One of the most popular criticisms against the Church today is that Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites.
So, how has the Church responded? By conceding. By saying, "Okay, you're right. We're not perfect. We're just sinners saved by grace."
But, I think we've missed the mark.
Those who criticize the Church today are right. We've got some major problems among us still.
But, the answer we've chosen has not gotten us to the root of the problem. In fact, I think it's moved us farther from the truth. In an effort to remain honest and humble, we've taken on a self-deprecating stance that admits we're just defeated and beaten down people who will get to go to heaven when we die not by our own works but by our faith in Christ's death and resurrection.
But, this doesn't seem like what the Scriptures say. Sure, the Scriptures say that we are saved by grace through faith so that no one can boast. But, they also say that we are more than conquerors. They also say that the old has gone and the new has come. They also say that we have been given the mind of Christ. They also say that we are saints. They also say that we will do even greater things than Jesus did.
But, the attitude I described above doesn't sound quite so victorious. No wonder people aren't interested in Christianity today!
I'll admit we have been hypocrites. We have still sinned even after being saved. But, the answer is not to just concede that we can't win the battle against Satan and the battle against sin. We can! And, we have!
So, why are we still sinning? Because the Father of Lies has convinced of another little fib. He knew when God raised Jesus to life that he had lost. But, he had to find a way to keep his power. So he said, "They aren't slaves to sin anymore. They are free and governed by a new spirit. But, if I can get them to believe that they aren't free and that they don't have power over sin, they'll stay just where they are." And, you know what? We've bought into his lie. We've said, "You're right. We are still sinners."
So, what do we do now? STOP BELIEVING HIM. NOW. We are victors! We should claim our identity as saints! We are not governed by sin any longer! Do you feel like you just can't stop that habitual sin? YOU CAN. Throw off the sin that so easily entangles. It is that simple. It is! Cast out Satan and his lies. He has no power over us. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. And, he will always give us a way out of temptation. We are not governed by our sinful nature or by Satan any longer. So, cast him out and be the holy saint that you are!
I think that this is the grace through faith that the Scriptures talk about. The faith that Jesus conquered sin and death and that we are not slaves anymore. Salvation is here. Today. We are eternal beings living in the victory that Christ bought. If you don't believe this, then the sanctifying work of salvation through FAITH is probably not working in you very well. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world any longer, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2). Renew your mind by believing the truth about your identity in Christ. It isn't by our works, so we can't boast. We can only boast in the cross of Christ. And that's humility. Confidence in Christ's work not our own. But, this does not mean that we should claim an identity as sinners. Scripture says we can boast! We can boast in Christ's work! We are saints! And, we must cling to the truth that Christ's death brings salvation and victory today!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Musings Beyond Marriage #2: Desiree
I have a friend. Her name is Desiree. She's 51. She lives in my neighborhood. But, as of April 30, she's homeless. I don't see her often--only when I drive past her on the road. She doesn't have a phone or a house, so planned meetings aren't really possible. She walks about 3-5 miles a day to get where she needs to go. She's half African American, half white. She has a daughter who's 19 and a grandson who's 3. She's been in prison before for drugs. She doesn't have a car. She doesn't have her license--it was taken away for driving without insurance. When she did have an apartment, she couldn't use electricity because she didn't have the money to pay the bill.
How did I meet Desiree? Obedience.
A few months ago I was driving home from church after we heard a sermon on evangelism. As I drove through my neighborhood, I started thinking of all the things I needed to do that day--what I was going to have for lunch, what homework needed to get done, when I was going to clean the kitchen--when I saw her. She had a purple jacket and a scarf wrapped around her head, and she was pushing a cart with a couple TVs and a baseball bat in it. I sensed the Holy Spirit urge me to stop and talk with her, but I was afraid. And, I didn't want to disrupt my plans for the day. So, I drove on. I got to the intersection of my street, and I knew I had to go back. So, I turned around, and she looked right at me. Our eyes locked, and I smiled. I put the car in park and rolled down my window, wondering if I'd just made a mistake, "Can I talk with you for a second?" "Yeah," she replied. So, I pulled over and got out. "How are you?" "You know, I'm makin' it." "Yeah? Well, I was just wondering if I could pray for you for anything?" "You can as a matter of fact."
