A recent conversation in the comments with my dear reader, "Anonymous" got me thinking about matters of sufficiency. Really, Anonymous got me thinking about experience, but experience then lead me to sufficiency because of the questions I had in regards to experience. Simply put, my question was this, "When is experience sufficient?" Obviously that question will have different answers for different people, and for different situations. But, there is a legitimate question with why we place "experience" as a qualification, and why certain amounts of experience are seen as sufficient, whereas other amounts of experience are not.
Admittedly, I have a dog in this game. For the cause of full disclosure: I'm looking for work in a field in which I cannot claim to have direct experience. Yes, I have experience serving in a church and working with pastors. I have been in charge of a ministry and have been involved in multiple ministries over the last 3 years. But, I have never been a pastor, I've never been an associate pastor, and I've never been in a paid position with any church.
So, for me, the idea of experience being a necessary qualification for any position seems rather difficult, philosophically speaking. But, I have to admit that there is a good rationale behind the idea. I mean, I'd rather have a doctor who has done 20 surgeries operating on me, not the just out of medical school intern who has never operated on a live patient before. Yet, that young surgeon has to begin somewhere, and it is the responsibility of those who have placed me in the care of that surgeon to know that he is ready and qualified to actually do the surgery. The idea of experience is important, because experience can demonstrate competence in a field, and almost all of us would rather have someone competent than someone untried in important positions in our lives.
But, not every job is the same. For instance, would anyone say that a mathematician shouldn't be trusted because he does not have the experience of years behind his work? Or would we dismiss the work of a physicist or a chemist, because of a lack of experience? Hard sciences, or purely logical pursuits do not require high levels of experience. Thus, we must recognize that there is a limit to what experience means, and whether or not it is important.
The challenge is to determine where a given job falls in the continuity of experience. For those jobs which are learned skills, jobs that require quick decisions and have very flexible situations, experience becomes more important. For those jobs that have rigid rules, that require the exact performance of a set duty, experience becomes less important (generally speaking). A man working on an assembly line does not need to have a great deal of experience to do his job well, so long as his job is simple and repetitious. A bank president who must deal with multiple people and multiple emergencies in a given day should probably have significant experience so that he is not quickly overwhelmed.
Yet, even in the case of someone who has significant experience and high qualifications, there is a warning. Do not begin to think that your experience, your ability, and your persistence are the reasons you are successful. Remember that success is a gift from God. (Deuteronomy 18:17-18) Give thanks to God for the good things you have received, be humble and remember that your experiences have been good because of God's blessing. Do not boast in your own might, for Scripture is clear that the power of men is fleeting, and the one who does not give thanks to God stores up wealth for others whom they do not know.
At the same time, there is the reverse fact, that sometimes it is the one without experience who has been given the blessing of wisdom. Look at the example of Elihu in the book of Job. He says,
"I am young in years,
and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
I said, 'Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.'
But it is the spirit in man,
the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
It is not the old who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
Therefore I say, 'Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.'" (Job 32:6-10)
So it is important that we remember, that sometimes it is not a matter of age and experience. Sometimes the one God has gifted to do a certain job, or fill a position, is the one who is young and un-experienced, because it is that person who will most demonstrate the glory of God.
We could note any number of examples in Scripture of the foolish, the inexperienced, and the weak being used by God for the sake of his glory. Likewise there are multiple examples of God using experience, age, and wisdom for the purpose of bringing glory to himself. God is able to bring himself glory through whatever means he chooses, and it is not for us to say that one is too young or too old to be used by God. Thus Paul gives Timothy his famous charge, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) We must also embrace this word from Paul, as a guide for our own thoughts, and make a point of not despising those who are young and those who do not have great experience, but must inquire of God to see if he is seeking to use "the foolish" for the sake of his glory.
Paul understood well the reality that it was not his experience and his work that made him anything special. He says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God." He understood that it was God who made him a minister of the gospel, not his own works. Even in something as theoretically simple as sharing the Gospel of Christ, Paul did not take credit, but acknowledged that God was the one who empowered him. So we, in whatever we do, whether seeking to fill a position, or seeking to find someone to fill a position, should be more interested in glorifying God than in worrying about matters of experience.
In trying to get the best possible person for a position, and in striving to be the best possible person for a position, let us avoid making experience into an idol. Give experience its due, admit that those with experience and demonstrated ability are the ones most likely to succeed in the future. But also recognize the limits of experience, and that sometimes God desires to work through the less renowned for his renown. In success, be humble, and do not scorn meager beginnings. Bow the knee to God, and let him glorify himself as he desires.
Showing posts with label Provision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Provision. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
I find myself in an odd situation today. I am surrounded by family, I have a beautiful wife, I have eaten my fill, and I have all the blessings that come from living in middle class America. I know that I will have a bed to sleep on tonight, I have clothes to wear and even a cellphone and a car in case I have an emergency and need to contact someone or go somewhere. In addition to this, I have a wonderful church family, I have brothers and sisters in Louisville and Savannah, and I know that there are many people who love me. In all of this, how could anyone not be thankful?
Yet, at the same time, I find myself in the same place as many Americans today: I am unemployed, my financial resources are taxed, and I'm not sure when that situation will change. In addition to this I, like many others, have an advanced degree, and feel a specific calling on my life that I would like to accomplish, and that I have dedicated years to fulfilling. Even though I have been the beneficiary of the wonderful generosity of family, so that I have a place to live, there is a distinct enjoyment missing. An enjoyment that comes from working and providing for my family. This situation is frustrating, and the reality of it cannot be escaped.
In thinking about these two situations I am forced to conclude that being thankful really is about what perspective we choose to have in life. We can look at what we want, what we have not yet accomplished, what we have lost or our ills and pains, and we can conclude that life is not as good as we would like. Or, we can choose to look at what we have received and what we have, and we can be appreciative for life itself.
The second mindset, the one that looks at life with appreciation, is the one to which the Christian is called. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:7, "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" The point being that everything we have, from life, to love, to wealth, to family, all of it is a gift to us from God. In addition to this we can add salvation, hope, enjoyment, and any number of other blessings. For the Christian, we are called to be humble, acknowledging that God has given us great blessings, but that also then means we must be thankful, because in acknowledging that we have received blessing, what else can we do but be thankful to the one who has given those blessings to us?
So, on Thanksgiving, and on every day, let us consider what attitude we will have in ourselves, whether being thankful, or holding life in contempt. And, as we are challenged to be thankful for all the many blessings we have received, let us remember who we are thanking. Being thankful necessarily assumes being thankful to someone or something. So, let us give God the glory, both for what we have received, and because he is the one who gives us these things. Let us always remember what James says, "For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Let us be humble enough to appreciate the good gifts we have been given. As I said to a friend not too long ago, when I was in Virginia I saw beautiful sights from the tops of mountains. I saw valleys of green laid out before me and watched as below me hawks flew in search for prey. Such wonderful sights remind me that I do not know what the future holds, whether I will stand on mountain tops and look across open valleys, or walk on the sea shore and hear the roar of the ocean. But, I know there is still beauty in the world, even if I am in the midst of gray and dreary day.
So, I will be thankful for what I have seen, knowing that those beautiful days brought me to where I am now. I will be thankful for today, knowing that where I am now must yield to the hope of what I will see tomorrow. So, let us always give thanks to the Father of Lights. Let us worship him who gives to us perfect gifts.
Yet, at the same time, I find myself in the same place as many Americans today: I am unemployed, my financial resources are taxed, and I'm not sure when that situation will change. In addition to this I, like many others, have an advanced degree, and feel a specific calling on my life that I would like to accomplish, and that I have dedicated years to fulfilling. Even though I have been the beneficiary of the wonderful generosity of family, so that I have a place to live, there is a distinct enjoyment missing. An enjoyment that comes from working and providing for my family. This situation is frustrating, and the reality of it cannot be escaped.
