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Friday, January 30, 2009

Calvinism? Shhhhh

When I first became a Christian, I wanted to share Christ. Several years later when I was involved in a particular church ministry, I wanted to share the Five Points of Calvinism (Don’t know what this is? Ask me off-line). It seemed to answer so many questions of Scripture and of my own life. It made sense, it was helpful in many ways…and it filled me with pride.

“This group is not theologically correct,” “That book is ok, but it’s not that sharp because the author doesn’t hold to this system of belief.” Slowly I’ve recognized my pride, as well as the fact that the Five Points is not the only grid through which to interpret Scripture. And as a result the pendulum has swung again. I rarely explicitly teach the so-called Five Points. Only when someone brings it up will I respond, and even then I will often state the dangers of latching onto and espousing a system rather than a Savior.

But at times I believe I’m holding on for another ride. As I see how people relate to one another, respond to one another’s sin, express some form of judgment or receive criticism, I’m reminded of the immense foundational value of the first point: Total Depravity. David writes in Ps 40:12: “For troubles without number surround me…” What kind of troubles? His own sin. Wow. David continues: “…my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.” How often our sin obscures our sight and our judgment (usually not of others, but ironically of our own sinful condition). “They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.”

When was the last time I was so aware of my own sin that I could say, “My heart fails within me!” If I was more aware of my sin, what affect would it have on the way I confront others? How I accept correction? How I respond to hardship? How I serve my wife? To what extent I look for good in others in order to praise them? How thankful I am for Christ? How urgently I see the need to share this with others?

God, troubles without number surround me. My trouble, in fact, is me. Help me to see it, and help me to see my Savior’s solution.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009


This morning I overheard one of my kids speak to another with shocking indignation and self-righteousness.  It was something like the next-door neighbors on Christmas Vacation, if you can think back to last month.  As I talked to him about it, attempting to deal with his heart, I realized that I am no different.  I’m only better at masking it and putting it in such a way that doesn’t so clearly implicate myself.

In one of Jesus’ parables, a servant has been forgiven a huge sum of money, then he goes out and demands a small amount owed to him by another servant.  It is striking that these are fellow servants, who are arguing strongly over a piddly matter when something huge and wonderful has just taken place. 

The same is true in our relationship with God.  When we forget the Gospel, we become blind to the debt we owed and the forgiveness we have received; and looking around horizontally we turn and compare ourselves (favorably) to others. 

God, help me to wake up every day thinking of you. Help me to go throughout the day deeply aware of the debt I owed you that I could not pay.  And help me to lay down at night amazed at the eternal hope that is mine through the work of Christ.  

Monday, January 12, 2009

Jesus' Best Friend

We can’t know for sure, but I think Jesus and John the Baptist were really good friends. After all, they were cousins, and John was excited about Jesus even before he was born (Lk 1:41). If they and their moms were that excited about what was going on, can we imagine they wouldn’t take every opportunity to hang out growing up? Wow, to be Jesus’ boyhood playmate.

As an adult, John the Baptist is murdered for speaking out against an ungodly relationship (Mt 14:4). This is fascinating in and of itself. There is such a movement in the church to listen to unbelievers (and we should), and respect unbelievers (and we should), that we forget we are also stewards of truth and bearers of an unalterable standard that is good for the world to hear as an essential part of the gospel.

Upon John’s murder his disciples go and tell Jesus; Jesus hears this and immediately withdrawals to an isolated place. No one has known the mind of God, but Jesus was somehow both already aware of this murder (as fully God), and at the same time shocked and heartbroken (as fully man). Like the rest of us, he too needed to get away, he needed to grieve, he needed to recharge, he needed to be with his Father. He was spent.

But the crowds followed him, and upon seeing them he had compassion on them, healing their sick, feeding them, and providing for their needs.

I confess, too often as a pastor you work hard, pour yourself out, come home late; you are ready to crash and receive love, and the phone rings. Or the doorbell. But God will always give strength to do what he calls you to do. He always equips for the tasks he has ahead. In fact, in some sense I believe the pastor (and any friend for that matter) should be recharged through listening, loving, counseling, praying for someone in need—God, make it so for me!

