Jen and I recently went on a mission trip to South Africa. It was an eye opening, life changing experience, and I wish I could sum it up in a few words, but I can't. SO, you should go check out our blog page we created about the trip.
http://www.vervecreativedesign.com/southafrica
Blessings,
Nate
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Ron Paul Statement on the War in Iraq
I will return to my posts on Christian Leadership soon, but for now, have a look at a quote from Rep. Ron Paul on the war in Iraq over at my other blog http://nateslifethoughts.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Christian Leadership
I've been studying 1 and 2 Timothy recently, and just moved on to Titus. While this wasn't really planned on my part, this happened just as I am stepping out into a leadership position in my church. So, the timing couldn't be more perfect, as church leadership is pretty much what all of these books are about!
So, in my studies, I have been encouraged, challenged and equipped as I step out into a leadership role that I know I cannot perform of my own strength, but need the empowering and enabling of the Spirit of God to perform. But, I have also seen some of the areas that we often overlook when putting people into leadership in the American church. I think that a better understanding of biblical church leadership would get rid of a lot of the problems that we face in the church in the US today. Over the next few posts, I will touch on just a few areas that I think are key considerations when appointing people to leadership positions in the church.
1. Holiness
1 Timothy 3
1It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
I know, I know, holiness is not a topic we american christians like to discuss very often. It brings to mind thoughts of judgment and condemnation. BUT, God has called his people to be Holy... especially then, the leaders of his people.
Leviticus 11:45
For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.
Leviticus 19:2
Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Leviticus 20:7
You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:26
Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
1 Peter 1:15
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
1 Peter 1:16
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
Matthew 5:48
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
OK, so we know from these scriptures that we, as followers of Christ, are to be Holy, to be set apart for God. To live righteous lives. "But," we say "aren't we forgiven from sin?" "Doesn't God accept us just the way we are because of the blood of Christ?" Of course He does! But, he does not want to leave us in the state that we were in when He saved us, He wants to set us free from our sin, and bring us into life in Him. He has called us to be Holy, not to ruin our fun, but for our own good.
I'm sure you've seen the bumper sticker, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven!". While there is an element of truth to this, we will not be completely free from sin and error while we are on this earth, and we are forgiven our sins, this is also a statement that makes an excuse for our living in sin, and makes a mockery of the grace of God.
God has not forgiven us so that we can keep on sinning. He did not die to give us a get out of jail free card, and then leave us to our own devices so we could keep committing crimes against Him.
1 John 3:5-9
5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Hebrews 10:26-27
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Romans 6:1-3
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
So then, God has called us to holiness, to leave our lives of sin, take up our cross and follow Him. He has called ALL believers to this, how much more then, those who are in leadership? How can we expect to lead, or shepherd the flock of God, pointing them in the direction of Holiness, when we ourselves are living in sin?
I am not saying that we will never sin, we still battle the flesh, and we will fall, we will make mistakes, we will sin. But as believers and as leaders, we must live lives that reflect Christ, who knew no sin. We must strive for holiness, and not make light of the grace God has given us by the death of His son Jesus Christ on the cross. When we make light of sin, we make light of the sacrifice that He made for us. When we make light of sin, we give it room to take hold in our lives, and that road leads to destruction. We need a healthy outlook on sin, and to not avoid the subject because it makes us uncomfortable.
So then, Holiness is an essential quality for those who would be leaders. Looking at the way some of the church leaders in America have been behaving lately, you would think Holiness has all but left the church. I know this is not the case, but that's the way it looks to non-believers. We preach a good life, and then live in sin. We need to take a good look at people's lives before we appoint them to leadership, and then when they are in leadership, we need to keep them accountable to God. To make sure that they are staying on track.
So, Holiness being an essential quality, how do we achieve it? Because we on our own are not Holy, we cannot be Holy, we are fallen creatures, destined to keep sinning. We achieve holiness by the power of the Spirit moving in our hearts. It is only by the power of the Spirit that we can do anything good for God. We, on our own strength are feeble, but He makes us strong by His powerful Spirit that moves within us. He, by His Spirit, delivers us from sin, and gives us the strength to avoid sin, when temptation crosses our path.
