The Many Ways of Destroying the Church

My mom is so cool..

I sent her this post and asked her if I could post her response. She agreed...

The Many Ways of Destroying the Church

via Challies Dot Com on 12/19/09

I read a great quote earlier this week on Timmy Brister's blog and thought it was worth sharing. It comes from D.A. Carson (in his book The Cross and Christian Ministry). What struck me about these words was just how many of these ways of destroying a church I've witnessed either up-close or from afar. As soon as we remove the cross from the center of all the church is and does, something will inevitably rush in to replace it.

The ways of destroying the church are many and colorful. Raw factionalism will do it. Rank heresy will do it. Taking your eyes off the cross and letting other, more peripheral matters dominate the agenda will do it-admittedly more slowly than frank heresy, but just as effectively over the long haul. Building the church with superficial 'conversions' and wonderful programs that rarely bring people into a deepening knowledge of the living God will do it. Entertaining people to death but never fostering the beauty of holiness or the centrality of self-crucifying love will build an assembling of religious people, but it will destroy the church of the living God. Gossip, prayerlessness, bitterness, sustained biblical illiteracy, self-promotion, materialism-all of these things, and many more, can destroy a church. And to do so is dangerous: 'If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple (1 Cor. 3:17)." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Mom's repsonse:

Dear Johnny,

Thank you for sending this to me.  I think this is excellent in explaining how insidiously and subtly the church turns into a religious social network.  I would love to see how building a true church with the additional beautiful aspect of grace would look.  They must be rare because I haven’t seen too many.  This reminds me of the dual calling in the New Testament of living in truth and love.  Truth without love beats people up with the law.  Love without truth places people above God.  It is a lovely thing to see a person (let alone a whole church) living in harmony this way.  You can’t miss God if these are working equally and people are truly transformed.

I am looking forward to Christmas.  However, I am really looking forward to having times to talk to you.  I miss you and am counting the days until you and Jessica get here!

Love you,

Mom

FOXNews.com - Abortion, Social Justice and Health Care Reform

This is a wonderful article on the issues facing the health care overhaul and the hypocrisy of the self-proclaimed more socially-oriented left.

FOXNews.com - Abortion, Social Justice and Health Care Reform

Posted using ShareThis

How murder actually works.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,580567,00.html

U.K. Man Jailed for Killing Wife With TV Remote Control

 

	This makes me wonder.. Do we interpret murder as a successful act? When we think about how Jesus defined it, we see a different angle. Jesus is talking about the attitude of the heart. Sadly, the attitude of the heart still accomplished it's end, even if others want to call it a fluke.

Publish Post

How to Get Stuff

Ok, I am at work, but I wanted to vocalize a struggle while I am in the midst of it, so that I can vocalize the resolution on the other side.

Basically the problem is this: I have stuff, and in the U.S. part of living here is getting more stuff to take care of your other stuff. Getting more status to get more money to take care of your stuff. Getting more family and friends and more status to pay for their stuff and for them.

So the question that arises, is this: Where in scripture do we find instruction for getting stuff? Even good stuff? Where do we find direction for things like buying a cheeseburger, or going out for a movie? Where do we get instruction for going out to buy a house?

Its weird. We know that Jesus told us not to borrow from anyone and to not expect any sort of repayment for loans that we give out. Yet, we knock ourselves into debt to go to school, to "own" houses, and to drive cars.

What I have been told as I go through these thoughts are things like, "These aren't bad things," and "how else are you going to live," and "we are expected to be wise with these things." I dont want to disregard any of these responses, but I am also trying to reconcile the general timbre of the New Testament with these statements.

Here is what is in my head with regard to this dilemma:

Peter said, "His divine power has given us everything that we need for life and godliness by his own power and goodness."

Jesus said, (paraphrastically) "Don't worry about tomorrow," and "Don't strive for clothing, food, shelter, etc.," because the Gentiles strive for these things. And then he points them to the birds and the lillies of the field. "How much more does your Father in heaven love you than these, and they dont have to worry about provisions."

Paul said, "I have learned the secret of being content in riches, poverty, and any situation." He said this after saying this:

Phil 3:17-21 - "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

So, if anyone is out there reading.. I know this will seem elementary, but go with me on this. Can you can think of Scripture that speaks to the following question? If so, please comment:

Question: Where does scripture give instruction for when you are faced with a need and how to know when it is right to purchase something, go into debt, invest, etc.?

Um

Busy... VERY Busy.

-Me

You will see me

I cast a cold stare on the battles I faced today.