She proceeded to tell me that she was being evicted from her apartment the next day because she couldn't pay the rent. She was in the process of moving all of her belongings by cart to her daughter's apartment a couple miles away. I prayed for her, and I spent the next hour helping her move her stuff in my car. She said over and over that day, "Are you an angel? You just appeared out of nowhere--poof! Are you sure you're not an angel?"
I'm not an angel, of course. But, what a blessing it was to be a vessel of God's blessing in Desiree's life that day. And, to think, I almost drove on. God knows what we need. He knows what's best. As I have learned to walk in obedience and submission to Don; I have learned a little more what it looks to walk in obedience and submission to God. Each day, he has good works planned out for us (Ephesians 2:10), but too often we're too busy to listen. When we feel that nudge, we don't need to fear--His ways are always higher than our ways. We are not just called to obedience when we understand the rationale behind the request. When Jesus called the disciples it says, "...at once, they left their nets and followed him." They had no idea what he was calling them to or even why he was calling. (If they did, they probably never would have followed.) But, they were obedient.
Sometimes we can fear that it is not the voice of God but our own voice calling us to action, but if the nudge we feel is in line with the Scriptures calling us "to act justly and to love mercy" (Micah 6:8), we can be confident in our obedience. And, the confidence grows each time we obey, and we see the fruit that God blesses us with. The goal of the Christian life is "to walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). We will probably start out in obedience in fits and spurts "soaring on wings like eagles" but crashing to the ground with fatigue from going it alone, running hard but growing weary, but He's promised that those who hope in the Lord will be strengthened to walk and not faint. Apart from Him we can do nothing, but He's promised to remain in those who remain in Him (John 15:5). And, He's promised that those who are faithful with little will be given much and will share in their Master's happiness (Matthew 25:21).
Her name is Desiree. That means "desire" in French. Psalm 34:1 says, "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I'm so thankful that God keeps his promises. As I learn to delight in Him, He continues to give me the "desires" of my heart. I love Desiree. She is my friend.
How did I meet Desiree? Obedience.
A few months ago I was driving home from church after we heard a sermon on evangelism. As I drove through my neighborhood, I started thinking of all the things I needed to do that day--what I was going to have for lunch, what homework needed to get done, when I was going to clean the kitchen--when I saw her. She had a purple jacket and a scarf wrapped around her head, and she was pushing a cart with a couple TVs and a baseball bat in it. I sensed the Holy Spirit urge me to stop and talk with her, but I was afraid. And, I didn't want to disrupt my plans for the day. So, I drove on. I got to the intersection of my street, and I knew I had to go back. So, I turned around, and she looked right at me. Our eyes locked, and I smiled. I put the car in park and rolled down my window, wondering if I'd just made a mistake, "Can I talk with you for a second?" "Yeah," she replied. So, I pulled over and got out. "How are you?" "You know, I'm makin' it." "Yeah? Well, I was just wondering if I could pray for you for anything?" "You can as a matter of fact."
She proceeded to tell me that she was being evicted from her apartment the next day because she couldn't pay the rent. She was in the process of moving all of her belongings by cart to her daughter's apartment a couple miles away. I prayed for her, and I spent the next hour helping her move her stuff in my car. She said over and over that day, "Are you an angel? You just appeared out of nowhere--poof! Are you sure you're not an angel?"