Romans 8:12-13
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
If you read through the gospels, the twelve apostles are constantly whining and bickering and fighting over who's the greatest. They were cowards, and sinners. This is because they were living on their own strength. But, in contrast, if you look at the apostles in the book of Acts, suddenly the Apostles are preaching and teaching with authority, they are calling out the religious leaders, they are performing miracles. This is not because they were great men, as we have just seen, they were not. This is because they were operating in the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
This is our power for holiness, this is our power for righteousness. Let us leaders aspire to be people of Holiness, who by the Spirit of God, put to death the deeds of the sinful nature.
So, in my studies, I have been encouraged, challenged and equipped as I step out into a leadership role that I know I cannot perform of my own strength, but need the empowering and enabling of the Spirit of God to perform. But, I have also seen some of the areas that we often overlook when putting people into leadership in the American church. I think that a better understanding of biblical church leadership would get rid of a lot of the problems that we face in the church in the US today. Over the next few posts, I will touch on just a few areas that I think are key considerations when appointing people to leadership positions in the church.
1. Holiness
1 Timothy 3
1It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
I know, I know, holiness is not a topic we american christians like to discuss very often. It brings to mind thoughts of judgment and condemnation. BUT, God has called his people to be Holy... especially then, the leaders of his people.
Leviticus 11:45
For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.
Leviticus 19:2
Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Leviticus 20:7
You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:26
Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
1 Peter 1:15
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
1 Peter 1:16
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
Matthew 5:48
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
OK, so we know from these scriptures that we, as followers of Christ, are to be Holy, to be set apart for God. To live righteous lives. "But," we say "aren't we forgiven from sin?" "Doesn't God accept us just the way we are because of the blood of Christ?" Of course He does! But, he does not want to leave us in the state that we were in when He saved us, He wants to set us free from our sin, and bring us into life in Him. He has called us to be Holy, not to ruin our fun, but for our own good.
I'm sure you've seen the bumper sticker, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven!". While there is an element of truth to this, we will not be completely free from sin and error while we are on this earth, and we are forgiven our sins, this is also a statement that makes an excuse for our living in sin, and makes a mockery of the grace of God.
God has not forgiven us so that we can keep on sinning. He did not die to give us a get out of jail free card, and then leave us to our own devices so we could keep committing crimes against Him.
1 John 3:5-9
5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Hebrews 10:26-27
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Romans 6:1-3
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
So then, God has called us to holiness, to leave our lives of sin, take up our cross and follow Him. He has called ALL believers to this, how much more then, those who are in leadership? How can we expect to lead, or shepherd the flock of God, pointing them in the direction of Holiness, when we ourselves are living in sin?
I am not saying that we will never sin, we still battle the flesh, and we will fall, we will make mistakes, we will sin. But as believers and as leaders, we must live lives that reflect Christ, who knew no sin. We must strive for holiness, and not make light of the grace God has given us by the death of His son Jesus Christ on the cross. When we make light of sin, we make light of the sacrifice that He made for us. When we make light of sin, we give it room to take hold in our lives, and that road leads to destruction. We need a healthy outlook on sin, and to not avoid the subject because it makes us uncomfortable.
So then, Holiness is an essential quality for those who would be leaders. Looking at the way some of the church leaders in America have been behaving lately, you would think Holiness has all but left the church. I know this is not the case, but that's the way it looks to non-believers. We preach a good life, and then live in sin. We need to take a good look at people's lives before we appoint them to leadership, and then when they are in leadership, we need to keep them accountable to God. To make sure that they are staying on track.
So, Holiness being an essential quality, how do we achieve it? Because we on our own are not Holy, we cannot be Holy, we are fallen creatures, destined to keep sinning. We achieve holiness by the power of the Spirit moving in our hearts. It is only by the power of the Spirit that we can do anything good for God. We, on our own strength are feeble, but He makes us strong by His powerful Spirit that moves within us. He, by His Spirit, delivers us from sin, and gives us the strength to avoid sin, when temptation crosses our path.
Romans 8:12-13
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
If you read through the gospels, the twelve apostles are constantly whining and bickering and fighting over who's the greatest. They were cowards, and sinners. This is because they were living on their own strength. But, in contrast, if you look at the apostles in the book of Acts, suddenly the Apostles are preaching and teaching with authority, they are calling out the religious leaders, they are performing miracles. This is not because they were great men, as we have just seen, they were not. This is because they were operating in the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
This is our power for holiness, this is our power for righteousness. Let us leaders aspire to be people of Holiness, who by the Spirit of God, put to death the deeds of the sinful nature.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
McChurch: Christianity as a consumer product
You may have heard about the new phenomena of "satellite" churches that have been popping up... if not, they are basically remote locations that broadcast, via satellite video a sermon from the home or "mother" church. I have to say, I think this is a very scary proposition. I read about it this morning on a friend's blog and felt compelled to write about it.
