Often there are many in the church who have political issues they feel strongly about which are placed at a higher priority than the gospel. They are always concerned about this or that cause, but never about the gospel.
We as Christians can never rightly concerned about causes without having concern for the gospel.
It is as if many Christians are like Lewis's character in the Screwtape Letters. While we may not have been pushed into completely meaningless thought we have been totally diverted to secondary matters.
We seem to have gotten the notion that getting non-Christians to live out Christian ethics is more important than their eternal status with God. We should have great concern for their status with God as our first priority.
The gospel saves people not legislating morality. We need to preach the gospel of reconciliation through Jesus.
If we have not worked to further the kingdom of God through the furthering the spreading of the gospel we have not yet sufficiently lived out our Christian faith.
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
A Rhetorical Makeover
At times the theology of today needs a rhetorical makeover. Often what is said is not wrong, but we live in an age where ideas spread quickly and are taken out of context easily.
Often we need to clarify and speak simply our message as Christian to not be misunderstood. This is a good thing for the Church because the Church is hindered not so much by simple expressions as it is hindered by those who refuse to clarify their thought.
We need to speak clearly with compassion and truth. God meets us where we are.
He asks us to follow him and leave where we. Christianity is a joyous religion.
Christian communication needs to communicate that joy. The gospel is good news. Preaching and Christian writing should try to communicate the joy and goodness of Christian faith.
Often we need to clarify and speak simply our message as Christian to not be misunderstood. This is a good thing for the Church because the Church is hindered not so much by simple expressions as it is hindered by those who refuse to clarify their thought.
We need to speak clearly with compassion and truth. God meets us where we are.
He asks us to follow him and leave where we. Christianity is a joyous religion.
Christian communication needs to communicate that joy. The gospel is good news. Preaching and Christian writing should try to communicate the joy and goodness of Christian faith.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Moving Past Theological Labels
There are a vast number of theological labels given to types of theology. Often the church would do best to move past the labels.
The number of groups who will not dialogue because of theological labels is often pronounced. We often would do better to simply listen.
What does a person say and is what the person says according to the word and will of God? If a person speaks the gospel truthfully and lives out there life faithfully to God the person is someone to listen to even if we might feel tentative about how they are labeled theologically.
Because two people share similar theological traits does not mean both are teaching and walking in accord with the will of God.
Often it is not what a theologian says which is worrisome, but what the do not say, or will not say, or do not have the courage to say. We should listen to what thinkers say and not what is said about them.
Most people simply repeat second hand the views of various thinkers. We might ask them where they got the view and the would say "everyone know it is this way."
Maybe it is and maybe it is not. At times so many people have repeated the same erroneous viewpoint that the number of people who know the truth is greatly outnumbered by the number who believe errors.
We need to listen to what thinkers say. Not what the press says about them. Not what their fans say or dissenters say.
We need to listen, think, and judge rightly according to the word of God.
The number of groups who will not dialogue because of theological labels is often pronounced. We often would do better to simply listen.
What does a person say and is what the person says according to the word and will of God? If a person speaks the gospel truthfully and lives out there life faithfully to God the person is someone to listen to even if we might feel tentative about how they are labeled theologically.
Because two people share similar theological traits does not mean both are teaching and walking in accord with the will of God.
Often it is not what a theologian says which is worrisome, but what the do not say, or will not say, or do not have the courage to say. We should listen to what thinkers say and not what is said about them.
Most people simply repeat second hand the views of various thinkers. We might ask them where they got the view and the would say "everyone know it is this way."
Maybe it is and maybe it is not. At times so many people have repeated the same erroneous viewpoint that the number of people who know the truth is greatly outnumbered by the number who believe errors.
We need to listen to what thinkers say. Not what the press says about them. Not what their fans say or dissenters say.
We need to listen, think, and judge rightly according to the word of God.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
The Gospel & Success
The gospel is what brings people to the church. The gospel is what unites us to Christ.
It is through faith that we are indwells with the power of the Spirit of God by which we can live out our faith.
The church succeeds if the gospel succeeds.
The church fails if the gospel fails.
We must always remember the one thing which makes all the difference. The one thing by which all other things find perspective. The cross.
How we relate to the cross makes all the difference.
It is through faith that we are indwells with the power of the Spirit of God by which we can live out our faith.
