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What Mike Read Yesterday…
Here’s the quote Mike used in his teaching yesterday morning. I thought it was worth reposting for you to read and ponder…
“If we know the characteristic sins of the age, we can guess its foolish and fashionable assumptions—
- that morality is simply a matter of personal taste,
- that all silences need to be filled up with human chatter or background music,
- that 760 percent of the American people are victims,
- that it is better to feel than to think,
- that rights are more important than responsibilities,
- that even for children the right to choose supersedes all other rights,
- that real liberty can be enjoyed without virtue,
- that self-reproach is for fogies,
- that God is a chum or even a gofer whose job is to make us rich or happy or religiously excited,
- that it is more satisfying to be envied than respected,
- that it is better for politicians and preachers to be cheerful than truthful,
- that Christian worship fails unless it is fun.”
–Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
Are we arrogant?
It helps to keep going over this. How should we think (and respond) when we (as Christians) are accused of being arrogant for thinking we can know that we have the one truth everyone needs? Is that lacking humility? Is it…un-Christlike? (Since, so many would say, Jesus’ #1 quality was humility…)
Helpful thoughts from Michael Kruger:
Christians believe that God has revealed himself clearly in his Word. Thus, when it comes to key historical questions (Who was Jesus? What did he say? What did he do?) or key theological questions (Who is God? What is Heaven? How does one get there?), Christians believe they have a basis on which they can claim certainty: God’s revelation. Indeed, to claim we don’t know the truth about such matters would be to deny God, and to deny his Word. (This doesn’t mean, of course, that Christians are certain about everything; but there can be certainty about these basic Christian truths).
Thus, for Christians, humility and uncertainty are not synonymous. One can be certain and humble at the same time. How? For this simple reason: Christians believe that they understand truth only because God has revealed it to them (1 Cor 1:26-30). In other words, Christians are humble because their understanding of truth is not based on their own intelligence, their own research, their own acumen. Rather, it is 100% dependent on the grace of God. Christian knowledge is a dependent knowledge. And that leads to humility (1 Cor 1:31). This obviously doesn’t mean all Christians are personally humble. But, it does mean they should be, and have adequate grounds to be.
The Sands of Time are Sinking
From a hymn by Mrs. A.R. Cousin and Samuel Rutherford:
The sands of time are sinking, The dawn of Heaven breaks,
The summer morn I’ve sighed for, The fair sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, But dayspring is at hand,
And glory—glory dwelleth In Immanuel’s land.
Oh! well it is for ever, Oh! well for evermore,
My nest hung in no forest Of all this death-doom’d shore
Yea, let the vain world vanish, As from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth In Immanuel’s land
The King there in His beauty, Without a veil, is seen:
It were a well-spent journey, Though seven deaths lay between.
The Lamb, with His fair army, Doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory—glory dwelleth In Immanuel’s land.
Oh! Christ He is the Fountain, The deep sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted, More deep I’ll drink above:
There, to an ocean fulness, His mercy doth expand,
And glory—glory dwelleth In Immanuel’s land.
Insights from Croatia
Keeping up with the missionaries connected with our Monday night group, Ben just posted an update at the Spector’s blog. It’s got a great slice-of-life description of their daily activities in Cakovec (Croatia), as well as some helpful insights about how we interact with people around us based on culture. This totally lines up with this past Monday night’s study, and with where we’re probably going over the next few weeks looking at prophets and their cities. Here’s a great section from the post:
The importance of learning to function in Croatia, and its people’s cultural ways is becoming vastly clearer. The ways we function in society that we naturally learned while growing up, need to be re-mapped in a sense. What I am referring to are areas regarding the way we live, function with others, how we think through relationships, time, etc. These can differ in every culture and society. We are still learning that the old map that we grew up functioning with, usually doesn’t work here. How to talk to strangers, how to host others, how to act when being hosted, how to relate to the elderly, etc. are all minor details with significant weight. In short, as missionaries, we have to re-learn how to live and relate to others, in ways that are acceptable to them. This is all for the purpose of presenting and living out the gospel in ways that make sense to them in their setting, as opposed to what works in our American lifestyle. The ways we present the gospel to others in America, or do “outreach,” are done in ways that other American’s can relate to. For example, if I talk to a stranger in the States about the Lord, I am going to approach them in the way I naturally would a stranger. Our conversation would carry on as such, as well as our actions, jokes, etc. If I don’t know how to naturally approach a stranger in another culture, then that presents a problem. I could come across as offensive to them, without ground for them to relate to me. In some other countries, it certainly works, and in others it comes across as strange.
