Science, Theology, and Humility

I found these three principles from my friend Bruce Ashford’s blog helpful as we wrestle through the inevitable tension between science and theology.  I hope you are challenged to study and to share Christ in our world with humility.

But if theologians and scientists enter into a mutually beneficial dialogue and partnership, how do we adjudicate in the case of conflict? Under the model proposed in this chapter, theology and science are overlapping areas of study which are not inherently conflictive. A proper interpretation of the Scriptures will not be found in conflict with a proper interpretation of the created order. In light of this truth, we offer three principles for reconciliation in the occasion of disagreement between theologians and scientists.[4]

First, either group (theologians or scientists) is subject to error and therefore either group is subject to correction. Both theologians and scientists are finite and fallible human knowers and both are subject to making interpretive mistakes. For example, the Catholic and Protestant church leaders were wrong to condemn Galileo based upon their misinterpretation of Bible passages. Likewise, scientists have been wrong to criticize theologians for their refusal to believe that the earth is not eternal and that it evidences design.[5]

Second, science is in a constant state of flux. Scientific hypotheses and conclusions are always changing. For this reason, theologians should be very careful not to hastily revise their interpretation of Scripture based upon a purportedly “proven” scientific fact.[6]

Third, Scripture is not intended to be a science textbook. Scripture does not err in what it asserts scientifically, but Scripture does not usually communicate with scientific precision. Based upon these three principles, both scientists and theologians are well-served to hold their exegetical conclusions with appropriate humility.

Praise God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth

In preparation for my sermon today, I wanted to see how other biblical authors saw the meaning and the impact of Genesis 1-2. So I sought to look at most every Old Testament text where God is talked about as the one who created/made the heavens and the earth.  What I found was so encouraging for my heart as I grew to love his greatness more, his power more, his safety more, his grace more and his love more.  The study helped me love Him and so I decided to share some of the findings with you. I pray you are encouraged.  The general idea of God as Creator of the heavens and the earth is…

Shows off His supremacy and keeps us humble

Used to say his glory is and always will be greater than our glory.  Isaiah 40:12

Used to describe the beauty and vastness of his wisdom. Jeremiah 10:11-12

Used to praise him as most glorious, to describe the degree of his worth and the far reaching extent of those who praise him.  Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 69:34, Isaiah 40:12

Used to keep us from questioning God in arrogance. (asking God questions in faith is helpful and right, but arrogant calling God into question is indicted here.) The text says, He made the heavens and the earth and therefore our self-exalting words should be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

Warns us against Materialism

Used to show us He is the Possessor of everything.  Genesis 14:22, Psalm 89:11

Encourages Faith for the doubting heart

Used to differentiate him from all other gods. Ezra 5:21, Jeremiah 10:11

Used to show his faithfulness as he was faithful in the creating and making the world and carried it to completion, so he will be faithful to carry everything else to completion. There is none like you, Oh God.  1Kings 8:23

Used to describe his power that caused the nations to fear when God was against them and caused Israel to take confidence when he was fighting on their side  Joshua 2:11-12, Job 37:3

Used to express faith that he has the power to answer prayer. It is the ground of Hezekiahs faith.  2Kings 19:15

Used to describe his value especially the value of his presence. He is with us at all times. He will not let us go.  Psalm 73:25

Used to describe that he is trustworthy and loving in his truth. He formed the earth to be lived in. Isaiah 45:18.

Reveals the source and the path of Justice

Used to describe his power to judge. Psalm 102:25

Used to describe his ability to see- Israel sinned in his sight… The Lord of heaven and earth. We cannot hide from the one who filled the heavens and the earth. Deut 4:25-31, Gen 24:3,  Job 28:24, Jeremiah 23:24

Used to call out in faith when enemies are threatening. It is a declaration that He is able to overcome and what he does is good. Isaiah 36:7.

Used to describe the extent of his control and rule. Psalm 135:6

Highlights Grace

Used to say the Lord is a safe place, a refuge and stronghold. Joel 3:16

Used to describe the extent of his ability to bless Psalm 115:15

Used to describe the extent of his salvation specifically his restoring work of justice. Isaiah 42:1-8

Used to excite our hearts for the last day when he will create a new heaven and a new earth. Isaiah 65:17

So as we read Genesis 1-2 we are to take our cues from the biblical authors’ interpretation and look for God, his work, his actions, his focus, and his comments on why he did what he did. The creation account is meant to evoke awe of God, a holy sense of helplessness that we can’t do what he has done and holy sense of action that loves others while giving him the glory for all creative and justice advancing works on our planet.

