I love reading biographies, the stories of men like Oswald Chambers, C.S. Lewis, John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, Augustine, Paul, and Jeremiah. As I read about their lives, I get the impression that our modern ideas about masculine maturity are a far cry from what godly men of earlier generations understood and practiced.
We talk a lot today about things like vulnerability and the courage to feel our pain. They seemed more interested in worship and witnessing. We speak of honest communication and living up to our potential. They fell to their knees in brokenness and got up to serve.
I wonder if the virtues we try to develop came naturally to those men from years ago whose toughest battles were fought against whatever kept them from knowing Christ. ...
Religious men of today too often have found a convenient God, an immediately useful God promoted by leaders who are filled more by the thrill of adoring crowds than by their opportunity for quiet communion with God....
Men from earlier generations slugged it out in intensely personal battles that lasted for years, battles that lessened only when they abandoned themselves more fully to Christ, not merely when they felt a new passion sweep through them at a big rally or when they discovered some new insight about themselves in therapy. The joy of finding Christ was released through brokenness over sin, brokenness that led to worshipful abandonment to God. Knowing Christ intimately developed through a deep work of God's Spirit that took place sometimes in big crowds but more often during long seasons of agonizing prayer in solitude.
Larry Crabb, The Silence of Adam, 30-31.
The difference between a god-centered life and a me-centered life is the difference between true faith and false assurance.
The difference between a God-centered life and a me-centered life is the difference between life changing power and religious pretense.
The difference between a God-centered life and a me-centered life is everything.
The Christian faith call us to a God-centered life. It is a call to repent of self-worship and turn to worship of God. A God-centered life is not a one-time decision, but a lifestyle.
What is a God-centered life?
The difference between a God-centered life and a me-centered life is the difference between life changing power and religious pretense.
The difference between a God-centered life and a me-centered life is everything.
The Christian faith call us to a God-centered life. It is a call to repent of self-worship and turn to worship of God. A God-centered life is not a one-time decision, but a lifestyle.
What is a God-centered life?
A God-centered life is founded upon true repentance of our sin against God and true faith in Jesus Christ as our only hope. Such a life is a continual process of repentance and faith. In fact, as we grow in our knowledge of God and ourselves, we will find ourselves growing in our awareness of our sin leading us to quicker and deeper repentance.
In other words, mature people in Christ will constantly encourage and challenge everyone they meet to walk in such repentance and faith. They will preach the message of repentance and faith to themselves, to their families, and throughout all of life. Their life will reflect dependence.
Alas, why is such God-centered living not the norm for those who know Christ?
It runs completely contrary to the way that seems right to us. It undercuts our pride, our self-effort, our self-assurance, and our self-righteousness. When these traits are undercut we hate it!
Alas, why is such God-centered living not the norm for those who know Christ?
It runs completely contrary to the way that seems right to us. It undercuts our pride, our self-effort, our self-assurance, and our self-righteousness. When these traits are undercut we hate it!
Thus, we have invented a religion that does not lead to brokenness and repentance. It appeals to the most me-centered parts of our life. We have baptized and named this religion Christianity. We assurance ourselves that we must be OK because everyone agrees with us!
Thankfully, God still builds His Church! He calls us constantly to deeper repentance and faith. Even now, He calls us to focus our hearts and minds upon Jesus Christ. He calls us to deeper trust. He calls us to repent of our self effort and to be broken before Him.
The amazing truth is that after we are broken, He bids us to rise and go tell others of what we have found in Jesus through our words and our deeds. We will know we have been broken and found grace when we can't help but tell others about it. We will reflect in our daily worship, which includes our work, that Jesus loves us.
May this week be a blessed time of brokenness and witnessing to God's grace!
Thankfully, God still builds His Church! He calls us constantly to deeper repentance and faith. Even now, He calls us to focus our hearts and minds upon Jesus Christ. He calls us to deeper trust. He calls us to repent of our self effort and to be broken before Him.
The amazing truth is that after we are broken, He bids us to rise and go tell others of what we have found in Jesus through our words and our deeds. We will know we have been broken and found grace when we can't help but tell others about it. We will reflect in our daily worship, which includes our work, that Jesus loves us.
May this week be a blessed time of brokenness and witnessing to God's grace!
Yes. Of course you're right. And though what you say is true, it frustrates me because it seems so far beyond my reach as to be a pipe dream.
ReplyDeleteI wonder this week why I can feel so passionately about a sports team, yet don't have that emotion for the Savior. I wonder why the only part of Job that doesn't seem true is the end where God showers Job with more than he had before.
And I know the answer to living a godly life is found on my knees. In prayer. Sigh. And so it goes.
Thanks for the comment Kathy! So much of life is lived as a journey of faith. Our culture and our souls wish for a miracle pill that will make it all better. God gives us a walk of faith. So, enjoy the Seahawks this week and think of how this passion is not simply misplaced, but instead is part of the human experience that points us to dependent faith in Jesus. We do need His grace!
ReplyDelete