bad orthodoxy or orthopraxy?

Evangelism…this is one of the touchier subjects in Christian churches. Our pastor has jumped in on a whole series on evangelism (a rarity to find anything more than one sermon), and all I have to say is “ROCK ON!!!!”

I was struck yesterday at an all too often comment that made me want to guffaw loudly. My reaction? Well, it stems from frustration, the cliche-ness of the statement, and…okay, personal attachment to the underlying sentiment. (By the way, this was not spoken by our pastor).

Well, I just think the best evangelism we can have is to live a good Christian life for everyone to see.

WRONG!! This is not evangelism…okay, okay, I don’t want to spend the rest of this post trying to define and nuance all the terms related to evangelism. Because, yes, this can be a very real and quite valid part of evangelism as a whole process. But you know what, me just living a “good Christian life” never got any saved by itself!!! At some point, by some person, in some way, there must be a presentation of the Gospel!

And so, as I sat pondering this statement, one that I am far too familar with…I’ve used it myself…though I knew that it wasn’t true…I wondered if it stems from bad orthodoxy or bad orthopraxy (orthodoxy refers to correct belief, orthopraxy refers to correct practice or behavior as a result of belief). I think I’ve concluded that it is really bad orthopraxy. In general, most Christians know that evangelism requires more than living “a good Christian life.” The problem is, we don’t want to actually have to share the Gospel, so we cop-out by saying we’re no good at it…there are others “gifted” in evangelism so we’ll let them do it…and we’ll do our part by living with good Christian behavior. Umm, no. Sorry, that doesn’t cut it…but nice try!

At some point, by some person, in some way, evangelism requires that the good news of Jesus Christ be told/shared/explained/preached/etc. God has not ordained for a specific behavior by which people will say, “Oh! Jesus Christ is Lord and I can be saved only through faith by believing in Him!” Nope, it is by the proclamation of the Gospel, which might indeed be given a hearing by your “good Christian life.” By all means, lets definitely live correctly…but let’s not stop there!!

He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.
– Acts 11:14

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile
– Romans 1:16

dem’s fightin’ wurdz

I want to deny these words, but sadly I often find that there is little proof to counter the accusation…

But what is the average Christian experience? Church members typically think and behave very much like morally upright non-Christians. They are decent enough, but there is nothing supernatural about them.
J. Robertson McQuilkin, Five Views on Sanctification

The Discipline of Discipline

Have you ever thought of our Lord’s discipline as a spiritual discipline??

My Sunday school co-teacher helped us investigate this. What a great perspective! Sure, as far as a discipline goes, we can’t exactly practice this one on our own since, well, it is God who disciplines. But, consider enduring God’s discipline. Cannot this be a discipline? As we grow in spiritual maturity, don’t we learn to endure discipline from the Lord because He is shaping/teaching/growing/molding/forming/loving us?

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons…Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we sumbint to the Father of our spirits and live!…but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:7-11

God’s discipline is often our suffering. Do you remember Paul’s challenging words to us?

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us.
Romans 5:3-5

I am moved as I consider the suffering (in all shapes and forms) that my friends are enduring…for I see the hand of God at work in your lives! I see brothers and sisters in Christ enduring discipline as God grows them and shapes them, more deeply, into passionate Christ-lovers who increasingly reflect the glory of God! I believe that in suffering we are reminded that we are people of faith…there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING else to hold on to in these times!! There is nothing this world can offer to make such suffering worthwhile! Only Christ is worth this… I am privileged to be in community with you!!

who shall I seek?

But not only my neighbor’s will, but also his honor is more important than mine. The desire for one’s own honor hinders faith. One who seeks his own honor is no longer seeking God and his neighbor. What does it matter if I suffer injustice? Would I not have deserved even worse punishment from God, if He had not dealt with me according to His mercy?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together [1954]

 

 

brief thoughts on suffering

So, I am breaking the rules…in my mind of order and process, I cannot write these thoughts today prior to writing previous thoughts from Christmas and New Years, or posting the photo albums that I have planned. I know, sounds absurd, but it is completely logical in my gray matter…but I am breaking the rules, HAH!

I have no designs to write (at least here) a treatise on suffering and the Christian life, though I think the generally unbiblical understanding today of the Christian life warrants it. Instead, I just want to share a thought or two from a few verses that I read today in 2 Corinthians. There is a movement, albeit small, in the Church today striving for a biblical understanding of the Christian life, realizing that suffering is a part of life, a reality that will persist until Christ returns. It seems that suffering is part of the Believer’s spiritual growth and maturation process. But guess what; Paul teaches that it is not so individualized a matter!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  (2 Cor 1:3-6, NIV)

…suffering for the growth of the body of Christ…WOW

Haggai – Message & Summary

I wrote an expositional (explaining) study of the book of Haggai. I share with you the message, outline and summary:

Message

Misplaced priorities by God’s people are cause for discipline, but obedience allows for His promised presence and blessings.

Outline

I.                    Misplaced Priority #1 [1:1-15]

a.       Priority IS NOT establishing the community economically

b.      Priority IS establishing the Lord’s Temple

II.                 Misplaced Priority #2 [2:1-9]

a.       Priority IS NOT present (or past) situation

b.      Priority IS future hope

III.               Misplaced Priority #3 [2:10-19]

a.       Priority IS NOT ceremonial rituals

b.      Priority IS holiness

IV.              Misplaced Priority #4 [2:20-23]

a.       Priority IS NOT earthly kingship

b.   Priority IS divine kingship

Summary

The prophet Haggai speaks four messages from the Lord to the people of Judah who have returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. He urges them to consider their ways, for they have misplaced priorities, neglecting their covenant priority of the Lord, illustrated through their neglect to rebuild the temple. Instead they have labored to build their own houses and establish their community. Therefore, the Lord has been disciplining His people. Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of Judah respond to the Lord’s rebuke through the prophet Haggai and obey the Lord’s instruction. This allows God’s blessing to come to them again and His presence to be among them. With the Lord as their main priority, the people have a great future hope, for He is the divine King who rules over all nations.

 

 

This, I believe, serves as a great reminder to us (Christians) today. Our priority is our relationship with God through Christ. Far too often we have misplaced priorities, though we make them sound quite righteous!

In the Middle

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” – 1 Kings 18:21b

“Then he isn’t safe?…Safe?…Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

How close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control? When will we take our “deep water faith” out of the shallow end where our feet still touch…just in case God doesn’t actually show up and prove himself faithful? Where in our daily lives do we leave room for the power of God? When will we stop living our lives with the God we have created…the safe, tame God…and instead live our lives following the GOD WHO IS…

(Inspired by Somewhere in the Middle by Casting Crowns, C.S. Lewis, and Elijah)

The winner is….

…study 1: Romans 12

 Apparently my audience was asleep or snuck out when the lights were turned down I am excited about the study, which will focus on motivating the seniors to be true disciples, living their lives “sold out to Jesus”, as “dedicated Christians”, or not as “casual Christians.” I actually hope to stay away from these Christian pop phrases, but you get the idea. I think the parting challenge will be from verse 1, offering their lives/bodies as living sacrifices: life as a Christian without a decision as to who is lord of their lives, is not a Christian life. Salvation is not in question, but meaningfull/full/abundant life in Christ is. I agree with Dad’s comment, “until people make a lordship decision, a living sacrifice commitment, other stuff is just theory.” I think I may steal Chip Ingram’s metaphor for the verse (though it may not be original to him, he is the latest one I have heard use it). Verse 1 is like giving God a blank, signed check to your life…maybe I can print blank checks for the group as a physical demonstration of an internal decision.

I’ll give a report on the other side…