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Can you answer these questions?
So here’s a little thought experiment. Read this passage below:
In the name of God,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God,
The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship,
and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom
Thou hast bestowed thy grace,
those whose portion
is not wrath
and who do no go astray.
And now here’s two questions:
First, what do you agree with or resonate with in that passage? Most likely you’ll say, just about everything! Christians in general would find those words a pretty beautiful description of some worship and prayer.
So here’s the second question: How does this passage fail to describe everything about your worship? Or to ask it another way: What is this passage missing to make it accurately describe what you believe?(Here’s a hint: You should be able to definitely and specifically answer this question.)
Now, this passage sounds like it could come from the Old Testament (it doesn’t), and so in one sense we’re not saying there’s anything necessarily wrong with it, as it stands, alone and out of context. But that gets at the heart of the issue. Because, taken alone, do the Psalms (for instance) express the whole of your worship and knowledge of God?
And the answer, of course, is no. As Christians, we worship, specifically and supremely, “The Glory of God in the Face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4). We know that Jesus is the supreme revelation of God (John 1, Hebrews 1) and we can’t ever stop short with just saying “God,” if we’re given the chance. After all, “No one comes to the Father,” Jesus said, “except through me.” So in order to make speech about God, or worship in general, authentically Christian, it has to be shaped and informed by what God has revealed about Himself in Jesus Christ.
The point of this is not to comment on every worship song we sing–it’s more about the total content of what we hold in our minds in terms of what we believe. And it’s also about how we speak about these things to non-believers as well.
This second point becomes crucial when you know where the above passage is from.
It’s the first sura of the Koran.
Eight questions to ask someone who is doubting their faith
I saw this on another blog a little while ago and thought it was helpful. How do you go about talking to a friend who feels like they are doubting what they believe? Here’s some questions you might ask in order to help sort through confusing thoughts.
1. What are you doubting? There are three primary things people doubt: 1) Their salvation, 2) God’s love for them, 3) fundamental issues of the faith. Included with the doubt of salvation is a sub-category: belief that they have committed the unforgivable sin. Which one do you find yourself doubting?
2. If it is a fundamental issue of the faith that you are doubting, which one is it? The reliability of Scripture? The reality of Hell? The exclusivity of Christ? The existence of God? Etc.
(This is important as, more often than not, people are having an emotional struggle, not an intellectual one, even if they don’t identify it as such. For example, ninety-nine percent of the time, people doubt hell and Christ’s exclusivity not because they have found some compelling logical argument against it, but because it does not square with them emotionally. This does not speak to the legitimacy of the doubt, but to the source of its genesis.)
3. Tell me about this aspect of your personality: Would you describe yourself as an intense person who tends toward compulsiveness or a laid back person with a lot of patience? Why does this matter? Sometimes, more intense people experience times of extreme doubt, often coming on acutely without any warning. This is especially the case when people have [or at least believe themselves to have] more intellectually based doubts. Ironically, I find this most among young men who aspire to be apologists, believing that they must immediately and completely immerse themselves in every debate, book, and argument that exists, both those for and those against Christianity. Eventually, this type of personality is prone to be a “spiritual emotional breakdown.”
4. Are there any medications that you have recently started taking?
5. Are there any medications that you have recently stopped taking? As much as some Christians would like to think differently, your brain drastically affects your mind. In other words, brain chemistry—affected by many medications—can deeply affect your beliefs, perceptions of reality, and confidence in your faith. When one starts or suddenly stops some medication, doubts may soon follow.
6. Are there any books or teachings that you have recently been reading that might have contributed to your wavering faith? If so, which ones?
7. Do you believe that faith and doubt can exist at the same time? Some people have been brought up believing that everything is black and white. If one has faith, they have no doubt. If they have doubt, they have no faith. I have often found that the alleviation of this falsehood coupled with the introduction and application of the idea of the tension between faith and doubt is all that is needed to reintroduce bloodflow to the soul.
