Friday, June 27, 2014
The Glorious Quest
The Glorious Quest And my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NIV In the past I have had the mind-set that God should bless me... and "bless" means money and prestige. And like a child, if I saw someone else with a blessing, I wanted one too. I think that sometimes we get engrossed by a "Me too" Theology that only leaves us wanting, and feeling short-changed. Have you ever looked at godly provision this way? I think it is okay to ask God for anything. I think it is okay to ask, seek and persistently knock. But what might it be like for God when we who have so much, ask for more? What might it sound like to tell God that what He has given is not enough, and might I have better please? And what if God answered, what might He say? He may tell us that we have misunderstood the meaning and purpose of His blessings. When God desires to meet our needs, it may have little to do with money and much more to do with "glorious riches". You know, what might be interesting is if "the need" that God promises to fulfill is the one where we are trying to share the good news of Christ Jesus with others. It may be that God has promised to help us along in ‘that’ glorious quest, to make Christ known to all.
Friday, June 20, 2014
A truth about Money
A truth about Money
Out of the most severe trials, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability... Entirely on their own they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
2 Corinthians 8:2, 3b, 4 NIV
There is one saying that you will probably never hear in a church that is devoted to money..., "It is better to give than to receive." Money has a peculiar way of infecting our minds in regards to true biblical teaching about wealth and making it into something that is, in my not so humble opinion, of very poor taste. Maybe money theology isn't so much "wrong" as it is useless in the grand scheme of things. It brings no one into the presence of God in order to gain salvation. And if money and money teaching can't do that, what good is it?
In the scriptures, money appears to be more of a tool for advancing the gospel than for reflecting God's favor with a person or group. The Bible teaches that generosity welled up in God's people because of the overflowing joy of salvation. People weren't satisfied with merely obtaining salvation in Christ, but saw it as a blessing to support ministries that shared the good news. And apparently they did this in spite of their meager fiscal condition. For these people generosity was not so much a responsibility as much as it was (and still is) a privilege. They wanted to share with others the same gospel that was saving them. Doesn’t this sound a bit more genuine?
When it comes to money, I try to remember that God knows what I need even before I ask (Matthew 6:8). Money is a necessity in this world and He knows it. He isn't blind to my needs, no matter they be spiritual, physical or fiscal. And the one need that God has deemed most necessary is spiritual. That is the blessing that makes even the poor and disenfranchised to be rich!
Out of the most severe trials, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability... Entirely on their own they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
2 Corinthians 8:2, 3b, 4 NIV
There is one saying that you will probably never hear in a church that is devoted to money..., "It is better to give than to receive." Money has a peculiar way of infecting our minds in regards to true biblical teaching about wealth and making it into something that is, in my not so humble opinion, of very poor taste. Maybe money theology isn't so much "wrong" as it is useless in the grand scheme of things. It brings no one into the presence of God in order to gain salvation. And if money and money teaching can't do that, what good is it?
In the scriptures, money appears to be more of a tool for advancing the gospel than for reflecting God's favor with a person or group. The Bible teaches that generosity welled up in God's people because of the overflowing joy of salvation. People weren't satisfied with merely obtaining salvation in Christ, but saw it as a blessing to support ministries that shared the good news. And apparently they did this in spite of their meager fiscal condition. For these people generosity was not so much a responsibility as much as it was (and still is) a privilege. They wanted to share with others the same gospel that was saving them. Doesn’t this sound a bit more genuine?
When it comes to money, I try to remember that God knows what I need even before I ask (Matthew 6:8). Money is a necessity in this world and He knows it. He isn't blind to my needs, no matter they be spiritual, physical or fiscal. And the one need that God has deemed most necessary is spiritual. That is the blessing that makes even the poor and disenfranchised to be rich!
Friday, June 13, 2014
Godly Disillusionment
Godly Disillusionment
It was he (God) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
I think that many of us have an idea in our minds of what Christianity should be like. We fantasize about the aspects of the "right church", about a "better" theology and the way we think God's people should be. Some of us church-hop to find this ideal church or worse, try to force our point of view on the church we are attending. I also think that many of us sometimes experience a level of frustration because our idea of Christianity (and sometimes our idea of God himself) seems to never materialize. Is following God what you thought it would be?
Maybe we are unable to find our ideal church and maybe God seems to fail us because we are experiencing ‘Godly Disillusionment’. Maybe God is allowing frustration to set in, to shake us out of wishful ideology that does not benefit His Kingdom? Maybe God is shaking us out of ideas that are not consistent with scripture? If this is true, then it shows us the kindness and wisdom of God. He is so kind that He will not allow us to find comfort in a lie, in a dream or in wishful thinking. God is a God of truth (John 14:6). And anything less than the truth is not good enough for the ones that He loves.