We are not looking to prove or defend science.  We are looking for God.  And when we look for him not only in Genesis 1-2 but throughout the Scriptures, we will see his radiance in Jesus who holds all things together and by whose death sinners are justified and given hope in the recreation of all things.

MLK Jr. Day and Bloodlines

As we get the privilege on MLK Jr. Day to reflect on those who have gone before us to labor for racial equality, I wanted to point us to a new resource that will keep us intentional in our present day fight for justice among all peoples.  Pastor John Piper’s new book entitled Bloodlines is a book that we should all read to awaken us not only to the continuing problem of racism in our nation and world today but also to push us to examine our own hearts for the residue or in some cases outright disease of racism.  This 18 minutes trailer for the book is worth the time and will help us understand some of themes and stories that fuel the book.

Here is Amazon’s summary and then the trailer found on youtube.

Genocide. Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far from dead, is unity amidst diversities even remotely possible?

Sharing from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South, pastor John Piper thoughtfully exposes the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hope—teaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God.

Learn to pursue ethnic harmony from a biblical perspective, and to relate to real people different from yourself, as you take part in the bloodline of Jesus that is comprised of “every tongue, tribe, and nation.”

May God grow us to love Christ and to love how God’s sheer grace has brought together people from every nation, tribe, family, and tongue into one race, the race of Christ) where harmony can exist amidst ethnic differences to the glory of God.  So may we pursue this aspect of the coming kingdom in there here and now and long for this reality in the age to come- Unity existing amidst diversity for His glory.

How to Redeem Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Shopping Beyond

Black Friday is not evil.  But it can be dangerous (I’m thinking spiritually, but many have found out it can be physically threatening as well. Yikes!).  Therefore we must be aware about how to redeem the days, the season and really shopping in general for the glory of God.

It all begins with what is the point of Christmas. Of course, like every day, Christmas is about Jesus.  So we redeem Christmas by remembering Christ. That seems like a “duh” but it is amazing how quickly TV’s, Computers, iPads, smartphones, movies, clothing, cars, home décor, food, sales, meeting families’ expectations, bad past holiday memories, etc. can lead our minds to forget Christ regularly.  The subtlety of it all is that the material things aren’t philosophically bad either. However, we must be aware that our hearts can make good things ultimate things and that is dangerous.  We spot the danger and begin to identify when Jesus has slipped from the center of life when we:

• neglect God for things. Time in the word becomes more inconsistent. Your prayer life weakens. Going days without acknowledging him while consumed with buying things or searching for the right deals exposes idolatry.
• neglect people for things. Other people’s needs grow really faint in our mind.  Our needs become supreme.
• serve others less. That explains itself.
• begin to think more about what we can get for ourselves (or even worse what we can sneak around to acquire) than what we can give to others.
• find ourselves getting angrier easier, especially when something stands in the way of getting what we want or impedes our shopping time at the store or on the internet.
• find our anxiety increases over gifts, getting that certain item. Trust God’s providence more than you do your abilities to secure what you think you need.
• begin to place the external over the internal.  Even if we are generous with our things toward others let’s not make getting gifts more important than cultivating a heart for Christ at Christmas.

Christmas is about Jesus, but as we buy gifts we must remember why we buy them?  Christmas is also about giving generously to others and not just to those in your immediate family.  This will free you from the anxiety of what you will get and what your family can amass on these major sale weekends.  View these sales as opportunities to bless those you love.  View these sales as opportunities to be generous to others.  Spend some time in the month of December and ask yourself what or to whom you can give this Christmas.  As a church we not only have the general giving to the budget, but around Christmas time we always do a Hope 4 All Nations Offering so people can be generous in the task of reaching the nations.  But alongside that offering we need to be aware of the needs within our church. Understand that there are needs in your community group.  There are needs across your street we can discover as we get to know our neighbors. Remember Christmas is about experiencing the glorious truth – “it is more blessed to give than it is to receive” Acts 20:32.   Everyone needs to experience that joy at Christmas time.

