick Warren and I cannot shake it. Warren said: “Jesus began his Church as a FAMILY! It became an institution in Rome, a political tool in Europe & a business in America.”
Very Sobering!
Dead Men & Free Men Walking
I’m not one who gets disturbed or has nightmares over movies. The reason is simply that I don’t go to scary movies. Most of my movies experiences revolve around children’s films with my 9 year old daughter. However, several years ago, when I was still in Seminary and newly married, my wife and I went to see “Dead Man Walking.” The movie was about a convicted murderer who was about to be executed. The plot focused on the murderer and his relationship with a Nun who stepped in to intervene on his behalf. However, to no avail. The last 45 minutes or so of the movie chronicled the murderer, played by Sean Penn, and his last few hours alive. It goes into detail with the execution, and depicts the fear that the murderer experienced. This movie really bothered me, because it portrayed every moment of the time leading up to an appointed death sentence. One thing I remember about the movie came from the title. When they took the murderer out of his cell and began to walk him to the execution chamber, a guard cried aloud “Dead Man Walking.”
Fast tracking a bit, on many Friday and some Saturday nights, I like to watch a show called “Lock Up” on a cable news channel. The show profiles life in prison. Recently, however, I discovered something very strange. When a prisoner is set free after serving his sentence and he is being ushered to the gate, the guard cries aloud “Free Man Walking.”
These examples completely overtook my mind as I drew parallels from them, to the life of serving Christ. As committed Christ followers, we are “Dead Men and Free Men Walking,” both at the same time. Let me share some examples from scripture.
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” We often view the cross as a symbol of freedom as we sing “The Wonderful Cross” and wear them around our necks as jewelry. However, we must never forget that the cross was a nasty and brutal means of torture and of execution in ancient Rome. So as we deny ourselves and take up our cross, as Jesus said, we are daily slaying ourselves to our selfish motives, actions, and lifestyles and we are following Christ in pure obedience. So in that regard we are “Dead Men Walking.”
However, in John 8:35-36 Jesus stated “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” In this beautiful description of redemption, Jesus says through Him, He restores us to the family of God, because sin has separated us from the Father. Also, through this restoration to the family of God, we have true freedom…..However, living a life as a Christ follower who has received that reconciliation with God through Christ, requires complete obedience to Christ as we strive to live for Him. Thus, this takes us back to Matthew 16:24: We must die daily to ourselves in order to receive the full freedom that Jesus provides for us who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.
I know it is a paradox, but aren’t we as Christians, a paradox in motion?
Justification, Declaration, Sanctification, and Glorification Part 3
I wrote the first two installments of this three part blog post over a year ago. However, due to life’s various circumstances, and other things God had put on my heart, I’m just now getting around to writing the final piece in the trilogy of Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. So here we go….
There are 3 stages that lead to Sanctification that set it apart from Justification.
1. Santification finds its genesis in our salvation. Through our salvation a moral change takes place in both our physical and spiritual life. 1 John 3:9 states “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” Now I know this seems a bit contradictory because we are totally depraved or sinful for life. However, when we are born of God, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the new life in Jesus. Being born again is a rebirth, a fresh start. When this happens God forgives us and fully accepts us. Through this process of sanctification beginning at regeneration, the Holy Spirit gives us both new minds and hearts. Plus our perspective changes because we begin to see things and especially people as Christ did “With Compassion,” and we are renewed day by day through the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:11 states that through salvation: “You were washed, you we’re sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
2. Sanctification increases throughout life. In addition to a clear beginning of the sanctification process at salvation, it is also a process that continues throughout our Christian lives. Paul recognized that sin remains in people’s lives, so he exhorted the members of the church at Rome to “not let it reign and not to yield to it….” Romans 6:12-13. Our task then as Christians is to grow more in sanctification, just as before salvation, we grew in sin. Sanctification basically turns the born again believers life upside down and we seek to live a life worthy of Christ, not a life rooted in sin.
Paul also wrote in Philippians 3:13-14 “I press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” In this context Paul stated we are not already perfect, but we continue to press on to reach and achieve everything for which Christ has saved for us.
