I love the way that children think. So often it just blows my mind completely. For instance, the kindergarten teacher just told me today about an incident in her classroom. She was relating to them the story of Abraham and God's promise when she asked, "How could Abraham count the stars?" With exuberance one student cried out, "By tens!"
One of my professors used to tell us that the goal of higher education, as he saw it, was to retrain the "adult," "mature" mind into something more childlike. He did not mean behaviors or content as much as he meant that curiosity and inquisitiveness that so represents the child's mind. Only by asking good questions and having an open mind, he maintained, could you really continue learning. Calvin, from the cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes, happened to be his favorite theologian/philosopher. The kid had something going, that's for sure.
We, and I mean adults, tend to work off of so many assumptions that we hardly question or perhaps even acknowledge. Increasingly, through teaching, I am confronted by questions in class such as "why?" or by the need to explain further the way things are related. Children, especially in the grammar stage, need those concrete explanantions, which has challenged my own thinking.
While we may feed on meatier stuff than milk, we must not, in academic pursuits or heavenly pursuits, lose that childlike awe that brought David to his knees before God or that questioning spirit that raised up reformers in the 15th century. Just something I was thinking about one day....
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Paul, Joy, Leadership
One of the main responsibilities I have with my 5th and 6th grade class is both to model Christ to them and to teach them to love Christ, and in so doing, know how to serve him. It's such a huge and overwhelming task! We were going through 2 Philippians today specifically to talk about considering others above yourselves and about not complaining. I read the opening verses with just new personal insight, though. Paul asks the Philippians church to be like-minded and love one another to "make [his] joy complete" and asks them not to complain so that he would not have '"labored in vain." Bam! The feeling with which he made those statements just struck me so forcibly. I am sure that parents and pastors and others in like situations feel the impact of these verses, but I had never before. Now I have this class of students, and as sinners and children, they complain, argue and bicker. And I know how deeply I want to see them grow in Christ and how much joy I would have to see them loving and serving each other in a Christ-like manner more and more. Paul, while recognizing the strengths of the Philippians wants them to abound more and more. And that is my prayer and hope for my class. Partly, I think it is such a difference for me now to be on the leading and giving end in the classroom, as opposed to the recieving end. It's such a blessing, though. Praise God!
Now I'm a true Mainer
Fun times. So this past weekend Matt and I embarked upon a true Maine experience. With work and all of the changes, it has been tough to find the energy and motivation to get out and do things. This past weekend we went down to Portland and saw a really cool light house. (Like the one on my blog here!) We also went to two sand beaches and took mini-hikes. Sidney (our Beagle puppy) went with us to the beach. She seemed to like running around the beach with us but never went too far. She definitely did not like the water part or sinking in wet sand (she whined), but it was fun. I took about 120 pictures, and got some really amazing ones.
While I was standing on a rocky part of one beach I just looked out on the vast expanse that receded into the horizon. It was stormy to the east and the sun was setting in a cloudy western sky. The words, "and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep" entered my mind and I just got chills. God's creation is amazing.
Not only that.....we ate a real lobster dinner! And by real, I mean, we made it ourselves. You can get lobsters out here for relatively cheap, so we got ourselves some live lobsters. I was not too keen on putting those things in the boiling water, so it was actually Matt who cooked the lobsters. Sidney helped, especially when one of the lobsters didn't want to go in the pot. She started barking at it. I have pictures of her sniffing a lobster and Matt holding it. We topped off the meal with bread, salad and wine. Awesome. Now I feel like I belong here.
Bring on the adventure...
While I was standing on a rocky part of one beach I just looked out on the vast expanse that receded into the horizon. It was stormy to the east and the sun was setting in a cloudy western sky. The words, "and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep" entered my mind and I just got chills. God's creation is amazing.
Not only that.....we ate a real lobster dinner! And by real, I mean, we made it ourselves. You can get lobsters out here for relatively cheap, so we got ourselves some live lobsters. I was not too keen on putting those things in the boiling water, so it was actually Matt who cooked the lobsters. Sidney helped, especially when one of the lobsters didn't want to go in the pot. She started barking at it. I have pictures of her sniffing a lobster and Matt holding it. We topped off the meal with bread, salad and wine. Awesome. Now I feel like I belong here.
Bring on the adventure...
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Heart Language
Two particular conversations with friends over the past week really got me to thinking about several threads that have been weaving themselves through the fabric of my thoughts over the past several years.
Wycliffe Raises Questions
First, my friend is now preparing to go overseas with Wycliffe Bible Translators. It has been so fascinating for me to watch her go through this whole process and learn with her about Bible Translating. Wycliffe realizes the power of the Word as revealed through his written word. Their focus, then, becomes putting the word of God into the heart language of people groups, and in fact, has as a goal to have it in the language of all people groups. After reading and watching videos about their work, I am more impressed with the speciial significance to the people groups of having the Word in their language. Alongside Bible Translating, Wycliffe does work in ethnomusicology. They maintain that music is not the universal language, but rather peoples have different music styles, etc., that speak to them. In their study of ethnic music, they find ways that people groups can worship through their own methods. Their heart music.
An interesting question that has rolled around in my head concerns literal versus thought-for-thought translation. I have always automatically been drawn toward literal translation with no exceptions. Consider, however, the tribe in the jungle who has never seen snow. What meaning do they attach to "your sins will be white as snow"? Jesus seemd to speak in stories that resonated with his culture. Bring that attitude home then. What about translations such as the Message and the New Living Translation? I am inclined to hold English speakers to a higher standard, but is that merely my middle-class snobbery? God's word is powerful indeed, for it "strips the forest bare." I am still drawn to "better" translations like the ESV and NASB, but rightfully? Is there a line over which we cross into diminishing the Gospel's effectiveness by human frailty, or is our concern actually lack of faith in the power of God in salvation? Sigh.
Relevancy in the Church
While I have done minimal study on this particular subject, I am intrigued by the rising movement known as Emergent Theology. As far as I can tell, they are growing groups of Christians concerned about the rise of post-modernism and what they perceive as the church's failuer in adequately responding. Therefore, they propose what they call "new ways" of responding through worship and evangelism, etc. On the one hand, I am leary both of motives and methods of such a group (or conglomeration of groups), especially when using terms like "new," when there is nothing new under the sun, not even post-modernism. For another thing, I cringe to think that the motive might be to make Christianity more appealing (so as to grow in numbers and have similar goals) approaching a more "seeker-friendly" mode. The Gospel, even Christ himself, is offensive and divisive. There is a balance that is sometimes hard to find. So as I study this movement more, I may find different motives, goals and methods, but intend to ask hard questions to really figure out what they are trying to say and do.
On the other hand, I find myself nearly ready to jump on board with such thinking. As I sat in church this summer, at times I found myself thinking, "Is this my Christianity?" with an embarrassed grimace. I almost feel as though mainstream evangelicalism has taken on a Kraft macaroni mentality- very comfortable, easy, and ultimately, very cheesy. I always hate to be critical of the church because I find often that criticism of the church often leads to bitterness and separation, when Christ called us to love and serve the church. However often I fail, my desire is that if a person is turned away from Christianity, he has stumbled on Christ and teh Gospel and not the manner by which we have presented it.
