Sunday, November 13, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
When someone speaks my thoughts....
Here is the link to a movie that you really should watch:
http://www.dividedthemovie.com/#dialog
Maybe this is why Honey Brook Day Camps has that feel......
http://www.dividedthemovie.com/#dialog
Maybe this is why Honey Brook Day Camps has that feel......
Sunday, July 10, 2011
What's in a name....
"O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." (Is. 43:1, KJV)
In this verse God makes two declarations. (1) I have redeemed you, and (2) I have called you by name. What is the implication of God calling someone by name? I believe that when God calls someone by name he is revealing to them, their identity. When God calls us by name I believe he is taking us beyond redemption, God's first declaration, to something higher. Maybe we could say that God takes us into the "more than conquerors" part of Romans 8.
People's identity is often wrapped up in some aspect of their name, especially with nicknames. Many times people are given nicknames based on how they look or how they act. In ancient times people would name their children based on the role that they saw them playing in life in the future. Many times in the Bible God commanded that a person be named a certain name. Other times, both in the Old and New Testaments God would change someone's name. Abram become Abraham, Jacob became and Israel, and Simon became Cephas or Peter.
Wrapped up in these names was not only the identity of the individual but also the commissioning of their lives. The virgin Mary was commanded to call her baby Jesus because he was going to be a "Savior." In calling Simon, "Cephas" Jesus was commissioning Peter to be the rock of the early church. The role that Peter played in being the rock of the early church is evident as one reads the first chapters of the book of Acts.
Even as we enter eternity the Bible speaks of the significance of a person's name. In Revelation 2 and 3 the victorious Christians from the churches of Pergamum and Philadelphia are promised a new name.
How does the fact that we are redeemed and called by our name affect our daily living? I am convinced that too many Christians are content to rest in the blessing of their redemption without pursuing God in relationship beyond this. I feel sometimes that some people either have not comprehended the significance of their identity and commissioning from God or they have never sought God's face long enough to learn their own name, their own identity, and their own commissioning.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Prov. 25:2 KJV). Many times God conceals things from the average person but reveals his heart to the people who are willing to search it out. And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. (Jer. 29:13 KJV). Are we willing to seek God's face long enough in order to learn our name, in order for him to reveal to us our identity? When Jacob wrestled with God he refused to quit wrestling until God gave him a blessing. I'm not convinced that God is calling us to struggle with God in quite the same way that Jacob did, but it is noteworthy that Jacob left his encounter with God with the blessing of a new identity (Gen. 32:22-32).
I believe God is glorified as we seek out the things he has concealed. Just like people love treasure hunts and Easter egg hunts because of the joy of hiding things and watching them being discovered, so God, in whose image we are made, and who is the master treasure hunt maker, reveals his hidden secrets to those who earnestly seek him.
I don't think God's calling us by name is just on an individual level. We as humans are naturally created to rally around a unified identity. This is why nations have flags and sports teams have emblems. We long for an individual identity but also a communal identity found outside of ourselves. Isaiah 43:1 is written to the nation of Israel. I believe this verse can be applied to individuals, but I also think this verse can be applied to our families, churches, communities, and even nations.
I believe God has a specific identity and commissioning for our families. God has a specific calling for each Christian family to fight and conquer certain areas of darkness, and to speak into certain needs in our communities. The children of a family are like arrows to take the dreams and visions that God places in the heart of a father into the next generation. According to Psalms, "Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands." (Ps. 127:4 NLV). Many people look at children as an annoying by product of enjoying marriage. Maybe for Christians children are viewed as a natural duty or maybe some people just really like kids and so they decide to start a family. It seems many Christian parent's highest aspirations for their children are simply to continue the Godly cycle of life that they started and exemplified. I think we are missing something. Children are weapons that God gives a Christian family to propel the war into the next generation. This concept of children only make sense if we first know our individual identity and calling and then the identity and calling of our families.
I also believe that God wants to call our churches by name. God wants our churches to find a specific identity and calling. God wants our communities to have an identity and calling and God wants our nation to have a name that reflects our commission. In all of these areas I find Christians who approach the battle of life with a scatter shot approach. These people help other random people with random needs without ever really hearing from God about their line of service. I believe that God is calling us to focused service based on our name, our identity, and our calling.
Dream with me.....What would happen if a father heard from God that his family has been called to adopt a needy family from the community or maybe take us a cause against some area of social injustice? What would happen if a church heard from God that their area of ministry was supposed to be some village in Sudan? This church would pool all of its resources and focus on teaming together to address the needs in this community. Instead of a church full of individuals serving individually in random areas, can you imagine the power of a concerted effort like this. What if all the churches in a county decided to band together to meet the needs of a single country like Bangledesh? So often we don't even pursue God's heart this hard, but could God's dream for our local community really be this wild. What if Pennsylvania took on Central America because the Christians in Pennslyvania got together and heard God calling their name and these Christians learned their identity.
I know I'm definitely revealing my age by dreaming about things that seem so impractical. You say that someday I will learn the meaning of the word "reality." Maybe I will become less visionary in the future, but I can at least start by pursuing God's face with all my heart and begging him to reveal to me my name, and then the name of my family. Maybe I can pray that my church would hear God calling us by name and we could learn our identity and begin pursuing our communal calling as a body. Maybe......
Just some thoughts......That's all.most all.
Heh heh, I had to do it.........
In this verse God makes two declarations. (1) I have redeemed you, and (2) I have called you by name. What is the implication of God calling someone by name? I believe that when God calls someone by name he is revealing to them, their identity. When God calls us by name I believe he is taking us beyond redemption, God's first declaration, to something higher. Maybe we could say that God takes us into the "more than conquerors" part of Romans 8.
People's identity is often wrapped up in some aspect of their name, especially with nicknames. Many times people are given nicknames based on how they look or how they act. In ancient times people would name their children based on the role that they saw them playing in life in the future. Many times in the Bible God commanded that a person be named a certain name. Other times, both in the Old and New Testaments God would change someone's name. Abram become Abraham, Jacob became and Israel, and Simon became Cephas or Peter.
Wrapped up in these names was not only the identity of the individual but also the commissioning of their lives. The virgin Mary was commanded to call her baby Jesus because he was going to be a "Savior." In calling Simon, "Cephas" Jesus was commissioning Peter to be the rock of the early church. The role that Peter played in being the rock of the early church is evident as one reads the first chapters of the book of Acts.
Even as we enter eternity the Bible speaks of the significance of a person's name. In Revelation 2 and 3 the victorious Christians from the churches of Pergamum and Philadelphia are promised a new name.
How does the fact that we are redeemed and called by our name affect our daily living? I am convinced that too many Christians are content to rest in the blessing of their redemption without pursuing God in relationship beyond this. I feel sometimes that some people either have not comprehended the significance of their identity and commissioning from God or they have never sought God's face long enough to learn their own name, their own identity, and their own commissioning.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Prov. 25:2 KJV). Many times God conceals things from the average person but reveals his heart to the people who are willing to search it out. And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. (Jer. 29:13 KJV). Are we willing to seek God's face long enough in order to learn our name, in order for him to reveal to us our identity? When Jacob wrestled with God he refused to quit wrestling until God gave him a blessing. I'm not convinced that God is calling us to struggle with God in quite the same way that Jacob did, but it is noteworthy that Jacob left his encounter with God with the blessing of a new identity (Gen. 32:22-32).
I believe God is glorified as we seek out the things he has concealed. Just like people love treasure hunts and Easter egg hunts because of the joy of hiding things and watching them being discovered, so God, in whose image we are made, and who is the master treasure hunt maker, reveals his hidden secrets to those who earnestly seek him.
I don't think God's calling us by name is just on an individual level. We as humans are naturally created to rally around a unified identity. This is why nations have flags and sports teams have emblems. We long for an individual identity but also a communal identity found outside of ourselves. Isaiah 43:1 is written to the nation of Israel. I believe this verse can be applied to individuals, but I also think this verse can be applied to our families, churches, communities, and even nations.