Redeem Black Friday by enjoying God’s gifts, the sales, the friendships you can cultivate during the shopping.  Make shopping as much about enjoying and loving people as getting and giving gifts.  We must view God’s gifts as just that, gifts to be thoroughly enjoyed, but be alert. Prepare your minds for action and be sober-minded not allowing God’s gifts to eclipse him in importance or primacy in your life.

One really practical help the Cordell family has found during these holidays is to guard against your weaknesses. This begins with letting another person into your weakness.  Dana knows my weakness is gadgets.  I know her weakness is clothing and getting things for her kids.  As a couple we are tempted to overspend (more me than her) or to buy more on impulse when things are so cheap (it’s a tie between us).  So going into these sales days we set a dollar amount that we can spend this Christmas and then make a list for those gifts we want to give inside the family, those we want to give to people in the church and/or others that are need.  We take that list and get only those things on the list.  This will sometimes keep us from overextending ourselves financially and guards against impulse buying.  Any impulse purchases we usually discuss as a couple and if we can’t agree we don’t get it.

In summary, 1) redeem these days of sales by not forgetting Jesus and being aware of when he is slipping from the center of your affections.  2) Redeem these days by remembering shopping is more about generosity and the joy of giving than it is the joy of acquiring.  3) Redeem these days by enjoying God’s gifts and the people you get to be with in the process. Don’t let it overtake Christ in your life.  Although getting things and enjoying them are good, that isn’t meant to be the only thing you think about as the sales papers and ads flash past your eyes.  Finally 4) be wise! Set up some helps that guard you from your areas of greatest temptation. So enjoy Christ and enjoy acting like Christ this Christmas who enjoyed things richly and gave sacrificially – even his own life – all for the glory of His Father.

How to Avoid Legalism While Pursuing Holiness?

These are some thoughts stirred up from Sunday’s sermon entitled “Freed to Holiness”

Legalism is a matter of the heart.  Pursuing holiness, especially obeying God’s commands, is not legalism. It is being an obedient child.  However it is doing the commands of God for the acceptance of God or to avoid the wrath of God, which turns a pursuit of holiness into legalism.

To pursue holiness is 1) to be separate from sin and 2) to pursue God’s glory above your own.  A pursuit of holiness can turn into legalism when obedience is done for your own glory or when your obedience is a boast in your deeds rather than God’s power.  Look at the Pharisees in Matthew 6:1-4 or Luke 18:9-14.

A pursuit of holiness becomes legalism when we major on amounts rather than on the heart. For example, we read our Bibles to savor the Savior not to earn favor before God. And we come to the Bible because our heart desperately needs God’s word day after day, moment after moment.  That is different than saying I must read for 30 minutes because any less time is not enough.  “Not enough for what?” is the question. When we talk in terms of time as a measure of holiness then we are usually seeking to avoid guilt derived from comparing ourselves to others or from a standard of holiness established by amounts rather than the intention of the heart.  The word “enough” is a dead give away for legalism as we seek to pursue the freedom of holiness.

We can also pursue holiness by praying to our Father in heaven. This is not to gain acceptance or to avoid wrath. I am accepted in Christ and Jesus is my only shelter from the fatal wrath of God.  I pray in order to commune with my Father, to petition him for needs, and to call out for his power to be exerted on behalf of others.  The legalist would be tempted to find obedience measured in the amount of time he/she prays or the amount of people you pray for (unless you gave your word you would pray for all 15 people in your community group…then you pray for 15 people). Holiness is not about amounts it is about the intention of the heart.

In your mind, the question might arise, “What if I don’t feel like reading my Bible, praying to God, or giving cheerfully? What if I don’t feel like loving my enemy or my neighbor?”  The answer is not, as I have heard before, to avoid “legalism” and disobey clear commands of Scripture. A pursuit of holiness is total surrender to Christ as your Lord and a desire to obey everything he has commanded that we might stay separate from sin.  Therefore the answer is to repent- repent of your lack of desire, confess your feelings of indifference, ask for God to meet you as you seek to obey, and then….Act.  Obey the commands of your good Master.  1 John 5:3 says, “ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”  They aren’t burdensome because he will give you everything you need-  the faith, the energy, the wisdom, and the way of escape- so that you can obey your Father.