I'm not an angel, of course. But, what a blessing it was to be a vessel of God's blessing in Desiree's life that day. And, to think, I almost drove on. God knows what we need. He knows what's best. As I have learned to walk in obedience and submission to Don; I have learned a little more what it looks to walk in obedience and submission to God. Each day, he has good works planned out for us (Ephesians 2:10), but too often we're too busy to listen. When we feel that nudge, we don't need to fear--His ways are always higher than our ways. We are not just called to obedience when we understand the rationale behind the request. When Jesus called the disciples it says, "...at once, they left their nets and followed him." They had no idea what he was calling them to or even why he was calling. (If they did, they probably never would have followed.) But, they were obedient.
Sometimes we can fear that it is not the voice of God but our own voice calling us to action, but if the nudge we feel is in line with the Scriptures calling us "to act justly and to love mercy" (Micah 6:8), we can be confident in our obedience. And, the confidence grows each time we obey, and we see the fruit that God blesses us with. The goal of the Christian life is "to walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). We will probably start out in obedience in fits and spurts "soaring on wings like eagles" but crashing to the ground with fatigue from going it alone, running hard but growing weary, but He's promised that those who hope in the Lord will be strengthened to walk and not faint. Apart from Him we can do nothing, but He's promised to remain in those who remain in Him (John 15:5). And, He's promised that those who are faithful with little will be given much and will share in their Master's happiness (Matthew 25:21).
Her name is Desiree. That means "desire" in French. Psalm 34:1 says, "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I'm so thankful that God keeps his promises. As I learn to delight in Him, He continues to give me the "desires" of my heart. I love Desiree. She is my friend.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Musings Beyond Marriage #1: Professors
All of these revelations about submission and respect have had a huge impact on my life--even in spheres beyond the husband/wife relationship. 1 Peter 2 says that we should submit ourselves to EVERY human authority--every single one. That means parents, professors, teachers, pastors, husbands, the government.
Although every one of these authorities needs to be submitted to, the one that has impacted me most (beyond husbands) in my current stage of life has been professors. I get the feeling that we've lost respect for teachers in American society. A lot of parents side with their children in most matters these days. And, our individualist culture says that we shouldn't listen to what the teacher says unless we're convinced he or she knows more than we do. However, the Scriptures say nothing about respect being earned by those in authority. They simply command us to give respect. In other words, it seems that respect is not earned, it is simply given. It's not about what the authority does, it's about what the subordinate does.
Yikes! When God revealed these things to my heart, I was immediately convicted. My mind raced to a hundred different scenarios even in the last year when I've sat around with my peers looking over homework assignments frustrated at the "harsh" grading. We've commiserated, complaining that it was "so unfair" that the professors were being so "nit-picky" by taking off so many points for such a "tiny error". And, I thought of all of the times when I was overwhelmed with the activities and assignments that I chose not to do assigned readings for certain classes.
My heart had been filled with pride. I refused to submit myself to the authority that God had placed over me. My professors have their PhDs. They have spent 30 years working in Bible translation. They've translated New Testaments and written dozens of academic papers. They know what I need to know, but even if they didn't, I am called to be obedient. And I'm called to be obedient without complaining or arguing.
So, I'm learning. I'm learning that I must "show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, and honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:17) "For it is God's will that by doing good, [we] should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people." (1 Peter 2:15) May we be empowered to go and do likewise.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Musings on Marriage
Of all the books I've read over the last few months, the one that impacted me the most by far was The Excellent Wife. Martha Peace takes a much more "conservative" stance on the role of women today than I was used to. But, something about her spirit and her heart in the style of relating she described was so beautiful, so humble, so strong, and so feminine.
She believes that it is the wife's chief responsibility to make her husband's life easier. Wives should wake up every morning and ask their husbands, "What can I do to help you accomplish your goals today?" And, a wife is to be obedient to her husband in all things unless he is asking her to sin.
Now, I know what you're probably thinking, "Whoa! Are we rewinding the tapes of time to set ourselves back in the 1950s with June Cleaver?! What about women's lib? We have been freed from that kind of tyranny!" As I've discussed these ideas with people, I've come to see that they really aren't accepted in today's culture. But, as I've discussed these ideas with God and his Word, something about them is so appealing.
