Monthly Archives: November 2008

Avoidance or Affection?

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One of the things I try and do in my sermons is move Christians away from any belief in moralism. I would define moralism as: “any attempt to be good without dependence on Christ or without the glory of Christ as the highest aim.” But moralism is quite tempting. It makes us think that because we are good, that God is pleased. This is not always the case, Jesus said that even though one doesn’t commit adultery, they could be guilty of lust (Matthew 5:27-28)! You can be good without pleasing God. But being moral makes us feel spiritual, outwardly behaving in an appropriate fashion gives us the reputation of being good people, which we enjoy. 

One of the problems, among many, is that we exchange Christlikeness from mere avoidance. We simply avoid; bad movies, questionable TV shows, spending too much, cursing, tax evasion, yelling at our spouse or kids (though I know no one who always avoids this!). We might ask ourselves things like, “Is this action wrong?” “Will this get me in trouble?” Will I lose face if I do this?” How we answer becomes the motivating factor for whether or not to do it. But here is the question: in what way does that differ from how many non-believers act? Does Christ look like our highest Treasure? Probably not. So this cant be the way to live our lives.
But if we are immersed in the beauty and glory and worth and value of Christ, our desire to make much of Him and show that He is worth more than life will guide our decisions! We will ask things like, “Will this make Christ look big or small?” “Will buying this reveal that He is my highest treasure?” “Will speaking to my wife a certain way prove that He is enough to satisfy me, even though she has failed me?” “Will indulging in worry reveal that I can trust Him in all things?” “Will this action show that I value Christ or my pride more?” These are the questions to ask! And thinking this way will move us from avoidance-moralism, to affection-based obedience, which in turn will cause us to live like He is greater and more valuable than money, approval, self-indulgence, materialism, and security.
GB

Avoidance or Affection?

Posted on by

One of the things I try and do in my sermons is move Christians away from any belief in moralism. I would define moralism as: “any attempt to be good without dependence on Christ or without the glory of Christ as the highest aim.” But moralism is quite tempting. It makes us think that because we are good, that God is pleased. This is not always the case, Jesus said that even though one doesn’t commit adultery, they could be guilty of lust (Matthew 5:27-28)! You can be good without pleasing God. But being moral makes us feel spiritual, outwardly behaving in an appropriate fashion gives us the reputation of being good people, which we enjoy. 

One of the problems, among many, is that we exchange Christlikeness from mere avoidance. We simply avoid; bad movies, questionable TV shows, spending too much, cursing, tax evasion, yelling at our spouse or kids (though I know no one who always avoids this!). We might ask ourselves things like, “Is this action wrong?” “Will this get me in trouble?” Will I lose face if I do this?” How we answer becomes the motivating factor for whether or not to do it. But here is the question: in what way does that differ from how many non-believers act? Does Christ look like our highest Treasure? Probably not. So this cant be the way to live our lives.
But if we are immersed in the beauty and glory and worth and value of Christ, our desire to make much of Him and show that He is worth more than life will guide our decisions! We will ask things like, “Will this make Christ look big or small?” “Will buying this reveal that He is my highest treasure?” “Will speaking to my wife a certain way prove that He is enough to satisfy me, even though she has failed me?” “Will indulging in worry reveal that I can trust Him in all things?” “Will this action show that I value Christ or my pride more?” These are the questions to ask! And thinking this way will move us from avoidance-moralism, to affection-based obedience, which in turn will cause us to live like He is greater and more valuable than money, approval, self-indulgence, materialism, and security.
GB

Making Much of Christ on Black Friday

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Tomorrow many people will be going against all logic and rationale by waking at the crack of dawn to get the perfect gift that will be forgotten in a few months. Dont get me wrong, I am not against gifts or buying anything for Christmas! My question is this: how does a person make much of Christ on a day that is supposed to be spent passionately searching for deals on Christmas items? I think this goes beyond what I have time for, but maybe a few thoughts would help. Allow me to offer some guidelines (not rules, these will not make God love you more!) that perhaps can help with tomorrow.