My point is that we are discovering that if we try to function in our original set of views, and ways of relating to people, instead of taking the time to integrate ourselves to the pace and way of life here, we remain foreign. In the end it would make us distant and un-relatable to the people, which ultimately would make our message seem foreign as well. I am not implying that we cannot minister to others or preach the gospel without fully knowing their culture. We certainly can! I am saying that since we are here in Croatia, long term, it is only fitting that we take the proper time to learn now, while we can, so that we can have better tools, now, and in the future, in the midst of God’s work.
Read the whole thing here.
Incidentally, Kristen continues to regularly update at Josh & Kristen’s blog about their mission in Moose Factory, Canada, as well.
Finding God’s Will for Your life: The Next Forum
On Monday night, June 18th, we’ll have the next Young Adults Forum. For this night we’ve invited Chuck Walton, who spent more than 30 years among the Sama people in the Philippines as a Bible translator with Wycliffe, to share with us.
Over a lunch he bought me a few months ago, I asked Chuck if he’d be willing to come speak to our group about being a young person trying to discern God’s will and direction. He said he’d love to. I know he’ll bring his unique perspective, as well as his reflections on what it has meant for him and his wife Janice to walk with God through their lives. I find Chuck’s perspective on serving God wherever you are however he leads to be helpful in these discussions. (I also find the way the Lord led him to be a very viable option for anyone in our group! But that’s another story…)
For the night, we have our usual Forum format, and you’ll be able to text in questions for a Q&A with Chuck after he speaks. Come meet him and Janice, hear his story, and think about what it’s going to mean for you to hear, follow, and serve Christ with your whole life.
A Summer Reading List
On Monday night Bruce Cordon shared about feeling like the Lord is putting the theme of “redeeming the time” on his summer.
If you’re vibing with that, one way to “redeem your summer” is to fill some extra time with quality, soul-stirring reading. Here’s a few ideas for the summer of 2012. (The titles link to the book’s page on Amazon so you can check them out, but of course Josh Sorenson can order them for you in the bookstore at church too.)
Follow Someone’s Life as They Follow Christ (in a biography)
- A Life of Trust by George Muller. The autobiography of a German who transplanted to England, renounced his salary as a pastor to live financially by faith, founded several orphanages which ended up caring for hundreds, and supported missionaries like Hudson Taylor along the way. Awesome life story and awesome reflections on serving Christ.
- Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper. My wife recommends! “These are the stories of five ordinary women-Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Aylward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare-who trusted in their extraordinary God as he led them to do great things for his kingdom.”
- A Passion for Souls: The Life of D.L. Moody by Lyle Dorsett. From hanging with street-kids in Chicago to nursing Civil War soldiers to evangelizing two continents to founding schools and churches, you’ll be encouraged by D.L.’s example.
Get to Know Some of Your (Church) History
- The Pilgrim Church by E.H. Broadbent. This is way off the beaten track, and it is (honestly) not the most engagingly written book. But if you can get inspired by the content, it is so, so good. Broadbent traces the history of the church by following the “forgotten” movements of people who flourished in simple trust of the Word of God and Christian living, even when they were ignored (or persecuted) by the “established” institutional church. Long, but worth it.
- The Apostolic Fathers in English by Michael Holmes. Read modern translations of the actual writings of the first Christians to live after the apostles. This includes letters by people like Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Ignatius. And if you know some Greek, check out The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations.
Stir Up Your Spiritual Life
- The Liberty of Obedience by Elisabeth Elliot. How do you explain worldliness vs. true heavenly-mindedness to people who have no modern technology, no contact with what we usually think of as “worldly,” and who take you in and care for you like their own when they meet you? Explore these ideas with Elisabeth Elliot as she reflects on her time with the native tribe that killed her husband. 94 pages of interesting insight.