8. Is there any persistent and unrepentant sin in which you are involved? This is sometime the first and only question that people ask. Conversely, for some, it is anathema to suppose that sin might be the issue. While it is not the first question I ask, it is, nevertheless, very important and sometimes the cause of people’s doubt.
–by C. Michael Patton
Psalm 73 (Notes from last night)
Last night we took look at Psalm 73. The notes are admittedly sparse, but, here they are!
Psalm 73
1 The truth. (this is what get’s forgotten)
2-14 Wrong thinking based on a certain way of seeing.
2 dangerous place to be
3 work backwards: your eyes affect your heart affect your feet
4-12 what his eyes saw (public persona, unharmed by sin)
13-14 since I don’t have those particular things, it makes my life seem pointless.
the idea behind “chastened” is parental discipline (see Heb 12:3-12–if you don’t receive discipline from your heavenly Father, it means you’re not his kid.)
15-16 The dilemma – the silent, secret struggle
17-20 add eternity into the equation (the right perspective on time) and a just judge (the right perspective on reality) and then you have the whole picture.
21-28 even when I’m stupid – (a “beast” doesn’t live in eternity)
23 …I’m with Him
24 I have the personal presence of God
25 …who’s better than anything else.
28 this is the opposite of v.13
Christ and the eternal perspective:
Since we’re Christians, how do we see Jesus’ life, death and resurrection relating to Psalm 73. See these scriptures for some help: Matt 25:31-33, Mark 8: 36-38; Phil 1:24-24, 3:7-10; Hebrews 10:32-35, Hebrews 13:5-6
We might keep thinking about it and see even more. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus show us the same truths that Psalm 73 shows us. Or we could say, Jesus gives us a firm foundation to see why the conclusions Asaph reaches in Psalm 73 are true. He shows us that…
- This world is judged. The current order of things will not last.
- The ultimate meaning of everything is found in how it relates to the judge of all things.
- When he came and walked around, we saw the hearts of everyone exposed.
- In his death and resurrection we see the ultimate verdict of God on all human sin, and the ultimate way we can be rescued from the effects of that sin: connection to Him (by faith).
- To be close to him is eternal life. To be far from him is to perish.
- So we have a reason to not envy people who are enjoying sin far from him. They are like fish, sunning themselves and playing volleyball on the sandy beach—their time is short, and their fun is killing them.
- In Jesus we also see God’s heart towards these people—he loves them (we are all them)—and he came and died so they could turn go from being far from him to being near to him. (Eph 2:13)
If you don’t know Christ: Are you willing to consider the fact that you may not have all the information you need to judge what’s really important? Or that you could even be deceived? Please consider that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ could be most important thing you need to know about, and that Jesus Himself, and how you relate to him might actually define your life…It’s what He claims.
To end we read Psalm 16
God in a box?
A phrase you often hear when speaking about God in public situations is, “You can’t put God in box.” Now of course, that’s true on several levels. It would be one big box. But beyond that, what non-believers tend to mean when they say things like this is that Christians are wrong to claim to know things about God specifically, like for instance, that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Or that God is no one other than who he is shown to be in Jesus. Now, it’s pretty obvious why some people would hear that as limiting. And we admit–God is infinite–and it’s surprising that the infinite God would allow himself to be described by finitude. But if that is in fact what he has done by expressing his ultimate revelation through the man Jesus Christ, are we to say he can’t do that? And is that really putting God in a box? Here’s some thoughts on this I read recently:
Human beings do not set the conditions for what God can or cannot do.
But Christian faith has gained confidence that God will not reveal himself in a way contrary to the way he has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. Christianity does not limit revelation to Christ, but through Christ sees God’s revelation as occurring elsewhere and finally, echoing everywhere.
The more clearly God is seen in Christ, the less ambiguously God is seen everywhere else. This does not result in a syncretism that quickly forgets that God was made known in Christ and looks for God independently elsewhere. For the general revelation of God everywhere is now all the more knowable through the Revealer.
Christ is the unparalleled and unrepeatable Revealer through whom other revelations are best understood.
–F. Leroy Forlines
What doesn’t the gospel apply to? (Notes from last night.)
