Experiencing the Personal, Passionate Love of God

When it comes to talking about the love of God, we’re not talking about something that is trivial, trite, common, or elementary. We’re playing with real consuming fire.

Maybe you’re like me and have found yourself hanging out in a Christian subculture for a little too long. If you are like me, rattling off “Jesus loves you” comes as easy as saying “Good morning” to a complete stranger. You might mean it, but chances are that you don’t.

Maybe you just assume the love of God is always there, always real, and certainly, always deserved. Many in our culture today, if they believe that God exists at all, believe that in some way they are worthy of his love and that only a few—the Hilters, the Pol-Pots, the Mussolinis of the world—should be excluded from his love, but not us normal people with our mundane sins.

After all, Apartheid is a curse word, the slaughter of the innocent is still wrong, and the capturing and selling of children in the marketplace is disgusting. Our petty sins like a white lie, a bit of laziness, and general selfishness are hardly comparable to the really wicked people of the world.

Don Carson wrote a small book several years ago entitled The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. I highly recommend you read it as you think about, steep in, and savor the love of God. After all, the doctrine of the love of God isn’t just a doctrine, you know. It is a real thing going on right here and right now in the universe.

Discussing any point in theology is bound to be “difficult,” I suppose. One of my professors in London once remarked, “All theology is polemical.” That is to say that every theological point we make is an argument for something and against something else. I think that’s helpful to remember.

And yet, when we get to speaking about God himself, our categories, no matter how robust, how articulate, and well-informed still come up short. Why is that? Because our theology is not inerrant. We simply do not possess all knowledge about God. That is to say that we’re needy, dependent, and lacking all the information.

Besides, if we even had all the information about the nature of who God is, what he does, and why he does what he does, do you think you and I could actually arrange and articulate him exhaustively and perfectly anyway? Doubtful.

Michael Horton reminds us of two helpful categories of theological knowledge available to us:

The first is Archetypal knowledge. This is the knowledge that only God possesses. It is the original whereas everything else is the copy. The other is known as Ectypal knowledge and it is creaturely knowledge that is revealed by God and accommodated to our finite capacities. Creaturely knowledge is always imperfect, incomplete, and dependent on God’s perfect and complete knowledge. [1]

Thus, the tensions abound.

The Bible explicitly says that “God is holy” and that “God is love.” The Bible also teaches us that God vents his wrath and is perfect in all of his attributes. Some of those attributes are communicable (he shares those with us – love, honor, joy, wrath) and others are incommunicable (omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient).

Although we don’t have perfect knowledge of God’s attributes and how they interact, these are still important things for Christians to consider. In the Reckless Love of God, I’m simply calling attention to the personal, passionate heart of the gospel, and therefore, I am primarily focusing on this attribute of his love for you as a person. I don’t go into great lengths on discussing election, predestination, justice, or hell though those points are certainly in the book.

“This is the life of the believer, living out one’s identity as a child of God for the glory of God.
”

 

If the theologians, pastors, and authors I’ve read are correct, then the indicatives drive the imperatives, and that is the grace, love, and kindness of God that leads us to repentance and life with him…and indeed, this is the life of the believer, living out one’s identity as a child of God for the glory of God.

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[1] Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way, 991, 994.

*This blog is also featured over at http://reasonabletheology.org/experiencing-the-personal-passionate-love-of-god/

Keep Trusting God's Call by Henri Nouwen

“As you come to realize that God is beckoning you to a greater hiddenness, do not be afraid of that invitation. Over the years you have allowed the voices that call you to action and great visibility to dominate your life. You still think, even against your best intuitions, that you need to do things and be seen in order to follow your vocation. But you are now discovering that God’s voice is saying, “Stay home, and trust that your life will be fruitful even when hidden.”

It is not going to be easy to listen to God’s call. Your insecurity, your self-doubt, and your great need for affirmation make you lose trust in your inner voice and run away from yourself. But you know that God speaks to you though your inner voice and that you will find joy and peace only if you follow it. Yes, your spirit is willing to follow, but your flesh is weak. 

You have friends who know that your inner voice speaks the truth and who can affirm what it says. They offer you the safe space where you can let that voice become clearer and louder. There will be people who will tell you that you are wasting your time and talents, that you are fleeing from true responsibility, that you fail to use the influence you have. But don’t let yourself be misled. They do not speak in God’s name. Trust the few who know your inner journey and want you to be faithful to it. They will help you stay faithful to God’s call. ”

— Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom, pp.89-90

A Short Catechism

Q: Who made all this?

A: The only God (Gen. 2:2). 

Q: How bad is my sin?

A: Blacker than the blackest hole (Rom. 6:23).

Q: How far away are my sins from me?

A: "A great gulf has been fixed." "As far as the east is from the west" (Lk. 16:26, Ps. 103:12).

Q: How clean am I in the presence of God? 

A: You are as clean as Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21)

Q: How disappointed is God in me? 

A: “You are the apple of my eye.” “You are my darling child.” “Please refer to me as ‘Abba.’” (Ps. 17:8, Jer. 31:20, Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6). 

Q: How many times will Jesus forgive me? 

A: At least 70x7 (Matt. 18:22). 

Q: Will God bring up my past? 

A: "You are hidden with Christ in God" and "your sins are on the bottom of the ocean floor" (Col. 3:3, Micah 7:9). 

Q: Precisely how many good works do I need to do to go to heaven? 

A: Zero. Jesus did them (Eph. 2:8-9). 

Q: Exactly what can stop the love of God from getting to me? 

A: "Nothing in all creation" (Rom. 8:37-39). 

Q: How sure can I be that I’ll finish the race? 

A: "He who starts a good work in you WILL complete it"(Phil. 1:6). 

Q: “What if I fall asleep in when I pray?”

A: “I’ll never leave you” (Deut. 31:8).

Q: One last question… “How long can I stay in heaven?”

A: Eternity on top of eternity (John 3:16).

A Wednesday Afternoon Prayer

Jesus, you have no idea how bad I’ve been. 

Yes I do. In fact, I expected worse out of you than you expected out of yourself.

Jesus, what if I don’t ever get any better?

I’ll always love you. 

Jesus, what if I do it again?

We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I’ve got a plan. 

Jesus, what if I just give up on you?

I’ll never quit on you. 

Jesus, how do you expect me to forgive ______ when they’ve been so hurtful to me?

Just give them what you get from me. Grace. Just charge it to my account.

Jesus, but what about how insensitive they’ve been to me? 

Charge that to my account too. 

Jesus, I’m tired.

I’ll be your rest.

Jesus, are you mad at me?

You’re the apple of my eye. My beloved.

Jesus, what do you want me to do for you?

Don’t be so quick to work for me. Everybody wants to work for me. I want you to know me and live in my love and acceptance of you.

Jesus, what if I fall asleep when I pray?

I’m happy you feel comfortable in my presence. Rest well. I’ll see you when you wake up.

Jesus, what if I don’t understand all of the Bible?

I am the Word of the word.

Jesus, I don’t know where I belong.

You belong with me. 

Jesus, what if I’m lazy?

You’re not lazy. You’re just distracted. We can change that.

Jesus, I’m mad. 

I’ll take your anger. 

Jesus, I’m disappointed. 

Keep looking at me. 

Jesus, I’m sad. 

I know. I see you right there. Want to talk to me about it? 

Jesus, I’m drunk.

You’re my friend. 

Jesus, I stole.

I’ll take care of it.

Jesus, I’m lustful. 

Give me your heart.

Jesus, I hate myself.

My love for you will drown your hate of you. 

