I read a quote on Twitter today by Dave Harvey that resonated in me. It said, "Forgive sinners, forgive sin." Short, simple, and straight forward. But I think it touches something that I, and perhaps many others, fail to realize in every day circumstances.
When I am wronged, I tend to overlook what happened, push it out of the way so that I no longer think about it, and call that forgiveness. I focus on the act and how it made me feel. But true forgiveness does not focus on the act and the resulting feelings. True forgiveness focuses on the PERSON who did the wrong, and justifies the PERSON - not their action. When God forgave us, He did not push the seriousness of our sin to the side. Rather He revealed His wrath upon sin by putting that wrath on His Son. He did not justify our deeds. He justified US. He did not reason away His anger concerning our sin so that He would not feel the need to hold animosity against us. No, He justified US in spite of our sin. He is the justifier of ungodly men, not of ungodly deeds.
When we are hurt by someone, we ought to take God's example of forgiveness. My tendency is to try to justify what has been done to me - to reason it away as not a big deal. But the fact is, when we are sinned against, it IS a big deal, but that person (and our relationship with that person) is a bigger deal. But we do not forgive based on redirecting our judgment of that person to something or someone else. We do not justify them by taking judgment on our pillow or our dog. We do not justify them by punishing them in our thoughts, putting them down and puffing ourselves up. In these cases, we acknowledge the seriousness of their wrong, but we belittle the seriousness of their humanity, their accountability to God, and our relationship with them. When we reason away the seriousness of their sin, we belittle the justice of God and the sacrifice of His Son. We forgive sins in the sense that we don't hold them against the one who committed them.
Colossians 3:13 says "as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." So we see the forgiveness of God is our basis for our forgiveness of others. Ephesians 4:32 says "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." There is an unfortunate chapter break here, but I will continue the passage with the beginning of chapter 5: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." So our firgiveness of others is an imitation of God forgiving us. Not that we did not deserve punishment, but that punishment was fulfilled in Christ's offering. It all comes back to the cross. It all comes back to the Gospel.
When we attempt to forgive based off of earthly means as was described in the beginning of this post, we forsake the Gospel and turn forgiveness, even that of our own sins before God, into an issue of scales. In one way or another, the hurt committed against us still has an offering remaining to be made for restitution to occur. Forgiveness one person to another is a much bigger deal than is often understood! Our perception and imitation of the Gospel is at stake every time we are involved in a situation that calls for forgiveness. Do our relationships suffer due to hurt and lack of forgiveness? Then the Gospel has not been enriched in our hearts. We would do well to meditate on nothing but the Gospel. There is no more sacrifice to be made for sins! Not ours and not theirs. We are accountable to God. We are forgiven by God. We ourselves are partakers of the same forgiveness because we ourselves were partakers in the same sin. We of all people have no right to hold anything to anyone's account because of the great forgiveness that we have experienced from God. Have we even claimed the fact that we ourselves are grievous sinners? Even better, have we claimed the fact that Christ is the glorious Savior, and not just to us? That God was sinned against in a far more serious way than we have? Yet God forgives. Let His testimony of grace speak to us in our dealings with others. Let us be imitators of God in matters of forgiveness and base our forgiveness not in the need for restitution (no matter how abstract) but in the restitution that we have already found in the finished work of Christ.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Over the past couple of years I remember hearing people talk about popular pastors in quite a negative way. And one argument I have heard raised against them is this: "They may seem powerful face to face or have a powerful tone, but if you were to turn their messages into a manuscript you'd see just how powerless their words actually are. The bare words are shallow and meaningless, just like their ministry."
I could take this quote and spend time discussing a number of different topics, and I will make an application of this concerning music later on, but I want to focus this portion of this blog on the topic of "presentation matters." I heard a quote once, I do not remember by whom, that said something to the effect of "People don't retain what you say. They retain what you are passionate about." Context really does matter. And many people think of context only as if it applies to the context of the Scripture passages. However, context within a message, whether formal or informal, does not end with the historical/grammatical framework. It broadens to encompass not just the message, but also the messenger.
Let's say you are approached by a friend. He comes to you as though he is on a relaxing stroll through the park. His hands fill his pockets and his eyes are half shut as though he just woke up from a nap. After yawning he quietly states that he has something important to tell you that will change your life. Would you find him to be serious? Would you be prone to hang on to the gravity of his message from beginning to end?