The church succeeds if the gospel succeeds.
The church fails if the gospel fails.
We must always remember the one thing which makes all the difference. The one thing by which all other things find perspective. The cross.
How we relate to the cross makes all the difference.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Lost Sight of the Gospel
We have lost sight of the gospel and we are poorer for it.
Many great defenders of the gospel no longer proclaim the gospel they only speak as political agents against culture.
This comment was deleted within minutes as a comment by on a site which was once that of a great defender of the gospel. Now it is consumed almost entirely with political activism. While that is completely their right to moderate comments as they feel the travesty is the gospel has been completely lost sight of.
God help us. Amen.
"The church needs to get back to focusing on the gospel instead of trying to convince secular society of presuppositions which secular society does not hold. The gospel is the power by which the world is overcome. Until secular society meets Jesus secular society will not accept Christian propositions.
http://theologyponderings.blogspot.com/2015/08/christianity-in-post-christian-culture.html"
Many great defenders of the gospel no longer proclaim the gospel they only speak as political agents against culture.
This comment was deleted within minutes as a comment by on a site which was once that of a great defender of the gospel. Now it is consumed almost entirely with political activism. While that is completely their right to moderate comments as they feel the travesty is the gospel has been completely lost sight of.
God help us. Amen.
"The church needs to get back to focusing on the gospel instead of trying to convince secular society of presuppositions which secular society does not hold. The gospel is the power by which the world is overcome. Until secular society meets Jesus secular society will not accept Christian propositions.
http://theologyponderings.blogspot.com/2015/08/christianity-in-post-christian-culture.html"
Christianity in Post Christian Culture
Often in the political sphere and other spheres Christians try to expound views that are godly. They attempt to argue for change.
Often the issue is that the culture has already rejected most of the presuppositions that we argue from. We cannot win debates in culture because all our presuppositions are rejected.
The church needs to accept that it is not the dominate force today in the western world. The church will be more healthy once it realizes that it is on the margins of society today.
Often the church wastes a great deal of time in meaningless dialogue because the church feels it has sway. The church needs to stop expounding change to the culture on the basis of argument and focus on spreading the gospel.
The church's presuppositions are being radically rejected because Jesus is being rejected. If we want to change society we must first have society meet Jesus in a meaningful way.
Only by re-introducing true biblical faith into the culture can Christian's hope to have culture listen to messages of change in relation to society. The gospel is foundational to all Christian ethics.
Often the issue is that the culture has already rejected most of the presuppositions that we argue from. We cannot win debates in culture because all our presuppositions are rejected.
The church needs to accept that it is not the dominate force today in the western world. The church will be more healthy once it realizes that it is on the margins of society today.
Often the church wastes a great deal of time in meaningless dialogue because the church feels it has sway. The church needs to stop expounding change to the culture on the basis of argument and focus on spreading the gospel.
The church's presuppositions are being radically rejected because Jesus is being rejected. If we want to change society we must first have society meet Jesus in a meaningful way.
Only by re-introducing true biblical faith into the culture can Christian's hope to have culture listen to messages of change in relation to society. The gospel is foundational to all Christian ethics.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Focus on the Symptoms
Often in the church progress is difficult because we focus on the symptoms of sin rather than the root of sin. We focus on the problems because they are easier to notice.
Often the issue when looking at sin is that the problems can come from many sources. We often underestimate the power of the gospel in transforming issues.
Often we fail to see growth in the church because we fail to see the gospel articulated in its most full power. The gospel is the basis for all law.
Our tendency is to skip over, so the speak, the majority of the first part of Romans and then to "get into the good part" after all the groundwork is laid. The reality is the second half rests entirely upon the first.
We cannot successfully move into the second part before grasping the first part the best that we can. And this is the issue often in the church is we move too quickly past grace.
We feel we have mastered the gospel and continue to law while we have still fully not understood the gospel and grace. We must always be remind of grace. Apart from grace the law is nothing, but a series of unfulfilled standard which are too high for us to keep.
It is only sin that makes us fail to understand the depths of our transgression. And only grace that enables us to begin to keep the law.
Often the issue when looking at sin is that the problems can come from many sources. We often underestimate the power of the gospel in transforming issues.
Often we fail to see growth in the church because we fail to see the gospel articulated in its most full power. The gospel is the basis for all law.