Anyway....Worship wars continue to rage. In addition, I sometimes feel that as Christians (and more so in conservative circles) we sometimes choose something just because it's "old" and not because it's biblical. Back on track, though, it happened to be the music that particularly made me grimace. We would sing a hymn, but it might be one of those gospel songs that everyone knows and older generations love. As I consider the words, I think, what does this mean? Some of those hymns are so fluffy and meaningless, and yet they are old favorites. Huh. And the conversely, some of the praise songs we sang were equally as embarrassing and empty. At times, we didn't even sing the new, hipper songs, either, but flashed-back to the 80s. Yikes. I guess what really got me about these songs was this: perhaps they are comfortable and familiar songs but if a non-believer was at church that week, what would they think? I especially thought about the high school generation, that is so world-weary, bitter and dark in so many ways. Are teenage skater boys drawn in by the feminized praise songs? I am not advocating seeker-friendliness by any means, but perhaps our methods are worth considering. I sometimes fear that our presentation of the gospel is the stumbling block and not Christ himself. Consider again the work of the ethnomusicologist who says that music is not the universal language. So what music speaks to our generation?
I guess what this all means to me as far as the church is a challenge to the church and myself. The world out there is changing, perhaps not evolving into something new, but is changing. Are we as a church engaging that culture? Are we listening to its heartbeat and asking good questions? Are finding the heart language of our youth, risking relationship with them, and feeding them Christ. We have this tendency to throw cheesy phrases and chic tracks at people rather than risk meeting them heart to heart. Adults, at times, though ready to impress upon youth the majesty of Christ, fail to measure the heartbeat whose rhythm is not his own. We all too often stand on the precipice above shouting down to the raging sea, "Just swim!...not that way....Kick your legs!" rather than diving in, just to say, "I am here with you. We can swim this one together." I believe that is what our youth especially needs, adults willing to listen and find their heart language and speak in a way that upholds the gospel but does not diminish their hearts. I know I did.
Training Up Hearts
This topic of heart languages seems also to tie in very strongly with my new job. I am almost overwhelmed at the enormity and responsibility of teaching a class of seven 5th/6th graders, not only to be responsible for giving them knowledge, but to teach their hearts and share in the work of conforming their character to Christ's. It is very humbling work.
I am amazed at the creativity of God in creating each of these children, and how their backgrounds, choices and experiences (of which I know so little) have formed them. And I realize that I am dealing with seven distinct and impressionable hearts that yearn (sometimes in ignorance) for the love of Christ, and how inadequate I am for the task of feeding them. I must remind myself that however much I have "matured" or moved on in the experiences of life, nothing is so important to their hearts as what they are feeling at this time, even if is something as seemingly small as a playground squabble. I must by careful oberservation and interaction to hear and to speak their distinct heart languages, and to love them. What a task! I sometimes think I can get lazy and throw empty, detached words at students, like "God told us to love each other so that's what you should do." That may be true, but I opt for the easy way rather than asking good questions about what might be going on in their heart, and learning to lead their desires to Christ. Sometimes, that just can't be done with words.
I have found that children have wonderful minds, and that I can teach a child to memorize anything or learn a math concept so easily. What requires more work is to train their hearts. One of the major roadblocks to this work is my own heart. I can trace my perception of situations or reactions to students back to my own assumptions and experiences. Praise God that he is strongest in our weakness.
So, these ramblings might be just that...and more scattered than I actually intended. But as I wrote extensively in my thesis, I believe that the heart is so important, in training and discipling kids, in relating to friends and in understanding ourselves. Rather than letting our own experiences, knowledge and assumptions dictate, it is so important (and really a delight) to undertake the risky task of understanding and learning to speak another's heart language.
Wycliffe Raises Questions
First, my friend is now preparing to go overseas with Wycliffe Bible Translators. It has been so fascinating for me to watch her go through this whole process and learn with her about Bible Translating. Wycliffe realizes the power of the Word as revealed through his written word. Their focus, then, becomes putting the word of God into the heart language of people groups, and in fact, has as a goal to have it in the language of all people groups. After reading and watching videos about their work, I am more impressed with the speciial significance to the people groups of having the Word in their language. Alongside Bible Translating, Wycliffe does work in ethnomusicology. They maintain that music is not the universal language, but rather peoples have different music styles, etc., that speak to them. In their study of ethnic music, they find ways that people groups can worship through their own methods. Their heart music.
An interesting question that has rolled around in my head concerns literal versus thought-for-thought translation. I have always automatically been drawn toward literal translation with no exceptions. Consider, however, the tribe in the jungle who has never seen snow. What meaning do they attach to "your sins will be white as snow"? Jesus seemd to speak in stories that resonated with his culture. Bring that attitude home then. What about translations such as the Message and the New Living Translation? I am inclined to hold English speakers to a higher standard, but is that merely my middle-class snobbery? God's word is powerful indeed, for it "strips the forest bare." I am still drawn to "better" translations like the ESV and NASB, but rightfully? Is there a line over which we cross into diminishing the Gospel's effectiveness by human frailty, or is our concern actually lack of faith in the power of God in salvation? Sigh.
Relevancy in the Church
While I have done minimal study on this particular subject, I am intrigued by the rising movement known as Emergent Theology. As far as I can tell, they are growing groups of Christians concerned about the rise of post-modernism and what they perceive as the church's failuer in adequately responding. Therefore, they propose what they call "new ways" of responding through worship and evangelism, etc. On the one hand, I am leary both of motives and methods of such a group (or conglomeration of groups), especially when using terms like "new," when there is nothing new under the sun, not even post-modernism. For another thing, I cringe to think that the motive might be to make Christianity more appealing (so as to grow in numbers and have similar goals) approaching a more "seeker-friendly" mode. The Gospel, even Christ himself, is offensive and divisive. There is a balance that is sometimes hard to find. So as I study this movement more, I may find different motives, goals and methods, but intend to ask hard questions to really figure out what they are trying to say and do.
On the other hand, I find myself nearly ready to jump on board with such thinking. As I sat in church this summer, at times I found myself thinking, "Is this my Christianity?" with an embarrassed grimace. I almost feel as though mainstream evangelicalism has taken on a Kraft macaroni mentality- very comfortable, easy, and ultimately, very cheesy. I always hate to be critical of the church because I find often that criticism of the church often leads to bitterness and separation, when Christ called us to love and serve the church. However often I fail, my desire is that if a person is turned away from Christianity, he has stumbled on Christ and teh Gospel and not the manner by which we have presented it.