In thinking about these two situations I am forced to conclude that being thankful really is about what perspective we choose to have in life. We can look at what we want, what we have not yet accomplished, what we have lost or our ills and pains, and we can conclude that life is not as good as we would like. Or, we can choose to look at what we have received and what we have, and we can be appreciative for life itself.
The second mindset, the one that looks at life with appreciation, is the one to which the Christian is called. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:7, "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" The point being that everything we have, from life, to love, to wealth, to family, all of it is a gift to us from God. In addition to this we can add salvation, hope, enjoyment, and any number of other blessings. For the Christian, we are called to be humble, acknowledging that God has given us great blessings, but that also then means we must be thankful, because in acknowledging that we have received blessing, what else can we do but be thankful to the one who has given those blessings to us?
So, on Thanksgiving, and on every day, let us consider what attitude we will have in ourselves, whether being thankful, or holding life in contempt. And, as we are challenged to be thankful for all the many blessings we have received, let us remember who we are thanking. Being thankful necessarily assumes being thankful to someone or something. So, let us give God the glory, both for what we have received, and because he is the one who gives us these things. Let us always remember what James says, "For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Let us be humble enough to appreciate the good gifts we have been given. As I said to a friend not too long ago, when I was in Virginia I saw beautiful sights from the tops of mountains. I saw valleys of green laid out before me and watched as below me hawks flew in search for prey. Such wonderful sights remind me that I do not know what the future holds, whether I will stand on mountain tops and look across open valleys, or walk on the sea shore and hear the roar of the ocean. But, I know there is still beauty in the world, even if I am in the midst of gray and dreary day.
So, I will be thankful for what I have seen, knowing that those beautiful days brought me to where I am now. I will be thankful for today, knowing that where I am now must yield to the hope of what I will see tomorrow. So, let us always give thanks to the Father of Lights. Let us worship him who gives to us perfect gifts.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Perfect Inheritance (part 3)
This is the last post on the topic of our perfect inheritance, based off of the sermon I preached on Sunday, 9/19/10. In the last two posts I have attempted to demonstrate that Ephesians 1:3-14 calls us to praise God for all he has done, and has called us to recognize that we are adopted as sons of God, and so we should live according to this truth. In this post I want to talk about one final aspect of our perfect inheritance, and that is the work of the Holy Spirit. There is so much more that can be said about Ephesians 1:3-14. The fact is this is an incredibly rich section of Scripture, but lest I tire you too much, or myself, this will be final post on it for now.
This post really is to make two points, those points have to do with what we read in Ephesians 1:13-14. Paul writes, "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." The two points I want to address deal with the fact that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is not a future tense promise of sealing, it is a present reality: we have already been sealed.
In the first and second posts I continually made the point that we are saved according to God's will. Our salvation is not dependent on us and our continued work. This final section proves that point concretely. We have been sealed, and that which is sealed, according to what Paul says, is guaranteed. How can that guarantee be violated then unless God himself is a liar about what he has sealed? Basically, either God must be a liar, or he must be weak.
Certainly we would be complete fools to argue that God is a liar. If God were a liar (such a blasphemous idea ought to be repugnant to our thoughts) then there would be no point in believing anything in Scripture. What would be the point of trying to do anything to please God? If God were a liar then everything we know of his character in Scripture and everything he tells us to do as pleasing to him could potentially be a lie. In such a situation we may as well throw the bible away, because it would be useless to us.
But, God is not a liar. Therefore Scripture is trustworthy, because it comes from him. So, if God says we are sealed, then we are sealed. If God says that our salvation is guaranteed, then it is guaranteed, there is no need to doubt that. But, is God strong enough to make good on his guarantee? That is, what if God has guaranteed our salvation, but he can't really secure it against our strength, or the strength of sin or whatever else?
If that were the case then we would be back to the first point, believing that God is a liar. If God has said we have a guarantee of salvation, and we say, "But I could walk away from God! His guarantee could become void!" then we are arguing the idea that God is in fact wrong in saying that our salvation is guaranteed. In such a situation, God is once again a liar. Therefore, because God has said we are sealed, and our salvation is guaranteed, it must be so.
Therefore we are sealed, and there is no disputing this is what Scripture says. We accept this by faith then, and we ask the question, "What does our sealing mean?" It means that we will one day receive our inheritance. All of creation will one day be given over to Christ, and we will reign over it with him. We will have perfect relationship and harmony with God, even as we are already perfect before him. This inheritance will be ours, unquestionably.
But, it also means that one day we will be given to God. The fact is that we are God's possession. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says we were bought with a price. That which is bought is owned by the one who bought it. We are God's and one day God will take full possession of us.
It is hard to explain why this is such a wonderful fact, but I'll endeavor to do so. Because we have been bought by God, we are not slaves to anyone or anything else. According to what Paul commands us in 1 Corinthians 7:23, we are not to become slaves, which means that we are not slaves now. We were redeemed, purchased by God for himself, and that means we were set free from all our sinful limitations that at one time held us down.
We are possessed by God, so we are free to hope, free to rejoice, free to give him the glory for all that he has done. We are promised that he will have us, and that reassures us that we will also receive all that he has promised us. The promises given us belong to us because we belong to God. And because we know that God will assuredly take possession of us, we do not have to fear that somehow we will lose that which he has promised us.
We are sealed to receive and inheritance, and as an inheritance to be received by God. Our God, the maker of the heavens and the earth will not lose that of which he has taken possession. There is nothing stronger than God, nothing that can from his hand that which he has grasped. There is no one who can stand before God or be victorious over God. And that means that we do not have to fear that we will ever lose that which has been given to us, we can praise God in good times and bad, knowing that our hope is sure, because of the awesome might of our God who holds us, even if we should fail to hold to him.
Give God the glory, praise him for his might. Realize that you have been sealed, and what has been promised will be accomplished. Let this sink into your life and change you. Do not be afraid that you are going to go the wrong way, but remember, God will accomplish what he wants for you, because you are his possession. Do this, as Paul says, "to the praise of his glory."
This post really is to make two points, those points have to do with what we read in Ephesians 1:13-14. Paul writes, "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." The two points I want to address deal with the fact that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is not a future tense promise of sealing, it is a present reality: we have already been sealed.
In the first and second posts I continually made the point that we are saved according to God's will. Our salvation is not dependent on us and our continued work. This final section proves that point concretely. We have been sealed, and that which is sealed, according to what Paul says, is guaranteed. How can that guarantee be violated then unless God himself is a liar about what he has sealed? Basically, either God must be a liar, or he must be weak.
Certainly we would be complete fools to argue that God is a liar. If God were a liar (such a blasphemous idea ought to be repugnant to our thoughts) then there would be no point in believing anything in Scripture. What would be the point of trying to do anything to please God? If God were a liar then everything we know of his character in Scripture and everything he tells us to do as pleasing to him could potentially be a lie. In such a situation we may as well throw the bible away, because it would be useless to us.
But, God is not a liar. Therefore Scripture is trustworthy, because it comes from him. So, if God says we are sealed, then we are sealed. If God says that our salvation is guaranteed, then it is guaranteed, there is no need to doubt that. But, is God strong enough to make good on his guarantee? That is, what if God has guaranteed our salvation, but he can't really secure it against our strength, or the strength of sin or whatever else?
If that were the case then we would be back to the first point, believing that God is a liar. If God has said we have a guarantee of salvation, and we say, "But I could walk away from God! His guarantee could become void!" then we are arguing the idea that God is in fact wrong in saying that our salvation is guaranteed. In such a situation, God is once again a liar. Therefore, because God has said we are sealed, and our salvation is guaranteed, it must be so.
