It's that time of year again. We will all get our fill of interpretations of Jesus over the next few weeks. It's inevitable- every Easter we hear some new or re-imagined life of Christ which attempts to show how he was different than our preconceived ideas of him. Mostly, these special articles, tv programs, and lectures serve to show how orthodox Christians are wrong in some way and need to convert to the newer paradigm.
I'm kind of tired of these. Everyone has an agenda anymore it seems. I used to care a lot more about all of these ideas. Many of the best writers have compelling stories to tell. It's just that the coherence seems to come apart.
I just don't care that much anymore. It's not as if I don't have doubts. I do. I doubt a lot of things, but when I come back to Jesus, I keep discovering a compelling and believable story.
Doubt has been healthy to my faith. Learning and exploring different ideas is challenging and interesting. It's just that the skeptical doubt is not as interesting as Jesus.
James tells Christians to ask in faith without doubting (James 1:6). Many have taken this verse (and others similar to it), and assumed it referred to all doubting. In particular, when they apply it to faith some people believe we should not doubt our faith and just accept it unconditionally without revision.
The problem to this approach to faith and doubt is that it misses the core of rational belief in Christianity. We must have a noetic (intellectual belief) system which incorporates doubt. Doubt allows us to question our preconceived ideas and embedded culture. By doing so, we can come to a better understanding of truth which is universally applicable in nature. As Christians, we must believe truth is a person (e.g. John 1:1).
How do I square this with what James says? Easy, James is addressing Christians who are going through a time of hardship and suffering. These Christians need wisdom. Wisdom, I would argue, is the personification of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. This is what we are to ask for without doubting. So, when James tells us to ask for wisdom without doubting he is telling us to approach God with full-abandonment.
The lack of doubt he refers to manifests itself as a life which wholeheartedly seeks God. This is not what I mean, or many other people mean when they say "doubt." We mean something like- questions we have concerning the nature, character, or reliability of God, Jesus, or the scriptures.
James urges us to seek God first. Don't hedge your bets when you need help, seek God and what He has given you. This is a radically different topic than the intellectual exercise which considers things like historical truth or reliability.
For example, when we approach the Gospels with an attempt to learn because we are unsure what we believe, we may actually do so in a way that is consistent with what James advocates for Christian living. However, the locus of this intellectual doubt is not holding to some impossible idea of impartiality or empirical non-subjectivity. Instead, it is an abandonment to the search for truth while realizing that truth must be a person.
The doubt of a person of faith seeks understanding. It is the prayer of the father in Mark 9:24, "I believe, help my unbelief!" Only in Jesus do we find fulfillment and resolution to our doubt.
As I finish a season of preaching/teaching about the person of Jesus (I just spent 12 weeks on the subject with my students), I return to Jesus full of doubt and full of faith. My doubt has always sought Christ, The Lord, the Son of the Living God.
It is my prayer for my brothers and sisters in Christ that they will have some doubt as they think about Jesus this Easter.
I cannot help but have doubt as I approach the cross on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Have I forsaken my Lord? Do I continue to forsake Him? Is my prayer really any different than the thief who wanted to be with Jesus in paradise?
My doubt never ends, leads, or finds it source in my own questions. My doubt comes from being in constant contact with Christ. This is the second part of my prayer; may our doubt come from knowing Christ and His death and resurrection. This is the intellectual doubt which says, "How can this be?" This is the doubt which produces genuine faith. This is the doubt which affirms His resurrection and looks into the tomb.
My doubt is found in the uncertainty of the present moment.
My doubt is not guided by inaction.
My doubt is not held in suspension.
My doubt is not based upon the wisdom of this world.
My doubt finds itself next to The Lord and says, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom!" (Luke 23:42).
It is a cry of desperation and hope. It holds nothing back. Even in my darkest hours, I say "I believe, help my unbelief!" This should be a humble and biblical prayer.
in Christ,
Christopher
Monday, March 25, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
The Danger of Literalism
I saw this yesterday and thought I would mention something about it today.