I believe God has a specific identity and commissioning for our families. God has a specific calling for each Christian family to fight and conquer certain areas of darkness, and to speak into certain needs in our communities. The children of a family are like arrows to take the dreams and visions that God places in the heart of a father into the next generation. According to Psalms, "Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands." (Ps. 127:4 NLV). Many people look at children as an annoying by product of enjoying marriage. Maybe for Christians children are viewed as a natural duty or maybe some people just really like kids and so they decide to start a family. It seems many Christian parent's highest aspirations for their children are simply to continue the Godly cycle of life that they started and exemplified. I think we are missing something. Children are weapons that God gives a Christian family to propel the war into the next generation. This concept of children only make sense if we first know our individual identity and calling and then the identity and calling of our families.
I also believe that God wants to call our churches by name. God wants our churches to find a specific identity and calling. God wants our communities to have an identity and calling and God wants our nation to have a name that reflects our commission. In all of these areas I find Christians who approach the battle of life with a scatter shot approach. These people help other random people with random needs without ever really hearing from God about their line of service. I believe that God is calling us to focused service based on our name, our identity, and our calling.
Dream with me.....What would happen if a father heard from God that his family has been called to adopt a needy family from the community or maybe take us a cause against some area of social injustice? What would happen if a church heard from God that their area of ministry was supposed to be some village in Sudan? This church would pool all of its resources and focus on teaming together to address the needs in this community. Instead of a church full of individuals serving individually in random areas, can you imagine the power of a concerted effort like this. What if all the churches in a county decided to band together to meet the needs of a single country like Bangledesh? So often we don't even pursue God's heart this hard, but could God's dream for our local community really be this wild. What if Pennsylvania took on Central America because the Christians in Pennslyvania got together and heard God calling their name and these Christians learned their identity.
I know I'm definitely revealing my age by dreaming about things that seem so impractical. You say that someday I will learn the meaning of the word "reality." Maybe I will become less visionary in the future, but I can at least start by pursuing God's face with all my heart and begging him to reveal to me my name, and then the name of my family. Maybe I can pray that my church would hear God calling us by name and we could learn our identity and begin pursuing our communal calling as a body. Maybe......
Just some thoughts......That's all.most all.
Heh heh, I had to do it.........
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Other Side Of The Coin
Ever since I saw this video a number of years back I get the feeling we must be missing something about how we as a church are supposed to function. We may live in a country that declares that we have, "certain inalienable rights," which include, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," but that does not mean we have to keep these rights for ourselves.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Chris Beiler Waxes Eschatological
So the youth Sunday school class that I'm teaching just finished studying the book of Malachi.... Malachi 4 begins with a number of proclamations about the "day of the Lord." I think it is really good for every Christian to meditate about eternal things. Our perspective of eternity drastically affects how we live today. More than just meditating about end times it can be a really good and fun activity to just dream a little about how things could happen based on the little snatches of information we are given. So let's put a little flesh and blood to a couple of phrases from Malachi 4.
1 [a]“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays [wings]. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty."
The phrase that I've been thinking about is that "the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays." This healing process is compared to the sun that rises in the morning. Therefore it would seem that this is an event that isn't going to happen at the snap of a finger but will be more of a process. Like John Piper in his commentary on Malachi 4 describes a sunrise on the ocean,
"A thin line of orange and red appears along the water. Then it intensifies, brighter and brighter, and you see the brightness focusing more and more on the center of the line, until the flaming ball surges up out of the water. And then you watch it rise up, and in a sense it brings that whole red line on the rim of the water up into the air as though the sun had wings."
Because so many of the details of how the end times will be played out are somewhat obscure it is easy to think of these events as 5 second occurrences, but would a God who took the time to make man from the dust of the earth and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life and who formed each of us in our mother's wombs really just give us our new bodies with the wave of a wand? No, I think this going to be something much more beautiful - maybe a long process but who cares because we have all of eternity to enjoy heaven.
I see a beleaguered multitude of people standing at heaven's gate. Despite the fact that these people revered God's name they are wounded and sick from their lives in and around sin. These people are crying because they are beginning to see reality. They are gazing at truth in the flesh: Jesus Christ. Despite having followed Christ and having been his disciples they realize just how many areas they missed living according to God's plan. These people have regrets for the ways they have spent their time on earth. These people are crying for loved ones who have just been destroyed by God's judgement. These people are beginning to see what salvation and God's love are all about and this reality brings them to tears.
I see Jesus intermingling with the crowd. Jesus takes time to sit down with each individual and speak to them about what is going on inside their heart. He takes time to wipe the tears from their eyes, He talks to them about their disappointments, he heals their wounds and speaks word of healing into their lives. He tells them who they really are and he gives them a new name that fits them perfectly based on everything that God has dreamed for them and their calling in eternity.
As each person receives the healing touch of the "Sun of righteousness" they in turn minister healing to the people around them. I see this wave of healing, just like the sun rising in the morning, spreading throughout this multitude of people until the whole mood of the group changes and instead of this being a group of mourning, broken people it is a mass of celebration. As Jesus gets around to the last people and has had time with each person this group of people is sent out from around God's throne and invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Malachi says, "You will go out and frolic like well fed calves." In my minds eye I see that the atmosphere has now changed completely in this huge group of people. Everywhere people are going nuts with so much energy and joy that they cannot contain themselves. A huge feast is laid out and people are jumping around, dancing their heads off, and engaging in the most holy partying that eternity will ever know. All the Christians from eternity leaping around like calves released to pasture - yes this will be an interesting scene.
This, my friends, is the fruit of my time spend dreaming about the first while in eternity.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Dialing....
"Hello, this is Chris Beiler calling. I need a psychologist. Can I spill my beans to you? Here is my deepest fear......."
......I hate making phone calls. I will put off a phone call for days sometimes because I just don't like it. I don't know why I don't like it. I think maybe I'm scared something awkward will happen (I hate awkward situations).
"Hello this is Chris from Smucker's Energy"
"Hi Bill, could I please speak to the CEO?"
"Yes you can speak to the CEO, but my name is Chris."
"Oh, sorry Tim."
Maybe I'm scared that I will get a coughing fit while I'm on the phone.
"Hello, this is Chris Beiler."
"Hello, this is John Smith from church. Could you teach our kid's Sunday school class?"
"Cough, Cough, Cough, Sneeze."
"Uh, are you okay?"
High, squeeky voice "Yes excuse me, I'm okay."
While these reasons may be part of my fear, I have come to believe that the predominate reason I am hesitant to make phone calls is that I don't like to ask people for help. I don't like to need other people.
Voice in my head - "Chris, you really need to call that guy and see if he can help at the Sunday potluck."
Other voice in my head - "Chris, maybe you can just do everything (make all the salad, do all the grilling, make the invites, and clean up afterwards. It will be hard but it will be better than making a phone call. It will be especially better than asking for help."
Why do I hate asking for help? I'm beginning to see that this whole concept of self-sufficiency is a huge motivating force in my life as I make day to day decisions. I'm also beginning to see that this is more than just a Chris Beiler problem but a human problem. The American Dream is driven by a quest for being self-sufficient. We assume that the person who never expresses a need has life completely together.
I love to help people. I love being the hero with the answers to life's problems, available at anyone's beckoning call. But for me to actually need someone else is really a very different situation. Maybe this is why people who watch me think Christianity is impossible for the average person. Maybe this is why the world feels so judged by my very presence. So, what does it mean to be a needy person?
Jesus spoke of all kinds of blessings for the people who are needy - Blessed are the poor, hungry, thirsty, and those that mourn. In other words it's okay to have needs. In fact if you have needs you will be blessed. I don't want to become a sap on society though. I don't want to have a bunch of needs just for the sake of being needy. Maybe this is more about realizing my needs than it is trying to make up needs that I don't really have.
The letter to the church of Laodicea says, "You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless." (Rev. 3:17 - The Message) The only way we realize who we are is by seeing who God is. As we become aware of God in His holiness the extreme depravity of our condition becomes apparent. Okay so what if I finally realize that I'm needy? I still don't like to tell people. I still don't like to ask for help. I still don't like to make phone calls.