Our tendency is to skip over, so the speak, the majority of the first part of Romans and then to "get into the good part" after all the groundwork is laid. The reality is the second half rests entirely upon the first.
We cannot successfully move into the second part before grasping the first part the best that we can. And this is the issue often in the church is we move too quickly past grace.
We feel we have mastered the gospel and continue to law while we have still fully not understood the gospel and grace. We must always be remind of grace. Apart from grace the law is nothing, but a series of unfulfilled standard which are too high for us to keep.
It is only sin that makes us fail to understand the depths of our transgression. And only grace that enables us to begin to keep the law.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Words to Edify
As Christians we should speak to edify. If we are more concerned with defending our self or being above criticism than we are about edifying others or up building the church and reaching out into the world then we are not speaking as Christians.
The gospel is radical. The Christian message is at times upsetting because it points out the hypocrisy and difficulties in the heart of mankind.
If as Christians our speech never meets with resistance we may need to consider the fact that we may have sold out. The gospel aims to bring peace among all mankind and between mankind and God. We would think that to preach Christianity and live Christianity might be easy.
But inside mankind there is a resistance to the truth. Often at the most beautiful moments of scripture where unity and peace is taught we find anger.
To teach Christ at times brings difficulty. We should not be concerned that we stray from the way if we are criticized.
If we are never wrongly critiqued by others we have not taught the Christian message. We had watered down the message of the gospel which has always meet resistance in one form or another into something less than the gospel.
The gospel is radical. The Christian message is at times upsetting because it points out the hypocrisy and difficulties in the heart of mankind.
If as Christians our speech never meets with resistance we may need to consider the fact that we may have sold out. The gospel aims to bring peace among all mankind and between mankind and God. We would think that to preach Christianity and live Christianity might be easy.
But inside mankind there is a resistance to the truth. Often at the most beautiful moments of scripture where unity and peace is taught we find anger.
To teach Christ at times brings difficulty. We should not be concerned that we stray from the way if we are criticized.
If we are never wrongly critiqued by others we have not taught the Christian message. We had watered down the message of the gospel which has always meet resistance in one form or another into something less than the gospel.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Keeping the Focus on Christ
We need to keep the focus on Christ as Christians. The gospel of the forgiveness of sins for all who come to Jesus is the center of Christianity.
Too often we and the church get caught up on small matters. The matters seem important or may be important but the gospel gets pushed to the side.
The gospel can never be pushed to the side in the church. Often the church wants to improve the behavior of its members by ethical teaching.
And while ethics and teaching on Christian living are of great use, the ethics and Christian living are always rooted in the cross. If we focus too much on ethics and forget the root of ethics we loose the power of the gospel.
The gospel has the power to change the world. That is why the gospel must always be kept at the center of the church.
If you want to save souls you need to the gospel. If you need to have people become better they need the gospel. If you need people who profess to be Christians, but live poorly, you need to get them to really understand the gospel.
The gospel is the power with which the world is overcome. The world will not be improved much by ethics, but it will be improved by truly grasping the glory of the risen Jesus. Let us keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith.
Too often we and the church get caught up on small matters. The matters seem important or may be important but the gospel gets pushed to the side.
The gospel can never be pushed to the side in the church. Often the church wants to improve the behavior of its members by ethical teaching.
And while ethics and teaching on Christian living are of great use, the ethics and Christian living are always rooted in the cross. If we focus too much on ethics and forget the root of ethics we loose the power of the gospel.
The gospel has the power to change the world. That is why the gospel must always be kept at the center of the church.
If you want to save souls you need to the gospel. If you need to have people become better they need the gospel. If you need people who profess to be Christians, but live poorly, you need to get them to really understand the gospel.
The gospel is the power with which the world is overcome. The world will not be improved much by ethics, but it will be improved by truly grasping the glory of the risen Jesus. Let us keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The Gospel (poem)
The gospel is where Faith starts.
The gospel is how Faith continues.
We never get past Faith.
It is through faith we learn to follow God.
Only at the last day,
when we see God face to face,
only then,
will Faith end.
The gospel is how Faith continues.
We never get past Faith.
It is through faith we learn to follow God.
Only at the last day,
when we see God face to face,
only then,
will Faith end.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
New Year, New Beginnings
The calendar flipping to a new year feels like a new start for many people. Setting goals with the hope that this year will be better is common.
