Saturday Night…
Apparently, “Saturday Night” is the name of a song by the Eagles. I thought that I knew all of the Eagles’ songs… apparently not, because I do not know this song.
Anyway, we were able to get together in our home with some friends again last Saturday night. When we started getting together on Saturday nights a few weeks ago (see the post “Fellowship of Faith…“), we told people that we did not want to consider this an obligation, nor did we want others to consider it an obligation. So, when we have not been able to host our friends on Saturday night (such as a week ago), we let them know – without pressure or guilt. In the same way, when someone can’t get together with us on Saturday nights, we do not pressure them, nor do we make them feel guilty. It has been amazing to see what happens when God brings together people who want to come together in order to encourage one another. It is different than what generally happens when people get together because they feel obligated to get together.
This Saturday night was very special! Several months ago, some close friends of ours left this country for south Asia. After several months in south Asia, they found out that their young son had cancer, so they returned to this country, but to another state. We have been able to keep in touch with them through email and Skype and by phone, but we had not seen them in several months. The husband surprised us by coming to visit this weekend. So, he was able to join us last Saturday night.
He began to tell us what God had been teaching them during their time in Asia and through the cancer treatments for their son. It is one thing to read a book about dealing with suffering; it is something quite different to hear from someone who is in the middle of it. He talked about the spiritual darkness that they felt in South Asia. He also talked about the physical and emotional trials that they are going through now. It was so encouraging and challenging to hear him talk about God’s sovereignty throughout the entire process -so far. This family may not have a job. They are living in a borrowed house. They are driving a borrowed vehicle. Their son has cancer. But, he (and his wife) state with conviction, “God is good. God is in control. We have hope because of God.”
Listening to my brother talk about their time in South Asia (my son liked the monkey stories), and about their struggles with hospital stays and cancer treatments, I couldn’t help but think about Acts 20, where Luke records that the church in Troas gathered together to listen to Paul speak as he was passing through their area. I am not comparing my friend to Paul, but I do understand why people would want to listen to Paul speak past midnight (we didn’t meet that long – not quite).
As he talked about the spiritual darkness in south Asia, we began to discuss the spiritual realm. Specifically, we talked about why people in the West generally are not as aware of spiritual forces as people in other areas of the world. We talked about comforts, distractions, independence, etc.
We also talked about maturity. This discussion was from a question that I brought to the group: “How do we help one another mature in Christ?” This was a great conversation with several suggestions. We agreed that formal teaching was important, but that formal teaching could not be the extent of discipleship. Discipleship requires living life together, not just formal teaching. Interestingly, while we were talking, a couple of people pointed to things that happened during that evening meeting that exhorted them toward maturity in Christ (small things to some – very meaningful to others).
If you are reading this, and your only contact with other believers is in a formal setting with large groups of people, I encourage you to seek brothers and sisters that you can meet with in a more intimate setting as well. I have been surprised how others have taught me, and how God has used me to teach others, without “teaching” at all.
Back in time…
A few months ago, I read a novel by a friend that was built around the concept of time travel. At one point, the characters in this story consider the possibility to travelling back in time to the point when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They discussed various possible outcomes from travelling back in time and whether or not it would even be possible to change what happened.
The story, and the situation involved, was very interesting. Being a science fiction nut since middle school, I loved the story, the technology, and the ideas involved. I began to think about time travel. If I could travel back in time, where would I go? (Or, should that be, “When would I go?”)
As the characters in the story discussed, would I go back to the time of Adam and Eve? Would I go back further, perhaps to the time that God created the heavens and the earth? (Or, perhaps I should wait until at least after God creates dry land…) Would I go back to see Noah, or Abraham, or Moses? (The Red Sea crossing would be pretty exciting!) What about some of the kings or prophets? Would I want to see David at his best or at his worst?
I mean, if I wanted to be really spiritual, I suppose I should want to go back to see Jesus… but at what point in his life? At his birth? Would I want to see some of his miracles? Could I bear witnessing the cross? Could I bear witnessing the resurrection? Would I embarrass myself by waving as he disappears out of sight during his ascension? Or, maybe I would travel to some point during the life of Jesus that is not recorded in the gospel.