- Paths to Power by A.W. Tozer. This book is really little and really powerful. Pick up a used copy for cheap and then read it every few years. Tozer don’t play.
Get Technical (with some works on Biblical studies)
- Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson. A small paperback that will sharpen your ability to study God’s word for yourself by exposing some common mistakes we make when trying to dig around in the Bible for meaning. Helpful for anyone, but especially if you think you may have some sort of teaching in your future…
- Showing the Spirit:A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians, 12-14 by D.A. Carson. Pastor Joe recommended this to me when I wanted to study the gifts of the Spirit. Carson breaks it down helpfully and takes you through all the ins and outs of Paul’s teaching on the subject, This is one to read with your bible open.
- From Eternity to Eternity by Erich Sauer. A German theologian takes you through the plan of God, from several different angles, to get you informed and excited about the Millennium, the Church and Israel, and the coming of Christ. Not too long, and especially helpful for answering questions about eschatology.
Hear a Prophet (by studying the Prophecy of Isaiah)
Why not spend the summer getting to know a cornerstone of the Old (and New…) Testament? These three books by Alec Motyer are all excellent in their own way. (He’s spent more than 30 years studying the Hebrew text of Isaiah, and it comes through in all his writings.)
- Isaiah by the Day. Motyer does a fresh translation of the book, and breaks it up into daily-devotional-size pieces to take you through all of Isaiah a day at a time. Different and edifying.
- Isaiah. Motyer’s shorter commentary on Isaiah. Perfect for a read through of the Prophet’s writings with lots of added insight from someone who loves Isaiah.
- The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary. Motyer’s full-length (500+ pages) commentary on Isaiah is probably my favorite commentary on any book of the Bible I’ve ever read. It’s just that good. Take the summer and work slowly through the text with a very sure-footed guide.
Read a Novel
- Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. My selection for my vacation last year. Not your average “Christian novel,” but very Christian, and everything you’d ever want in a novel.
Let me know if you get into any of these, and what you think. Also, let us know if any other book is blessing your summer…
Christ is Lord of Our Witness: Notes from Last Night and Something I (May Have) Left Out…
Last night we ended our series on the Lordship of Christ in all of life by looking at how Christ is Lord over a major part of our Christian life–our witness to Him. The notes are sparse, but they’ll will remind you of the references and main points if you want.
One thing I want to make clear which, last night as I was driving home I wondered if I had or not, is the mechanics of how we depend on the Spirit to be the power in our witness to Christ. In other words, how do we actually do this? Here’s my attempt at (at least the beginning of) an answer. And it’s simple:
We depend on the Spirit by seeking to speak the words of the Gospel about Christ into a person’s life, and by trusting the communication of the information about Jesus to “do the work” as the Spirit applies it to their life.
Now, much more could be said or explained here in order to clear up misconceptions, but I invite you to think it over, to search the New Testament to find if the Apostles agree (I think they do, of course), and to get back to me with your thoughts on this, and especially, with your experiences in practicing it. But I really think that as you read the record of the early church and their writings in the New Testament, what you find is that they depended on the Holy Spirit to apply (in power) the message about Christ to their hearers. Which means they didn’t depend on anything else in addition to the message. This might cut across the grain of much idea of “mission” in today’s contemporary American church culture, but I think we have to begin to reckon with the degree to which we are called to be (maybe first and foremost) transmitters of information. Of course, we need to be living embodiments of the message as well, but the key is not to lose the “information transmission” part of witnessing to Christ in the quest for “incarnational living” in our witness.
Anyway, here’s what we talked about last night:
What are we to do? If Christ is Lord over our witness for (and to) Him, what does He say our witness should be? In other words, how does He define it?
- Matthew 28:18-20–He has all Authority: so Go make disciples, baptize, teach Jesus’ commands. (Notice “I am with you…”)
- Mk 16:15–Preach the Gospel
- Luke 24:44-49–Preach repentance, and forgiveness of sins (Notice “Wait in Jerusalem for Power”)
- Acts 1:6-8–Be witnesses of Him…
How are we to do it?
- Mt 28: Jesus is with us.
