"Imagine we are all the same. Imagine we agree about politics, religion and morality. Imagine we like the same types of music, art, food and coffee. Imagine we all look alike. Sound boring? Differences need not divide us. Embrace diversity. Dignity is everyone’s human right."
-- Bill Brummel, Documentary filmmaker.
His programs focus on human rights issues.
imagine that we live in a world where anyone who wrote or said anything that sounds all inclusive and unoffensive, even if otherwise making no sense, can be quoted on a coffee cup.
the problem with statements like mr. brummel's is that they only work as long as someone else' s being "diverse" doesn't infringe on their own politics, religion, morality, etc. sure, when stacked up right next to differences in preference of art, food and music, it sounds good. but no one is going to hell because i didn't tell them my coffee was the only true coffee. no one is going to spend their adult years living in regret of their past mistakes because i didnt give them a c.d. of my favorite singer songwriter. millions of lives do not hang in the balance when i dont call a ladder surrounded by christmas tree lights with a naked peacock carcass "art".
don't be fooled by slick statements and philosophies that make no sense when you think about them.
as much as i like the beatles and john lennon's songs, the song "imagine", while a beautiful song musically, and a nice sentiment, is just a blathering sonic "pout".
and how did we get from "we should all be able to enjoy different music, food, art, and coffee" to "dignity is everyone's human right"? in america, by and large, do we know anyone who witholds the right of dignity to someone because of their taste in entertainmen or food, or even politics or religion? even those who hate other poltical parties, or try to keep christianity from "taking over" don't refuse dignity to those they disagree with.
don't be fooled by overstatements and false dichotomies.
in acts 17, luke writes of the bereans, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." (verse 11).
i pray that i would be a "berean" when it comes to examining the ideas and philosophies of our day, examining the scriptures daily, to see if these things are so.
may our lives be goverened by the word of god, not short sound bytes from talk show hosts, celebrities, or coffee cups.
-stephen
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
coffee quotes....
a lot of you may have seen (or heard if you're not a coffee drinker) about the starbucks "the way i see it" quotes on their coffee cups. recently, i have been paying more than casual attention to them, and have been surprised at some of the nonsense that appears on the back of those oh so delicious cups of caffinated goodness. (can you tell it is nearing finals time??)
now, by nonsense, i do not mean they make no coherent sense. on the surface, they usually do. if you were to just read some of them in passing, you mightthink "hmm.. that's true." take this one i had last weekend for instance...
the way i see it #84
"in thinking about my journey so far here on planet earth, i have come to believe that there are some people who would rather be right than be loved. i would rather be loved. how about you?" -- wynonna judd
now, upon the initial reading, this doesnt sound so bad. who among us don't want to be loved?
when it coems to petty arguments, i can see her point. what the *real answer* is in trivial pursuit or scrabble, or discussing sports trivia really just doesnt matter.. no one likes a "know it all", so why not just enjoy the good company rather than trying to always correct people and be the one who is always right.
o.k. wynonna, im with you on this one.
but what about when it comes to the gospel? what if you have lost friends or family that tell you that they can believe whatever they want, and as long as they believe it sincerely, they will be in heaven? what if they get mad when you try to tell them that the bible says that christ is the only way to the father, and that there is only one way to salvation. what if they tell you that they love you, but they dont want to talk about it anymore. what if they say that if you love them, you would leave them alone. what if they tell you that you are closed minded and you need to be more accepting of those who are different?
what if you are told by a homosexual friend that if you can't accept that their lifestyle is a valid one and perfectly ok, and if you cant support them then they don't want to hear anything you say?
would you rather be loved by them, or be right?
jesus christ said that he is the only way to salvation. (john 14:6) it is not unloving to tell someone who is trusting on their morality or good works, or buddha, mohammed, or some other means to attain salvation that they are wrong.
now obviously, i am not suggesting that we become calloused christians who throw away any regard for personal relationships. we cant share the gospel with or minister people who we chase off because we treat them as a project. it is not about "being correct". it is about knowing the truth and sharing it... just like we are commanded.(matt.28:19-20)
but when it comes to the gospel, telling them that our message is the only "right" truth so that they might turn to christ*is* loving them.
i find that, mor often than not, i am apt to be light on the gospel, and heavy on the "don't disturb the still waters" when it comes to boldy sharing the gospel.
scripture paints no picture of christ or the apostles being sheepish about the truth. sometimes the most loving thing we can do is tell people that the way the are living, or what they believe is a lie.
again, obviously we are to speak the truth in love, not just go around trying to prove we are the ones who are right, just for the sake of being seen as "the one who is right." heaven and hell are at stake, and to compromise the gospel for the sake of "being loved" is selfish at best, and "wrong" at worst.
-stephen
now, by nonsense, i do not mean they make no coherent sense. on the surface, they usually do. if you were to just read some of them in passing, you mightthink "hmm.. that's true." take this one i had last weekend for instance...
the way i see it #84
"in thinking about my journey so far here on planet earth, i have come to believe that there are some people who would rather be right than be loved. i would rather be loved. how about you?" -- wynonna judd
now, upon the initial reading, this doesnt sound so bad. who among us don't want to be loved?
when it coems to petty arguments, i can see her point. what the *real answer* is in trivial pursuit or scrabble, or discussing sports trivia really just doesnt matter.. no one likes a "know it all", so why not just enjoy the good company rather than trying to always correct people and be the one who is always right.
o.k. wynonna, im with you on this one.
but what about when it comes to the gospel? what if you have lost friends or family that tell you that they can believe whatever they want, and as long as they believe it sincerely, they will be in heaven? what if they get mad when you try to tell them that the bible says that christ is the only way to the father, and that there is only one way to salvation. what if they tell you that they love you, but they dont want to talk about it anymore. what if they say that if you love them, you would leave them alone. what if they tell you that you are closed minded and you need to be more accepting of those who are different?
what if you are told by a homosexual friend that if you can't accept that their lifestyle is a valid one and perfectly ok, and if you cant support them then they don't want to hear anything you say?
would you rather be loved by them, or be right?
jesus christ said that he is the only way to salvation. (john 14:6) it is not unloving to tell someone who is trusting on their morality or good works, or buddha, mohammed, or some other means to attain salvation that they are wrong.
now obviously, i am not suggesting that we become calloused christians who throw away any regard for personal relationships. we cant share the gospel with or minister people who we chase off because we treat them as a project. it is not about "being correct". it is about knowing the truth and sharing it... just like we are commanded.(matt.28:19-20)
but when it comes to the gospel, telling them that our message is the only "right" truth so that they might turn to christ*is* loving them.
i find that, mor often than not, i am apt to be light on the gospel, and heavy on the "don't disturb the still waters" when it comes to boldy sharing the gospel.
scripture paints no picture of christ or the apostles being sheepish about the truth. sometimes the most loving thing we can do is tell people that the way the are living, or what they believe is a lie.
again, obviously we are to speak the truth in love, not just go around trying to prove we are the ones who are right, just for the sake of being seen as "the one who is right." heaven and hell are at stake, and to compromise the gospel for the sake of "being loved" is selfish at best, and "wrong" at worst.