I should interject here that never in a million years (prior to now) would I have EVER said that this submission sounded appealing. In fact when Don asked my dad for my hand in marriage my dad told him, "She's a very independent little girl who needs a lot of attention." And, it was true! I wanted to be the center of everyone's world, and I wanted to conquer the world--BY MYSELF! But, somehow I'm realizing just how selfish, insecure, weak, and un-Christlike my attitude was.
I think that Jesus gave us human relationships to give us glimpses into his character and into how we relate to him and his kingdom. And, the relationship between a husband and wife is one of the clearest pictures that we have of the relationship between Christ and the Church. The Church seeks to have Christ's mission as its mission. The Church should wake up every morning and ask the Lord, "What can I do to help you accomplish your goals today?" Should we not do the same as wives to our husbands?
1 Peter 2 and 3 talks about submitting to every human authority even those who are harsh because that's the example that Christ set for us even as he was being crucified. And Philippians 2 says that though Christ was equal to God he didn't not consider equality with God something to be held onto, but he submitted himself unto death. Jesus was God. He knew what God knew and did what God did, but when he came to earth he gave that up. Jesus says throughout the Gospels that he only knows what his Father tells him and he only does what his Father tells him to do. Should we as wives not follow his example? Though we are equal to our husbands, we choose joyfully to submit to their authority "out of reverence for Christ" as it says in Ephesians.
I grew up hearing that men were supposed to lead, but I didn't grow up hearing that women were supposed to submit. But, these two things are not mutually exclusive. No authority can lead if his followers aren't willing to submit. His requests will never be carried out. And, anytime that he makes a mistake, he will be chastised by the people who were supposed to be in his corner, on his side, cheering him on. This disrespect breeds paralysis for the leader. Today's American culture is filled with books on leadership and seminars and conferences on how to be the best leader out there. But, what about followers? We NEED followers--faithful followers. Proverbs talks many times about how faithful servants are the delight of kings. Our leaders and our husbands will be left crippled if we don't learn how to faithfully follow.
So, what's the number one reason we don't follow? FEAR. We do not trust that God knows what is best for us. We do not trust that our husbands know what is best for us. We think that we must protect ourselves because no one else will. But, even in biblical times, God knew this would be the case. 1 Peter 3:6 says that we will be like Sarah (Abraham's wife) if we submit ourselves to our husbands and "do not give way to fear." It's a scary thing, no doubt. But, God has given us many protections as his daughters. We have the right and the responsibility to *biblically* (following Matthew 18) reprove our husbands when we feel they are not acting in line with the Scriptures. And, we are certainly free to express our opinion if it differs from our husbands, but we should express it one time so as not to become the dreaded nagging wife of Proverbs. And, as long as he's not asking us to sin, we should follow him in obedience even if he chooses something different than we would have.
God knew that when any two people would come together there would be a power struggle. In fact, he promised it to Adam and Eve when they sinned in the garden. He told Eve that "her desire would be for her husband, but he would rule over her." There's debate on what that means, but I definitely see in my flesh a desire to be in charge, but I see in my spirit a desire to follow my husband. God knew this struggle would be there, so he laid out in Scripture who submits: children obey your parents, slaves obey your masters, lay people obey the government, wives obey your husbands. There is such freedom in this! It doesn't mean we aren't equal. It means that Scripture has told us which one of us decides to submit. It gives us this incredible freedom from a million little arguments that we would have had because no one had the ultimate say. So many of those trivial matters are solved before they even arise. And now, we are free to truly live as Philippians 2 says, "without complaining and arguing," and we will "shine like stars in the universe."
