A wise pastor once said there are always "two ditches" (or extremes) one can fall into — and that a more sensible approach is one of balance.
Some of the arguing and wrangling I tend to hear in certain "spiritual circles" comes across to me as pride all wrapped up in intellectual rhetoric. An observation could be made:
The spirit of criticism finds a place to thrive among self aggrandized "theological correctness" and spiritual elitism.
With irony and humility I must concede this may come across as somewhat — um… critical.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Is Christ your "crutch"?
Have you ever heard this? Sometimes Christian's are characterized as feeble-minded and needy — needing, you know, a "crutch" to sort of make life work. But I would say our condition is far, far worse than that. A "crutch" provides stability while using one's own strength. But God declares that we are not merely hurting, not merely wounded or needy, but DEAD in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Ouch! But as lifeless as we were, Christ made us alive by faith in His finished work on the cross. A crutch? Not even close. A "life-support system"? Well that I might agree with. How humbling. Nevertheless, in Christ we walk as living among the "dead."
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Trespassers welcome
Deuteronomy 24: 19 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.”
It occurred to me after reading this passage that in order for the needy to get the left-behind produce, olives, barley, wheat, grapes, etc., that they would have to be walking into someone else’s fields. Today we would call that old fashioned “trespassing!” God’s heart for the poor is unmistakable — then and today. God provides for a good harvest in our field and asks us, “Hey, leave a little behind for these other ones whom I love, and have a real need.”
There was a time we all were desperate, poor, needy and spiritually bankrupt — and God met our need. All of us were slaves to sin in our own “Egypts” and God brought us out. So, to this I say, “Trespassers welcome!” What has God blessed us richly in that we could spare to set a little aside for someone much, much needier than ourselves? God frankly told Israel that to the extent they kept this in mind and practiced it, He would bless them.
It occurred to me after reading this passage that in order for the needy to get the left-behind produce, olives, barley, wheat, grapes, etc., that they would have to be walking into someone else’s fields. Today we would call that old fashioned “trespassing!” God’s heart for the poor is unmistakable — then and today. God provides for a good harvest in our field and asks us, “Hey, leave a little behind for these other ones whom I love, and have a real need.”
There was a time we all were desperate, poor, needy and spiritually bankrupt — and God met our need. All of us were slaves to sin in our own “Egypts” and God brought us out. So, to this I say, “Trespassers welcome!” What has God blessed us richly in that we could spare to set a little aside for someone much, much needier than ourselves? God frankly told Israel that to the extent they kept this in mind and practiced it, He would bless them.
The life-story of a stray arrow
1 Kings 22: 20-29 story context
34 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, "Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded." 35 … The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.”
Pretty amazing story. God pronounces a death sentence on an evil king, then a “stray” arrow pierces his armor and he dies.
This illustration of God’s sovereignty is nothing less than amazing.
Consider this: there was a man or boy who went out into the woods and cut down a long, slim branch — one of many— that looked perfect to carve out arrows that could be used for catching food or fighting an enemy. Someone then carefully carved out a shaft and fashioned onto it a sharp, deadly arrowhead. This was done by the dozens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands each year.
But one arrow had a special plan for it that began long before the tree had grown or before the branch had sprung from which it had been taken. Perhaps as the king was a boy growing up, the tree was maturing. Perhaps as the king was crowned, the branch from whence the arrow came gained length. And as the king’s heart grew hard and sinful and evil in God’s sight —in the fullness of time, months before the deadly battle, the branch was plucked, carved, and crafted into a deadly weapon — all unbeknownst to the king. Then the story and purpose of this arrow came to a close — as it sank into the king’s flesh — in a very small, unguarded area — and mortally wounded him. God’s purposes and sovereign power are far beyond our comprehension.
That kind of reminds me of our Saviour’s cross and the tree from which it was crafted from — where our Lord Jesus died. Would we dare think God had not thought of that cross, or the tree from which it was crafted, and known that IT was the one that would be used to crucify His very own, precious son? How often might the Father have deeply groaned, as the tree grew and matured — Him fully knowing the deadly purpose for which it was created? And yet it was HIS purpose and plan even from the foundation of the world.
34 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, "Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded." 35 … The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.”
Pretty amazing story. God pronounces a death sentence on an evil king, then a “stray” arrow pierces his armor and he dies.