Peter didn't like being helped by others either. I think this is why he didn't want Jesus to wash his feet. Allowing others to serve us can be humiliating, but it can also allow someone else to receive a real blessing. For so long the church has gotten really excited about helping the world. What about letting the world help the church. Do people in the world have things to offer the church? I believe they do.
Here again we've bought the lie that every time the Bible talks about the world it is talking about the people who don't go to church. When the Bible says to not love the world it is talking about Satan's kingdom and ideas. It's okay to love the people in the world. The Bible also says that God so loved the world that he sent Jesus.
I've learned so much recently about what it means to ask for help from a man in our town. His family needed help and so he asked me. Soon after I started spending time with this family I began to ponder about my courage in asking for help. I really wonder if I would ask for help if my family needed it. Would I be willing to say I have a problem or would I try to cover up what's going on and make everything look okay?
There are two things that I am praying for my life. 1) That God would show me who I really am in perspective to his holiness, and 2) that God would give me the courage to ask for help as I realize how needy I am. Maybe as we start praying this prayer the church will actually become something that the average person can relate to. Maybe the church will begin to have more feeling and life. Maybe if we didn't have quite as many answers to life people would start asking more questions. Maybe if we didn't masquerade our lives as being quite as much together the world would feel free to share what's going on in their lives.
STOP STOP STOP !!! - don't worry I'm yelling at myself.
We do have answers to life. We do have our lives together because Jesus Christ has made a change in our hearts. Every time my thought train goes down the emergent track that we shouldn't have answers and we shouldn't have life so together, another side of me says "We do have answers to life. Our lives are more together because of Christ and we don't have to be ashamed of it." Where is the connection between my emergent thought train and my fundamental thought train running towards me from two different directions? Where is the balance between having needs and meeting needs? If life were all about having needs, the street bum has reached the epitome of life. How do I need other people and still care for them? How do I ask questions and still have answers? How do I wander and still not be lost? How do I become needy and still have my needs met in Christ?
Raising my hand.....Oh yeah I'm on the phone so you can't see I'm raising my hand, but I just had a comment. Ooops I'm the one doing all the talking anyway, but here is my comment.
I have a need. I need an answer to these questions. Most of all I need to know why I hate making phone calls..............so there you go!
..........Can I please, please hang up now?
May it truly be said of me "todos los que andan no se pierde"
......I hate making phone calls. I will put off a phone call for days sometimes because I just don't like it. I don't know why I don't like it. I think maybe I'm scared something awkward will happen (I hate awkward situations).
"Hello this is Chris from Smucker's Energy"
"Hi Bill, could I please speak to the CEO?"
"Yes you can speak to the CEO, but my name is Chris."
"Oh, sorry Tim."
Maybe I'm scared that I will get a coughing fit while I'm on the phone.
"Hello, this is Chris Beiler."
"Hello, this is John Smith from church. Could you teach our kid's Sunday school class?"
"Cough, Cough, Cough, Sneeze."
"Uh, are you okay?"
High, squeeky voice "Yes excuse me, I'm okay."
While these reasons may be part of my fear, I have come to believe that the predominate reason I am hesitant to make phone calls is that I don't like to ask people for help. I don't like to need other people.
Voice in my head - "Chris, you really need to call that guy and see if he can help at the Sunday potluck."
Other voice in my head - "Chris, maybe you can just do everything (make all the salad, do all the grilling, make the invites, and clean up afterwards. It will be hard but it will be better than making a phone call. It will be especially better than asking for help."
Why do I hate asking for help? I'm beginning to see that this whole concept of self-sufficiency is a huge motivating force in my life as I make day to day decisions. I'm also beginning to see that this is more than just a Chris Beiler problem but a human problem. The American Dream is driven by a quest for being self-sufficient. We assume that the person who never expresses a need has life completely together.
I love to help people. I love being the hero with the answers to life's problems, available at anyone's beckoning call. But for me to actually need someone else is really a very different situation. Maybe this is why people who watch me think Christianity is impossible for the average person. Maybe this is why the world feels so judged by my very presence. So, what does it mean to be a needy person?
Jesus spoke of all kinds of blessings for the people who are needy - Blessed are the poor, hungry, thirsty, and those that mourn. In other words it's okay to have needs. In fact if you have needs you will be blessed. I don't want to become a sap on society though. I don't want to have a bunch of needs just for the sake of being needy. Maybe this is more about realizing my needs than it is trying to make up needs that I don't really have.
The letter to the church of Laodicea says, "You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless." (Rev. 3:17 - The Message) The only way we realize who we are is by seeing who God is. As we become aware of God in His holiness the extreme depravity of our condition becomes apparent. Okay so what if I finally realize that I'm needy? I still don't like to tell people. I still don't like to ask for help. I still don't like to make phone calls.
Peter didn't like being helped by others either. I think this is why he didn't want Jesus to wash his feet. Allowing others to serve us can be humiliating, but it can also allow someone else to receive a real blessing. For so long the church has gotten really excited about helping the world. What about letting the world help the church. Do people in the world have things to offer the church? I believe they do.
Here again we've bought the lie that every time the Bible talks about the world it is talking about the people who don't go to church. When the Bible says to not love the world it is talking about Satan's kingdom and ideas. It's okay to love the people in the world. The Bible also says that God so loved the world that he sent Jesus.
I've learned so much recently about what it means to ask for help from a man in our town. His family needed help and so he asked me. Soon after I started spending time with this family I began to ponder about my courage in asking for help. I really wonder if I would ask for help if my family needed it. Would I be willing to say I have a problem or would I try to cover up what's going on and make everything look okay?
There are two things that I am praying for my life. 1) That God would show me who I really am in perspective to his holiness, and 2) that God would give me the courage to ask for help as I realize how needy I am. Maybe as we start praying this prayer the church will actually become something that the average person can relate to. Maybe the church will begin to have more feeling and life. Maybe if we didn't have quite as many answers to life people would start asking more questions. Maybe if we didn't masquerade our lives as being quite as much together the world would feel free to share what's going on in their lives.
STOP STOP STOP !!! - don't worry I'm yelling at myself.
We do have answers to life. We do have our lives together because Jesus Christ has made a change in our hearts. Every time my thought train goes down the emergent track that we shouldn't have answers and we shouldn't have life so together, another side of me says "We do have answers to life. Our lives are more together because of Christ and we don't have to be ashamed of it." Where is the connection between my emergent thought train and my fundamental thought train running towards me from two different directions? Where is the balance between having needs and meeting needs? If life were all about having needs, the street bum has reached the epitome of life. How do I need other people and still care for them? How do I ask questions and still have answers? How do I wander and still not be lost? How do I become needy and still have my needs met in Christ?
Raising my hand.....Oh yeah I'm on the phone so you can't see I'm raising my hand, but I just had a comment. Ooops I'm the one doing all the talking anyway, but here is my comment.
I have a need. I need an answer to these questions. Most of all I need to know why I hate making phone calls..............so there you go!
..........Can I please, please hang up now?
May it truly be said of me "todos los que andan no se pierde"
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
I'm called therefore I do.
A normal Christian prays 5 minutes a day.
A good Christian prays 5 minutes a day and tithes 10% of his income.
A better Christian prays 15 minutes a day and gives 15% of his income.
An on fire Christian prays 20 minutes a day and give 20% of his income.
A totally Spirit filled Christian prays for hours each day and gives away all his income.
I've lived a lot of my life thinking that the measure of how mature a Christian I am is based on how extreme I am about following God. This quest for following God has led me to some interesting places. I've been convinced that I have to give more, do more, and be more in order to really follow what God has planned. Some days I did really good at this and I would come away congratulating myself for the good Christian I had become. Other days things didn't go so well and I would end up pitying myself because I would never do anything that great for God. I see things differently know. This difference has allowed me to become excited about life in a whole new way.