Therefore we are sealed, and there is no disputing this is what Scripture says. We accept this by faith then, and we ask the question, "What does our sealing mean?" It means that we will one day receive our inheritance. All of creation will one day be given over to Christ, and we will reign over it with him. We will have perfect relationship and harmony with God, even as we are already perfect before him. This inheritance will be ours, unquestionably.
But, it also means that one day we will be given to God. The fact is that we are God's possession. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says we were bought with a price. That which is bought is owned by the one who bought it. We are God's and one day God will take full possession of us.
It is hard to explain why this is such a wonderful fact, but I'll endeavor to do so. Because we have been bought by God, we are not slaves to anyone or anything else. According to what Paul commands us in 1 Corinthians 7:23, we are not to become slaves, which means that we are not slaves now. We were redeemed, purchased by God for himself, and that means we were set free from all our sinful limitations that at one time held us down.
We are possessed by God, so we are free to hope, free to rejoice, free to give him the glory for all that he has done. We are promised that he will have us, and that reassures us that we will also receive all that he has promised us. The promises given us belong to us because we belong to God. And because we know that God will assuredly take possession of us, we do not have to fear that somehow we will lose that which he has promised us.
We are sealed to receive and inheritance, and as an inheritance to be received by God. Our God, the maker of the heavens and the earth will not lose that of which he has taken possession. There is nothing stronger than God, nothing that can from his hand that which he has grasped. There is no one who can stand before God or be victorious over God. And that means that we do not have to fear that we will ever lose that which has been given to us, we can praise God in good times and bad, knowing that our hope is sure, because of the awesome might of our God who holds us, even if we should fail to hold to him.
Give God the glory, praise him for his might. Realize that you have been sealed, and what has been promised will be accomplished. Let this sink into your life and change you. Do not be afraid that you are going to go the wrong way, but remember, God will accomplish what he wants for you, because you are his possession. Do this, as Paul says, "to the praise of his glory."
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Perfect Inheritance (Part 2)
I noted yesterday that God has provided a perfect inheritance for us in Christ. Today I'd like to develop that a little more. Not only has God provided a perfect inheritance for us, he has provided us with a means to receive that inheritance. God has given us Christ, he has provided us with a perfect savior, redeeming us from the curse of the fall. He has also given us sonship through Christ, providing the means by which we are able to receive that which he has prepared for us from before the foundation of the world.
In Ephesians 1:5 we read, "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Our position before God is not dependent on our prayers or our works or our thoughts, they are dependent on God's determination.
Yes, we who are sons will pray to God, because we will want to speak with our Father, and to tell him of our troubles and ask him for his help. Yes, we who are sons will seek to do the will of our Father, not because of our great debt to God, which we can never repay, but because we desire to please our Father and show him our love for him. And yes, our thoughts will be upon the mercy of God, the goodness of God, everything good and noble and worthy of the Lord, because it is only normal and natural to think about that which is most important to us, which ought to be, and will be, God. But, none of these things makes us sons of God through Christ, instead it is the will of God that brings us to himself through Christ that makes us his sons. The Lord is responsible for our position before him, so that we cannot take credit for that which he has done.
But, consider that our position before God, being dependent on God, will never falter if we fail or fall. God has already ordained that we are his sons through Christ, if we are indeed in Christ, so that it does not matter if we stumble and fall, he still calls us sons. This is what Ephesians 1:4 & 7 tells us: "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him," and, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses." We have this forgiveness now, not that we shall have it, but that already it is done. Already we are holy and blameless before God, and continually so, because God's word does not change. We are not now holy only to be unholy tomorrow, we are not now forgiven so that tomorrow we will be condemned. Our holiness and righteousness is not dependent on us, it is dependent on God alone, because it is what he has proclaimed.
Consider how this works in contrast with the choices of the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 11:26 we read Moses words to the People of Israel that he was setting before them blessing and curse. In Deuteronomy 30 we can read how this blessing and curse would work out. Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us that the blessing and curse can also be called life and death. Moses tells the people to choose life that they and their children might live. But, here, in Ephesians, notice that Paul does not call us to a choice, instead he tells us of the choice that God has made for us.
We are not a people who have to choose blessing or curse, our choice has been made for us. If we are in Christ, if we are those whom God has called to him, predestining us to receive his Son, then blessing has been chosen for us. It is not a matter of our will, so that our positions as sons before God depends on our continuous choosing. God has spoken, he has declared what will be, so that our adoption is sure, our redemption is promised and is ours now, and will be ours eternally. How wonderful it is to know that we can relax, we can trust in God, we can have faith in him, and we can enter into his rest, no longer striving but knowing that God holds us in his hands eternally.
Once we stop striving to save ourselves something more amazing comes into view. We who have been adopted and have been forgiven also have been told what God wants. We who have received the adoption of God through Christ have been told of God's amazing plan, to bring all things together in Christ at the end of all things. This is a wonderful blessing because it means that we don't have to wonder at what God wants of us. We don't have to worry about whether we will choose wrongly, because we know that our goal ought to be God's goal, and God will accomplish his goal, even if it seems we have butchered it.
What I mean is that we who have been redeemed and forgiven do not need to worry that we are not going to accomplish what God wants. We ought not be lazy, because laziness is not pleasing to our Father. We ought not be paralyzed by fear of making the wrong choice, because such a fear betrays a mistrust of the Lord. We ought to be busy doing the work of him who sent us, even as he sent Christ, because it is wonderful and good work, and it is this work which provides us with fulfillment in life. God's purpose for all of creation is to bring all things together under Christ, so what more meaningful lives can we live than lives that seek to bring everything we do under Christ today?
God has given us redemption through his Son, and he has given us purpose through Christ. We know that what we do in this life, done with the purpose of bringing all things, our money, our thoughts, our work, our culture, and our friends and neighbors, all under Christ, will prove of eternal worth. We may never see an ounce of movement, but we do not need to be discouraged, because the work is not ours, it is God's. This is not the plan of men, it is the plan of God, and it will be accomplished. The God we serve made the universe, saved us according to his will, and arranged all of history to his purposes; how then can history not end up where he has directed it, so that Christ is glorified and the Father receives all glory through him?
Because of all this there is one more thing we are able to rejoice in, and that is spoken of throughout this passage: we have an inheritance. If all things will eventually be united in Christ, and we are now in Christ, then eventually all things will be united with us in him as well. That means we who are in Christ will eventually receive all things. I'm not speaking out of line here, I assure you.
Consider the promises made to the churches of Philadelphia and Laodicea. We will be made pillars in the temple of God, in the new Jerusalem. And we will sit down with Christ on his throne, even as he sat down with his Father on his throne. When you consider that there is no temple in the new Jerusalem, for God himself will be our temple, then the promise takes on its full import. We will be joined to God in a way that will be like being pillars in the midst of him, we will never leave from him or go out from him. And we will reign with Christ over all creation.
Paul says that we will judge angels! What is there left that is outside of our authority if we are in Christ then? We will reign with him, we will dwell in the presence of God eternally, and even angels will be under our authority and judgment. We who are in Christ, who stand forgiven and redeemed before God, who know the will of our Father, also have a great and wonderful (consider the real meaning of this word: full of wonder) inheritance in that we shall receive everything through Christ.
What do we have left that we should need then? You do not have a place to rest your head tonight? Don't worry, the whole of creation will be given to you, if you are faithful in Christ. Do you hunger, are you thirsty? Do what you can to eat what you need and drink so that you can be healthy, but remember, the point of life is not fine dining and expensive wine, it is to bring all things together under Christ, so that one day all things will be yours in Christ. Look forward to your inheritance, not for your physical appetites and the satisfying of your lusts, but because God has given you his own presence, he has given you Christ, he has given you a perfect inheritance, and this is your hope.