Finally we avoid legalism when we remember pursuing holiness is more about walking by the Spirit than about externally obeying rules. As Christians we are not against rules. We have a loving Lord a good Father who commands us for our good and pursuing holiness is seeking ot obey him.  However as we fully submit our lives to God, we are said to be walking by the Spirit. Not everything in life has a rule attached to it.  And that is by design.  The law as commands was shown to not be able to change the heart of the Israelites. That is why when Jesus came we have been set free from the law of Moses to obey the law of Christ. Christ’s law has fewer commands, and is a stronger call to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as  you seek God’s wisdom. You don’t have a law that says share the gospel with 2 people every day. You don’t have a law that says work for 45.35 hours and that is obedience and that 45.36 is disobedience.  You don’t have a law that says 5 kids is the obedient number of kids and that you should spank them 4 times for hitting and 2 times for talking back.  So how do we pursue holiness in the every day when there isn’t a specific command from God?  Briefly I call it worship and wisdom.  This is walking by the Spirit of God. We worship by cultivating a relationship with God through his word, prayer, deepening church community, giving generously of time and money, etc.  We read his word to know his explicit commands and we read his word to grow in our relationship with God. This cultivates a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom as we live life and make decisions regarding things where there are no laws. The Holy Spirit guides us into wisdom and growth in holiness through calling the word to our mind, through impressions, internal conviction and encouragement, and through circumstances. The Psalmist says, “Delight yourself in the Lord (worship), and he will give you the desires of your heart (wisdom is cultivate: your desires growing to line up with God’s desires).  So as we take our thoughts captive to Christ (2 Cor.10:5), prepare our minds for action and fight for sober-mindedness (1Peter 1:13-16) through daily discipline, the Holy Spirit guides us to know what wisdom looks like in certain situations.  I pray not only as individuals but as a community of faith we stir one another up to love and good works, that is we enjoy the freedom of pursuing holiness.

Meals are More Than Food, Just Ask Jesus

As we prepared our hearts for a meal with over 300 people from our immediate community after church, we were able to walk through Luke 5:27-32 on Sunday morning in the sermon entitled, “Meals are More than Food, just ask Jesus.”  The main idea was that meals are not just symbols of God’s provision and his creativity in the diversity of food we can consume, but a meal is a place to put our faith into action. Meals are in themselves 1) a context for community, 2) a platform for mission, and 3) a place to express and receive grace.  So following that outline we will take the next several posts to prepare our hearts for this meal-filled holiday season and more importantly begin to see Christianity not as something lived out only in the formal context of Sunday mornings but a faith that permeates all of life, especially our time together around food.  May our meals make much of Jesus who “came eating and drinking” on his way to “giving his life as a ransom for many” (cf. Luke 7:34, Mark 10:45).

Here are some excerpts from Sunday’s sermon:

Introduction
When you sit down to eat a meal? What is most important?  Salad, main course, dessert, drinks? OR is it something else?  Is it the presentation- the glassware, the plates, the house decorations, etc.?  OR is there something more fundamental?  Are the meals as much about the people and the relationships as it is about food?

 “Our relationship to food is ambiguous. Television chefs have become celebrities, and cookbooks regularly appear on bestseller lists. Yet we cook less than ever before. Americans spend over $50 billion on dieting each year—$50 billion to solve the problem of food gone wrong. At any given moment 25 percent of American men and 45 percent of women are dieting. Only 9 percent of college-aged women have never tried to control their weight through dieting. American Christians spend more on dieting than on world missions.  We spend more curing our overconsumption than we do feeding the physically and spiritually hungry of the world. (A Meal with Jesus, Tim Chester, p12)

Something is wrong with this picture.

We have made an idol out of food and forgotten its purpose- to enjoy and to share.  The aim of life is to love God and love others. So we must look at Jesus’ life to understand the beauty of eating meals for those ends.

The Son of man came eating and drinking as a primary means for seeking and saving the lost.  When we begin to look at the role of meals in the life of Jesus we will see how important meals were for community, mission, and extending grace. (Luke 5:27-32; 7:33-50; Luke 9:10-17; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 11:37-54; Luke 14:7-24; Luke 19:1-10; Luke 22:7-23; Luke 24:36-49 are a sampling of their prominence in the life of Jesus.