A good Christian prays 5 minutes a day and tithes 10% of his income.
A better Christian prays 15 minutes a day and gives 15% of his income.
An on fire Christian prays 20 minutes a day and give 20% of his income.
A totally Spirit filled Christian prays for hours each day and gives away all his income.
I've lived a lot of my life thinking that the measure of how mature a Christian I am is based on how extreme I am about following God. This quest for following God has led me to some interesting places. I've been convinced that I have to give more, do more, and be more in order to really follow what God has planned. Some days I did really good at this and I would come away congratulating myself for the good Christian I had become. Other days things didn't go so well and I would end up pitying myself because I would never do anything that great for God. I see things differently know. This difference has allowed me to become excited about life in a whole new way.
What's the difference?
There are a number of truth's from scripture that have finally set me free in this area of my life.
1) "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." (Ps. 32:8 - KJV)
2) “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2Corinthians 10:12 )
3) "When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless servants. We have done only what we ought to have done." (Luke 17:10 - NIV)
4) Jesus to Peter: "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" (John 21:18-22 -ESV).
I take from these passages a number of observations.
1) God's call on our lives is a call of obedience that we learn to follow as we learn to be in an attitude of prayer 24/7. As we focus on Christ he guides us with his slightest promptings.
2) We cannot look at those around us to determine how we are to follow God. Whenever we begin comparing ourselves to those around us we either begin to get puffed up in pride or discouraged in self pity.
3) Whatever God calls us to, after we have done this, our appropriate response is, "We are worthless servants. We have only done what we ought to have done."
4) The places God leads us may vary greatly. We are not called to figure out how the people around us should be following God. Our call is follow Christ. (Let me briefly say: there is a big difference between teaching people the truths of God and mandating for other people exactly where, when, and how God wants a person to apply these truths.)
I believe that if God is calling me to give $1000 to a person and I give $900 I have been disobedient. I also believe that if God asks me to give $20 to a person and I give $40 in order to be an even better Christian I have not been any more faithful to God than if I had given only $20.
I believe if God is calling me to pray all night or fast all week and I choose to follow what I want to do instead I am being disobedient. But if God is calling me to be the answer to my prayer by spending time encouraging someone rather than spending extra time in my prayer closet, I could be disobedient for praying in this way.
Some people think that in order to be really spiritual they must remain single all of their life. I believe if God calls someone to marriage and they choose to stay single they are being disobedient. If someone chooses to marry when God has called them to singleness they are being disobedient.
Wow it sure seems like there are a lot of ways to be disobedient. This is not the point of what I am saying. God is a gentle shepherd and the millions of mistakes that we make throughout our lifetime are miraculously used by Him to display his character anyway as we follow him with open hearts. What I am trying to say is that the more of some virtue that we do does not gain us any more standing with God if this is not where God has called us.
I was discussing the concept of Christian discipline with a couple of my friends the other day. One of my friends felt called to throw away this fancy goal list that she had made for herself because it was not what God had calle her to. Another one of my friends is all about goals and goal lists. Who is right?
Jim Elliot is one of my greatest heroes. I'd love to be able to give my life like he did someday. However, if I run all the way to the jungle and put myself in harm's way for Christ when God has called me to a much simpler daily sacrifice in Honey Brook, I am being disobedient to the call of God in my life.
Where has my latest quest led me? Over and over again I've prayed in the last months - God help me be faithful, help me be faithful. Out of this day to day faithfulness I am finding a singleness of mind for the things of God that is liberating and invigorating. I'm finally free to from feeling condemned when my Christianity doesn't look as extensive as those around me. I've also been experiencing victory over pride as I respond to praise from men for things that I've done with, "I have only done my duty."
I think if we could really get a hold of Christ's simple commandment to not compare ourselves among ourselves, we would find so much energy for Christian service in our churches. Satan loves to cool our passion with pride and self-condemnation. He loves when we all try to follow the call that God has placed on some other person rather than serving in our own call in the unique way that God has called us.
Music is beautiful as long as the right notes are played at the right times in the right places. If a whole song were the same note it would be pretty boring. Although the notes must be different in order for there to be a song, unless the notes are arranged by a master musician everything is a mess. God wants to blend our individual calls into one creative master piece. In order for this to happen we must each follow God in the day to day things that He has called us to. As soon as we listen to Satan and copy each other, and compare each other the song gets really messy. Thank God for a music director who can take the jumbled mess of our mistakes and shift things around into a song that still tells of his glory. Praise Him!
And now I have to go follow my call of Bible reading. I really wanted to do a little brain dump on my blog so I broke my usual rule of Bible reading before playing, but I'm gonna read my Bible now so don't point fingers. By the way, you are not supposed to be comparing yourself to me anyway so stop it.
Made you look. Heh heh, hah hah You looked!!!! You thought there would be something here and there isn't. Ah hahh hah. That's a good one. hah hahh!!!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
"Chris Beiler is dead, maybe."
Thursday mornings I meet for prayer with a guy named Ernie. We meet at his house at 5:30 and eat cereal, drink coffee, munch on fruit, and talk about what's going on in our lives. Ernie is a plumber but he only works 3 days a week because his parents are on the mission field in Kenya and he has to take care of their farm while they are gone. Ernie is not lazy at all, like some people would think, because he only works at this job three days a week. Ernie knows how to manage things and he knows the real meaning of life. The other morning Ernie was sitting there eating his oranges and said, "You know a lot of times we think that the more we get done the more successful we are." "Oh yeah," I said, "that is what we think, isn't it." Then Ernie's comment hit me. You know what? This is exactly how I live my life - the more I get done the more successful I feel about myself.
My Christianity has become all about getting things done. I like this religion because I'm pretty good at getting things done. I'm German and German's get things done. It's amazing how often I make Christianity fit my life rather than making my life fit Christianity. The problem is, however, that unless my life changes to fit God's truth I am living in bondage. Ernie the plumber woke me up on this one. So I'm not a better Christian if I get more good things done today? Really? But, but..... So what then is success? Why do you want to know? Why is it so important to be successful? Why do you care at all about living Christianity the way you are supposed to?
Ah hah, it's all coming together now. You see these are surface questions. The real issue at heart is why is there a "me" at all? Why is there a "self" to get it right, or to mess up? Why is there a Chris Beiler to either be successful or a failure? We've been duped. We believe that if we can do "this" and do "that" than we are being Christian. But there is a huge focus problem here. It's all about us being selfless, us being faithful, us living like Christ intended. And so we run and run and run. We run around thinking..."The more of these things I get done the more faithful I've been."
May I ask some questions: I thought you were supposed to be dead. Why are we only dead to doing bad things? If we are really dead doesn't that mean we can't do good things either? Our performance, pride based Christianity comes out of the belief that I am dead to doing wrong things but self can sure still do a lot of good things.
If we are truly dead we are nothing more than a physical body. Our spiritual breath is the pneuma from God - the Holy Spirit. We don't do anything. The question of us being successful in our Christian walk is irrelevant because we exist no more. We are only a walking shell housing God. This is the only way for us truly to become God's hands and feet. Maybe the only reason we are still trying to learn what to do to follow God is because self is still alive (maybe - I'm not sure on this one). The only way for us to die is to surrender to the Father and allow him to crucify our "self." When we are dead then there is finally room for God to move in. From this moment forward our life is to use our minds and hearts to walk where God wants to walk, talk what God wants to say and on and on. Doing one more thing for God is not more successful if God hasn't asked for it.
So what's the difference between what I've condemned so far and what I've condoned. Maybe not too much, but maybe a whole lot. I'm not sure yet. I have a cousin Abby who lives on a farm and actually milks cows. She's pretty cool and she wrote a little article about love. I didn't ask here if I could use it so don't tell her that you read it, but I like the part where she scribbles out all her goals and decides just to love. I think that's what I'm trying to say.