This illustration of God’s sovereignty is nothing less than amazing.
Consider this: there was a man or boy who went out into the woods and cut down a long, slim branch — one of many— that looked perfect to carve out arrows that could be used for catching food or fighting an enemy. Someone then carefully carved out a shaft and fashioned onto it a sharp, deadly arrowhead. This was done by the dozens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands each year.
But one arrow had a special plan for it that began long before the tree had grown or before the branch had sprung from which it had been taken. Perhaps as the king was a boy growing up, the tree was maturing. Perhaps as the king was crowned, the branch from whence the arrow came gained length. And as the king’s heart grew hard and sinful and evil in God’s sight —in the fullness of time, months before the deadly battle, the branch was plucked, carved, and crafted into a deadly weapon — all unbeknownst to the king. Then the story and purpose of this arrow came to a close — as it sank into the king’s flesh — in a very small, unguarded area — and mortally wounded him. God’s purposes and sovereign power are far beyond our comprehension.
That kind of reminds me of our Saviour’s cross and the tree from which it was crafted from — where our Lord Jesus died. Would we dare think God had not thought of that cross, or the tree from which it was crafted, and known that IT was the one that would be used to crucify His very own, precious son? How often might the Father have deeply groaned, as the tree grew and matured — Him fully knowing the deadly purpose for which it was created? And yet it was HIS purpose and plan even from the foundation of the world.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mr. Magoo and the sovereignty of God
If your a Gen-Xer or older, you may remember that old UPA cartoon "Mr. Magoo" — an elderly, near-sighted (almost blind) man that looks a bit like he's been scrapping or something — because you never see his eyes behind those puffy, closed eyelids.
Anyway, when I think of God's sovereignty, I often think about that opening sequence at the beginning of each cartoon (from SO many years ago!), where Mr. Magoo is walking through some huge construction project. Massive i-beams are swinging dangerously everywhere, but he's total unaware of them or the dangers they pose. He about steps into a pit and an i-beam happens to meet his feet at the right moment — taking him on to another destination. Indeed, wherever he steps, these i-beams seem to come to his rescue, and he never gets hurt, but goes on his merry way. No one operating the cranes and moving the beams are even aware of this little speck of a man. They are about their own business of building something. But strangely, like a symphony, these unrelated people and objects in motion, with very different agendas, work together. It's as if some unseen divine hand is orchestrating it all.
And that is a picture of how God works sovereignly in our lives. God can use any and everything in His created order to work out His divine plan.
Anyway, when I think of God's sovereignty, I often think about that opening sequence at the beginning of each cartoon (from SO many years ago!), where Mr. Magoo is walking through some huge construction project. Massive i-beams are swinging dangerously everywhere, but he's total unaware of them or the dangers they pose. He about steps into a pit and an i-beam happens to meet his feet at the right moment — taking him on to another destination. Indeed, wherever he steps, these i-beams seem to come to his rescue, and he never gets hurt, but goes on his merry way. No one operating the cranes and moving the beams are even aware of this little speck of a man. They are about their own business of building something. But strangely, like a symphony, these unrelated people and objects in motion, with very different agendas, work together. It's as if some unseen divine hand is orchestrating it all.
And that is a picture of how God works sovereignly in our lives. God can use any and everything in His created order to work out His divine plan.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The love of God is LARGER than life
This morning I was meditating on God's love, and I remembered the first time I experienced it. Words cannot do justice. Words are so weak and incapable of expressing the Father's love to us. So He demonstrated His love beyond mere mortal words:
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Have you ever written a love letter to someone and said, "I love you!" And that exclamation point really meant something, didn't it? Well, as you meditate on God's love, remember what He did for you so unselfishly on the cross, and hear His words to your heart:
"I LOVE you! I LOVE you! OH, how I LOVE you!"
But instead of one exclamation mark, there are 10,000X10,000 after each. The depth of the Father's love is so great toward us! Amen.
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Have you ever written a love letter to someone and said, "I love you!" And that exclamation point really meant something, didn't it? Well, as you meditate on God's love, remember what He did for you so unselfishly on the cross, and hear His words to your heart:
"I LOVE you! I LOVE you! OH, how I LOVE you!"