You can see the original article about it here at the Christianity Today website:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/02/franchising_chu.html
I have heard of this before, and didn't think too much of it, but it seems that the concept is starting to spread. My main concern with this model of church is that it turns something that God designed to be tight-knit community of believers, living their lives together, sharing their struggles and triumphs, and turns it into a consumer product, much like going to the movies. We already have enough of a problem with consumerism in today's church, do we really have to go there? This makes a very bold statement, whether intentional or not, that the most important ingredient for church is the sermon, and the most important person is the pastor who is preaching that sermon. Neither of which are biblical ideas... church is about so much more than hearing a sermon, and the local church is about so much more than the pastor.
No wonder we have so much immorality in the church, we are unwilling to invest anything but money in it. We want to have our quick-fix and get on with our lives. We (the american church) have forgotten that church is meant to be a community of believers, sharing their lives, sharing their struggles and triumphs, encouraging each other and serving together. It is about giving, not receiving. It is about togetherness, not individuality. It is about community. It is supposed to be the whole body of believers, knit-together, fulfilling their roles, and being the body of Christ. Not just about the pastor and the sermon.
I am so thankful that I am part of a community-minded church that invests in people's lives and gets involved. And I know that not all churches in America are like this, but man is it disheartening to hear things like this. I pray that the Lord would shake his church up, and get rid of the things that can be shaken, so that that which cannot be shaken will remain. Lord, purify your bride. Amen.
Hebrews 12:26-29
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
You can see the original article about it here at the Christianity Today website:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/02/franchising_chu.html
I have heard of this before, and didn't think too much of it, but it seems that the concept is starting to spread. My main concern with this model of church is that it turns something that God designed to be tight-knit community of believers, living their lives together, sharing their struggles and triumphs, and turns it into a consumer product, much like going to the movies. We already have enough of a problem with consumerism in today's church, do we really have to go there? This makes a very bold statement, whether intentional or not, that the most important ingredient for church is the sermon, and the most important person is the pastor who is preaching that sermon. Neither of which are biblical ideas... church is about so much more than hearing a sermon, and the local church is about so much more than the pastor.
No wonder we have so much immorality in the church, we are unwilling to invest anything but money in it. We want to have our quick-fix and get on with our lives. We (the american church) have forgotten that church is meant to be a community of believers, sharing their lives, sharing their struggles and triumphs, encouraging each other and serving together. It is about giving, not receiving. It is about togetherness, not individuality. It is about community. It is supposed to be the whole body of believers, knit-together, fulfilling their roles, and being the body of Christ. Not just about the pastor and the sermon.
I am so thankful that I am part of a community-minded church that invests in people's lives and gets involved. And I know that not all churches in America are like this, but man is it disheartening to hear things like this. I pray that the Lord would shake his church up, and get rid of the things that can be shaken, so that that which cannot be shaken will remain. Lord, purify your bride. Amen.
Hebrews 12:26-29
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
God's Faithfulness
OK, OK I know.... It's been forever since I've posted a blog.
But, so much has happened in the last six months, I haven't really been able to process it all, and haven't had much time to think.
As I look back on this last year, one thing sticks out in my mind. God's faithfulness. Jen and I started the year out with a sense of desperation. We were hopeless, churchless, feeling pretty much dead spiritually and really just not enjoying life. We prayed and prayed about God's direction for our life, we talked with close friends, thought things through, and were pretty much grasping at straws... We went from being heavily involved in the planting of a church in Longmont that was not where God wanted us to be, to being churchless, and thinking of starting a church on our own... we were desperate. Our lives were not what God had for us, we knew it, we just didn't know what he did have for us.