Meals are places of community

Many of the “one anothers” in the Bible can be done well around a meal.

Meals are places to honor one another (cf. Luke 14:7-11)

Birthdays, fixing someone’s favorite meal, making meal for a family with a newborn, are not only ways for providing for needs but also for honoring people in your life.

Meals are places to serve one another

Making a meal for someone is an expression of love.  Those who make the meals in your home, do you see the meal you make as an opportunity to provide for your family, to bless others, and create a context for community? In preparing meals with the right heart, we are able to growing to be more like Jesus.

Meals are also place to train up your kids to be servants.  As your kids get older train them at the dinner table. Train them to listen to others, to ask about others, to respect their authority by only getting down from the table when they ask to be excused, to be thankful by expressing thanks to the cook, to delight in order by setting the table, to serve others by getting drinks for them, etc.  There are so many ways the dinner table serves as a training ground not for mere law but for shaping us into Christ’s likeness.

Meals are places to enjoy one another

When I asked my kids what do you think most characterizes our dinner time?  Their answer was…laughter!  Meals are a place to enjoy one another.  We tell funny stories about Dana and I growing up; we talk about what gave them joy during their day; we have a question jar at our table with questions that can solicit funny answers (like, “If you could make up your own ice cream flavor what would it be and why?”).  Make meals memorable by simple being all there (cell phones away) and seeing the holiness of enjoying fellowship with one another.

However we don’t just laugh. We enjoy one another by hearing each others hurts, by praying for each other and for missionaries or friends in the church. When there is tension, especially with siblings, we use the meal time for pursuing peace and reconciliation, confession, and forgiveness.  We even do dinner and devotions sometimes bringing the Bible time, about 10 minutes or so, into our after food discussions.

We also love having people over for meals. Meals are not only great for deepening existing relationships but many times meals are the context for really forming new friendships.

 All of these ideas are not done in one meal time. But creativity and intentionality will bring opportunities for community into every meal.

I pray that we seek to honor one another, serve one another, and enjoy one another as we form community at meal times.

More to come…

Meals are places of mission (part 2)

Meals are places of grace (part 3)

The Joy of a Wrecked Life

Sunday, at the end of my sermon entitled, “Freed to Slavery: the joy of total surrender”, I said that our Master, Jesus, sets us free to love others so that people might find freedom in Christ.  As an illustration I read some excerpts from a Katie Davis’s book, Kisses From Katie.  Katie is college age woman who is has found freedom in Christ and now uses her freedom to intensely love others with her life. Here are some excerpts that describe the joy of total surrender and I hope encourage us to love faithfully, daily, liberally, for the glory of God and for others to experience the joy of a “wrecked life.”

You see, Jesus wrecked my life.  For as long as I could remember, I had everything this world says is important. In high school I was class president, homecoming queen, top of my class. I dated cute boys and wore cute shoes and drove a cute sports car. I had wonderful supportive parents who so desired my success that they would have paid for me to go to college anywhere my heart desired. But I loved Jesus.

And the fact that I loved Jesus was beginning to interfere with the plans I once had for my life and certainly with the plans others and for me.  My heart had been apprehended by a great love, a love that compelled me to live differently…. I began to delve into the truths of Scripture. As I read and learned more and more of what Jesus said I liked the lifestyle I saw around me less and less. I began to realize that God wanted more from me and I wanted more of Him…. Slowly but surely I began to realize the truth: I had loved and admired and worshiped Jesus without doing what He said.  This recognition didn’t happen overnight; in fact I believe it was happening as I explored the possibility of overseas volunteer work, it was happening as I took my first three-week trip to Uganda, it was happening as I fell in love with a beautiful country full of gracious, joyful people and immense poverty and squalor that begged me to do more. It was happening in so many ways, and I couldn’t deny it. I wanted to actually do what Jesus said to do.

So I quit my life…

She goes on to describe how this quitting of life was a surrendering of her whole life to Him and His ways.  She says,

I no longer have all the things the world says are important.  I do not have a retirement fund; I do not even have electricity some days. But I have everything I know is important.  I have a joy and peace that are unimaginable and can come only from a place better than this earth.  I cannot fathom being happier. Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.