As we think of new starts and new beginnings in the new year, let's remind ourselves of the new beginning offered to us through Christ. Jesus paid the overwhelming debt of sins—past, present, and future—for those who come to him in faith. There's freedom from no longer having the great burden that has separated us from God.
For those in Christ, this means a new family. God is our Father! The best father. A king and purely good.
It's also a new way of life. There's joy and new motivation, with the help of the Holy Spirit and in response to such amazing grace, to help people in need and to love our neighbor.
A new reason to just chill too. We have peace knowing God is in control.
As we think of new starts and new beginnings in the new year, let's remind ourselves of the new beginning offered to us through Christ. Jesus paid the overwhelming debt of sins—past, present, and future—for those who come to him in faith. There's freedom from no longer having the great burden that has separated us from God.
For those in Christ, this means a new family. God is our Father! The best father. A king and purely good.
It's also a new way of life. There's joy and new motivation, with the help of the Holy Spirit and in response to such amazing grace, to help people in need and to love our neighbor.
A new reason to just chill too. We have peace knowing God is in control.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
The Most Significant Change
Christmas is a time when many people dream about how new items will improve life. A new phone or toy will bring great joy, they think.
Whether or not these new items will bring some change into our lives or not, Christmas is a reminder of what has brought us the most significant change. A life-saving, life-altering change for the better. Toward truth and life.
Christ's work and life, which has brought this great change, is beautiful. Moment by moment it affects the lives of Christians. We have fellowship with God again, and he is working in us. And we have great purpose: helping to spread this message and in other ways help people, the bearers of God's image.
Whether or not these new items will bring some change into our lives or not, Christmas is a reminder of what has brought us the most significant change. A life-saving, life-altering change for the better. Toward truth and life.
Christ's work and life, which has brought this great change, is beautiful. Moment by moment it affects the lives of Christians. We have fellowship with God again, and he is working in us. And we have great purpose: helping to spread this message and in other ways help people, the bearers of God's image.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
Often the church is reactionary. We get caught up with how we are different than the culture, and the emphasis of church can become expounding the difference.
It is important of course for the church to remind itself how it is different than the world, but often the concern with the difference drowns out the proclamation of the gospel. Often many of the differences the church has with the culture are a very small percent of the message of the bible.
Yet often the differences between the church and culture in many churches take up a massive amount of the time in the pulpit. We need in the church to insist that what scripture finds as most important we find as most important.
The differences between the church and the world are so over rehashed that we almost don't need to hear them again in many churches. And yet often the gospel and many other parts of Christian ethics go critically under covered.
The church in the current day is often reactionary. It plays its message in opposition to the world. The church would be better served to play to its strength.
The gospel is the power by which the world is overcome. If you want to make cultures more Christian all that matters is a success of the gospel. All Christian ethic and Christian living flow from the gospel.
We can argue the philosophical debates and oppose culture all we wish, but the gospel is where success or failure is found for the church on these issues.
It is important of course for the church to remind itself how it is different than the world, but often the concern with the difference drowns out the proclamation of the gospel. Often many of the differences the church has with the culture are a very small percent of the message of the bible.
Yet often the differences between the church and culture in many churches take up a massive amount of the time in the pulpit. We need in the church to insist that what scripture finds as most important we find as most important.
The differences between the church and the world are so over rehashed that we almost don't need to hear them again in many churches. And yet often the gospel and many other parts of Christian ethics go critically under covered.
The church in the current day is often reactionary. It plays its message in opposition to the world. The church would be better served to play to its strength.
The gospel is the power by which the world is overcome. If you want to make cultures more Christian all that matters is a success of the gospel. All Christian ethic and Christian living flow from the gospel.
We can argue the philosophical debates and oppose culture all we wish, but the gospel is where success or failure is found for the church on these issues.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Complexity in Life and Faith
Life is full of complexity. You see the multifaceted nature of everything when you study something for a day, or a year, or even decades. That's how long it takes to truly attempt to learn all the details of something at times.
The same goes for knowing the Bible, God, and living a Christian life. Often people want it to be simple: Hear the message once and respond, and that's it. Or go to church, and you've got it. Those are good thing, but there's more.
The gospel is simple in a way. But it also has a beautiful depth to it too. When you accept Christ, all you need to know are some basic truths. But after that, growing in knowledge is important.