Then again, there are some very interesting times recorded in Acts. I could travel back to learn exactly what those strange tongues were at Pentecost. Or, would I want to hear Peter or Paul proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ? Or, as I have said before, would I choose to attend one of the early meetings of the church?
There are so many possibilities… but, I wonder, what would I gain by travelling back in time? The characters in the story wondered if they could remove sin and evil from the world if they travelled back in time to stop Adam and Eve from partaking of the forbidden fruit. But, what if I did not change anything, but simply observed. What would be added? If I believed because I “saw” Jesus, would that be better than believing by faith? If I obeyed because I “heard” him, would that be better than obeying Scripture and the Spirit?
So, I ask you… if you could travel back in time (not just to biblical times, but any time), when would you go, and why? Also, if we could “see” the events described in Scripture, how would that affect our faith… positively or negatively? (By the way, this is supposed to be a fun exercise that makes us think.)
Two interesting conversations begin…
Two of my close friends, both of whom appear to be returning from blogging sabbaticals, have begun series that should be very interesting.
First, Theron at “Sharing in the Life” has written a post called “Early Christian Mission“. Theron plans to blog through Eckhard Schnabel’s book Early Christian Mission – all 2000 pages. I hope to read this book eventually, but for now I’m looking forward to reading it vicariously through Theron. How much do we really understand about how the gospel was first propagated? I hope you mark Theron’s blog and discuss this book along with us.
Also, Gary at “Meditations on Metaphysics” has written a post called “Outward Signs of Inward Godliness – Part 1“. This is the first post of a four part series. I have read Gary’s entire paper, and I can promise you that you will be challenged as you think about the relationship between godliness and “christian disciplines”. Again, I hope you will mark Gary’s blog and take part in this conversation.
Following those who are further along on the journey…
I have been greatly encouraged by reading the blog of “Aussie” John – “Caesura“. He describes himself in this way:
I’m an old Christian bloke, retired, through ill health, from being a teaching elder (pastor) amongst God’s called out people. I have seen my retirement as God’s gift of a caesura (a pause prior to an emphasis. see Wikipedia),and am looking forward to what He has in store.
Did you catch that? John is “retired” but looking forward to what God has in store. He recognizes that God still has a plan to use him. One of the ways that God is using John is to encourage younger (ahem…) men, like myself. First, John taught me the phrase “fair dinkem”. Now, in his latest post, which you can find here, he challenges me once again. Consider his final two paragraphs:
It’s encouraging to see that there seems to be a new generation of young men, who are seeking an honest, open relationship with congregational brethren, recognising that “the ministry” is not their exclusive province while the congregations remain passive soaks of pastoral wisdom. They are recognising that, as elders, they are part, but not the most important part, of the whole, and as such have no need to play the super-spiritual, pious giant among men.
I trust they are recognising that there is only one such indispensable person to whom they are to point all men and women, and even He “has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin”.
Take the time to read John’s entire post. Read about his journey and the wisdom that God has shown him in his 70 years (three score and ten). John is a good example of why God exhorts us through Scripture to follow those who are more mature and further along on the journey.
Why study Scripture?
Dave Black posted this on his bog at 5:32 a.m. today concerning the students in one of his classes:
But what I especially want to commend is the attitude I see in my students. If only you could see these young men and women, you would see they are marked by love and humility, and that they are far more concerned with communicating Christ to their classmates than their interpretation of the genitive case or the aorist tense. The latter information is not unimportant, of course. But teaching the Bible should transform our attitudes every bit as much as our theology. This is one of the great challenges of teaching the Scriptures. We tend to see the Bible as informational only and neglect its life-changing dimensions. Yes, we need good information, but our goal is to help others (and ourselves) know God more and more deeply. All of our teaching must focus on truth-response. Knowledge must be related to life. And that is what these students are striving to accomplish. It’s beautiful to see.
Why do you study Scripture? For knowledge/information or life transformation? How has the Spirit tranformed your life through Scripture recently?
