Often we can be guilty of living like we judge Jesus. We are too concerned with who we associate with. We are too concerned with righteousness to follow the will of God.
The reality it is how we live and why we live the way we live. We need to have more concern with reaching out into the world.
We often overthink living out our faith. We are called to live a life of love.
If we have all things, but lack love we have nothing. Love is an active power. We cannot live out love if we do not interact with others seeking their good.
True Christian love is difficult. We will find that at times we may be judged for being too willing to associate with the wrong crowd.
Jesus too was accused of associating with the wrong crowd. We often cannot please everyone in life.
We must always seek to live out our faith before God and realize that often others will not understand. If we are well respected by all people we have probably failed to fully live out our faith.
Showing posts with label living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
A Selective Biblicism
Often we see a selective use of the bible in churches or Christian's lives. I had experiences with a Christian which caused me to end our relationship.
His response to me was that we should follow the teaching of God and work things out and reconcile. He went on to tell me how I was completely in the wrong on all points and that I needed to accept that everything between us was my fault.
The spirit of the response was in fact the entire reason the relationship had ended. There was no working through things between us. He was always right and I was always wrong (in his view).
The issue aside there is a spirit of biblical principle which is being selectively used. We can of course work things out in the spirit of God seeking understanding and dialogue but we cannot work things out if the person "seeking dialogue" and "reconciliation" is really simply looking to get our way.
It is often like this in life that we find people adopt or reject parts of scripture as it suits them. Scripture is often inconvenient. Living in love and seeking dialogue takes time. True biblical living requires us at times to question ourselves and our motives. It takes time to live out our faith.
God knows that we have failed and will fail and loves us anyway. It is Jesus' perfect life that God counts as our holiness.
His response to me was that we should follow the teaching of God and work things out and reconcile. He went on to tell me how I was completely in the wrong on all points and that I needed to accept that everything between us was my fault.
The spirit of the response was in fact the entire reason the relationship had ended. There was no working through things between us. He was always right and I was always wrong (in his view).
The issue aside there is a spirit of biblical principle which is being selectively used. We can of course work things out in the spirit of God seeking understanding and dialogue but we cannot work things out if the person "seeking dialogue" and "reconciliation" is really simply looking to get our way.
It is often like this in life that we find people adopt or reject parts of scripture as it suits them. Scripture is often inconvenient. Living in love and seeking dialogue takes time. True biblical living requires us at times to question ourselves and our motives. It takes time to live out our faith.
God knows that we have failed and will fail and loves us anyway. It is Jesus' perfect life that God counts as our holiness.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
True Biblical Belief
Often people are examined today for being "biblical" based on what they say. Viewpoints on scripture are of course an important test for being "biblical," but far more important is how one lives.
Living biblical truth is far more important for being "biblical" than doting all the right points in a conversation. Living is what makes or breaks our faithfulness to scripture.
If we really understand scripture in a deep way it will change us. Understanding scripture in this way a way that really matters is ultimately what is important.
If you want to know how faithful we are biblically we need to not look as much at what we say, but look to what we do. The saying "talk is cheap" is very applicable.
If we want to know what we care about we often have to stop looking at what we say we care about and instead look at what our actions say we care about. Our actions flow from our heart and speak volumes to what we actually truly care about most.
Living biblical truth is far more important for being "biblical" than doting all the right points in a conversation. Living is what makes or breaks our faithfulness to scripture.
If we really understand scripture in a deep way it will change us. Understanding scripture in this way a way that really matters is ultimately what is important.
If you want to know how faithful we are biblically we need to not look as much at what we say, but look to what we do. The saying "talk is cheap" is very applicable.
If we want to know what we care about we often have to stop looking at what we say we care about and instead look at what our actions say we care about. Our actions flow from our heart and speak volumes to what we actually truly care about most.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Honest Living
To live honestly before God our works are done before God and not man. You see many times in life we are given a chance to do this or that good work in secret.
We have done the right thing in secret before God. And the temptation is to share the work before men.
You see we are called not to exalt ourselves in the world. Good works done in secret should often remain in secret. It is not always the case: there might be a reason to share, but more often the need to move a good work from secret to the public is a sign of sin.
Our works are before God. Only God matters. We should not value the praise of men, only God.
In fact often when we live well before God certain men will not like us. We are not above our master Jesus and many men did not like Jesus because of the way he lived. The bible assures us that it is normal for the world to find true religion unpleasant.
The world is judged simply by righteous living. The world views certain things as "impossible" and living by faith implicitly condemns the world when the "not possible" is fulfilled.
We have done the right thing in secret before God. And the temptation is to share the work before men.
You see we are called not to exalt ourselves in the world. Good works done in secret should often remain in secret. It is not always the case: there might be a reason to share, but more often the need to move a good work from secret to the public is a sign of sin.
Our works are before God. Only God matters. We should not value the praise of men, only God.
In fact often when we live well before God certain men will not like us. We are not above our master Jesus and many men did not like Jesus because of the way he lived. The bible assures us that it is normal for the world to find true religion unpleasant.