But instead of one exclamation mark, there are 10,000X10,000 after each. The depth of the Father's love is so great toward us! Amen.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Walking by faith down difficult roads
A “Walk of Faith Manifesto” might read something like this:
“I will live by faith from day to day – not by sight. By a determined focus on Jesus and His kingdom (Matt. 6:33)and trusting in the goodness of God and His foreordained plan (Eph. 2:10), I forfeit my fleshly need to know God’s complete “roadmap” for my life… and instead acknowledge that God may keep me in the dark through many circumstances (Job/Joseph). In fact He joys when I lean on Him and not my own ability to intellectually solve every challenge or question (Prov. 3:5-6). When I am puzzled, without answers, burdened beyond measure, despairing – I realize this is God’s fertile ground, indeed, His classroom, to teach me to trust in Him alone (2 Cor. 1:8-9). I embrace the “walk of faith” knowing it is the difficult and narrow way (Heb. 11:35-40/Matt. 7:14), often with testings and trials, but yielding the fruit that greatly pleases God (Heb. 11:6/James 1:2-4/ Rom. 5:3-4). I will trust in Him who is invisible, that His promises are sure and tangible and that He is in complete control (Heb. 11:1/Romans 8:28/ Psalm 111:7-8/Jn 14:2).”
“I will live by faith from day to day – not by sight. By a determined focus on Jesus and His kingdom (Matt. 6:33)and trusting in the goodness of God and His foreordained plan (Eph. 2:10), I forfeit my fleshly need to know God’s complete “roadmap” for my life… and instead acknowledge that God may keep me in the dark through many circumstances (Job/Joseph). In fact He joys when I lean on Him and not my own ability to intellectually solve every challenge or question (Prov. 3:5-6). When I am puzzled, without answers, burdened beyond measure, despairing – I realize this is God’s fertile ground, indeed, His classroom, to teach me to trust in Him alone (2 Cor. 1:8-9). I embrace the “walk of faith” knowing it is the difficult and narrow way (Heb. 11:35-40/Matt. 7:14), often with testings and trials, but yielding the fruit that greatly pleases God (Heb. 11:6/James 1:2-4/ Rom. 5:3-4). I will trust in Him who is invisible, that His promises are sure and tangible and that He is in complete control (Heb. 11:1/Romans 8:28/ Psalm 111:7-8/Jn 14:2).”
Friday, September 5, 2008
7 "voices" that influence our choices
1. Our voice — our wants, desires (some derived from the flesh, others by the Spirit)
2. Our counselors voices — friends, family, spiritual leaders, etc.
3. The voice of our circumstances — where do we find ourselves? What has God sovereignly caused or allowed in my life?
4. God's voice — His Holy Spirit; God' s still, small voice; the booming, even frightening voice of of God; dreams; visions, etc.
5. Angle's voices — God still speaks today, though rarely, through angels.
6. The voice of Satan or his demons — spinning out lies, deceptions, half-truths, threats, etc.
7. The voice of Scripture — God still speaks fresh into our lives today through His word.
Can you think of others?
2. Our counselors voices — friends, family, spiritual leaders, etc.
3. The voice of our circumstances — where do we find ourselves? What has God sovereignly caused or allowed in my life?
4. God's voice — His Holy Spirit; God' s still, small voice; the booming, even frightening voice of of God; dreams; visions, etc.
5. Angle's voices — God still speaks today, though rarely, through angels.
6. The voice of Satan or his demons — spinning out lies, deceptions, half-truths, threats, etc.
7. The voice of Scripture — God still speaks fresh into our lives today through His word.
Can you think of others?
Monday, September 1, 2008
Really seeing things
There's a scene in "National Treasure" where the main character, played by Nicholas Cage, is using a pair of special glasses to view an old piece of parchment. The parchment didn't seem like much at first, until correctly viewed with the right combination of lenses, as designed by its creator. Then a wonderful picture appeared, as if out of nowhere, giving a clue to the next step in finding the treasure.
God created us to view things through a spiritual lens. And things do not appear as they ought without it.
Take for example the 12 spies that went into Canaan. Joshua and Caleb saw with their spiritual lenses of faith that the land could be conquered, just as God promised. The other 10 did not use that same lens and "were as grasshoppers" in relative size to the giants. It really does make a difference which lens we use!