Christ the Lord is Risen Today…
I maintain a love-hate relationship with “Christian holidays”. I enjoy seeing family and giving gifts around Christmas. I enjoy the focus on the cross and resurrection around Easter. However, I do not enjoy the “holy day” aspect of Christmas and Easter. In fact, I think that focusing on the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection on two days of the year can distract believers into forgetting about the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection the remaining 363 days of the year.
Between the crucifixion and the resurrection, the first followers of Jesus huddled together in the upper room, focused on the uncertainty of their position. They were not yet living in the reality of the resurrection. Instead, they were still living in the shadow of the cross… waiting for the resurrection, though they did not know what they were waiting for.
After the resurrection, ascension, and sending of the Spirit, the followers of Jesus no longer lived in the uncertain time between the cross and the resurrection. Things had changed! Jesus was not dead; he was risen! God no longer walked with them; He now indwelled them! Things had changed! Peter, who once cowered in fear and lied in response to the questions of a servant girl, now truthfully answered the Jewish council in boldness. Things had changed!
Today, things change as well. We put on our best suits and new ties, our new dresses and perhaps a bonnet. We decorate our buildings with banners and lilies. We sing different songs and host pageants. We hold more “services” and boast of our Easter numbers. On the outside, we scream to the world, “He is risen!”, but where is the response, “He is risen indeed”?
Perhaps the world does not respond, because they recognize that – unlike the change of those first followers of Jesus – our change is simply an external change, and simply a temporary external change. We are not living in the reality of the resurrection. Instead, for some of us, we have huddled back together living in the shadow of this age… waiting for Jesus’ return, though we do not know exactly what we are waiting for.
What happened? Why do we no longer live in the reality of the resurrection 365 days of the year? Why have we reduced the resurrection to the status of a special birthday party?
What would happen if each believer lived in the reality of the resurrection everyday? What would happen if we lived as if Jesus was serious when He said it would be better for him to go and send the Holy Spirit, who now indwells us? What would change if we truly believed that Jesus was with us always? How would our lives be different if we crucified ourselves daily in order to live in the power and presence of the risen Lord? What would happen if we recognized the spiritual presence of Jesus with us today as being more real than his physical presence with those early disciples?
I am asking these questions to myself, after meditating on the resurrection and the response of the church to the resurrection. Perhaps these thoughts resonate with you as well. If so, please share how you live in the reality of the resurrection daily.
Rivers of living water…
My family has a “contact card” that we often give to new people that we meet. The card has our names, address, phone numbers, email address, and a Scripture verse. I’m not the kind of person who has to “Christianize” everything by putting a Bible verse on it. I don’t have Christian bumper stickers or even a fish on my car. So, why did I choose to place a verse on this card? Well, first of all, this is the verse that I chose:
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:38 ESV)
Now, you may think this is a weird verse to hand to people. I mean, it doesn’t say anything about getting saved. It doesn’t “share the Gospel”. It doesn’t even mention God or Jesus by name. So, why did I choose this verse? Well, there are several reasons…
For one thing, I hope that this verse will spark interest. Whether a believer or unbeliever reads the verse on the card, I hope the person asks themselves what it means for living water to flow out of their hearts and whether or not living water does in fact flow out of their hearts.
But, that’s not the main reason. The main reason that I placed that verse on the cards was as a reminder to myself. Whenever I hand out one of these cards, I see that verse – even if I do not read it, I see it – and remember what it says. In every case, I have asked myself, “Am I allowing rivers of living water to flow out of my heart?” Then, specifically, concerning the person that I am handing the card to, I ask myself, “Are rivers of living water flowing out of my heart and into this person’s life?”
I believe that when Paul told Timothy to “Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season!” (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV) that Paul meant a little more than the way we normally think about this. You see, if this verse only applies to “pastors” and “preachers” then most of us are off the hook. In that interpretation, only a few believers would need to be concerned about what “message” to “preach”.