I think that the unity of believers isn't a sense of being the same, looking the same or acting the same. I think the unity of believers is that we are finally working for the same goal, to glorify God, to experience His nearness and His love and finally to tell someone about Him. We bring glory to God by testifying about Him to all others that we come in contact with. We bring glory to God when we love and commit to each other. We bring glory to God when we remember that Christ will always be with us (Mark 28:18-20). Could be that these things remove us from disillusionment and into the whole measure of fullness in Christ.
It was he (God) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
I think that many of us have an idea in our minds of what Christianity should be like. We fantasize about the aspects of the "right church", about a "better" theology and the way we think God's people should be. Some of us church-hop to find this ideal church or worse, try to force our point of view on the church we are attending. I also think that many of us sometimes experience a level of frustration because our idea of Christianity (and sometimes our idea of God himself) seems to never materialize. Is following God what you thought it would be?
Maybe we are unable to find our ideal church and maybe God seems to fail us because we are experiencing ‘Godly Disillusionment’. Maybe God is allowing frustration to set in, to shake us out of wishful ideology that does not benefit His Kingdom? Maybe God is shaking us out of ideas that are not consistent with scripture? If this is true, then it shows us the kindness and wisdom of God. He is so kind that He will not allow us to find comfort in a lie, in a dream or in wishful thinking. God is a God of truth (John 14:6). And anything less than the truth is not good enough for the ones that He loves.
I think that the unity of believers isn't a sense of being the same, looking the same or acting the same. I think the unity of believers is that we are finally working for the same goal, to glorify God, to experience His nearness and His love and finally to tell someone about Him. We bring glory to God by testifying about Him to all others that we come in contact with. We bring glory to God when we love and commit to each other. We bring glory to God when we remember that Christ will always be with us (Mark 28:18-20). Could be that these things remove us from disillusionment and into the whole measure of fullness in Christ.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Taking on a new Burden
Taking on a new Burden
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28 NIV
I remember an old gospel song that we sang in the Baptist church of my youth. The pastor would say, "The doors of the church are now open." As people came down to the front of the church to accept Christ as savior, the parishioners began to sing, "Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus, just now, just now." And they continued, "Only trust him. Only trust him, just now, just now". At the time I think I had certain expectations of "coming to Jesus". What do you think it will be like if we were to come to Jesus on bended knee, and full of trust?
I admit that the idea of taking off the yoke of this world and putting on the yoke of Christ seemed like a pretty good deal, but I got more than what I bargained for. Once in the fold of Christ I was made to suit up like a soldier. I learned that I needed to put on the full armor so I could stand my ground. I was given a helmet (salvation), belt (truth), a vest (righteousness), a shield (faith), boots (readiness) and a sword, which is the Bible (Galatians 6:10-17). Becoming a private in God's army is not exactly the rest I expected. But maybe God is being kind... The Lord is equipping me to stand. After I have done all I can do, putting these gifts into practice is what it might look like to just stand.
Jesus said that "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). Jesus isn't promising that we would be without burdens. But maybe he is suggesting that he will be with us to help and he will equip us to carry our portion of the burden. Maybe he is promising that once we take on the ‘Christ-burden’, we will find his nearness. And having Christ in close proximity makes the load not so heavy. Think about it, Christ already carried it all on the cross... How much more do we really need to lift and carry?
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28 NIV
I remember an old gospel song that we sang in the Baptist church of my youth. The pastor would say, "The doors of the church are now open." As people came down to the front of the church to accept Christ as savior, the parishioners began to sing, "Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus, just now, just now." And they continued, "Only trust him. Only trust him, just now, just now". At the time I think I had certain expectations of "coming to Jesus". What do you think it will be like if we were to come to Jesus on bended knee, and full of trust?
I admit that the idea of taking off the yoke of this world and putting on the yoke of Christ seemed like a pretty good deal, but I got more than what I bargained for. Once in the fold of Christ I was made to suit up like a soldier. I learned that I needed to put on the full armor so I could stand my ground. I was given a helmet (salvation), belt (truth), a vest (righteousness), a shield (faith), boots (readiness) and a sword, which is the Bible (Galatians 6:10-17). Becoming a private in God's army is not exactly the rest I expected. But maybe God is being kind... The Lord is equipping me to stand. After I have done all I can do, putting these gifts into practice is what it might look like to just stand.
Jesus said that "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). Jesus isn't promising that we would be without burdens. But maybe he is suggesting that he will be with us to help and he will equip us to carry our portion of the burden. Maybe he is promising that once we take on the ‘Christ-burden’, we will find his nearness. And having Christ in close proximity makes the load not so heavy. Think about it, Christ already carried it all on the cross... How much more do we really need to lift and carry?
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