Jesus' Best Friend

We can’t know for sure, but I think Jesus and John the Baptist were really good friends. After all, they were cousins, and John was excited about Jesus even before he was born (Lk 1:41). If they and their moms were that excited about what was going on, can we imagine they wouldn’t take every opportunity to hang out growing up? Wow, to be Jesus’ boyhood playmate.

As an adult, John the Baptist is murdered for speaking out against an ungodly relationship (Mt 14:4). This is fascinating in and of itself. There is such a movement in the church to listen to unbelievers (and we should), and respect unbelievers (and we should), that we forget we are also stewards of truth and bearers of an unalterable standard that is good for the world to hear as an essential part of the gospel.

Upon John’s murder his disciples go and tell Jesus; Jesus hears this and immediately withdrawals to an isolated place. No one has known the mind of God, but Jesus was somehow both already aware of this murder (as fully God), and at the same time shocked and heartbroken (as fully man). Like the rest of us, he too needed to get away, he needed to grieve, he needed to recharge, he needed to be with his Father. He was spent.

But the crowds followed him, and upon seeing them he had compassion on them, healing their sick, feeding them, and providing for their needs.

I confess, too often as a pastor you work hard, pour yourself out, come home late; you are ready to crash and receive love, and the phone rings. Or the doorbell. But God will always give strength to do what he calls you to do. He always equips for the tasks he has ahead. In fact, in some sense I believe the pastor (and any friend for that matter) should be recharged through listening, loving, counseling, praying for someone in need—God, make it so for me!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

What Kind of God Would God Be?

My daughter Bailey asked me yesterday, "Why did God make Adam eat the fruit in the garden?" Unfortunately, the technical answer that God is not the author of sin did not satisfy her. How interesting that a six year old can ask one of the most profound questions known to man—question of the existence of evil. There have been many helpful answers over the centuries, the most recent being Keller’s Reason for God.

I came across one answer (not original) in the Psalms today: “For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.” God is beautiful, glorious, and powerful; but there is a sense that he is more beautiful, glorious and powerful because he rescues, because he forgives sins, because he saves.

It would be a valuable exercise to contemplate how the Bible would be different without the praise of God for his salvation—there would be no Song of Moses, no Magnificat, no Song of the Lamb in Revelation. Most of the Psalms would disappear, much of Romans, and of course the entirety of the Gospels.

No, I’d rather not go through that exercise at all, and just turn back to praising God for separating my sin as far as the east is from the west.

Friday, January 2, 2009

My Time Machine

I’m reminded everywhere of the brevity of life. Scripture says that, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.” My kids are growing up before my eyes; everyone says, “Enjoy these years, because they will be gone soon.” I know they are right, but I can't slow them down.

And what's sad is that often I want to speed them up. The chaos is difficult—the diapers, the dirty faces, the high maintenance. (Of course, the physical demands will only transition to emotional demands in later years, but I can’t fully appreciate that yet.)

Even though it is a difficult period, I’m sad to see my kids transition from infant to toddler, from boy to young man. But I have a new trick that helps me to drink in these days as if from a fire hydrant. This may sound strange to most, but perhaps young parents can identify and appreciate this thought.

What I do is I imagine that I’m 50 or 60 years old, and that Bailey (for example) is a beautiful young woman who is married and has moved away. This isn’t hard to do, since life is flying by and will be here before I know it. In my imagination, how much money would I give to go back in time once more and carry that cute little 6-year old around on my back again? How much would I give to pick up that 40 pounder, and tickle her, and wrestle with her, and cuddle on the couch? I imagine how quiet the house is, how mature she looks as an adult; I imagine how the days are gone that we played tag, and soccer and rode bikes (remember Father of the Bride?).
Then the magic comes when I snap out of the future, and there she is! Ready for that, and much more.

When I remember it is not my job to hold on to her, but to prepare her for adulthood; when I realize how short these years are and how they are flying by—then these moments, yes full of physical fatigue, a messy house and a weed infested yard, these moments are as magical as traveling back in time.