What more is there to grow in knowledge, you may be asking. Here's a starter list to help you see what topics there are:
Learning about these things can aid in living in a Christian way.
The same goes for knowing the Bible, God, and living a Christian life. Often people want it to be simple: Hear the message once and respond, and that's it. Or go to church, and you've got it. Those are good thing, but there's more.
The gospel is simple in a way. But it also has a beautiful depth to it too. When you accept Christ, all you need to know are some basic truths. But after that, growing in knowledge is important.
What more is there to grow in knowledge, you may be asking. Here's a starter list to help you see what topics there are:
- Grace. The true meaning of grace.
- Law/Commands/Sin. How this relates to grace, too, but we must first see why we need and are given grace. And learning how God's commands really are good for us.
- Wisdom. Since life is complex, sometime discernment and good judgment are needed. The Bible helps us in learning wisdom.
- Love. What it means to truly live out those two commands. It is active and much more. I've created a list of 6 posts on loving others.
- How God has related to humans throughout history. This includes feeling loved and accepted by Christ if you're a Christian.
- The Trinity.
Learning about these things can aid in living in a Christian way.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Why Long-Time Christians Still Need to Hear and Think on the Gospel
The good news of the gospel always applies and affects Christians, even ones who've been Christians for a very long time.
I heard someone say once that he's heard the gospel story, so he'd rather not hear it again. He knows it. So why mention it again?
A major reason for needing to hear it again and again is that we all have a human nature. All of us have a nature that leans toward distraction and chasing after trivial things at times. So we need to be reminded of God's part in our lives then and now because of Christ's work for us.
Often when we hear how we were not worthy of fellowship with God but we are through Jesus's work and faith, we feel compelled to praise and worship and do good works.
We are also learning over time. When we read about certain accounts of Jesus in the gospels, we might see some detail that really shows us more the mind or love of Christ. Or how it relates to certain situations in our daily lives.
Not only in preaching or worship songs can we be reminded of the gospel, but it's important to include this in our devotional times too. Some devotions may only speak of how we need to do better--but really we need to be sure at times that we think about Christ being the reason we don't have to constantly think we have to do better. We can rest in him. We can know that everything will end well in a sense. And that often helps give us the peace and courage to do what we're commanded by God. There are times when we do need to think about doing better, but that shouldn't fill up the entirety of our devotional time. There is a place for worship too.
I heard someone say once that he's heard the gospel story, so he'd rather not hear it again. He knows it. So why mention it again?
A major reason for needing to hear it again and again is that we all have a human nature. All of us have a nature that leans toward distraction and chasing after trivial things at times. So we need to be reminded of God's part in our lives then and now because of Christ's work for us.
Often when we hear how we were not worthy of fellowship with God but we are through Jesus's work and faith, we feel compelled to praise and worship and do good works.
We are also learning over time. When we read about certain accounts of Jesus in the gospels, we might see some detail that really shows us more the mind or love of Christ. Or how it relates to certain situations in our daily lives.
Not only in preaching or worship songs can we be reminded of the gospel, but it's important to include this in our devotional times too. Some devotions may only speak of how we need to do better--but really we need to be sure at times that we think about Christ being the reason we don't have to constantly think we have to do better. We can rest in him. We can know that everything will end well in a sense. And that often helps give us the peace and courage to do what we're commanded by God. There are times when we do need to think about doing better, but that shouldn't fill up the entirety of our devotional time. There is a place for worship too.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Our Way
One of the most common objections to Christianity is that elements of the faith do not please us. The objections rarely come in such a simplistic and honest form, but many objections if inquired further boil down to "I do not like a God who would ask this of me."
It is most common to believe what we like. It takes great fortitude to believe something to be true that we do not like. And this is the issue with faith in Jesus.
For all the attractive and compelling reasons to have faith in Jesus we do not like what he has to say about or lives. To accept the good news of the gospel we must first accept the bad news about ourselves.
It is abundantly apparent that we need the gospel. We are all fallen and sinful, but we do not like to accept our nature.
We always like to push things off and ignore the reality of things. It is easier to say that God is wrong about the nature of people than it is to deal with the fact that God is right about our nature and we have a lot to fix.
The gospel is abundantly good news. We are welcomed into eternal fellowship with God. But we first have to accept that God is right about our nature and that we are in need. The good news is only good once we accept the fact of our need.