Last night we finished our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Here are the notes:
1. Paul’s Calling and His work
1:1-17 Paul has been given a calling by God – to be an apostle to the Gentiles
15:14-24 Paul has spent his life faithful to that calling—preaching from Jerusalem to N. of Greece.
Preaching where Christ is not named—Hence Rome is the road to Spain
15:25-33 But first, he brings Gentile’s offering to the Jerusalem church
16:1-16 Paul has many friends in this work, who are part of the Roman church
16:17-24 Don’t let the enemy mess this work up
2. The Romans were called to share in this work, and so are we:
See 15:14 they could help each other
15:24 they could help Paul’s work financially
15:30 they could strive together in prayer with Paul for Paul’s work
16:17 they could maintain unity
12:1-13 They could do all the things listed here: bodies offered, gifts used, fervent spirit serving the Lord in all situations
3. The Power for the Work: The Gospel
1:16, 11-12 Gospel is power to Salvation, Paul wants to “establish” or “strengthen” them.
16:25-27 God strengthens us by the gospel.
What does this mean? It means that the message about Christ. (“God gave us the One who could defeat sin and reconnect us to him”)
- …frees us from condemnation (3:23-24, 5:1); so the Gospel strengthens you when you face guilt…
- …grants us hope in trials (5:2-6); so the Gospel strengthens you when you face difficult circumstances
- …frees us from slavery to sin (6:10-14); so the Gospel strengthens you when you face temptation and sinful patterns
- …allows a whole new power for life (8:2-4); so the Gospel strengthens you when you think you might not have what it takes to live out God’s call
- …assures us that God is for us (8:31-32); so the Gospel strengthens you when you face feelings that God is against us
So when Paul says God is able to strengthen and establish us by the Gospel, he means that, just as we are saved by hearing and putting our trust in God’s message about who Jesus is and what he did, we live our lives as Christians that way. In every situation in life, we need to contemplate the death and resurrection of Jesus, and apply the truth of the gospel to every situation. By seeing how Jesus’ death and resurrection applies to individual circumstances, and by trusting what the cross and the empty tomb say about my situation, I receive strength from God to fulfill my calling and participate in his plan. In other words, I never receive the strength of God apart from Jesus and his work for me. I can’t get help anywhere but the cross. That’s where the power comes from—contemplating and trusting in what God did for me in Jesus.
What doesn’t the Gospel apply to?
The death of Christ changes everything.
The resurrection changes everything.
How do we access this? 16:26 – The prophetic scriptures, obedience, faith.
If you don’t know Christ: Here’s what God has done for you.
Young Adults is ON for tonight.
One inch of snow won’t stop us. See you there. Regular time.
New Community Group: Career Fellowship
On Monday Night we announced the newest community group, bring in our total to four.
Career Fellowship
A group designed to support and encourage those in the work/career world. Fellowship, food, discussion, prayer and activities.
Leaders: Jenelle Ricci & Jarreau Freeman
Purpose: Support and encourage those in the world & career world.
Meetings: Two Fridays a month
Session: March – June, 2014
Start Date: March 7th
Meal: Themed, Potluck Dessert/Appetizers
For full information, and to sign up, see the Community Group Page.
To read or hear the Community Groups , see this post.
Love, Knowledge, and “Doubtful Things” (Notes from Monday Night)
This past Monday night we continued our study of Romans by looking at chapter 14 and the first half of chapter 15, where Paul addresses what seems to have been an issue some people in the church had over whether certain Christians could choose to observe some dietary laws and some special religious days. Here are the notes:
Intro: It seems like some Jewish believers in the church at Rome still felt they needed to keep some of the Jewish dietary laws and feast days. It may have been causing some division in the church. Paul addresses four main issues with this brewing division:
- They were forgetting who is the Lord and Judge. (14:1-13)
- They were forgetting what the Kingdom of God is all about. (14:13-23)
- They were forgetting Christ’s example. (15:1-7) Forgetting what we learn about God in Jesus.