1. Acknowledge that Christ is the greatest gift of all!
Thats all I need to say about that!
2. Understand that no amount of gratitude can justify overspending. 
No matter how thankful you are or how little you buy for yourself, it will not justify overspending and over indulging with gifts.
3. Dont go into debt!
If you cant pay for it, dont let someone else do it. Its not worth it!
4. Dont buy things just because you can.
This is not a reason to buy something. Our level of income should not always be what determines our level of spending.
5. Act like Christ!
I shouldn’t have to say that, but I have heard too many stories of long lines and impatient shoppers. 
6. Look for quality, not quantity.
Dont just buy gifts so the kids or spouse can have more to open. Get them things they will use and need, that last. Buy gifts that are meaningful.
7. Buy books!
People need to read more than they need to watch or listen. 
8. Give to missions!
I know you cant do that at Wal-Mart, but you can put some back and give to missions through the church or the IMB or NAMB or World Vision.
9. Dont get stressed!
In the grand scheme of things, our stuff doesn’t matter. Our treasures are in Heaven, not on the earth (Matthew 6:19-21). People matter, Christ matters. Relax and rest in Christ.
10. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open.
A long time in line might be a chance to share Christ with someone.
11. Watch the duty.
How often do we buy gifts because we have to. Perhaps their is something in our hearts that needs to be dealt with.
12. Dont be amazed by stuff.
This is what it means to be worldly (1John 2:15-17). The lust of our flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what one has is from the world. It makes Christ look puny in our eyes and others eyes. I know how awesome the new HD flat screens with Blue-Ray look, but dont waste your affections on it. 
13. Resist buying things just because they are on sale.
If 50% off justifies buying something you might tend to think: “I would buy things like this at regular price if I had a better salary.” I am not saying not to shop for deals, but watch out for “just because its cheap” spending.
14. Define what it means to live to show that He is worth more than life.
Christ is not concerned with your spiritual life! He is concerned with all of your life. He is much more secular than we think He is. He wants all of life to be done for Him and with Him and through Him so that in all things He is glorified (1 Corinthians 10:31). 
Hope this helps! 
GB

Making Much of Christ on Black Friday

Posted on by

Tomorrow many people will be going against all logic and rationale by waking at the crack of dawn to get the perfect gift that will be forgotten in a few months. Dont get me wrong, I am not against gifts or buying anything for Christmas! My question is this: how does a person make much of Christ on a day that is supposed to be spent passionately searching for deals on Christmas items? I think this goes beyond what I have time for, but maybe a few thoughts would help. Allow me to offer some guidelines (not rules, these will not make God love you more!) that perhaps can help with tomorrow.

1. Acknowledge that Christ is the greatest gift of all!
Thats all I need to say about that!
2. Understand that no amount of gratitude can justify overspending. 
No matter how thankful you are or how little you buy for yourself, it will not justify overspending and over indulging with gifts.
3. Dont go into debt!
If you cant pay for it, dont let someone else do it. Its not worth it!
4. Dont buy things just because you can.
This is not a reason to buy something. Our level of income should not always be what determines our level of spending.
5. Act like Christ!
I shouldn’t have to say that, but I have heard too many stories of long lines and impatient shoppers. 
6. Look for quality, not quantity.
Dont just buy gifts so the kids or spouse can have more to open. Get them things they will use and need, that last. Buy gifts that are meaningful.
7. Buy books!
People need to read more than they need to watch or listen. 
8. Give to missions!
I know you cant do that at Wal-Mart, but you can put some back and give to missions through the church or the IMB or NAMB or World Vision.
9. Dont get stressed!
In the grand scheme of things, our stuff doesn’t matter. Our treasures are in Heaven, not on the earth (Matthew 6:19-21). People matter, Christ matters. Relax and rest in Christ.
10. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open.
A long time in line might be a chance to share Christ with someone.
11. Watch the duty.
How often do we buy gifts because we have to. Perhaps their is something in our hearts that needs to be dealt with.
12. Dont be amazed by stuff.
This is what it means to be worldly (1John 2:15-17). The lust of our flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what one has is from the world. It makes Christ look puny in our eyes and others eyes. I know how awesome the new HD flat screens with Blue-Ray look, but dont waste your affections on it. 
13. Resist buying things just because they are on sale.
If 50% off justifies buying something you might tend to think: “I would buy things like this at regular price if I had a better salary.” I am not saying not to shop for deals, but watch out for “just because its cheap” spending.
14. Define what it means to live to show that He is worth more than life.
Christ is not concerned with your spiritual life! He is concerned with all of your life. He is much more secular than we think He is. He wants all of life to be done for Him and with Him and through Him so that in all things He is glorified (1 Corinthians 10:31). 
Hope this helps! 
GB

Delighter or Debtor

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A popular belief these days is what John Piper calls the “debtors ethic.” Its basically like this: “since God has done so much for you and blessed your life in so many ways and ultimately sent His Son to die a cruel, horrible death, its now your job to DO all you can to pay God back in return.” Its the debtors ethic. On the surface this sounds quite noble and by preaching this way we can cause a lot of conviction, by thinking this way, we can do lots of heroic spiritual deeds. But at its core it is arrogant and mocks the Cross of Christ. Here is how. 