Anyway....Worship wars continue to rage. In addition, I sometimes feel that as Christians (and more so in conservative circles) we sometimes choose something just because it's "old" and not because it's biblical. Back on track, though, it happened to be the music that particularly made me grimace. We would sing a hymn, but it might be one of those gospel songs that everyone knows and older generations love. As I consider the words, I think, what does this mean? Some of those hymns are so fluffy and meaningless, and yet they are old favorites. Huh. And the conversely, some of the praise songs we sang were equally as embarrassing and empty. At times, we didn't even sing the new, hipper songs, either, but flashed-back to the 80s. Yikes. I guess what really got me about these songs was this: perhaps they are comfortable and familiar songs but if a non-believer was at church that week, what would they think? I especially thought about the high school generation, that is so world-weary, bitter and dark in so many ways. Are teenage skater boys drawn in by the feminized praise songs? I am not advocating seeker-friendliness by any means, but perhaps our methods are worth considering. I sometimes fear that our presentation of the gospel is the stumbling block and not Christ himself. Consider again the work of the ethnomusicologist who says that music is not the universal language. So what music speaks to our generation?
I guess what this all means to me as far as the church is a challenge to the church and myself. The world out there is changing, perhaps not evolving into something new, but is changing. Are we as a church engaging that culture? Are we listening to its heartbeat and asking good questions? Are finding the heart language of our youth, risking relationship with them, and feeding them Christ. We have this tendency to throw cheesy phrases and chic tracks at people rather than risk meeting them heart to heart. Adults, at times, though ready to impress upon youth the majesty of Christ, fail to measure the heartbeat whose rhythm is not his own. We all too often stand on the precipice above shouting down to the raging sea, "Just swim!...not that way....Kick your legs!" rather than diving in, just to say, "I am here with you. We can swim this one together." I believe that is what our youth especially needs, adults willing to listen and find their heart language and speak in a way that upholds the gospel but does not diminish their hearts. I know I did.
Training Up Hearts
This topic of heart languages seems also to tie in very strongly with my new job. I am almost overwhelmed at the enormity and responsibility of teaching a class of seven 5th/6th graders, not only to be responsible for giving them knowledge, but to teach their hearts and share in the work of conforming their character to Christ's. It is very humbling work.
I am amazed at the creativity of God in creating each of these children, and how their backgrounds, choices and experiences (of which I know so little) have formed them. And I realize that I am dealing with seven distinct and impressionable hearts that yearn (sometimes in ignorance) for the love of Christ, and how inadequate I am for the task of feeding them. I must remind myself that however much I have "matured" or moved on in the experiences of life, nothing is so important to their hearts as what they are feeling at this time, even if is something as seemingly small as a playground squabble. I must by careful oberservation and interaction to hear and to speak their distinct heart languages, and to love them. What a task! I sometimes think I can get lazy and throw empty, detached words at students, like "God told us to love each other so that's what you should do." That may be true, but I opt for the easy way rather than asking good questions about what might be going on in their heart, and learning to lead their desires to Christ. Sometimes, that just can't be done with words.
I have found that children have wonderful minds, and that I can teach a child to memorize anything or learn a math concept so easily. What requires more work is to train their hearts. One of the major roadblocks to this work is my own heart. I can trace my perception of situations or reactions to students back to my own assumptions and experiences. Praise God that he is strongest in our weakness.
So, these ramblings might be just that...and more scattered than I actually intended. But as I wrote extensively in my thesis, I believe that the heart is so important, in training and discipling kids, in relating to friends and in understanding ourselves. Rather than letting our own experiences, knowledge and assumptions dictate, it is so important (and really a delight) to undertake the risky task of understanding and learning to speak another's heart language.
Monday, September 12, 2005
The Maine points only...
Phew. So, I have much to write. For now, I will only abbreviate and hope to catch up completely later. I am in Maine now. Matthew and I moved here with no glitches. God has been so good to us. I started my job last Tuesday and have a wonderul group of 5th and 6th graders. More on everything later. Sigh. I feel overwhelmed with all I could and want to say....I suppose I will postpone for another day.
Oh. The most exciting news..we got a puppy! We have a cute little beagle puppy named Sydney. Whoohoo!
Oh. The most exciting news..we got a puppy! We have a cute little beagle puppy named Sydney. Whoohoo!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
WWW.edding
Thanks to my cousin Brian, Matthew and I now have a wedding website. It's really cool. Check it out: www.grinderwedding.com.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Just Call Me, "Mrs. Grinder."
Ok, well, not quite. The wedding is three months away yet, but that's what my fifth and sixth graders at the Maine Classical School are going to call me in the fall. Yes, that's right. A few weeks ago, I applied to this Classical Christian School in Freeport, ME, near where Matthew and I are going to live in Brunswick. I had a phone interview a week later, and a week and a half later, they flew me out for some teaching time and more interviews. The Schoolmaster just called me this afternoon to offer me the 5/6 position. I am so delighted!
Thank you to all who have supported and prayed for me about this opportunity!
Graduation went well. I got to spend time with Emily S. and Michelle afterward. as well as see other friends from near and far. I can't quite believe that it's over. Life is moving on quickly...and on that note, I'll end. I don't know when I will be back with wedding plans and all, but we'll see!
Thank you to all who have supported and prayed for me about this opportunity!
Graduation went well. I got to spend time with Emily S. and Michelle afterward. as well as see other friends from near and far. I can't quite believe that it's over. Life is moving on quickly...and on that note, I'll end. I don't know when I will be back with wedding plans and all, but we'll see!
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Fun times...
This is Matt and I at his parents' house caught between rounds of Phase 10. He beat me...but just barely. Grrr. Anyway, it was a relaxing break all around, thanks to both families. Marriage couseling is awesome and made me ten times more excited about getting married. Whoohoo.
There isn't much time now for a real post because I need to go study for my Religion Comps, which I am taking at 8 am tomorrow...
Friday, March 18, 2005
Spring Break!
I am officially on Spring Break now. Tomorrow, I will be flying out of Detroit and meeting Matthew in Minneapolis, then we will fly home together! (via Seattle, which doesn't make sense to me either..oh well) I haven't seen him in six months so I am super excited. We will be spending some relaxing time with his family in Cut Bank and mine in Great Falls. We will also be getting some more wedding plans done. Whoohoo! Needless to say, I will not be updating until after Easter. Happy Easter, Friends!
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. "-1 Corinthians 13:1
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. "-1 Corinthians 13:1
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Christians Before a Watching World
Wow. More and more it has come to my attention that there are major issues within Reformed theological circles. You would think that good, solid doctrine would breed good, solid and unified people. Tragically, I am learning that it doesn't always and that the problem is more widespread than I had previously imagined. If the dissention isn't over doctrine, what is it? Rob Schlapfer, although having recently come into controversy over his websites antithesis.com and discerningread.com, has some good things to say about this very topic. I am going to repost his newletter article from last year here. Enjoy!
Christians Before a Watching World
The Dangerous Pursuit of Reformed Theology
Why is it that, with all too many of us, themore familiar we are with sound Christian teaching the less Christ-like we become in our daily lives? Why are so many "Reformed" belivers, in particular, so lacking in love, kindness, patience, gentleness, meekness- the fruit of the Spirit's work within us? Why so cold- abstracring trith fromt eh real world of people with needs? Is there a danger pursuing theology- especially, in our times, Reformed Theology?
Yes. There is a very real danger. I can testify to it personally...with tears. If left unchecked it can cut us off from brothers and sisters whom we are called to love and serve- simply because they do not hold our same convictions. And it undermines our proclamation of the good news of Christ's kingdom to a lost world in need.