A man in Tennessee quit his job because he received a W-2 with the number 666 on it.
Setting aside the various textual problems with the number itself, there a few things I wish Christians would keep in mind when reading and applying the Bible.
First, the book of Revelation is Apocalyptic literature. It doesn't take a lot of studying to figure out almost everything in the book is symbolic or figurative of some other thing. When and if there is a literal number of the beast, it probably won't actually be 666 -enough said on the particulars of this case.
Second, we absolutely must be aware of different genres in the Bible. This goes for every single book. We can't read a letter the same way we read a psalm or history or love songs or you get the point...
Third, we must leave behind as many of our presuppositions as possible when we come to the biblical text and then apply it to our life. If God's word is God's word, then it has the power to speak to our lives across every cultural and historical barrier, but we must also allow the text to speak. Applied to this situation- don't assume that just because something has the number 666 on it that it means the thing is somehow connected to the devil, beast, etc.
Fourth, I really don't think Jesus was a strict literalist in relation to the Bible. Do I think he obeyed every part of it?- Yes. Do I think he honored every part of it?- Yes. Did he take every part literally? No.
This last part is an important point because it differs from the idea of Jesus not being a legalist. Most Christians would easily admit Jesus wasn't a legalist. When they come to the idea of literalism, I know many Christians who practically and actively maintain the literalism of Jesus.
For example, when they look at Jesus applying words from the Pentateuch, they will often want Jesus to be applying them in a literal, straightforward, non-metaphorical way. This happens until they get to the parts of about the Sabbath (e.g. Mark 2:27). Then all bets are off, at least for a little while. It doesn't take long for them to return to a strict literalist (or do I mean legalist?) Jesus.
This story about Jesus is pretty dumb- one more reason I don't believe Jesus was a literalist.
Jesus understood things like genre and context. As Christians, we should too. If we don't, we will end up misapplying scripture like the man in Tennessee. When we do that, we miss what God really wants us to be focusing on in his word.
Get in the word. Know the word. Apply the word. But please don't insist on being a strict literalist.
A man in Tennessee quit his job because he received a W-2 with the number 666 on it.
Setting aside the various textual problems with the number itself, there a few things I wish Christians would keep in mind when reading and applying the Bible.
First, the book of Revelation is Apocalyptic literature. It doesn't take a lot of studying to figure out almost everything in the book is symbolic or figurative of some other thing. When and if there is a literal number of the beast, it probably won't actually be 666 -enough said on the particulars of this case.
Second, we absolutely must be aware of different genres in the Bible. This goes for every single book. We can't read a letter the same way we read a psalm or history or love songs or you get the point...
Third, we must leave behind as many of our presuppositions as possible when we come to the biblical text and then apply it to our life. If God's word is God's word, then it has the power to speak to our lives across every cultural and historical barrier, but we must also allow the text to speak. Applied to this situation- don't assume that just because something has the number 666 on it that it means the thing is somehow connected to the devil, beast, etc.
Fourth, I really don't think Jesus was a strict literalist in relation to the Bible. Do I think he obeyed every part of it?- Yes. Do I think he honored every part of it?- Yes. Did he take every part literally? No.
This last part is an important point because it differs from the idea of Jesus not being a legalist. Most Christians would easily admit Jesus wasn't a legalist. When they come to the idea of literalism, I know many Christians who practically and actively maintain the literalism of Jesus.
For example, when they look at Jesus applying words from the Pentateuch, they will often want Jesus to be applying them in a literal, straightforward, non-metaphorical way. This happens until they get to the parts of about the Sabbath (e.g. Mark 2:27). Then all bets are off, at least for a little while. It doesn't take long for them to return to a strict literalist (or do I mean legalist?) Jesus.
This story about Jesus is pretty dumb- one more reason I don't believe Jesus was a literalist.