During the first few months I lived in Uganda, in fall of 2007, I wrote, “Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper.” Today, it often still feels that way. I have learned to be okay with this feeling because I have learned that I will not change the world.  Jesus will do that.  I can, however change the world for one person…. And if one person sees the love of Christ in me, it is worth every minute.  In fact, it is worth spending my life for….

People often I ask if I think my life is dangerous, if I am afraid. I am much more afraid of remaining comfortable. Matthew 10:28 tells us not to fear things that can destroy the body but things that can destroy the soul. I am surrounded by things that can destroy the body. I interact almost daily with people who have deadly diseases, and many times I am the only person who can help them.  I live in a country with one of the world’s longest-running wars taking place just a few hours away.  Uncertainty is everywhere. But I am living in the midst of the uncertainty and risk, amid things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort, and ignorance. I am much more terrified of living a comfortable life in a self-serving society and failing to follow Jesus than I am of any illness or tragedy.  (Kisses From Katie, pXVII-XIX)

Have we experienced the joy of a wrecked life? This life will take us to places we never dreamed. It might not be Uganda or even overseas, but the point is not as much where are you surrendered but are you surrendered wholly to Christ?  Do we want our lives, driven by His love for us, to count in the loving of others?  My prayer is that when we look back at our lives we will not only stand in awe of the grace that set us free but we will say, by that same grace at work in us, “we used our freedom to love like Jesus” (Galatians 5:13).  I pray we hear these words,  “Well done good and faithful slave enter into the joy of your Master.” (cf. Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 25:21).

Don’t Waste Your TV Watching

Continued from my previous post, “Questions about Biblical Freedom“

Question 3: How do you know what is appropriate to watch on TV or how do you develop convictions regarding what you watch?

First we need to remember the questions from the post entitled the “The Privilege of Freedom” by asking ourselves 1) Is this TV show or movie helpful?, 2) Am I mastered by it?,  3) Is it hurtful to others’ faith, 4) Am I watching to the glory of God?  These questions really help us bring God and others’ faith into the center of our TV watching.

Another question to ask is “Does this series or movie decrease my desire for God, his word, or for prayer?”  We must be aware of the subtle slip into spiritual laziness or spiritual anemia.

Some further thoughts are also helpful for us to think through.

• Be honest about your weaknesses. As you try to discern what you can watch you must begin by being honest about your weaknesses.  Does violence tempt you to anger, does cussing tempt you to develop a potty mouth, does sexual content tempt you to lust, does constant ethical compromise (constant lies) tempt you to lessen your moral standards or does simply watching TV no matter the content leave you spiritually or emotionally dull?  If so, then you need to go after our most satisfying Savior and avoid your particular vice. (cf. 1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7-8)
  • For me cussing or violence, especially in war/action movies doesn’t tempt me to anger or to mimic their words or behavior.  However nudity or sexual content is not good for my heart. So much so that when we go to the mall or our shopping, my wife is on the look out for me warning where not to look.  (A helpful thought from Pastor John Piper in explaining why nudity is different than other temptations like violence or moral corruption is that in violent movies the war, violence, corruption is not really happening on the set, where as, if nudity is shown, that person is really naked.)  Whether our struggle is lust or anger or a lack of self-control with our mouth, we must be honest and careful where we are weak and be earnest to avoid the temptation.  We must not pretend we are strong where we are weak or we will be pulled away from a vibrant, gospel-loving, Christ-committed, others-pursuing kind of faith.  The gospel of grace frees us to admit weakness because the grace of forgiveness covers us and in our weaknesses Christ’s strength is made perfect.
• Redeem TV. In areas where you might not be exceptionally weak we still must work to redeem TV and movies.  That is we must keep working to put treasuring Christ and loving others at the center of TV watching.
  • For example, when I watch March Madness (college basketball), I enjoy the competition (because I am reminded of my God who always wins and teaches us through our losses to trust Him and His purposes); I enjoy the thrill of close games (because I don’t know the outcome but God does.);  I enjoy the amazing ability of these players (because I don’t have it and God’s common grace has given some people superb skill and excellence), and I enjoy seeing the unexpected happen (because God’s shows off his majesty in the ironic- the weak beating the strong, the experts confounded by the underdog’s victory, the money loaded programs getting beat by the smaller programs).  Yes God can be seen in basketball. God gives us eyes to see you and worship you not the sport.
  • Another example of redeeming TV comes when I watch war movies.  Most of the time they really strengthen my faith.  I share these things not to try to win you over to action/war movies but to try to model thinking through what we watch so that we can watch TV as unto the Lord.
  • Many of these shows not only remind me of real historical events and educate my mind to better understand humanity and our world, but they also help me keep life and death in my mind.  A mind and heart that are not given to remember the fragility of life will be a life that sets its hope less on Christ’s coming and more on the things of now.  Biblically we are called to set our minds on things above by comparing our present sufferings to the eternal weight of glory that awaits God’s people (2 Cor 4:16-18).  Psalm 103 reminds us that God’s compassion is fueled by his knowledge of our fleeting frame.  In like manner the more we remember that our life is but a breath (Psalm 78:33, 39) and that we are like grass that withers, the more we will long for another world where all wrongs are right, injustice is brought to justice, and peace reigns over all the earth.
  • Another way God uses war movies to strengthen my faith is to show me courage and remind me to be bold without fear. It is a boldness that many times helps us hold life loosely for a greater cause.  The heroes usually are sacrificing their lives for the good of another or for a greater cause of justice.  As Christians we must be bold and courageous in a life of love for the cause of the gospel.  These portrayals of justice, courage, and risk are helpful for my heart as I love others and contend for the greatest cause of all- the glory of God in the gospel.
• Never rejoice in sin.  Finally we must be careful to never rejoice over sin.  Rejoicing in what God hates is counter to faith.  In Hosea 9:1, God calls the people of Israel to silence. They were to stop rejoicing in their sin and the sin of others.
  • Similarly as we watch TV and movies, Don’t rejoice over someone’s sexual escapades. Don’t rejoice in revenge. Don’t rejoice that evil seems to get the upper hand. Don’t rejoice in murder.
  • We watch to grow in faith. We watch to grow to love others.  We don’t watch to rejoice in what God hates.

