A Sure Means of Grace We Often Ignore

Last evening I enjoyed my first council meeting at First CRC of Seattle.  It was so good to see the heartfelt devotion of these fine servants of the Lord.  They have labored together for many years to expand and maintain this local expression of the universal Church.  I love hearing their stories and seeing the evidence of God's faithfulness in this church over generations!

Yet, I fear that for many my age and younger, the Church has an image problem.  Instead of the seeing the "radiant bride of Christ" we see the church as an archaic and tangential appendage to true faith.  We have been told for several generations that our faith is all about "relationship" and not going to church.  Unfortunately, way to many of us have believed it.

Now I know that many of us have been hurt by those in the church.  I know many have had horrible experiences with church politics and the rest.  Yet, I still wonder why have so few of us seen the local and universal Church as the most beautiful entity in the universe apart from God?  Why do we not get more glimpses of glory as we meet together in community to praise God and to learn how to walk with Him?  So why do we often not see the church as a shining light of beauty?  Why do we have difficulty seeing her beauty?  While each of us have had different experiences, I believe there are several major reasons why we often do not see the Church as beautiful. 

First, in this world the church is a mixed group.  By that I mean that many within the church are redeemed individuals still struggling with sin.  In addition, in a healthy church there will be those who are not yet redeemed struggling with sin.  So, if we look closely we can see hypocrisy, doubt, anger, and every other sin under the sun.  For many of us, this is a complete turn-off.  How could "holy" people do such things!?

We need to understand that in our fallen world, all institutions are infected with sin.  This includes the church and ourselves!  This should be taught and understood by all.

This truth leads directly to the second reason do not see the beauty of the Church.  I fear that most of us have an incorrect understanding of God's glory in this fallen world.  As people, we are learning/relearning how to walk in faith with and through Jesus.  God's glory is seen most starkly when a person or group of people turn from darkness into light.  It is seen in the process of transformation.  Such transformation comes through the grace of God through the channel of faith.  The Church is a place where we are reminded of our need for grace and where we are encouraged to continue the journey of transformation.  

We should not be surprised when others hurt us or act in a selfish manner.  We should not be surprised when we judge "church" by our feelings and immediate desires.  Instead, we should be people who repent quickly of our sins and who forgive quickly the sins of others.  Let us confess sin as sin, but not be shocked we live in a fallen world.  The Church is truly the only place on earth where we can experience and extend grace that allows us to be real about our struggles, sins, and lack of faith.

So what is God's glory through the Church on this fallen earth?  God's glory is seen in the restoration of that which has been lost through sin and death.  This glory is most clearly visible in the local church!  The local and Universal Church has always been and remains one of God's surest means of grace.  As the Church operates and lives the Word of God it is a corrective to our sinful tendencies, and it is a proper guide toward righteousness. 

This leads to a third reason why we have trouble seeing God's glory in the church.  All to often those in church buildings are not living out the gospel of faith.  In other words, we have experienced a dead church instead of a living, breathing, beauty!  

The church is beautiful when it works well.  It is beautiful when it preaches and lives out the gospel.  It is beautiful when it protects and teaches the Word of God.  This means that it will be marked by Christ-centered worship that promotes true humility and authenticity.  It will also be marked by outreach to a lost world through word and deed.  Such action is the only hope for this world.  Such action is beautiful and lovely.  Such action is also rare in a day and age marked by self-concern and self-centeredness more than God-centered living working itself out in love for others.

May our Church be marked by the beauty of her King, the Lord Jesus Christ.  May each of us worship together in community and promote the beauty of the Church!

Praying from the Heart and the Mind

"My heart is steadfast, O God; 

I will sing and make music with all my soul.

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

and let your glory be over all the earth." 

Ps. 108: 1-5

What a month June has been!  It began with the ending of school for my children and then saying good-bye for now to our many friends.  The middle of the month was dominated by a 3300 mile trek across America.  The last week has been completely filled with unpacking, trying to get a house in order, and now preparation for my installation as pastor of First CRC in Seattle.  

Today is the first day all week I awoke early.  I have been so tired and weary after the traveling and then the let down from lost adrenaline after we arrived.  This beautiful sunny morning I was gazing at the sun coming up over the mountains and I had an hour of quiet to pray and seek the Lord's face.  What a blessing!

