This is the song that my alarm clock plays every morning. It never gets old. He is truly the Lord of patience.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
My Most Recommended Book of the Year (So Far)
In my mind, I categorize books by shapes and colors. Systematic theologies are square, black and white books. They are ridged and inflexible. Practical or pastoral books are round and green. They are fluid and add more immediate growth. Fictional books are many shapes and sizes; their colors are similarly just as changing.
But there are also books that are in a category of their own - fictional or non. These books, while they may be strictly categorized by genre, make up their own genre. These books are razor sharp and are crimson in color. They are gospel-centered and change us every time we turn a page. They are fearless, with little regard for the superficial desires of their audience. And they are by nature ultimately rooted in the service of their Savior King.
There is one book I have read this year that fits into this category. It is Love Walked Among Us by Paul Miller. I highly recommend this book; and am just a few steps away from pastorally burdening your conscience with guilt and shame should you not read it within the next month! (Note: that's a joke)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
My Water Fountain: A Word Concerning Segregation
How does a people group get over this? Do laws wipe away the pain, degradation and imposed inferiority away? Does time heal the wounds? Are parents and grandparents who had to drink from different fountains, who had to use different bathrooms, who were pointed to the back of the bus, and who were, in every sphere of social culture, reminded of their inferiority, able to suppress the natural reflexes of oppression so that their children don't see - so that their children aren't affected?
There are people we see every day who were taught from an early age that they are less than human. The above is just one example of a globe filled, from all ages, with image bearers who live and have lived to suppress that image in others. This type of degradation is not typical for must of us. Therefore, we are very sensitive to any hint of it in our own lives. But imagine if it was the norm - the acceptable way of life.
This post is an encouragement and admonition for us to recognize that people are more than mere actions. Our good works and our bad ones are so much more than superficial movements of the body. If we look at others with this mindset we reduce them to matter in time and space. And when we allow what people do to eclipse who people are we neglect their significance, dignity and intrinsic worth as brothers and sisters created in the image of God.
When I drive through the neighborhood I love so much and see a young man who is unemployed, with a criminal record, and who apparently has no belt, I must resist with all of my might the desire to make him less-than-me. I must resist my deep desire to see only his apparent irresponsibility. I must fight to see his history, family, culture and his heart. He was created like me. He was born into this world a sinner like me. He may do really stupid things...like me. And he really needs a Savior, like me.
I must damn segregation to hell where it belongs. And, I must die to myself and invite him to the Water Fountain who has so graciously quenched my thirst (John 4).
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
There is No "Normal Life."
I am a man in my thirties. For some reason, I believe all men, after reaching this season of life begin to love tools. We are fixers, and we are always ready to make something unbroken. My children often praise me as the one who can fix anything from Spiderman's leg to Barbie's arm. The irony here is that I have a honey-do list hovering over my head right now. I have a ton of things to fix in my house. I cannot wait for the day when I have made all the repairs so that I can be done.
Unfortunately, I think many of us have this mentality when it comes to people. Whether a pastor, care giver, parent or friend, we want people in our lives repaired so that we can be done. Damaged people have a tendency to be very dependent. They call a lot. They need a lot. They force us to consider them when making our own plans. They even demand that we give up our own resources, agendas, and schedules. The faster they are fixed, they faster we can get back to our "normal life."
The only problem with this is that people don't get fixed. As soon as a wound (whether spiritual or physical) is closed, another one opens. How many times have I seen deliverance in one area only to be shown a much deeper and dangerous one! As a people, we are always bleeding. We are always dependent upon the resources of another. We are always progressing from the "least of the apostles" to the "chief of sinners." There are no independent, unbroken people.
And there certainly is no "normal life."
The Lord's command to love others demands that other (broken) people have some say in all that we do. Consequently, this life is plagued with the blessings of inconvenience, sacrifice, and servanthood. The Lord has constructed the relational universe around the paradigm of dying to one's self. Sure, we may choose to seclude ourselves in the coffin of selfishness (a hint of a Lewis quote I once read); but this only leads to more brokenness, which in turn leads to more dependency. It's just a matter of time before someone has to feed us and take us to the bathroom.