-stephen
Saturday, April 15, 2006
intermission...
ive gotten a few emails and such wondering when the next post is coming. i always appreciate those and the comments left on here, thanks for reading.
the semester is winding down and due dates for position papers and such are coming at a rapid pace. hopefully, within the next week, i can get to a starbucks quote that i cut off of my cup to write about.
have a blessed resurrection day. ill post the lyrics to one of the most amazing songs about "easter" that i have ever heard.
the lines "when jesus took in that breath, and shattered all death with his life" gives me chills, as i picture a lifeless body not breathing for 3 days, suddenly being filled with life, and jesus christ breathing in, and with that breath, defeating death. we would all do well to just think about the significance of that . along with " go on you wages of sin, go dont you come back again", this *is* the significance of the resurrection. not simply that a dead man rose, but that that man was the son of god, and his rasing and life, freed us from the power of death.
the other line that always puts a lump in my throat, simply because i so rarely mediate on the truth of it, is "the mouth of the tomb shouted 'glory!! the groom is alive!!!"
how often do we even feel like shouting that jesus christ is alive??
i hope you are as blessed by them as i always am. the song is called "high noon" by andrew peterson, from his album "love and thunder". if you dont own it, it should be your next music purchase. simply amazing. -stephen
"high noon" from the album "love and thunder" by andrew peterson
high noon in the valley of the shadow when the deep of the valley was bright
when the mouth of the tomb shouted, "glory, the groom is alive"
"so long, you wages of sin go on, don't you come back again
i've been raised and redeemed you've lost all your sting
to the victor of the battle
at high noon in the valley of the shadow"
now the demons, they danced in the darkness when that last ragged breath left his lungs
and they reveled and howled at the war that they thought they had won
but then, in the dark of the grave the stone rolled away
in the still of the dawn on the greatest of days
it was High noon in the valley of the shadow when the shadows were shot through with light when jesus took in that breath and shattered all death with his life
so long, you wages of sin go on, don't you come back again
i've been raised and redeemed you've lost all your sting to the victor of the battle
high noon in the valley of the shadow
let the people rejoice let the heavens resound
let the name of jesus, who sought us and freed us forever ring out
all praise to the fighter of the night who rides on the light
whose gun is the grace of the God of the sky
it was high noon in the valley of the shadow when the shadows were shot through with light
when the mouth of the tomb shouted, "Glory, the Groom is alive"
so long, you wages of sin i said go on, don't you come back again
i've been raised and redeemed all praise to the king ,the victor of the battle
high noon in the valley of the shadow
Copyright 2003 New Spring Publishing, Inc.
the semester is winding down and due dates for position papers and such are coming at a rapid pace. hopefully, within the next week, i can get to a starbucks quote that i cut off of my cup to write about.
have a blessed resurrection day. ill post the lyrics to one of the most amazing songs about "easter" that i have ever heard.
the lines "when jesus took in that breath, and shattered all death with his life" gives me chills, as i picture a lifeless body not breathing for 3 days, suddenly being filled with life, and jesus christ breathing in, and with that breath, defeating death. we would all do well to just think about the significance of that . along with " go on you wages of sin, go dont you come back again", this *is* the significance of the resurrection. not simply that a dead man rose, but that that man was the son of god, and his rasing and life, freed us from the power of death.
the other line that always puts a lump in my throat, simply because i so rarely mediate on the truth of it, is "the mouth of the tomb shouted 'glory!! the groom is alive!!!"
how often do we even feel like shouting that jesus christ is alive??
i hope you are as blessed by them as i always am. the song is called "high noon" by andrew peterson, from his album "love and thunder". if you dont own it, it should be your next music purchase. simply amazing. -stephen
"high noon" from the album "love and thunder" by andrew peterson
high noon in the valley of the shadow when the deep of the valley was bright
when the mouth of the tomb shouted, "glory, the groom is alive"
"so long, you wages of sin go on, don't you come back again
i've been raised and redeemed you've lost all your sting
to the victor of the battle
at high noon in the valley of the shadow"
now the demons, they danced in the darkness when that last ragged breath left his lungs
and they reveled and howled at the war that they thought they had won
but then, in the dark of the grave the stone rolled away
in the still of the dawn on the greatest of days
it was High noon in the valley of the shadow when the shadows were shot through with light when jesus took in that breath and shattered all death with his life
so long, you wages of sin go on, don't you come back again
i've been raised and redeemed you've lost all your sting to the victor of the battle
high noon in the valley of the shadow
let the people rejoice let the heavens resound
let the name of jesus, who sought us and freed us forever ring out
all praise to the fighter of the night who rides on the light
whose gun is the grace of the God of the sky
it was high noon in the valley of the shadow when the shadows were shot through with light
when the mouth of the tomb shouted, "Glory, the Groom is alive"
so long, you wages of sin i said go on, don't you come back again
i've been raised and redeemed all praise to the king ,the victor of the battle
high noon in the valley of the shadow
Copyright 2003 New Spring Publishing, Inc.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
stand up straight, son!
in chapel today, we had the privelage of being led in worship by some members of the indelible grace band. i have written about indelible grace group before (there is a link to their website over to the left side of this page), and would strongly encourage you to get at least one, if not all four of their c.d.'s. from the "indelible grace" series. they have taken the texts from some wonderful old hymns and put them to newer musical settings.
now when i say "new" if you are thinking "rock music", you would be wrong. most of the settings are folk based melodies and are intentionally written so that they can be used in corporate worship. they are written in a new and fresh way, but not following any trends that will leave them outdated in 2 years. for corporate or individual worship, these hymns are so rich, and you would be doing yourself and your church a favor by being (re)introduced to these hymns.