How? By presenting a caricature of the Christian faith- exaggerating certain areas of truth and pushing them to the forefront- that, as Francis Schaeffer puts it, "is hard and lacks beauty." It creates "ugly Calvinism" that is more a reaction to the "easy-believism" of our times than "thorough, Biblical Reformation." Sad, but all too true.
What are its salient features? It places undue emphasis upon God's Holiness, at the expense of His Love. It speaks often of our integrity- the need to maintain a good conscience before God and people- but rarely about the fervent love we are to have "one for another." It has little room for mercy when wronged, and will carry a grudge for years if offended. It dwells on the wrongs of others and seems oblivious to teh idea that love conquers a multitude of sins. It is quick to got to war in defense of some personal conviction, forgetting that "peacemakers" will be called the sonsof God. In short, it lacks the very grace it seeks to promote. (How ironic.)
In many respects, it has similarities with one of the reformation movements found on the pages of the New Testament: the Pharisees. Sinclair Ferguson notes well that,
"The Pharisees were men who had originally set out to restore God's people to orthodox, supernatural doctrine. They were men who had sought to promte holiness of life. They were men who knew something about what it was to have a God who was concerned about the details of men's daily walk before Him...
Many of the doctrines that we love were also loved by the Pharisees. And yet, the tragedy of their lives was that- through mistaken application of God's truth and a failure, especially, to see that the doctrines of God's grace are meant to show us the grace of God Himself- they used their doctrines and their application and their ethic to hide their souls from God. They needed to learn that the doctrines of Grace need to be lodged in hearts of grace in order to produce live of grace...
There is a perennial danger in the religious heart: thatin the midst of all our desire to understand precisely and to live precisely we may lose sight of the grace of God who [after all] sent His Son to be the Saviour of the World. [Not its judge-now.]"
A Question of Balance
Don't misunderstand me. I am grateful that I was introduced to the riches of Reformed Theology some twenty years ago. But the study of such theology is not an end in and of itself. It is always to make us more like Jesus-the gentlelamb of God who conducted a gracious ministry amongthe poor, describing Himself as gentle and lowly of heart. (Matthew 11:29) When Biblical-Theological study produces something other than that it is worse than useless- it can, in fact, be damning. And it presents a watching world with a distorted vision of The God who is There. As Paul, the Biblical scholar, aptly puts it, This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
rob schlapfer, christiancounterculture.com
Christians Before a Watching World
The Dangerous Pursuit of Reformed Theology
Why is it that, with all too many of us, themore familiar we are with sound Christian teaching the less Christ-like we become in our daily lives? Why are so many "Reformed" belivers, in particular, so lacking in love, kindness, patience, gentleness, meekness- the fruit of the Spirit's work within us? Why so cold- abstracring trith fromt eh real world of people with needs? Is there a danger pursuing theology- especially, in our times, Reformed Theology?
Yes. There is a very real danger. I can testify to it personally...with tears. If left unchecked it can cut us off from brothers and sisters whom we are called to love and serve- simply because they do not hold our same convictions. And it undermines our proclamation of the good news of Christ's kingdom to a lost world in need.
How? By presenting a caricature of the Christian faith- exaggerating certain areas of truth and pushing them to the forefront- that, as Francis Schaeffer puts it, "is hard and lacks beauty." It creates "ugly Calvinism" that is more a reaction to the "easy-believism" of our times than "thorough, Biblical Reformation." Sad, but all too true.
What are its salient features? It places undue emphasis upon God's Holiness, at the expense of His Love. It speaks often of our integrity- the need to maintain a good conscience before God and people- but rarely about the fervent love we are to have "one for another." It has little room for mercy when wronged, and will carry a grudge for years if offended. It dwells on the wrongs of others and seems oblivious to teh idea that love conquers a multitude of sins. It is quick to got to war in defense of some personal conviction, forgetting that "peacemakers" will be called the sonsof God. In short, it lacks the very grace it seeks to promote. (How ironic.)
In many respects, it has similarities with one of the reformation movements found on the pages of the New Testament: the Pharisees. Sinclair Ferguson notes well that,
"The Pharisees were men who had originally set out to restore God's people to orthodox, supernatural doctrine. They were men who had sought to promte holiness of life. They were men who knew something about what it was to have a God who was concerned about the details of men's daily walk before Him...
Many of the doctrines that we love were also loved by the Pharisees. And yet, the tragedy of their lives was that- through mistaken application of God's truth and a failure, especially, to see that the doctrines of God's grace are meant to show us the grace of God Himself- they used their doctrines and their application and their ethic to hide their souls from God. They needed to learn that the doctrines of Grace need to be lodged in hearts of grace in order to produce live of grace...
There is a perennial danger in the religious heart: thatin the midst of all our desire to understand precisely and to live precisely we may lose sight of the grace of God who [after all] sent His Son to be the Saviour of the World. [Not its judge-now.]"
A Question of Balance
Don't misunderstand me. I am grateful that I was introduced to the riches of Reformed Theology some twenty years ago. But the study of such theology is not an end in and of itself. It is always to make us more like Jesus-the gentlelamb of God who conducted a gracious ministry amongthe poor, describing Himself as gentle and lowly of heart. (Matthew 11:29) When Biblical-Theological study produces something other than that it is worse than useless- it can, in fact, be damning. And it presents a watching world with a distorted vision of The God who is There. As Paul, the Biblical scholar, aptly puts it, This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
rob schlapfer, christiancounterculture.com
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Rise up, O Men of God!
David Talcott has an excellent post entitled "Protestant Hymnody and Making Male Leaders" (dated March 12) found here. Read it! Meanwhile, I will post a great hymn.
Rise up, O Men of God!
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To servethe King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
His kingdom tarries long;
Bring in the day of brotherhood,
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The Church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great.
Lift high the cross of Christ;
Tread where his feet have trod;
As brothers of the Son of man
Rise up, O men of God!
-William H. Walter
Rise up, O Men of God!
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To servethe King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
His kingdom tarries long;
Bring in the day of brotherhood,
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The Church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great.
Lift high the cross of Christ;
Tread where his feet have trod;
As brothers of the Son of man
Rise up, O men of God!
-William H. Walter
Speaking of being hungry...
Perhaps it was the discussion on the Ockhamist's page here on herbal/organice vs. "real science" or the fact that I work in a health food store (and love it), or maybe it was my trip to King Buffet on Friday with Regina and Piko (yay KB!) that prompted me once again to think about food and eating. I think in our culture we think a lot about food- I know I do- and not just in the "food=survival" sense. We're an overweight nation and not just because of genetics. We're the culture of snack food, processed/packaged food, all-you-can-eat food and "biggie size my fries with that." How often, though, do we think about what we eat or how much in light of God's Word? After all, when Paul says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God," (1 Corinthians 10:31) I think he really meant eat and drink as well as the other applications that we most often ascribe to the verse. I had considered for a brief time doing my senior thesis on a Biblical theology of eating. It's an interesting topic- perhaps for another time. So how do we eat or drink to the glory of God?