- Lk 24: Power from on High (Ps 113:5, Is 32:15)
- Acts1: The Holy Spirit à God Himself living in us…. (Now notice the effects of this in Acts 2:1-14, 37-41; 4:3)
Having Power behind our words: See 1 Cor 2:1-5 for Paul’s description of how He saw His witness: Specifically in the area of human wisdom vs. the power of God (see 1:17!) and persuasiveness vs. the cross of Christ.
Summing it up: The Holy Spirit (God Himself) wants people to know first of all the message of what God did in Christ for Humans, and how they should respond. When that message is spoken by believers and heard by unbelievers, He will impart power to it by working in the hearers’ hearts and minds to open and save them. Our part is to be faithful to deliver the message–and to deliver it in such a way that the information about Christ is not obscured by the one delivering the message. If we overshadow the message, then Christ is not clearly seen, and the Spirit will be less likely to impart power to the message (since He would be empowering something pointing to the one delivering the message, instead of the one the message is about). So, if our message is about a messiah who died on a cross and rose, we should rely on that information and the power God gives to it, and nothing else…
We ended the night in small groups praying over these topics:
Let’s pray:
- for the filling of the Spirit for the purpose of carrying out Jesus’ commands
- for the Lord to teach us to depend on His spirit instead of our own
- for specific people and your witness to them
- in line with Luke 10:2: God is Lord of the Harvest, let’s ask Him to send workers.
Verses to aid our prayer… 2 Thess 3:1, Col 4:3, Eph 6:19-20
Seriously, this changes everything…
Three great paragraphs from Vern Poythress’ new book Inerrancy and Worldview:
According to the Bible, God is the Creator and sustainer of the world, and God is personal. God’s personal character makes a difference. If you want to find out about an apple sitting in a fruit bowl, there are many ways you might go about it. You might photograph it, chemically analyze it, smell it, cut it up, eat it. It is up to you; the apple has no choice in the matter. But getting to know a person is different. You are not completely in charge. You may be able to observe a stranger’s actions at a distance. But for real acquaintance, you must meet the person, and the person must cooperate. It is up to the other person how much he or she will tell you.
Some of the thinking about religion makes a mistake right here. If, in our thinking, God or religion becomes like an apple, we are in charge and we do our own investigating in whatever way we please. On the other hand, if God is a person, and in fact a person infinitely greater than we, it is up to him how he chooses to meet us. Until we get to know him, we cannot say whether he makes himself known in all religions equally, or in none of them, or in one particular way that fits his character.
The Bible claims to be God’s communication to us. That is an exclusive claim. But mere exclusiveness, as we have seen, does not disqualify the claim. We have to find out by reading the Bible, not by rejecting it beforehand. And we have to reckon with the fact that God as a person may be different from what we imagine him to be. Getting acquainted succeeds better if it takes place without a lot of prejudice getting in the way.
Literally, if an unsaved person comes to see this, it changes everything…
Eternal Significance vs. Eternal Loss
If you’ve read the Gospels, you’ve run in to the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus’ feet several times (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:2-8). It’s an arresting story. There’s several layers of significance to it–here’s one that worked me over the other morning as I sat with Mark’s account:
What set Mary apart? Unlike the others in that room (disciples included), she had actually listened to Jesus. (He had been saying that He was going to die soon!) She allowed the words He said to penetrate—to “sink down into her ears” (Luke 9:44)—and so she was aware of what was really going on, and what the moment called for from disciples. Her love to Him, then, was not misguided or filled with false ideas and hopes. It was love for the real Jesus—the one who was about to die. So she loved Him in His impending death. She loved Him—who raised her brother but wouldn’t save Himself, and she thought that someone needed to acknowledge what was going on (!). And she must have realized that she—with her spikenard there in her room—she was able to do it.
And so she did—“she did what she could.”
Maybe it seemed small to her as she came. The disciples gave audible voice to what may have already been in her head—but she had heard His word! He was going to die—and soon!
Shouldn’t someone honor this Jesus?
So she seized her moment, received her commendation, and wove herself inextricably with the Gospel itself—she became woven into His story, and therefore received true, and everlasting, significance.
How will you be woven into His story?
“The Hand that made us is Divine”
A hymn by Joseph Addison:
The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim:
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his creator’s power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth:
While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets, in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though, no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing, as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”