Jesus, they told me I could lose my salvation. Is that true?

If you could lose it, don’t you think you would’ve lost it by now? I don't drop anything. Especially my people. You're safe. 

Contextualization Is Not Optional

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Steve Timmis who serves as the Global Director for Acts 29. He talked to me about our commitment to theological clarity, cultural engagement and missional innovation. Here's some thoughts...

There’s way more to church planting and pastoring than meets the eye. That is to say that there's more going on than writing sermons, praying with people, going to leadership meetings, raising money, training up others, and overseeing staff/volunteers. For those like me that happen to be engaged in this world of pastoring and church planting, we are in a constant state of study and exegesis, not only of Scripture of but of the culture in which we find ourselves.

The church planter is constantly asking questions such as

• “Who actually lives here?”,
• “What do they value?”,
• "What are they super-interested in?",
• "What is the history of this place?"
• “What are the obstacles to the gospel here?”,
• “How can I speak and live in such a way as to really connect with this community?”
• "What are the real needs of this city?" 

It is ever so tempting to read a book or blog by somebody out there that is really impacting their context and seek to copy/paste their philosophy of ministry in one's own. But here's the deal – What may be working in one context may not, and, in fact, often won't work in another context. One size does not fit all. One way will not work. One model is not enough. What works to advance the Kingdom in one place may not actually work in another. What works in Manhattan will probably not work in Hueytown, Alabama. This is because of how vastly different the cultures really are. There are different kinds of people groups, rhythms of life, belief systems, values, political affiliations, and so forth represented within each ecosystem. The thoughtful, engaged, strategic leader is thinking through these kinds of things so as to love and impact the context with the gospel of Jesus. So, pastor/church planter, plant your church, preach to your context, and serve the flock of God right in front of you well by thinking about and praying through where God actually has you.

On one occasion the Apostle Paul gave real insight into exactly what he was doing and shows some of why his ministry was so impactful. He said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9.22). Today, this is commonly referred to as the contextualization of the gospel. 

Contextualization is not optional. Hear me, working to contextualize what you're doing is not just mere pragmatism – "how to get stuff done", and "be more effective." (Though those things are important). It is about loving people. A church that does not seek to contextualize itself, its ministries, the gospel message, and every other avenue of communication inevitably creates more barriers than bridges for the advancement of the gospel in our communities. To put it bluntly, we as Christians believe a few things that aren't so simple and therefore we've got to live and speak in a way that makes sense to those around us. Remember, the people in our communities aren't dull or dim. We're preaching a message that even our own Apostle calls "foolish" (i.e. the Triune God spoke creation into being, a talking serpent deceived the human race and we "fell" into our current state of depravity, the long-expected, prophesied Messiah was born through the Virgin Mary as He was conceived by the 3rd Person of the Trinity, lived a sinless life, died a sinner's death, resurrected from the grave, ascended back into heaven, sent the Holy Spirit to endwell/empower all who have the faith (and nerve!) to believe this gospel message, and take us to heaven to be with God and all the saints forever and ever). Listen to all those "Christianese", "churchy", Bible/theological/insider-lingo terms. And as Christians, we can't just throw those ideas around without explaining what we mean when we use them. 

So you can see that trying to go about gospel ministry in a place without contextualizing isn't just bad form. Contextualization is a labor of love. 

“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9.22)

Our desire in the Acts 29 Network is to continue to see thousands of churches planted all over the globe and millions of people come to faith in Jesus Christ, deepen their relationship with the One who gave his life for them, and serve on his mission.

We don’t want to see churches planted that just share our theological convictions. Certainly theological clarity and unity is essential, but so much more is required of us in order to be effective at reaching the specific places that God has uniquely placed us. Cross-cultural missionaries have been doing this for thousands of years. They venture into a new country and learn the language as well as the theological, philosophical, political, and overall worldviews and ideas that shape that culture. Then, the gospel is proclaimed in ways that don’t give it new meaning, but rather in ways that take more ground because the missionaries are speaking directly to that culture in that place at that time. Church planters and pastors are to do the same. Successful church planters are successful because they are doing everything with the utmost intentionality — namely, they consider the enormous task of contextualization and then by the power of the Holy Spirit, engage that community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here's a link to the Acts 29 Podcast –

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/acts-29-podcast/id913326376?mt=2

John the Bulldozer

It's Christmas time.... Advent. Why a post about John the Baptizer? Because the Virgin Birth marks the Advent, the arrival of Jesus. John the Baptizer was a fiery preacher of the judgment of God and announcing the dawn, the beginning of the Messiah's ministry.

One image that comes to mind when I picture John is a piece of heavy machinery, in particular, a bulldozer. (This could be due to the fact that our home his filled with bulldozers and excavators.... thanks to our four year old, Jude! :)

John is no lay-down-and-die weakling. He is not out to wow the crowds with cheap tricks. Though a radical–and one who definitely stood out, it’s important for us to make sure we don’t confuse him for being a bug-eating carnival worker looking to just gain the attention of strangers and then send them away with plastic nothings that end up in landfills. No. He's got something to say. Or better, he has Someone to proclaim.

FLATTENING MOUNTAINS AND FILLING VALLEYS

John the Baptizer is a person that we often hear about and is no stranger to us. He is one of the first ambassadors for Jesus Christ—and certainly one of the first who got to meet the God-man in the flesh. He even had the honor of baptizing Jesus! (John 1:29-33). He was not just blogging, tweeting, or dialoging. John came preaching and baptizing.

John did not come to maintain the status quo. He came to tell people that someone was coming who’d change their lives and it would be impossible to undo his work. John rolled in with a mission. He came to flatten mountains and fill in the valleys; his mission was to prepare the way for our Savior, the Lord Jesus. Metaphorically speaking, his job description included turning Mount Everest into a parking lot and filling in the Grand Canyon to make it level. This was intense labor set out ahead of him.

His example is encouraging for those of us who get tired, frustrated, and bogged down. John wasn’t reluctant about what God had created and called him to be. In fact, he had been jumping at the opportunity to serve Jesus ever since he was in his mother, Elizabeth’s, womb (Luke 1:39-45). In John’s mind, Jesus deserved a smooth walking path as he took center stage of salvation history.

OUT OF THE BLUE

In the English Bible, Malachi is the last book in our Old Testament. It contains this prophecy:

Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts (Malachi 3:1).

After this prophetic message is penned, there is going to be over 400 years of total silence from heaven. No prophets or kings with a word from God for his people. And then suddenly, one day, out of the blue, a man arose coming out of the wilderness, sporting a gnarly beard, eating locusts and wild honey, wearing camel fur and a broad belt around his waist, and strangely resembling the prophet Elijah. He opens his mouth booming authority, crying out “Prepare the way of the Lord!” (Luke 3:4).

GREATER AND LESS

The messenger is John the Baptizer. Malachi’s prophecy about John is cited three times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. On one occasion, Jesus said about John:

What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you." Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:7-11).

Why was John so great? One of his declarations about Jesus might clue us in, "He must become greater; I must become less." (Jn 3:30 NIV).

During Christmas, the world stops because the Greatest became the least that the least might become great in the eyes of God. 

God Has No Potential

You and I live in a constant state of change. People, circumstances, and our physical environment are all we know through our five senses and by observing the natural sciences. These are always in a constant flux, an ebb and flow of change, things appear to settle into being constant only to turn and change again. 

Here's what I mean:

* Printed newspaper circulation has decreased by 7,000,000 readers over the last 25 years. They are losing to online newspapers which have increased in readership by 30,000,000 in the last 5 years.