Jesus understood things like genre and context. As Christians, we should too. If we don't, we will end up misapplying scripture like the man in Tennessee. When we do that, we miss what God really wants us to be focusing on in his word.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Obedience
It amazes me how many times I have to explain this concept to my four year old son. The distinction between obedience and disobedience blurs all too quickly for him. Even when there are clear consequences and privileges for disobedience and obedience, he often chooses the disobedient path.
I must admit I blur the lines in my own life. I can't claim to be a four year old though. Sometimes it feels as if I am just a young boy, but that is usually due to my own foolishness. As James would say, "I know the good I should do, and yet I fail to do it." (James 4:17, my own paraphrase).
Why is obedience so hard? Especially when we know the consequences will not and cannot be good for us?
It's a heart issue. We want to be masters of our world. We want to have control. It feels so much more satisfying, or at least we think so, to have control over our own little slice of the universe. Disobedience allows us to assert this dominance over our slice. After all, I have a right to be disobedient if I want.
Rights are invoked by Christians all the time. I have a right to eat what I want. I have a right to watch what I want. I have a right to be friends with the people I want. I have a right to use my money the way I want. I'm sure we could make a long list of all the rights we have.
What's the problem with this type of assertion?
Again, it's a heart issue. Whenever I assert my rights over the rights of another person, I am showing the character of my heart. Even when I am just asserting a right and it is not immediately clear how another person is involved, I am still seeking something for myself.
The heart which seeks to be served is a disobedient heart. But we all like to be served right? Yep, we do. There is nothing wrong with enjoying and appreciating it when someone serves us.
The problem arises when our rights or our wish to be served motivates us. This is what I am talking about when I talk about the heart; the heart is our will which motivates us, desires within us, and moves our will.
One thing I believe Nietzsche got right about slave morality is this - it emasculates everyone when imposed upon others. Slave morality, in essence, is the idea that virtues such as charity, kindness, and humility are a reaction to a master morality of strength and will, originally determined by its consequences. Nietzsche abhorred the biblical and Christian concepts of morality for several reasons, but most importantly he thought it necessary to revalue morality in terms of the will to power.
There are two major distinctions Nietzsche failed to realize about Christian morality, or perhaps he understood and did not believe. In any case, Christians do not believe strength and will are evil in themselves. Second, Christians cannot defend an imposition of morality as the way by which true equality is gained.
On the first point, we believe strength, or fortitude in Aquinas' terms, is a virtue. We just believe strength is shown in different ways, e.g. restraint or the defense of the defenseless. This is why Christians should not always be silent in the face of evil. Christians must be advocates for others.
Christians cannot defend an imposition of morality as the means of true equality because we believe in the uniqueness of salvation through Christ. What does salvation have to do with equality? Everything! Salvation must be universally accessible and universally able to be rejected. If morality is the highest standard of equality, or at least the means by which equality is granted, then salvation no longer rules our thoughts and actions as Christians. Even more, true morality is result of a changed heart, formed by Christ. So, in order for morality to be real it must be first formed in the forge of salvation.
Salvation* must be the guide by which we see all men and women before God. The government may attempt to legislate morality, but Christians must understand it is a relationship to God in terms of Christ that determines our standing, both temporal and eternal.
It is at this point we remember the service of Christ.
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. (Mark 10:45; John 3:16-17). He showed us the essence of an obedient heart. He showed us how to follow God fully. He did not come to assert his rights, but instead to serve others.
As I celebrate Christmas this year, I want to seek to serve others. I want to do this in strength, but also in humility.
If I am going to serve others, I must be obedient to God rather than my rights.
I am seeking to serve in obedience this Christmas.
Happy Christmas!
-christopher
Luke 2:8-20 (HCSB)
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord h stood before them, and the glory of The Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth t to people He favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
*As a side note, salvation extends beyond the mere conception of getting into heaven. Salvation must be thought of in terms of the full redemptive work of Christ.