With the natural eyes and mind we think our brute strength and cunning make the difference. That's what Goliath thought too. But in God's economy, the weak are strong, and the strong weak.
Jeremiah 17:5 declares that the person is cursed who "makes flesh his strength." That kind of person just doesn't get it. The lens they view life with is all distorted and does not reflect reality. In order to see things as they really are, one must have faith in the living God — the one who gives us the ability to see truth and reality. And God gives us His word to develop our faith, and thereby we are given a brand new set of glasses to see the world with.
God created us to view things through a spiritual lens. And things do not appear as they ought without it.
Take for example the 12 spies that went into Canaan. Joshua and Caleb saw with their spiritual lenses of faith that the land could be conquered, just as God promised. The other 10 did not use that same lens and "were as grasshoppers" in relative size to the giants. It really does make a difference which lens we use!
With the natural eyes and mind we think our brute strength and cunning make the difference. That's what Goliath thought too. But in God's economy, the weak are strong, and the strong weak.
Jeremiah 17:5 declares that the person is cursed who "makes flesh his strength." That kind of person just doesn't get it. The lens they view life with is all distorted and does not reflect reality. In order to see things as they really are, one must have faith in the living God — the one who gives us the ability to see truth and reality. And God gives us His word to develop our faith, and thereby we are given a brand new set of glasses to see the world with.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Who can I trust in?
Who should I go to for counsel? Who do I trust (and I mean really lean on) for the answers to life's questions? And what am I ultimately placing my confidence in? I learned the hard way through a difficult experience, that there's only one truly reliable source. The Scriptures give us some direction, helping us to answer the question, Who can I trust in?
Not in man:
Jeremiah 17:5-6 (not in your best friend, your neighbor, not even your family)
Psalm 146:3 (not in human leaders — including the President of the U.S.A, or even your pastor)
Psalm 20:7 and Isaiah 31:1 (not in military might)
Not in me:
Proverbs 3:5-6 (not my own understanding of things)
Isaiah 30:1 (not my own plans or others plans, even if the plans seem fool-proof)
In God and His Spirit:
Psalm 2:12B and Jeremiah 17:7-8 (We are blessed if we trust in God)
Psalm 5:11 (All who trust in God will rejoice)
Psalm 146:5 (All who trust in God will be happy)
Zechariah 4:6 (God's Spirit is the real key to success)
Psalm 118:8-9 (It is better to trust in the Lord than human leaders)
Get counsel from others. The Scriptures support that. But never lean on that counsel in a way that you are putting their counsel above seeking God's. Men will disappoint us. Friends will disappoint us. Job's "friends," with all their religious zeal, totally got it wrong. Even pastor's drift off into their own ways, not reflecting God's wisdom in their ministries. Some of that damage is incalculable.
Bring everything before the Lord. Trust Him as your highest source of counsel. As others offer counsel to you, bring that also before the Lord. Men are fallible. We are fallible. God is not.
Oftentimes it is simply easier to go to others first for counsel. We know that with God it may take time to get an answer. With our "I want it now" culture, it will take some patience to wait on God's best answers. There is no surer path to success than trusting in the Lord.
Not in man:
Jeremiah 17:5-6 (not in your best friend, your neighbor, not even your family)
Psalm 146:3 (not in human leaders — including the President of the U.S.A, or even your pastor)
Psalm 20:7 and Isaiah 31:1 (not in military might)
Not in me:
Proverbs 3:5-6 (not my own understanding of things)
Isaiah 30:1 (not my own plans or others plans, even if the plans seem fool-proof)
In God and His Spirit:
Psalm 2:12B and Jeremiah 17:7-8 (We are blessed if we trust in God)
Psalm 5:11 (All who trust in God will rejoice)
Psalm 146:5 (All who trust in God will be happy)
Zechariah 4:6 (God's Spirit is the real key to success)
Psalm 118:8-9 (It is better to trust in the Lord than human leaders)
Get counsel from others. The Scriptures support that. But never lean on that counsel in a way that you are putting their counsel above seeking God's. Men will disappoint us. Friends will disappoint us. Job's "friends," with all their religious zeal, totally got it wrong. Even pastor's drift off into their own ways, not reflecting God's wisdom in their ministries. Some of that damage is incalculable.
