If the non-believer's starting point is corruption of will, emotions, mind, body, etc., then the birth of the new man is truly miraculous. It is sad how trite much of the church has become with salvation. We take it for granted, using the term "saved" as if it was something natural, something we conjured up one day when we raised our hand and walked forward during the altar call. Being a Christian has become trendy. Bumper stickers and slogans abound. You've seen them: "I'm not perfect, just forgiven"; "NOW"; "WWJD"; "No Jesus, No Peace"; "Know Jesus, Know Peace"; "Life is Hell without Jesus"; "In case of rapture, this car will be unmanned"; and let us not forget the larger fish swallowing the DARWIN fish.
But if we understood the Biblical causes and significance of salvation, our approach would be anything but trite. Slogans would be banished. Bumper stickers would be revised. Worship styles and lyrics would be rethought and rewritten. Church services would not seek to make unbelievers "comfortable." In short, churches would act like the Church, not like a social gathering or a self-esteem pep rally. We would be more concerned about hearing a 2000 year old message than making church more "attractive."
Christians must echo the apostles' question: "Who then can be saved?" They also must internalize Christ's response: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Christ's words are both humbling and radical. He removes man from the salvation equation, leaving only God's work.
It appears that American Christians need a wake up call. They need to return to the simplicity and candidness of Jesus' message. Christianity Today published an article on "branding" Jesus. Our Lord and Savior has been reduced to one choice among many. The One and Only is preached and marketed as if He is the Many and Un-Unique.
Until we realize that Christ is both the "Author and Perfecter" of our faith, our striving for holiness will mean nothing. Why? Because "apart from [Him we] can do nothing." I think Michael Horton said it best...we must put "amazing back into grace."
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
So Close, Yet So Far
We have all heard the call for a "deeper" or more "intimate" relationship with Jesus Christ. And, indeed, our souls long to grow in the "grace and knowledge" of Christ our Savior. Usually we are asked questions like, How often do you read the Bible? or How consistent is your prayer life? If we stop for a moment and reflect on these oft-repeated questions, we should immediately detect a problem. Although no true Christian would admit that they are saved by works, our attitudes and opinions towards Christian maturity reveal a deep-rooted belief that we are kept in a state of grace by our own power. It is as if God "began the work in us," but only "brings it to completion" when we allow.
Perhaps the greatest irony of living the Christian life is that God CANNOT and WILL NOT love Christians anymore than He does at this second. Why? Because His love is based on His Son's work and imputation of righteousness. The Father sees His Son when he looks at us. Drawing closer to the God is a misnomer - we are already intimately and eternally connected to Him. Unless, of course, we think the Father is not intimate with the Son.
The apostles call this being "in Christ." Theologians refer to it as the "mystical union." We are members of Christ's body; living stones in His temple. Christ is the Vine; we are the branches. He is the Head; we are the body.
Our longing for the sinlessness, then, should not rest on our abilities or lack thereof. We should ask ourselves: Are we still sewing fig leaves together for ourselves, or are we wearing the animal skins God has given? May we look to the bruise and battered Savior who lived, died, and rose for us. Let us fix our thoughts on what He has done and is doing. Comfort for the soul can only be found in the soul's Creator. And, gracious God that He is, He has already united us together with Him by giving us Christ's righteousness and the Holy Spirit.
We are already intimate with Him. He has lavished His on love us by making us His children. I believe Calvin was correct when he said "ingratitude" was the chief sin. After all, nothing can separate us from His love; yet, we still sin against Him. I hope that we daily view anew His mercy, grace, and love for us. Only that can motivate us to live lives filled with good works.
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Perhaps the greatest irony of living the Christian life is that God CANNOT and WILL NOT love Christians anymore than He does at this second. Why? Because His love is based on His Son's work and imputation of righteousness. The Father sees His Son when he looks at us. Drawing closer to the God is a misnomer - we are already intimately and eternally connected to Him. Unless, of course, we think the Father is not intimate with the Son.
The apostles call this being "in Christ." Theologians refer to it as the "mystical union." We are members of Christ's body; living stones in His temple. Christ is the Vine; we are the branches. He is the Head; we are the body.