Its makes the Cross of Jesus a new foundation of debt! Christ died to pay our debt to cancel the written code (Colossians 2:14) and now there is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1) because nothing exists to condemn us! This kind of thinking puts us back into the very debt that God saved us from. Furthermore, we are never told to obey out of gratitude. Gratitude is not a reason to obey Christ, it is a response to His goodness that recognizes that we could never repay Him. Usually when someone gives us something of great value, we file that into our ethical database and figure out someway in the future to return the favor. But its not that way with God, nothing repays Him. 
Consider Psalm 116:12-13. He is contemplating how he might pay God back or render something to Him for all His blessings and benefits. But apparently He knows God enough to know that its impossible to pay Him back, so He lifts up an empty cup and calls upon God for more. What God wants us to bring to Him is our emptiness, not our fullness, and to know that we are not in debt to Him, but can now delight in Him. The debtors ethic produces spiritual phonies who last for a little while and then burn out. I prefer the “delighter’s ethic.” The delighter’s ethic says: “I could never repay God back so I will spend my entire life delighting in what He has DONE by continuing to come to empty with an empty cup.”

Delighter or Debtor

Posted on by

A popular belief these days is what John Piper calls the “debtors ethic.” Its basically like this: “since God has done so much for you and blessed your life in so many ways and ultimately sent His Son to die a cruel, horrible death, its now your job to DO all you can to pay God back in return.” Its the debtors ethic. On the surface this sounds quite noble and by preaching this way we can cause a lot of conviction, by thinking this way, we can do lots of heroic spiritual deeds. But at its core it is arrogant and mocks the Cross of Christ. Here is how. 

Its makes the Cross of Jesus a new foundation of debt! Christ died to pay our debt to cancel the written code (Colossians 2:14) and now there is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1) because nothing exists to condemn us! This kind of thinking puts us back into the very debt that God saved us from. Furthermore, we are never told to obey out of gratitude. Gratitude is not a reason to obey Christ, it is a response to His goodness that recognizes that we could never repay Him. Usually when someone gives us something of great value, we file that into our ethical database and figure out someway in the future to return the favor. But its not that way with God, nothing repays Him. 
Consider Psalm 116:12-13. He is contemplating how he might pay God back or render something to Him for all His blessings and benefits. But apparently He knows God enough to know that its impossible to pay Him back, so He lifts up an empty cup and calls upon God for more. What God wants us to bring to Him is our emptiness, not our fullness, and to know that we are not in debt to Him, but can now delight in Him. The debtors ethic produces spiritual phonies who last for a little while and then burn out. I prefer the “delighter’s ethic.” The delighter’s ethic says: “I could never repay God back so I will spend my entire life delighting in what He has DONE by continuing to come to empty with an empty cup.”

The Duty of Thanksgiving

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I dont think I have ever felt thankful on the day that everyone says I am supposed to be, Thanksgiving! It seems so cliche and so dry to actually wake up and think about what you are thankful for. I think what hinders us from giving thanks or living in gratitude is admitting that we were given something, and that means we didn’t earn it! My pride lures me into thinking that I have earned or attained all the things that I have, while the Bible tells me otherwise (James 1:17). This is why it will be imperative that you preach the Gospel to yourself tomorrow and allow God to remind you that all you have is from Him and for Him and through Him which makes Him worthy of more glory than we can fathom (Romans 11:36). Furthermore, preaching the Gospel to yourself will remind you that all the good that you have in your life flows from the Cross of Christ (Romans 8:31-32) and that God will withhold nothing from you (not even trials and suffering) to shape and mold and transform you into what He wants you to be. So allow the duty of tomorrow turn you toward the delight in a God who is for you in Christ and will stop at nothing to assure that His work in you will come to completion (Philippians 1:6).

The Duty of Thanksgiving

Posted on by

I dont think I have ever felt thankful on the day that everyone says I am supposed to be, Thanksgiving! It seems so cliche and so dry to actually wake up and think about what you are thankful for. I think what hinders us from giving thanks or living in gratitude is admitting that we were given something, and that means we didn’t earn it! My pride lures me into thinking that I have earned or attained all the things that I have, while the Bible tells me otherwise (James 1:17). This is why it will be imperative that you preach the Gospel to yourself tomorrow and allow God to remind you that all you have is from Him and for Him and through Him which makes Him worthy of more glory than we can fathom (Romans 11:36). Furthermore, preaching the Gospel to yourself will remind you that all the good that you have in your life flows from the Cross of Christ (Romans 8:31-32) and that God will withhold nothing from you (not even trials and suffering) to shape and mold and transform you into what He wants you to be. So allow the duty of tomorrow turn you toward the delight in a God who is for you in Christ and will stop at nothing to assure that His work in you will come to completion (Philippians 1:6).