3. Sanctification is completed at death. Because sin still remains in our hearts, even though we have committed our lives to Christ through the rebirth of salvation, our sanctification will never be completed in this life. Our Sanctification will be made complete as we reach Glorification in Heaven after this life. You see, it is impossible for sin to enter into Heaven. Revelation 21:27 provides clarity on this point. John wrote the following about Heaven: “Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s Book Of Life.
You see, it all comes full circle. We are made just by God at salvation, with the sanctification process beginning at salvation too, but shaping our lives every day, and we find complete glorification in Heaven with Christ where there is no sin. (1)
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(1) Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology textbook provided the reference text for much of this post.
An Overlooked Social Injustice That Lurks in Every City and Every Neighborhood
When we think of social injustices, our brain typically defaults to the AIDS epidemic in Africa, impoverished third world countries that do not have clean drinking water, or even the incredibly tragic miscarriages of justice and civility with the genocide that has taken place in Darfur. Sadly, people die every day due to these and many other global social injustices.
Having said that, let me clearly state that these are incredibly heinous injustices in other parts of the world. However, in this post, I want to communicate a hidden, missed, or even intentionally overlooked social injustice, and it’s happening right here in the U.S.
I recently finished reading a quite intriguing book on this hidden or overlooked social injustice that has invaded the lives of Americans with full force. It assaults all Americans on some level, and it keeps them locked in the dark places both in their homes and within their own minds.
The title of the book is “Bowling Alone” and it was written by Robert D. Putman. Putnam is a highly recognized Sociologist and Political Scientist at Harvard University. The thesis for his book (which actually reads like a university sociology textbook) lies in a simple analogy, but true attrition of Americana – “After Work Bowling Leagues.” That’s right, Putnam researched many trends in Social Change over the 20th Century. He refers to the rapid decline of Social Capitalism in the late 20th Century. In context, social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between personal social networks. Much like the “After Work Bowling League” metaphor.
Putnam describes how the 1950’s were full with vibrant social and personal networking. From business men, to older adults sitting on the front every evening after dinner chatting with their neighbors. Putnam also included Americans involvement in National Chapter Based Associations, like the Rotary Club and the Local Ladies Auxiliary. People’s involvement in the civic organizations shot up during the first half of the 20th Century. However, there began a steep decline around 1960 in the participation in these civic clubs, evening chats with the neighbors on the front porch, and other viable personal networks. This is when the social injustice, in which I am referring to, began to rear its head in the lives of most Americans. Well, the obvious question is: What took place in the 1960’s that began to erode the foundation of the vibrant, healthy, and personal social networks? The T.V. That’s right, the television was introduced into the homes of Americans in the mid 1950’s; however, it truly became a force of driving people away from their personal networks and friends, and glued them to it’s riviting stories and moving pictures. Events like the lunar landing in 1969 was a further impetus that drove Americans into what we now face as one of the most overlooked but devastating injustices in our fabric as Americans today, and that is social isolation and loneliness.
The introduction of the T.V. was the first catalyst driving people inside. It still remains a driving force in spreading the epidemic of isolation and loneliness in America, in our cities, and even in our cul-de-sacs.
What’s more with the advent of the internet, and its advanced technology through interactive web-based video games, chat rooms, and of course the New Social Network Phenomena, does nothing but further push us into isolation and loneliness, which often times leads to addictions, serious depression, suicide, poor health, among other issues plaguing many Americans today.
The biggest and overlooked social injustice Americans face today is loneliness….this, in much part, is due to the retreat of Americans into their homes where they have access to a flat world and globalization right within their own homes.
The Glocal church must take up this issue and seek to eradicate it from the throes of American Culture. The church is perfectly positioned to achieve this mammoth goal. However, we can’t do church like we always have. We have to become a “Marginal Church” because we serve a “Marginal Savior.” Jesus went to the margins of society and life, and brought forgiveness restoration to the multitudes. John 4 tells how Jesus met the Samaritan Woman at the Well, in the Margins of society. John records in John 8 that Jesus met the woman caught in adultery and who was about to be stoned. And he delivered her physically and spiritually. He even went to the margins of society by going to Zaccheaus’ house to have dinner. Zaccheaus was a loathed tax collector and thief. Nevertheless, He met him in the Margins and made him new.
If the 21st Century Church doesn’t wake up from its elongated slumber, and become a “Marginal Force,” we could easily see the bedrock foundations of American culture, which is personal relationships, erode and wash away.