[the community that makes up "indelible grace" includes such musicians and songwriters as present and formemer members of caedmon's call (andrew osenga, derek webb), jars of clay (dan haseltine, charlie lowell), the normals (andre osenga and cason cooley) and other lesser known but equally (if not more so) talented singer/songwriters sandra mccracken, matthew smith, jeremy casella, katy bowser, and others.]
one of the songs that they lead this morning was "arise my soul, arise" (words by charles wesley)
as i stood there in the back row looking at and singing those words, i was overcome.
now i have become very aware of how someone like myself, can get emotionally involved with good music. sometimes a song or even background music from christi and my's favorite t.v. show (buffy the vampire slayer...yeah yeah.. move on...) will make me tear up if it is timed particularly well and the stting and mood is just right.
this was *not* the case today. i didnt even want to go to chapel. i am so far behind in my reading, for my classes, not to mention all of my work to do in greek i had planned on getting some work done over a cup of coffee in a nice secluded place. but since i was unable to go to the 2 hr. "concert" (for lack of a better word) tonight that indelible grace was doing, i decided to go to chapel and hear them for a few songs.
but as i stood their singing.... these words ripped right through me... please dont skip over these.. read them carefully, and make yourself the subject of the "i"'s and "me"'s...
1. Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice, in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
2. He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead;
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Arise my soul arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
3. Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
Arise my sould arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
4. The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son;
The Spirit answers to the blood,
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God.
Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
5. My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence i now draw nigh
and "Father ! Abba Father!" cry!!
Arise my soul arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
i stood their, trying to sing, at times unable, as the magnitude of the truth of that song hit me.
jesus wounds cried out "forgive him!!!" christ intercedes for me, and it is because of his righteousness that i have any right standing before the father... it is because of christ, that i can call the god of the universe "father" i can approach him with confidence!!!
my sould couldnt help but arise and stand up straight!!! oh the liberation of breaking free of the slumped shouldered posture that had so weighed down my heart by dwelling on my insufficiencies...often neglecting to consider the glorious truth of my right standing before god because of christ!!
how often we go through our lives as christians with our heads down, dragging our heels because we can't seem to get our focus off of our own failures! we spend so much time contemplating what we dont do enough of, or what we aren't getting right, it is no wonder when we come to worship, we feel so burdened we can do no more than stand and sing familiar words with no emotion or conviction outside of frustration.
because of christ's death, every christian is righteous in the sight of god. not only if we have had a good day. not only if we are winning more than losing in our struggles with sin.
but everyday, we stand rightoeus in front of god, because his son died in our place, and now his rightoeusness is our own.
this does not free us to be disobedient or to live carelessly, but it does liberate us from the bondage of feeling so far away from a holy god that we can never mesure up to. we can approach the throne of grace with confidence!! not because we have been good enough, but because we have the perfect righteousness of christ!
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (rom. 8:31-39)
may your soul shake off any guilty fears and rise up in light of this glorious truth
-stephen
now when i say "new" if you are thinking "rock music", you would be wrong. most of the settings are folk based melodies and are intentionally written so that they can be used in corporate worship. they are written in a new and fresh way, but not following any trends that will leave them outdated in 2 years. for corporate or individual worship, these hymns are so rich, and you would be doing yourself and your church a favor by being (re)introduced to these hymns.
[the community that makes up "indelible grace" includes such musicians and songwriters as present and formemer members of caedmon's call (andrew osenga, derek webb), jars of clay (dan haseltine, charlie lowell), the normals (andre osenga and cason cooley) and other lesser known but equally (if not more so) talented singer/songwriters sandra mccracken, matthew smith, jeremy casella, katy bowser, and others.]
one of the songs that they lead this morning was "arise my soul, arise" (words by charles wesley)
as i stood there in the back row looking at and singing those words, i was overcome.
now i have become very aware of how someone like myself, can get emotionally involved with good music. sometimes a song or even background music from christi and my's favorite t.v. show (buffy the vampire slayer...yeah yeah.. move on...) will make me tear up if it is timed particularly well and the stting and mood is just right.
this was *not* the case today. i didnt even want to go to chapel. i am so far behind in my reading, for my classes, not to mention all of my work to do in greek i had planned on getting some work done over a cup of coffee in a nice secluded place. but since i was unable to go to the 2 hr. "concert" (for lack of a better word) tonight that indelible grace was doing, i decided to go to chapel and hear them for a few songs.
but as i stood their singing.... these words ripped right through me... please dont skip over these.. read them carefully, and make yourself the subject of the "i"'s and "me"'s...
1. Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice, in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
2. He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead;
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Arise my soul arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
3. Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
Arise my sould arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
4. The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son;
The Spirit answers to the blood,
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God.
Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
5. My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence i now draw nigh
and "Father ! Abba Father!" cry!!
Arise my soul arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
i stood their, trying to sing, at times unable, as the magnitude of the truth of that song hit me.
jesus wounds cried out "forgive him!!!" christ intercedes for me, and it is because of his righteousness that i have any right standing before the father... it is because of christ, that i can call the god of the universe "father" i can approach him with confidence!!!
my sould couldnt help but arise and stand up straight!!! oh the liberation of breaking free of the slumped shouldered posture that had so weighed down my heart by dwelling on my insufficiencies...often neglecting to consider the glorious truth of my right standing before god because of christ!!
how often we go through our lives as christians with our heads down, dragging our heels because we can't seem to get our focus off of our own failures! we spend so much time contemplating what we dont do enough of, or what we aren't getting right, it is no wonder when we come to worship, we feel so burdened we can do no more than stand and sing familiar words with no emotion or conviction outside of frustration.
because of christ's death, every christian is righteous in the sight of god. not only if we have had a good day. not only if we are winning more than losing in our struggles with sin.
but everyday, we stand rightoeus in front of god, because his son died in our place, and now his rightoeusness is our own.
this does not free us to be disobedient or to live carelessly, but it does liberate us from the bondage of feeling so far away from a holy god that we can never mesure up to. we can approach the throne of grace with confidence!! not because we have been good enough, but because we have the perfect righteousness of christ!
