And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word,
and trust his grace, ...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Cure for the Common Christmas
“We spend a lifetime collecting ‘stuff’ that we will spend a lifetime hauling around with us trying to find storage for it all.”
These words were e-mailed to me recently. Very true words, poignant, in fact.
One cause of this is not only our bent toward materialism, but our distorted view / approach to Christmas. We Christians are as guilty as anyone of taking what is reported to be a remembrance or celebration of our Savior’s birth and turning it into the stress-filled, debt-ridden, chaos it has become.
We fill the need to express our love to those around us, especially our family, in the same way as the world. We buy into the falsehood that gifts will show our love. We are consumed, pardon the play on words, with the need to get our family the same trinkets the world gets there’s. Here we see the bigger distortion – that Christmas is about family, Christmas is about being together, Christmas is about showing our love to those around us. I am tempted to write, “I thought Christmas is about Christ,” but will not because I do not want to show how completely naïve I am. Christmas has gone the way of Easter. We really do not reflect on the true events of those days, historically. The world has taken those days and ruined them. We Christians, also being secular humanists, have not only allowed them to do so, but have been a party to their destruction. Think about it... we have been a party to trivializing our Savior’s birth AND death. Yes, Easter is really about His resurrection! But there is no resurrection without the death which we have allowed Peter cotton tail to trample all over.
The Cure
How do we re-claim these Christian Holy-days? Family Worship.
1 – It shows our family our true faith. It allows fathers to train up their children spiritually, which is the only mandate in the Bible when it comes to training our children.
2 – It builds bonds that show true familial love. Being together in God’s word and prayer develops the true relationship God designed for families. When these bonds are forged, we do not feel the need to spend large amounts on spouses or children to express our “love.” At the same time we have such a relationship with our children that they do not “need” (expect / demand) huge displays of materialism to keep them satisfied.
3 – The Bible is clear – Families are to worship God together. Churches do not encourage this or teach this. The proof of this is they are not teaching or discussing it. How many pastors lead their families in daily worship? Any wonder why families are disintegrating before our eyes including our pastor’s families? To reclaim our Holy-days and to keep our faith viable in a dying world, it must start with the family.
Family Worship – what does it involve?
It is quite simple. Have a set time every day to read the Bible together and pray together as a family. Many families even sing a hymn or two during this time.
There is no reason not to, and many reasons we must. You cannot imagine how it will change your family. It will be the cure for the common Christmas.
These words were e-mailed to me recently. Very true words, poignant, in fact.
One cause of this is not only our bent toward materialism, but our distorted view / approach to Christmas. We Christians are as guilty as anyone of taking what is reported to be a remembrance or celebration of our Savior’s birth and turning it into the stress-filled, debt-ridden, chaos it has become.
We fill the need to express our love to those around us, especially our family, in the same way as the world. We buy into the falsehood that gifts will show our love. We are consumed, pardon the play on words, with the need to get our family the same trinkets the world gets there’s. Here we see the bigger distortion – that Christmas is about family, Christmas is about being together, Christmas is about showing our love to those around us. I am tempted to write, “I thought Christmas is about Christ,” but will not because I do not want to show how completely naïve I am. Christmas has gone the way of Easter. We really do not reflect on the true events of those days, historically. The world has taken those days and ruined them. We Christians, also being secular humanists, have not only allowed them to do so, but have been a party to their destruction. Think about it... we have been a party to trivializing our Savior’s birth AND death. Yes, Easter is really about His resurrection! But there is no resurrection without the death which we have allowed Peter cotton tail to trample all over.
The Cure
How do we re-claim these Christian Holy-days? Family Worship.
1 – It shows our family our true faith. It allows fathers to train up their children spiritually, which is the only mandate in the Bible when it comes to training our children.
2 – It builds bonds that show true familial love. Being together in God’s word and prayer develops the true relationship God designed for families. When these bonds are forged, we do not feel the need to spend large amounts on spouses or children to express our “love.” At the same time we have such a relationship with our children that they do not “need” (expect / demand) huge displays of materialism to keep them satisfied.