Now lets say the same friend approaches you like you were the finish line in a marathon. Sweat is dripping off of the end of his nose, and he is speaking in a rushed and voluminous manner, saying he has something important to tell you that will change your life. Would you listen intently to his message from beginning to end?
In either case, we are prone to mirror the passion of the messenger. The presentation of the message is not just a sham or a theatrical production. It is the picture of what the Gospel has done to that messenger. If the preacher hasn't gotten much from the Gospel, then the people will not get much from the preacher. That preacher who is expressive, excited, and loud because of Christ may not say anything more profound than a 9 year old, but his presentation of the Gospel reveals a profound work on his life that is worth more to him and his congregation than literary profundities wrapped in a stiff, starchy suit. PRESENTATION MATTERS.
This is not to say we can only muster a passion for the Gospel if those around us are passionate about the Gospel. But this includes a discussion of how we read our bibles. Do we read it as a stale, starchy documentation of historical events and antique ethics that is to somehow have an impact on our lives today? Do we treat it as a daily devotional book that is supposed to leave us a nugget each day? Do we treat it as "basic instructions before leaving earth" - that it gives us a means of making life work until we die? All of these responses to the Bible focus on US. But the Bible is something that is focused on Christ and His finished work. It not only establishes the knowledge of a Theos and some specific facts about Him, but it goes on to show how He relates to us and how we relate to Him - both through Jesus Christ. Do we see the great Messenger in the message? Do we get His point? Or do we just try to take away something that is supposed to make our life come together and make us feel better about ourselves and our spiritual life? If so, we miss the Messenger, His passion, and His Gospel. Finding the passionate Messenger in our personal scripture reading comes much down to how we read. He is there, but most of the time we miss Him because we avoid Him altogether in the process of seeking a better self-image.
Concerning music, I tie this together with the above in response to another quote I heard a while back from a popular name in his equally popular discipleship series. He said something to the effect of, "They may have impressive poetic form and an artistic use of words, maybe even rich theological content, but the song is not Spirit led because of the wordly compromise of the music." In my opinion, this is a perfect example of pharisaical judgmentalism. But that is off subject. My point is, poetry, artistry, theology, and good music should make their way into every song we sing because PRESENTATION MATTERS. Much of our music is like the stiff, starchy preaching that we've all seen in the pulpit. Zero passion is downloaded from the song to our lives. Many hymns, though theologically rich, are probably the products of writers who have not been energized by the Spirit. Not because they are not theologically accurate, but because they do not imitate the passion of the Gospel in their presentation of the message. I cannot judge specifically, just like I cannot look at a preacher and say for sure whether or not he is filled with the Spirit. But my point is, music can do just as much justice or injustice to the message of the Gospel as a preacher can do with his presentation. Pastors need to be careful to preach with passion just as much as congregations need to sing with passion as well as pick songs that have presentations that agree with the passion of the message. And we cannot confuse a contemporary style with the influence of the world. It may just be something that is more passionate and artisitic than we are used to. And we should get used to it. Be careful not to judge the heart of the song-writer on either end of the stylistic spectrum, but be careful to choose music that actually PRESENTS the Gospel, rather than just saying it with words, because PRESENTATION MATTERS.
I could take this quote and spend time discussing a number of different topics, and I will make an application of this concerning music later on, but I want to focus this portion of this blog on the topic of "presentation matters." I heard a quote once, I do not remember by whom, that said something to the effect of "People don't retain what you say. They retain what you are passionate about." Context really does matter. And many people think of context only as if it applies to the context of the Scripture passages. However, context within a message, whether formal or informal, does not end with the historical/grammatical framework. It broadens to encompass not just the message, but also the messenger.
Let's say you are approached by a friend. He comes to you as though he is on a relaxing stroll through the park. His hands fill his pockets and his eyes are half shut as though he just woke up from a nap. After yawning he quietly states that he has something important to tell you that will change your life. Would you find him to be serious? Would you be prone to hang on to the gravity of his message from beginning to end?
Now lets say the same friend approaches you like you were the finish line in a marathon. Sweat is dripping off of the end of his nose, and he is speaking in a rushed and voluminous manner, saying he has something important to tell you that will change your life. Would you listen intently to his message from beginning to end?
In either case, we are prone to mirror the passion of the messenger. The presentation of the message is not just a sham or a theatrical production. It is the picture of what the Gospel has done to that messenger. If the preacher hasn't gotten much from the Gospel, then the people will not get much from the preacher. That preacher who is expressive, excited, and loud because of Christ may not say anything more profound than a 9 year old, but his presentation of the Gospel reveals a profound work on his life that is worth more to him and his congregation than literary profundities wrapped in a stiff, starchy suit. PRESENTATION MATTERS.