I am not prepared to answer that question but I think there must be a way. Consider for a moment the life of a dancer. At Christmas time, my little sister Rachel was describing how the dancers at Interlochen Arts Academy (where she attends for visual art) live out their lives. Basically, everything revolves around their ability to perform. So what they eat and how much they eat and how often they eat all revolves around dance and becoming a better dancer. This focus, even on the small everyday tasks, is something for which the Christian should also strive, to be able to do everything, even drink orange juice, to the glory of God. May God grant us the wisdom and grace for such a task.
I am not prepared to answer that question but I think there must be a way. Consider for a moment the life of a dancer. At Christmas time, my little sister Rachel was describing how the dancers at Interlochen Arts Academy (where she attends for visual art) live out their lives. Basically, everything revolves around their ability to perform. So what they eat and how much they eat and how often they eat all revolves around dance and becoming a better dancer. This focus, even on the small everyday tasks, is something for which the Christian should also strive, to be able to do everything, even drink orange juice, to the glory of God. May God grant us the wisdom and grace for such a task.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
The Pursuit of God
Being a religion major is great. In researching for my senior Religion thesis I get to read guys like Augustine, Edwards, Spurgeon, Lewis, Piper and others- and even get credit for it. Today, I was reading A.W. Tozer again and loving it. I read The Pursuit of God for the first time a couple of years ago when Matthew (my fiance!) gave it to me. Here are some excerpts from the opening chapter:
"The doctrine of justification by faith- a biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism and unavailing self-effort- has in our time fallen into evil company and been interrupted by many in such a manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God. The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless. Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego. Christ may be 'received' without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver. The man is 'saved,' but he is not hungry or thirsty after God. In fact, he is specifically taught to be satisfied and is encouraged to be content with little...Everything is made center upon our initial act of 'accepting' (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible) and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls."
Although first published more than 50 years ago, this indictment perhaps rings more true today than ever. It was Augstine who wrote, "You have formed us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." There is a deep, passionate Christianity which many saints have experienced which I think many today are lacking, including myself. Deep love requires vulnerability and weakness and introspection. It also involves being emotional and passionate, which can be an evil to many in the Reformed circle. Are we too satisfied? Do we hunger after God?
"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. Amen." -A.W. Tozer
"The doctrine of justification by faith- a biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism and unavailing self-effort- has in our time fallen into evil company and been interrupted by many in such a manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God. The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless. Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego. Christ may be 'received' without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver. The man is 'saved,' but he is not hungry or thirsty after God. In fact, he is specifically taught to be satisfied and is encouraged to be content with little...Everything is made center upon our initial act of 'accepting' (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible) and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls."
Although first published more than 50 years ago, this indictment perhaps rings more true today than ever. It was Augstine who wrote, "You have formed us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." There is a deep, passionate Christianity which many saints have experienced which I think many today are lacking, including myself. Deep love requires vulnerability and weakness and introspection. It also involves being emotional and passionate, which can be an evil to many in the Reformed circle. Are we too satisfied? Do we hunger after God?
"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. Amen." -A.W. Tozer
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Amerika: Follow-up articles.
I just ran across some interesting articles in the back issues of Christian Counter Culture that tie into to my last post. I haven't gotten through them all, but take a look here.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Was Jesus "American?"
Disclaimer: I grew up in one of the most intensely patriotic families in the country. I am the daughter of an Army major, my fiance is in the Navy, and my future brother-in-law is serving in Iraq as we speak. So this post should not in any way be construed as anti-American. I love this country. It's merely an attempt to provoke American Christians to think more deeply about their American Christianity.
At Hillsdale College, where they synthesis the Judeo-Christian with the Greco-Roman, political and religious circles often blend indiscriminantly. The very roots of American philosophy grew out of the Protestant ethic. What has troubled me most in the past couple years here has been the statement about America being a "Christian nation." So I pose the question: was Jesus "American?" or rather, should America really be considered a Christian nation? Even people who answer "yes" to this question use the term "Christian nation" in many different ways. So in consideration of this topic, let's first try to define what exactly is or should be meant by "Christian Nation," then ask if this model is compatible with Scripture both for our personal lives and in the church's vision for the nations.
First, some people use the term "Christian nation" simply to mean that America was founded by Christian men with Christian ideals such as Protestant individualism and Anabaptist separation of church and state. I can live with this definition. Another definition means the term to refer to Christianity as the religion with which most American affiliate themselves. Also true and one with which I am comfortable. A third definition is one that not only bothers non-Christians but also concerns me. This definition almost completely blends, sometimes intentionally and other times not, all things American with all things Christian. In other words, the America dream becomes the Christian's dream for his/her personal life and the American way becomes the Christian's goal for the world.
(Just as an interesting side note: I think it's worth thinking about that many in the Islamic world that evaluate our claims to be "Christian" say that America is very immoral and has fallen away from its own Scriptures. While we might say the same about extremist Muslims, we cannot deny this claim in good conscience, I don't think.)
I think we got this unhealthy ethnocentrism by adopting the Puritan's "city on a hill" rhetoric which originally came from Augustine. (And incidentally referred to the church as a body of Christian believers, and not a political entity.) Now I do not dispute that we are the freest country on earth with the best system of government ever and that we have the highest standard of living ever known- or that involvement in politics by Christians is somehow bad. That being said, I take issue with blending American ideals and Christian ideals indiscriminantly. Even if we have done it unknowingly, I think it's time to wake up and take a second look.
In the first place, though it has been pounded into our heads, the "American Dream" is not necessarily compatible with the Christian dream for a person's individual life. By the "American Dream" I refer to that idea that "the pursuit of happiness" consists of an individual making his own way to become happy. And that the content of said "happiness" is economic betterment, social status, political and/or academic power and finally, retirement on a golf course in Florida- because, after all, that previous work deserves some rest! And as kids in school we are told that we can do anything and be anything, and we are told that some career paths are more prestigious than others. Now, I am not against working hard, and I am not against Christians who find earthly successes. What I oppose is the motivation that often drives these outcomes, which is just ourselves in many cases.
What should be the goal of a Christian's life? Pauls says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) His goal is the prize of the call of God, which is manifested in Christ. What is the prize? Paul again tells us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward." (Colossians 3:23-24) Peter tells us that this inheritance is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:4-5) And in fact, this treasure is seeing and savoring Christ in heaven for ever! His grace is for us now, but this eternal reward is not for this earth, it is for eternity. Then what is this call of God that leads us to this reward, that bring us to Christ? Look no further than God's most explicit revelation himself on the cross in Christ. Jesus, in fact, beckons to us, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 16:24) (Deny himself? That doesn't sound very American!) A call to become a follower of Christ is a call to suffer- to suffer the agony of a soul faced with its own sinfulness and the agony of a soul then called to live in a suffering, fallen world. Christ promises us, "If they persecute me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:20) The cross is a place of death, and Christ calls us to die to our sin (and in effect to our selfish desires) and also to die for others. So perhaps the path of prosperity is not necessarily the path to Christ. Christ may bless, but as in the case of Israel many times, be wary of relying on the gifts and not the giver! And for another thing, is retirement a biblical concept? NO! Christ promises us rest, but it's a rest in heaven, after the suffering of this life. Does he ever say we can stop laboring for the kingdom and just while away our time in "paradise." I think the idea of retirement is perhaps the most detrimental to the American Christian. It's a worthless and wasteful goal. Sure, there may be retirement from one thing to another, but to think we deserve our yacht and condo! Remember always the saints who pursued Christ with passion among the nations until the end of their lives, at 60, 70, and 80 years old.