My Christianity has become all about getting things done. I like this religion because I'm pretty good at getting things done. I'm German and German's get things done. It's amazing how often I make Christianity fit my life rather than making my life fit Christianity. The problem is, however, that unless my life changes to fit God's truth I am living in bondage. Ernie the plumber woke me up on this one. So I'm not a better Christian if I get more good things done today? Really? But, but..... So what then is success? Why do you want to know? Why is it so important to be successful? Why do you care at all about living Christianity the way you are supposed to?
Ah hah, it's all coming together now. You see these are surface questions. The real issue at heart is why is there a "me" at all? Why is there a "self" to get it right, or to mess up? Why is there a Chris Beiler to either be successful or a failure? We've been duped. We believe that if we can do "this" and do "that" than we are being Christian. But there is a huge focus problem here. It's all about us being selfless, us being faithful, us living like Christ intended. And so we run and run and run. We run around thinking..."The more of these things I get done the more faithful I've been."
May I ask some questions: I thought you were supposed to be dead. Why are we only dead to doing bad things? If we are really dead doesn't that mean we can't do good things either? Our performance, pride based Christianity comes out of the belief that I am dead to doing wrong things but self can sure still do a lot of good things.
If we are truly dead we are nothing more than a physical body. Our spiritual breath is the pneuma from God - the Holy Spirit. We don't do anything. The question of us being successful in our Christian walk is irrelevant because we exist no more. We are only a walking shell housing God. This is the only way for us truly to become God's hands and feet. Maybe the only reason we are still trying to learn what to do to follow God is because self is still alive (maybe - I'm not sure on this one). The only way for us to die is to surrender to the Father and allow him to crucify our "self." When we are dead then there is finally room for God to move in. From this moment forward our life is to use our minds and hearts to walk where God wants to walk, talk what God wants to say and on and on. Doing one more thing for God is not more successful if God hasn't asked for it.
So what's the difference between what I've condemned so far and what I've condoned. Maybe not too much, but maybe a whole lot. I'm not sure yet. I have a cousin Abby who lives on a farm and actually milks cows. She's pretty cool and she wrote a little article about love. I didn't ask here if I could use it so don't tell her that you read it, but I like the part where she scribbles out all her goals and decides just to love. I think that's what I'm trying to say.
Love. we read about it. we hear sermons on it. we sing about it often. we love to feel love. But if I were to be completely honest, i would have to say that this os one area that God brings me back to over and over again.
Oh, I say that i know what love is, and I say that I love others, but again and again God peels back the layers of my heart and exposes just how ugly and not-very-loving it is..
I see pride, selfishness, ulterior motives, and my reputation, all playing a part in the way I love others. I hate it, but I love it at the same time. And if there's one thing I'm good at, its loving myself. My time. My space. My good name.
But as always Jesus brings me back to the very place where He demonstrated His perfect love for me.
Perfect love.
It's another term we throw around. But perfect love isn't the way I love. Perfect love is the love that Jesus had for Judas Iscariot, the traitor. The one He discipled, only to have Judas turn around and stab Him in the back. Jesus knew from the beginning of time that Judas would betray Him, yet it never changed the way Jesus loved him. Perfect love. Unconditional love. I don't understand God's timing, or why I cried last night and finally said, "ok, God, I get it!"
I realize how easily a performance based love can subtly creep into my life. I love people that are making the right choices, and are generally behaving the way that I want then to behave. But what of those that reject me and my love?
I once read a story about a pastor who received a call from his wife, saying that their 16 year old son had come home drunk. The pastor was furious. His son was respected in school , and a leader in youth group. How could he do this? But after spending time in prayer, the pastor drove home, where his son waited nervously for his return. The pastor stood before his son and said, " Son, I really love you. I hate what you've done, but I want you to know that I still love you."
The son broke down, and crying, said, "Dad, I've heard you say that a hundred times, but now I know its true".
Our Honey Brook girls choir leaves on tour tomorrow. I've spent a lot of time praying and asking God what He wants for this weekend. I even wrote down some goals. good goals.
But this morning I scribbled them out and wrote just one.
LOVE THEM. with perfect love.
pretty simple, huh? :)
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - John 12:24
Friedrich Neitzsche, a German philosopher is famous for having declared that "God is dead." Someday, I hope to be able to declare with 100% accuracy that "Chris is dead." Maybe that's all I'm saying today. Maybe I'm just really tired of making "self" be a Christian when God is calling us to die to self and let him be alive inside of us. Maybe, maybe....
P.S. About a month ago, I finally read the book Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller. I think I was the only person in the whole world who hadn't yet read that book. I disagreed with a lot of what Don said and also some of his approach to life, but he also had some really good stuff to say. Most of all I really like his writing style so I decided to try to write a blog with this style in mind. What a guy Don is.
Thanks Abby for the use of your Facebook post. Too bad you probably don't even know this is here. I like to put invisible things at the ends of my emails and blogs. Heh heh. Anyway thanks a lot. Your cuz.
P.S. About a month ago, I finally read the book Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller. I think I was the only person in the whole world who hadn't yet read that book. I disagreed with a lot of what Don said and also some of his approach to life, but he also had some really good stuff to say. Most of all I really like his writing style so I decided to try to write a blog with this style in mind. What a guy Don is.
Thanks Abby for the use of your Facebook post. Too bad you probably don't even know this is here. I like to put invisible things at the ends of my emails and blogs. Heh heh. Anyway thanks a lot. Your cuz.
Friday, March 4, 2011
EUREKA!
I just heard a statistic yesterday that said four out of five young people are leaving church. Woa! How in the world are we going to be a light to the people around us if the people who know the in's and out's of Christianity are saying there is nothing here worth following? The mantra of today's Christian young people is that we want something more. The whole impetus behind the emergent church is a belief that the typical Bible belt Christian of America has missed something drastic. The core of America's Christian stereotype is a moral, Blue Collar, Republican, Caucasian, from a rural area who works hard, goes to church on Sundays, and does good community things the rest of the week. For some reason there has been a reaction in the past ten years to this picture of Christianity. Listen to Shane Claiborne, Rob Bell, and the rest of the emergent church and you will hear the subtle tones that "normal" American Christianity has missed really missed something.
Now, if I thought the emergent church had their head in the sand and was seeing some kind of false reality I would pass the whole movement off. However, I feel strongly that the emergent church has put their finger on a huge problem, and so I rise up with the young people of my generation and say there has got to be more to Christianity. As I voice my opinion, I find that I am far from alone. The cry of the Christian young people of our age seems to be either that Christianity was not the real deal and so I left, or if Christianity is the real deal there has got to be more to it.
A number of years back, convinced that I was going to do "big things" for God I began searching for where God wanted me to serve. Surely it had to be on some great mission field doing exciting things, because this is always where you find the real Christians. I began asking God, "Where do you want me to go?" I went on mission trips to test different areas. I prepared to leave the area by going to college so I would have access to foreign limited access nations. In the middle of all this God seemed strangely quiet, and so I searched harder and asked with more desperation, "God, what is your will for my life?" I asked day after day. I searched and searched. Nothing seemed to break through. Dream after dream of a life of excitement crumbled in front of me until I finally came to the realization that God is calling me to live in "Bible belt" Lancaster County. I'm Caucasian. If you don't know me very well you'd think I'm a Republican. Everywhere I look I see fields and cows - yup, it's a rural area all right. I work hard and go to church on Sundays: a normal church - we don't meet under a bridge or in a coffee shop or some other cool place. I try to do good community things when I'm not at church. Yea, you guessed it. I'm the stereotype of American Christianity and for a while it drove me crazy. I knew God had missed something.
All my life I've wanted to live an abnormal life. I didn't want more normal Christianity, but every time I heard God's voice it was calling me back to a life of what I thought was normalcy. Finally I gave up trying. I found a job 5 minutes from my house where I work 40 - 50 hours a week. I decided to put my energy into my local church - not that exciting but it's where God called me. The amazing thing is that I am finally finding the fire that I've been looking for for so long. I feel like I was a worm and I just stepped out of my caccoon. Suddenly some things are looking a bit different. Maybe way different. I'm also seeing in more and more ways that what I'm finding, perfectly lines up with story after story in the gospels. Let me explain myself.