I found that my mind is dull from a busy week.  I just could not focus clearly on all that I needed to do.  Yet, my heart is needy for my Lord.  When I am weary, I have nothing to give in prayer.  My mind is slow.  Yet, my heart is open when I take time to confess my need and take in the Lord's blessings.  I believe the Lord likes it when we pray with both our hearts and our minds.  Today is a prayer from the heart kind of day!

What is the difference between prayers of my heart and prayers of my mind?  I know in a world without sin there will be no difference.  Yet, in my fallen state, I find there is!  I also find that explaining this difference is difficult, but I will try!

Prayers of my mind come all the time.  As I am walking through life, I notice things around me and I speak with God about them.  I find I often pray about my life, my family, my ministry, and my needs.  Notice how often "my" is in there!  I also pray for people I know and think about.  What I find interesting is that with these prayers I can move through life without really engaging with my God.  In my arrogance, I am informing God about His universe.

Now, this is not the worst thing in the world.  There was a time when God did not enter into my perspective on anything.  These prayers of my mind show me that God has penetrated my thoughts and worldview.  I am thankful that I often pray in this manner!  Still, there is something more if I really want to grow in depth as a person, a believer, and a servant of the Lord.

Growing deeper in Christ is what I am pondering this morning.  When my heart informs my mind, prayer is powerful, effective, and life-changing.  When my mind tries to change my heart, it seems to seldom work as I intend.  In fact, it can become rote and boring.  In my opinion, the only life-changing power that can transform our tendency toward rote, dry prayer is what I am calling the prayer of the heart.

Notice in today's Psalm, "I will sing and make music with all of my soul."  Here the Psalmist is speaking of the core of his being, what can be called both our heart or our soul.  He is affirming that he is praising God from the core of his being.  Many of us in the West misunderstand the importance of this concept.  We believe that we make up our mind, and then act according to our decision.  This presupposes our mind is free and clear to make rational choices.  The biblical understanding is different.  It argues that from the heart flows the life that empowers all we do.  It is the seat of will or volition.  It is the core of our being.  It is what informs our mind, shapes our thoughts, and ultimately determines our actions.  As Jesus encourages and warns us in Luke 6: 45 "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil out of the evil stored in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."  

The Psalmist is using the tool of music to bring his heart or soul into praise of God.  How does he do this?  By focusing his whole being on the love and faithfulness of God.  In other words, but focusing upon the truth of the gospel and allowing it to penetrate deeply within his heart.  I believe the only thing that can change our rebellious and hard hearts is love.  It is a powerful and intoxicating motivator between us as individuals, and it is even more powerful and intoxicating when we find ourselves falling in love with Christ.  When we know in the core of our being the love of God, it changes us.  It prompts our love for God.  It transforms our decision making.  It drives us to ministry and service not out of fear, but out of thanksgiving for God's love for us.  We find ourselves affirming, "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth!"

So, how do we enter into this prayer of the heart?  Ask God for it.  Repent of our self-effort and the sin that we often prefer to God's presence.  Ask for mercy and love to transform you.  Ask that He would allow you to pray with your whole being.  As you do these things, the Holy Spirit will begin to teach you as your ask.  Find others who have walked this journey before you and ask them for advice.  Read the Psalms reflectively, slowly, and with a listening ear.  Do not give up into the gospel penetrates deep within your heart.

There is so much more to say, but I repent of my desire to say it!  Please begin to pray from the heart.  The following is a sample, though shallow prayer to give an example. 

Lord, forgive me for the busyness of my mind and scattered nature of my thoughts.  

       Father, You are with me.

Lord, have mercy upon me as I need your love more than all I think will bring me life.  

       Christ have mercy. 

Lord, lead me to meet with you and transform me by your love.

       Holy Spirit lead me to know you and to meet with you.

Cultural Intelligence

Before I began the process of moving, I started a brief set of posts concerning five keys to successful ministry as given by the Center for Ministry Leadership at Covenant Seminary.  The third key was a combination of Emotional and Cultural Intelligence.  As the Center for Ministry Leadership interviewed and investigated successful ministries and ministry leaders, they concluded that having strong emotional and cultural intelligence promoted strong and successful leaders and ministries.

So, what is emotional and cultural intelligence?  All the way back on June 8 I discussed the important topic of emotional intelligence.  Today I want to discuss cultural intelligence.