A wise man in our church told me once that its all about managing people's expectations. I believe he is right. And I also believe that the Lord does this well - we just don't like to be managed. Many times, before expectations can be managed, certain expectations must be destroyed. The commandment to love does just that. We don't repair ourselves and others to be done. We desire redemption through love in ourselves and others that we may one day be glorified. Glory is the "normal life." We just can have it yet. In the mean time, allow the broken places to remind us that we are not our own; that this is not our home; and that this is life is [thankfully] but a breath.
Unfortunately, I think many of us have this mentality when it comes to people. Whether a pastor, care giver, parent or friend, we want people in our lives repaired so that we can be done. Damaged people have a tendency to be very dependent. They call a lot. They need a lot. They force us to consider them when making our own plans. They even demand that we give up our own resources, agendas, and schedules. The faster they are fixed, they faster we can get back to our "normal life."
The only problem with this is that people don't get fixed. As soon as a wound (whether spiritual or physical) is closed, another one opens. How many times have I seen deliverance in one area only to be shown a much deeper and dangerous one! As a people, we are always bleeding. We are always dependent upon the resources of another. We are always progressing from the "least of the apostles" to the "chief of sinners." There are no independent, unbroken people.
And there certainly is no "normal life."
The Lord's command to love others demands that other (broken) people have some say in all that we do. Consequently, this life is plagued with the blessings of inconvenience, sacrifice, and servanthood. The Lord has constructed the relational universe around the paradigm of dying to one's self. Sure, we may choose to seclude ourselves in the coffin of selfishness (a hint of a Lewis quote I once read); but this only leads to more brokenness, which in turn leads to more dependency. It's just a matter of time before someone has to feed us and take us to the bathroom.
A wise man in our church told me once that its all about managing people's expectations. I believe he is right. And I also believe that the Lord does this well - we just don't like to be managed. Many times, before expectations can be managed, certain expectations must be destroyed. The commandment to love does just that. We don't repair ourselves and others to be done. We desire redemption through love in ourselves and others that we may one day be glorified. Glory is the "normal life." We just can have it yet. In the mean time, allow the broken places to remind us that we are not our own; that this is not our home; and that this is life is [thankfully] but a breath.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Does the Lord Control All Things? And, Does It Really Matter?
God's works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions (WSC 11). To put it simply, the Lord controls all things. The seasons, the seas, and even our circumstances are all under the willful decision of our Maker. This wonderful truth should bring us to feel the effects of his majesty as well as our own finitude.
The wording of the shorter catechism, along with the immediate complexities that arise from the doctrine itself, have a tendency to make us lock this truth tightly inside the box of impracticality. Unlocking the box, we think, demands we fully comprehend things like the relationship between his control and the freedom of his creatures (freedom defined biblically), the problem of suffering, and other perplexing ideas. Most of us don't have the time or capacity for this and so we shelf the subject altogether.
In some respects, our own desire to be God, keeps us from worshipping and trusting God. Unless we are all knowing, we cannot possibly be all trusting. But the Lord has not left us completely in the dark. His word is full of searchable depths for us to explore. I do believe it is important for us to know that even if we have not explored those depths, we can still benefit from the doctrine.
In this post, I'd like to point out two practical ways the doctrine of providence is beneficial for us.
First, the Lord's control over all things encourages us to obey his commandments. It is vital for us to know that he can and will provide for us as we "step out in faith." Contrary to popular belief, being a follower of Christ often takes us into places where we are immediately tempted to distrust his power and provision. I am thinking of the Exodus when Israel was led into the wilderness, and the gospel accounts of when Jesus fed thousands. In each account, people followed the Lord and found themselves lacking simple physical provisions.
Similarly, and perhaps more significantly, a follower of Christ will certainly face relational deprivation as well. He or she will be hated for the sake of the gospel. He or she will be confronted with the willful surrendering of property, time, and energy. To live for Christ is to die to self - to lose one's life.
But living for Christ is not only this. The promises run through deprivation into glory where believers will be heavily rewarded for their labors with the inheritance (1Pet 1:4), treasures in heaven (Matt 6:20), and a crown of glory (1Pet 5:4). We have many reasons to obey. But, doubtful questions always linger and eventually may dissuade us. Questions like, "Will the Lord make good on his promise?" "Is he able to come through?" "If I lose everything now, can he give me everything then?" Our doctrine of providence (along with many others, like his faithfulness) tell us, "Yes he can (and will)!"