I must admit I blur the lines in my own life. I can't claim to be a four year old though. Sometimes it feels as if I am just a young boy, but that is usually due to my own foolishness. As James would say, "I know the good I should do, and yet I fail to do it." (James 4:17, my own paraphrase).
Why is obedience so hard? Especially when we know the consequences will not and cannot be good for us?
It's a heart issue. We want to be masters of our world. We want to have control. It feels so much more satisfying, or at least we think so, to have control over our own little slice of the universe. Disobedience allows us to assert this dominance over our slice. After all, I have a right to be disobedient if I want.
Rights are invoked by Christians all the time. I have a right to eat what I want. I have a right to watch what I want. I have a right to be friends with the people I want. I have a right to use my money the way I want. I'm sure we could make a long list of all the rights we have.
What's the problem with this type of assertion?
Again, it's a heart issue. Whenever I assert my rights over the rights of another person, I am showing the character of my heart. Even when I am just asserting a right and it is not immediately clear how another person is involved, I am still seeking something for myself.
The heart which seeks to be served is a disobedient heart. But we all like to be served right? Yep, we do. There is nothing wrong with enjoying and appreciating it when someone serves us.
The problem arises when our rights or our wish to be served motivates us. This is what I am talking about when I talk about the heart; the heart is our will which motivates us, desires within us, and moves our will.
One thing I believe Nietzsche got right about slave morality is this - it emasculates everyone when imposed upon others. Slave morality, in essence, is the idea that virtues such as charity, kindness, and humility are a reaction to a master morality of strength and will, originally determined by its consequences. Nietzsche abhorred the biblical and Christian concepts of morality for several reasons, but most importantly he thought it necessary to revalue morality in terms of the will to power.
There are two major distinctions Nietzsche failed to realize about Christian morality, or perhaps he understood and did not believe. In any case, Christians do not believe strength and will are evil in themselves. Second, Christians cannot defend an imposition of morality as the way by which true equality is gained.
On the first point, we believe strength, or fortitude in Aquinas' terms, is a virtue. We just believe strength is shown in different ways, e.g. restraint or the defense of the defenseless. This is why Christians should not always be silent in the face of evil. Christians must be advocates for others.
Christians cannot defend an imposition of morality as the means of true equality because we believe in the uniqueness of salvation through Christ. What does salvation have to do with equality? Everything! Salvation must be universally accessible and universally able to be rejected. If morality is the highest standard of equality, or at least the means by which equality is granted, then salvation no longer rules our thoughts and actions as Christians. Even more, true morality is result of a changed heart, formed by Christ. So, in order for morality to be real it must be first formed in the forge of salvation.
Salvation* must be the guide by which we see all men and women before God. The government may attempt to legislate morality, but Christians must understand it is a relationship to God in terms of Christ that determines our standing, both temporal and eternal.
It is at this point we remember the service of Christ.
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. (Mark 10:45; John 3:16-17). He showed us the essence of an obedient heart. He showed us how to follow God fully. He did not come to assert his rights, but instead to serve others.
As I celebrate Christmas this year, I want to seek to serve others. I want to do this in strength, but also in humility.
If I am going to serve others, I must be obedient to God rather than my rights.
I am seeking to serve in obedience this Christmas.
Happy Christmas!
-christopher
Luke 2:8-20 (HCSB)
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord h stood before them, and the glory of The Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth t to people He favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
*As a side note, salvation extends beyond the mere conception of getting into heaven. Salvation must be thought of in terms of the full redemptive work of Christ.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Grateful
Being content is a full time enterprise. Seriously, if I don't work at being content, then I start to get distracted by temptations on every side. A few (mostly) silly examples:
Toys - Is there a new Star Wars Lego set out? Cool, let's go look at it at Soren (and try to convince mommy we should buy it)!
Games - That new board game takes 5 hours to play and some of the instructions are in Latin? I can't wait to buy it and play it one time before putting in the closet forever!