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (rom. 8:31-39)
may your soul shake off any guilty fears and rise up in light of this glorious truth
-stephen
Thursday, March 02, 2006
trash bags and god's faithfulness...
yes... thats right... two posts in two days.... with a broken arm no less!!
the end is near...
recently a friend was telling a group of friends of some financial struggles he and his wife were going through. as i listened, i couldnt help but remember when christi and i were in a tight place financially last summer when i was without a job.
while i was jobless, we were really low, and by low, i mean almost completely out,of cash.
we had run out of trashbags, so while we were getting groceries, we went to the aisle with the trashbags. when we saw the prices, we actually started calculating which would be the better deal-number of bags per dollar, to see how long we could make it with the least amount of bags. or how long we could go on a bigger box, and not have to buy more for a long time.
the box we got ended up being around$6.
when we got home, they were the wrong size.
christi just burst into tears that we had spent that much on trash bags that were too small and we werent even able to get all of the groceries we wanted. i remember standing there feeling helpless, that i had been trying to find a job with no luck, trying to force the trashbags that were too small into the can, and wondering if i was failing as a husband.
that was back during this past summer. we just recently made it to the end of that box of bags and it made me smile, because the lord has brought us this far, and something as simple as trashbags that were too small reminded me of how graciously he provides.
our world didnt end because the bags were too small. the ironic thing was, we still had things to throw away, so we were obviously better off than a lot of people in the world.
the lord isnt gracious simply because we dont have to calcuate cost per trashbag these days, he is gracious anyway. but in this instance, more than the job he eventually provided for me, and the wonderful job christi has, along with the blessings of having wonderful families and friends who help us along the way, is his faithfulness and graciousness in reminding me of the reality of how he provides when i look at an empty box of trashbags.
-stephen
the end is near...
recently a friend was telling a group of friends of some financial struggles he and his wife were going through. as i listened, i couldnt help but remember when christi and i were in a tight place financially last summer when i was without a job.
while i was jobless, we were really low, and by low, i mean almost completely out,of cash.
we had run out of trashbags, so while we were getting groceries, we went to the aisle with the trashbags. when we saw the prices, we actually started calculating which would be the better deal-number of bags per dollar, to see how long we could make it with the least amount of bags. or how long we could go on a bigger box, and not have to buy more for a long time.
the box we got ended up being around$6.
when we got home, they were the wrong size.
christi just burst into tears that we had spent that much on trash bags that were too small and we werent even able to get all of the groceries we wanted. i remember standing there feeling helpless, that i had been trying to find a job with no luck, trying to force the trashbags that were too small into the can, and wondering if i was failing as a husband.
that was back during this past summer. we just recently made it to the end of that box of bags and it made me smile, because the lord has brought us this far, and something as simple as trashbags that were too small reminded me of how graciously he provides.
our world didnt end because the bags were too small. the ironic thing was, we still had things to throw away, so we were obviously better off than a lot of people in the world.
the lord isnt gracious simply because we dont have to calcuate cost per trashbag these days, he is gracious anyway. but in this instance, more than the job he eventually provided for me, and the wonderful job christi has, along with the blessings of having wonderful families and friends who help us along the way, is his faithfulness and graciousness in reminding me of the reality of how he provides when i look at an empty box of trashbags.
-stephen
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
fractured...
i am typing this post timidly due to a fractured elbow i sustained in my basketball league game sunday. the swelling and pain have reduced rapidly over the last day or so, and the orthopedic surgeon says everything should be just fine in about 6-8 weeks, with the normal range of motion returning in 7-10 days. it doesnt really hurt to type, its just kind of uncomfortable.
fortunately, i had already planned on posting the link to the website i mentioned a few posts back. it just launched today, and will come out with a new "issue" every 3 months, much like a quarterly newsletter. the address is www.justthesimpletruth.com
i havent personally read every entry, so i am not necessairily endorsing every view that may be presented, but i know some of the people behind the scenes and know that their intentions are honorable.
i hope you will check out the website . check back every three months for a new issue.
and if you are insanely bored, you can compare the initial essay i wrote (found below under "dr. phil") and what actually made it onto the website after the 'editing' process.
have a great week, and i plan on being back next week.
grace and peace,
-stephen
fortunately, i had already planned on posting the link to the website i mentioned a few posts back. it just launched today, and will come out with a new "issue" every 3 months, much like a quarterly newsletter. the address is www.justthesimpletruth.com
i havent personally read every entry, so i am not necessairily endorsing every view that may be presented, but i know some of the people behind the scenes and know that their intentions are honorable.
i hope you will check out the website . check back every three months for a new issue.
and if you are insanely bored, you can compare the initial essay i wrote (found below under "dr. phil") and what actually made it onto the website after the 'editing' process.
have a great week, and i plan on being back next week.
grace and peace,
-stephen
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
"don't waste your cancer"
i ordinarily don't like to cut and paste things on here, but i just recieved this from john piper's website www.desiringgod.org
piper was diagnosed with cancer right after christmas, and he wrote the following 2 nights ago, before having prostate surgery.
don't just read this... marinate in it. may we all take such a god cenetered view of all the opportunities that arise in our lives, whether it be cancer or suddenly recieving wealth or fame.
-stephen
___________________________________________________
I write this on the eve of prostate surgery. I believe in God’s power to heal—by miracle and by medicine. I believe it is right and good to pray for both kinds of healing. Cancer is not wasted when it is healed by God. He gets the glory and that is why cancer exists. So not to pray for healing may waste your cancer. But healing is not God’s plan for everyone. And there are many other ways to waste your cancer. I am praying for myself and for you that we will not waste this pain.
1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it.
2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel” (Numbers 23:23). “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
The design of God in your cancer is not to train you in the rationalistic, human calculation of odds. The world gets comfort from their odds. Not Christians. Some count their chariots (percentages of survival) and some count their horses (side effects of treatment), but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). God’s design is clear from 2 Corinthians 1:9, “We felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” The aim of God in your cancer (among a thousand other good things) is to knock props out from under our hearts so that we rely utterly on him.
4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
We will all die, if Jesus postpones his return. Not to think about what it will be like to leave this life and meet God is folly. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning [a funeral] than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” How can you lay it to heart if you won’t think about it? Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Numbering your days means thinking about how few there are and that they will end. How will you get a heart of wisdom if you refuse to think about this? What a waste, if we do not think about death.
5. You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
Satan’s and God’s designs in your cancer are not the same. Satan designs to destroy your love for Christ. God designs to deepen your love for Christ. Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ. It is meant to help you say and feel, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” And to know that therefore, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 3:8; 1:21).