* Google has 31 billion searches conducted every month. That is an increase from 2.7 billion in 2006.

* 12 years ago, YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace did not exist: now they collectively receive 250,000,000 unique visitors. Compare that to the 6,000,000 unique visitors who watch CNN, NBC, and ABC every month (NBC began almost 60 years ago).

* The number of internet devices in 1984 was 1,000. The number of internet devices in 2008 was 1,000,000,000.

* "The computer in your cell phone today is 1,000,000 times cheaper and 1,000 times more powerful and about 100,000 times smaller than the one computer at MIT in 1965. So what used to fit in a building now fits in your pocket, what fits in your pocket now will fit inside a blood cell in 25 years”

* The top 10 high-paying jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004.

* The amount of technical information doubles every two years. What does this mean for students aspiring for a four-year technical diploma? Half of what they learned in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study.

*Each hour, 67 babies are born in the U.S, 274 in China, 395 in India, and 694,000 songs were downloaded illegally. – Ray Kurvweil

And then we have in Malachi (and many other places in Scripture) this statement by God: “For I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). So there is one thing, one reality, one Person in the universe who actually does not change? That’s something that causes our brains to stutter a bit because we don’t have very clear categories of relating to someone or something that doesn’t change.

ACTUS PURUS

However, here is how Christians think: Thomas Aquinas, the 12th-century Italian priest and philosopher who is arguably the most influential thinker to engage the Western world said that God is actus purus—he is a “pure act.”

This means that God has no potential.

God does not aspire to anything.

God has no "goals."

God is totally and completely perfect in himself from eternity past to eternity future.

Another way to say it is that God has no potential that is not already fully realized. Or as Michael Horton tells us, “God cannot be more infinite, loving, or holy tomorrow than he already is today.” 

AMAZING, UNCHANGING GRACE

However, having a God who cannot and will not change can be a very haunting or a very comforting thing depending on your view of him.

It might seem haunting in a sense to think that God will never compromise his standards for entry into his kingdom. That’s a scary thought for most of the world. This means that he’ll never change and make the narrow mountainside path, the person and work of Jesus, into an eight-lane freeway into heaven. This will not change.

However, it’s also far more comforting to know that he won’t change his standards—it will always be “grace alone” and no other means. If you are a Christian, Abba will never change the way he relates to you, calling you sons and daughters, forgiven, clean and beloved.

He is Actus Purus.

He is Abba. 

Why Do We Anoint With Oil?

Why Do We Need Oil?

As Christians, it is crucial that we understand the why behind the what regarding everything we do. Sometimes at the end of our worship gatherings you'll see pastors praying for people and even anointing them with oil. What is this about? Why do we do it? 

Descriptive and Prescriptive

Sometimes the New Testament uses descriptive language that describes what was happening then and there. Other times it is clearly prescriptive implying "this is prescribed for all confessing Christians." Being able to discern between the two becomes all the more important as we function as a local church.

For example, in Acts 2 (and Acts 4), we see the first church coming into existence and it is recorded that “all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2.44). How do you read that text for us today? Is it prescriptive or descriptive? Is this a command for all Christians at all times and all places to mimic the first church in every single facet? Not necessarily. Luke is describing some of the practices of the early church. 

But when it comes to anointing people with oil, the New Testament is rather unclear in both places the practice is mentioned. The first occasion (Mark 6:13) is descriptive of certain events. The second occasion (James 5:14) is prescriptive for the elders of a local church.

Disciples’ Practice: Descriptive

The first time we see the practice is found in the Gospel of Mark after Jesus had sent the disciples out to preach and had given them authority to heal the crowds: “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (6.13). However, Mark does not tell us why they anointed the people with oil, just that they did.

Elders’ Practice: Prescriptive

In James 5:14, we see this: “ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. “ The command is clearly prescriptive. This must be done.

What Is the Purpose?

But what is the purpose of anointing people with oil? The reason for anointing with oil in the first century was twofold:

1. Medicinal

2. Sacramental

Medicinal

When Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, he says that the Samaritan “went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him” (Lk. 10.34). This is because the oil would have functioned as a soothing skin conditioner.

Sacramental

When James wrote, he may have  in mind: “After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.”  The concept here was a “setting apart for the special attention and service of God.” It could be used as a physical demonstration to the sick and serve as a means of saying, “we are placing you in God’s merciful hands.”

And Douglas Moo points out that the early Greek church practiced what they called the Euchaleaion (a combination of the words euche, “prayer,” and elaion, “oil,” which are both used in James 5:14). They did this for the goal of “strengthening the body and soul of the sick.”

Since the oil was used in both medicinal and sacramental contexts, we at Redemption Church have to keep in mind both common grace (which benefits all mankind) and special grace (which is for God’s people), if you will. We acknowledge and respect the medical community, and we believe that God works through the means of the common grace of our doctors. (James tips his hat towards the medical community, in my opinion). Yet, in prayer, we go before God, requesting that he do a miracle, something supernatural in healing the people of Redemption. When we do this, we are asking for a special grace.

The Sacrifice of a Saint

Money is a big deal. For many, it’s the biggest deal. If you have lots of it, you’re happy. If you have little of it, you’re sad. Like every other gift of God, it can be used to bring him glory and others joy, or it can be an idol that leads us to all sorts of sin. “Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything," wrote Solomon (Ecc. 10:19). “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” wrote Paul. “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6:10). Jesus taught us that, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).

TEN PERCENT IS NOT THE POINT

I’ve heard it said that Jesus talked about money and stewardship more than any other subject. When it comes to tithing, New Testament Christians have questions: Are we supposed to tithe? Does the New Testament teach us to do so? The short answer to both questions is “no.” (Hang with me.) There is not an explicit command in the New Testament to directly give a certain percentage of our income to the Church. Some would ask “Why not?” Here’s a guess: I think the New Testament doesn’t speak directly to how we ought to tithe because when you signed up to be a Christian in the first century, you signed up literally for death, and so giving an arbitrary percentage of your wealth would pale in significance to giving your life.

“Taking up your cross” was not a metaphor likened to a headache or having to pay the bills. If you were to bump into one of the early converts in Acts and said, “Are you going to tithe?” their reply might have been, “What do you mean 'tithe?' You mean give my money to advance the gospel of Jesus? Of course. I have given literally my life to following him! Of course I give my money! After all, it is Jesus’ money entrusted to me anyways!” Jesus literally expected martyrs to follow him all the way to death because life with him was and is real LIFE!

JESUS GENEROUSLY PAID OUR DEBT

We are a few weeks away from Christmas. And this is the time of year where we celebrate our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who made the world (Heb. 1:1–3), who was in debt to no man, clothed himself in flesh, lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we should have died, and rose from the grave that he may bring God glory by converting his enemies into Abba’s children. Paul knew this, so when he spoke of money, on one occasion, he didn’t guilt the church into giving, which he called an “act of grace,” but appealed to what we celebrate during the Christmas season: the Incarnation of Jesus.

"I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:8–9 (emphasis added).

Paul points to the grace of Jesus and when we see his grace for what it is: our hearts open to Jesus, and our money following what he is passionate about.

Find the Snake, Listen for His Lies

THE FIRST LIE . . .

In Genesis, we read that God created and declared all things good, including the first couple, our parents, Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden and the serpent—the deceiver, Satan—arrives and tells a lie to Eve. She believes the lie as does her husband, Adam. They act on their false belief, eat the forbidden fruit, and face the consequences of their sin, the first of which was the recognition that they were indeed naked. God confronts them and the story takes a sudden turn as he appears too good to be true and does what is undeserved—God provides a sacrifice to cover their nakedness.