I have lost sight of you in the rush again.

God wasn’t this done to serve you anyway?

I guess what I am saying is I feel so far off.

And like all the days before your voice tells me again.

Calming my nervous heart with renewing words.

You will see me and you will know me.

Though for now you struggle to understand.

In your seeking to serve the needing.

You will find the fullness of who I am.

Why do I fear people more than the God I serve?

Knowing that I’ll never know until I fear you.

Why can’t I love and serve like your Son here on this earth?

Why must I be broken and humbled again and again?

And like all the times before I’ve wondered why

You tell me to be still and listen.

You will see me and you will know me.

Though for now, you struggle to understand.

How in my shaping in your heart breaking

I can show you the fullness of who I am.

And like He’s said so many times before.

I will never leave and won’t stop until I am done.

Who is this God who takes such great care

To make me conformed to the image of his son?

He is a God, worthy of my praise.

He is an object of worship never expiring.

The healer, the teacher, the guide.

So now I can rest and respond to this great love.

Though imperfectly, now I can sing with a grateful heart.

He who sees me, is he who knows me.

Is he who I am trying to understand.

And in this leading, I am daily needing.

He becomes the fullness of who I am.

Led

God leads people. He also doesn't lead people. Sometimes you are placed in the desert. Sometimes what is really paradise feels like a desert. Sometimes God chooses the simple things to shame the proud. He also takes the proud and holds them in opposition.

Father, I have no words. All of mine so far feel dry or fake. Please grant me the grace once more of your Spirit's intercession. Wrought am I, and your work is done well. Only may your work be done so fully that all is softened, and I am yours again.

indoctrination

Yes.. I know.. two posts in one day? Tantamount to sacrilege!!! However, I found a little resource on Reformed Catechisms.

I think this would be fantastic resource to help teach the youth in our churches.

http://prca.org/Catechisms/catechism-index.htm

Question: What is your gut reaction to the term: "indoctrination?"

A different spirit

It is always nice to run across someone who is willing to think outside the box. You may have heard from time to time that, "Jesus is not white." Here is a great example. His posts are quite thought-provoking -- and are indeed of a different spirit...

http://www.differentspirit.org/

Think!

ministry

Look, I have been frustrated as of late, with a very particular annoyance. It seems that my plans for my life and Gods plans for my life are vastly different. I typically find myself drawn into something that I wouldn't intend for myself of my own volition. Often I can say, "Your will be done," but lately, I am too tired, and generally have been accomplishing very little that is tangible.

I would love to be out there, full-tilt, preaching the gospel, reaching out to the oppressed and marginalized, and making the most of the hours that I have felt have been wasting away.
But, this is a very sad commentary on things, and one which makes me look like a victim, and God much like a boss or a supervisor. I have failed in this area, to see what a blessing I have been given. During all my tremblings over my impatience with a God who, "still isn't using me." I have missed the point!!!

Here I have spent the last 19ish years learning and growing, sometimes intentionally, and most often by God's marvelous grace alone. I have learned trades, arts, talents, leadership, etc. all for the sake of use in ministry. However, I don't know how it is all going to work. What and when will God use these things in their fullness? When will I be able to give as fully as I have been receiving? All seemingly good questions, but they all lack a crucial element.
I once said that if God were to give me a small piece of sod to water and mow in the kingdom, that I would rather have that and do it well, then to be overwhelmed and only half-perform. I would like to come before God and be able to be confident that his grace was motivation enough to fully care for that little patch of earth. If I am not content with that, then what? We seek the "Well done, good and faithful servant, " not, "much done" yes? (I am speaking metaphorically, as I don't think God's will for our lives revolves singularly around tasks, petty or not.)
Much more, much richer, much dearer, much stronger, and much livelier is the task he has granted me. It is a task, that if I let it, will consume my entire life. It is a task that is underrated, underworked, with a bountiful harvest. It is the most precious of treasures. And aside from its metaphoric connection to that most beautiful of treasures, the kerygma, the gospel, the life/word, logos, it is the greatest conception that God ever bestowed upon man, and one that he orginated at the start of it all. Woman.

Space and time will not allow me to delve into the depths of this subject. O, for a thousand tongues to sing my Redeemer's praise, I think no less than 3 employed at length would need to sing of my love for my wife. It is that glorious companionship and love that men so deeply need.
So, that is my ministry. One day, I will know what vocational direction I am to go. I will know what the next step is. But ultiamately, that has nothing to do with this.

To conclude, it's simple: I proclaim the gospel in my love for my wife. I mean seriously, what more could you want?