- They were forgetting what the scriptures taught. (15:8-13)
Some things are clear commands of the Lord (Staying away from sin. (13:12-14) Teaching healthy doctrine. (1 Tim 1:3)). For these things we challenge each other. We point to the clear commands of scripture and we hold each other to it. This is not “judging”. This is exhorting (Heb 3:13). We are told to do this work. But other things are either not clear or not essential to who and what we are as Christians. Those are the issues Paul is addressing in this passage.
14:1-13 Christ is Lord and Judge. So stop judging and condemning each other.
“Receive” Each other (see Rom 15:7) – “treat them as brothers and sisters in the intimate fellowship typical of the people of God.)
v.3 Don’t despise the weak, don’t judge the strong. God receives him. (see v.1!) So, to receive is to not use these matters of conscience as things that allow us to judge or despise each other. To receive is not to judge or despise. It is to see them as, first and foremost, received by God.
v.4 They don’t serve you. Remember that. Not only do they serve God, but we should think: “God can keep them standing.” We shouldn’t expect or look for other believers to fall.
v.5 Be fully convinced in your own mind (This is fascinating. For some issues, Paul says it almost doesn’t matter what we think. Except that he clearly agrees with the strong. So you can be basically wrong, but it might not matter so much that you should be rebuked or corrected.) Our orientation in life should all be Jesus-ward. Or, our whole life should be lived with reference to the Lord. That is the whole point of Jesus death-life—so he can be Lord of everything, and everything would need to reference him from now on.
v.10 They’re your brother. Remember that. Also, remember that we will all give account to Jesus and him alone. i.e. – We don’t have to bother taking the position of Judge anymore, since we’re not. Freedom from the burden of having to have an opinion (about everything).
14:1-13 Sum up: instead of judging or despising each other, we need to remember who the Lord of our whole lives is, and who the judge we’ll stand before is, and realize that He is the only authority any Christian answers to. If he hasn’t given command on a specific subject, we don’t have the right to take his place and make a decision. And we don’t have the right to bring separation into the church over these issues.
14:13-23 The kingdom of God is about loving people. Don’t destroy that work.
v.13 “krino” – Don’t make a judgment call on other’s lives, but make this judgment call for yourself: never to do something which could trip someone up spiritually.
The point isn’t the thing, it’s the person (your brother). (v.15, 20)
- If they think something that is actually wrong (v.14, 20), but not essential at all, it’s more important that you love them (v.15, 21).
- Sometimes, in some issues, we may feel convicted about certain things. We shouldn’t violate that sense of conviction. But we can’t turn and judge others who do those things. And if we have no issue with the thing, we can’t push others to accept it, or we could mess them up.
The point isn’t flaunting freedom from the rules, but the nature of the kingdom of God. (v.17)
15:1-7 Christ gave us an example. So receive each other as he received us.
15:4-13 The Scriptures show that God’s whole work is to unify many different peoples. Live this out.
14:17, 15:5-6, 15:13 – The point? That we would be able to glorify God as a unified people, enjoying the kingdom of God in all it’s joy, hope, righteousness and peace. That was Jesus whole aim (15:7)
Sum up:
Again, some things are clear commands of the Lord, like staying away from sin (13:12-14) and teaching healthy doctrine (1 Tim 1:3). For these things we challenge each other. We point to the clear commands of scripture and we hold each other to it. This is not “judging”. This is exhorting (Heb 3:13). We are told to do this work.
But many other things are not clearly commanded by the Lord. We do our best. Even where there is some guidance in scripture, some Christians may disagree about what is ok to do or not do. And in these things, the rule is: “Don’t let them ruin your love for each other. Don’t let them divide you. Remember that the Lord is the only judge, and he keeps Christians standing.” The most important thing is that we love each other and make sure we don’t do anything to spiritually weaken each other. This responsibility falls primarily on the stronger believer. It is Christ-like to take on restrictions and inconveniences that you don’t have to in order to help other people. And it will lead to being the kind of person who the kingdom is for. Not simply people who are excited about freedom from rules, but people who have developed such moral beauty that they are strong enough to yield to others’ weakness—so that they can learn to find real strength, happy enough to help everyone find more joy, righteous enough to help everyone live free from guilt, hopeful enough to help everyone avoid feelings of condemnation, and always so aware of what really matters, and who really matters, that it leads everyone in their circle to consistently look up and praise God.