Cultural intelligence is "the ability to understand, acknowledge, and appreciate current contextual forces as well as the cultural background of oneself and others." (Covenant, Spring/Summer 2012, 24)  What does this mean?  I like how one Pastors Summit participant put it, "It is vital in ministry to understand cultural norms and nuances in order to discern between what we accept as correct in culture and what is truth as defined in Scripture." (24)

I could not agree more!  Study after study, as well as my experience, illustrate that biblically strong and faithful churches have a chance to grow, but churches that neglect scripture as their norm are by and large shrinking.  Why?  Churches that ignore scripture have "A form of godliness, but they deny its power."  2 Timothy 3:5  I do not believe these churches are attractive to the true spiritual seeker.

The problem is that many church that profess fidelity to scripture are more wed to their cultural understanding of the gospel and its application than they are to the true gospel and its application!

What do I mean?  Most of us are shaped by our childhood.  From that childhood, we assume that our experience is just the way things should be.  As believers in Christ, we do the same thing.  Our early experiences in Christian community often dictate "just how things should be."  

What happens when our church experience declares cultural assumptions as biblical assumptions?  We short-circuit the power of the Spirit and replace it with a cheap cultural substitute.

Let's give an example.  Children should be taught to sit through church at an early age.  Why?  They need to learn the bible and how to worship.  This is best done in our worship experience.

Is this a bad idea?  Obviously no!  It is a great ideal.  It is particularly a good ideal if the children come from homes where the bible is taught in family devotions and where church is a regular part of life.  I know entire churches where this is the accepted practice.

Yet, is this ideal both biblical and culturally aware?  I think we could argue that this is a biblical ideal.  We are to train our children in how to walk with God.  Yet, is having them sit through a worship service the best way to do this?  Maybe yes, but maybe no!

What happens when someone who the Lord is seeking comes to worship at your church?  Immediately they feel and know that their children are different.  They are not well-behaved and not able to sit still through an hour or more of worship.  In fact, they are not learning about the Lord in worship, but they also are distracting mom and dad from learning about God (notice the other cultural assumption!  Mom and Dad?  Most likely the person walking in the door with children is a single parent).  

What about our biblical ideal?  We have replaced a biblical ideal with a cultural assumption.  Culturally, many folks in leadership were brought up in homes where the bible was honored, devotions were insisted upon, and worship was a regular part of life.  These cultural assumptions no longer hold.  In fact, they are impediments to those coming to faith and to those who are in the process of becoming part of our churches!

Today, a church and leadership with solid cultural awareness and intelligence has an intentional, detailed, and culturally sensitive plan for dealing with children.  They fulfill the biblical ideal and goal of training up children in the fear and admonition of the Lord in a different way.  Maybe fifty years from now a great revival will change everything and everyone will go to church again.  At that time, we will train our children differently!

In other words, a cultural intelligent person and church will be aware of their cultural assumptions, the cultural assumptions of their surrounding area, and the unchanging principles of Scripture.  A culturally intelligent person will learn and know how to apply the principles of Scripture to their own life and to the life of the church.

So, are you culturally intelligent?  Is your church culturally intelligent?  What keeps you and your church from growing in this area?  How can you help sharpen your ability and the church's ability to reach out to those the Lord is seeking?

Employment Reflections

Another week has begun and for me another chapter of life is starting.  For the past couple of weeks, we have been moving from Maine to the Pacific Northwest.  We finally arrived last Friday and have been unpacking ever since.  Last night we finally got the internet going.  TV matters little to me.  Internet, now that is important.  Gaining home internet means we are finally here!

As we left Maine, I had someone ask me what I was looking forward to with the new church home.  I must confess I could not think of anything.  As I was leaving all I could think about was what I would miss.  I was already missing the people and the friends I had made over eight years.  I would miss my home.  I know I would miss the New England culture and much of what makes Maine special.  I think that even as I start work and experience the excitement of meeting new people, my family is feeling this loss keenly as they miss their friends and what is familiar.

So what am I looking forward to?  To begin let me give some superficial expectations.  I will enjoy learning about and living in a new culture.  I like learning new things!  I like moving to different parts of the country and I enjoy experiencing and learning different cultural expressions.  I also recognize that one of the things I need to learn about is the immigrant Dutch culture.  The Lord has lead me to work in a Dutch Reformed denomination.  How do these folks see the world?

On Sunday an older gentleman introduced himself.  He had immigrated to Seattle in 1950 from Holland.  He shared how he loved America and Seattle.  He also enjoyed his childhood in Holland.  His children are all highly educated and he loves to read.  He sounds very interesting!

