Recently I have come under immense conviction and believe that God is revealing to me an idol in my life. I also believe that this idol is pervasive within the American Christian culture. As I was listening to one of my pastor’s speak yesterday, he made the point that the American identity is completely built around consumerism. When asked the question, “What does America stand for” some might answer Freedom, and although, I believe this was once true, America’s identity has ceased to be found in freedom, and is now being found in what we do with that freedom, namely the pursuit of stuff. When we think of America, it's identity doesn’t make it much past Wal-mart and Wall Street. To a large degree, America (including myself) is squandering its freedom by worshipping the god beneath our noses. We declare with our lives that we value comfort and convenience over Christ.
I am confessing this as sin, and at the same time asking the question, “what does repentance look like?” My wife and I have a substantial amount of debt that has accrued because underneath it all we thought we deserved to have a “comfortable” life, and ultimately we believed (wrongly so) God would make provision for our entitlement. We said “God will provide” while going in debt for things we “needed”. This revealed that we were not trusting in God, rather we were attempting to manipulate God to give us what we wanted when we wanted it, because we thought we defined what our needs were, not him.
Upon reflection, I have found that this belief is so deeply rooted in my heart, as to go the very core of my identity. For example, I have believed that I am trapped to continue in this pursuit of more… in order for me to be a good provider, and because in order to be a good provider my wife and children must have ……"nice things”, “good education”, “opportunity”. I had not noticed the self perpetuating cycle that I was leading my family towards. I am now evaluating my life and pondering what my response to God revealing my sin should be. I am pondering second jobs, turning off everything unnecessary to our survival, and even selling our house as my notion of what my living conditions “should be” are overturned. This is not an easy pill to swallow, however I see how this idolatry hinders my obedience to God and ultimately my usefulness for the Gospel. I believe that God wants all of us to ask the question, am I valuing Christ over comfort and convenience in my every decision?
Matthew 6:21
21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Social Media and the Gospel: What is our response?
Matthew 5:14
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
I saw this video, and immediately my thoughts went to the Gospel and social media as a medium. I was captivated by the video and wondered how effective social media is as a method by which the gospel can reach the lost? Will the Gospel be marginalized as an irrelevant advertisement? How can a believer take full advantage of such a medium? In a world of internet tough guys and anonymity, what does it mean to be salt and light?
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
I saw this video, and immediately my thoughts went to the Gospel and social media as a medium. I was captivated by the video and wondered how effective social media is as a method by which the gospel can reach the lost? Will the Gospel be marginalized as an irrelevant advertisement? How can a believer take full advantage of such a medium? In a world of internet tough guys and anonymity, what does it mean to be salt and light?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Be Tough
Hebrews 12:4
4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
I am reminded by this verse of how wimpy I can sometimes be in my attitude towards life and the ensuing hardship that follows. I struggle and I know most all of us struggle with some sense of entitlement that says, "I should not have to suffer". At the very least we feel like we are the ones who decide when enough is enough.
However, this is where faith and our view of God enters the picture. If we view our hardships in life as only being from the evil one, and assume that God has nothing to do with our difficulties, then we miss an opportunity. It is the opportunity to trust that God knows our limits, and that he is shaping us into the image of his son. If we divorce God from our difficulties then we setup unrealistic expectations for ourselves. It is an expectation that thinks and feels like we should be delivered by God from every trial. These unmet expectations of God lead to disappointment, discouragement, and even being disillusioned with God.
When we trust that our God purposes our hardships and that he loves us, we can rest in the knowledge that he knows our limitations,and as James says we can "consider it pure joy whenever we face trials"(James 1). God displays his love for his children by disciplining them, that is why we consider it pure joy, because ultimately it shows us God's love. So my challenge for all of us is to toughen up a bit, and receive and dare I say welcome hardship, for it is God showing you love.
~Dave
4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
I am reminded by this verse of how wimpy I can sometimes be in my attitude towards life and the ensuing hardship that follows. I struggle and I know most all of us struggle with some sense of entitlement that says, "I should not have to suffer". At the very least we feel like we are the ones who decide when enough is enough.
However, this is where faith and our view of God enters the picture. If we view our hardships in life as only being from the evil one, and assume that God has nothing to do with our difficulties, then we miss an opportunity. It is the opportunity to trust that God knows our limits, and that he is shaping us into the image of his son. If we divorce God from our difficulties then we setup unrealistic expectations for ourselves. It is an expectation that thinks and feels like we should be delivered by God from every trial. These unmet expectations of God lead to disappointment, discouragement, and even being disillusioned with God.
When we trust that our God purposes our hardships and that he loves us, we can rest in the knowledge that he knows our limitations,and as James says we can "consider it pure joy whenever we face trials"(James 1). God displays his love for his children by disciplining them, that is why we consider it pure joy, because ultimately it shows us God's love. So my challenge for all of us is to toughen up a bit, and receive and dare I say welcome hardship, for it is God showing you love.
~Dave
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Patriotism and the Gospel - Russell D. Moore
Moore to the Point by Russell D. Moore
I think this is an extremely needed message. I know among my friends there is a tendency to fall at either one of the two poles that Dr. Moore mentions. To be honest I have always needed clarity regarding my understanding of patriotism, particularly with respect to military service. Although he does not specifically address military service, it is something I have wrestled with most of my adult life. I am the only one of my siblings who is not a member of the Armed Services. I am grateful that he pointed out the idolatry that is lurking in nationalism as well as the Idolatry and (in my view) narcissism that can occur in the overreaction to Patriotism. Really I guess I should say that there is often a convolution of Patriotism and Nationalism. Which Dr. Moore aptly unfolds. Please listen.
I think this is an extremely needed message. I know among my friends there is a tendency to fall at either one of the two poles that Dr. Moore mentions. To be honest I have always needed clarity regarding my understanding of patriotism, particularly with respect to military service. Although he does not specifically address military service, it is something I have wrestled with most of my adult life. I am the only one of my siblings who is not a member of the Armed Services. I am grateful that he pointed out the idolatry that is lurking in nationalism as well as the Idolatry and (in my view) narcissism that can occur in the overreaction to Patriotism. Really I guess I should say that there is often a convolution of Patriotism and Nationalism. Which Dr. Moore aptly unfolds. Please listen.
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Spirit Transforms | TheResurgence
The Spirit Transforms | TheResurgence
I have found that this is one of the most difficult concepts to teach and get to penetrate our current Christian culture. That is to say the understanding of our ongoing need for grace, repentance, illumination, faith. I often feel like this concept is lost on the less mature. There is such an adherence to the faulty notion that Grace and the works of the spirit are only applied once at the moment of regeneration and the rest is lived in one's on strength.
I have found that this is one of the most difficult concepts to teach and get to penetrate our current Christian culture. That is to say the understanding of our ongoing need for grace, repentance, illumination, faith. I often feel like this concept is lost on the less mature. There is such an adherence to the faulty notion that Grace and the works of the spirit are only applied once at the moment of regeneration and the rest is lived in one's on strength.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)