Bring everything before the Lord. Trust Him as your highest source of counsel. As others offer counsel to you, bring that also before the Lord. Men are fallible. We are fallible. God is not.
Oftentimes it is simply easier to go to others first for counsel. We know that with God it may take time to get an answer. With our "I want it now" culture, it will take some patience to wait on God's best answers. There is no surer path to success than trusting in the Lord.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Is your zeal leaking?
A new believer tends to have much zeal, but little knowledge.
And a seasoned believer tends to have much knowledge, but little zeal.
Where did the zeal go? Why does it "leak" away?
New believer's tend to expose that lack of zeal, and let's face it, we have a hard time swallowing our pride to believe it's true.
How do you fix a leaking zeal? Get with new believers. Let them rub off on you. And who knows, maybe your knowledge will be something they can grow from as well.
—DW
And a seasoned believer tends to have much knowledge, but little zeal.
Where did the zeal go? Why does it "leak" away?
New believer's tend to expose that lack of zeal, and let's face it, we have a hard time swallowing our pride to believe it's true.
How do you fix a leaking zeal? Get with new believers. Let them rub off on you. And who knows, maybe your knowledge will be something they can grow from as well.
—DW
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
How to solve a puzzle
Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle in the dark? You might wonder who would ever attempt such a feat, but I wouldn’t put it past someone to try!
If someone were to attempt it and actually complete it, an interesting thing would happen. Though every puzzle shape may fit perfectly, the picture would be inevitably distorted and unrecognizable. And what joy would one have it that? You see, in any given puzzle, each puzzle-piece shape is used multiple times. There are few unique pieces. That means one piece’s shape can fit into any number of other places perfectly… BUT, the picture will only look right if it’s in the one unique place it was created for. And in the dark you might be able to make the shapes fit, but you could never solve the puzzle! Ok, well, you already knew all that.What’s the moral of the story?
You can’t truly solve a puzzle without adequate light.
That is especially true concerning spiritual things. We needs God’s Holy Spirit illuminated “light” to help us figure out those tough puzzles in life. We think we see something, or hear something, or discern something. Or we are confused about something. We have a few pieces, and we think we found where they fit. But if we are not careful, and do not have God’s insight, we can come to wrong conclusions. We may haphazardly construct a distorted picture.
Paul said to the Colossian church “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (1:19). And in Ephesians 1:17-18 “… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” (NKJV) See also James 1:5-6.
When life spins out puzzles, we need to remember that God grants wisdom and light to solve puzzles. But don’t expect Him to reveal to you everything you want to know. I suspect He gives us light to solve those puzzles that are needful of being solved.
What puzzles are you pondering in recent days?
One can’t rejoice in a puzzle solved until it is inspected in the light and found to be an accurate picture.
—DW
If someone were to attempt it and actually complete it, an interesting thing would happen. Though every puzzle shape may fit perfectly, the picture would be inevitably distorted and unrecognizable. And what joy would one have it that? You see, in any given puzzle, each puzzle-piece shape is used multiple times. There are few unique pieces. That means one piece’s shape can fit into any number of other places perfectly… BUT, the picture will only look right if it’s in the one unique place it was created for. And in the dark you might be able to make the shapes fit, but you could never solve the puzzle! Ok, well, you already knew all that.What’s the moral of the story?
You can’t truly solve a puzzle without adequate light.
That is especially true concerning spiritual things. We needs God’s Holy Spirit illuminated “light” to help us figure out those tough puzzles in life. We think we see something, or hear something, or discern something. Or we are confused about something. We have a few pieces, and we think we found where they fit. But if we are not careful, and do not have God’s insight, we can come to wrong conclusions. We may haphazardly construct a distorted picture.
Paul said to the Colossian church “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (1:19). And in Ephesians 1:17-18 “… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” (NKJV) See also James 1:5-6.
When life spins out puzzles, we need to remember that God grants wisdom and light to solve puzzles. But don’t expect Him to reveal to you everything you want to know. I suspect He gives us light to solve those puzzles that are needful of being solved.
What puzzles are you pondering in recent days?
One can’t rejoice in a puzzle solved until it is inspected in the light and found to be an accurate picture.
—DW
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
What does your church look like?
We’ve already covered the common misconception that the church, as the Bible speaks of it, has nothing to do with the brick & mortar structures we commonly associate with it. So, if someone were to ask you what your church looked like, how would you respond?