A One Word Definition of Discipleship
“Reproduction”
As growing believers, we must intentionally reproduce new believers and reproduce new small groups. We work toward these goals, in order to reproduce the Character of Christ in the lives of those with whom we interact and those with whom we have established relationships.
The Sensational and Simplicity of God
In 1 Kings 18. Elijah had just defeated and slaughtered 450 prophets of Baal and hundreds of additional false prophets by calling down fire from heaven….He experienced God in a big and sensational way. He was so confident of God that he even taunted the prophets of Baal
Afterwards, however, Elijah was faced with a death threat by an evil queen, Jezebel, and he was so afraid he ran for his life (1 Kings 19:3). As he was on the run, he came to Beersheba and he left his servant there and traveled a day’s journey into the desert. He was exhausted and he sat under a broom tree and prayed that he might die (this is why some say Elijah might have suffered with depression…He went from facing hundreds, if not over a thousand of false prophets of Baal and other false prophets, and defeated them and had them slaughtered. However, now we find him on the run for his life and praying that he might die because of one single death threat).
He was so tired of running that he fell asleep under the tree. Then an angel of the Lord fed him with warm bread and fresh water. Then he laid back down again (1 Kings 19:6).
Then the angel of the Lord touched him and told him to get up and eat “for the journey is too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7). Strengthened by the food he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Mt. Horeb also known as Mt Sinai.
It is worth noting that the trip from Beersheba to Mt. Sinai or Horeb was only a two week walk. Question is: Why did it take Elijah 40 days to travel what would have normally taken 2 weeks? We don’t know, the text doesn’t tell us. It could have been that God was taking the time to strengthen Elijah.
However, when he got to Mt. Horeb he spent the night in a cave, and there in the cave the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”(1 Kings 19:9-12).
Elijah had just recently experienced God sensationally through fire from Heaven and now he expected to hear him sensationally again. Not just because he had previously experienced God in a sensational manner, but other Israelites had experienced him sensationally as well. For example: Moses, Joshua and the Israelite Army, Joshua 10; 24, and Manoah, Sampson’s father and mother, Judges 13:18-20. But that’s not how God spoke to Him…He did not speak to him through the sensational but through simplicity. Not by the mighty wind, or the mighty earthquake, or even by the fire, no. Instead God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. Through his still small voice he gave Elijah clear instructions.
Do you keep waiting to hear from God is a sensational way? …..If so, you may need to tune out the world and listen for His still small voice.
Genesis 16 and Hagar’s Story
Hagar’s story is filled with misfortune. She was the maidservant to Sarai (known later as Sarah), who was wife to Abram (who would later be called Abraham).
Sarai suffered grievously in her heart because she was unable to become pregnant. She looked to her maidservant as a solution. Her plan was for Hagar to produce a male heir for her husband. Thus, she gave Hagar over to her husband Abram, and Hagar became pregnant with Abram’s son.
Jealousy soon enters the story. Sarai is upset about her maidservant giving her husband something she could not, and begins to harass her. Hagar, pregnant with child, flees from her mistress into the wilderness.
Hagar is on the run—probably bitter and confused by all that has happened. While wandering in the desert the angel of the Lord finds her and asks two questions: “Where have you come from?” and “Where are you going?”
These are comforting and beautiful questions, both for Hagar and for us.
God shows us, in the story of Hagar, that He is deeply interested in all of our circumstances in life. Just as He is interested in where we have come from, He is equally interested in where we are going. Just as God found Hagar and asked out of concern and care, in the same way He seeks us out and asks about our lives.
As a believer, a member, and/or a leader in the church, we need to hear God ask the “Where” questions. He is deeply concerned about where we have come from, and He is equally concerned about where we are going.
Maybe your past experiences in the church have felt confusing like Hagar’s situation. Maybe you have previously felt, or even now, feel like your spiritual life is wandering in the desert. Whatever the situation, God seeks you out and wants to know how you are doing. He cares about you intimately!
He cares about you as His child, and He cares about the role you play in His Kingdom work. He also cares about your role the church because is His chosen institution to minister to, and care for its own, reach others for Christ, and expand His Kingdom.
For Hagar, in the midst of her complicated circumstances, God offered great care for her and her baby. For us the same is true. His compassion and wisdom are close by. His care is near.