In Luke 17 the disciples ask Jesus, "Lord, increase our faith." I can almost read their thoughts. Wow we are gonna soon be able to really do great things for God once we get this truckload of faith. Jesus' response is very intriguing. He almost brushes the question off with a quick statement that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you will be able to move mountains. Jesus basically said that with virtually no faith at all you can move continents around if you want to. Okay? Jesus goes on to truly answer the disciples question. He gives the example of a master and his servant. The servant has been working for his master all day while (reading between the lines) the master has been out playing golf for the day. When the master comes home who gets to eat first?: the master of course. After the master has eaten and all the master's needs are met the servant finally gets a chance to sit down and get some food and rest. What is the servants proper response? "I have only done my duty."
What is Jesus saying? I think he is saying that the issue at the heart of God is being faithful, not having faith. But aren't these two words the same? I believe he who is faithful should be thought of as a person of great faith (full of faith = faithful). In modern Christian terminology we do not use these two words the same. We think of faith as a thought, a mind over matter projection of my intellect. However, a person who is faithful is one who consistently obeys the wishes of his master. The commonly accepted thought process is that if I can just think correctly about God I can heal this person, I can do this miracle or have this prayer answered. That is what I believe the disciples wanted. They were not content with the stereotype God-following Judiasm of their day and they wanted more, and so they asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus called them to be faithful.
For years my prayers to God were, "God show me your will." However, I'm seeing more and more that my prayer should be (as it says in the Lord's prayer), "Father, your will be done," and "God, help me be faithful." Since I started praying these two prayers my Christian life has been anything but normal. There has been a huge change, but it has not come from changing what type of building I meet in Sunday mornings, or going to some far-out place to do missions. The change has come from being faithful. I pray that one day I will be eligible for the Hall of Faith, not because I knew how to concentrate my beliefs in God in the right way so I could do miracles and be an extremely "alive" Christian, but because I have simply done my duty.
This idea of faithfulness is everywhere in the gospels: the 5 virgins who stayed awake, the poor widow who kept begging the judge, the servants who were given talents,....... Ephesians says, "By grace you are saved through faith." God extends salvation to the people who are willing to faithfully follow him. Does that mean we're earning our salvation? No. Part of my journey of learning faithfulness has been a whole new concept of salvation and the gospel message. Let me explain it like this.
I believe the book of Nehemiah paints a picture of the Christian life. The nation of Israel was in captivity because of their sin. The city of Jerusalem was broken down. The land was ruled by God-mockers. The temple was burnt. Our lives were like the city of Jerusalem. They were broken down with sin. "Self" the God-mocker, ruled our heart. The temple God's place of residence in our life was completely non-existence. At salvation a new king comes to rule the city. Our lives are under new management. God's presence moves into our lives as our hearts become a place of worship. However, just like the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down for years after the Jews returned to Israel, there are many areas in my life that still need mending. As we faithfully follow God he rebuilds our walls. The king resides in the city whose people are willing to be faithful. We are saved through faithfulness.
The initial establishment of a new king in the city occurs as we accept Christ's invitation to the wedding feast (to use an analogy from another of Jesus' parables). Sure there is some "head-work" done here because we have to believe that there is a God who is inviting us to a wedding feast. All we do at salvation is accept the invitation to let God be king. Our faithfulness to God is a response to him becoming the king To conclude I believe the faith that God is talking about has more to do with our modern day usage of the word faithful, than our typical modern day use of the word faith.
So you want more from Christianity young person? Start being faithful. Many young people have not been disillusioned by Christianity because the last generation was not exciting enough but because the past generation was not faithful enough. To get true Christianity back we cannot go searching for excitement but for faithfulness.
These are a few of my musings as of late. Next week they will probably be slightly refined and changed but I thought I'd throw the very very rough copy out on the table for now.
Now, if I thought the emergent church had their head in the sand and was seeing some kind of false reality I would pass the whole movement off. However, I feel strongly that the emergent church has put their finger on a huge problem, and so I rise up with the young people of my generation and say there has got to be more to Christianity. As I voice my opinion, I find that I am far from alone. The cry of the Christian young people of our age seems to be either that Christianity was not the real deal and so I left, or if Christianity is the real deal there has got to be more to it.
A number of years back, convinced that I was going to do "big things" for God I began searching for where God wanted me to serve. Surely it had to be on some great mission field doing exciting things, because this is always where you find the real Christians. I began asking God, "Where do you want me to go?" I went on mission trips to test different areas. I prepared to leave the area by going to college so I would have access to foreign limited access nations. In the middle of all this God seemed strangely quiet, and so I searched harder and asked with more desperation, "God, what is your will for my life?" I asked day after day. I searched and searched. Nothing seemed to break through. Dream after dream of a life of excitement crumbled in front of me until I finally came to the realization that God is calling me to live in "Bible belt" Lancaster County. I'm Caucasian. If you don't know me very well you'd think I'm a Republican. Everywhere I look I see fields and cows - yup, it's a rural area all right. I work hard and go to church on Sundays: a normal church - we don't meet under a bridge or in a coffee shop or some other cool place. I try to do good community things when I'm not at church. Yea, you guessed it. I'm the stereotype of American Christianity and for a while it drove me crazy. I knew God had missed something.
All my life I've wanted to live an abnormal life. I didn't want more normal Christianity, but every time I heard God's voice it was calling me back to a life of what I thought was normalcy. Finally I gave up trying. I found a job 5 minutes from my house where I work 40 - 50 hours a week. I decided to put my energy into my local church - not that exciting but it's where God called me. The amazing thing is that I am finally finding the fire that I've been looking for for so long. I feel like I was a worm and I just stepped out of my caccoon. Suddenly some things are looking a bit different. Maybe way different. I'm also seeing in more and more ways that what I'm finding, perfectly lines up with story after story in the gospels. Let me explain myself.
In Luke 17 the disciples ask Jesus, "Lord, increase our faith." I can almost read their thoughts. Wow we are gonna soon be able to really do great things for God once we get this truckload of faith. Jesus' response is very intriguing. He almost brushes the question off with a quick statement that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you will be able to move mountains. Jesus basically said that with virtually no faith at all you can move continents around if you want to. Okay? Jesus goes on to truly answer the disciples question. He gives the example of a master and his servant. The servant has been working for his master all day while (reading between the lines) the master has been out playing golf for the day. When the master comes home who gets to eat first?: the master of course. After the master has eaten and all the master's needs are met the servant finally gets a chance to sit down and get some food and rest. What is the servants proper response? "I have only done my duty."
What is Jesus saying? I think he is saying that the issue at the heart of God is being faithful, not having faith. But aren't these two words the same? I believe he who is faithful should be thought of as a person of great faith (full of faith = faithful). In modern Christian terminology we do not use these two words the same. We think of faith as a thought, a mind over matter projection of my intellect. However, a person who is faithful is one who consistently obeys the wishes of his master. The commonly accepted thought process is that if I can just think correctly about God I can heal this person, I can do this miracle or have this prayer answered. That is what I believe the disciples wanted. They were not content with the stereotype God-following Judiasm of their day and they wanted more, and so they asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus called them to be faithful.
For years my prayers to God were, "God show me your will." However, I'm seeing more and more that my prayer should be (as it says in the Lord's prayer), "Father, your will be done," and "God, help me be faithful." Since I started praying these two prayers my Christian life has been anything but normal. There has been a huge change, but it has not come from changing what type of building I meet in Sunday mornings, or going to some far-out place to do missions. The change has come from being faithful. I pray that one day I will be eligible for the Hall of Faith, not because I knew how to concentrate my beliefs in God in the right way so I could do miracles and be an extremely "alive" Christian, but because I have simply done my duty.
This idea of faithfulness is everywhere in the gospels: the 5 virgins who stayed awake, the poor widow who kept begging the judge, the servants who were given talents,....... Ephesians says, "By grace you are saved through faith." God extends salvation to the people who are willing to faithfully follow him. Does that mean we're earning our salvation? No. Part of my journey of learning faithfulness has been a whole new concept of salvation and the gospel message. Let me explain it like this.