. . . IS THE SAME LIE

As a pastor and missional Christian, I have the opportunity to sit down with people from all walks of life on a regular basis and hear about sin and its devastating effects that comes with following the lie that unholiness promises fulfillment. I, like you and everyone else since the Garden incident, have been told the same lie.

Listen for Satan’s lies. That’s the only language he speaks.

Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Good Friday tells us that God showed up yet again and covered our nakedness once and for all with the righteousness of Jesus.

A couple of years ago, in reading the famous Garden passage in Genesis, I noticed something and have used it ever since in both missional conversations with unbelievers and in discipleship settings with Christians. I call it “Find the snake.” It’s simple. In speaking with people, you’re going to hear about sin because that’s what we do by nature and choice. When this happens, don’t ignore it bashfully or run or duck but rather go ahead meet it head-on in Jesus’ name with Jesus’ grace.

LISTEN FOR THE LIES

But before you can address the issue, you’ve got to hear it articulated clearly. One of the worst things you can do is cut someone off mid-sentence and offer up an half-informed response.

As people talk about sin, I’d encourage you to look just a bit deeper than the act committed or omitted by the person or the person sinned against, and look for the ancient snake. Listen for his lies. You’ll know it’s him because that’s the only language he speaks (John 8:44). Listen for his words and his heart—those lead to his works.  Ask, “Where’s the snake in the garden of your life? What lie are you believing or tempted to believe?” You see, it is more than the behavior that you want to address. Thoughts and beliefs give rise to actions. Address the thinking. (Theologically, this is in the realm of the 'Noetic Effects of Sin').

CALLING OUT THE LIE

We get one example of this by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians. Some of the Christians in Galatia were buying the lie from the Judaizer party, who essentially were telling the Galatians, “You can have Jesus and grace and all that, but you’ll need to tack on a few more works of the law in order to secure and maintain your new Christian status.” Paul knew this sounded like the snake, so he prodded deeper and asked “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3).

They were in danger of believing a lie that belittles Jesus’ cross and the power of the Holy Spirit, and so Paul found the snake and called it out.

STAY ALERT

You can see that, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6.12).

Fortunately, the God of the Christian, Jesus, has authority over all authorities (Matt.28:18, John 16:33) and always leads us into victory (2 Cor. 2:14) The battle rages in both the physical world (demonic possession, Mark 5:1–20) and in the spiritual realm (faulty thinking, 2 Cor. 10:4–5).

Stay awake.

Stay alert

Don’t just judge behaviors—find the snake.

Happy hunting!

Tremble at the Word

I’ve found that for some it is far too easy to simply handle the Bible as scientists handle radioactive material.

Scripture gets examined like it's behind glass and you need to be covered in sterile clothing with gloves to approach it. The Word gets treated as something solely to be studied and examined for its contents and data to be reported, rather than something to be encountered which actually reads you better than you read it.

THINKING THE CHARACTERS' THOUGHTS

This doesn’t mean that we hijack faithful biblical interpretation or exegesis. Authors, locations, genres, audiences and so on are critical! Historian R.G. Collingwood said it right: “Any worthwhile history must involve thinking the characters' thoughts after them.” Thus, running off in any direction desired by the reader is just foolish and selfish. Reading like that betrays a basic respect for the Author and authors of the Bible.

The Bible contains the very words of God.

I believe the prophet Isaiah offers us more than a clue to encountering the living God. He provides the exact prescription, “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2).

MOVED WITH AWE

This means literally to shake or quake and be moved with awe before God’s Word. What was the last experience that caused you to tremble? Standing before Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon? Staring out into the sea or up into the cosmos? Seeing your baby born? Visiting a cathedral? Attending a funeral?

What if that experience of trembling was to actually precede our interpretation and exegesis of the Word? We simply need to recognize what we are reading matters. The Bible contains the very words of God.

YAWNING OR TREMBLING?

I find that my walk with God is most stagnate when I’m no longer trembling before God’s Word, but rather yawning as I stare at the words on the pages because I’ve grown self-absorbed, bored with God as I’m too familiar with him and focused on “my kingdom come” instead of “Thy Kingdom come.”

The Bible is like a lion.

When was the last time you trembled at the Word of God? If you’ll notice, Isaiah doesn’t say, “This is the one to whom I will look..."

• “the one who has a PhD in Theology.”
• “the one who has perfect church attendance.”
• “the one who has all their t’s crossed and i’s dotted.”
• “the one who has the most followers on Twitter.”

God looks for the trembling, the humble, the broken, and the one who shudders before the Creator’s Word. This isn’t trying to scare you out of Bible study. This is simply giving the Bible it’s proper place. The Bible is like a lion; if you really know what you’re looking at, you, by nature, will tremble because of its power.

“At these words Peter trembled, Plato did not; so let the fisherman keep what the great and famous philosopher ignored!” (Augustine Sermon 68.7).

What Skateboarding Taught Me About Missions

Both the skater and the missionary see the world with different eyes.

My first skateboard was tiny, green with yellow wheels, and had a picture of ALF on the bottom. At 16, a skate park was my first exposure to ministry.

During high school I met Jesus. At the church I got connected into, I met an old man named Bill. Unlike myself, Bill didn’t skate, but he was a carpenter with a calling to start a skateboarding ministry. Bill built my friends and me several ramps and rails to skate on. Over time, more and more kids started showing up to skate with us. During our time together we would hang out, and a group of us would preach the gospel in our makeshift skate park.

So what does skating have to do with living on mission for Jesus? Everything.

Beyond skate parks, I loved street skating in public. (Though a while ago I decided that I should not street skate any more since the Bible says that we are to obey the laws of the land.) To street skate well you need to have two things: guts and an eye for a good spot to skate.

Even to this day, regardless of the city or occasion, I can’t help but see certain stairs, gaps, rails, ledges, and curbs and think, I’d love to skate that. Of course, now that I’m 34, a husband, dad, pastor, professor, and a student, I don’t have as much time to skateboard like I used to, but lessons I learned while skateboarding still continue to influence my life. Skateboarding was in my blood for so long it’s practically conditioning.

This is how the mind of a missional Christian works: it changes the way you see your city.

You drive around town by yourself or with a friend, and, rather than seeing spots to skate, you see people and think, What if that person knew how much God loved them? Who could that person be and what could that person do in Christ?

This means that when you see the guy outside smoking pot, you don’t judge him, but rather pray for, think about, and, yes, befriend him. You do this with the intention of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with him and one day seeing him or her as a leader in your church.

You see the prostitute on the street corner and think, That woman needs the love and grace of Jesus. One day I think she could do an excellent job leading our women’s midweek study.

You see a street painter or musician and think, He or she could lead us in corporate worship on Sundays, write our liturgy, or create a piece of art to decorate our building.

You see certain buildings and think, What kind of worship service, event, or church plant could we pull off in this place?

This is how missionaries think: nothing is to be wasted. Everyone can be redeemed by Jesus and serve him for his purposes and glory.

I never thought as a youth that something I loved to do would have such an influence on me, but this is how skateboarding helped to change how I literally see the world in my everyday mission as a child of God.

Wipe Your Feet (Christus Victor)

Are you prone to bringing work and frustrations home with you and spoiling your time with your wife and kids because somebody, somewhere, has really gotten under your skin? Do you come into the house grumpy, irritable, and cold? Do you blow right by your spouse and kids hoping to just crash on the couch, turn on the TV, and zone out? After dinner, does your family assume that you’ve just checked out for the evening?