Now, America as a nation has a goal for the world- spreading democracy and American culture. I can't argue with democracy, but it can be dangerous for the church to ally itself too closely with American goals for the world. The church, like individual believer, has the goal of pursuing Christ, but God set up the church for a specific work, namely to make disciples. That often includes meeting physical needs, but Christ's primary charge to his disciples was to go out and make disciples of all nations, to bring them Christ who will meet their spiritual needs. Too often, the danger of allying ourselves with American ethnocentrism too heavily is that we want to smother other cultures with our own. We are to be incarnational in our ministry, just as Christ became a man to save sinful men. Paul says, "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. " (1 Corinthians 9:22) This does not mean sacrificing the truth but it might definitely mean sacrificing our own culture. Paul even had Timothy circumcised because "the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek." (Ats 16:3) Jesus was not "American!" Our attitude when approaching a new culture should be one of openess and servitude, offering them the best way to use their culture and heritage- in the wrship of Christ. So as a body of believers, it should be our main concern to bring sinful people to Christ, even if that means dying to our own culture to reach them.
I know that here on Hillsdale's campus there are organizations that label themselves "Christian" but don't follow Scriptural guidelines. They're more like self-interested cliques that often conduct themselves in a worse manner than their non-Christian counterparts- even excluding fellow Christians. They pursue recruitment for their club with more zeal than they do non-believers to follow Christ. These are not the church! They can never take the place of Christ's bride and must never attempt such. Too often we get caught up in political and social groups and lose our connection to the upward call of God and to his church. This is tragic and often leaves the church (and in this case, the campus) without strong leaders, and gives the world a false impression of Christianity.
In closing, I don't think that the "American Dream" is flawed in that it pursues happiness or pleasure. I think that the problem with the American Dream is that it is not big enough, it does not aspire to enough happiness, and it does not seek enough pleasure. Sound funny? Well, consider that God is the content of Happiness, Joy and Fulfillment. What better way to pursue what most benefits us than by pursuing the glory of God, even if that includes temporal suffering? So let us dream big for Christ and for what he can do through us and through the church for our joy and the joy of all peoples.
At Hillsdale College, where they synthesis the Judeo-Christian with the Greco-Roman, political and religious circles often blend indiscriminantly. The very roots of American philosophy grew out of the Protestant ethic. What has troubled me most in the past couple years here has been the statement about America being a "Christian nation." So I pose the question: was Jesus "American?" or rather, should America really be considered a Christian nation? Even people who answer "yes" to this question use the term "Christian nation" in many different ways. So in consideration of this topic, let's first try to define what exactly is or should be meant by "Christian Nation," then ask if this model is compatible with Scripture both for our personal lives and in the church's vision for the nations.
First, some people use the term "Christian nation" simply to mean that America was founded by Christian men with Christian ideals such as Protestant individualism and Anabaptist separation of church and state. I can live with this definition. Another definition means the term to refer to Christianity as the religion with which most American affiliate themselves. Also true and one with which I am comfortable. A third definition is one that not only bothers non-Christians but also concerns me. This definition almost completely blends, sometimes intentionally and other times not, all things American with all things Christian. In other words, the America dream becomes the Christian's dream for his/her personal life and the American way becomes the Christian's goal for the world.
(Just as an interesting side note: I think it's worth thinking about that many in the Islamic world that evaluate our claims to be "Christian" say that America is very immoral and has fallen away from its own Scriptures. While we might say the same about extremist Muslims, we cannot deny this claim in good conscience, I don't think.)
I think we got this unhealthy ethnocentrism by adopting the Puritan's "city on a hill" rhetoric which originally came from Augustine. (And incidentally referred to the church as a body of Christian believers, and not a political entity.) Now I do not dispute that we are the freest country on earth with the best system of government ever and that we have the highest standard of living ever known- or that involvement in politics by Christians is somehow bad. That being said, I take issue with blending American ideals and Christian ideals indiscriminantly. Even if we have done it unknowingly, I think it's time to wake up and take a second look.
In the first place, though it has been pounded into our heads, the "American Dream" is not necessarily compatible with the Christian dream for a person's individual life. By the "American Dream" I refer to that idea that "the pursuit of happiness" consists of an individual making his own way to become happy. And that the content of said "happiness" is economic betterment, social status, political and/or academic power and finally, retirement on a golf course in Florida- because, after all, that previous work deserves some rest! And as kids in school we are told that we can do anything and be anything, and we are told that some career paths are more prestigious than others. Now, I am not against working hard, and I am not against Christians who find earthly successes. What I oppose is the motivation that often drives these outcomes, which is just ourselves in many cases.
What should be the goal of a Christian's life? Pauls says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) His goal is the prize of the call of God, which is manifested in Christ. What is the prize? Paul again tells us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward." (Colossians 3:23-24) Peter tells us that this inheritance is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:4-5) And in fact, this treasure is seeing and savoring Christ in heaven for ever! His grace is for us now, but this eternal reward is not for this earth, it is for eternity. Then what is this call of God that leads us to this reward, that bring us to Christ? Look no further than God's most explicit revelation himself on the cross in Christ. Jesus, in fact, beckons to us, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 16:24) (Deny himself? That doesn't sound very American!) A call to become a follower of Christ is a call to suffer- to suffer the agony of a soul faced with its own sinfulness and the agony of a soul then called to live in a suffering, fallen world. Christ promises us, "If they persecute me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:20) The cross is a place of death, and Christ calls us to die to our sin (and in effect to our selfish desires) and also to die for others. So perhaps the path of prosperity is not necessarily the path to Christ. Christ may bless, but as in the case of Israel many times, be wary of relying on the gifts and not the giver! And for another thing, is retirement a biblical concept? NO! Christ promises us rest, but it's a rest in heaven, after the suffering of this life. Does he ever say we can stop laboring for the kingdom and just while away our time in "paradise." I think the idea of retirement is perhaps the most detrimental to the American Christian. It's a worthless and wasteful goal. Sure, there may be retirement from one thing to another, but to think we deserve our yacht and condo! Remember always the saints who pursued Christ with passion among the nations until the end of their lives, at 60, 70, and 80 years old.
Now, America as a nation has a goal for the world- spreading democracy and American culture. I can't argue with democracy, but it can be dangerous for the church to ally itself too closely with American goals for the world. The church, like individual believer, has the goal of pursuing Christ, but God set up the church for a specific work, namely to make disciples. That often includes meeting physical needs, but Christ's primary charge to his disciples was to go out and make disciples of all nations, to bring them Christ who will meet their spiritual needs. Too often, the danger of allying ourselves with American ethnocentrism too heavily is that we want to smother other cultures with our own. We are to be incarnational in our ministry, just as Christ became a man to save sinful men. Paul says, "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. " (1 Corinthians 9:22) This does not mean sacrificing the truth but it might definitely mean sacrificing our own culture. Paul even had Timothy circumcised because "the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek." (Ats 16:3) Jesus was not "American!" Our attitude when approaching a new culture should be one of openess and servitude, offering them the best way to use their culture and heritage- in the wrship of Christ. So as a body of believers, it should be our main concern to bring sinful people to Christ, even if that means dying to our own culture to reach them.