Again, I am the first to admit that I would be tempted to start describing the physical attributes of the place where I worship. “It’s all brick.” Or, “We meet in a school.” Or, “Our church seats 350 people and has blue carpet.”
Don’t get me wrong, speaking of church as a building doesn’t imply sin. We have long referred to church buildings as “church.” We do this because this structure, this building, houses the church… it is a church building. But it is not the church. Many of us have lost the original intent and definition of the word, and to our loss. So, how can we respond to such a question?
We might say (and mean) things like,
“My church is absolutely beautiful! You see, we have a guy that is reaching out to the urban poor, and many have been saved. Most of our people are very humble and godly – they remind me of Christ in their actions, attitudes and words. We pray for each other often. Yes, it’s a beautiful church!”
Or, we might say, “My church looks like an ’89 Civic: old, rusty & desperately needing updating and repair! The people are traditional, bored, not growing, often complaining and in-fighting, and in desperate need of revival.”
Or, we might say, “My church looks like God’s orchard, full of good, spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22): full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. It’s a great community to be in!”
I think if truth be told, many of our churches need spiritual renovation — and I don’t mean a spiritual whitewashing either, but deep, structural renovation that leads to spiritual beauty.
So, how would you describe your church? How has God gifted you to help beautify it?
—DW
Again, I am the first to admit that I would be tempted to start describing the physical attributes of the place where I worship. “It’s all brick.” Or, “We meet in a school.” Or, “Our church seats 350 people and has blue carpet.”
Don’t get me wrong, speaking of church as a building doesn’t imply sin. We have long referred to church buildings as “church.” We do this because this structure, this building, houses the church… it is a church building. But it is not the church. Many of us have lost the original intent and definition of the word, and to our loss. So, how can we respond to such a question?
We might say (and mean) things like,
“My church is absolutely beautiful! You see, we have a guy that is reaching out to the urban poor, and many have been saved. Most of our people are very humble and godly – they remind me of Christ in their actions, attitudes and words. We pray for each other often. Yes, it’s a beautiful church!”
Or, we might say, “My church looks like an ’89 Civic: old, rusty & desperately needing updating and repair! The people are traditional, bored, not growing, often complaining and in-fighting, and in desperate need of revival.”
Or, we might say, “My church looks like God’s orchard, full of good, spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22): full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. It’s a great community to be in!”
I think if truth be told, many of our churches need spiritual renovation — and I don’t mean a spiritual whitewashing either, but deep, structural renovation that leads to spiritual beauty.
So, how would you describe your church? How has God gifted you to help beautify it?
—DW
Monday, July 9, 2007
Please, don’t go to church anymore
Yes, you read it correctly. I encourage you not to GO to church anymore, but rather, BE the church. If church is a place you go each Sunday, then it’s a place you can leave each Sunday. I hear preachers all the time referring to their church building as the church. And I catch myself doing it from time to time as well. But the Scriptures speak of the church in terms of people, not bricks and mortar.
The word used in the original texts is ekklesia, and it has two primary meanings. One is an assembly of people. So then, we don’t go to be at church, we go to gather with the church. That might be in a building dedicated to spiritual activities, or under a tree, or even in a fast-food restaurant! The emphasis is people, not place.
The second connotation is those belonging to the body of Christ throughout all the ages. All true believer’s are apart of the church. This meaning helps us to understand that if we are incapable of assembling with God’s people for some reason, we do not cease being a part of the church. Yes, we may cease to be a part of the church’s local expression, a particular gathering, but that does not diminish our part in the universal church. That doesn’t mean we can skip out on meeting with God’s people though. God spoke through the writer of Hebrews and said not to stop meeting together (10:25).
Does it really matter how we view the church?
I think so. Over the years many folks have told me that one of their main requirements for finding a church, is how the building itself makes them feel. If the architecture inspires them, they are likely to stay because it invokes in them a sense of spirituality and awe. Or the church building must meet some superficial, traditional criteria that they are culturally used to. While a building that inspires reverence or awe is not a bad thing, it’s very easy to equate that with something that seems spiritual and “what a good church should be.”
To focus on the architectural qualities of a building for a church is at best misguided, and at worst, terribly misleading.