This is not to say we can only muster a passion for the Gospel if those around us are passionate about the Gospel. But this includes a discussion of how we read our bibles. Do we read it as a stale, starchy documentation of historical events and antique ethics that is to somehow have an impact on our lives today? Do we treat it as a daily devotional book that is supposed to leave us a nugget each day? Do we treat it as "basic instructions before leaving earth" - that it gives us a means of making life work until we die? All of these responses to the Bible focus on US. But the Bible is something that is focused on Christ and His finished work. It not only establishes the knowledge of a Theos and some specific facts about Him, but it goes on to show how He relates to us and how we relate to Him - both through Jesus Christ. Do we see the great Messenger in the message? Do we get His point? Or do we just try to take away something that is supposed to make our life come together and make us feel better about ourselves and our spiritual life? If so, we miss the Messenger, His passion, and His Gospel. Finding the passionate Messenger in our personal scripture reading comes much down to how we read. He is there, but most of the time we miss Him because we avoid Him altogether in the process of seeking a better self-image.
Concerning music, I tie this together with the above in response to another quote I heard a while back from a popular name in his equally popular discipleship series. He said something to the effect of, "They may have impressive poetic form and an artistic use of words, maybe even rich theological content, but the song is not Spirit led because of the wordly compromise of the music." In my opinion, this is a perfect example of pharisaical judgmentalism. But that is off subject. My point is, poetry, artistry, theology, and good music should make their way into every song we sing because PRESENTATION MATTERS. Much of our music is like the stiff, starchy preaching that we've all seen in the pulpit. Zero passion is downloaded from the song to our lives. Many hymns, though theologically rich, are probably the products of writers who have not been energized by the Spirit. Not because they are not theologically accurate, but because they do not imitate the passion of the Gospel in their presentation of the message. I cannot judge specifically, just like I cannot look at a preacher and say for sure whether or not he is filled with the Spirit. But my point is, music can do just as much justice or injustice to the message of the Gospel as a preacher can do with his presentation. Pastors need to be careful to preach with passion just as much as congregations need to sing with passion as well as pick songs that have presentations that agree with the passion of the message. And we cannot confuse a contemporary style with the influence of the world. It may just be something that is more passionate and artisitic than we are used to. And we should get used to it. Be careful not to judge the heart of the song-writer on either end of the stylistic spectrum, but be careful to choose music that actually PRESENTS the Gospel, rather than just saying it with words, because PRESENTATION MATTERS.
Tenth Avenue North puts it well in their song below:
"Healing Begins"
So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside
So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear
So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now
This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us
This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
"Healing Begins"
So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside
So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear
So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now
This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us
This is where the healing begins
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Friday, July 01, 2011
Is there place for patriotism in the church?
I've read some articles condemning the act of churches celebrating their country around national holidays. But is this unbiblical or merely a person's personal conviction?
I am prone to believe the latter. If there is a specific bible passage that I am missing, let me know and I will retract this post. But personally, I really think that we should be gracious in this area. Is there a better and worse way to celebrate a nation? Sure. But is it necessarily wrong to dedicate one or two services a year to praying for our nation and thanking God for our freedoms? What if we didn't have these freedoms? Would it be wrong to thank God with a church service for the lack of national freedoms that produce faith? I highly doubt it. So why would it be wrong to celebrate certain freedoms as the joined covenant community of God on one or two Sundays a year?
A focus on our nation can produce the following for a church:
1. A hightened appreciation for the grace of God as He sheds it upon the righteous and the wicked alike.
2. Humility as we reflect on the comforts that we enjoy but don't deserve while other believers quite literally die daily for the faith. Also humility concerning the rising and falling of nations. They do so at the hand of God, not the hand of other nations. No nation is "God's chosen nation," rather He has chosen to preserve the church. A focus on our nation can help us realize our frailty.
3. A greater burden to win our own communities to Christ as we focus on the people of THIS nation, rather than everyone else's nations through foreign missions.
4. A greater appreciation for where our nation is currently at, as God guides the hands of our leaders. This can also awaken us to the mystery of God's will, as our rulers rule in ways contrary to the Bible. How could God lead our leaders this way? The fact that we don't understand His wisdom does not make Him unwise. It just makes us finite.