6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
It is not wrong to know about cancer. Ignorance is not a virtue. But the lure to know more and more and the lack of zeal to know God more and more is symptomatic of unbelief. Cancer is meant to waken us to the reality of God. It is meant to put feeling and force behind the command, “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). It is meant to waken us to the truth of Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” It is meant to make unshakable, indestructible oak trees out of us: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2). What a waste of cancer if we read day and night about cancer and not about God.
7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (Philippians 2:26-27). What an amazing response! It does not say they were distressed that he was ill, but that he was distressed because they heard he was ill. That is the kind of heart God is aiming to create with cancer: a deeply affectionate, caring heart for people. Don’t waste your cancer by retreating into yourself.
8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
Paul used this phrase in relation to those whose loved ones had died: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). There is a grief at death. Even for the believer who dies, there is temporary loss—loss of body, and loss of loved ones here, and loss of earthly ministry. But the grief is different—it is permeated with hope. “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Don’t waste your cancer grieving as those who don’t have this hope.
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
Are your besetting sins as attractive as they were before you had cancer? If so you are wasting your cancer. Cancer is designed to destroy the appetite for sin. Pride, greed, lust, hatred, unforgiveness, impatience, laziness, procrastination—all these are the adversaries that cancer is meant to attack. Don’t just think of battling against cancer. Also think of battling with cancer. All these things are worse enemies than cancer. Don’t waste the power of cancer to crush these foes. Let the presence of eternity make the sins of time look as futile as they really are. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).
10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.
Christians are never anywhere by divine accident. There are reasons for why we wind up where we do. Consider what Jesus said about painful, unplanned circumstances: “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:12 -13). So it is with cancer. This will be an opportunity to bear witness. Christ is infinitely worthy. Here is a golden opportunity to show that he is worth more than life. Don’t waste it.
Remember you are not left alone. You will have the help you need. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Pastor John
from www.desiringgod.org
piper was diagnosed with cancer right after christmas, and he wrote the following 2 nights ago, before having prostate surgery.
don't just read this... marinate in it. may we all take such a god cenetered view of all the opportunities that arise in our lives, whether it be cancer or suddenly recieving wealth or fame.
-stephen
___________________________________________________
I write this on the eve of prostate surgery. I believe in God’s power to heal—by miracle and by medicine. I believe it is right and good to pray for both kinds of healing. Cancer is not wasted when it is healed by God. He gets the glory and that is why cancer exists. So not to pray for healing may waste your cancer. But healing is not God’s plan for everyone. And there are many other ways to waste your cancer. I am praying for myself and for you that we will not waste this pain.
1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it.
2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel” (Numbers 23:23). “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
The design of God in your cancer is not to train you in the rationalistic, human calculation of odds. The world gets comfort from their odds. Not Christians. Some count their chariots (percentages of survival) and some count their horses (side effects of treatment), but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). God’s design is clear from 2 Corinthians 1:9, “We felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” The aim of God in your cancer (among a thousand other good things) is to knock props out from under our hearts so that we rely utterly on him.
4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
We will all die, if Jesus postpones his return. Not to think about what it will be like to leave this life and meet God is folly. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning [a funeral] than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” How can you lay it to heart if you won’t think about it? Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Numbering your days means thinking about how few there are and that they will end. How will you get a heart of wisdom if you refuse to think about this? What a waste, if we do not think about death.
5. You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
Satan’s and God’s designs in your cancer are not the same. Satan designs to destroy your love for Christ. God designs to deepen your love for Christ. Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ. It is meant to help you say and feel, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” And to know that therefore, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 3:8; 1:21).
6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
It is not wrong to know about cancer. Ignorance is not a virtue. But the lure to know more and more and the lack of zeal to know God more and more is symptomatic of unbelief. Cancer is meant to waken us to the reality of God. It is meant to put feeling and force behind the command, “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). It is meant to waken us to the truth of Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” It is meant to make unshakable, indestructible oak trees out of us: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2). What a waste of cancer if we read day and night about cancer and not about God.
7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (Philippians 2:26-27). What an amazing response! It does not say they were distressed that he was ill, but that he was distressed because they heard he was ill. That is the kind of heart God is aiming to create with cancer: a deeply affectionate, caring heart for people. Don’t waste your cancer by retreating into yourself.
8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
Paul used this phrase in relation to those whose loved ones had died: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). There is a grief at death. Even for the believer who dies, there is temporary loss—loss of body, and loss of loved ones here, and loss of earthly ministry. But the grief is different—it is permeated with hope. “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Don’t waste your cancer grieving as those who don’t have this hope.
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
Are your besetting sins as attractive as they were before you had cancer? If so you are wasting your cancer. Cancer is designed to destroy the appetite for sin. Pride, greed, lust, hatred, unforgiveness, impatience, laziness, procrastination—all these are the adversaries that cancer is meant to attack. Don’t just think of battling against cancer. Also think of battling with cancer. All these things are worse enemies than cancer. Don’t waste the power of cancer to crush these foes. Let the presence of eternity make the sins of time look as futile as they really are. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).
10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.
Christians are never anywhere by divine accident. There are reasons for why we wind up where we do. Consider what Jesus said about painful, unplanned circumstances: “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:12 -13). So it is with cancer. This will be an opportunity to bear witness. Christ is infinitely worthy. Here is a golden opportunity to show that he is worth more than life. Don’t waste it.
Remember you are not left alone. You will have the help you need. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Pastor John
from www.desiringgod.org
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
god, revelation, and dr. phil
the following is an article i was asked to submit for a forthcoming web magazine ("just the simple truth- a newsletter for biblical discernment") that will publish its first issue next month.(hence the capital letters and footnotes). i was going to write about the "top 50 christians" on here anyway, and the two seemed to merge as i was writing for the column. i'll let you know when the webzine starts up. it should be a great resource.
-stephen
God, Revelation, and Dr. Phil
I just finished reading a publications list of the “Top 50 Most Influential Christians in America”[1]. Upon finishing the list, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh, cry, be angry, or drop to the floor in prayer. Probably a combination of all four. Among those chosen as top representatives of Christianity was a man who denies the Trinity, another who has publicly stated he doesn’t preach about sin, more than one who practices prayer to humans, and top television syndicated talk show host Dr. Phil, who I, myself, nor anyone I have asked, had even heard is a Christian before now. But apparently, he is the “50th” most influential Christian in America.