Activities - I have been doing this same activity for 2 months now? I really need to start something new! How about Zoomba!
Food - I've eaten beans twice this month? I need to eat the newest food craze now!
This week I talked to my students about being grateful. Thanksgiving provokes us to think about thankfulness, contentedness, and gratefulness.
As I studied for the lesson I encountered a familiar problem. The text showed me I needed to make a change in my own life.
Preparing to teach the Bible should involve several important steps. The text should be read a few times. Prayer finds it ways throughout the experience. Historical and cultural research, cross-referncing, and language study all take up time in the process. Eventually, when the teacher begins to think directly about application, the text must have been fermenting in the soul for many hours. Many times this causes the honest teacher to revaluate their own relationship to the text.
This is where it caused a problem for me. I don't always live out the application and meaning of the verse we were studying.
Colossians 3:17 occupied our discussion this week.
It says, "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (HCSB)"
This is not a flippant "Thank You!" We are expected to live out our thanks. The work of Jesus should be at the forefront of every action, internal and external in our lives. It should be transformative.
To be more precise, the thanksgiving we believers express to God through our lives because of Jesus Christ must clearly show the transformative nature of the Gospel.
It must express this...must! If it does not express the transformative nature of the Gospel we are being led away into glorification of self. In a nutshell, this is what the book of Colossians is about. When we are filled with the work and person of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, our lives contain the sufficiency of Christ.
Sufficiency here does not just mean "enough." This word fails to express the fullness of sufficiency in Christ. Sufficiency in Christ means we have everything we need.
And this is how it all connects- If I truly have everything I need in Christ, then I will be content. To express discontent is to express dissatisfaction with the sufficiency of Christ. It is to be an ungrateful, spoiled, rotten, and petulant child. Nobody likes being around that kid, not even that kid. I do not want to be him.
But I am. Frequently.
Only a person who is content can consistently experience the grateful life. A grateful life, a thankful life expresses it in visible ways. We must consistently act our gratitude.
This week I want to express my gratitude to someone in my life who I am thankful toward. I am going to tell them. I am also going to do something for this person.
I also want to express my gratitude to God. I want to do this in an active way. Prayer and Bible study are good, but our gratitude to God should never end there.
The best part of Thanksgiving is that it is extremely hard to compromise a real "Thank You." We all know how to spot the faker, the person who says "Thank You" in a hypocritical or flippant way. So, instead let's be thankful.
Express your thanks today. Be active. Be visible in your consequences and secret in your identity. That's my plan for now.
Happy Thanksgiving.
-Christopher
Toys - Is there a new Star Wars Lego set out? Cool, let's go look at it at Soren (and try to convince mommy we should buy it)!
Games - That new board game takes 5 hours to play and some of the instructions are in Latin? I can't wait to buy it and play it one time before putting in the closet forever!
Activities - I have been doing this same activity for 2 months now? I really need to start something new! How about Zoomba!
Food - I've eaten beans twice this month? I need to eat the newest food craze now!
This week I talked to my students about being grateful. Thanksgiving provokes us to think about thankfulness, contentedness, and gratefulness.
As I studied for the lesson I encountered a familiar problem. The text showed me I needed to make a change in my own life.
Preparing to teach the Bible should involve several important steps. The text should be read a few times. Prayer finds it ways throughout the experience. Historical and cultural research, cross-referncing, and language study all take up time in the process. Eventually, when the teacher begins to think directly about application, the text must have been fermenting in the soul for many hours. Many times this causes the honest teacher to revaluate their own relationship to the text.
This is where it caused a problem for me. I don't always live out the application and meaning of the verse we were studying.
Colossians 3:17 occupied our discussion this week.
It says, "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (HCSB)"
This is not a flippant "Thank You!" We are expected to live out our thanks. The work of Jesus should be at the forefront of every action, internal and external in our lives. It should be transformative.