A few years ago while my family and I were living in Georgia,  I was coming home night after night rehearsing the same problem again and again.  And then it hit me – no matter how many times I played the tape in my head, the story was the same and had no ending. It was taking away priceless minutes with my wife and, therefore, our marriage was being robbed from the outside. How in the world can someone steal joy out of your living room and not even be physically in the house? Answer: By living in your mind.

For me, bitterness started to set in.

So it was time to stop the tape and simply bring my bad habit to an end.

The only way out was one of repentance. I couldn’t change or lead the people who were making my life hell, but I could, by God’s grace, change my behavior and be led by the Holy Spirit, and seek to lead my family well.

I started to realize that repentance is more than simply acknowledging an issue with your mind. Repentance is also accompanied by a change of action too.  Thus, maybe because I’m a man, I oftentimes need to see things with my eyes for a real change to be affected. This may sound silly to you, but  I decided to do something that we’ve been grateful for ever since.

One evening I came home, got a piece of paper out, and sat down with my wife, Jana, at the dinner table and wrote down what was robbing me/us of joy. I simply put them in bullet points:

*   slander

*   gossip

*   lies

*   cheating

*   backbiting

*   false doctrine

We acknowledged these things for what they really were. Sins against me and sins against God. We sat there and just looked at them and let that pain bubble up to the surface for a few minutes. Then, at the top of the page I wrote “Christus Victor” (Christ is our Victor) in huge letters, signed our names at the bottom, acknowledging that the chaos we were experiencing was more than a battle against flesh and blood – we are at war with Satan. By signing this page, we acknowledged Paul’s words to the Romans that the “God of peace would soon crush Satan under our feet” (Rom. 16.20). We then took it to our back step (the door we used most), picked up the doormat where we wiped our feet, and put the page under it. Then we prayed that from then on, as we would walk into our home, we would wipe our feet on the lies of the enemy, the lies of our flesh, and the lies of others because Jesus is our Victor and wants us to enjoy the evenings cooking, snuggling, and laughing together.

Christian, your evenings at home are priceless and the Enemy wants them all. Your method for remembering this may be different than mine, but make sure to wipe your feet of your troubles before you enter your home so that you enjoy what Jesus wants you to enjoy, namely his presence, and real rest.

In Suffering

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1

Suffering has a way of sobering us.

C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Timothy Keller, in his most recent (and excellent!) book, begins with a statement by Lewis and then follows it up: “Suffering ‘plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.’ It is an exaggeration to say that no one finds God unless suffering comes into their lives—but it is not a big one. When pain and suffering come upon us, we finally see not only that we are not in control of our lives, but that we never were.” (Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, 5)

When we see painful suffering in the world or when it arrives on our door step, it has a way of forcing us to wrestle with the big questions like, “Is there a God? If there is, is he even aware of the pure evil, sickness, and suffering occurring on his watch? Has he done anything about it? Will he do anything about it? Where is he?”

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that “in the world, you will have tribulation” (John 16:33, emphasis mine), so the question is not if we will suffer. The question is always this: how we will suffer?

Where do we go in suffering?

In the Old Testament, there is a godly man known as Job. Job loses his 10 children in natural disaster, is stricken with boils, and his wife encourages him to join her and abandon the God who appears to have abandoned them. Job’s buddies arrive to comfort and counsel him. They appear helpful by holding their tongues.

Then they open their mouths.

They speak, and things get worse. They begin asking theological and philosophical and personal questions that don’t help. Sometimes, silence is the best counsel. In fact, maybe that’s why God feels so distant during our sufferings. Maybe he knows that sometimes no words will comfort us, only his presence can provide the healing and relief we so desperately long for.

You see, in times of suffering, pithy, cliche, Christian bumper sticker aphorisms never help anybody. In fact, they’re patronizing. I’ve heard Christians try to counsel each other with trite statements such as, “Brother, you just need to let go and let God.” Or “Have a little more faith, man!” Or “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” What does that even mean? Those kinds of silly statements sound quite obnoxious to an individual in the midst of their suffering.

There’s no airtight, fortune cookie-sized one-liner that puts someone’s suffering on the run. In fact, if there was one, most people would’ve probably thought of it. Trite statements more often stoke the fires of others’ suffering when they need water.

What should you say (or not say!) to someone who is suffering?

Everyone suffers differently. Some speak. Some are silent. Some vent all their feelings to anyone and everyone, while others simply shut down. For those of us who want to comfort the suffering, the Bible simply doesn’t tell us what to say. Solomon admonishes us on a number of occasions to be ever so selective with the timing and tone of our words. “A word fitly spoken is like golden apples in a setting of silver.” (Prov. 25.11) Or “a gentle tongue can break a bone.” (Prov. 25.15)

Christians are provided with more than a mere script when it comes to helping those who hurt. We are admonished to offer our presence to the suffering. Paul says that we are to “weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12.15) I’ve heard it said that 80 percent of communication is nonverbal. Sometimes opening our mouths is the worst thing we can do. Paul desires us to feel with the hurting. He admonishes us to “bear one another’s burdens.” (Gal. 6.2)

The body of Christ is in and of itself a healing and comforting community. This is because the children of God are filled with the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Many times we want to say something in order to just make the pain “go away.” We do this oftentimes because we’re either insecure in the moment or we want to play the role of the hero or are just truly ignorant about how bad it actually hurts.

As a pastor, I will often have someone in my office who is grieving. After listening to their story, sitting in silence and letting them weep in the arms of God, I will ask them if they would mind if I say a prayer for them. Sometimes, they are a Christian but are struggling to speak with God.  Other times they are an unbeliever and aren’t comfortable with prayer, to which I will simply say, “Thank you for letting me into this part of your life. I’m always here for you should you want to speak again.”

However, more often than not, the person will let me pray for them and I will try to say to God in prayer what the suffering cannot say through their tears. I believe that there’s nothing I can say that will rattle God or take him off guard, so I can just say things like, “Father, Sally is so so angry, hurt, confused, shocked right now, and we need you more than we need answers. Help Sally, Father. We aren’t calling out on anyone but You.”

I’ve lost five family members in the last five years. Five. One morning, after the third death in my family happened I was reading Job and came across the last chapters in which God speaks to Job out of a whirlwind (Job 38:1, the same type of storm that killed his children) and God began asking Job a series of questions:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (Job 38.4)

“Do you give the horse his might?” (Job 39.19)

“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars?” (Job 39.26)

In that moment, all of a sudden, I felt bullied by the God I loved. I wasn’t ready for his questions. I was enraged, my pride was insulted and I was humbled. Before I knew it, I threw my Bible into the wall and said “Where were you?” I couldn’t trace his hand and I couldn’t understand his wisdom in those questions. I broke. I sobbed. And his questions kept washing over my mind as I was sobered that he is God. He is sovereign. He is near. And my most recent crisis was not “news” to him. In a matter of moments, I knew that he cared about my broken heart.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV) There are innumerable other gods, faiths, substances and addictions to which we are tempted to turn for comfort. Jesus says for us to exclusively come to him and him alone.

In our lowest, most disoriented, frustrated, angry and confused state—when faith feels like faith, it is in that moment we can join with the psalmist and “pour out our complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.” (Ps. 142.2) He can take it. He is God. Jesus’ friend and disciple, Peter, who suffered greatly and wrote to a suffering people, told them and urges us today to “cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) You don’t have to tip-toe around the throne of God. You don’t have to find your best outfit and clean yourself up.