Then, one weekend in May, I decided that we needed to get away and pray and think things through. So, I rented a room up in Estes Park, and we spent some time relaxing and talking. It wasn't until we were on our way home that it hit me. I was talking with Jen about God's direction in our life, and she brought up something that I hadn't thought about in almost a year. You see, the year before, we felt very strongly that God had told us to move to Vail, CO. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... God TOLD you to move to VAIL... right. No, He really did. We had no idea why, but He did. So, anyways, we realized that we had never obeyed God's command to us, we (I) got distracted with this church plant we were involved in and forgot all about it.
So, we started to pray about it, and God kept confirming, over and over again that that is what we were supposed to do. Finally, we decided on it. We were moving to Vail. We still had no idea how it was going to work, or when that was going to be. It was amazing how it worked out. We decided to rent our house instead of selling it, and God provided the perfect renters. It was a responsible family of 3, a Grandmother, her Daughter and her Daughter's son. And they wanted to pay 5 months rent up front!
Then God provided a place for us in Vail. We had been praying for a lock-off on someone's house, so we could keep our dog, and not have the apartment feel. We looked and looked, and couldn't find anything, so we were about to settle for an apartment, and then, no apartments would let us have our dog. Doors seemed to be closed. People told us, Oh, you'll never find a 2 bedroom lock-off, they don't make them. Then, God's provision.... on craigslist, we found a 2 bedroom lockoff walk-out basement apartment. The owners would let us keep our dog, the rent was the same as we were paying for our house in denver (which is pretty amazing, considering our apartment is the same size, and it is expensive up here!), and they said we could keep our dog in the yard!
We prayed for Jen to have a part-time job, so she could also work for me part-time and hopefully get a job that would get us free or discounted ski passes. Then, God provided Jen with a part-time job at our new church. Which is something she's wanted to do for years, using her administrative giftings for ministry purposes. And, he gave her a job working 4 hours a week a beaver creek to get us both free ski passes! (actually, mine was $25, in case you don't understand how huge that is... a vail/beaver creek ski pass is $1800.00.)
God met our every prayer, and provided for our every need as we followed Him and His plan for us. It was amazing!
Now we have been up here 4 months, are settled, love our new church (Calvary Chapel Vail Valley), are making friends and serving the Lord. The transition has been a bit of a shock, leaving our friends and family, and having to make new ones, but it has been incredible.
All that to say, God is Faithful!
We just had to follow his plan for us. Not to say that everything should be easy when you follow God, this has not been an easy transition, but it has been a good one. A fulfillment of God's promises and his plan.
God is good!
Love in Christ,
Nate
But, so much has happened in the last six months, I haven't really been able to process it all, and haven't had much time to think.
As I look back on this last year, one thing sticks out in my mind. God's faithfulness. Jen and I started the year out with a sense of desperation. We were hopeless, churchless, feeling pretty much dead spiritually and really just not enjoying life. We prayed and prayed about God's direction for our life, we talked with close friends, thought things through, and were pretty much grasping at straws... We went from being heavily involved in the planting of a church in Longmont that was not where God wanted us to be, to being churchless, and thinking of starting a church on our own... we were desperate. Our lives were not what God had for us, we knew it, we just didn't know what he did have for us.
Then, one weekend in May, I decided that we needed to get away and pray and think things through. So, I rented a room up in Estes Park, and we spent some time relaxing and talking. It wasn't until we were on our way home that it hit me. I was talking with Jen about God's direction in our life, and she brought up something that I hadn't thought about in almost a year. You see, the year before, we felt very strongly that God had told us to move to Vail, CO. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... God TOLD you to move to VAIL... right. No, He really did. We had no idea why, but He did. So, anyways, we realized that we had never obeyed God's command to us, we (I) got distracted with this church plant we were involved in and forgot all about it.
So, we started to pray about it, and God kept confirming, over and over again that that is what we were supposed to do. Finally, we decided on it. We were moving to Vail. We still had no idea how it was going to work, or when that was going to be. It was amazing how it worked out. We decided to rent our house instead of selling it, and God provided the perfect renters. It was a responsible family of 3, a Grandmother, her Daughter and her Daughter's son. And they wanted to pay 5 months rent up front!
Then God provided a place for us in Vail. We had been praying for a lock-off on someone's house, so we could keep our dog, and not have the apartment feel. We looked and looked, and couldn't find anything, so we were about to settle for an apartment, and then, no apartments would let us have our dog. Doors seemed to be closed. People told us, Oh, you'll never find a 2 bedroom lock-off, they don't make them. Then, God's provision.... on craigslist, we found a 2 bedroom lockoff walk-out basement apartment. The owners would let us keep our dog, the rent was the same as we were paying for our house in denver (which is pretty amazing, considering our apartment is the same size, and it is expensive up here!), and they said we could keep our dog in the yard!