I know that here on Hillsdale's campus there are organizations that label themselves "Christian" but don't follow Scriptural guidelines. They're more like self-interested cliques that often conduct themselves in a worse manner than their non-Christian counterparts- even excluding fellow Christians. They pursue recruitment for their club with more zeal than they do non-believers to follow Christ. These are not the church! They can never take the place of Christ's bride and must never attempt such. Too often we get caught up in political and social groups and lose our connection to the upward call of God and to his church. This is tragic and often leaves the church (and in this case, the campus) without strong leaders, and gives the world a false impression of Christianity.
In closing, I don't think that the "American Dream" is flawed in that it pursues happiness or pleasure. I think that the problem with the American Dream is that it is not big enough, it does not aspire to enough happiness, and it does not seek enough pleasure. Sound funny? Well, consider that God is the content of Happiness, Joy and Fulfillment. What better way to pursue what most benefits us than by pursuing the glory of God, even if that includes temporal suffering? So let us dream big for Christ and for what he can do through us and through the church for our joy and the joy of all peoples.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
What happened?
I cried today. That's how much this small encounter today affected me.
I was at work downtown all day today and it was a pretty busy day. And just as several customers were in the store, this young guy (about my age) walks in with a red duffle bag. He waits patiently and then when he gets my attention, I realize that he is soliciting small toys an trinkets. And I know that we don't take solicitors and the situation feels awkward as he launches into his pitch and I am trying to figure out a way to tell him. Another customer walks up and needs asistance, so I go help him. When I come back, the guy had spread his wares across the counter, and yet another customer needed my help, so he looks at me a moment. Embarrassed, he hurriedly stuffs his merhcandise back into his bag and mumbles that he will come back another time. Later, I saw him pass by the store again, but he didn't stop.
The awkwardness of the situation embarrassed me. I didn't want to buy anything from him, and yet I wanted to give him something, or say something kind. I don't know why. And the encounter bothered me all day. Was it unsettling because I am a middle class collegiate? I'd like to think it wasn't merely pity or class propriety...I still don't know. Sigh.
Lord, may it be my own soul that I pity most, and in so doing, may I find joy in your grace.
I was at work downtown all day today and it was a pretty busy day. And just as several customers were in the store, this young guy (about my age) walks in with a red duffle bag. He waits patiently and then when he gets my attention, I realize that he is soliciting small toys an trinkets. And I know that we don't take solicitors and the situation feels awkward as he launches into his pitch and I am trying to figure out a way to tell him. Another customer walks up and needs asistance, so I go help him. When I come back, the guy had spread his wares across the counter, and yet another customer needed my help, so he looks at me a moment. Embarrassed, he hurriedly stuffs his merhcandise back into his bag and mumbles that he will come back another time. Later, I saw him pass by the store again, but he didn't stop.
The awkwardness of the situation embarrassed me. I didn't want to buy anything from him, and yet I wanted to give him something, or say something kind. I don't know why. And the encounter bothered me all day. Was it unsettling because I am a middle class collegiate? I'd like to think it wasn't merely pity or class propriety...I still don't know. Sigh.
Lord, may it be my own soul that I pity most, and in so doing, may I find joy in your grace.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Who am I?
Today I got angry. Really angry. I was (am?) angry at people and circumstances, and they way some people treat each other and the way that affects me. And I was really, really mad and frustrated. It bothered me so much that I started to consider some of the reasons why I might be angry. God says, commands, "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26) and so I wondered whether or not I was sinning in my anger. There certainly is a righteous and commanded type of anger, but often times I know that I, and others, carry around a sinful anger. Emotions don't just hit you like wave and you must just brace yourself until they recede; they come out of who you are. So my question to myself then is, what does this anger say about me? Am I angry at a person because I have expectations of them that really only can be met by God? In that case, my anger at its root is an anger at God, and becomes a feeling of which I need to repent. My frustration then would point to my lack of trust in God's sovereign plan and in his sufficiency to meet ALL of my needs, and any lack of trust or faith on my part (in other words, lying about who he is by not trusting him) is a sin. I believe that if this were the case, then my anger is a sin and something I need to take to God humbly and repent. God isn't just a venting ear, either, which is what I fear many of us take him to be at one time or another.
Another question I might ask myself in my anger is, am I angry because I feel wronged and I want compensation for the wrong? This is where I think many of us fall, because we know we have been wronged, it's clear, and so we feel justified in our anger. True, anger at the sin may be fine, but our need to be justified often clouds up our focus so much that we do one or both of a couple things: first, we may take our own revenge against the wrongdoer, forming our own clever punishiments, whether through our relationship or some other means, or second, we may become so discouraged by our hurt that we quit trusting people and withdraw from relationship altogether. Both responses, I think, are wrong and sinful, and both once again show a lack of trust in God. Yes, people hurt us and harm us wrongfully, but God is keeping tabs- that's not our job and in the end he will deal out the strokes, if not in this life. Taking our own action, displays lack of trust in his effectiveness and will. People hurt us because all people, even you and me, operate out of hearts that completely sinful but by the grace of God and his Holy Spirit working in us. Withdrawing from relationship to protect oneself is not the answer either, because once again it shows a lack of trust in God's love and in his ability to fulfill our needs despite attacks or rejection from other people. Look at the cross- there Christ performed the ultimate act of love toward a people who hated him. And Christ calls us to take up our crosses and follow him to that death for sinful people who will hurt and possibly kill us.
So I guess this is just a really good reminder to me to always be taking my emotions and responses to God and asking him to help me sort them out, and see if there is yet room for his refining fire to help me trust him more. And I know the answer already- I always need his help to trust him more. And I have to remember that his ways, though sometimes hidden, are perfect and his judgments are just. Who am I to even think that I know better?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" - Psalm 139:23-24
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Focus
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
So, the semester is already really busy and I am already feeling pretty tired. In my History of Christian Thought class we were talking about Thomas More's book, A Dialogue on Comfort Against Tribulation. In it, he says that one particular sin that men face is more or less getting too caught up in daily affairs. In my own busy schedule, I find that this is particularly true. In fact, I would say that the more busy I get, the more I time I should set aside for prayer and Scripture reading. The more tired I am, the more I am in need of refreshing from God's riches and sufficiency. The more responsibilities that I have, the more I am in need of God's wisdom. So, I guess I am not really sure what I am trying to say, other than acknowledging my evident weakness and need for Christ's love and sustaining grace. Praise God for his goodness to us.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
"And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" Mark 8:34
This post has been a long time coming, but something reminded me again of the fact that I am very thankful for crazy groups like Young Life. I helped some YLers chaperone a high school formal at the end of last semester and I again realized how awkward and dramatic (and traumatic) high school really is. And yet, groups of college kids all across the country (backed by all of the support staff- directors, boards, teachers, parents, churches) choose to spend many hours of their weeks and semesters in ministry to these emotionally charged kids, giving up time that could be spent with friends, working for college bills, extra studying, or resume building clubs and activities.