Live a life worthy of this, seek wisdom now that you will know how to rightly administer the inheritance that is to come. Give God the glory, praise him for all he has done. And share the good news of what you have, so that your rejoicing may cause others to rejoice and add again to your joy in Christ. What do you lack dear Christian? This world is not your home, do not fall in love with it, because you have a better home coming, a better inheritance than you can even imagine.
In Ephesians 1:5 we read, "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Our position before God is not dependent on our prayers or our works or our thoughts, they are dependent on God's determination.
Yes, we who are sons will pray to God, because we will want to speak with our Father, and to tell him of our troubles and ask him for his help. Yes, we who are sons will seek to do the will of our Father, not because of our great debt to God, which we can never repay, but because we desire to please our Father and show him our love for him. And yes, our thoughts will be upon the mercy of God, the goodness of God, everything good and noble and worthy of the Lord, because it is only normal and natural to think about that which is most important to us, which ought to be, and will be, God. But, none of these things makes us sons of God through Christ, instead it is the will of God that brings us to himself through Christ that makes us his sons. The Lord is responsible for our position before him, so that we cannot take credit for that which he has done.
But, consider that our position before God, being dependent on God, will never falter if we fail or fall. God has already ordained that we are his sons through Christ, if we are indeed in Christ, so that it does not matter if we stumble and fall, he still calls us sons. This is what Ephesians 1:4 & 7 tells us: "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him," and, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses." We have this forgiveness now, not that we shall have it, but that already it is done. Already we are holy and blameless before God, and continually so, because God's word does not change. We are not now holy only to be unholy tomorrow, we are not now forgiven so that tomorrow we will be condemned. Our holiness and righteousness is not dependent on us, it is dependent on God alone, because it is what he has proclaimed.
Consider how this works in contrast with the choices of the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 11:26 we read Moses words to the People of Israel that he was setting before them blessing and curse. In Deuteronomy 30 we can read how this blessing and curse would work out. Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us that the blessing and curse can also be called life and death. Moses tells the people to choose life that they and their children might live. But, here, in Ephesians, notice that Paul does not call us to a choice, instead he tells us of the choice that God has made for us.
We are not a people who have to choose blessing or curse, our choice has been made for us. If we are in Christ, if we are those whom God has called to him, predestining us to receive his Son, then blessing has been chosen for us. It is not a matter of our will, so that our positions as sons before God depends on our continuous choosing. God has spoken, he has declared what will be, so that our adoption is sure, our redemption is promised and is ours now, and will be ours eternally. How wonderful it is to know that we can relax, we can trust in God, we can have faith in him, and we can enter into his rest, no longer striving but knowing that God holds us in his hands eternally.
Once we stop striving to save ourselves something more amazing comes into view. We who have been adopted and have been forgiven also have been told what God wants. We who have received the adoption of God through Christ have been told of God's amazing plan, to bring all things together in Christ at the end of all things. This is a wonderful blessing because it means that we don't have to wonder at what God wants of us. We don't have to worry about whether we will choose wrongly, because we know that our goal ought to be God's goal, and God will accomplish his goal, even if it seems we have butchered it.
What I mean is that we who have been redeemed and forgiven do not need to worry that we are not going to accomplish what God wants. We ought not be lazy, because laziness is not pleasing to our Father. We ought not be paralyzed by fear of making the wrong choice, because such a fear betrays a mistrust of the Lord. We ought to be busy doing the work of him who sent us, even as he sent Christ, because it is wonderful and good work, and it is this work which provides us with fulfillment in life. God's purpose for all of creation is to bring all things together under Christ, so what more meaningful lives can we live than lives that seek to bring everything we do under Christ today?
God has given us redemption through his Son, and he has given us purpose through Christ. We know that what we do in this life, done with the purpose of bringing all things, our money, our thoughts, our work, our culture, and our friends and neighbors, all under Christ, will prove of eternal worth. We may never see an ounce of movement, but we do not need to be discouraged, because the work is not ours, it is God's. This is not the plan of men, it is the plan of God, and it will be accomplished. The God we serve made the universe, saved us according to his will, and arranged all of history to his purposes; how then can history not end up where he has directed it, so that Christ is glorified and the Father receives all glory through him?
Because of all this there is one more thing we are able to rejoice in, and that is spoken of throughout this passage: we have an inheritance. If all things will eventually be united in Christ, and we are now in Christ, then eventually all things will be united with us in him as well. That means we who are in Christ will eventually receive all things. I'm not speaking out of line here, I assure you.
Consider the promises made to the churches of Philadelphia and Laodicea. We will be made pillars in the temple of God, in the new Jerusalem. And we will sit down with Christ on his throne, even as he sat down with his Father on his throne. When you consider that there is no temple in the new Jerusalem, for God himself will be our temple, then the promise takes on its full import. We will be joined to God in a way that will be like being pillars in the midst of him, we will never leave from him or go out from him. And we will reign with Christ over all creation.
Paul says that we will judge angels! What is there left that is outside of our authority if we are in Christ then? We will reign with him, we will dwell in the presence of God eternally, and even angels will be under our authority and judgment. We who are in Christ, who stand forgiven and redeemed before God, who know the will of our Father, also have a great and wonderful (consider the real meaning of this word: full of wonder) inheritance in that we shall receive everything through Christ.
What do we have left that we should need then? You do not have a place to rest your head tonight? Don't worry, the whole of creation will be given to you, if you are faithful in Christ. Do you hunger, are you thirsty? Do what you can to eat what you need and drink so that you can be healthy, but remember, the point of life is not fine dining and expensive wine, it is to bring all things together under Christ, so that one day all things will be yours in Christ. Look forward to your inheritance, not for your physical appetites and the satisfying of your lusts, but because God has given you his own presence, he has given you Christ, he has given you a perfect inheritance, and this is your hope.
Live a life worthy of this, seek wisdom now that you will know how to rightly administer the inheritance that is to come. Give God the glory, praise him for all he has done. And share the good news of what you have, so that your rejoicing may cause others to rejoice and add again to your joy in Christ. What do you lack dear Christian? This world is not your home, do not fall in love with it, because you have a better home coming, a better inheritance than you can even imagine.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
What Really Matters?
One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Job. There is something about the way that Job suffered despite his righteousness that appeals to me. The sovereignty of God, the antagonism of Satan, the desperation of a man attacked by forces he cannot control or understand, the misery of that man as he finds himself forsaken by friends and family, and the confusion of that man as he isn't even sure whether his God still cares for him or not, all wrapped up in the beauty of poetry. The book of Job talks about the events of life that all of us face, just as the other wisdom books in Scripture, Proverbs, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes, but with one major difference. The difference in the wisdom of Job is that it is not just songs or sayings or a thought out dissertation on the importance of wisdom, it is the story of a man's life and the wisdom gleaned from that life as it was lived in history.
One of the lessons I have been thinking about lately from the book of Job comes from an old insight that was brought to my attention. I honestly cannot remember who brought this particular point to my attention. Most likely it was my father. While he did not teach me everything I know about theology and Scripture, he certainly taught me a great deal. The insight was simply this: Job was never told why all of his misfortunes came upon him.
Often people make this point as they seek to illustrate that Scripture does not apologize for what God does. They are right about that, of course. Scripture never seeks to defend God from the charge that he allows evil or does evil. Scripture simply presents the reality that God does what he wants to do and is sovereign over all things. Thus, while the writers of Scripture are certainly aware of the problem of evil, that seemingly wicked things happen to seemingly righteous individuals, their answer is only that God is control of all things. Job definitely agrees with this perspective, as God's final interaction with Job reminds Job that he is but a man, and should not question the sovereign will and authority of the one who made him.
But, this point, that Scripture does not seek to defend God against the charge of evil, and the way that Job's problem is eventually resolved, simply by God's choosing to bless him at the end of the story, brings another point to mind. That point is best addressed by the question, "What really matters?" Was it Job's possessions, his health, his friendships or his family that really mattered at the end of the book? Yes, Job got all of those things back, and in the case of his possessions he received double, but was that the point of the book?