I think immigrants have so much to teach us.  I look forward to talking to him and getting to know others like him.  I also look forward to meeting some of the many Asian immigrants in Seattle and in my local area.  These experiences with immigrants and even different races did not happen in Maine.  Most of the people in Maine are long-time Americans.  Even in my own family, we settled in America in 1734.  There is surely nothing left of European cultural remembrance!

I also am looking forward to taking the gospel into this new culture.  Not just this particular church culture, but the chatty and friendly culture of Seattle and her northern suburbs.  I believe I had learned how to communicate in Northern New England, I now look forward to learning how to communicate in the Pacific Northwest.

A third superficial anticipation is for my family.  I look forward to having them experience something totally different from what they knew the past eight years.  We are now living in a major city.  Within five miles there are more people, more stores, more jobs, more cultural perspectives, more races of people, and more opportunities than could be found in the entire state of Maine.  It will be a shock to them, but it will broaden their horizons.  What amazes me the most is that our house is actually much quieter than our home in the country in Maine!  There is no car noise and I hear nothing from my neighbors.  It is actually so quiet it took me several nights to get used to it.

Most importantly and not superficially, I am looking forward to seeing what God will do with me, with my family, and with this church.  I do not know why, but He called me to this place.  I was not looking for it, but this opportunity sought me.  I was reluctant, but the Lord's Spirit confirmed this is where He wished me to be.  

Honestly, when this leading was settled, nothing else really mattered.  It was then time to sell the farm, the machinery, the animals, and move.  Now all we need is to sell the farm!  Please join me in praying for this sale.

I am not looking at this church as something beyond what it is.  Every church has strengths and weaknesses.  Every church has some problems solved and other issues that need to be addressed.  Every church has people you click with instantly and others to whom you never quite connect.  First Christian Reformed Church of Seattle will be no different.  I will experience five years of getting to know these strengths and these issues, but I know they will be there!

Yet, I look forward to a new pastorate with anticipation.  This church is a local expression of the universal bride of Christ.  She is beautiful.  I pray to have eyes to see the beauty!  I am also thankful that the Lord has called me to this place.

Understanding Real Life

I remember taking a Philosophy of Religion course many years ago in college.  We were asked as an assignment to define "God".  I was a young believer at the time, and I thought this would be easy.  I opened the Bible, started to look for passages to help me arrive at a definition, and I quickly began to realize this was a tough assignment!  At that time, I did not know that people before me in the faith had written excellent scriptural definitions concerning many topics, including the character and person of God.  I had not be taught as a believer that these Confessions of Faith are vitally important.  

What I learned from this assignment was to be careful about attempting to define anything.  It is much easier to critique or comment on other's work than to clearly define your own.  Unfortunately, easier is not always better!  In fact, this past week I shared with someone that the mark of an inferior mind is that of critiquing others without offering positive comments or definitions to the argument.

Today, I am going to begin a discussion toward defining the gospel.  I appreciate any comments that help me in the definition as this is tough work.  I am so thankful that others have walked this path before me!  

My hope is to work on a definition or understanding that allows us to build a "gospel-centered life."    As is often the case, the real rub with a definition is how to apply it.  I wish to define the gospel in such a way that is not merely a statement of faith, but rather a statement that explains why life is like it is and how to make it better!  (How's that for a grandiose goal?)

As I see it, the gospel is really a story of life.  It is an explanation for why we are here and what we experience.  In the past hundred years, (post) modern philosophy has told us that grand "meta-narratives" are impossible and should be abandoned.  To this claim, I ask, "why"?  Because some philosopher told me to give it up?  Because some wish to "make their own reality"?

I have found that gospel story is the basis for all great stories in literature.  It resonates with people from every continent.  It has the ring of truth within it.  Why?  Because it is foundational truth!  It is an understanding of the world that makes sense of the often senseless experience we have.  It is not just "personal" as postmodern philosophy would wish to make all truth, but it applies to every situation.

So what is the gospel story? It begins with God- a creative, loving, and holy being.  God loves His creation and He made it all for relationships with Him.  God creates everything from nothing.  This is vitally important.  In most religions, God uses the substance already present to fashion a world.  In the Biblical gospel narrative, God speaks through the Word to bring everything into existence.  This makes God above and beyond all the so called 'gods' of the ancient world.