One more point. In Christ we see a mind-blowing truth. God is the kind of God who doesn’t make non-essential things an issue when he decides whether to love people or not. Or whether to sacrifice for us. Or whether to invite us into his friendship. There’s lots to chew on there.
“From Lvov to Donetsk, from Kiev to Simferopol.”
Along with some very difficult and tragic things going on in the last few weeks in Ukraine, an interesting development took place over the weekend. Christianity Today reports: “Oleksandr Turchynov, a well-known Baptist pastor and top opposition politician in Ukraine, took office on Sunday, Feb. 23, as acting president after the Parliament voted to oust President Yanukovych.” The article sates that he is known for preaching regularly in Ukraine, and has an established reputation as “a principled, honest leader.” It strikes me as a great example of a Christian being faithful to the daily calling of being remade in Christ’s image, of bearing the character of Christ into the world, and of being willing to serve the people of his nation–and then, one day, they ask you to be president.
The Christians in Ukraine are pressing forward through all the difficulty. On Monday this statement was released by Valery Antonyuk, vice president of the All Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Churches, Baptist. Definitely take a minute, read it, and be inspired:
A Message of Reconciliation:During this time of fateful change in the life of the Ukrainian nation, the Church and each Christian individually cannot remain spectators on the sidelines of the battles and losses. The Church serves society and mourns together with it. We went through difficult days together with the nation – we served through prayer, evangelism, volunteers, medical help, clothing, and food. Today a time has come for a ministry of active reconciliation, which will help maintain unity in our country and nation.
We supported the nation’s demand to put an end to the tyranny of the authorities and repressions by the police. Now it is important to restore justice and due process of law in the country, to form a government that has the people’s trust, and provide fair presidential elections. We believe that those guilty of crimes against the people will be justly judged, and that peaceful citizens will be protected.
But on behalf of the Church we must say more, we must speak the whole truth; we must say that which is still hard to accept and fulfill; that, which is a precondition for a better future.
Therefore the Church calls the Ukrainian nation to more than just feelings of human justice – to Christian forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation. We pray to God for repentance for the guilty. However at the same time we ask victims to forgive those who are already repentant as well as those who are still lost. In order to unite the nation, in order to reconcile its various parts, its various social, cultural, and political groups, laws and justice are not enough. Without repentance, grace, forgiveness and reconciliation, the country will remain divided and in conflict. This is the precondition for a deep spiritual transformation of Ukraine.
The Bible says that there is, “a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecc. 3:7-8). In accordance with these wise words, we declare today to be a time to mend, and not a time to tear the nation apart; a time to seek peace, and not a time to fan the flames of war; a time to learn to love yesterday’s enemies, and not a time to continue to hate rivals and those who have hurt us.
We call on the Evangelical churches of Ukraine to serve to bring peace between people and healing to the wounds of war. We do not call black white and do not justify crimes or even mistakes. But we, as Christians, forgive, because we have been forgiven by God. He reconciled us to Himself, and gave us a message of reconciliation. This grace-giving Word to our whole nation should be heard from Lvov to Donetsk, from Kiev to Simferopol.
We also call upon the international Christian community asking for prayer and intercession for the Ukrainian nation and for help with peacemaking. We mourn for the victims, and thank God for His grace toward Ukraine, and pray for peace and spiritual revival in our nation.
Young Adult Community Groups
On Monday night we announced the beginning of our Young Adults Community Groups. I laid out a basic vision and a scriptural basis for doing this sort of thing, and we announced the opening of sign-ups for the first three groups. Over the next few weeks we will be announcing several more groups.
UPDATED 3/4/14: The Theology group has been cancelled. These are the groups we have announced so far.