The real point of the book is not Job's suffering. It is not Job's loss or his righteousness. All that Job suffers and endures is but the backdrop for the conversation, which builds to one specific point: the glory of God. What really matters in Job, the crucial point that we must grasp, is that no matter what happens, God is worthy of worship and praise.
Consider why Elihu was angry with Job. Job sought to defend his own righteousness instead of God's. Elihu was not concerned that Job might have sinned in some way, Elihu was not concerned that Job might be accusing God of some wickedness or misbehavior. Elihu was concerned that the righteousness of God was not being proclaimed by a suffering Job.
Think of that. Elihu wanted Job to put aside his own pain and suffering and give God glory for who he is. Elihu waited patiently before saying anything because of the wisdom of his elders, but finally his patience gave way as the older men became silent. Consider how the text introduces Elihu to us: But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. (Job 32:2) Elihu understood that what was really important was not that Job's integrity should be defended, but that God's character should be declared.
What is really important is not that any of us are ever vindicated in this life. We may be persecuted, rightly or wrongly. We may be poor, or we may be rich. We may suffer, or we may seem to pass through life with ease and comfort our consistent friends, but what does any of that matter? Our lives, if we live one hundred years or one thousand years, are still brief, and not worth comparing to the history of the world. What really matters is that we proclaim the goodness of God, the glory of God, and the character of God, so that he may be made known throughout all the world.
We are not seeking to defend God, he is not in need of our weak protestations. We are seeking to justify God in our lives, to give him the glory of his work on our behalf. We seek to vindicate God before those who would question his justice or his integrity, not by mere arguments, but by acknowledging that all that is done is done according to his wisdom. Job failed to do this in his arguments.
Job argued that he was righteous, he argued that if he could bring his argument before God, then maybe he could convince God to let him alone. But that mode of thought fails to realize that God knows full well what he is doing, and does not need to be counseled or advised in any way.
Does God not know our predicament? Is he ignorant of our plight? Is our suffering somehow lost on the God who created us and who acts with all righteousness? Why then would we think that we could bring argument against him to make him change his mind? Instead of thinking we can advise God, we ought to tell everyone of how good God is, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.
Perhaps Job began with some understanding of this reality. When Job lost his children and his possessions he tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshiped God. Even when Job lost his health and his wife turned on him advising him to curse God and die, Job said to her, "Should we accept good from God and not evil?" (Job 2:9) And though Job never sinned against God or accused God of anything improper, in the midst of the accusations from his friends, Job seems to have forgotten the goodness of God and that he is worthy of worship, no matter what happens in our lives.
Is it enough to be righteous? No matter how good we may be, we will never be pure and holy as God is pure and holy. No matter how just and righteous we may be, we will always be filthy compared to the spotless person of our God. Because of this, ought we not give God the glory in every situation? No matter what we suffer, it cannot diminish the wonder of God, so do not be overcome with evil, but overcome every evil situation with good, remembering the God we serve will vindicate us at the coming of Christ, so we do not need to vindicate ourselves, especially not before him.
One of the lessons I have been thinking about lately from the book of Job comes from an old insight that was brought to my attention. I honestly cannot remember who brought this particular point to my attention. Most likely it was my father. While he did not teach me everything I know about theology and Scripture, he certainly taught me a great deal. The insight was simply this: Job was never told why all of his misfortunes came upon him.
Often people make this point as they seek to illustrate that Scripture does not apologize for what God does. They are right about that, of course. Scripture never seeks to defend God from the charge that he allows evil or does evil. Scripture simply presents the reality that God does what he wants to do and is sovereign over all things. Thus, while the writers of Scripture are certainly aware of the problem of evil, that seemingly wicked things happen to seemingly righteous individuals, their answer is only that God is control of all things. Job definitely agrees with this perspective, as God's final interaction with Job reminds Job that he is but a man, and should not question the sovereign will and authority of the one who made him.
But, this point, that Scripture does not seek to defend God against the charge of evil, and the way that Job's problem is eventually resolved, simply by God's choosing to bless him at the end of the story, brings another point to mind. That point is best addressed by the question, "What really matters?" Was it Job's possessions, his health, his friendships or his family that really mattered at the end of the book? Yes, Job got all of those things back, and in the case of his possessions he received double, but was that the point of the book?
The real point of the book is not Job's suffering. It is not Job's loss or his righteousness. All that Job suffers and endures is but the backdrop for the conversation, which builds to one specific point: the glory of God. What really matters in Job, the crucial point that we must grasp, is that no matter what happens, God is worthy of worship and praise.
Consider why Elihu was angry with Job. Job sought to defend his own righteousness instead of God's. Elihu was not concerned that Job might have sinned in some way, Elihu was not concerned that Job might be accusing God of some wickedness or misbehavior. Elihu was concerned that the righteousness of God was not being proclaimed by a suffering Job.
Think of that. Elihu wanted Job to put aside his own pain and suffering and give God glory for who he is. Elihu waited patiently before saying anything because of the wisdom of his elders, but finally his patience gave way as the older men became silent. Consider how the text introduces Elihu to us: But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. (Job 32:2) Elihu understood that what was really important was not that Job's integrity should be defended, but that God's character should be declared.
What is really important is not that any of us are ever vindicated in this life. We may be persecuted, rightly or wrongly. We may be poor, or we may be rich. We may suffer, or we may seem to pass through life with ease and comfort our consistent friends, but what does any of that matter? Our lives, if we live one hundred years or one thousand years, are still brief, and not worth comparing to the history of the world. What really matters is that we proclaim the goodness of God, the glory of God, and the character of God, so that he may be made known throughout all the world.
We are not seeking to defend God, he is not in need of our weak protestations. We are seeking to justify God in our lives, to give him the glory of his work on our behalf. We seek to vindicate God before those who would question his justice or his integrity, not by mere arguments, but by acknowledging that all that is done is done according to his wisdom. Job failed to do this in his arguments.
Job argued that he was righteous, he argued that if he could bring his argument before God, then maybe he could convince God to let him alone. But that mode of thought fails to realize that God knows full well what he is doing, and does not need to be counseled or advised in any way.
Does God not know our predicament? Is he ignorant of our plight? Is our suffering somehow lost on the God who created us and who acts with all righteousness? Why then would we think that we could bring argument against him to make him change his mind? Instead of thinking we can advise God, we ought to tell everyone of how good God is, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.
Perhaps Job began with some understanding of this reality. When Job lost his children and his possessions he tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshiped God. Even when Job lost his health and his wife turned on him advising him to curse God and die, Job said to her, "Should we accept good from God and not evil?" (Job 2:9) And though Job never sinned against God or accused God of anything improper, in the midst of the accusations from his friends, Job seems to have forgotten the goodness of God and that he is worthy of worship, no matter what happens in our lives.
Is it enough to be righteous? No matter how good we may be, we will never be pure and holy as God is pure and holy. No matter how just and righteous we may be, we will always be filthy compared to the spotless person of our God. Because of this, ought we not give God the glory in every situation? No matter what we suffer, it cannot diminish the wonder of God, so do not be overcome with evil, but overcome every evil situation with good, remembering the God we serve will vindicate us at the coming of Christ, so we do not need to vindicate ourselves, especially not before him.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Confident Insufficiency
I'm reading through Dr. Bryan Chapell's book Christ Centered Preaching again. I haven't read the book in probably a year or so, since going through seminary. Even in seminary I read the book because I had to for a book review, and while it was good, I have a feeling that I didn't get out of it what I could have, so now I'm going to read it again, so I can be reminded of the great truths that Dr. Chapell has distilled in this wonderful volume. If you haven't read it, and you want to preach, I entreat you, read it.
