I'm a big fan of Charles Spurgeon's sermons. I was reading one the other day that was quite impactful about the false barriers that many people put up against making a commitment to Christ: Link to sermon
All too often we think that we need to be perfect or in the "right place" before we turn it all over to Christ, but as Spurgeon points out it isn't about us, its about what Christ has done. Sanctification will come and is an important part of the Christian walk, but the initial saving grace (or justification) doesn't depend on our worth, but the worth of the Lamb that was slain.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Same old, same old
The theme of man’s rejection of God is shown many times throughout the Bible (Jer 2, Ez 16 & 20, Rom 1). God had blessed Israel in a multitude of ways and yet Israel consistently went its own way. This led to the exile into Babylon and other punishments.
It seems that it is the same way today. When I read passages like Jeremiah 2 and Ezekiel 20 I see a lot of Israel’s sins replicated in our own culture. It is sometimes depressing to see how far American culture has moved away from God. Most of us go on every day thinking that nothing will take away the blessings our nation enjoys. Fewer and fewer seem to realize that the blessings we have all come from God and that He may withdraw these blessings at any time. We are not entitled to them.
However, even in the midst of my sadness at the way people turn from God, I remember God’s faithfulness. Even when Israel betrayed the covenant, God always maintained a remnant. And He still does this today. American culture, like many cultures before it, may rise and fall, but God keeps the covenant and that is something we need to remember, even when it seems like darkness is winning at the moment.
It seems that it is the same way today. When I read passages like Jeremiah 2 and Ezekiel 20 I see a lot of Israel’s sins replicated in our own culture. It is sometimes depressing to see how far American culture has moved away from God. Most of us go on every day thinking that nothing will take away the blessings our nation enjoys. Fewer and fewer seem to realize that the blessings we have all come from God and that He may withdraw these blessings at any time. We are not entitled to them.
However, even in the midst of my sadness at the way people turn from God, I remember God’s faithfulness. Even when Israel betrayed the covenant, God always maintained a remnant. And He still does this today. American culture, like many cultures before it, may rise and fall, but God keeps the covenant and that is something we need to remember, even when it seems like darkness is winning at the moment.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Shepherd
Take a minute to read Ezekiel 34....go ahead, I'll wait..... :)
Ok, then, this is one of the most powerful chapters of the Old Testament for me. Here God tells the leaders of Israel how they have failed to guide the people in the ways of the Lord. Yet God still hasn't given up on His people. He says that He Himself will intervene:
This is clearly a reference to the coming of Christ. Christ often used the shepherd metaphor. It simply is amazing that God cares about us enough to search us out wherever we may be.
This chapter in Ezekiel also reminds me how important the Old Testament is. I think many Christians often dismiss the Old Testament as secondary or less important than the New Testament, yet both are the Word of God. We need to remember that the Old Testament must be read in light of the New Testament and at the same time, we need the Old Testament to truly understand the New Testament. My prayer is that more Christians can begin to recognize this in order to better understand God's Word as a whole.
Ok, then, this is one of the most powerful chapters of the Old Testament for me. Here God tells the leaders of Israel how they have failed to guide the people in the ways of the Lord. Yet God still hasn't given up on His people. He says that He Himself will intervene:
I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
This is clearly a reference to the coming of Christ. Christ often used the shepherd metaphor. It simply is amazing that God cares about us enough to search us out wherever we may be.
This chapter in Ezekiel also reminds me how important the Old Testament is. I think many Christians often dismiss the Old Testament as secondary or less important than the New Testament, yet both are the Word of God. We need to remember that the Old Testament must be read in light of the New Testament and at the same time, we need the Old Testament to truly understand the New Testament. My prayer is that more Christians can begin to recognize this in order to better understand God's Word as a whole.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"I'm fine."....
Jared Wilson has a great blog that I highly recommend. This is the first of most likely many links. href="http://gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-are-you.html">
Today he brings up the point that even in church, when we should be at our most open, we tend to give the pat answer rather than truth. When our brothers and sisters in Christ ask us how we are doing, we all to often answer with, "I'm fine". Yet as Jared puts it:
I admit that I am often guilty of this. I wish I could be more open, but it seems that church often doesn't foster an atmosphere of openness. I'm not exactly sure how we change this, but one thing I've noticed in my own church may be a start.
At our evening service we always end with a time for people in the congregation to share concerns and then we pray as a church for them. I've noticed that during these times people begin to let down their guard a bit. I've even done it myself. Once you have prayed as a group for someone, I think it begins to open the door a bit more into that person's life. This formalized time of sharing may be what we need to jump-start a sense of openness throughout the church. It allows us to tell our congregations that we are not "fine" in a way we may not be comfortable doing one-on-one (though hopefully it leads to more open one-on-one conversations eventually).
Anyone else have a similar situation in their church?
Today he brings up the point that even in church, when we should be at our most open, we tend to give the pat answer rather than truth. When our brothers and sisters in Christ ask us how we are doing, we all to often answer with, "I'm fine". Yet as Jared puts it:
But most people are not fine all the time -- in fact, most people aren't fine most of the time -- and "How are you?" is the deceptively simple way we share our hurts and fears and struggles with each other. And it helps us pray with and for each other.