4 Questions for you regarding Genesis 16
1. “Where have you come from, and where are you going personally?”
2. “Where have you come from, and where are you going relationally?”
3. “Where have you come from, and where are you going spiritually?”
4. “Have you willingly turned over the reins of your life to Christ, and is he directing your path?”
Can The Child Within My Heart Rise Above
I woke up early this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I put on a pot of coffee, I put in a load of laundry, and I opened the Bible and God quickly spoke to me a powerful truth. A truth that helps me live for Him in a purer manner, from that which I have been living. I was reading Matthew’s Gospel, and Matthew 21:14-16 says:
“The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
”Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
”Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
‘From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise?’”
All of the sudden, my mind quickly raced to an old but classic song by Fleetwood Mac, titled “Landslide.” In the lyrics of that song it says:
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
This song stirs emotions within me because of where I am in my life and what I haven’t accomplished, in juxtaposition to what I want to accomplish.
As I am 41 and at the half-time of my life, I feel as if there is so much I haven’t done that I wanted to do, and there is also so much more that I want to accomplish. However, to be frankly honest, I don’t know if I will achieve some of my dreams. Nevertheless, that’s okay because Jesus’ words help put my circumstances in perspective.
Going back to the text. In Matt. 21:16, the words: “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise” can be translated “You have taught children and infants to give you praise.” Jesus is quoting Psalms 8:2. He is saying that God takes care of the little children and provides them special protection….He makes provisions for these most frail of creatures, and they in turn are prepared and taught to sing His praises, and they do so!
I don’t need to approach my Heavenly Father with a bucket list of “God, these are the things I want to accomplish before I die….Help me to achieve them.” No! I should do that in which God has prepared me to do, time and time again…Sing His praise! For He is worthy and I am blessed!
No Pace, No Peace
Six weeks ago I signed up to run a half marathon (that’s 13.1 miles) at Disney World on January 8th. So for the past couple of months I have been training hard…too hard. I felt the pressure of reaching certain goals and timelines between now and the race, and if I didn’t meet a specific timeline, I’d push myself even harder in order to meet that goal….because I’m naïve enough to think that by meeting that goal in early August, it will help me complete the race….WRONG!!!
I have realized I have to set a pace that is within my physical limits and one that is reasonable. Yet at the same time, helps me achieve my ultimate goal of finishing Disney’s Half Marathon in January.
Since I started training extremely hard in July, I’ve had two injuries that set me back….injuries that I could have avoided if I had set a steady and manageable training pace from the start.
Ben Young and Dr. Samuel Adams write the following in their book “Out of Control: Finding Peace for the Physically Exhausted and Spiritually Strung Out”.… “NO PACE NO PEACE”….. They go on to write “When was the last time you experienced a peace that provides substance and satisfaction, as well as a deep calm in one’s circumstances….. It’s hard to find physical and spiritual refreshment in a culture that worships activity and discounts the value of rest-especially soul rest.”
Let’s face it, we’re all running a race…the race of life. However, most of us are running at a pace that not only provides no peace, but rather, produces problems and unwelcomed pain. I know this first hand because I have been pushing myself so hard training for this half marathon, my legs wake me up in the middle of almost every night, aching and preventing me from getting the physical rest my body needs.
Remember, the pace that you set for your life, too often dictates your schedule and ultimately your emotions and your attitude, which often means pushing God aside to get everything done.
Let me remind you of some wise and powerful words that Jesus spoke. Luke recorded these words in his Gospel, in Luke 21:19: “By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
Remember pace not only dictates your days, but it also dictates your lives, and if you run the race with endurance, and a pace that honors God by making much time for him, you will gain your life….and also that peace for which you’ve been searching.
God Will Lift Up Your Head
A few years back the Christian band “Jars of Clay” recorded a song titled “God Will Lift Up Your Head.” Its lyrics are a beautiful word picture of God’s great love and compassion for us. It’s already a classic…Really! It’s already a classic because it was written by Paul Gerhardt and translated into English by Charles Wesley in the 1600’s. I hope it blesses you as it has me!
“Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head
Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command
Then shall we wandering on His way
Know how wise and how strong
How wise and how strong
How strong is His hand
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy”