One of the earliest truths that Dr. Chapell discusses is the fact that preachers are insufficient to the task of preaching. But, it's okay that we be insufficient to the task, because the real task of preaching is the winning of souls to God. The presentation of the Word of God with power to the goal of converting sinners to Christ, and empowering Christians to live their lives, in every way, in deeper relationship with God. What mortal man could be sufficient to this task? All of us are too sinful, too imperfect, too limited to accomplish the goals we should have with every sermon.
But, that's okay. In fact, that's a good thing. Because we are insufficient we are able to do exactly what we need to do. Because we are imperfect, we are able to call upon God, who perfects his power in our weakness, that he might do that which we cannot, and glorify himself through the foolishness of preaching. I told my wife one of the first lines in that book that made me chuckle is that Dr. Chapell notes that Paul commends the foolishness of preaching, but not foolish preaching.
A good preacher, a good pastor, is not called to stand up and be foolish in what he says, but he is called to be wise and give forth the Word of God. This is foolish precisely because we expect somehow that mere words will have effective power to change the lives of those that hear them. But, this is the means by which God has determined that his power should be shared. He works through his Word. The same Word that created the world holds all things together now, it raised Christ from the dead, sent the Spirit into timid fishermen and rejects from society, and even now is working powerfully in the world to accomplish the will of God. This Word no man is worthy to proclaim, but we are called to go forth and do that which we are not worthy of, because God is powerful enough to redeem the fallen.
Isn't this the same thing that applies to all of us? What are you sufficient to do on your own? Banking, physics, driving, shoveling, what is any of that in the eternal scheme of things? Yet, in Christ when we are obedient, those things which are nothing in the eternal scheme become important, because God does amazing things with insufficient people.
None of us is sufficient to fulfill the task to which we were called, because we were called to conform to the image of Christ. I don't know about you, but I have found that no matter how much I may try and force my heart to be more faithful, I don't seem to have a lot of power to change my very nature. I can control my actions, I can choose not to dwell on the sinful thoughts that enter into my mind, but I seem to have a nature that keeps on wanting to go back to sin. I am insufficient to change myself, to conform myself, to the image of Christ. But God is sufficient, and he will do that which I am incapable of doing, I just have to be faithful to him.
Likewise, Christ called upon us to go out into all nations and proclaim the gospel, making disciples of every people, tribe, tongue and nation. We were told to do this not because of the great power that was given unto us, but because all power in heaven and earth has been given unto him. Our commission does not rely upon our sufficiency, but upon the sufficiency of our God. He alone is able to do all things, without him, we can do nothing.
Take comfort in your insufficiency. Be confident that whatever God has called you to do, you are incapable of doing. And that is to his glory, because what you cannot do, he can. Where you are insufficient, God, my God, is more than sufficient. When you are faithful to God, and you work with all the strength which he gives you, then you can do great things, because you are not sufficient to do it on your own.
But, that means that you don't need to worry about whether you will save your best friend. You don't need to worry about whether your life will be perfect enough to stand against those who would test you and examine every aspect of you. You have sinned, and though you have (hopefully) put that sin behind you, you will never attain perfection in this life. You don't need to worry about those things, because the reality is that this is who you are, imperfect, insufficient to achieve the great tasks which God will set before you.
But, because God's Word is sufficient, because his power is able to do all things, when he commands you, if you are faithful to do what he says, then he will accomplish his purposes. Your life will never save anyone, only his word will. You will never have the power to save any man, only Christ can do that. You can take comfort in knowing that God is not relying upon your insufficiency, he is giving you the chance to join with his power to accomplish his purposes. This same God who made all things, who raised Christ from the dead, is able to raise the dead people we speak to, but we are not.
Praise God for our insufficiency, that he may be glorified. I will never save any man with my preaching, and that's perfectly fine with me. I may stumble, I may fall, I may make a fool of myself in the pulpit, and that's okay. As long as God's Word is proclaimed, that is all that matters. I may be a stuttering fool, I may lack all eloquence, I may be monotone and forget my outline, but if I am obedient to what God has called me to do, if I proclaim his Word, then he will be faithful to himself, and he will use his Word to accomplish his purposes. It is God who gives a man ears to hear and a mouth to speak. If he gives me an eloquent tongue, then so much more to his praise, but if not, I do not need to worry, I may be insufficient, but that's just the kind of person God wants me to be.
Have you thanked God for your insufficiency today? Have you praised God that you do not have the burden to accomplish what you cannot accomplish? Have you thanked him that he chose to let you join him in accomplishing his will? Our God is awesome, his power is beyond description. If you do not know this God, please, write me that I can share his Word with you. Seek him while he may still be found, for all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
One of the earliest truths that Dr. Chapell discusses is the fact that preachers are insufficient to the task of preaching. But, it's okay that we be insufficient to the task, because the real task of preaching is the winning of souls to God. The presentation of the Word of God with power to the goal of converting sinners to Christ, and empowering Christians to live their lives, in every way, in deeper relationship with God. What mortal man could be sufficient to this task? All of us are too sinful, too imperfect, too limited to accomplish the goals we should have with every sermon.
But, that's okay. In fact, that's a good thing. Because we are insufficient we are able to do exactly what we need to do. Because we are imperfect, we are able to call upon God, who perfects his power in our weakness, that he might do that which we cannot, and glorify himself through the foolishness of preaching. I told my wife one of the first lines in that book that made me chuckle is that Dr. Chapell notes that Paul commends the foolishness of preaching, but not foolish preaching.
A good preacher, a good pastor, is not called to stand up and be foolish in what he says, but he is called to be wise and give forth the Word of God. This is foolish precisely because we expect somehow that mere words will have effective power to change the lives of those that hear them. But, this is the means by which God has determined that his power should be shared. He works through his Word. The same Word that created the world holds all things together now, it raised Christ from the dead, sent the Spirit into timid fishermen and rejects from society, and even now is working powerfully in the world to accomplish the will of God. This Word no man is worthy to proclaim, but we are called to go forth and do that which we are not worthy of, because God is powerful enough to redeem the fallen.
Isn't this the same thing that applies to all of us? What are you sufficient to do on your own? Banking, physics, driving, shoveling, what is any of that in the eternal scheme of things? Yet, in Christ when we are obedient, those things which are nothing in the eternal scheme become important, because God does amazing things with insufficient people.
None of us is sufficient to fulfill the task to which we were called, because we were called to conform to the image of Christ. I don't know about you, but I have found that no matter how much I may try and force my heart to be more faithful, I don't seem to have a lot of power to change my very nature. I can control my actions, I can choose not to dwell on the sinful thoughts that enter into my mind, but I seem to have a nature that keeps on wanting to go back to sin. I am insufficient to change myself, to conform myself, to the image of Christ. But God is sufficient, and he will do that which I am incapable of doing, I just have to be faithful to him.
Likewise, Christ called upon us to go out into all nations and proclaim the gospel, making disciples of every people, tribe, tongue and nation. We were told to do this not because of the great power that was given unto us, but because all power in heaven and earth has been given unto him. Our commission does not rely upon our sufficiency, but upon the sufficiency of our God. He alone is able to do all things, without him, we can do nothing.
Take comfort in your insufficiency. Be confident that whatever God has called you to do, you are incapable of doing. And that is to his glory, because what you cannot do, he can. Where you are insufficient, God, my God, is more than sufficient. When you are faithful to God, and you work with all the strength which he gives you, then you can do great things, because you are not sufficient to do it on your own.
But, that means that you don't need to worry about whether you will save your best friend. You don't need to worry about whether your life will be perfect enough to stand against those who would test you and examine every aspect of you. You have sinned, and though you have (hopefully) put that sin behind you, you will never attain perfection in this life. You don't need to worry about those things, because the reality is that this is who you are, imperfect, insufficient to achieve the great tasks which God will set before you.