To be more precise, the thanksgiving we believers express to God through our lives because of Jesus Christ must clearly show the transformative nature of the Gospel.
It must express this...must! If it does not express the transformative nature of the Gospel we are being led away into glorification of self. In a nutshell, this is what the book of Colossians is about. When we are filled with the work and person of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, our lives contain the sufficiency of Christ.
Sufficiency here does not just mean "enough." This word fails to express the fullness of sufficiency in Christ. Sufficiency in Christ means we have everything we need.
And this is how it all connects- If I truly have everything I need in Christ, then I will be content. To express discontent is to express dissatisfaction with the sufficiency of Christ. It is to be an ungrateful, spoiled, rotten, and petulant child. Nobody likes being around that kid, not even that kid. I do not want to be him.
But I am. Frequently.
Only a person who is content can consistently experience the grateful life. A grateful life, a thankful life expresses it in visible ways. We must consistently act our gratitude.
This week I want to express my gratitude to someone in my life who I am thankful toward. I am going to tell them. I am also going to do something for this person.
I also want to express my gratitude to God. I want to do this in an active way. Prayer and Bible study are good, but our gratitude to God should never end there.
The best part of Thanksgiving is that it is extremely hard to compromise a real "Thank You." We all know how to spot the faker, the person who says "Thank You" in a hypocritical or flippant way. So, instead let's be thankful.
Express your thanks today. Be active. Be visible in your consequences and secret in your identity. That's my plan for now.
Happy Thanksgiving.
-Christopher
Monday, November 12, 2012
Church Music
 |
| This is my old set up from my guitar pedal board. I'm a youth minister, but I have also been a participating worship leader in some respect for the last 15 years. |
The worship wars have been going on for some time now. I am probably not the only person annoyed by them. The presidential election provoked my thinking about a lot of things, and worship happened to be one of those things. Christians on every side of every issue were ranting and raving about their side last Tuesday- whether it was winning or losing.
Here is one example of someone I assume is a Christian doing that in a public way.
I want to set the baseline here and then get to the stuff I want to share. First of all, I think both our politics and our worship have serious implications for the rest of our lives. I voted on Tuesday. I am not telling anyone (including my wife) how I voted for any issue, but I did vote. I did so because I truly believe our politics have serious real world consequences. Second, there is an objectively right answer to both of these important issues. We just aren't focused on those things in this post. Third, I have never, repeat never, been in a worship service that played the style of music I would want it to be all the time. It just doesn't happen for me, and I am not advocating any particular style of music or lyrics.
All that being said, Christians often focus on the wrong sorts of things when discussing both topics.
What do I mean? Aren't we supposed to care about important issue x? Of course you are, and there are probably very specific biblical principles related to that particular issue. You may even be right.
But we get upset about the wrong sorts of things when we don't keep the main thing the main thing. Substance and style matter here people. More on all that in a minute, but first let's return to the worship wars for just a second to bring church music back into focus.
When we think of the worship wars, we often think of differences in style. Sometimes, a difference in substance separates people, but most of the time this is not the biggest complaint. I have been in many churches where people complain about the use of the drums, the lack of drums, amplified instruments versus acoustic instruments, praise songs being too repetitive, and older hymns being just plain boring. A number of other things often come up in the complaint category too- style, worship leaders, aesthetics of the room, and slide backgrounds. We could probably make a much more comprehensive list of all the complaints people in the church have about music and worship.
Let's be honest, this is all petty stuff for the mature Christian. Don't get me wrong the discussions about substantial issues- i.e. lyrical content of the song, especially about its general and specific referents- should be a concern to all Christians. However, when we complain about things like repetitiveness, style, or aesthetic concerns we are being self-centered whiners.
And here's the point- When we raise an issue of substance or style in an un-loving, un-merciful, and un-servant like way we fail to communicate the Gospel.
What? Really? Yes!
Whiners fail to communicate the Gospel.