However, if Paul meant for this to apply to Timothy and all of those that Timothy would read and teach this to, then it applies to me and you as well. So, I need to be ready “in season and out of season” to proclaim the word of God. I cannot “be ready” if I only study Scripture in order to teach other people at specific times and in formal settings. Instead, I need to study Scripture in order to allow the Holy Spirit to use it to change my life. What? To change my life? Yes. I can teach facts any time, but I have found that when God teaches through me, He teaches other what He has already taught me, or is currently teaching me. And, when God teaches me, He changes me.
As I meet other people, what God is teaching me through His Spirit will naturally spill out of my heart and into the lives of those people. This will not come out as a lesson filled with facts, but as an example of how God can change you – because He has changed me!
Read the verse that comes before the one I quoted above (and that verse in context):
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (John 7:37-38 ESV)
Unfortunately, I believe that there are many who are teaching without first being thirsty. I believe there are some who preach without coming to Jesus to drink first. I believe there are many who teach without being changed first. Sharing facts is not the same as teaching. “Rivers of living water” come through a changed life.
I pray that whatever comes out of my heart and into the hearts of others will have first been born in my life by a thirst for Jesus and a satisfaction that can only come from Him. And, what if rivers of living water are not flowing? Then, I start praying for thirst. Only then… not because of my study or education or elucidation… only after my thirst has been quenched by Jesus… will rivers of living water flow out of my heart and into the lives of others.
Making our case…
In his letter to several churches, Peter encouraged his readers to live in a way that honors God. In fact, he asked them to consider how unbelievers would view their lifestyle:
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12 ESV)
Jesus said something very similar (Perhaps this is where Peter got the idea?):
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)
It is important for us to know what we believe. It is important for us to have “sound doctrine”. But why did Jesus not tell us to make sure our arguments are strong so that we could convince people of our truth claims? Why did Peter not warn us about logical fallacies when we were giving a defense of the gospel?
Interestingly, Peter does talk about apologetics. Now, the modern definition of apologetics is something like this: “Apologetics is the task of defending a particular idea or belief system and answering its critics”. What does Peter say about apologetics?
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (απολογία – apologia) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV)
I included the verses around 1 Peter 3:15 so that you could see the context. What is the context for this “defense”? Suffering for doing good. In other words, those who are persecuting the believer are so astounded by their faith in spite of the persecution and they are so overwhelmed by the believer’s gentleness and even respect in spite of the persecution, that the persecutors themselves ask what makes this person different.
This believer is not debating an atheist in order to prove the atheist wrong. The believer is being persecuted by the atheist and has hope in spite of the persecution. The believer is not presenting an argument in favor of Christianity to an unbeliever, he is living a life that demonstrates that “Christ is Lord” in spite of the suffering that he is enduring. The one causing the believer to suffer notices the difference. The believer has become light in the darkness.
So, why has apologetics become writing and debating in order to prove that we are right? Why has apologetics been reduced to arguments, positions, logic, and presuppositions? What happened to letting our conduct reveal the God who has changed us and is working to redeem the world?
Perhaps, the next time an unbeliever denies the existence of God or the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we should attempt to prove our doctrines by loving that unbeliever and living a life that shows that we have died to ourselves and God is living through us by his Spirit. Then again, it does seem easier to just argue with that person.
Christian martial arts?
My children are learning Tae Kwon Do from a young lady named Cheryl. (You can find a picture of Cheryl here.) Cheryl’s school is called “Christian Martial Arts†and meets in downtown Wake Forest. Now, some may wonder why it matters that Cheryl teaches “Christian†martial arts. To ask the question in another way, “What makes ‘Christian Martial Arts’ a Christian school?†There may be many ways to answer these questions and to explain the difference between a normal martial arts school and one that can be called Christian. Perhaps this story will help explain the difference.
Last weekend, Cheryl’s school participated in its first Tae Kwon Do tournament. Cheryl’s students competed in different age groups in forms (demonstrating basic techniques), sparring (fighting against an opponent for points), and weapons (demonstrating technique with a weapon). Cheryl’s school won almost every age group and category in which they competed—from the youngest yellow belt to Cheryl in the black belt category. However, this has very little, if anything, to do with Cheryl teaching “Christian†martial arts. While Christians should have a good work ethic in anything that they do, others can have good work ethics as well. In fact, students from other schools won their age groups and categories without being part of a “Christian†martial arts school.