Haggai - Build On!

Hope. Hope is that quality about us humans that links us through our faith to the greatest we believe. I think that many moderns hoped in their ability to know, and thus, all effort was made to achieve knowledge. I think that many post-moderns hope in history, trusting it to work itself out, since in our "situatedness" we are unable to speak of absolutes completely. I think that many of my days are spent wondering about what I should not wonder about.

What I got out of Haggai was that God was very clear about his intentions. He made sure that people understood that while they were busy about building up their own lives, they had left God's house, the temple, in ruins. God issued a mandate moving the people to action, and he makes it happen. He goes down and stirs the spirit of the people, the rulers, and the religious guides to action. What you have then, it God motivating internally to participate in a fantastic project.

Think of the tremendous hope this should inspire. If we truly believe (which is the important part) that our redemption through the sacrifice of His Son is complete, and if we believe that our account has been adjusted from sin and is readjusted with the positive benefit of righteousness, we can hope that even in the matters that swirl around us in our day, God can move the spirits of those around us to participate in a meaningful project.

What is the meaningful project? Jesus interprets this for us: "But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added" (Mat 6:33). The question that should confront our minutes of the day, affections of the heart, and the frailty of our minds, is what are these resources being directed towards? Worrying about tomorrow and trying to prepare for it in a large sense is too distracting.

Well... gotta work. Go read Haggai.. should only take a few minutes...

A snowfall

These days find me looking for work like much of the country. Actually, like much of the world. I would have to be an ego-maniac if I thought that I was personally being marginalized. There is a bigger picture. However, it is still frustrating to think on these things. Ramble ramble...
There is a weird sort of irony that befalls the ambitious. Just when you think that you are on your way to changing things and making a difference, you are given a taste of the bigger picture and your mind is changed. You find a sense of disillusionment settling on you like a light snow settles soundlessly on hedges in the front lawn. You missed it. What you thought you were working for was not at all what you were really after.
I truly believe that it is through these circumstances that God shows us the depth of his love for us. It is when our snow-fallen, crest-fallen, mistaken ambition is revealed that we are opened and our true nature is exposed. We are allowed to see, if only for a brief moment, our motives, our desires, our goals, and how they fall infinitely short of his glory. He doesn't do this to hurt us, but to reveal our sources of ambition so we can submit them to Him.
In my case, I have been working in my current environment as a supervisor of a small, efficient team of part-time workers. I have accomplished quite a deal in organization and structure, and have enjoyed seeing the effects of my labor. I was able to draw from multiple life-experiences in this position, and boost productivity while instituting policy change that has radically affected our workflow. All of this has been done in a vacuum and apart from any sort of direct guidance, but with a freedom that gave me the opportunity to work hard and get stuff done.
In recent months, with the growing concern for the economy, I have begun to ask questions of long-term intentions, including trying to secure a full-time spot that was open. Suddenly, I had crossed the line. What everyone had seemed so supportive of was now not so important, and while people had sung the praises of my work, the singing had stopped. The snow was beginning to fall.
As the months have rolled on, the painful process of realizing how little my work has mattered to the people who are in the position to make decisions has prompted me to re-examine much of what I thought I already had figured out. I had thought my goals were set. I had thought my motive was godly, appropriate and thought-out. In fact, I had made decisions that were based on trusting God with our future, finances, and education. But what I found out was that I had put myself in a position to fuel my personal ambition and not one that would let God be Lord.
Life is very complex. I have never been in a position where everything makes sense. However, the more I learn and the more I study, the more I am convinced that God defies our understanding. Instead of standing aside of the pain of the circumstance, and analyzing it, I am slowly learning that perhaps I am not meant to understand it. Perhaps I am meant TO EXPERIENCE IT. Could it be that God intends pain for his creatures, not for the analysis, but for the lesson learned experientially? I do think so. Now I am standing in the pain, learning it, almost tasting it. It is a beautiful, lovely, and terrible way that a loving God communicates life-truth to his beloved.
Make no mistake about it, knowledge about a situation is not the same as the KNOWLEDGE OF SITUATION. My encouragement to anyone reading this post is to risk the title of the masochist. Look into the river of freezing water rushing past you, or the cold calm snow befalling you. Stop analyzing it. Stop fixing it. Jump in. Let the snow collect on your opened ambition. This is intended to change your mind in a transformational way that facts alone cannot do.

Oh, and if you are curious about the wedding, we have pictures!! Navigate our wedding site, if you dare :)

John

http://jj.bolthouse.net