As Americans are wasting their lives in front of TV’s, not necessarily because we are watching TV, but because we are not watching it as unto the Lord.  We as followers of Jesus need to be able to use the freedoms we have to deepen our rest in and enjoyment of Christ.  May these things be helpful as we seek to honor God with our eyes and mind. Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if you eye is healthy, you whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness” (Matthew 6:22-23). May we not waste our TV watching but bring Christ and loving others to the center of our leisure.

Loving Christ’s love for us with you

Oh God Awaken Our Souls and Our City Through PRAYER

Prayer is a discipline that connects us to God, expresses our need, deepens our faith, protects us from evil, molds us to be like Christ, and fuels us for mission.  This week, in our series on “The Delight of Discipline” we took some time to stir up one another to be a joyful, faith-filled, and faithful people of prayer from Luke 5:12-26.  Prayer is not a drudgery but an opportunity to have a relationship with the living God and to be used by Him in immeasurable ways.

Here are some quotes from the sermon Sunday that were meant to stir us to be a people of prayer.

Prayer is not an appetizer, it is the main course. It is not merely a lead into your dinner, or a Bible study or a transition between songs on Sunday morning. Prayer is privileged communion with the living God who sacrificed his only Son that we might relate to him as Father, shepherd, keeper and Lord. Prayer is communion with God.

“He would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16). If Jesus needed to get alone with the Father, multiple times, don’t you think we need time alone with God our Father.

Jesus teaches us how to pray and part of that prayer from Matthew 6 is a prayer for protection from evil. “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…”  Here is a quote from Russell Moore regarding prayer and temptation to sin.

One of the first ways you can tell that you are moving beyond temptation into a pattern of sin is if you find yourself in a time of prayerlessness.

That isn’t just a “spiritual maturity issue”—it’s a gospel issue.

You are recreated through the gospel with a nature that longs for communion with God. The Spirit within you cries out, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). Prayer is exactly how you experience the sympathy of your high priest who has triumphed over your temptation. After all, you are not the only one praying when you pray. The Spirit himself prays through you, and as he does so, he works to align your will and desires with those of Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:26–27).

If you are reluctant to pray, it just might be that you, like Adam and Israel before you, are hiding in the vegetation, ashamed to hear the rustling of the leaves that signals he is here.

Russell Moore —Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ, p. 171.