The students from Cheryl’s school had a good attitude throughout the competition. When a student made a mistake, that student admitted their mistake and accepted the lower scores. There were no temper tantrums nor did any of the students blame the judges for their scores. Toward the end of the day, when the students were tired from competing in several events, neither their attitudes nor their behavior faltered. While Christians should maintain a good attitude and right conduct in spite of difficult circumstances, this does not demonstrate the difference in Cheryl teaching “Christian†martial arts. There were many students from other schools that also had good attitudes and demonstrated good behavior during the tournament.
Several people came to the tournament to support Cheryl and her school. As usual, the students each came in with their entourage of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandmothers, grandfathers, and other assorted family members and friends. Also, many of Cheryl’s friends came to the tournament, even though they had no connection to Tae Kwon Do other than being a friend to Cheryl. The students, family, friends, and assorted well-wishers stayed over four hours until the end of the tournament in order to cheer for all of the students, from the youngest competitor to Cheryl herself. However, having friends and supports does not make this school “Christianâ€. In fact, other schools also had groups of supporters and cheering sections.
So, if neither having a good work ethic, nor having good behaviors and attitudes, nor being surrounded by friends and family make “Christian Martial Arts†into a Christian Tae Kwon Do school, then what does? Well, it is actually very simple. “Christian Martial Arts†is Christian for the simple reason that Cheryl is a disciple of Jesus Christ. She attempts to live out her faith in Jesus in everything she does: being a woman, a wife, a friend, and even a Tae Kwon Do instructor. Similarly, as a follower of Jesus Christ, she recognizes that when she interacts with other people, she should be making disciples. This does not make her perfect; it does not make her better. However, being a living, growing, visible, disciple-making follower of Jesus Christ does make her a Christian.
Another Saturday Night…
(10 points to the first person who can name three artists who recorded this song. Bonus points: why does the part of the song that follows “Another Saturday night” not fit what I am describing in this post?)
After a one week hiatus (because my parents visited last weekend), we hosted another “get together” at our house Saturday night. (See the posts “Fellowship of Faith…” and “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night…” for a description of what I am talking about.) Several families from the previous weeks returned, and one new couple joined us. We’ve tried to invite new people each week so far.
We talked about several things this time. One couple talked about their upcoming move to the San Francisco area. I’m still in semi-denial concerning this move. Most of our time was spent talking about discipleship.
One of our brothers shared about the man who shared the gospel with him. Once my friend believed in Christ, this man did not consider his responsibility complete. He also help my friend learn what it meant to follow Christ. He did this by teaching, and also by sharing his life with my friend. In fact, my friend even lived with this man and his family for a short period. My friend learned that his mentor was not perfect, but that when he sinned, he was genuinely repentant, much like David when he was confronted by Nathan in the Old Testament.
Unfortunately, this experience was rare in our group – only one other person. Many of us had not been discipled like that. As one brother said, he always thought discipleship was just about tranferring information from one person to another.
We also talked about some of the difficulties in discipleship. Some of the things mentioned included thinking you did not know enough Scripture to disciple someone, thinking there are others who would be better disciplers, thinking that you are learning more from the one you are discipling, and not wanting to be transparent and share your failures.
We talked about this last one for some time. What happens when we are not transparent with the people that we disciple? We thought of three things: 1) we quench the Holy Spirit, 2) we lie to the one being discipled and ourselves, and 3) we set ourselves up as superior to the one being discipled (who may think that he or she cannot be as good as the discipler). The one being discipled will not learn what it means to fail and repent. Perhaps, we miss a major opportunity to teach about God’s grace and forgiveness.
I asked my wife what was most encouraging to her tonight. She said she was encouraged that the new couple allowed her to take care of their baby for a while. I think this encouraged them as well. My wife has a great servant’s heart.
We didn’t solve any theological disputes. We didn’t witness any miracles. We didn’t even sing a song. But, we did see God work through people as we interacted with one another. And, my brothers and sisters gave me much to think about when it comes to discipleship.