God creates the entire universe good.  In fact, when he is through with the foundations of creation, He declares everything very good (Gen. 1:31).  Included in this creation is man and woman, who together reflect the image of God.  We were created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.  We were created for relationship with God, others, and creation.  Furthermore, we were created to be stewards of creation- exploring, protecting, preserving, and using creation wisely.

This explains why sensitive people love the beauty of creation.  It explains why we enjoy the fellowship of others.  It explains why we value elements of culture, art, and music since human creation continues the creative work of God.  As all of these dimensions of our experience reflect the created good, they are beautiful.  As all of these dimension of our experience stray from their created good, they move in the direction of ugly and distorted.

So how do we move away from our created Good?  The Gospel declares that creation is fallen because of the fall of humanity from a state of perfect relationship to a state of animosity toward God because of sin.  

I know we do not like being called "sinners" but what word better explains our situation?  We often know the good we ought to do, but we lack the will to carry it out.  This is the state of fallen.  As we move further and further away from the way were made to be, we find it easier and easier to walk in sin without blushing.  Why?  Because sin piled upon sin leads to hardness of heart.  Such a condition refuses to acknowledge its need for God, need for others, or need for being in good relationship with creation.

Does this not describe accurately where most of us live?  I will attempt to pick up here next time!

The Gospel of Rest and Trust

The remedy for our sin, whether scandalous or acceptable, is the gospel in its widest scope.  The gospel is actually a message: here I am using the word gospel as a shorthand expression for the entire work of Christ in His historic life, death, and resurrection for us, and His present work in us through the Holy Spirit.  When I say the gospel in its widest scope, I am referring to the fact that Christ, in His work for us and in us, saves us not only from the penalty of sin, but also from its dominion or reigning power in our lives.  This twofold aspect of Christ's great work is beautifully captured in Augustus Toplady's great hymn "Rock of Ages," with the words,

Let the water and the blood,

From thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins, 33.

What a wonderful summary of the Gospel's content and action.  Bridges has been writing on this theme for almost thirty years.  In Respectable Sins, he is dealing with those sins that we as Christians often live with as acceptable and normal.  What sins might these be?  He argues that they are the modern expressions of those sins mentioned in scripture such as anxiety and frustration, discontent, unthankfulness, impatience and irritability, judgmentalism, and a lack of self-control.  I have not finished the book, but it has been good so far!

What particularly strikes me today is how the gospel is Christ-centered and Christ-focused.  The gospel is secure and powerful because Christ's work was finished and perfected with His resurrection.  There is absolutely nothing we can do to add to His finished work!  

Yet, how many of us live our Christian life as if His finished work is not enough?  In our mind, we affirm He is the answer, but in our real life, we labor to fix ourselves and our circumstances.  Somehow we have not learned how to appropriate His finished work into our life.

I know some will argue that our labor to fix ourselves and our circumstances flows from "His present work in us through the Holy Spirit."  If we are walking in active repentance and faith, I would agree.  If we constantly remind ourselves of Christ's finished work and claim it as our own, I completely agree.  I just wonder how many of us really live in such dependence?  Why is it so hard to find someone whose life is so marked by such a lifestyle and its resulting grace?

I know all too often my life is marked more by worry and anxiety than repentance, rest, quietness and trust (Isaiah 30:15).  How can I tell?  My inner dialogue runs through my concerns, questions, fears, and doubts more than it turns to constant reflection upon the beauty and grace of Christ.  The irony is that people often tell me that I am marked less with worry and anxiety than most!  Am I just good at hiding it or is this an epidemic among modern folks?

As I continue to travel west, I know what I must do.  Even with the busyness of daily re-packing and driving 500 miles, even with my fear and concern that no one has purchased my home, even with my constant wondering about the health of my coming child, I must repent and believe the gospel.  My worry and concern will not change a thing.  Yet, I know the One who can change all things.  I know the One who loves me and who is working for my good.  I know the source of all power and might.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner.  Have mercy on us a people who are often marked more by unbelief than by repentance and rest!

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,

"In repentance and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."

Isaiah 30:15

Calling and the Open Door

Still traveling/moving!  I love heading toward the open door in my life.  I am also glad to be out of the Great American Plains!  May the Lord bless this day.

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; 

but often we look so long at the closed door 

that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

Helen Keller

I will share two different posts/quotes I have been given this week.  I find it interesting that when the Lord is trying to tell you something He often repeats it.  At least I have such deaf ears that I need His repeating!

Both of these selections concern the topics of vocation, calling, determining God's will, and joyful living.  I completely agree with Keller that so often I stare at closed doors instead of having the faith to look for what God is opening.  How about you?