I believe the book of Nehemiah paints a picture of the Christian life. The nation of Israel was in captivity because of their sin. The city of Jerusalem was broken down. The land was ruled by God-mockers. The temple was burnt. Our lives were like the city of Jerusalem. They were broken down with sin. "Self" the God-mocker, ruled our heart. The temple God's place of residence in our life was completely non-existence. At salvation a new king comes to rule the city. Our lives are under new management. God's presence moves into our lives as our hearts become a place of worship. However, just like the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down for years after the Jews returned to Israel, there are many areas in my life that still need mending. As we faithfully follow God he rebuilds our walls. The king resides in the city whose people are willing to be faithful. We are saved through faithfulness.
The initial establishment of a new king in the city occurs as we accept Christ's invitation to the wedding feast (to use an analogy from another of Jesus' parables). Sure there is some "head-work" done here because we have to believe that there is a God who is inviting us to a wedding feast. All we do at salvation is accept the invitation to let God be king. Our faithfulness to God is a response to him becoming the king To conclude I believe the faith that God is talking about has more to do with our modern day usage of the word faithful, than our typical modern day use of the word faith.
So you want more from Christianity young person? Start being faithful. Many young people have not been disillusioned by Christianity because the last generation was not exciting enough but because the past generation was not faithful enough. To get true Christianity back we cannot go searching for excitement but for faithfulness.
These are a few of my musings as of late. Next week they will probably be slightly refined and changed but I thought I'd throw the very very rough copy out on the table for now.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
A Call to Anguish - David Wilkerson
THE FOLLOWING IS A TRIBUTE TO THE SOUL INSPIRING MESSAGE BY CLAUDIA BARKMAN AT THE HBYC CABIN RETREAT-2011
I think I'm coming to see more and more that the details of how we "do" church are not nearly as important as the spiritual condition of the the people in the church. Sure I believe that certain church movements have done well in emphasizing different aspects of Christianity: holiness, ministry, Christ identifying with people, ministry to the poor, etc.... All of this pales in comparison to the most important component of a church--the people who make up the church. The ANGUISH of Christians for the things that cause God ANGUISH and the repenting and confession of sin that grieves the heart of God are the components that really determine whether a church will merely put in time or actually engage in the Battle for the Souls of Men.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A Call to an Adventure....
So what do you really want? I find myself asking the guys that come to our Monday night Bible study this question on a weekly basis. What do you want? Why do you destroy yourself by fighting? You destroy your body, and do so many things that you know are going to destroy you. I think the problem is my boys don't know what they really want. Most of all when they do know what they want they don't know how to get there.
Lately I've been asking myself the same question. What do I really want? I don't mean to be a hedonist and life is definitely not about me, but I know that I have been designed by a creator. I believe I have some desires that are hard wired inside of me. In fact these desires are hard wired into every human being. I believe we have all been wired with an intense desire for God. How does that quote go? Something about all of a person's running is really him trying to find God. So if the thing I really want is God how does this affect my day to day life. How does this really break down? How does this relate to church life?
Most people who have taken any basic psychology course or have dabbled in this science at all have probably soon come across Maslow's Hierarchy. The theory goes something like this: Every person is born with certain needs. For a person to experience self-actualization he must have these needs met. These needs are listed in a pyramid diagram with the most basic needs pictured at the bottom. According to the theory, the closer a person can get to the top of the pyramid the happier he will be.
Lately I've been asking myself the same question. What do I really want? I don't mean to be a hedonist and life is definitely not about me, but I know that I have been designed by a creator. I believe I have some desires that are hard wired inside of me. In fact these desires are hard wired into every human being. I believe we have all been wired with an intense desire for God. How does that quote go? Something about all of a person's running is really him trying to find God. So if the thing I really want is God how does this affect my day to day life. How does this really break down? How does this relate to church life?
Most people who have taken any basic psychology course or have dabbled in this science at all have probably soon come across Maslow's Hierarchy. The theory goes something like this: Every person is born with certain needs. For a person to experience self-actualization he must have these needs met. These needs are listed in a pyramid diagram with the most basic needs pictured at the bottom. According to the theory, the closer a person can get to the top of the pyramid the happier he will be.
The only problem I have with this theory is that the whole explanation leaves out God. According to this theory if a person can control his environment enough he will be able to reach what every person REALLY WANTS: self-actualization (or in simple English--happiness).
APPLICATION: Although I rarely mention it to anyone, in fact I rarely realize it, but in all practicality I believe that if I can control my environment enough I will be happy. I am finding that I base a lot of my belief system on Maslow's Hierarchy. Almost subconsciously I make so many decisions based on making sure my needs are met. Why do I do this? So I can be happy. So I can experience self-actualization. I make sure I have friends around me and enough money to do what I really want. But where does this thinking ultimately end? This theory leads to a self-sufficiency apart from God. According to Jesus teaching he who tries to find his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ's sake will find it (God's version of self-actualization).
It's only as we throw away the blocks of Maslow's pyramid that we can really live. So what does that mean? It might mean we give away so much money we may end up hungry. It may mean that we spend time with the uncool person even if it means we will become disconnected with our really good friends (Ah I'm totally convicted already). It may mean I blend in as a team player and never get noticed for my contribution rather than making sure I am a distinct individual. However, the great part about all of this is that when I come up short with the needs I can supply for myself I allow God to make up the difference. As long as we meet all our needs on our own, we block the blessings that God wants to give us. "Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted." They that mourn are blessed because they get to experience God. As long as we control our own environment we never allow ourselves to experience God. Is this why God feels so far away sometimes? Is this why we wish we could have God come through in a big way but our request is never granted? Maybe if we would put ourselves on the line enough to experience grief we would get a chance to experience God comforting us. Maybe if we would put ourselves on the line enough to actually be out of food for a meal we would get a chance to see God "Give us our DAILY bread."
What do you really want? What do I really want? I think without a doubt the answer to this question is that we all want a God who is real, a God we can feel moving in our day to day lives on an hour by hour basis, a God who shows his love to us each day by meeting our needs because we have made ourselves needy by giving everything back to Him. God loves needy people. Why else would the first section of Matthew 5 hand out a list of blessings for very needy people. Throughout scripture the theme runs true that God is a God of the needy. He draws near to the humble.....
We talk a lot about being a good steward of what God has given us, but I wonder sometimes if our being a good steward is more about making sure all of our "ducks are in a row" so we will never be caught unprepared. Whenever I become such a good steward of my possessions that everything works out I find myself predictably turning a cold shoulder to God. The more I put myself on the line for God the more I find my passion for God grow. In the Old Testament it is clearly shown that prosperity and turning away from God go hand in hand. Maybe this is why in the New Testament Jesus asks us to try a different way.
You see, we were not created to have boring lives. So many people think Christianity is a boring religion. It's not a boring religion unless we've re-created it this way. God is not a boring God. We only get bored when we cut him out of our lives by reaching self-actualization through Maslow's Hierarchy rather than by following the way of the cross. Are you bored with life? Give all your money away. Do you want an adventure? Pack your bags and head to the city and start a conversation with a homeless person. Do you want to live? Then put yourself on the line this next week in a God honoring way that requires God to come through for you to make it through the week and you will have the most exciting week of your life. So what do you really want? Based on scripture your most basic need is for God. The best way to really experience God is to become needy (James 4:6-10). The best way to become needy is to cut off the security lines currently holding you up. "The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away." --Shane Claiborne
Oh how our churches would be transformed if we only needed God. Not just a head knowledge--"I need God." But a real need--"I can't make it through this week without God." If we would make ourselves needy enough to allow God to start working in our churches we would get so pumped about God we couldn't hold it inside. Okay, so where's the line to sign up for being pumped about God? Maybe it is right over there beside the person who needs a friend right now.