Our longing for the sinlessness, then, should not rest on our abilities or lack thereof. We should ask ourselves: Are we still sewing fig leaves together for ourselves, or are we wearing the animal skins God has given? May we look to the bruise and battered Savior who lived, died, and rose for us. Let us fix our thoughts on what He has done and is doing. Comfort for the soul can only be found in the soul's Creator. And, gracious God that He is, He has already united us together with Him by giving us Christ's righteousness and the Holy Spirit.
We are already intimate with Him. He has lavished His on love us by making us His children. I believe Calvin was correct when he said "ingratitude" was the chief sin. After all, nothing can separate us from His love; yet, we still sin against Him. I hope that we daily view anew His mercy, grace, and love for us. Only that can motivate us to live lives filled with good works.
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Radical Christianity - Fallen Man's Starting Point
This week I led a discussion at my church regarding the nature of man. Our conversation was prompted by "The Truth Project," a DVD series published through Focus on the Family. Both during and after the discussion, I was reminded how in-your-face Christianity is. The Bible's view of man does not tickle our ears. Rather, it smacks us right between the eyes. We may not like what the Bible says about us, but, at least we know what God thinks. And, as Scripture says, "Let God be true and every man a liar." Consider, then, the following verses regarding ourselves. I warn you, however, we may not like what we hear.
The final two verses of John 2 tell us that Jesus would not "entrust" himself to men because "He knew all men" and he "knew what was in man." This may not seem too radical. However, the verse prior to these two tells us that many people "believed in His name" and beheld "His signs which He was doing." John tells us that Jesus did not want the people "to bear witness concerning man." Our Lord did not want His divine miracles and words to be attributed to a mere mortal. We should not miss the connection here with Paul's statement in Romans 1. Paul says natural man "exchanges the truth of God for a lie, worshiping and serving the creature more than the Creator." The crux of all human rebellion against God is stripping God of His authority and putting ourselves in His role. Whether we desire to be God, or esteem another mortal as "holy" makes not difference. Either way, we give credit to man when all credit should be to God. As Paul says, "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things. To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
It is not a mistake that John's next chapter tells us of Nicodemus. Christ told the Jewish leader that we are unable to "see" or "enter" the kingdom without the Spirit. Let us not mince words, here. That means we are blind and unable to open a gate or door to get into the house. These words of Christ are recapitulated by Paul in Romans and Corinthians. Romans 8:7-8 informs us that "natural" man "does not" and "cannot" submit to God's law because it is "hostile" to Him. We are His enemies. I Corinthians 2:14 reaffirms this point: "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Knowing this truth helps us focus on man's core issue, and provides us a strategy for witnessing. That is to say...if men are blind and unable to open the door to God, then their problem rests with God, not us Christians. When witnessing to non-believers, we should not worry about having the best logical answers to their questions. Neither should we worry about having a dramatic conversion experience to share. Salvation neither comes through reason nor experience. It comes through revelation. God must move before men can see. Remember...Jesus told Nicodemus he could not even "see" the kingdom of God that was right in front of his face. Thus, our method for witnessing should be to focus on the message of Scripture. That message is the "power of God unto salvation" (Rom 1). Men, women, and children become believers by "hearing" the "word of Christ" (Rom 10). God in His "foolishness" uses a message about an innocent man who lived, died, and rose for others.
May we never grow weary of this message. And, may we diligently seek to focus on this message when witnessing to blind and incapable men, always hoping that the Spirit illuminates their minds, hearts, ears, and eyes. We must do this because God alone is the "Author and Perfecter of our faith."