The world is judged simply by righteous living. The world views certain things as "impossible" and living by faith implicitly condemns the world when the "not possible" is fulfilled.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Grace on Ourselves
It is at times the case that God is more willing to have grace on us than we are willing to have on ourselves. There is a certain type of reflection on sin which is morbid and unbiblical.
Jesus' work is sufficient. It is not an elevation of our sin to say that it might not be forgivable but a devaluation of Jesus' work.
His work is infinite in value and nothing can compare to it. We delude ourselves to place our sin in comparison to Jesus' merit.
Of course works should flow from our lives. But they are based on what God has done for us. Works flow from grace. Grace is what produces works.
On a practical level nothing is more practical to Christian living than the perfect life of Jesus and his death on the cross. It is grace which has far more real practicality than a sermon filled with suggestions on living.
Jesus' work is sufficient. It is not an elevation of our sin to say that it might not be forgivable but a devaluation of Jesus' work.
His work is infinite in value and nothing can compare to it. We delude ourselves to place our sin in comparison to Jesus' merit.
Of course works should flow from our lives. But they are based on what God has done for us. Works flow from grace. Grace is what produces works.
On a practical level nothing is more practical to Christian living than the perfect life of Jesus and his death on the cross. It is grace which has far more real practicality than a sermon filled with suggestions on living.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Hallow Religion
There is a great hollowness in many churches. You see a theology of righteousness has become very negative.
Being different than the world in many cases is a list of things not to do, with prayer added on as the activity to do.
You see this is such a thin religion. Nothing is required for righteousness except not sinning.
Ultimately religion in its best state is very active. It does and wishes to do.
You see Jesus is the model for Christian living and his life is a life of active doing. He is often criticized for his doing because he dares to act when those with a negative theology believe he should not act.
It allows sin to be sin and failure to act to be sin. And it rests completely on grace knowing day by day we sin.
Resting completely on grace allows and does not hinders action. Our righteousness is perfect and complete in Jesus which frees us to live.
Being different than the world in many cases is a list of things not to do, with prayer added on as the activity to do.
You see this is such a thin religion. Nothing is required for righteousness except not sinning.
Ultimately religion in its best state is very active. It does and wishes to do.
You see Jesus is the model for Christian living and his life is a life of active doing. He is often criticized for his doing because he dares to act when those with a negative theology believe he should not act.
It allows sin to be sin and failure to act to be sin. And it rests completely on grace knowing day by day we sin.
Resting completely on grace allows and does not hinders action. Our righteousness is perfect and complete in Jesus which frees us to live.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Active Christian Love
Christianity without love is not possible. The bible says that if we have all things, but not love our faith is worthless.
You see one of the great issues of the day is a failure to practically understand and promote Christian love. There is a great concern for ethical living and proper thinking, but love often falls to the wayside.
You see if we live ethically and think properly and expound proper teaching but do not have love then everything we do is worthless. Love of God and love of neighbor is the sum of all true Christian ethics.
Christian ethics which do not teach an active and outward expression of love to the world are completely unchristian. Prayer is also not a full expression of love.
Prayer is vital in the Christian life, but too often people fall back on prayer as the only expression of love they are comfortable to express. This is a completely insufficient expression of Christian faith.
Prayer should motivate action. We pray and prayer is of the most importance, but a prayer which does not motivate action is worthless prayer.
If we pray for our brother or sister in Christ but our prayer has no concern toward action from ourselves then our prayer is insincere. If we pray this or that for a person but do not actively consider how we may be of help our prayer has no sincerity. We pray out of duty and not truth.
You see one of the great issues of the day is a failure to practically understand and promote Christian love. There is a great concern for ethical living and proper thinking, but love often falls to the wayside.
You see if we live ethically and think properly and expound proper teaching but do not have love then everything we do is worthless. Love of God and love of neighbor is the sum of all true Christian ethics.
Christian ethics which do not teach an active and outward expression of love to the world are completely unchristian. Prayer is also not a full expression of love.
Prayer is vital in the Christian life, but too often people fall back on prayer as the only expression of love they are comfortable to express. This is a completely insufficient expression of Christian faith.
Prayer should motivate action. We pray and prayer is of the most importance, but a prayer which does not motivate action is worthless prayer.
If we pray for our brother or sister in Christ but our prayer has no concern toward action from ourselves then our prayer is insincere. If we pray this or that for a person but do not actively consider how we may be of help our prayer has no sincerity. We pray out of duty and not truth.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Theology is Lived
Theology is not something that is found primarily in text books. Theology is something that is lived.
You see there is a great connection between living and theological belief. You cannot separate living and believing.
Theology is often thought of as something in academic life or something one reads in a book. But really you see for someone studying the discipline it is really something lived.
You wonder why some theologians are so great in preaching and teaching and you often see why when you look at their life. You see theology is about knowledge but we can only truly understand theology by living.