But, because God's Word is sufficient, because his power is able to do all things, when he commands you, if you are faithful to do what he says, then he will accomplish his purposes. Your life will never save anyone, only his word will. You will never have the power to save any man, only Christ can do that. You can take comfort in knowing that God is not relying upon your insufficiency, he is giving you the chance to join with his power to accomplish his purposes. This same God who made all things, who raised Christ from the dead, is able to raise the dead people we speak to, but we are not.
Praise God for our insufficiency, that he may be glorified. I will never save any man with my preaching, and that's perfectly fine with me. I may stumble, I may fall, I may make a fool of myself in the pulpit, and that's okay. As long as God's Word is proclaimed, that is all that matters. I may be a stuttering fool, I may lack all eloquence, I may be monotone and forget my outline, but if I am obedient to what God has called me to do, if I proclaim his Word, then he will be faithful to himself, and he will use his Word to accomplish his purposes. It is God who gives a man ears to hear and a mouth to speak. If he gives me an eloquent tongue, then so much more to his praise, but if not, I do not need to worry, I may be insufficient, but that's just the kind of person God wants me to be.
Have you thanked God for your insufficiency today? Have you praised God that you do not have the burden to accomplish what you cannot accomplish? Have you thanked him that he chose to let you join him in accomplishing his will? Our God is awesome, his power is beyond description. If you do not know this God, please, write me that I can share his Word with you. Seek him while he may still be found, for all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Beautiful Paradox
There are some moments that you just have to take when they come along. Do you know what I mean? Have you ever had a moment come along that just seems tailored for you, personally? The moments I'm talking about are times like a friend asking if anyone happens to have a glue stick on them, and you just happen to carry glue sticks with you, for no reason other than, "someone might need one." I'm reminded of one of those moments I had in Louisville.
We were discussing Scripture, and how sometimes we come across something that seems to be a contradiction, but upon further reflection isn't. In order to explain the concept our pastor decided to remind the class (it was in Sunday school) that these are what we generally call "paradoxes." If, for whatever reason, you are unfamiliar with the term it means what I just explained: something that appears to be a contradiction, but isn't necessarily. Its a good term, particularly because there are several paradoxical statements in Scripture. But I digress.
As he was attempting to get the class used to the term he asked, "Does anyone know what a paradox is?" Now, this was one of those moments for which I live. I love the odd words of the English language. In fact I try to regularly increase my vocabulary, because there is such a rich diversity of terminology available to us who speak English. Thus, of course I knew what a paradox was, even if very few members of the class were familiar with the term.
Because I knew the term, and because no one else was speaking and I could tell some people were a little embarrassed to admit they didn't know the term, I had to immediately speak up. So I did. As my pastor was getting ready to explain the concept I said, "I know what a paradox is. A paradox is two doctors." Did I mention I also love the Marx brothers and particularly enjoy the banter between Groucho and Chico?
While my wise crack didn't get much of a chuckle (I got a few smiles) the idea of paradox made more of an impact on those in the church. And for good reason, paradoxes are important to the Christian faith.
Think about just a few of the paradoxes we must embrace to be Christians: success is often measured by persecution, only by dying to ourselves can we find life in Christ, only by ceasing to attempt to earn our position before God through our works can we find a hope of peace in the work he has done for us, even the symbol of our hope and the power of our faith is an instrument of torture and murder. Our faith is one where it seems that logic would lead us to an exact opposite conclusion of how to attain righteousness. What man would say that only by agreeing to die daily can a man actually have any hope of life? Who would have concluded that the idea that God had forgiven all of our unrighteous deeds, past, present, and future, could lead to a moral revolution that would inspire men to serve and love others more than themselves? Our God is greater than we can imagine still, because he does his great works through the most insignificant of people: us.
Though we look poor, God says we have great wealth in heaven. Though we are broken, God says we are to be the healers of others. Though we are people from many lands and languages, God says we are all one family. Though we are often persecuted, God says we are to be the most peaceful people of all. Though we are often condemned for our faith, we are the only ones who enjoy true freedom.
I know that the American church does not experience the same poverty of other churches. We do not experience the same persecution, and we are not usually imprisoned for our faith. We live in a land that has been different than others for over 200 years, and we can praise God for that. But, we have also failed to be the integrated church we could have been, we have failed to be a people broken by our own iniquities and the iniquities of our nation far more often than we have embraced the brokenness to which God has called us.
Yet, our God is still a God of paradoxes. That church which has been most unfaithful can still become the most faithful. God's Word is described as powerful and living, and as our God still lives, he can still do miracles. We are not a people without hope, no matter what our current circumstances may be. For no matter what confronts us, our God is still the controller of the universe, and our circumstances come from his hand. We can praise him in times of ease, and sing of his goodness in times of suffering. Let us embrace the God of paradoxes, the only true God, who turns defeat into victory, and brings eternal life from the death of his son on the cross.
We were discussing Scripture, and how sometimes we come across something that seems to be a contradiction, but upon further reflection isn't. In order to explain the concept our pastor decided to remind the class (it was in Sunday school) that these are what we generally call "paradoxes." If, for whatever reason, you are unfamiliar with the term it means what I just explained: something that appears to be a contradiction, but isn't necessarily. Its a good term, particularly because there are several paradoxical statements in Scripture. But I digress.
As he was attempting to get the class used to the term he asked, "Does anyone know what a paradox is?" Now, this was one of those moments for which I live. I love the odd words of the English language. In fact I try to regularly increase my vocabulary, because there is such a rich diversity of terminology available to us who speak English. Thus, of course I knew what a paradox was, even if very few members of the class were familiar with the term.
Because I knew the term, and because no one else was speaking and I could tell some people were a little embarrassed to admit they didn't know the term, I had to immediately speak up. So I did. As my pastor was getting ready to explain the concept I said, "I know what a paradox is. A paradox is two doctors." Did I mention I also love the Marx brothers and particularly enjoy the banter between Groucho and Chico?
While my wise crack didn't get much of a chuckle (I got a few smiles) the idea of paradox made more of an impact on those in the church. And for good reason, paradoxes are important to the Christian faith.
Think about just a few of the paradoxes we must embrace to be Christians: success is often measured by persecution, only by dying to ourselves can we find life in Christ, only by ceasing to attempt to earn our position before God through our works can we find a hope of peace in the work he has done for us, even the symbol of our hope and the power of our faith is an instrument of torture and murder. Our faith is one where it seems that logic would lead us to an exact opposite conclusion of how to attain righteousness. What man would say that only by agreeing to die daily can a man actually have any hope of life? Who would have concluded that the idea that God had forgiven all of our unrighteous deeds, past, present, and future, could lead to a moral revolution that would inspire men to serve and love others more than themselves? Our God is greater than we can imagine still, because he does his great works through the most insignificant of people: us.
Though we look poor, God says we have great wealth in heaven. Though we are broken, God says we are to be the healers of others. Though we are people from many lands and languages, God says we are all one family. Though we are often persecuted, God says we are to be the most peaceful people of all. Though we are often condemned for our faith, we are the only ones who enjoy true freedom.
I know that the American church does not experience the same poverty of other churches. We do not experience the same persecution, and we are not usually imprisoned for our faith. We live in a land that has been different than others for over 200 years, and we can praise God for that. But, we have also failed to be the integrated church we could have been, we have failed to be a people broken by our own iniquities and the iniquities of our nation far more often than we have embraced the brokenness to which God has called us.
Yet, our God is still a God of paradoxes. That church which has been most unfaithful can still become the most faithful. God's Word is described as powerful and living, and as our God still lives, he can still do miracles. We are not a people without hope, no matter what our current circumstances may be. For no matter what confronts us, our God is still the controller of the universe, and our circumstances come from his hand. We can praise him in times of ease, and sing of his goodness in times of suffering. Let us embrace the God of paradoxes, the only true God, who turns defeat into victory, and brings eternal life from the death of his son on the cross.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The God of all Provision
When I was 18, I moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with a friend for about 6 months, moved back home for a couple of months, and then moved back to Ft. Lauderdale again (my friend, once again, needed a roommate). When my friend first talked to me about moving the conversation went something like this:
"Do we have jobs?"