The final two verses of John 2 tell us that Jesus would not "entrust" himself to men because "He knew all men" and he "knew what was in man." This may not seem too radical. However, the verse prior to these two tells us that many people "believed in His name" and beheld "His signs which He was doing." John tells us that Jesus did not want the people "to bear witness concerning man." Our Lord did not want His divine miracles and words to be attributed to a mere mortal. We should not miss the connection here with Paul's statement in Romans 1. Paul says natural man "exchanges the truth of God for a lie, worshiping and serving the creature more than the Creator." The crux of all human rebellion against God is stripping God of His authority and putting ourselves in His role. Whether we desire to be God, or esteem another mortal as "holy" makes not difference. Either way, we give credit to man when all credit should be to God. As Paul says, "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things. To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
It is not a mistake that John's next chapter tells us of Nicodemus. Christ told the Jewish leader that we are unable to "see" or "enter" the kingdom without the Spirit. Let us not mince words, here. That means we are blind and unable to open a gate or door to get into the house. These words of Christ are recapitulated by Paul in Romans and Corinthians. Romans 8:7-8 informs us that "natural" man "does not" and "cannot" submit to God's law because it is "hostile" to Him. We are His enemies. I Corinthians 2:14 reaffirms this point: "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Knowing this truth helps us focus on man's core issue, and provides us a strategy for witnessing. That is to say...if men are blind and unable to open the door to God, then their problem rests with God, not us Christians. When witnessing to non-believers, we should not worry about having the best logical answers to their questions. Neither should we worry about having a dramatic conversion experience to share. Salvation neither comes through reason nor experience. It comes through revelation. God must move before men can see. Remember...Jesus told Nicodemus he could not even "see" the kingdom of God that was right in front of his face. Thus, our method for witnessing should be to focus on the message of Scripture. That message is the "power of God unto salvation" (Rom 1). Men, women, and children become believers by "hearing" the "word of Christ" (Rom 10). God in His "foolishness" uses a message about an innocent man who lived, died, and rose for others.
May we never grow weary of this message. And, may we diligently seek to focus on this message when witnessing to blind and incapable men, always hoping that the Spirit illuminates their minds, hearts, ears, and eyes. We must do this because God alone is the "Author and Perfecter of our faith."
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Introductions
Yes...that's me driving my conversion van between Vegas and the Inland Empire. And, yes, those are my wife's glasses.
So why did I choose to start blogging? Is what I have to say of any importance, or am I just a narcissus who needs attention? Why on earth does the world need another blogger? Aren't we over-blogged as it is?
Here are my answers to the preceding questions: I don't know...you can judge, no...we don't...yes we are. Perhaps I was too quick in answering the first question. The truth is, I love to share opinions, both great and small.
Opinions are underrated, especially, and ironically, in our culture that values polls and statistics. It is bizarre that no one wants to give their opinions; yet, our scientifically-dominated culture prides itself on "discovering" the "truth." Of course, "truth" is defined as what is statistically most frequent. And, if someone has not done the "research" or is not an "expert," they seem to cower at sharing their thoughts.
I, for one, scoff at this approach to life. The triumph of scientific thinking has dampened human spontaneity. We have lost our souls - our passion. Far to often we are concerned about having a logical or experience-tested reason for thinking a thought, believing a creed, or performing an action.
Don't misunderstand me. Logic and reasonableness have their place. But so does emotion, feelings, and passion. I do not want to be in the business of championing only a portion of our creative abilities over another. God has made us passionate and logical beings. We need not bifurcate ourselves, concentrating on one over the other, or, worse, denigrating one at the expense of the other.
I leave you to ponder a quote from Emerson:
At present, man applies to nature but half his force. He works on the world with his understanding alone. He lives in it, and masters it by a penny-wisdom; and he that works most in it, is but a half-man... Nature 1836
So why did I choose to start blogging? Is what I have to say of any importance, or am I just a narcissus who needs attention? Why on earth does the world need another blogger? Aren't we over-blogged as it is?
Here are my answers to the preceding questions: I don't know...you can judge, no...we don't...yes we are. Perhaps I was too quick in answering the first question. The truth is, I love to share opinions, both great and small.
Opinions are underrated, especially, and ironically, in our culture that values polls and statistics. It is bizarre that no one wants to give their opinions; yet, our scientifically-dominated culture prides itself on "discovering" the "truth." Of course, "truth" is defined as what is statistically most frequent. And, if someone has not done the "research" or is not an "expert," they seem to cower at sharing their thoughts.
I, for one, scoff at this approach to life. The triumph of scientific thinking has dampened human spontaneity. We have lost our souls - our passion. Far to often we are concerned about having a logical or experience-tested reason for thinking a thought, believing a creed, or performing an action.
Don't misunderstand me. Logic and reasonableness have their place. But so does emotion, feelings, and passion. I do not want to be in the business of championing only a portion of our creative abilities over another. God has made us passionate and logical beings. We need not bifurcate ourselves, concentrating on one over the other, or, worse, denigrating one at the expense of the other.
I leave you to ponder a quote from Emerson:
At present, man applies to nature but half his force. He works on the world with his understanding alone. He lives in it, and masters it by a penny-wisdom; and he that works most in it, is but a half-man... Nature 1836
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