It is most common to believe what we like. It takes great fortitude to believe something to be true that we do not like. And this is the issue with faith in Jesus.
For all the attractive and compelling reasons to have faith in Jesus we do not like what he has to say about or lives. To accept the good news of the gospel we must first accept the bad news about ourselves.
It is abundantly apparent that we need the gospel. We are all fallen and sinful, but we do not like to accept our nature.
We always like to push things off and ignore the reality of things. It is easier to say that God is wrong about the nature of people than it is to deal with the fact that God is right about our nature and we have a lot to fix.
The gospel is abundantly good news. We are welcomed into eternal fellowship with God. But we first have to accept that God is right about our nature and that we are in need. The good news is only good once we accept the fact of our need.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Practical Preaching
Often congregations complain if preaching is not practical. The gospel it seems is lacking in practicality to the modern mind.
We are very foolish in regard to practicality. There is nothing more practical than the gospel since all ethical life flows from our union to the gospel.
I suppose we often treat the gospel as something like basic math which can be learned and then after mastered simply recalled when needed. But spiritual things are not like that. It is not simply information that is to be recalled but something active by which our life is constantly guided.
This is why Paul said he wished to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. Our fallen nature makes it so we need to be constantly reminded of the truth of the gospel.
We need to be guided by the gospel at every moment. You see all the practical elements of the Christian life are grounded in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
There is nothing more practical than the gospel whether or not we understand the fact. The gospel is not something that can be mastered at one time, but something which we must return to constantly to be reminded of God's goodness to us.
We are very foolish in regard to practicality. There is nothing more practical than the gospel since all ethical life flows from our union to the gospel.
I suppose we often treat the gospel as something like basic math which can be learned and then after mastered simply recalled when needed. But spiritual things are not like that. It is not simply information that is to be recalled but something active by which our life is constantly guided.
This is why Paul said he wished to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. Our fallen nature makes it so we need to be constantly reminded of the truth of the gospel.
We need to be guided by the gospel at every moment. You see all the practical elements of the Christian life are grounded in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
There is nothing more practical than the gospel whether or not we understand the fact. The gospel is not something that can be mastered at one time, but something which we must return to constantly to be reminded of God's goodness to us.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Convenience and Christianity
In the modern world we seek conveniences constantly. This or that will make our lives convenient. We place conveniences as an absolute good.
We often wonder why the world around us is falling apart. In part it is because dealing with the problems around us is inconvenient until the problems affect us.
The Christian message comes and tells us that what is of real significance and that the significance will be a great inconvenience to our lives. We are called to be like the man who found a pearl of great value in his field and sold everything he had to get the field.
We often find that this or that keeps us from the gospel or this or that good thing. We are always people of excuses. We do not like the truth about ourselves--it is inconvenient. This is the issue; we often make up excuses because that is the easy path.
We are always too busy to do this or that but never too busy to spend three hours playing golf or watching sports every Saturday. Christianity is a religion of joy.
True joy is fellowship with God, but true joy comes with a cost. Sometimes true joy pushes into our lives and displaces some temporal joys which are getting in the way.
You see Christianity in no way suggests that joy, even joy in the world, is wrong. But it calls for priorities and sees the need to at times act even when it is inconvenient.
We often wonder why the world around us is falling apart. In part it is because dealing with the problems around us is inconvenient until the problems affect us.
The Christian message comes and tells us that what is of real significance and that the significance will be a great inconvenience to our lives. We are called to be like the man who found a pearl of great value in his field and sold everything he had to get the field.
We often find that this or that keeps us from the gospel or this or that good thing. We are always people of excuses. We do not like the truth about ourselves--it is inconvenient. This is the issue; we often make up excuses because that is the easy path.
We are always too busy to do this or that but never too busy to spend three hours playing golf or watching sports every Saturday. Christianity is a religion of joy.
True joy is fellowship with God, but true joy comes with a cost. Sometimes true joy pushes into our lives and displaces some temporal joys which are getting in the way.
You see Christianity in no way suggests that joy, even joy in the world, is wrong. But it calls for priorities and sees the need to at times act even when it is inconvenient.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
The Kingdom of God
An Old Paper Of Mine.