I admit that I am often guilty of this. I wish I could be more open, but it seems that church often doesn't foster an atmosphere of openness. I'm not exactly sure how we change this, but one thing I've noticed in my own church may be a start.
At our evening service we always end with a time for people in the congregation to share concerns and then we pray as a church for them. I've noticed that during these times people begin to let down their guard a bit. I've even done it myself. Once you have prayed as a group for someone, I think it begins to open the door a bit more into that person's life. This formalized time of sharing may be what we need to jump-start a sense of openness throughout the church. It allows us to tell our congregations that we are not "fine" in a way we may not be comfortable doing one-on-one (though hopefully it leads to more open one-on-one conversations eventually).
Anyone else have a similar situation in their church?
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Judgment and Mercy
I love the book of Ezekiel. I am currently reading through it as my daily Bible reading and it is one of the deepest and most meaningful books of the Old Testament to me. There are many aspects that impact me, but one recurring theme we see is the contrast between Israel’s (and our) unfaithfulness and God’s faithfulness. The majority of the book focuses on God’s judgment of Israel and how they will be punished for their betrayal of God. Yet constantly mixed in with this judgment is a promise that God will preserve a remnant that He will bring out of captivity and restore.
I like that the book doesn’t try to separate these aspects of God by having one section on judgment and another on the redemption of Israel. It causes us to have to deal simultaneously with God’s righteousness and His mercy. They are impossible to separate, even though some Christians seem to focus more on one or the other. Ezekiel helps me remember to be sorrowful over my many sins and realize that I deserve judgment, while at the same time, reminds me of the mercy and grace I have through Christ.
Take a closer look at Ezekiel – I think we all have a lot to learn about the nature of God from this book.
I like that the book doesn’t try to separate these aspects of God by having one section on judgment and another on the redemption of Israel. It causes us to have to deal simultaneously with God’s righteousness and His mercy. They are impossible to separate, even though some Christians seem to focus more on one or the other. Ezekiel helps me remember to be sorrowful over my many sins and realize that I deserve judgment, while at the same time, reminds me of the mercy and grace I have through Christ.
Take a closer look at Ezekiel – I think we all have a lot to learn about the nature of God from this book.
Friday, August 8, 2008
We Have Liftoff
Well here goes – my journey into the blogosphere begins. I’d like to share a little bit about myself and my hopes for this blog.
I’m a Christian, husband, son, brother, friend, teacher, and soon-to-be father. Those are my most important roles at least. I currently am teaching psychology at a Christian college in the Mid-west (and loving it). While I was raised Christian and have always believed in the existence of God, I’ve been serious about my faith for six or seven years now. During that time a number of issues, struggles, thoughts, and lessons have taken place in regards to my faith. All of this has been the impetus for this blog.
There are a number of purposes I am aiming to fulfill with this blog. First, it is a place for me to put some of my thoughts out there and see what you (the readers) think. I’m really looking for feedback and discussion. Second, the blog provides me with a discipline to continually be dealing with these issues rather than shoving them on a backburner, which is all too easy in our busy world. And finally, I hope that some of the issues I have struggled through and how I have dealt with them will be useful for others.
I plan on trying to post regularly, though probably not every day, and will cover a wide range of topics, with the general focus being on how to live out God’s calling and dealing with the struggles of faith. My posts will include my thoughts and reactions on Scripture, questions I grapple with, and how our faith does/should impact our everyday lives. I’ll also be posting links to interesting stories or other blog posts that pop up. I’m new to all of this, so feedback is always welcome. Though if you think I stink, don’t just tell me “YOU STINK!” – tell me why I stink.
Anyway, here goes…….
I’m a Christian, husband, son, brother, friend, teacher, and soon-to-be father. Those are my most important roles at least. I currently am teaching psychology at a Christian college in the Mid-west (and loving it). While I was raised Christian and have always believed in the existence of God, I’ve been serious about my faith for six or seven years now. During that time a number of issues, struggles, thoughts, and lessons have taken place in regards to my faith. All of this has been the impetus for this blog.
There are a number of purposes I am aiming to fulfill with this blog. First, it is a place for me to put some of my thoughts out there and see what you (the readers) think. I’m really looking for feedback and discussion. Second, the blog provides me with a discipline to continually be dealing with these issues rather than shoving them on a backburner, which is all too easy in our busy world. And finally, I hope that some of the issues I have struggled through and how I have dealt with them will be useful for others.
I plan on trying to post regularly, though probably not every day, and will cover a wide range of topics, with the general focus being on how to live out God’s calling and dealing with the struggles of faith. My posts will include my thoughts and reactions on Scripture, questions I grapple with, and how our faith does/should impact our everyday lives. I’ll also be posting links to interesting stories or other blog posts that pop up. I’m new to all of this, so feedback is always welcome. Though if you think I stink, don’t just tell me “YOU STINK!” – tell me why I stink.
Anyway, here goes…….
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