The Bible shows us it’s the people that are gathered that matter — how they love God and each other — how they are growing in and becoming more and more like Christ.
So, my recommendation for each of us is to stop going to church. Rather, be the church. Gather with the church. Enjoy the bricks and mortar that house the church, but do not confuse the two.
—DW
The word used in the original texts is ekklesia, and it has two primary meanings. One is an assembly of people. So then, we don’t go to be at church, we go to gather with the church. That might be in a building dedicated to spiritual activities, or under a tree, or even in a fast-food restaurant! The emphasis is people, not place.
The second connotation is those belonging to the body of Christ throughout all the ages. All true believer’s are apart of the church. This meaning helps us to understand that if we are incapable of assembling with God’s people for some reason, we do not cease being a part of the church. Yes, we may cease to be a part of the church’s local expression, a particular gathering, but that does not diminish our part in the universal church. That doesn’t mean we can skip out on meeting with God’s people though. God spoke through the writer of Hebrews and said not to stop meeting together (10:25).
Does it really matter how we view the church?
I think so. Over the years many folks have told me that one of their main requirements for finding a church, is how the building itself makes them feel. If the architecture inspires them, they are likely to stay because it invokes in them a sense of spirituality and awe. Or the church building must meet some superficial, traditional criteria that they are culturally used to. While a building that inspires reverence or awe is not a bad thing, it’s very easy to equate that with something that seems spiritual and “what a good church should be.”
To focus on the architectural qualities of a building for a church is at best misguided, and at worst, terribly misleading.
The Bible shows us it’s the people that are gathered that matter — how they love God and each other — how they are growing in and becoming more and more like Christ.
So, my recommendation for each of us is to stop going to church. Rather, be the church. Gather with the church. Enjoy the bricks and mortar that house the church, but do not confuse the two.
—DW
Monday, July 2, 2007
Who's team are you on?
What does Peter the Apostle, and Job's friends have in common?
There were points in their lives where they sorely misrepresented God. In their misguided zeal for helping their friends, they were actually helping out the Adversary.
Job's friends cared for him. Wept for him. Attempted to give, in their estimation, wise counsel. But because they did not understand God's perspective (or His ways), they were a severe detriment to Job. If it were possible, they made matters worse! They added to the pain and sorrow that Satan was heaping on him. Poor ol' Job. With friends like that, who needs... well you know the rest. God allowed this for a while, but then set matters straight. Job's friends found themselves on the wrong team.
Peter listened intently as Jesus explained that He must be crucified and die. And in Peter's characteristic zeal, he rebukes Jesus and tells Him it would never be so! And Jesus' response must have been a bit of a shock for Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man!" (my paraphrase Matt. 16:23). Peter loved Jesus, but was filled with "man's thinking." He did not have God's perspective, and in essence, was on Satan's team without even knowing it.
Sometimes our best intentions can be the Adversary's most effective weapons against others.
Let's encourage each other to seek the mind of God, His wisdom (James 1:5) and His understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) in all things. Because if we are not careful, we may be shocked to find out that we are on the wrong team.
Who's team are you on?
—DW
There were points in their lives where they sorely misrepresented God. In their misguided zeal for helping their friends, they were actually helping out the Adversary.
Job's friends cared for him. Wept for him. Attempted to give, in their estimation, wise counsel. But because they did not understand God's perspective (or His ways), they were a severe detriment to Job. If it were possible, they made matters worse! They added to the pain and sorrow that Satan was heaping on him. Poor ol' Job. With friends like that, who needs... well you know the rest. God allowed this for a while, but then set matters straight. Job's friends found themselves on the wrong team.
Peter listened intently as Jesus explained that He must be crucified and die. And in Peter's characteristic zeal, he rebukes Jesus and tells Him it would never be so! And Jesus' response must have been a bit of a shock for Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man!" (my paraphrase Matt. 16:23). Peter loved Jesus, but was filled with "man's thinking." He did not have God's perspective, and in essence, was on Satan's team without even knowing it.
Sometimes our best intentions can be the Adversary's most effective weapons against others.
Let's encourage each other to seek the mind of God, His wisdom (James 1:5) and His understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) in all things. Because if we are not careful, we may be shocked to find out that we are on the wrong team.
Who's team are you on?
—DW
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