High school is that weird age where everyone expects to you act like an adult and yet they won't let you have the responsibilities/privileges of being one. Parents and teachers often talk down to these kids as though their feelings and opinions don't matter. Truth is, their feelings and opinions do matter- to themselves. At a very fragile and transitional period of high schooler's lives, these YLers devote their efforts to giving young kids the answer to all their hopes, dreams, fears and desires- Jesus Christ. They have a unique position to meet these kids at their level and yet still maintain a leadership role in their lives. It's so awesome to see them all interact.
So to all my YL friends out there- praise God for this ministry.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
"You Raise Me Up"
On the Hike to Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park, Montana, Summer 2004
"GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. " Habakkuk 3:19
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Fresh Look
Well, I decided to change things up a bit and I like it. I find the lighthouse particularly fitting since I will be living in Maine in less than eight months...so anyway, enjoy!
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Does a disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it?
No, this is not a trick question and its not even one for which we must search out an answer. In fact, it is a rhetorical question taken straight out of Amos 3. Basically, God is behind every action and event that ever has or ever will take place. The sovereignty of God can be mysterious and hard to grasp for our human minds, considering that God is without sin, stills holds men accountable for their actions and moreover, remains a loving and compassionate God. We have seen the destruction of hundreds of thousands of people in the tsunami, the endless turmoil in Iraq, and our own local tragedies and struggles. (It is a tragedy that woke me in the wee hours of the morning that turned my meditation back to these thoughts.) And I believe that our one hope, our one reason and end must be found in a reliance in the sovereignty of God. There are two reasons I'd like to outline for now why such a belief is essential.
1.) If you deny the sovereignty of God, then you cannot have a grounded faith that God will work all events out for good. Christianity is historical, and contrary to some lines of thought, is completely based upon evidences. Faith in God is faith in the evidences of the promises fulfilled and promises hoped for. People who deny that God causes all things, even the terrible, to happen have no evidence that God will in fact be able to cause events to turn out for good. If you say that God did not cause the event then you say that he did not want it to happen. (Saying the he "allowed it to happen" is a cop out. If he allowed it to happen and did not stop it, then he either wanted it to happen or was powerless to do anything about it. The latter is a dangerous, and dare I say it heretical, position.) So if God was powerless to use events leading up to a tragedy to prevent its coming to pass, then what makes you think that he is powerful enough to make it turn out right? God calmed the sea and poured down the flood all for his glorious, although sometimes hidden, purposes.
2.) Belief in the sovereignty of God opens the door of your heart for God's refining fire. A second important result of belief in the sovereignty of God is that it humbles our own hearts and puts the world into perspective. Saying that God just allowed an event to happen or that he is not finally responsible places all ultimate blame on human actions (or natural, unavoidale phenomena, like the tsunami), a position that neither Job nor the writer of Job takes. Job said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away (1:21)," and "shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive adversity? (2:10)" The writer of Job says that Job's brothers and sisters "showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him (42:11)." Certainly the writer of Job mentions that Satan did this work, but all final responsibility is given to God who ordained that Satan be allowed a short leash in order that God might show his name to be great by his servant's rejoicing in God's sufficiency amid hardship. By placing complete blame on human or worldly elements also hardens our own hearts to see God's purposes. In the Old Testament, God used attacks and destruction from Israel's enemies as a wakeup call so that they would give up their idols and rely upon him. He had warned them by prophets, but they still would not listen until he mercifully stripped away their strongholds. Job himself, although a righteous man, finally realized his need for further refinement by God's loving and firm hand. Sometimes God takes away our comfort so that we stop relying on his gifts and start relying on him alone for our satisfaction. So we ought to be careful not to pray for justice and wrath upon our enemies too quickly, but we ought to pray for mercy for our own souls and consider what refining work God intends to do through our situation, for Israel's experience attests to the judgment that God brings when his voice is ignored.
The agony of the cross is a call to faith that God is in control of all of history and that his purposes are true and good. Likewise, its suffering is a starting point for the transformation of men's hearts to reliance upon God's provision. Let us glory in the cross and in his sovereign will.
1.) If you deny the sovereignty of God, then you cannot have a grounded faith that God will work all events out for good. Christianity is historical, and contrary to some lines of thought, is completely based upon evidences. Faith in God is faith in the evidences of the promises fulfilled and promises hoped for. People who deny that God causes all things, even the terrible, to happen have no evidence that God will in fact be able to cause events to turn out for good. If you say that God did not cause the event then you say that he did not want it to happen. (Saying the he "allowed it to happen" is a cop out. If he allowed it to happen and did not stop it, then he either wanted it to happen or was powerless to do anything about it. The latter is a dangerous, and dare I say it heretical, position.) So if God was powerless to use events leading up to a tragedy to prevent its coming to pass, then what makes you think that he is powerful enough to make it turn out right? God calmed the sea and poured down the flood all for his glorious, although sometimes hidden, purposes.
2.) Belief in the sovereignty of God opens the door of your heart for God's refining fire. A second important result of belief in the sovereignty of God is that it humbles our own hearts and puts the world into perspective. Saying that God just allowed an event to happen or that he is not finally responsible places all ultimate blame on human actions (or natural, unavoidale phenomena, like the tsunami), a position that neither Job nor the writer of Job takes. Job said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away (1:21)," and "shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive adversity? (2:10)" The writer of Job says that Job's brothers and sisters "showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him (42:11)." Certainly the writer of Job mentions that Satan did this work, but all final responsibility is given to God who ordained that Satan be allowed a short leash in order that God might show his name to be great by his servant's rejoicing in God's sufficiency amid hardship. By placing complete blame on human or worldly elements also hardens our own hearts to see God's purposes. In the Old Testament, God used attacks and destruction from Israel's enemies as a wakeup call so that they would give up their idols and rely upon him. He had warned them by prophets, but they still would not listen until he mercifully stripped away their strongholds. Job himself, although a righteous man, finally realized his need for further refinement by God's loving and firm hand. Sometimes God takes away our comfort so that we stop relying on his gifts and start relying on him alone for our satisfaction. So we ought to be careful not to pray for justice and wrath upon our enemies too quickly, but we ought to pray for mercy for our own souls and consider what refining work God intends to do through our situation, for Israel's experience attests to the judgment that God brings when his voice is ignored.
The agony of the cross is a call to faith that God is in control of all of history and that his purposes are true and good. Likewise, its suffering is a starting point for the transformation of men's hearts to reliance upon God's provision. Let us glory in the cross and in his sovereign will.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
"Friends are friends forever.."
Ha. So many cheesy memories of that song. Anyway...Kristen left today. She was here for about a week and we had all sorts of crazy good times, especially with Michelle, Emily Sawyer, the Mullers and Piko. Friends are awesome.
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Psalm 133:1
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Psalm 133:1
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