I think for me, the most beautiful and most surprising part of all of this was beauty of the spirit of a woman. The way she approaches her husband is so powerful. It's so gentle but it's filled with bridled strength. Often times we think of the women who fight for their rights and refuse to submit to anyone as the strong ones, but I'm beginning to see that submission requires great strength. It's a death to yourself for the sake of someone else. It is losing your life so that you will find it. Submission brings great freedom and great joy. It's not losing the battle--it's winning the war. Satan is vanquished over and over when we submit to our husbands. May we be given the strength and grace to be obedient. And, in our obedience may our beauty come not from outward adornment but from that of our inner selves, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight (1 Peter 2:3-4).
She believes that it is the wife's chief responsibility to make her husband's life easier. Wives should wake up every morning and ask their husbands, "What can I do to help you accomplish your goals today?" And, a wife is to be obedient to her husband in all things unless he is asking her to sin.
Now, I know what you're probably thinking, "Whoa! Are we rewinding the tapes of time to set ourselves back in the 1950s with June Cleaver?! What about women's lib? We have been freed from that kind of tyranny!" As I've discussed these ideas with people, I've come to see that they really aren't accepted in today's culture. But, as I've discussed these ideas with God and his Word, something about them is so appealing.
I should interject here that never in a million years (prior to now) would I have EVER said that this submission sounded appealing. In fact when Don asked my dad for my hand in marriage my dad told him, "She's a very independent little girl who needs a lot of attention." And, it was true! I wanted to be the center of everyone's world, and I wanted to conquer the world--BY MYSELF! But, somehow I'm realizing just how selfish, insecure, weak, and un-Christlike my attitude was.
I think that Jesus gave us human relationships to give us glimpses into his character and into how we relate to him and his kingdom. And, the relationship between a husband and wife is one of the clearest pictures that we have of the relationship between Christ and the Church. The Church seeks to have Christ's mission as its mission. The Church should wake up every morning and ask the Lord, "What can I do to help you accomplish your goals today?" Should we not do the same as wives to our husbands?
1 Peter 2 and 3 talks about submitting to every human authority even those who are harsh because that's the example that Christ set for us even as he was being crucified. And Philippians 2 says that though Christ was equal to God he didn't not consider equality with God something to be held onto, but he submitted himself unto death. Jesus was God. He knew what God knew and did what God did, but when he came to earth he gave that up. Jesus says throughout the Gospels that he only knows what his Father tells him and he only does what his Father tells him to do. Should we as wives not follow his example? Though we are equal to our husbands, we choose joyfully to submit to their authority "out of reverence for Christ" as it says in Ephesians.
I grew up hearing that men were supposed to lead, but I didn't grow up hearing that women were supposed to submit. But, these two things are not mutually exclusive. No authority can lead if his followers aren't willing to submit. His requests will never be carried out. And, anytime that he makes a mistake, he will be chastised by the people who were supposed to be in his corner, on his side, cheering him on. This disrespect breeds paralysis for the leader. Today's American culture is filled with books on leadership and seminars and conferences on how to be the best leader out there. But, what about followers? We NEED followers--faithful followers. Proverbs talks many times about how faithful servants are the delight of kings. Our leaders and our husbands will be left crippled if we don't learn how to faithfully follow.
So, what's the number one reason we don't follow? FEAR. We do not trust that God knows what is best for us. We do not trust that our husbands know what is best for us. We think that we must protect ourselves because no one else will. But, even in biblical times, God knew this would be the case. 1 Peter 3:6 says that we will be like Sarah (Abraham's wife) if we submit ourselves to our husbands and "do not give way to fear." It's a scary thing, no doubt. But, God has given us many protections as his daughters. We have the right and the responsibility to *biblically* (following Matthew 18) reprove our husbands when we feel they are not acting in line with the Scriptures. And, we are certainly free to express our opinion if it differs from our husbands, but we should express it one time so as not to become the dreaded nagging wife of Proverbs. And, as long as he's not asking us to sin, we should follow him in obedience even if he chooses something different than we would have.