To put it differently, when we attempt to communicate in any way and we are not Christ-like, we fail to communicate the Gospel.
Can the Holy Spirit still get the message across to hearts and minds? Absolutely. God can do wonders like illuminating the dark recesses of our hearts. It's actually part of the sanctification process. The part troubling me is our disobedience. We are called to share the Gospel message and we fail to do so when cannot substantially or effectively communicate who God is because we are focused on the wrong things.
Here is what I think about church music:
1. We must remember worship is a lifestyle, not something we do on Sunday mornings. If we can't worship throughout the week, why are we trying to evaluate the music at a service? Let's live it first.
2. Excellence is great; being about attraction is not (See #3). We should use those servants who are willing to obediently commit to things like practice corporately and individually. It's not a show. We must employ the same standards we would use for things like teachers in the church. Some people may not be as skilled or talented as others, but they are committed servants and should be utilized appropriately as worship leaders. See #3.
3. It's not about us. Church music must be about Christ first and foremost. We can celebrate what God has done, is doing, and will do through our Savior and Lord.
4. Clarity- clarity of mission, clarity of message, and clarity of sound. This is just about staying on task in every area. We need to make sure we aren't just putting out noise (virtual or audial). In order to be clear we need to teach things that are both repetitive in some way and new in some way. Different types of learners inhabit the church.
5. Just about everything else is up for grabs if we follow the first four rules. Want to use metal to worship? Cool. Just make sure you follow the previous rules. Bluegrass? Same applies.
Remember, Just because it's old or new doesn't mean you have followed the rules. It just means it's old or new.
Let me know what you think.
in Christ,
Christopher
P.S. Here are two of the most formative verses concerning what I think about church music.
Isaiah 53:2 (HCSB)
He grew up before Him like a young plant
and like a root out of dry ground.
He didn’t have an impressive form
or majesty that we should look at Him,
no appearance that we should desire Him.
Philippians 2:1-11 (HCSB)
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Expectations and Desire
Life rarely presents what we expected. I am reminded of this daily in the lives of my two young sons. As they grow and learn each day unfolds uniquely. I try to develop routines with them, but no two days are ever the same. This change, or at least their reactions to change, means I have to be ready for anything.
I often fail. Usually, my attitude just doesn't keep up with what those two throw at me. Sometimes they are having a rough day and I have a bad attitude. The next day when they're ready to move on and have a good day, my bad attitude sticks around. I'm good at controlling it around them. However, the bad attitude seeps out when I'm around my wife or other adults.(I'm sorry if your one of those people I've treated unfairly).
The problem with all of this happens to be my expectations. Is it that my expectations are unrealistic? Possibly. Or maybe they are too imposing on other people (such as the boys)? That might be true too. Maybe I just have too many? Maybe.
The one thing all my expectations usually have in common is that they are fueled by desire. Desire is not necessarily a bad thing. However, desire must be directed by a heart properly formed or it will be untamed, wild, and erratic. It will end up being sinful and drag us in all sorts of ways. This is what James talks about when he tells us desire gives birth to sin (James 1:14-15).
What does proper desire look like in relation to my expectations? Let's look at it with my sons and my attitude. First, I should be praying for them and their development. Second, I should be praying with them. Third, I should be reading God's word on what it means to be a good parent - e.g. in various Proverbs and Ephesians 6:4. Fourth, I should develop a desire to be a godly parent. Another word for develop would be mature or encourage. Having what we would call a wish would not normally be a desire in this sense. A desire is something which consistently motivates us.
When I consistently submit this area to the Lord's will and discipline, the Holy Spirit can alter my desires. Competing desires such as selfish pleasure or perfectionism may increasingly diminish as the Holy Spirit directs more of my life. This is how my expectations can and should change.