"Not yet."
"Do we have a place to stay?"
"I'm working on that."
"Do we have any money saved up?"
"I have enough for about a month."
Of course, with that kind of plan in place, I could not refuse the offer. So, we hopped in his car, I loaded up my 2 (maybe 3) boxes of clothes (all I owned) and we drove 8 hours to Ft. Lauderdale.
Now, in all honesty, I did not simply move because he asked me if I wanted to go and he had such an amazing plan. I went with him, in part, because I wanted to know what I really believed in. You see, I had come to faith in Christ at about the age of 9, and I grew up in a Christian home. My father had gone through seminary and my mother grew up as a Christian and was informed about her faith. But, because I grew up with parents who were so firmly convinced of Christianity, I had never really had anyone challenge me on my faith.
I realized that it was possible that I did not really believe, that I only thought I had faith, and that, in all reality, it was only the cultural influence of my parents and growing up in the deep South that had prompted me to think of myself as a Christian. So, in order to determine for myself what I really believed in, I decided that I would move with my friend to Florida, read and study, and seek God. And that is what I did. I sought God, read in the free time I had available, and tried to determine what the real evidence was for Christianity and whether I was a believer.
But, at the same time that I wanted to answer all the questions I had about my own faith, I had to survive. My friend was quite serious, he had enough money to get us through about a month. I had some money also, but I spent the money I had nearly immediately, buying the necessities for life. I bought food and cleaning supplies, cooking utensils and other necessities like that. But, even if you have the food and tools to cook with, if you don't have anywhere to cook it, you'll still go hungry. I needed a job fast, so I could afford to pay my rent.
Because we moved right around September I figured I would go to the local mall and look for a seasonal job. After a couple of days I was able to find a place to work, making $6.25/hr, as a holiday worker. At that time, $6.25 was about $0.50 more than minimum wage, but at the same time I had to pay one third of the living expenses for an apartment that cost something like $1050 a month, not including water, electric, and other amenities. And, shortly after we got there, we found the other guy we were rooming with didn't actually have a job, so my friend and I were covering half the expenses each. In case you are trying to figure things out, at 40 hours a week at $6.25 an hour I was making about $1000 a month, before taxes, around $800 or less after, of which over $500 was going just to rent. We still had to pay for food, electricity, entertainment, or any other possible expense, along with putting money aside for savings.
Yet, despite everything that could have gone wrong, from losing my job after the holidays ended, to having sudden additional expenses, none of it did. I was hired on permanently after the holidays, I was given massive amounts of over time (sometimes working 60-80 hours a week) and I was able to spend a lot of time reading, studying, and coming to know Christ more each day. God was demonstrating his care for me in providing every physical thing I needed. But, more than the food in my belly or the root over my head, God was demonstrating his care for me in revealing himself to me as I sought to learn more about him.
In Florida, I slept on the floor, used a towel as a pillow, and did not have a blanket. I worked in a CD store in a mall, making just over minimum wage and sought every opportunity I could for overtime. I walked about a mile and a half to work in the fall and winter heat of southern Florida. (I know, it used to be that people walked a lot more than that, most of us today don't want a mile a day though. I was fortunate too that it was winter, but please be aware, southern Florida only has heat, it is never cool.) Living in Florida was hard, I would be lying to say that I look back with nostalgia and long for those days again. Yet, despite it all, I never went hungry, I never went wanting, because God provided for me in the midst of all things.
A local pastor in the area I'm living in now reminded me of what Scripture says in Psalm 37:25: "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." I have been young, I'm not yet old, but I can agree with David: I have yet to see the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Even now, I'm unemployed and looking for work, yet God continues to provide for my wife and me. In hard economic times, and in good economic times, it is God in whom we place our trust, not our money, not our skills, not our own genius, but God alone.
"Do we have jobs?"
"Not yet."
"Do we have a place to stay?"
"I'm working on that."
"Do we have any money saved up?"
"I have enough for about a month."
Of course, with that kind of plan in place, I could not refuse the offer. So, we hopped in his car, I loaded up my 2 (maybe 3) boxes of clothes (all I owned) and we drove 8 hours to Ft. Lauderdale.
Now, in all honesty, I did not simply move because he asked me if I wanted to go and he had such an amazing plan. I went with him, in part, because I wanted to know what I really believed in. You see, I had come to faith in Christ at about the age of 9, and I grew up in a Christian home. My father had gone through seminary and my mother grew up as a Christian and was informed about her faith. But, because I grew up with parents who were so firmly convinced of Christianity, I had never really had anyone challenge me on my faith.
I realized that it was possible that I did not really believe, that I only thought I had faith, and that, in all reality, it was only the cultural influence of my parents and growing up in the deep South that had prompted me to think of myself as a Christian. So, in order to determine for myself what I really believed in, I decided that I would move with my friend to Florida, read and study, and seek God. And that is what I did. I sought God, read in the free time I had available, and tried to determine what the real evidence was for Christianity and whether I was a believer.
But, at the same time that I wanted to answer all the questions I had about my own faith, I had to survive. My friend was quite serious, he had enough money to get us through about a month. I had some money also, but I spent the money I had nearly immediately, buying the necessities for life. I bought food and cleaning supplies, cooking utensils and other necessities like that. But, even if you have the food and tools to cook with, if you don't have anywhere to cook it, you'll still go hungry. I needed a job fast, so I could afford to pay my rent.
Because we moved right around September I figured I would go to the local mall and look for a seasonal job. After a couple of days I was able to find a place to work, making $6.25/hr, as a holiday worker. At that time, $6.25 was about $0.50 more than minimum wage, but at the same time I had to pay one third of the living expenses for an apartment that cost something like $1050 a month, not including water, electric, and other amenities. And, shortly after we got there, we found the other guy we were rooming with didn't actually have a job, so my friend and I were covering half the expenses each. In case you are trying to figure things out, at 40 hours a week at $6.25 an hour I was making about $1000 a month, before taxes, around $800 or less after, of which over $500 was going just to rent. We still had to pay for food, electricity, entertainment, or any other possible expense, along with putting money aside for savings.
Yet, despite everything that could have gone wrong, from losing my job after the holidays ended, to having sudden additional expenses, none of it did. I was hired on permanently after the holidays, I was given massive amounts of over time (sometimes working 60-80 hours a week) and I was able to spend a lot of time reading, studying, and coming to know Christ more each day. God was demonstrating his care for me in providing every physical thing I needed. But, more than the food in my belly or the root over my head, God was demonstrating his care for me in revealing himself to me as I sought to learn more about him.
In Florida, I slept on the floor, used a towel as a pillow, and did not have a blanket. I worked in a CD store in a mall, making just over minimum wage and sought every opportunity I could for overtime. I walked about a mile and a half to work in the fall and winter heat of southern Florida. (I know, it used to be that people walked a lot more than that, most of us today don't want a mile a day though. I was fortunate too that it was winter, but please be aware, southern Florida only has heat, it is never cool.) Living in Florida was hard, I would be lying to say that I look back with nostalgia and long for those days again. Yet, despite it all, I never went hungry, I never went wanting, because God provided for me in the midst of all things.
A local pastor in the area I'm living in now reminded me of what Scripture says in Psalm 37:25: "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." I have been young, I'm not yet old, but I can agree with David: I have yet to see the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Even now, I'm unemployed and looking for work, yet God continues to provide for my wife and me. In hard economic times, and in good economic times, it is God in whom we place our trust, not our money, not our skills, not our own genius, but God alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)