Summery of Johannes Weiss': Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Johannes’ piece centers around what sort of life is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. Johannes notes that the Kingdom of God purely a gift from God, however we people must make, “extreme external sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel… must be regarded as a matter of necessity and principle" (112). It seems that the gift from God is that salvation is freely offered to all and the human part is to grasp hold of the gift though the new ethic. The new ethic is self sacrifice based on the gospel.
Johannes’ writes that, “The only thing man can do is about it is to perform the conditions required by God” (132). As he says this he clearly anticipates his views being labeled at “Pharisaic.” He distinguishes himself from the Pharisees, however, by saying that he does not support people seeking a reward. Instead Johannes suggests people should seek detachment and only then can they enjoy the kingdom of God. ((His reply seems not really to deal with the objection, since both ways are still earning ways into reward.))
Johannes cashes out the gospel in an interesting way. The gospel that Jesus preaches is no different in quality than the gospel John the Baptist preaches. Both preach a gospel of self sacrificial lifestyle by which men may find entrance into heaven. The only difference is that Jesus has a “messianic self consciousness” which allows him to realize that by Jesus’ obedience he will be elevated to the messianic position of kingship. Christ, by his obedience, earns his eschatological kingship and becomes closer in equality (although very not equal) to the Father. Christ clearly transitions form a fully human figure to a semi-divine figure by his obedience, according to Johannes’.
The cross according to Johannes comes late into the consciousness of Jesus. Early on Jesus believes that he will usher in the eschatological kingdom of God. However, he later realizes that he too must die to help (only help in part) the eschatological kingdom come about. Johannes suggests that we too today must work to help bring about the eschatological kingdom.
Johannes’ then moves on to counter a common day assumption of his day. The Kingdom of God is not in fact the center of the gospel. The center of the gospel is our relationship as children to God. We are hoping to “serve God the Father with surrender of the whole heart, and to become free from the world” (134). By surrendering everything we gain is most precious that is, relationship with God. Our relationship to God as children is the center of the gospel not the kingdom of God.
Once we have become children of God then we will be too gain “freedom from the world” and thus be capable of “love one’s enemy”, and “the sacrifice of one’s life” (134). We differ today from early Christianity in that we do not share the eschatological view of the immense of the Kingdom of God that they shared. That was in fact the center of the early church’s thought. However, what we share with primitive Christianity is the view of Son-ship that we gain with God the father though sacrifice. This Son-ship is the reason we take on the ethical demands of God.
Summery of Johannes Weiss': Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Johannes’ piece centers around what sort of life is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. Johannes notes that the Kingdom of God purely a gift from God, however we people must make, “extreme external sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel… must be regarded as a matter of necessity and principle" (112). It seems that the gift from God is that salvation is freely offered to all and the human part is to grasp hold of the gift though the new ethic. The new ethic is self sacrifice based on the gospel.
Johannes’ writes that, “The only thing man can do is about it is to perform the conditions required by God” (132). As he says this he clearly anticipates his views being labeled at “Pharisaic.” He distinguishes himself from the Pharisees, however, by saying that he does not support people seeking a reward. Instead Johannes suggests people should seek detachment and only then can they enjoy the kingdom of God. ((His reply seems not really to deal with the objection, since both ways are still earning ways into reward.))
Johannes cashes out the gospel in an interesting way. The gospel that Jesus preaches is no different in quality than the gospel John the Baptist preaches. Both preach a gospel of self sacrificial lifestyle by which men may find entrance into heaven. The only difference is that Jesus has a “messianic self consciousness” which allows him to realize that by Jesus’ obedience he will be elevated to the messianic position of kingship. Christ, by his obedience, earns his eschatological kingship and becomes closer in equality (although very not equal) to the Father. Christ clearly transitions form a fully human figure to a semi-divine figure by his obedience, according to Johannes’.
The cross according to Johannes comes late into the consciousness of Jesus. Early on Jesus believes that he will usher in the eschatological kingdom of God. However, he later realizes that he too must die to help (only help in part) the eschatological kingdom come about. Johannes suggests that we too today must work to help bring about the eschatological kingdom.
Johannes’ then moves on to counter a common day assumption of his day. The Kingdom of God is not in fact the center of the gospel. The center of the gospel is our relationship as children to God. We are hoping to “serve God the Father with surrender of the whole heart, and to become free from the world” (134). By surrendering everything we gain is most precious that is, relationship with God. Our relationship to God as children is the center of the gospel not the kingdom of God.