You don’t have to speak with the tongues of angels to get your Father’s attention. I have a little boy named Jude. He’s two years old. One Saturday night, my wife and I were finished getting ready to go out on a date. I was sitting in my chair reading. Jude had been in the the back yard playing in the dirt. He was absolutely filthy, covered in dust and peanut butter and jelly all around his mouth.

He marched right up to me in incredible confidence, climbed up on my lap, pulled my face up close to his and said, “Daddy, where’s the pretzels?” As God’s children, we have that same right. We can march as boldly and confidently as my little Jude before the throne of God because when it comes to his kids his throne is a throne of grace (Heb. 4.16). And when we get there, our Father doesn’t want us to mince words. His desire is to hear us say what we must say, cry the tears that must be cried, and rejoice loudly in his presence. He is our all-powerful, all-knowing, always-present, Abba Father.

How do we pray when we suffer?

We have a God who is not only aware of great suffering, in Scripture we are reminded that he entered our great suffering, and out-suffered the entire world’s sin, sickness and death, and crushed what crushes us through his triumphant resurrection from the dead. Currently, Jesus is building a home for us. Currently, Jesus is praying for us. There is coming a day on the calendar of God that I am certain he is eager to see arrive, for it is the day when he will appear glorious by wiping away every tear from every eye.

Here’s the significance: The incarnation, which sums up the entirety of Jesus’ earthly existence (not just his birth), is an atoning moment. In the incarnation, God identifies with humans—all humans in all the dimensions of human life—to bring humans grace. He becomes what we are so we can become what he is.

Jesus the Better

Author’s Note: I am indebted to Dr. Timothy Keller for this post.  He is far, far better at what I’m going to make an attempt at below.
______________________________________________________

Some of you see the Old Testament the way I used to. Namely, that it is made up of tons of disconnected, unrelated stories.

But this has changed for me.

A few years ago, Jana and I were celebrating our anniversary in Paris, and there were two museums that we had to stop and visit. One was the Louvre (obviously). The other was the Salvador Dali museum. The Louvre is absolutely massive. Dali, not so much. The Louvre has art collected from all over the globe, and thousands upon thousands of pieces by hundreds of artists.

Dali’s place is a bit smaller as you can see. Want to know what’s on display in the Dali museum? Dali. Only Dali. And… it is FANTASTIC!!!

The Old Testament is more like the Dali museum than the Louvre.

Some of us open our Bibles and it feels like the Louvre. Where do I start? What’s the point? Who are all these people? What are all these symbols, dates, places, names, events, ahhhhh! It can drive us crazy if we open the Bible with the Louvre lenses.

But what if I told you the Bible was more like the Dali museum? Sure there’s lots of stuff in the museum, and if you aren’t paying attention, you could get lost. But the idea is this – there’s only one person on display there and every piece of art, every symbol, everything, is pointing to one individual…. and that individual is Jesus.

“Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24.44-45)

Jesus is the better Adam. In Genesis, Adam chose to rebel, broke fellowship with God, and failed in the Garden of Eden. In the Gospels, Jesus, the second Adam, walked in obedience and did not fail his test in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Instead of hiding from God and covering his shame, he went before God in prayer and covered the shame of all who were in the first Adam.

Jesus is the better Abel, who was innocent yet lost his life to his own kin. So too, Jesus’ blood was spilled at the hands of his Israelite brothers.

Jesus is the better Noah. Just as Noah built the ark to save people from the flood, so too Jesus became the true ark who absorbed the wrath of God so that all who would enter him would have eternal life.

Jesus is the better Abraham, who answered the call of God to go to a foreign country and walk in obedience by faith. And just as Abraham was told to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac, God the Father would one day sacrifice his one and only son Jesus.

Jesus is the better Isaac, who carried wood to the place of his sacrifice just as Jesus would carry his cross of wood to Calvary.

Jesus is the better Jacob, who wrestled with God and walked away limping. Jesus wrestled with God in Gethsemane, and though wounded and limping, walked away from his grave blessed and victorious.

Jesus is the better Joseph, who after suffering was appointed to the right hand of the King of Egypt and extended forgiveness and provision to those who betrayed him. So too, Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, extending grace and providing for us who also betrayed him.

Jesus is the better Moses. Just as Moses was the mediator between God and man and gave us the Law, so too Jesus is now the only mediator between God and man, giving us the Law of the New Covenant, which is not engraved on stones but is written on our hearts.

Jesus is the better rock that was struck in the desert, giving us water for everlasting life.

Jesus is the better bread that has come down from heaven.  Just as the Israelites were fed in the wilderness by heavenly manna, the Christian is continually preserved by Jesus’ body.

Jesus is the better pillar of fire.  Just as Moses and the people were led by a pillar of fire in their wanderings toward the Promised Land, so too Jesus is the light of the world who leads us home to the true Promised Land.

Jesus is the greater Samson, who in his last feat pulled the coliseum down upon himself and his enemies. Jesus pulled down the wrath of God upon himself and spared his enemies.

Jesus is the greater Boaz. Boaz redeemed Ruth and brought her and her despised people into community with God’s people. So too, Jesus redeemed his bride, the church, from all the nations of the earth and gave them an eternal community.

Jesus is the better David. Just as David killed the giant Goliath, who defied God and taunted his people, Jesus slew the giant Satan at Calvary and comforts the people of God.

Jesus is the greater King David.  Rather than staying home from war, Jesus went to war. Rather than committing adultery like David, Jesus saved the prostitute and gave her back her dignity. Rather than covering up sin by murdering Uriah, Jesus, the true light, exposed sin and saved the dying criminal crucified beside him.

Jesus is the greater Solomon, and, because of his wisdom, when he taught it was not as one of the scribes.

Jesus is the better temple of God that we enter to worship the Lord.

Jesus is the greater Elijah, who, after defeating the false prophets of Ba’al, offered up the sacrifices at Mt.Carmel. So too, Jesus exposed the religious frauds for who they were and, rather than offering a sacrifice to prove Yahweh is the one true God, he is Yahweh’s sacrifice.

Jesus is the greater Nehemiah. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, but Jesus ushers in the city known as the New Jerusalem.

Jesus is the greater Esther, who risked her life by entering the palace of king Xerxes.  But Jesus gave his life at Pilate’s palace.

Jesus is the better Job. Job suffered as an innocent man under the onslaught of Satan, and so too Jesus suffered as an innocent man and bore the wrath of God, the wrath of Satan, and the wrath of mankind. And just as Job’s friends were of no use to him in his agony, Jesus’ disciples slept when he was in great distress.

Jesus is the greater Jeremiah, who in exile was known as the weeping prophet just as Jesus, the man of many sorrows, wept at Lazarus’ grave and over those living in exile in their own land.

Jesus is the greater Isaiah, who saw some future events unfolding. So too, Jesus has perfect knowledge of eternity past and eternity future.

Jesus is the greater Hosea, who married an unfaithful, whoring wife yet pursued her in love. Jesus does the same and more for his unfaithful bride, the Church, every hour.

Jesus is the greater Jonah. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish because he ran from the will of God, and, by God’s power, he appeared again and proclaimed God’s Word, which led to the salvation of the Ninevites. But Jesus spent three days in the grave because he ran toward the will of God, faithfully preached the gospel, and appeared three days later, which led to the salvation of the world.

On and on it goes. Jesus is not only the true and greatest of all the people in the Bible - He radically recycles everything in the Old Testament according to his person and work. 

He is the better prophet.

He is the better High Priest.

He is the better King of all Kings.

He is the better lamb to be sacrificed.