We prayed for Jen to have a part-time job, so she could also work for me part-time and hopefully get a job that would get us free or discounted ski passes. Then, God provided Jen with a part-time job at our new church. Which is something she's wanted to do for years, using her administrative giftings for ministry purposes. And, he gave her a job working 4 hours a week a beaver creek to get us both free ski passes! (actually, mine was $25, in case you don't understand how huge that is... a vail/beaver creek ski pass is $1800.00.)
God met our every prayer, and provided for our every need as we followed Him and His plan for us. It was amazing!
Now we have been up here 4 months, are settled, love our new church (Calvary Chapel Vail Valley), are making friends and serving the Lord. The transition has been a bit of a shock, leaving our friends and family, and having to make new ones, but it has been incredible.
All that to say, God is Faithful!
We just had to follow his plan for us. Not to say that everything should be easy when you follow God, this has not been an easy transition, but it has been a good one. A fulfillment of God's promises and his plan.
God is good!
Love in Christ,
Nate
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Is doctrine really important?
I've been pondering lately....
Is doctrine really important? I don't mean doctrines of great importance like those of salvation and the fact that we are saved by grace, but some of the things that we might consider "smaller" like Calvinism vs. Arminianism, or like once you get saved, are you always saved?
Should I really worry about these things? Doesn't thinking about these things too much just lead to division and dischord in the church?
I've swung back and forth on the pendulum, and rested in God's word.
(1 Timothy 4:16 NIV) Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
(2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV) [2] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. [3] For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
(Titus 1:9 NIV) He [an elder or overseer] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
(Titus 2:1 NIV) You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
Doctrine is important, and we need to be careful what we believe, and what others around us teach and believe. And if they have doctrine that doesn't line up with the bible, we need to "correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." This means lovingly, not argue and fight over them, but to patiently explain the way of god more accurately, as Priscilla and Aquilla did with Apollos (Acts 18:26). You see, when Priscilla and Aquilla corrected Apollos' doctrine and revealed to him Jesus Christ, he became what God intended for him to be, and we know, by later references, that he was used mightily by God in the early church.
So,
Watch YOUR doctrine
Examine others' doctrine carefully
Correct false doctrine lovingly and patiently
Search the scriptures daily to make sure what you believe and what others teach are true (Acts 17:11)
Much love and grace,
nate
Is doctrine really important? I don't mean doctrines of great importance like those of salvation and the fact that we are saved by grace, but some of the things that we might consider "smaller" like Calvinism vs. Arminianism, or like once you get saved, are you always saved?
Should I really worry about these things? Doesn't thinking about these things too much just lead to division and dischord in the church?
I've swung back and forth on the pendulum, and rested in God's word.
(1 Timothy 4:16 NIV) Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
(2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV) [2] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. [3] For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
(Titus 1:9 NIV) He [an elder or overseer] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
(Titus 2:1 NIV) You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
Doctrine is important, and we need to be careful what we believe, and what others around us teach and believe. And if they have doctrine that doesn't line up with the bible, we need to "correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." This means lovingly, not argue and fight over them, but to patiently explain the way of god more accurately, as Priscilla and Aquilla did with Apollos (Acts 18:26). You see, when Priscilla and Aquilla corrected Apollos' doctrine and revealed to him Jesus Christ, he became what God intended for him to be, and we know, by later references, that he was used mightily by God in the early church.
So,
Watch YOUR doctrine
Examine others' doctrine carefully
Correct false doctrine lovingly and patiently
Search the scriptures daily to make sure what you believe and what others teach are true (Acts 17:11)
Much love and grace,
nate
Friday, February 23, 2007
What on earth does God want from us?
What is God's will? The question we all want an answer to but dread to ask. This question seems so complex, but it is so incredibly simple, and yet we, (I included) don't get it.
He wants us to passionately pursue Him. That's it. He wants our hearts, our minds, our everything.
I often worry about what God wants to do in my life, and think about different things He may have me do. "Does He want me to start a church? Does He want me to be a worship leader? Does He want me to move out of the country and be a missionary?"