I often fail. Usually, my attitude just doesn't keep up with what those two throw at me. Sometimes they are having a rough day and I have a bad attitude. The next day when they're ready to move on and have a good day, my bad attitude sticks around. I'm good at controlling it around them. However, the bad attitude seeps out when I'm around my wife or other adults.(I'm sorry if your one of those people I've treated unfairly).
The problem with all of this happens to be my expectations. Is it that my expectations are unrealistic? Possibly. Or maybe they are too imposing on other people (such as the boys)? That might be true too. Maybe I just have too many? Maybe.
The one thing all my expectations usually have in common is that they are fueled by desire. Desire is not necessarily a bad thing. However, desire must be directed by a heart properly formed or it will be untamed, wild, and erratic. It will end up being sinful and drag us in all sorts of ways. This is what James talks about when he tells us desire gives birth to sin (James 1:14-15).
What does proper desire look like in relation to my expectations? Let's look at it with my sons and my attitude. First, I should be praying for them and their development. Second, I should be praying with them. Third, I should be reading God's word on what it means to be a good parent - e.g. in various Proverbs and Ephesians 6:4. Fourth, I should develop a desire to be a godly parent. Another word for develop would be mature or encourage. Having what we would call a wish would not normally be a desire in this sense. A desire is something which consistently motivates us.
When I consistently submit this area to the Lord's will and discipline, the Holy Spirit can alter my desires. Competing desires such as selfish pleasure or perfectionism may increasingly diminish as the Holy Spirit directs more of my life. This is how my expectations can and should change.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Truth is truth
[Reposted from my youth ministry blog- http://www.cflm.org/index.php/youth-ministry/blog]
I am always intrigued when I meet someone who denies something which I have already accepted as true. In one way or another, it usually ends up being quite interesting. The main reason it interests me is because I end up learning a lot about people and how they come to form their beliefs.
The moon landings form a prominent example of a class of beliefs people fail to believe in. I remember first encountering this disbelief when I was in high school. The person who happened to disavow that Neil Armstrong and anyone else landed on the moon happened to be one of our group leaders. Quietly, I was astounded. The reasons for not believing in the moon landing were elaborate and founded on what sounded like scientific reasoning. However, after doing a little investigating at the school library and talking to one of my teacher's I found better reasons to continue believing we landed on the moon.
The most enlightening thing about the encounter was what happened when I went to share this information with the group leader. Instead of listening to what I had to say, this person rejected what I said. He said I was just buying into the hype, or something like that... In any case, his reasons for believing or disbelieving always trumped what anyone else presented. He just knew.
As a Christian, this is a terrible way to believe. Some people disagree with me, but I think they are wrong. I think Paul would also teach that you are wrong (c.f. 1 Cor. 15:3-8).
Let me distinguish some things which will I believe will help us be better believers of truth.
1. Truth is truth- it has a certain character. It is important to know the truth.
2. Truth never changes. Particulars and contingent information can change, but truth never changes.
3. Truth changes everything. The nature of truth affects reality.
4. Truth is contextual. Rarely does the phrase, "just the bare facts," make sense.
Christians do know certain things. We are not global skeptics (i.e. people who do not believe something unless it can be proved with 100% certainty). We may not always know how we come to know things, but we do know them.
In humility, we should grant three things with all of this: 1. We are wrong at times, maybe even about a great deal. 2. We are limited and do not know everything. 3. We are not the only ones who can know truth.
Knowledge is a sort of thing with degrees. It is not an all or nothing enterprise. Truth is, but knowledge is not. This is why we can acknowledge all of the above and still affirm basic Christian principles and beliefs.
Returning to the example of the moon landings. How do we know it is true and really happened? Well, the evidence points that way. Am I 100% percent certain we landed on the moon? No. Do I know we landed on the moon. Yes, I do. I believe the different types of evidence, my common sense, and the testimony of others.
Our Christian belief should be formed in the same sorts of ways.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6).
I know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. This changes everything.
P.S.- just for fun,
The Flag is Still ThereMoon House Rock
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