5. A platform to focus on the city that is to come. A perfect city that is truly free by the grace of God through Christ Jesus.
So I would say that it is not the act of dedicating a service or two to the topic of our nation that is wrong, but rather how it is done. Here are some things that should be avoided when focusing a service on our nation:
1. Avoid suggesting that our nation is invincible or chosen of God and is somehow better or more loved by God than anyone else's nation. We are one nation among many that God has shed grace upon. This grace does not always look the same. It has risen at the hand of God and someday will fall at the hand of God.
2. Avoid praising men over Christ. Men produce momentary salvation, but Christ has provided eternal salvation. The sacrifice of fallen soldiers truly is a great gift, but even greater is the gift of Christ's sacrifice. Show appreciate for those soldiers, but worship Christ.
3. Avoid praising political leaders for national success. Remember their leadership is ultimately lead by God.
4. Avoid suggesting inequality based on ethnic diversity by your words and actions, even for this service. There are many in our North American churches that have their roots in other countries, and also family in other nations. How would your actions and statements make them feel? Are we not all equal in Christ?
5. Avoid leaving the singing of national anthems as merely an anthem to the nation. Provide a God-centered context for all things in the service.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that this is a subject of grace. Is it wrong to hold a church service in recognition of our nation? For some, maybe. Depends on what they are fully convinced of. It also depends on if they make our nation or fallen hero's out to be greater than Christ. This type of service can be done poorly. But I believe it can also be done in a way prefectly pleasing to God.
I've read some articles condemning the act of churches celebrating their country around national holidays. But is this unbiblical or merely a person's personal conviction?
I am prone to believe the latter. If there is a specific bible passage that I am missing, let me know and I will retract this post. But personally, I really think that we should be gracious in this area. Is there a better and worse way to celebrate a nation? Sure. But is it necessarily wrong to dedicate one or two services a year to praying for our nation and thanking God for our freedoms? What if we didn't have these freedoms? Would it be wrong to thank God with a church service for the lack of national freedoms that produce faith? I highly doubt it. So why would it be wrong to celebrate certain freedoms as the joined covenant community of God on one or two Sundays a year?
A focus on our nation can produce the following for a church:
1. A hightened appreciation for the grace of God as He sheds it upon the righteous and the wicked alike.
2. Humility as we reflect on the comforts that we enjoy but don't deserve while other believers quite literally die daily for the faith. Also humility concerning the rising and falling of nations. They do so at the hand of God, not the hand of other nations. No nation is "God's chosen nation," rather He has chosen to preserve the church. A focus on our nation can help us realize our frailty.
3. A greater burden to win our own communities to Christ as we focus on the people of THIS nation, rather than everyone else's nations through foreign missions.
4. A greater appreciation for where our nation is currently at, as God guides the hands of our leaders. This can also awaken us to the mystery of God's will, as our rulers rule in ways contrary to the Bible. How could God lead our leaders this way? The fact that we don't understand His wisdom does not make Him unwise. It just makes us finite.
5. A platform to focus on the city that is to come. A perfect city that is truly free by the grace of God through Christ Jesus.
So I would say that it is not the act of dedicating a service or two to the topic of our nation that is wrong, but rather how it is done. Here are some things that should be avoided when focusing a service on our nation:
1. Avoid suggesting that our nation is invincible or chosen of God and is somehow better or more loved by God than anyone else's nation. We are one nation among many that God has shed grace upon. This grace does not always look the same. It has risen at the hand of God and someday will fall at the hand of God.
2. Avoid praising men over Christ. Men produce momentary salvation, but Christ has provided eternal salvation. The sacrifice of fallen soldiers truly is a great gift, but even greater is the gift of Christ's sacrifice. Show appreciate for those soldiers, but worship Christ.
3. Avoid praising political leaders for national success. Remember their leadership is ultimately lead by God.
4. Avoid suggesting inequality based on ethnic diversity by your words and actions, even for this service. There are many in our North American churches that have their roots in other countries, and also family in other nations. How would your actions and statements make them feel? Are we not all equal in Christ?
5. Avoid leaving the singing of national anthems as merely an anthem to the nation. Provide a God-centered context for all things in the service.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that this is a subject of grace. Is it wrong to hold a church service in recognition of our nation? For some, maybe. Depends on what they are fully convinced of. It also depends on if they make our nation or fallen hero's out to be greater than Christ. This type of service can be done poorly. But I believe it can also be done in a way prefectly pleasing to God.
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