He is the better.

People Are Books

The famous British historian H.G. Wells is credited with this quote: “I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”

It is hard to find anyone these days that will truly contest that reality.

Our very calendar reflects this fact. We live in 2014 A.D., which stands for anno domini – “the year of our Lord.” As Scripture tells us, Jesus defeated death and ascended back into heaven, and his Church is currently awaiting his return. But this “penniless preacher” didn’t keep a blog nor have a video crew following him around documenting all of these events. So where was the story being recorded during the ministry of Jesus and beyond?  In his community.  Professor Albert Wolters puts it this way in his book Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformation Worldview: “Jesus did not (like Mohammad) write a book. Rather, he formed a community to be the bearer of this good news” (p.122, emphasis mine).

Did you catch that? Jesus did not speak with book agents, sign publishing deals, or try to pick what cover design would go on his next hardback, paperback, or e-book. No pen. No paper. No keyboard. As someone who enjoys reading and struggles with the basics of writing, I find this fascinating. Jesus picked the most unlikely characters in the world to be his disciples and wrote his story on the hearts of rugged men and impoverished women.

Later, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, saying, “You are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor. 3.3). Though he wrote many of the letters found in our New Testament, the point for Paul was not simply penning words on pages. The point was to go beyond that and see the Spirit pen God’s words on human hearts. The Holy Spirit who inspired the writing of Scripture indwells every believer, and thus believers and unbelievers are constantly reading the message on our hearts.

The story hasn’t changed.

From the very beginning of Scripture, we see God as a community who creates people to be in community with him and each other.  The blazing center of it all is the good news of the gospel that God loves, pursues, saves, and rejoices over each of his kids – his community, the Church – who read and obey the Word of God, inspired by God, to the people of God (2 Tim. 3.16).

Time, Tact, & Tone

I’ve not always been great with conflict. In fact, I’ve been pretty sorry at it on more occasions than I care to admit, really. The following is something I’m recently learning in regards to church leadership and relationships. However, I think it is helpful for basic communication at home or in everyday friendships, or work relationships in which conflict arises. If you don’t have conflict in a relationship, then you don’t have a relationship. It’s that simple. Fake smiles and small talk rarely need some sort of mediation.

However, if you’re in a working relationship or around the home with the same people every day, you will face conflict. Nobody sees eye to eye about everything all the time. If you have a conflict with someone you need to say something about it. Burying frustration eventually erupts in very ugly ways. I’ve lost friendships and odds are you have too because someone didn’t bring up an issue that was really eating at them and then finally, they exploded about that issue and many more which resulted in the relationship being burnt to the ground. Scripture teaches to not let the sun go down on your anger (Eph. 4.26). Jesus teaches that if your brother has a problem with you that you need to go and resolve it prior to worshiping God (Matt. 5.24).  There are three things that have stood out to me and that we all need to consider when it comes to conflict, resolution, and reconciliation. (I’ve learned these the hard way). So, in an effort to better love, serve, understand, honor, and communicate better with those around me, I’m working on practicing the following.

In a conflict consider your timing, your tact, and your tone.

Time

First consider the timing. What time are you going to discuss your issue? For example, if your boss just walked in the door and he hasn’t even made it to his office yet, and he’s on the phone, that is probably not the time to bring up your issue. It’s not because your issue isn’t important. It is!  However, you can honor your boss by considering where he or she may be mentally in that moment.Ask them, “Is this a good time to talk to you about an issue I’m having?” If not, ask when would be good time, or go through their assistant if they have one.

At home, bringing up that issue that you’ve got with your spouse right before you sit down to have dinner with the family probably isn’t the best time either. Maybe after the kids are in bed would be better. Consider the other person. What are they presently going through? When do you think will be a good time to talk about the conflict? By the way, this isn’t putting the conflict off, but an intentional step towards a healthy resolution so that the issue isn’t compounded by poor timing.

Tact

Second consider your tact. Think about what you’re going to say before you say it. Have a game plan. What do you really want to communicate? Take a moment if you need to and write it down and look over it. I’ve found that taking an extra minute to write my issue down, read it over, and pray about it, has helped me in more ways than I knew possible. I’m able to see things more clearly and sometimes discover that I don’t actually have an issue with someone else! It’s actually my own problem that I created for myself! Some people want a very straight-forward, blunt statement when it comes to conflict. Taking your time to get to the issue is irritating for some. If other people are spoken to forthrightly they will feel bullied or disrespected. So, prior to talking to someone, consider your tact. What will they actually hear? What are they going to feel like on the drive home after your discussion? Are you out to win the argument or do you want to win the person too? (By the way, winning arguments and losing people is not leading nor loving).

Tone

Lastly, what is your tone going to be like? You may be angry, frustrated, or disappointed. So consider your body language, voice inflections, and word choice. All of these matter big time if you want to move through the conversation and be reconciled at the end of it. So, it’s not just what you say buthow you say it. Is your language a bit hyperbolic that needs to be revamped? Are you being sarcastic? Do you show that you’re serious but gracious? Can you make the issue about the issuewithout insulting the person? Usually when someone is insulted they either fight back or simply comply so as to speed the meeting up and get out of the conversation. Thus the conflict never really is resolved. Think about your tone.

Why think about all of these things? Because our Apostle Paul tells us to “count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3). To do this, we must hang our hats on Jesus. Consider that he spoke to Nicodemus at night, the Pharisees in the synagogue, preached on the hillside to masses, and had dinner with “sinners.” Look at what he said, how he said it, and to whom he was speaking.

Unborn Children & Eternity

I write this with incredible sensitivity in my heart.

In London in 2008, while I was going to school, my wife and I lost our first child, our son Adam, through miscarriage. This experience was devastating—our faith was rocked. It sent us into a season of asking innumerable questions of God: Could we go on? Is God good? Can he be trusted with our lives being that Adam’s was lost? Does he even care?

Even today, we are affected by our loss.  Many of you know what this is like. There is an empty chair at our dinner table every night, birthdays that go by, and imagined holidays and experiences that are left only to the imagination of what could have been.

We are left to speculation, but our speculation doesn’t go unenlightened.

As a pastor, I am often asked what happens to babies like ours who are lost in miscarriage or to children who are killed through abortion. The one thing we do know is that they, like all of us, are image bearers of God who came into existence, even though they never had the joy of being loved, kissed, and cherished by their earthly mom and dad.

Where do the unborn babies go? Some would argue that they don’t go to heaven because we are sinful beings and the only way to be reconciled to God is through faith and repentance. Since these babies didn’t repent or have faith, they are forever separated from God in hell. Others argue that Jesus died for the world and therefore those children who are born in Adamic guilt have their sins atoned for because they haven’t committed personal sin.

The reality is that Scripture never speaks directly to this situation. At this point we are left to speculation, but our speculation doesn’t go unenlightened. We have a perfect Bible that reveals ultimately what God desires for us to know. Since there is not a verse (much less a systematic theology) on this subject, it seems only right to appeal to the character and nature of the God in whose image humans are created.

I abide in the great comforter, the Holy Spirit.

God has revealed himself as holy, just, and righteous—but that’s not all. He’s revealed himself as the definition of love (1 John 4:8), whose grace is scandalous, (Luke 15:11–32), and whose mercy leads to our justification (Rom. 2:4). In fact, Jesus teaches us that he is our heavenly Father (Matt. 6:7–15) and Paul goes as far as to tell us on two occasions that God prefers his kids use a familial name like “Abba” when talking to him in prayer (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:16).