--This post is dedicated to all my friends who have inspired me so much in pursuing the adventure of life. My our dreams never be disappointed. By God's grace these ideals will be the legacy of my life.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
I just discovered something very profound: before we fuss about all the jazz of how a church should look we really need to stop and ask about the Prayer Life of the church members. If you want to become convicted about prayer read Jim Cymbala's book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. This book is a real wake up call. Sure I think there are ways to do church better, care for people better, etc... but "Unless God builds the house they labor in vain that build it." How about we just shut up I mean quit talking about all the right ways to do church and get our prayer lives straightened out. I have a feeling that if we really became connected to God "church" would happen by itself. What's that little Piper quote? Something about, "Mission organizations are necessary because true worship so seldom happens." Another good quote: "If you pray because you ought, your prayer life will soon lack motivation; but if you pray because you must you will constantly be praying." "God, please help us to see reality, to really see our need and to quit wasting all of our time trying to become self-sufficient."
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Ministry of Reconciliation:
The purpose of the church:
I believe one of Christ's primary desires for the church is to be a place where people can come and experience community while being nurtured and motivated to a deeper walk with Christ. Jesus Christ modeled this community by calling 12 disciples and building a community of service, devotion, and teaching. After receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost these disciples dispersed and began building communities throughout the nation of Israel and Asia minor. And so the church age began, based on the fundamental concept of fellowship within community. "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity-all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46,47).
Humans were created for relationship and community. This concept comes from the very nature of who God is as displayed in the trinity (a community of three persons who are one). From this nature of God comes a desire within us who bear His image for a community with other people with whom we can be likeminded. This individuality which bears oneness is a mark of who God is and what he has called the church to. "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." (Eph. 4:3-6).
How is this oneness actually accomplished? I find that in community after community people are excited about helping new people become a part of their team. There is an excitement as new personalities and new talents are added to a team. Sooner or later (not to be a doomsayer but....) an individual comes along who seems to grind against the oneness of team life. Maybe this individual is more of a taker than a giver. Maybe they embarrass us or invade our comfort zones. Maybe their influence carries our team in a direction that gives us concern or violates our convictions. What is the Christians role in these situations?
The prototype for the restoration of oneness to a community is found in God's example of reconciling us to himself after we had been cut off. "A new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead,"Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17b-21).
Fundamentally the breakdown of oneness in a community is because of sin. Ever since the fall of Satan sin has caused separation of oneness. It happened in the Garden of Eden and it has been happening ever since. As soon as sin enters a community oneness becomes division and discord instead of the unity that God intended. This sin can come from two places: our sin and the sin of others around us.
Our sin: When we are hanging onto things that God intends for us to let go (rights, pride, jealousy) we will soon be working against the people we are supposed to partner with and oneness is broken. Whenever there is a breakdown of unity we must carefully examine our own hearts and repent of the sin that God reveals to us. Only then after we have removed our own beam can we have any part in helping to remove someone else's splinter (See Matt. 7). We must be filled with God's life giving water in order to have the grace to lay ourselves down for the team in a way that brings oneness.
Others sin: When others on our team do not have God's life giving water flowing out of them they will also lack the grace to give to the team. I believe that one of the primary reasons "misfits" have trouble feeling a part of a community is because they lack the ability to serve the team. Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly." The selfishness of others and their inability to exemplify Christ's nature can tear down the team as well.
Many people lack the ability to give to others because their own emotional and spiritual cup is not filled and overflowing with God's grace. The first step as we build our teams must be to draw people to a passionate life giving relationship with Christ that is beyond just knowing God. We must call people to a relationship with God to the point that they are filled with the Holy Spirit and bearing the Spirit's fruit (love, joy, peace) in their lives. For so long we have put up with nominal Christianity. Nominal Christianity is essentially non-Christianity. It is totally powerless in changing our world. It stinks of apathy, discouragement, and discord when displayed in our communities.
In the end it all comes back to us because we cannot call people to something that we know nothing about. A community of oneness must be based upon individuals who have a "fresh bubbling spring within them." (John 4:14) and allow this spring to flow to others. This spring is contagious. True oneness within the community is found when our bubbling spring flows out to others and causes them to become a bubbling spring. As these bubbling springs flow together they become a river that of healing for the needy world around us. As long as we cut off the "misfits" that God has placed around us and protect ourselves from the baggage that these people bring our communities will only reach a superficial level of oneness instead of becoming the place that God so desires. A place for the needy to find Him and experience for themselves the bubbling spring of eternal life. A community that changes the world and makes passers-by take note that these people have been with Jesus.
I believe one of Christ's primary desires for the church is to be a place where people can come and experience community while being nurtured and motivated to a deeper walk with Christ. Jesus Christ modeled this community by calling 12 disciples and building a community of service, devotion, and teaching. After receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost these disciples dispersed and began building communities throughout the nation of Israel and Asia minor. And so the church age began, based on the fundamental concept of fellowship within community. "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity-all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46,47).
Humans were created for relationship and community. This concept comes from the very nature of who God is as displayed in the trinity (a community of three persons who are one). From this nature of God comes a desire within us who bear His image for a community with other people with whom we can be likeminded. This individuality which bears oneness is a mark of who God is and what he has called the church to. "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." (Eph. 4:3-6).
How is this oneness actually accomplished? I find that in community after community people are excited about helping new people become a part of their team. There is an excitement as new personalities and new talents are added to a team. Sooner or later (not to be a doomsayer but....) an individual comes along who seems to grind against the oneness of team life. Maybe this individual is more of a taker than a giver. Maybe they embarrass us or invade our comfort zones. Maybe their influence carries our team in a direction that gives us concern or violates our convictions. What is the Christians role in these situations?
The prototype for the restoration of oneness to a community is found in God's example of reconciling us to himself after we had been cut off. "A new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead,"Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17b-21).
Fundamentally the breakdown of oneness in a community is because of sin. Ever since the fall of Satan sin has caused separation of oneness. It happened in the Garden of Eden and it has been happening ever since. As soon as sin enters a community oneness becomes division and discord instead of the unity that God intended. This sin can come from two places: our sin and the sin of others around us.
Our sin: When we are hanging onto things that God intends for us to let go (rights, pride, jealousy) we will soon be working against the people we are supposed to partner with and oneness is broken. Whenever there is a breakdown of unity we must carefully examine our own hearts and repent of the sin that God reveals to us. Only then after we have removed our own beam can we have any part in helping to remove someone else's splinter (See Matt. 7). We must be filled with God's life giving water in order to have the grace to lay ourselves down for the team in a way that brings oneness.
Others sin: When others on our team do not have God's life giving water flowing out of them they will also lack the grace to give to the team. I believe that one of the primary reasons "misfits" have trouble feeling a part of a community is because they lack the ability to serve the team. Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly." The selfishness of others and their inability to exemplify Christ's nature can tear down the team as well.
Many people lack the ability to give to others because their own emotional and spiritual cup is not filled and overflowing with God's grace. The first step as we build our teams must be to draw people to a passionate life giving relationship with Christ that is beyond just knowing God. We must call people to a relationship with God to the point that they are filled with the Holy Spirit and bearing the Spirit's fruit (love, joy, peace) in their lives. For so long we have put up with nominal Christianity. Nominal Christianity is essentially non-Christianity. It is totally powerless in changing our world. It stinks of apathy, discouragement, and discord when displayed in our communities.
In the end it all comes back to us because we cannot call people to something that we know nothing about. A community of oneness must be based upon individuals who have a "fresh bubbling spring within them." (John 4:14) and allow this spring to flow to others. This spring is contagious. True oneness within the community is found when our bubbling spring flows out to others and causes them to become a bubbling spring. As these bubbling springs flow together they become a river that of healing for the needy world around us. As long as we cut off the "misfits" that God has placed around us and protect ourselves from the baggage that these people bring our communities will only reach a superficial level of oneness instead of becoming the place that God so desires. A place for the needy to find Him and experience for themselves the bubbling spring of eternal life. A community that changes the world and makes passers-by take note that these people have been with Jesus.
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