Often the theology of academics is very dull. Why? Often they have not lived much. It is not their fault their profession is far more time consuming than most full time positions. They have little time to get out of theology in the class room and text book.
Theology is something that only truly forms by living and by interacting with the world. You see we can be a part of the world but not really engage it or live in it if we are too busy. This is the case with academia at many times.
Simply the theology has not entered the world in a real sense and the theology is poorer for it. Truly strong theology needs to have interacted with the issues of the day and seen the world.
We need to be different from the world of course, but if theology has never set foot into the world than it is very theoretical in nature. And theology is not as much of a theoretical discipline as it is thought. It is a discipline of living well in the world before God.
This is what is meant that as Christians we are to "be in the world but not of the world." You see if we isolate ourselves from the world we fail to follow the commands of Jesus. This is one flaw of many Christian groups who try to isolate themselves more and more from the world.
Often there are groups who err in the opposite way and move into the world and forget that they are to be separate. You see we are to be set apart as we are in the world.
You see there is a great connection between living and theological belief. You cannot separate living and believing.
Theology is often thought of as something in academic life or something one reads in a book. But really you see for someone studying the discipline it is really something lived.
You wonder why some theologians are so great in preaching and teaching and you often see why when you look at their life. You see theology is about knowledge but we can only truly understand theology by living.
Often the theology of academics is very dull. Why? Often they have not lived much. It is not their fault their profession is far more time consuming than most full time positions. They have little time to get out of theology in the class room and text book.
Theology is something that only truly forms by living and by interacting with the world. You see we can be a part of the world but not really engage it or live in it if we are too busy. This is the case with academia at many times.
Simply the theology has not entered the world in a real sense and the theology is poorer for it. Truly strong theology needs to have interacted with the issues of the day and seen the world.
We need to be different from the world of course, but if theology has never set foot into the world than it is very theoretical in nature. And theology is not as much of a theoretical discipline as it is thought. It is a discipline of living well in the world before God.
This is what is meant that as Christians we are to "be in the world but not of the world." You see if we isolate ourselves from the world we fail to follow the commands of Jesus. This is one flaw of many Christian groups who try to isolate themselves more and more from the world.
Often there are groups who err in the opposite way and move into the world and forget that they are to be separate. You see we are to be set apart as we are in the world.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Theology and Living
Theology is a discipline which is learned by living. On the surface it appears to be something from a book, an all important book, which must be intellectually understood and then practically applied.
Really though theology is learned by living. We often learn theology more through life than we would expect. You see the bible speaks of sin and our self and we encounter sin and our self in the world.
The bible is always speaking to us directly confronting us in every aspect of our life with our actions and comforting us in every aspect with the life and death of Christ which surpasses all knowledge.
You see theology is always practical. It does not appear so at many times and many preachers see the need to try to explain in the practicality.
I more enjoy just trusting in the practicality of God's word. Just read and learn and enjoy. Many texts do not have an easy practical application to know in the quiet of ones home or study.
You see it is when we enter the world suddenly we meet something and theology becomes practical. Often in a way we do not expect.
That is why I personally am unconcerned with the practicality of theology. It's use will become known in our lives as we live out our faith.
Often the practical application from the sermon will not be the practical application in my life. To be coy, a sermon is an exposition and proclamation of God's word not a foretelling of the future of course.
Really though theology is learned by living. We often learn theology more through life than we would expect. You see the bible speaks of sin and our self and we encounter sin and our self in the world.
The bible is always speaking to us directly confronting us in every aspect of our life with our actions and comforting us in every aspect with the life and death of Christ which surpasses all knowledge.
You see theology is always practical. It does not appear so at many times and many preachers see the need to try to explain in the practicality.
I more enjoy just trusting in the practicality of God's word. Just read and learn and enjoy. Many texts do not have an easy practical application to know in the quiet of ones home or study.
You see it is when we enter the world suddenly we meet something and theology becomes practical. Often in a way we do not expect.
That is why I personally am unconcerned with the practicality of theology. It's use will become known in our lives as we live out our faith.
Often the practical application from the sermon will not be the practical application in my life. To be coy, a sermon is an exposition and proclamation of God's word not a foretelling of the future of course.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thinking
Christianity is a religion which requires thinking. Wisdom is a call throughout the bible.
One of the great issues in the church today is a refusal to think. Religion is often a formula. Once the formula is created properly you simply live according to the formula.
The reality of life is that living as a faithful follower of Jesus in this world requires thought. The thought does not need to be highly original or apart from the writing and wise council of other thinking Christians.
But thought is required. We need to always realize that the answers are at times difficult and beware of easy solutions and quick fixes to the problems of the day.
One of the great issues in the church today is a refusal to think. Religion is often a formula. Once the formula is created properly you simply live according to the formula.
The reality of life is that living as a faithful follower of Jesus in this world requires thought. The thought does not need to be highly original or apart from the writing and wise council of other thinking Christians.
But thought is required. We need to always realize that the answers are at times difficult and beware of easy solutions and quick fixes to the problems of the day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)