Even though I don’t have a verse that definitively says that our boy Adam is in heaven with Jesus along with millions of other children, I can look at the nature and character of our God, who was born in a barn (Luke 2:1–20) washed the feet of his betrayer (John 13:1–17), unashamedly befriended outcasts of society (Matt. 11:19), forgave and restored dignity to a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11), and suffered so that he might end our suffering (Isa. 53:5), was raised to give us justification (Rom. 4:25), is building a home for us in heaven (John 14:3), is praying for us even now (Rom. 8:34), and is coming to take us to be with him forever (John 14:3), where he is the hero who wipes away every tear from every eye (Rev. 21:4).

I abide in the great comforter, the Holy Spirit, knowing that my baby met this God face to face, and therefore, I have great hope of one day worshiping Jesus at Adam’s side.

"Downstream?"

Over the last several years there’s been one phrase that has both sparked a lot of interest but also really irritated me and some others when it comes to church planting (there’s more than one, really) and it is the phrase “down stream.” The logic is basically, “As the city goes, so go the suburban and rural places.” Thus, we need more church planters in cities rather than the suburbs or farm towns. The points made by some prominent thinkers on this are also convincing, “there are more image-bearers per capita in the city” – go there. “There’s more crime in the city” – go there. “Art, education, and real culture (love how that word gets thrown around these days) is in the city” – that’s why you should be there.” All of these things make good sense. But then terms like “down stream” are used and all of a sudden I feel less than inadequate and inferior to those in the big city. Hi, I’m Alex, and I planted a church, on purpose, in Newnan, Georgia.

Personally, I grew up in the suburban town of Woodstock, Georgia, which is about 35-40 minutes north of downtown Atlanta. My dad commuted downtown every day to Georgia Power and then for the last few years of his life to Coca-Cola. (We are clearly southerners). I spent a good bit of time in the city of Atlanta and my dad taught me to really love being in the city from an early age and for that I am incredibly grateful. The energy of a thriving city does something to me. When I read that heaven is a big city, I want to go there and stay there forever. (And I plan on it!) I’ve had the privilege of living in other great cities such as London Seattle, and the "biggest little city" known as "Reno."

In 2007 I knew that God was calling me to plant a church not in London, NYC, or LA. No. I was called to Newnan, Georgia. Newman? No. Newnan. I had to explain that all the time. When describing Newnan to people, it is an old colonial town that Sherman didn’t burn down in his destruction of the South. Today it’s a suburb but also quite rural. Case in point – my house was one mile from what they call “downtown Newnan.” Yet, one mile in the other direction of my home was massive farms and that’s just about it. It felt rural. Personally, Newnan isn’t a town I’d want to live in for the long-term. This isn’t because the people there were unbearable or that there wasn’t anything to do. In fact, some of the best people you’ll ever meet live in that little town. My wife and I just enjoy a more densely populated urban center. It’s just our personalities. However, when I planted Four Corners Church in Newnan and was living there and hearing other church planters and reading materials about being “down stream,” I was shocked at the arrogance that came with those who pushed being “in the city.”

We had lived in London for a year previously to planting this church in Newnan because I was in school. Being a student in London kept us pinching pennies. No car, meat at dinner once a month, public transport for everything (which has it’s moments), and loads of hours in the Tate Modern Art Museum or at the Portobello Market took up countless hours. We absolutely loved it and would do it again today!

However, to then return to the rural town of Newnan and hear about how “down stream” we were, sounded fairly insulting. Nobody in Newnan is actually waiting on someone in Atlanta to tell them what to eat, what to wear, where they should work, recreate, or go to school. Many people of Newnan commute into Atlanta for work only then to flee back to the life they actually wanted.  Furthermore, when the language of “down stream” is used, it makes it sound like those that are planting there just couldn’t cut it in the city. And sometimes this is the case. City life isn't for everyone. Yet, the reality is that occasionally God calls city people to the rural and suburban areas to live and vice versa. And you know what? That is a VERY GOOD THING! Significant portions of the Acts 29 churches are currently in suburban or rural areas, and the other half are in city-centers. What we need is not arrogant city folks or annoyed suburbanites.

What we need is faithfulness to Jesus. What we need is the mind, eyes, ears, and heart of God for the places in which he has placed us and then to seek to study that place, serve that place, and see Jesus exalted in that place.

How To Study Theology

All Christians are called to be theologians and if we do not seek to develop a proper understanding of God we will end up with bad theology. With these truths established, let us look into how we can begin to take on a more formal study of theology.

Studying theology is no simple task. In fact, it is one of those fields of study that are simply inexhaustible. The Apostle Paul’s famous doxology (a term for a hymn of praise to God) in Romans 11makes some jaw dropping, worship-producing statements and repeats some weighty rhetorical questions that show up in the Old Testament:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”Romans 11:33-35

So even before we dive into theology, we have Paul demonstrating that God’s ways are unsearchable, beyond tracing out perfectly. That’s not to say we cannot know a lot of things about God. Thanks to the doctrine of Revelation (which is different from the Book of Revelation) we can!

We simply cannot know everything about God, for He is infinite and we are finite. He is omniscient (he knows all things), we only know some things. He is omnipresent (everywhere at once), we can only be in one place at one time. He is omnipotent (all powerful), we are only so big, so strong, and can only muster up so much strength. He is Creator, we are creation.

So, how or where does one “start” studying theology?  Without even knowing it, you have already entered the world of theological thinking by simply learning about God, yourself, the Bible, and so on.

What You Can Read

There are many options when it comes to reading theological texts. Some helpful places to start include:

The Early Church Fathers (Patristics)
Many of the writings of the early leaders of the Christian church have survived to today. Here are a few areas you can begin looking into, as well as some helpful resources:

• The Apostolic Fathers
  This collection of the earliest known writings of the church includes the First and Second Epistles of Clement, the Didache, the Epistles of Ignatius, the Epistle of Polycarp, the Epistle about Polycarp’s Martyrdom, and the Shepherd of Hermas.
• The Writings of the Early Church Fathers
  The Writing of the Early Church Fathers is a collection of writings from the first 800 years of the Church. This collection is divided into three series, Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene. 

Understanding Reformation Theology
Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other Protestants initiated a movement known as the Reformation. Reformation Theology holds to the theological truths they adhered to, such as faith being by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone among others.

• What is Reformed Theology, a video series by R.C. Sproul is also available asa helpful book
• What is Reformed Theology, a concise introduction from GotQuestions.org covers the basics of Reformed Teaching

An Introduction to Systematic Theology
Systematic Theology arranges the many aspects of Biblical beliefs in a complete and self-consistent way as much as is possible.

•  Introduction to Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
  There is an abundance of books available, and Grudem’s is among the best. It is very readable and understandable (it is, however, over 1,000 pages).  
• Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know Edited by Wayne Grudem’s son, Elliot
  This is a much shorter version of the above text (under 200 pages). I’ve used this edition in my churches over the years and have found it to be very helpful when it comes to helping others as they begin dipping a toe in the vast sea known as “theology.” 

Study In Community

Theology may seem overwhelming, and sometimes it is. The field speaks to more than just God. It’s influences our anthropology, sociology, psychology, and so forth. As you begin, go in prayer, and go study in community! It’s best to have a couple of people you can think out loud with, ask questions of, and pray through your discoveries and challenges together.

After all, God is a community (the theological word is “Trinity”) and created us in his image (imago dei), and has designed his revelation not to fall into isolated individuals alone but has poured out his presence, blessing, and knowledge of Himself through the Holy Spirit in the Church that Jesus bought with his blood.