God knew that when any two people would come together there would be a power struggle. In fact, he promised it to Adam and Eve when they sinned in the garden. He told Eve that "her desire would be for her husband, but he would rule over her." There's debate on what that means, but I definitely see in my flesh a desire to be in charge, but I see in my spirit a desire to follow my husband. God knew this struggle would be there, so he laid out in Scripture who submits: children obey your parents, slaves obey your masters, lay people obey the government, wives obey your husbands. There is such freedom in this! It doesn't mean we aren't equal. It means that Scripture has told us which one of us decides to submit. It gives us this incredible freedom from a million little arguments that we would have had because no one had the ultimate say. So many of those trivial matters are solved before they even arise. And now, we are free to truly live as Philippians 2 says, "without complaining and arguing," and we will "shine like stars in the universe."
I think for me, the most beautiful and most surprising part of all of this was beauty of the spirit of a woman. The way she approaches her husband is so powerful. It's so gentle but it's filled with bridled strength. Often times we think of the women who fight for their rights and refuse to submit to anyone as the strong ones, but I'm beginning to see that submission requires great strength. It's a death to yourself for the sake of someone else. It is losing your life so that you will find it. Submission brings great freedom and great joy. It's not losing the battle--it's winning the war. Satan is vanquished over and over when we submit to our husbands. May we be given the strength and grace to be obedient. And, in our obedience may our beauty come not from outward adornment but from that of our inner selves, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight (1 Peter 2:3-4).
Friday, May 4, 2012
An Update
A 3-month blog hiatus. Not bad--considering I've gone on whole year hiatuses before. :)
Spring term started on February 9, and my last post was on February 11. That should tell you something: graduate school is all-consuming--especially when our classes are only 8 weeks long. That's some expedient paper writing, project completing, and test studying right there. From February to March, I took Discourse Analysis and Semantics and Pragmatics. And I am currently taking Cross-Cultural Teaching Seminar, Advanced Grammatical Analysis, and Theory and Practice of Translation. Whew! All good things though and extremely relevant to Bible translation.
In all that spare time I've had, though, God's been teaching me some pretty incredible life lessons as well. As most of you know, I'm getting married on December 29, 2012! Woohoo! But, since Don is currently in Papua New Guinea doing linguistic research until July, I've had to go about preparing for marriage in ways other than just talking to him. A few months ago, I did some searching online for some marriage books, and after reading some reviews, I picked up a copy of For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn, Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge, and The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. And, I picked up a copy of that little book full of wisdom I like to call Proverbs.
I'd like to take a blog or two to record some of the little tidbits God's revealed to me over these last few months. That way, when the going gets tough in marriage, the tough will just get going back to her blog and remind herself of how she's supposed to be acting. ;) Enjoy!
Spring term started on February 9, and my last post was on February 11. That should tell you something: graduate school is all-consuming--especially when our classes are only 8 weeks long. That's some expedient paper writing, project completing, and test studying right there. From February to March, I took Discourse Analysis and Semantics and Pragmatics. And I am currently taking Cross-Cultural Teaching Seminar, Advanced Grammatical Analysis, and Theory and Practice of Translation. Whew! All good things though and extremely relevant to Bible translation.
In all that spare time I've had, though, God's been teaching me some pretty incredible life lessons as well. As most of you know, I'm getting married on December 29, 2012! Woohoo! But, since Don is currently in Papua New Guinea doing linguistic research until July, I've had to go about preparing for marriage in ways other than just talking to him. A few months ago, I did some searching online for some marriage books, and after reading some reviews, I picked up a copy of For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn, Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge, and The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. And, I picked up a copy of that little book full of wisdom I like to call Proverbs.
I'd like to take a blog or two to record some of the little tidbits God's revealed to me over these last few months. That way, when the going gets tough in marriage, the tough will just get going back to her blog and remind herself of how she's supposed to be acting. ;) Enjoy!
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