Second, the Lord's control over all things humbles us as we live in and through this difficult world. We are not our own, and we are not ultimately in control - not even of our own lives. When we find ourselves in the midst of trials and tribulations, our immediate tendency is to blame the situation. Our boss is mean, our teacher is unfair or unclear, our spouse is unloving or disrespectful, our church is not the right church for us, and the list goes on and on. The problem, we conclude, is our circumstance.
The doctrine of providence informs us that this is not likely to be the case. The problem of our life is not our circumstance, but our sin. The wilderness was not the problem, but the grumbling desires of the people. The Lord used circumstances to shape and test his people. In his providence he used hunger to bring about humility; and thirst to bring about dependency and trust (Deut 8:1-3).
The doctrine of providence is highly practical, even for those who have not read volumes on the subject. It is a doctrine for the simplest of Christians. It is truth for the Lord's church that brings about repentance, faith, hope, and love.
The wording of the shorter catechism, along with the immediate complexities that arise from the doctrine itself, have a tendency to make us lock this truth tightly inside the box of impracticality. Unlocking the box, we think, demands we fully comprehend things like the relationship between his control and the freedom of his creatures (freedom defined biblically), the problem of suffering, and other perplexing ideas. Most of us don't have the time or capacity for this and so we shelf the subject altogether.
In some respects, our own desire to be God, keeps us from worshipping and trusting God. Unless we are all knowing, we cannot possibly be all trusting. But the Lord has not left us completely in the dark. His word is full of searchable depths for us to explore. I do believe it is important for us to know that even if we have not explored those depths, we can still benefit from the doctrine.
In this post, I'd like to point out two practical ways the doctrine of providence is beneficial for us.
First, the Lord's control over all things encourages us to obey his commandments. It is vital for us to know that he can and will provide for us as we "step out in faith." Contrary to popular belief, being a follower of Christ often takes us into places where we are immediately tempted to distrust his power and provision. I am thinking of the Exodus when Israel was led into the wilderness, and the gospel accounts of when Jesus fed thousands. In each account, people followed the Lord and found themselves lacking simple physical provisions.
Similarly, and perhaps more significantly, a follower of Christ will certainly face relational deprivation as well. He or she will be hated for the sake of the gospel. He or she will be confronted with the willful surrendering of property, time, and energy. To live for Christ is to die to self - to lose one's life.
But living for Christ is not only this. The promises run through deprivation into glory where believers will be heavily rewarded for their labors with the inheritance (1Pet 1:4), treasures in heaven (Matt 6:20), and a crown of glory (1Pet 5:4). We have many reasons to obey. But, doubtful questions always linger and eventually may dissuade us. Questions like, "Will the Lord make good on his promise?" "Is he able to come through?" "If I lose everything now, can he give me everything then?" Our doctrine of providence (along with many others, like his faithfulness) tell us, "Yes he can (and will)!"
Second, the Lord's control over all things humbles us as we live in and through this difficult world. We are not our own, and we are not ultimately in control - not even of our own lives. When we find ourselves in the midst of trials and tribulations, our immediate tendency is to blame the situation. Our boss is mean, our teacher is unfair or unclear, our spouse is unloving or disrespectful, our church is not the right church for us, and the list goes on and on. The problem, we conclude, is our circumstance.
The doctrine of providence informs us that this is not likely to be the case. The problem of our life is not our circumstance, but our sin. The wilderness was not the problem, but the grumbling desires of the people. The Lord used circumstances to shape and test his people. In his providence he used hunger to bring about humility; and thirst to bring about dependency and trust (Deut 8:1-3).
The doctrine of providence is highly practical, even for those who have not read volumes on the subject. It is a doctrine for the simplest of Christians. It is truth for the Lord's church that brings about repentance, faith, hope, and love.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
To Do Lists and Christ's Second Greatest Commandment
Contrary to popular opinion, the second greatest commandment is sufficient (in the context of the first greatest commandment) to guide us through the Christian life. Too often, its generality is mistaken for impracticality. We don't believe Christ to be precise enough. He doesn't tell us where to go, who to approach, what to say or give to them, and so on. As a pastor, I get the plaguing question many times in a given month - "What am I supposed to do with my life?" When I answer, "Love your neighbor as yourself," I get odd looks. The answer just isn't precise or practical enough.