While all of those things are fine and good, thinking about what God wants me to do is NOT what He wants me to do. (funny huh?) Rather than worrying about figuring out God's will, or figuring out how to carry out His will, my thoughts should be on Him.
I just got it this morning, I've heard it a million times, and agreed with it just as many, but I just realized in my heart what it truly means. You see, when we immerse ourselves in Christ, I mean really dive into Him, focus all our efforts on loving Him, connecting with Him, and knowing Him, all of the other stuff seems so much less important. It doesn't really matter whether He wants me to be a pastor or a missionary, those things are great, but they are just vehicles. They are means to an end. And what is that end? It is knowing Him and making Him known. God can accomplish that through me as a car wash worker.
A church is great, and starting a church would be a great thing, but thinking about how great it will be to see a church that we may envision happen is wrong thinking. The focus should be on Christ, and if a church happens, that's great, but our fulfillment must come from Him alone. Otherwise we end up with a big church full of people, dead inside, searching for some experience that cannot be found by the methods that they employ. It can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. (A church is just an example, this can apply to anything.)
People often tell me that God doesn't work by formulas, and for the most part I agree with that statement, but there are some places where He definitely does. In Luke 10:25-28 Jesus had the following discussion with an expert in the law.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Do this and you will live. Personally, I don't think He's just talking about eternal life and salvation here, He's talking about true life, fulfilled life. The life He wants us to live. If you do this, you will live. It's that simple.
Elsewhere it says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33
You see, when we seek God with everything that we have, we become bolder in our faith, we start to look more like Jesus, and suddenly, people start taking notice, we start to see God use us, we start to see the things that were on our hearts become reality without our even trying for them.
The point is, the thing that God wants to use you for is insignificant, your relationship with Him is not. All of the stops along the road of life, the different positions we hold and things we do are just means to an end, and should not distract us from the real goal. Everything else will fall into place when we seek Him. Don't worry about it! Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, seek first HIM, and you'll be surprised how unimportant all the other stuff becomes.
He wants us to passionately pursue Him. That's it. He wants our hearts, our minds, our everything.
I often worry about what God wants to do in my life, and think about different things He may have me do. "Does He want me to start a church? Does He want me to be a worship leader? Does He want me to move out of the country and be a missionary?"
While all of those things are fine and good, thinking about what God wants me to do is NOT what He wants me to do. (funny huh?) Rather than worrying about figuring out God's will, or figuring out how to carry out His will, my thoughts should be on Him.
I just got it this morning, I've heard it a million times, and agreed with it just as many, but I just realized in my heart what it truly means. You see, when we immerse ourselves in Christ, I mean really dive into Him, focus all our efforts on loving Him, connecting with Him, and knowing Him, all of the other stuff seems so much less important. It doesn't really matter whether He wants me to be a pastor or a missionary, those things are great, but they are just vehicles. They are means to an end. And what is that end? It is knowing Him and making Him known. God can accomplish that through me as a car wash worker.
A church is great, and starting a church would be a great thing, but thinking about how great it will be to see a church that we may envision happen is wrong thinking. The focus should be on Christ, and if a church happens, that's great, but our fulfillment must come from Him alone. Otherwise we end up with a big church full of people, dead inside, searching for some experience that cannot be found by the methods that they employ. It can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. (A church is just an example, this can apply to anything.)
People often tell me that God doesn't work by formulas, and for the most part I agree with that statement, but there are some places where He definitely does. In Luke 10:25-28 Jesus had the following discussion with an expert in the law.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Do this and you will live. Personally, I don't think He's just talking about eternal life and salvation here, He's talking about true life, fulfilled life. The life He wants us to live. If you do this, you will live. It's that simple.
Elsewhere it says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33
You see, when we seek God with everything that we have, we become bolder in our faith, we start to look more like Jesus, and suddenly, people start taking notice, we start to see God use us, we start to see the things that were on our hearts become reality without our even trying for them.
The point is, the thing that God wants to use you for is insignificant, your relationship with Him is not. All of the stops along the road of life, the different positions we hold and things we do are just means to an end, and should not distract us from the real goal. Everything else will fall into place when we seek Him. Don't worry about it! Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, seek first HIM, and you'll be surprised how unimportant all the other stuff becomes.
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