The second selection is from Dan Miller's website, www.48days.com from the February 22 post.  This selection is a story I have heard often.  I will let it speak for itself.  I will say that I believe it overlaps perfectly with the Keller quotation because so often as the door is shutting, we keep banging our heads against it demand that it open as we wish.  Where does God fit into such actions?

Here is Miller's post.

Last Sunday night, after speaking at a church, a lady approached me with her question. She was obviously very discouraged with low self-esteem, poor eye contact and overall weak personal presentation.  But her question was – “Why should I keep trying when God keeps closing the door on my calling?”  Wow – now there’s a question designed to stump even a theologian – which I am not.  If God “calls” us to something, wouldn’t He open the doors to make that happen?  Is this like asking if God can make a rock so big He can’t move it?

Frankly, I don’t think her question is that complicated.  I think she needs to take a fresh look at her “calling.”  She said she’s always wanted to be a counselor.  She got a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then was rejected from entering graduate school in counseling.  So she spent three years and went deeply in debt to get her Masters of Divinity (MDiv) degree, thinking that would open the door.  She then applied for the graduate counseling program again but was rejected once more.  She took an entry level job with a community counseling agency but was let go after a couple of months.  She told me she has never married, lives alone and has few friends.  I asked her if people were coming to her for her advice and opinion now.  To which she replied – No – that’s why she needed the degrees in counseling.

I think this is a mis-interpretation of “calling.”  If God’s calls us to something there will be affirmation of that in many ways.  If God is calling you to be a musician you will likely already have shown talent in that area and have lots of people telling you to move in that direction.  If God is calling you to counsel or coach, I’m confident people are already telling you their problems and you are surprised by the wisdom you are frequently able to offer.

Yes I do think it requires work and struggle to be effective even in our “calling.”  But I don’t think God “calls” us to something that does not line up with our passions, talents, personality traits and dreams.

– Thomas Merton said:

 “A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is obeying Him….  The more a tree is like itself, the more it is like Him….” 

Don’t try to be a rose bush (as good as that may be) if you’re a tree.  Be a great tree.

Living by the Spirit

It has been a long and tiring week.  Last Monday, at about 8 AM, two men arrived to pack all of our breakable stuff.  Then on Tuesday, a large truck arrived to pack away all our earthly possessions to take them to Seattle.  Since Wednesday, we have driven 1800 miles and we have arrived in Brandon, SD.  I can watch my children and wife grow more and more weary with each passing day.  Fortunately, I am feeling great!  (OK this is not true. I am tired also!)

We figure it will be several more days of travel before we arrive.  Until that time, I will post some of my favorite posts.  Today I bring up a subject of utmost importance: what is a Spirit-filled life?  

"But if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." 

Romans 8:13  

In this chapter of Romans, Paul is telling us how to live by the Spirit of God.  He wants us to know that because we are "in Christ" we are able to live by the Spirit.  What does this mean?  What is Paul trying to say?

For most of us, we have seen few examples of someone who lives "by the Spirit."  We have known people who claim to have the Spirit in full and great ways.  Yet, they do not put to death the misdeeds of the body.  Often they are marked by these misdeeds!  We have known those who claim intimacy with God and "victory" over sin.  Yet, they are often filled with arrogance, pride, and judgment of others.  In fact, many of us want to follow God and learn to love others.  Yet, we struggle and often find the misdeeds of the body (and heart!) keep coming back.  What does this mean?  Let's answer this question by first figuring out what Paul doesn't mean.

First, Paul does not mean that life in the Spirit will entail sinless perfectionism.  At least if it does, Paul the super-apostle does not live it!  In context, chapter 8 follows chapter 7.  There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (8:1), because Jesus is the one who rescues us from our body of sin and death.  As Paul details his struggles in chapter 7, he affirms that like most of us he knows the good he ought to do.  He just cannot seem to do it!  He concludes, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (7:18)  For Paul, our sin nature/flesh remains with us until death.  At the end of his life, he claims "I am the chief/worst of all sinners." (1 Tim 1:16)  

In other words, maturity in Christ does not lead to sinlessness, but a deeper recognition of our sin.  Such  recognition then leads to a deeper dependance upon Jesus for grace and mercy.