Abington Reading Group
Leaders: Tony & Kyersti DeFranco
Book: Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung
Meetings: 1st & 3rd Thursday Evening
Session: March – May, 2014
Start Date: March 6th
Meal: Potluck Dinner
Arts Fellowship
Specifically for people who are currently working in, studying, or have talent in any of the arts (fine arts, writing, graphic design, music, etc…)
Leaders: Annie Trusty & Erin Breneiser
Purpose: Foster Fellowship & Collaboration of people involved with the Arts
Start Date: Sunday February 23 (afternoon)
Career Fellowship
A group designed to support and encourage those in the work/career world. Fellowship, food, discussion, prayer and activities.
Leaders: Jenelle Ricci & Jarreau Freeman
Purpose: Support and encourage those in the world & career world.
Meetings: Two Fridays a month
Session: March – June, 2014
Start Date: March 7th
Meal: Themed, Potluck Dessert/Appetizers
Bensalem Reading Group
Fellowship, share a meal, and discuss what you’ve been reading in the word in your own personl times.
Leaders: Willie & Katahdin Milacci
Location: Bensalem
Meetings: 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.
Session: March – May, 2014 Start Date:
March 13th
Meal: Potluck Appetizers
Want to get more info? Email bweed@ccphilly.org.
Listen to the intro bible study for the groups here:
Community Groups Introduction: Download | Stream
Here’s the general information:
What are Community Groups?
The sanctuary at Calvary Chapel is big and full of people. The Monday night Young Adults meeting is still rather large, and many who come are looking for an easier way to meet people and build friendships.
Community Groups are a way for those in the Young Adults fellowship at Calvary Chapel to build Christian community, cultivate ministry to the body of Christ, and reach out to those in need of Christ. They range in format from bible reading and discussion groups where people in a certain locality gather at a house, to reading groups where specific books are read and discussed together, to interest-based groups where members pursue a shared passion.
Why do we have them?
As we read the chronicle of the birth of the Church in the second chapter of the book of Acts, we see that Christians were committed to several things, one of which was regular gathering for different purposes. Among other things, we see that they gathered “from house to house.” Partly this was because they had no church buildings in those days. But from their example we can learn a commitment to being together—in short, to living in real Christian community. They ate together, they studied together, they worshipped together, and they spread the gospel among non-believers, together.
Our Community Groups are one way of helping the young adults of Calvary Chapel pursue this part of the Christian’s calling. Specifically, Community Groups are our way of pursuing the need for personal relationships with each other. So we can be the kind of family (where every person is a sibling), and body (where every person is a member), and building (where every person is a living stone) that the scriptures call us to be.
In addition, we see community groups as a way to help build relationships for life—relationships that become part of the lifeblood of our church here at Calvary Chapel and that extend beyond your time in the Young Adults fellowship.
What are they like?
Groups of five to fifteen or so. They may meet in homes, in coffee shops, at local parks, or anywhere else where they can pursue their specific purpose. Most groups share some sort of meal together every time they meet. The core of the group is a few committed members of our Young Adults fellowship, and a leader or two who are specifically designated to coordinate the group and lend it vision and focus. These groups are ideal for people to check out after they’ve been to a Monday night bible study and want to find friendships.
What are some of the different groups?
Some groups are for bible reading, discussion and prayer (in other words, focused time designed for spiritual growth and fellowship). Some groups are book reading groups; they select a worthwhile book to read, and then discuss it together. Some groups are interest-based, whether it’s around interest in the arts, sports, outdoor activities, or other types of interests.
How does someone get involved?
Email Brian at bweed@ccphilly.org and inquire about the group you’re interested in. You’ll get contacted from someone from that group with details about where and when they’re meeting.
Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely. Community groups are ideal places to introduce someone to our fellowship.
Can I bring a friend who’s not a Christian?
Please do. One of our hopes for these groups is that they provide us for a very genuine form of outreach. In a day and age where it is often difficult to find a ways to engage people with Christian truth, we hope to see these groups become places where you can invite your friends to witness real Christianity being lived out.