I had no idea.
Such lists come from varying publications on a regular basis, and thankfully, there are usually a few true representatives of our faith included. But overall, I am usually frustrated with these lists, because they are so misleading. I shudder to think of the casual reader who reads these lists, and assumes it is safe to believe and follow the teachings of those on it.
It is imperative that we let the Word of God be our guide as we wade through the overwhelming amount of speakers, preachers, writers, and cultural icons who either claim to be, or are pronounced by someone else as reliable sources of authority of truth. How can we know if a speaker, preacher, or author is speaking the truth? We measure him by what he believes about scripture, as well as comparing what he says to scripture. What God says is our ultimate source of truth. In order to know if someone is speaking truth, we must examine what God has revealed to us.
God has revealed Himself to us in two ways. General Revelation and Divine Revelation. The discussion and understanding of these separate types of revelation is necessary in order to clearly establish what we believe to be the means in which God reveals Himself, what He reveals, and the importance, necessity, and sufficiency of what is revealed.
General Revelation
General revelation can be defined as “that revelation of God by which one receives and is aware of as a result of being, living in, and observing the environment in which one is, and which was created by God.” Paul speaks of this revelation in Romans 1:18-21 and following:
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened…[2]
Simply by being a creation that is observing, receiving, acting, responding, and for all intents and purposes “living” in the environment of the Creator, there are characteristics of the Creator that are known. They are not simply available to be observed, but are inescapable. That God is creator (Acts 17:25), eternal (Rom. 1:20, Acts 17:25), invisible (Rom. 1:20), personal (Ps.104: 24), and is involved in His creation and sustainer of it (Acts 14:15-16; 17:24-28) are all things that are known to all man due to general revelation. Also known to all men is a basic moral code that is held by the conscience (Rom. 1:32), and their guilt (Rom.1:32 ; 2:14-16).
This knowledge as a result of general revelation is also a means of common grace granted by God to all mankind, believer or not. Imagine a world where murder, dishonesty, or even cowardice were not universal vices. However, this is not the case. In the fallen world in which we live, even a community of unregenerate thieves will feel wronged if they are stolen from, lied to, or physically harmed - by one of their own, or anyone else. These are the facts. Creation needs a Creator. Universal moral codes need a basis for its uniformity.
Special Revelation
What general revelation cannot reveal, however, is the way of salvation. Christ Himself stated in John 14:6 that no one could come to Father without coming through Him. Salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Only faith in Christ can grant salvation. Not by good works, not by observing a moral code, not by sacrifices to appease the wrath of a deity. Only faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for sins can bring salvation. This is where Romans 10 raises the importance, the essential need, for special revelation.
Paul says in his letter to the Romans:
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching…
17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
(Rom. 10:13-14,17)[3]
General revelation lacks the gospel. No one can know the gospel by observing the world in which they live. Mankind knows it is guilty, but what does one do to appease the “wrath of god”(Rom. 1:18)? On the basis of general revelation alone, mankind cannot be saved. More is needed.
Special revelation is the knowledge of God through His disclosing his direct word through prophets, Christ Himself, and the other writings that make up Scripture. The 1689 London Confession puts it this way.
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased…. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments… All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life[4]
With the special revelation of God, man can know the only way for salvation. Scripture alone is necessary for salvation, whether by reading, or by hearing it preached faithfully.
“…you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”(1 Peter 1:23)[5]
Not only does special revelation inform us of the way of salvation, but it also reveals to us the fullness and definite will of God. General revelation gives us notions of right and wrong, but special revelation is God’s deliberate act of bestowing his will in the lives of those who hear His word. (Deut. 29:29; Ps. 1:1-2, 119:1; John 14:15, Heb. 1:1; 1 John 5:3)
God’s word in the form of scripture gives us clear and distinct knowledge on every aspect he intends to address. Wayne Grudem states:“ … it can be argued that the Bible is necessary for [knowledge with certainty] about anything.”[6]
Since it is God alone who has supreme knowledge of everything, it is only by consulting His word that we can have confidence in what we do know, because the One with ultimate knowledge has told us. We can know with confidence the things that God has revealed through His word are true and necessary. As summed up by Paul in his second letter to Timothy:
“…and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 timothy 23:15-17)[7]
It is not enough for someone to call himself or herself “Christian”. Nor is it enough for them to be a pastor, a theologian, an author whose books are sold in Christian bookstores, or even a “Christian musician”. Before we place ourselves under anyone’s teachings or worldview in order to learn from them and apply their teachings and advice, we need to be well informed of what God says about the topic. Anytime the two teachings contradict each other, or do not agree, we absolutely must follow scripture.
We must be people of discernment. No one person is perfect. I do not know of anyone person that I agree with on every absolute detail of everything scripturaly, but I do know that there is a major distinction between matters of opinion and interpretation, and direct disagreement with scripture.
Of course this whole conversation assumes our own familiarity with scripture. It is no wonder that the health, wealth, and prosperity “gospel” is running rampant not only in our culture, but also in our churches. One of the biggest dangers facing us today is how quickly we are to trust someone just because they quote a passage of scripture. We need to wake up and realize that throughout the history of the Church some of the largest heresies and cults have quoted and quote passages from the Bible. Just because a guy in a suit has a Bible that he reads from does not at all mean that he is teaching the Bible properly. If we are not intimately acquainted with the scriptures, then we are less likely to notice error when we hear or read it coming from someone else, or even, ourselves.
So what do we do with all of this? This can put us in one of three places. First, we can choose ignorance, opting to blindly follow those with the biggest smiles, the catchiest phrases and mantras, and the biggest and most technologically savvy churches assuming that bigger, flashier, and newer is always better. In that same line, we can also choose to continue following the traditions and teachings of those we have always followed, never stopping to consider and test what we are hearing and reading by God’s word. There are indeed some practices that are thousands of years old that are either absent from scripture, or in complete rebellion to it, that are still practiced by millions under the name of “Christianity.”
We should always ask ourselves, “What is the ‘gospel’ this person is preaching?” If it is not salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, it is a false Gospel. Too many times, there is no “gospel” preached at all -just a lot of self-help and self-esteem psychobabble about how to have a better ________. The message of scripture will be used by the Holy Spirit to point us to Christ whose purpose should be all of ours… to glorify the Father.