Second, Paul does not mean that the Christian life is without struggle.  Some Christians twist Paul's thought to argue that they do not need to grow in increasing personal holiness because God forgives them anyway.  I have met many who recognize their sinfulness- they might even be able to tell you great details of their understanding of their sin- yet they do not grow in love for God or others.  In this passage, Paul argues that because of Christ, "we have an obligation- but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it."  Paul knows the struggle (see Romans 7), but he encourages us to grow!  Thus, growth in personal holiness is possible and necessary, "if the Spirit of God lives in you."

Finally, Paul is not embracing a weird gnostic spirituality.  There is not a "higher way" that transcends life in the body and life in the world.  In his mind, Christian growth takes place in this world.  It is here that we "share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." vs. 17  It is here that we learn how to grow "in the Spirit," so that we might bear fruit for God's glory.  Paul recognizes that our body and our world are our laboratories for growing in grace.

So, how do we "live by the Spirit."  What does Paul say positively about this life?  

First, be sure you are lead by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).  Do you know that you have the full rights of sons?  This is not a sexist term, but a declaration that all of us, men and women, have a full inheritance from the Father.  We have a declaration of justification over us (Romans 3:21-chapter 4).  We are at peace with God and have Christ's righteousness imputed to us (Romans 5).  We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us pointing out our sin so that we can repent and come to Christ for mercy and grace (Romans 6).

Do you realize your need for a savior?  Do you believe that Jesus is that savior who loves you desperately?  If not, repent and believe!  The gospel is here for you.  God has done the work that we passively receive by faith.

I know that you might not have heard this message or believed it fully.  Why put it off any longer?  Paul tells us, "You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear."  Does fear and anger mark your life?  I know many professing believers like this!  In fact, I have been that believer at different times in my life.  

Instead of fear, believe!  Believe what?  "You have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba Father!"  Call out to God in humble prayer.  Stop pretending you have it all together and ask Him to order your disordered life!

In other words, confess your need for God.  Believe in Jesus as God's answer.  Allow the Spirit to lead you into deeper repentance and faith.  You have not arrived, but you are a work in process.  In the midst of the process, there is no condemnation.  There is a Spirit that drives us to cry out to God saying, "Abba Father!"

May the Lord work mightily in your life this day and week.  May His grace draw you into deeper repentance, dependence, and His life-transforming power!

Authentic Community as a Cure for Stress?

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you. 

Ps. 116: 7

This week has been a week of discussion concerning the relationship between margin, stress and our spirituality.  This week I am traveling across the United States moving from the East Coast to the West Coast.  In fact, all next week I will be making the same journey!  I pray that I am not finding stress even as we put one stage of life behind us and head toward something new.

I wish to conclude this week with a discussion of what stress is all about.  I find that many people misunderstand the whole concept.  There is a great difference between good stress and bad stress.  Good stress is temporary, it sharpens our focus, and it can actually increase our performance.  It is that temporary rush that helps us deal with a crisis.  

Bad stress is different.  It arises from a lifestyle of living as a "stress junky."  It can also be caused by those feelings of being trapped in a job or a situation where you feel powerless.  Bad stress is a chronic condition.

Bad stress causes elevated "fight or flight" hormones within the body.  This in turn has been strongly linked to heart disease, strokes, and other major problems (such as death).   To me, all of this makes sense.  The question is how do we avoid such stress?

To begin, we should make some obvious life-style changes.  If you are in a job that makes you feel trapped and not respected, change.  Also, increase your exercise levels as this makes a major positive change in the body's response to stress.  He also recommended the drinking of wine with dinner, as moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to lower the stress chemicals in the body.  If you have listen to the news, all of these positive factors have been mentioned for quite some time even in popular media.  These are changes that we can and should make!

What I found interesting was his emphasis on developing good social networks and friends.  He observed several groups of people with what we would call horrible eating habits who have very low levels of heart disease.  He argued that these people have one thing in common: they are well integrated into a community where they have love, support, and fun.  

In the past thirty years, studies have shown that Americans increasingly are not integrated into authentic communities.  We isolate ourselves with our families from others.  I believe we do so to our own harm!  The problem is that friendship and community take time to develop and nurture.  With all the kid's activities, work responsibilities, and general busyness of life, how do we find the time to develop and nurture friendships?

First, we have to admit and confess that we need real friends and community.  We need to ask God to help us find real friends and true community.  Most of us do everything we can to live in denial of our need for others.  We remain so busy, and we allow our children to be part of every activity under the sun so they are not deprived.  Even at church, we go and leave without really engaging people.  This is one great draw of the large church in that it facilitates the feel of many friends and fellow travelers without making any of them engage.  It is also the draw of Facebook and other social networks that promote "connectedness" without really helping us connect.  We need real friends!