Prayer can be twisted by our self-righteous hearts to be a means of earning God’s favor or an action that we make into an attempt to put God in our debt.  This quote helps us remember the place of prayer as we pray for others.

God does not need our good works but our neighbor does.- Tullian Tchividjian

When we pray for others we get the joy of lifting another person down through roof to the Savior because we believe that life altering things happen if you just get them close to Jesus.

The essence of prayer is faith. And it is the prayer of faith that attracts the gaze of God, and ignites his power to act on behalf of His people.  Prayer doesn’t force God’s activity but excites Him to move.  God uses the prayers of his people as a means of exercising the greatness of his power.

Every mighty movement of God among a people, in a city, or across the world has been preceded by, sparked by, and sustained by the Word of God and prayer.  Oh that we in our lifetime, as individuals and as a people would experience the joy of asking God for a mighty move of his Spirit and see it in our day.

Questions about Biblical Freedom

Here is a quote from Tullian Tchividjian “Real slavery is living your life trying to gain favor; Real freedom is living your life because you already have favor.”

With this gospel reminder, I was also reminded of some really helpful questions people asked me after the sermon on 1 Corinthians 8,  that I wanted to address in a couple of blogs.

Question 1: Are you able to share your convictions with people without making it law for them or judging them for how they live?

The short answer is yes, but the two qualifications in the question are crucial.  1) We can’t be found judging other people’s convictions in areas of freedom and 2) we can’t make law what isn’t law.  We must make a distinction between sharing wisdom and insisting that others believe like we do.  When others ask you for advice, sharing your wisdom or how you came to your convictions is loving.  However we must check our hearts that in so doing we are not trying to make a law for them. Making law where there is no law crushes the soul, and distorts the gospel.

Question 2: What if you and your spouse have different convictions?

A general answer is the wife should seek to respect and support her husband’s leadership as long as it is not leading her into sin.  The husband should live with his wife in an understanding, showing honor to her through listening and leadership.

If the convictions that are creating tension really are areas of freedom, we must ask, “Why are we so upset that they are not taking on my convictions?  Why do I want this so badly? Is it love for them or comfort or control for me?”

The Bible doesn’t say that people have to have the same convictions in order to be at peace.  However if one spouse’s convictions are leading the other spouse to stumble, then, because of the closeness of the relationship, the husband should lead out in serving the spouse. That is, if he feels more freedom than she does then he should make sure she knows she is more important than his freedom to watch that game, or participate in a hobby.  However in a marriage, part of the husband’s unique role is to lead his wife spiritually. Part of that is having discussions about his convictions- not in a defensive way but helping her understand how you really believe this is drawing you closer to the Lord and helping you love others.  With great humility in both, one of two things will happen in this process.  1) you will find out as a husband that you have not been using your freedom as “unto the Lord” or 2) your wife will see that you are seeking Christ and love for others and that you are hearing her.  Then her role is to trust God in him.

Finally if the tension persists, then we must remember that sanctification is a community project. We must involve others in the discussion so that others can point out blind spots, counsel, and help us through the decisions.

In my marriage, we had a similar situation.  I like watching war movies and my wife can’t stand violence and cussing.  For her cussing is like nudity or sexual content is for me- it sticks in my mind and comes into the brain at the most random times. She would have nightmares with cuss words flooding her mind while she slept.  So what do I do?  When we are together I carefully study the content and find everything I can about the cussing and violence and sexual content so that we are not given to stumble in our faith while we watch a movie. That really limits what movies we watch together. But it has been a great way to show my love for her and for us to enjoy a movie or TV show with a clean conscience.

However the story continues in that Dana struggled so much with war/action movies that she couldn’t understand how I could watch them and still be following God.  After some heated discussions, I told her that these movies are not as important as she is and I stopped watching them for a season.  However, when the iron was cool, a week or so later, I initiated a conversation about how I watch a war movie to the glory of God (some of these things will be in the next post).  She had not fully thought about all of those things, and yet she still struggled to understand why I like them.  I told her that I would seek accountability from other men who we trust, and I asked them to speak into my life to make sure I wasn’t being blinded.  The compromise is that she now trusts me and with her knowledge, not in secrecy, I watch them periodically by myself or with friends.   She and I learned to develop convictions and live with one another in an understanding way. We grew as friends and we grew in thinking about Christ in the everyday, even as we watch TV.