If this is not the aim of the messenger, the message is not worthy of our time.
Second, we can choose paralyzing paranoia. We can become so paranoid of false teachings that we refuse to trust anyone about anything. This choice leaves little else to write about because, if this is the case, why am I still typing, and why are you still reading?
Or we can choose to place ourselves under the authority of those who make public their love of, and their desire to teach only what is in accordance with scripture. We can choose to spend time in the word ourselves, praying that the Lord will open our hearts to absorb and cherish and soak in His truth, and to be acquainted with it and Him in the most intimate way possible. We can hold our leaders and ourselves accountable to rightly handling God’s word, and not twisting it to meet our needs or agendas.
God alone can be our ultimate source of truth. He has revealed himself to us and has given us His Word so that we may know how to know Him, love Him, worship Him, and how to live a life of obedience to Him. Anything anyone, even one of the top fifty “Christians” in America says that does not correspond to the Word of God is to be avoided at all costs.
Sanctify them in Your truth, for Your word is truth. - John 17:17
-Stephen Lee Cavness is a Master of Divinity student in the school of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He and his wife, Christi, attend LaGrange Baptist Church where he teaches for the Crossroads Young Adult Ministry.
[1] The Church Report - http://www.thechurchreport.com/content/view/823/32/
[2] English Standard Version – emphasis mine
[3] Ibid.
[4] The London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689
[5] Ibid.
[6] Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology , Zondervan 1994, page 119
[7] ESV
-stephen
God, Revelation, and Dr. Phil
I just finished reading a publications list of the “Top 50 Most Influential Christians in America”[1]. Upon finishing the list, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh, cry, be angry, or drop to the floor in prayer. Probably a combination of all four. Among those chosen as top representatives of Christianity was a man who denies the Trinity, another who has publicly stated he doesn’t preach about sin, more than one who practices prayer to humans, and top television syndicated talk show host Dr. Phil, who I, myself, nor anyone I have asked, had even heard is a Christian before now. But apparently, he is the “50th” most influential Christian in America.
I had no idea.
Such lists come from varying publications on a regular basis, and thankfully, there are usually a few true representatives of our faith included. But overall, I am usually frustrated with these lists, because they are so misleading. I shudder to think of the casual reader who reads these lists, and assumes it is safe to believe and follow the teachings of those on it.
It is imperative that we let the Word of God be our guide as we wade through the overwhelming amount of speakers, preachers, writers, and cultural icons who either claim to be, or are pronounced by someone else as reliable sources of authority of truth. How can we know if a speaker, preacher, or author is speaking the truth? We measure him by what he believes about scripture, as well as comparing what he says to scripture. What God says is our ultimate source of truth. In order to know if someone is speaking truth, we must examine what God has revealed to us.
God has revealed Himself to us in two ways. General Revelation and Divine Revelation. The discussion and understanding of these separate types of revelation is necessary in order to clearly establish what we believe to be the means in which God reveals Himself, what He reveals, and the importance, necessity, and sufficiency of what is revealed.
General Revelation
General revelation can be defined as “that revelation of God by which one receives and is aware of as a result of being, living in, and observing the environment in which one is, and which was created by God.” Paul speaks of this revelation in Romans 1:18-21 and following:
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened…[2]
Simply by being a creation that is observing, receiving, acting, responding, and for all intents and purposes “living” in the environment of the Creator, there are characteristics of the Creator that are known. They are not simply available to be observed, but are inescapable. That God is creator (Acts 17:25), eternal (Rom. 1:20, Acts 17:25), invisible (Rom. 1:20), personal (Ps.104: 24), and is involved in His creation and sustainer of it (Acts 14:15-16; 17:24-28) are all things that are known to all man due to general revelation. Also known to all men is a basic moral code that is held by the conscience (Rom. 1:32), and their guilt (Rom.1:32 ; 2:14-16).
This knowledge as a result of general revelation is also a means of common grace granted by God to all mankind, believer or not. Imagine a world where murder, dishonesty, or even cowardice were not universal vices. However, this is not the case. In the fallen world in which we live, even a community of unregenerate thieves will feel wronged if they are stolen from, lied to, or physically harmed - by one of their own, or anyone else. These are the facts. Creation needs a Creator. Universal moral codes need a basis for its uniformity.
Special Revelation
What general revelation cannot reveal, however, is the way of salvation. Christ Himself stated in John 14:6 that no one could come to Father without coming through Him. Salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Only faith in Christ can grant salvation. Not by good works, not by observing a moral code, not by sacrifices to appease the wrath of a deity. Only faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for sins can bring salvation. This is where Romans 10 raises the importance, the essential need, for special revelation.
Paul says in his letter to the Romans:
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching…
17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
(Rom. 10:13-14,17)[3]
General revelation lacks the gospel. No one can know the gospel by observing the world in which they live. Mankind knows it is guilty, but what does one do to appease the “wrath of god”(Rom. 1:18)? On the basis of general revelation alone, mankind cannot be saved. More is needed.
Special revelation is the knowledge of God through His disclosing his direct word through prophets, Christ Himself, and the other writings that make up Scripture. The 1689 London Confession puts it this way.
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased…. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments… All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life[4]
With the special revelation of God, man can know the only way for salvation. Scripture alone is necessary for salvation, whether by reading, or by hearing it preached faithfully.
“…you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”(1 Peter 1:23)[5]
Not only does special revelation inform us of the way of salvation, but it also reveals to us the fullness and definite will of God. General revelation gives us notions of right and wrong, but special revelation is God’s deliberate act of bestowing his will in the lives of those who hear His word. (Deut. 29:29; Ps. 1:1-2, 119:1; John 14:15, Heb. 1:1; 1 John 5:3)
God’s word in the form of scripture gives us clear and distinct knowledge on every aspect he intends to address. Wayne Grudem states:“ … it can be argued that the Bible is necessary for [knowledge with certainty] about anything.”[6]
Since it is God alone who has supreme knowledge of everything, it is only by consulting His word that we can have confidence in what we do know, because the One with ultimate knowledge has told us. We can know with confidence the things that God has revealed through His word are true and necessary. As summed up by Paul in his second letter to Timothy:
“…and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 timothy 23:15-17)[7]
It is not enough for someone to call himself or herself “Christian”. Nor is it enough for them to be a pastor, a theologian, an author whose books are sold in Christian bookstores, or even a “Christian musician”. Before we place ourselves under anyone’s teachings or worldview in order to learn from them and apply their teachings and advice, we need to be well informed of what God says about the topic. Anytime the two teachings contradict each other, or do not agree, we absolutely must follow scripture.