The second greatest commandment is not as precise as we would like for at least two (related) reasons.
First, the commandment keeps us from being lord of our own lives. It lovingly and authoritatively keeps us in our created position as servants of our King. The general commandment to love helps us to see that life is not about accomplishing tasks for the sake of accomplishing tasks. The purpose of any commandment is love, and love demands intimate and continual relationship with both our Lord and others. The generality of the commandment keeps us connected to Christ. It reminds us we need him every moment.
The Lord may certainly [particularly] call someone to, say, build their house in the hood; but this is only after that person has followed the commandment (by grace) to love his or her neighbor who lives in the hood. In order to love, he or she must live where the object(s) of that love live(s). The precise command to build serves only as a means to meet the greater command to love. And this must always be the case.
With that said, the other reason for the imprecise nature of the second commandment is that it establishes Christ as Lord. It dethrones other masters. If you think about it, other masters (including ourselves) are extremely precise in their commands. Those who are "mastered" by their to-do lists know this truth well. These masters fill our lives with so many tasks that we cannot possibly have time to love others. In some ways we like these masters more than the Lord. Their particular instructions are manageable and controllable. I can build a house. It is a concrete, doable command.
It's a whole lot more convenient than loving the Mexican immigrant I pass by as I walk into Lowe's to buy light fixtures. Buying the fixture for the house is controllable. But the immigrant may ask me for work, money, food, time or whatever. If I stop to "love" him, I must relinquish all control of my life. If I follow the command to love, I don't call the shots. Someone else, whom I cannot control, does.
But, if I stop to "love" him, I will soon hear the particular ways in which this person needs to be loved. Ironically, if I love him, my to-do list soon fills up.
The general command to love, if we trust our Lord in following it, soon fills our particular list. The best list is the one written by someone else's needs and desires. The best to-dos are those that ultimately end in loving others. The particular commands, however, that end in filling our own selfish desires, will keep us from Christ's greatest commandments. They will ultimately keep us from Christ himself.
The second greatest commandment is not as precise as we would like for at least two (related) reasons.
First, the commandment keeps us from being lord of our own lives. It lovingly and authoritatively keeps us in our created position as servants of our King. The general commandment to love helps us to see that life is not about accomplishing tasks for the sake of accomplishing tasks. The purpose of any commandment is love, and love demands intimate and continual relationship with both our Lord and others. The generality of the commandment keeps us connected to Christ. It reminds us we need him every moment.
The Lord may certainly [particularly] call someone to, say, build their house in the hood; but this is only after that person has followed the commandment (by grace) to love his or her neighbor who lives in the hood. In order to love, he or she must live where the object(s) of that love live(s). The precise command to build serves only as a means to meet the greater command to love. And this must always be the case.
With that said, the other reason for the imprecise nature of the second commandment is that it establishes Christ as Lord. It dethrones other masters. If you think about it, other masters (including ourselves) are extremely precise in their commands. Those who are "mastered" by their to-do lists know this truth well. These masters fill our lives with so many tasks that we cannot possibly have time to love others. In some ways we like these masters more than the Lord. Their particular instructions are manageable and controllable. I can build a house. It is a concrete, doable command.
It's a whole lot more convenient than loving the Mexican immigrant I pass by as I walk into Lowe's to buy light fixtures. Buying the fixture for the house is controllable. But the immigrant may ask me for work, money, food, time or whatever. If I stop to "love" him, I must relinquish all control of my life. If I follow the command to love, I don't call the shots. Someone else, whom I cannot control, does.
But, if I stop to "love" him, I will soon hear the particular ways in which this person needs to be loved. Ironically, if I love him, my to-do list soon fills up.
The general command to love, if we trust our Lord in following it, soon fills our particular list. The best list is the one written by someone else's needs and desires. The best to-dos are those that ultimately end in loving others. The particular commands, however, that end in filling our own selfish desires, will keep us from Christ's greatest commandments. They will ultimately keep us from Christ himself.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)