Once we have become children of God then we will be too gain “freedom from the world” and thus be capable of “love one’s enemy”, and “the sacrifice of one’s life” (134). We differ today from early Christianity in that we do not share the eschatological view of the immense of the Kingdom of God that they shared. That was in fact the center of the early church’s thought. However, what we share with primitive Christianity is the view of Son-ship that we gain with God the father though sacrifice. This Son-ship is the reason we take on the ethical demands of God.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
The Word "Sacrifice" Should Be Used More Carefully
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The word "sacrifice" is thrown around a little too easily in many Christian teachings and conversations. There are two reasons why the use of this word needs to be thought through more carefully: using it wrong can hurt people's understanding of the gospel and how to live well.
The first reason is when a teacher says "do this or that sacrificially" or "it will be a sacrifice to do this," maybe meaning giving more in the offering when it is painful or being extra nice to someone when you're too tired, it is taking sacrifice out of its great, life-changing context of Christ's sacrifice, and also the sacrifice for sins in the Old Testament that points to Christ.
When we think of that word, we should be grateful that Christ paid the price for us. Christ was a the sacrifice for our sins. That means we don't need to make a sacrifice for our sins--we need to go to Christ. And his part in our life and our gratefulness for that sacrifice causes us to do good in the world. It's not a painful journey all the time of constant sacrifices, but a process of sanctification that includes at times a grateful, happy heart because of the gospel.
The second is that it causes people to feel that the Christian needs to very often do some self-inflicting pain in order to do good. It's true that sometimes making the right choice will be painful. But not all the time, and feeling pain isn't always the way to make a right decision. Sometimes what is casually called a sacrifice, like giving to someone, could be a joyous occasion. You see the grateful heart of the person and anticipate it so it doesn't feel bad at all.
My guess is that people like to use the word sacrifice this way because it reminds them of Christ's sacrifice and Christians should be willing to want to emulate Christ. But the problem with this reasoning is that we aren't able to be exactly like Christ, because Christ was sinless, and the sacrifice he paid was one time. And, yes, we should be reminded often of Christ's sacrifice, but in a more joyous way. One that says Christ came to give life abundantly. And out of that hopeful message we should feel compelled to do good works. Basically, we need to focus on Christ first, and then maybe our works (although at times good works can flow naturally--without that intense focus on "should's"). Not the other way around or only our works.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The word "sacrifice" is thrown around a little too easily in many Christian teachings and conversations. There are two reasons why the use of this word needs to be thought through more carefully: using it wrong can hurt people's understanding of the gospel and how to live well.
The first reason is when a teacher says "do this or that sacrificially" or "it will be a sacrifice to do this," maybe meaning giving more in the offering when it is painful or being extra nice to someone when you're too tired, it is taking sacrifice out of its great, life-changing context of Christ's sacrifice, and also the sacrifice for sins in the Old Testament that points to Christ.
When we think of that word, we should be grateful that Christ paid the price for us. Christ was a the sacrifice for our sins. That means we don't need to make a sacrifice for our sins--we need to go to Christ. And his part in our life and our gratefulness for that sacrifice causes us to do good in the world. It's not a painful journey all the time of constant sacrifices, but a process of sanctification that includes at times a grateful, happy heart because of the gospel.
The second is that it causes people to feel that the Christian needs to very often do some self-inflicting pain in order to do good. It's true that sometimes making the right choice will be painful. But not all the time, and feeling pain isn't always the way to make a right decision. Sometimes what is casually called a sacrifice, like giving to someone, could be a joyous occasion. You see the grateful heart of the person and anticipate it so it doesn't feel bad at all.
My guess is that people like to use the word sacrifice this way because it reminds them of Christ's sacrifice and Christians should be willing to want to emulate Christ. But the problem with this reasoning is that we aren't able to be exactly like Christ, because Christ was sinless, and the sacrifice he paid was one time. And, yes, we should be reminded often of Christ's sacrifice, but in a more joyous way. One that says Christ came to give life abundantly. And out of that hopeful message we should feel compelled to do good works. Basically, we need to focus on Christ first, and then maybe our works (although at times good works can flow naturally--without that intense focus on "should's"). Not the other way around or only our works.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)