We must be people of discernment. No one person is perfect. I do not know of anyone person that I agree with on every absolute detail of everything scripturaly, but I do know that there is a major distinction between matters of opinion and interpretation, and direct disagreement with scripture.
Of course this whole conversation assumes our own familiarity with scripture. It is no wonder that the health, wealth, and prosperity “gospel” is running rampant not only in our culture, but also in our churches. One of the biggest dangers facing us today is how quickly we are to trust someone just because they quote a passage of scripture. We need to wake up and realize that throughout the history of the Church some of the largest heresies and cults have quoted and quote passages from the Bible. Just because a guy in a suit has a Bible that he reads from does not at all mean that he is teaching the Bible properly. If we are not intimately acquainted with the scriptures, then we are less likely to notice error when we hear or read it coming from someone else, or even, ourselves.
So what do we do with all of this? This can put us in one of three places. First, we can choose ignorance, opting to blindly follow those with the biggest smiles, the catchiest phrases and mantras, and the biggest and most technologically savvy churches assuming that bigger, flashier, and newer is always better. In that same line, we can also choose to continue following the traditions and teachings of those we have always followed, never stopping to consider and test what we are hearing and reading by God’s word. There are indeed some practices that are thousands of years old that are either absent from scripture, or in complete rebellion to it, that are still practiced by millions under the name of “Christianity.”
We should always ask ourselves, “What is the ‘gospel’ this person is preaching?” If it is not salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, it is a false Gospel. Too many times, there is no “gospel” preached at all -just a lot of self-help and self-esteem psychobabble about how to have a better ________. The message of scripture will be used by the Holy Spirit to point us to Christ whose purpose should be all of ours… to glorify the Father.
If this is not the aim of the messenger, the message is not worthy of our time.
Second, we can choose paralyzing paranoia. We can become so paranoid of false teachings that we refuse to trust anyone about anything. This choice leaves little else to write about because, if this is the case, why am I still typing, and why are you still reading?
Or we can choose to place ourselves under the authority of those who make public their love of, and their desire to teach only what is in accordance with scripture. We can choose to spend time in the word ourselves, praying that the Lord will open our hearts to absorb and cherish and soak in His truth, and to be acquainted with it and Him in the most intimate way possible. We can hold our leaders and ourselves accountable to rightly handling God’s word, and not twisting it to meet our needs or agendas.
God alone can be our ultimate source of truth. He has revealed himself to us and has given us His Word so that we may know how to know Him, love Him, worship Him, and how to live a life of obedience to Him. Anything anyone, even one of the top fifty “Christians” in America says that does not correspond to the Word of God is to be avoided at all costs.
Sanctify them in Your truth, for Your word is truth. - John 17:17
-Stephen Lee Cavness is a Master of Divinity student in the school of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He and his wife, Christi, attend LaGrange Baptist Church where he teaches for the Crossroads Young Adult Ministry.
[1] The Church Report - http://www.thechurchreport.com/content/view/823/32/
[2] English Standard Version – emphasis mine
[3] Ibid.
[4] The London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689
[5] Ibid.
[6] Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology , Zondervan 1994, page 119
[7] ESV
Thursday, January 19, 2006
disapearing "baptist..."
well, its the new year- again.
its amazing what all transpired in 2005 that seems like the span of a few months.
and that's all im going to say about the new year. no reminiscing, no resolutions, no regrets, no ... anything else that starts with "r".
we still don't have internet at our new house (they are supposed to come wednesday), so i am writing this at work in between phone calls... so there will probably be more typo's than usual.
i have been excited about the "next post" because i read an article in an issue of the "tennessee baptist and reflector" that immediately caused my mind to start spinning with anticipation to write about it.
but, alas, during our move, the paper was lost (probably thrown away) and i can't even find it on-line.
what that means is, is that i won't write about it because i don' want to be inaccurrate or misrepresent what was written. hopefully i will find a copy of it soon.
as of next wednesday, i should be back to writing more regularly. i appreciate the emails and such that come and let me know that you are finding this place useful. im looking forward to discussing lots of things once im back "online"
and im also looking for that paper....
-stephen
its amazing what all transpired in 2005 that seems like the span of a few months.
and that's all im going to say about the new year. no reminiscing, no resolutions, no regrets, no ... anything else that starts with "r".
we still don't have internet at our new house (they are supposed to come wednesday), so i am writing this at work in between phone calls... so there will probably be more typo's than usual.
i have been excited about the "next post" because i read an article in an issue of the "tennessee baptist and reflector" that immediately caused my mind to start spinning with anticipation to write about it.
but, alas, during our move, the paper was lost (probably thrown away) and i can't even find it on-line.
what that means is, is that i won't write about it because i don' want to be inaccurrate or misrepresent what was written. hopefully i will find a copy of it soon.
as of next wednesday, i should be back to writing more regularly. i appreciate the emails and such that come and let me know that you are finding this place useful. im looking forward to discussing lots of things once im back "online"
and im also looking for that paper....
-stephen
Saturday, January 07, 2006
sorry for the downtime...
christi and i have recently moved and have been without internet for awhile. hopefully we will be back "online" ( i hate that i had to type that) in the next week or so. im looking forward to finally writing on some of the topics i have been putting off.
i have been meaning to give my email address. some people have emailed questions about certain things that have prompted a post about certain topics. my email address is stephenleecavness@hotmail.com.
do not send me forwards. do not send me spam. i will forward them back to you with a program that will fill your inbox to its capacity. and i will do it for approximately 3 days for every 1 time i have to delete a forward or spam from you.
speaking of cheerulness and joy, i hope every one had a wonderful christmas.
be back soon,
-stephen
i have been meaning to give my email address. some people have emailed questions about certain things that have prompted a post about certain topics. my email address is stephenleecavness@hotmail.com.
do not send me forwards. do not send me spam. i will forward them back to you with a program that will fill your inbox to its capacity. and i will do it for approximately 3 days for every 1 time i have to delete a forward or spam from you.
speaking of cheerulness and joy, i hope every one had a wonderful christmas.
be back soon,
-stephen
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