3 – The Bible is clear – Families are to worship God together. Churches do not encourage this or teach this. The proof of this is they are not teaching or discussing it. How many pastors lead their families in daily worship? Any wonder why families are disintegrating before our eyes including our pastor’s families? To reclaim our Holy-days and to keep our faith viable in a dying world, it must start with the family.
Family Worship – what does it involve?
It is quite simple. Have a set time every day to read the Bible together and pray together as a family. Many families even sing a hymn or two during this time.
There is no reason not to, and many reasons we must. You cannot imagine how it will change your family. It will be the cure for the common Christmas.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Study!
If we ask the average Christian what is God's purpose / plan in salvation, what might we hear? I believe it may be along the lines of "To save us from Hell." We may even get, "Jesus died to save us from Hell and to take us to Heaven where we will live with Him eternally!"
We must study - to show ourselves approved.
We do preach this. And it is partially true, partially.
While Jesus died for my sins, to save me from Hell, he also died to save me from current sins. You see, when we preach and teach "saved from Hell" salvation, we do ourselves and others a great disservice. Have you noticed there are untold thousands who want to be saved from hell but who do not want to be saved from their sins (now) and give their life to Jesus.
Yes, Hell is real. Yes, unrepentant sinners will go there. We should not gloss that over.
But have we read John 10:10?
We must study to show ourselves approved.
Why did Jesus come to earth and die?
Matthew 1:21 - "Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." Present, not future.
Galatians 1:4 - "(the Lord Jesus Christ) who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age..."
Present, not future.
Ephesians 5:5-7 - "as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. "
Present, not future.
We do know, don't we, We are the church. We were blood bought to be without stain, holy, blameless - Now, not in heaven later.
Why study? So we can know what we know. So we can share this reality with new believers who need to know Jesus died for them NOW, not for the future.
Study to show thyself approved - you never know what you might learn.
We must study - to show ourselves approved.
We do preach this. And it is partially true, partially.
While Jesus died for my sins, to save me from Hell, he also died to save me from current sins. You see, when we preach and teach "saved from Hell" salvation, we do ourselves and others a great disservice. Have you noticed there are untold thousands who want to be saved from hell but who do not want to be saved from their sins (now) and give their life to Jesus.
Yes, Hell is real. Yes, unrepentant sinners will go there. We should not gloss that over.
But have we read John 10:10?
We must study to show ourselves approved.
Why did Jesus come to earth and die?
Matthew 1:21 - "Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." Present, not future.
Galatians 1:4 - "(the Lord Jesus Christ) who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age..."
Present, not future.
Ephesians 5:5-7 - "as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. "
Present, not future.
We do know, don't we, We are the church. We were blood bought to be without stain, holy, blameless - Now, not in heaven later.
Why study? So we can know what we know. So we can share this reality with new believers who need to know Jesus died for them NOW, not for the future.
Study to show thyself approved - you never know what you might learn.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Best Practice
Best Practice - this has been a buzz word among "educators" for a while. It means we should do / be / practice what has proven through research to be the best course of teaching / training, etc.
I believe 2 Timothy 3:10-17 is a worthwhile "Best Practice." Let me share points I heard recently. Here is the text.
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
So what do we do now?
Point 1 - Be teachable- v. 10, 14, 16
Point 2 - Be prepared for opposition (don't be surprised or defeated by it!) v. 11, 12
Point 3 - Determine to stay faithful! - v. 14
Point 4 - Deepen your knowledge of the Bible - v. 16, 17
Why.....?
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Remember:
1 - As we search the scripture - IT searches us!
2 - The Bible is the only book that the author shows up to meet you when you read it!
I believe 2 Timothy 3:10-17 is a worthwhile "Best Practice." Let me share points I heard recently. Here is the text.
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
So what do we do now?
Point 1 - Be teachable- v. 10, 14, 16
Point 2 - Be prepared for opposition (don't be surprised or defeated by it!) v. 11, 12
Point 3 - Determine to stay faithful! - v. 14
Point 4 - Deepen your knowledge of the Bible - v. 16, 17
Why.....?
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Remember:
1 - As we search the scripture - IT searches us!
2 - The Bible is the only book that the author shows up to meet you when you read it!
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