Second, we have to be intentional in searching for friendships and community.  We have to find people that we can "be ourselves" around.  Wow is this hard!  Where would we find such people?  How about in our church communities?  This presupposes that we will develop church communities that are not fake or shallow.  Places where it is O.K. to be known with all of our issues, needs, and strengths.  We will find people in these churches that we do not "click with," but we should continue to search until we find folks who will love us and relate to us where we are.  Again, ask God for wisdom in finding friends and companionship!

Third, we have to continue to develop and nurture friendships and community.  This takes commitment on our part and on our friends part.  Get together and laugh.  Enjoy time together not necessarily "doing stuff" but being.  I think this is becoming a lost art.  True friendship and community is found in spending time.  In today's age, time is our most precious commodity.  We horde it to our own detriment.  Spend time with friends and lower your chances of heart disease!

With that in mind, I am thankful after a busy Sunday for several hours with friends sitting around a bonfire, talking, laughing, and swatting bugs.  On this Monday, I ask that the Lord help my soul to be at rest once more!  God is truly good to me.  May each of us take time to reflect so we can say the same thing!

Living (and dying) with Stress

For the past couple of weeks, I have been reading Richard Swenson's book, In Search of Balance: Keys to a Stable Life.  I find that his book is not one to quickly pour through because it is somewhat repetitive.  Still, I have enjoyed reading the book, and I recommend it as great food for thought.

Swenson's primary thesis is that our modern world has proliferated the amount of information and activity in which we can and seemingly must engage.  Such proliferation causes great stress because we as human individuals have not really changed in our ability to do or process more.  In other words, we have a limit!  

Meanwhile, the amount of  technology, information, options, and work has increased exponentially in the past fifty years and promises to continue to increase moving into the future.  Technology and our global society demand such proliferation.

So, how do we deal with this modern condition?  Most of us don't.  We just accept it.  Then we wonder why so many people are depressed, full of anxiety, and overwhelmed.  In my experience as a pastor, depression, anxiety, and overly full lives are epidemic!  

I have often been asked if I think we have more depression, anxiety and overload now than in the past.  I believe we have much more of these conditions now than people experienced fifty or one hundred years ago.  It is not because we are better at identifying the conditions, but because the proliferation of technology, information, and options have overload our systems.  It might be the new normal, but it is obviously not healthy.

So what should we do about it?  In answer to this, Swenson gives many helpful suggestions.  I know I have heard many of these suggestions before.  The real issue is implementing the suggestions!  

One of Swenson's best points is that each of us need to take an inventory of the stress in our life.  I think many of us keep purposely busy so we can avoid such an exercise!  I believe the following quote provides a good illustration of two different ways of dealing with stress.

A friend and I were discussing the pressures of life, and I asked how his stress was doing.  He has a national leadership role in a denomination and is required to make difficult decisions on a daily basis.  He said there are two quantitative ways of handling stress.  The first is when we keep stockpiling it in a warehouse.  The warehouse fills over time and finally the roof explodes and the walls fall down.

The other strategy involves a train station.  As the train moves down the tracks, the stress builds.  But when it comes into the station, we unload our accumulated pressures onto the platform.  Then we get back on the train as it pulls out of the station.  I asked which illustration described him.  He was a train-station guy.  Personally, I'm a recovering warehouser.

Balance, 148.

How do you deal with stress?  Is your warehouse almost full?  Do you build into your life a train station approach where you deal with emptying the stress out of your life?

Today, more and more people do not take vacations.  If they do, it is a weekend away, which actually adds to the stress of life!

Today, the idea of a Sabbath seems crazy.  My kids have to play hockey and Sunday is the best ice time for the little ones!  

Can you remember when your parents had complete weekends off?  When they would relax at home after work?  Why don't we have these weekly times of rest anymore?

I challenge you today to take an inventory of your life.  Come before the living God and ask the Spirit to give you some wisdom with the stress in your life.  I find the best way to do this is with a pen in hand so you can write down what you think about.  Maybe it is time to let some of "the new normal" go.  

A balanced life provides the emotional energy to love well.  It allows you to enjoy each day.  It gives you space to deal with unplanned events.  It also reflects a trust in the Living God to provide for you and take care of you.