Every now and then I think of something to blog about. If I can remember it long enough to write it down, I put it in my DayTimer and try to get to it later.
But I really want this blog to be a means of extending my role as pastor and my conversation with people about life and ministry. Most of the time I get very few comments - which leads me to think that 1) very few people read the blog and 2) most people don't have any opinion about what I've written.
But it occurs to me today that maybe you (few) who are reading might have ideas about things you would like me to write about. Maybe you have questions. Maybe things you do have opinions about.
If you do, please send them to me and I'll see what I can do with them. Either put them in comments on this blog, or send me an e-mail at pastor@pastordenny.net.
Thanks
Monday, April 7, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Grace And Truth
(John 1:14, 16, 17) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.I have been meditating on the pairing of grace and truth in Christ.
Grace is not just another truth. It is not just a fact about the salvation God provided through Christ. Grace is the kindness. Grace is the unmerited love. Grace is the sweetness of the way God deals with sinners. Grace is Jesus looking at the rich young ruler and loving him even though He knew the man would walk away in the end. (Mark 10:21)
It is my opinion that we suffer from graceless truth.
If you shout the truth at the top of your voice and harangue people with the truth, but do not have grace, your truth is indistinguishable from error.
If Jesus is "full of grace and truth," can you preach Jesus in truth gracelessly? Would you not be preaching a false Jesus? When truth is presented gracelessly - is it still truth?
In our society, the art form of obnoxious opinion is a garish parody of the preaching of truth. Let us show the world the difference by being full of both grace and truth.
(Ephesians 4:15) but, speaking the truth in love, (we) may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
We Are Terminal
"A guy who was terminal..." This quote was in something written by a cancer survivor and it kind of took me by surprise.
I am sure there are proper definitions for who should have the "terminal" designation. The doctors have said that there is no hope of arresting the disease. It will advance and end the person's life. Maybe the predicted life expectancy has to be under a certain limit. I don't know.
Moses said, "The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalms 90:10)
Something bothers me about "A guy who was terminal..." I am not wild about believing something just because a doctor said it. Doctors are making an educated guess about the situation - and they may be right or wrong. They may be close or way off. It seems kind of premature to call yourself terminal just because a doctor says you probably won't live very long.
But my real issue is that everybody is terminal. A doctor might predict that you will die of your disease soon, but he doesn't really know. The more telling issue is that he cannot say with any assurance that you will live long enough to die of your disease. Death is just a heartbeat away. Every breath might be your last.
Death is a universal reality. Sometimes we live longer lives. Sometimes shorter. No doctor can keep you alive forever. He might help you dodge a bullet only to have you hit by a bus. (Writing this gives me chest pain. I am a hypochondriac.)
People live in denial. "That guy is terminal, but I am not."
Oh, yeah? How long are you going to live? Another year? Ten more? Twenty? Thirty? How do you know? Will you still be alive 100 years from now?
If not, you had better face the fact that you are also "Terminal." You are on your way out. You better make sure you know what to expect on the other side of death, because it is coming for you - probably sooner than you expect.
I am sure there are proper definitions for who should have the "terminal" designation. The doctors have said that there is no hope of arresting the disease. It will advance and end the person's life. Maybe the predicted life expectancy has to be under a certain limit. I don't know.
Moses said, "The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalms 90:10)
Something bothers me about "A guy who was terminal..." I am not wild about believing something just because a doctor said it. Doctors are making an educated guess about the situation - and they may be right or wrong. They may be close or way off. It seems kind of premature to call yourself terminal just because a doctor says you probably won't live very long.
But my real issue is that everybody is terminal. A doctor might predict that you will die of your disease soon, but he doesn't really know. The more telling issue is that he cannot say with any assurance that you will live long enough to die of your disease. Death is just a heartbeat away. Every breath might be your last.
Death is a universal reality. Sometimes we live longer lives. Sometimes shorter. No doctor can keep you alive forever. He might help you dodge a bullet only to have you hit by a bus. (Writing this gives me chest pain. I am a hypochondriac.)
People live in denial. "That guy is terminal, but I am not."
Oh, yeah? How long are you going to live? Another year? Ten more? Twenty? Thirty? How do you know? Will you still be alive 100 years from now?
If not, you had better face the fact that you are also "Terminal." You are on your way out. You better make sure you know what to expect on the other side of death, because it is coming for you - probably sooner than you expect.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”(John 11:25-26)
The Martyr's Ethic
In modern use of the word "martyr" brings to mind a wild eyed fanatic -- the suicide bomber exploding himself in a crowd of innocent shoppers.
The Christian martyr is an entirely different thing. He is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, but has no idea of doing any harm to his neighbors.
The modern martyr kills himself in the pursuit of his own pleasure, profit or purpose. The suicide bomber thinks he will ensure his place in paradise and various rewards. The suicide shooter at the mall thinks he will be famous and will no longer need to face the difficulties of his life.
The Christian martyr wants nothing more than to live for the glory of God by displaying the fruit of the Spirit of God -- "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) He is already assured of his place in heaven and knows he will arrive there when God wills it to be so.
The modern martyr wants to take other people with him. He will do as much damage as he possibly can - not in battle against armed assailants, but in a massacre of innocents. The more bloodshed and destruction, the better.
The Christian martyr wants to take other people with him too - but not in a violent attack. Rather, the Christian martyr wants other people to join him in being followers of Jesus Christ. He pursues this through a life of faith and godliness - loving God and loving his neighbors.
The modern martyr chooses the time for his death by his own actions. When he triggers the detonator - it is time. When he carries weapons into a school - it is time.
The Christian martyr is willing to die if the only other option is to betray the Lord Jesus. But his death will not be at his own hands. Those whose spiritual ancestors killed Jesus Himself are the killers of the Christian martyrs too.
The Christian martyr is willing to live and not afraid to die. While he lives, he devotes himself to living in obedience to the word of God which says, "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love your enemies" and "bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse." (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 12:14)
The Christian martyr lives by God's word and for God's glory.
The Christian martyr is an entirely different thing. He is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, but has no idea of doing any harm to his neighbors.
The modern martyr kills himself in the pursuit of his own pleasure, profit or purpose. The suicide bomber thinks he will ensure his place in paradise and various rewards. The suicide shooter at the mall thinks he will be famous and will no longer need to face the difficulties of his life.
The Christian martyr wants nothing more than to live for the glory of God by displaying the fruit of the Spirit of God -- "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) He is already assured of his place in heaven and knows he will arrive there when God wills it to be so.
The modern martyr wants to take other people with him. He will do as much damage as he possibly can - not in battle against armed assailants, but in a massacre of innocents. The more bloodshed and destruction, the better.
The Christian martyr wants to take other people with him too - but not in a violent attack. Rather, the Christian martyr wants other people to join him in being followers of Jesus Christ. He pursues this through a life of faith and godliness - loving God and loving his neighbors.
The modern martyr chooses the time for his death by his own actions. When he triggers the detonator - it is time. When he carries weapons into a school - it is time.
The Christian martyr is willing to die if the only other option is to betray the Lord Jesus. But his death will not be at his own hands. Those whose spiritual ancestors killed Jesus Himself are the killers of the Christian martyrs too.
The Christian martyr is willing to live and not afraid to die. While he lives, he devotes himself to living in obedience to the word of God which says, "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love your enemies" and "bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse." (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 12:14)
The Christian martyr lives by God's word and for God's glory.
(Romans 12:19-21) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Monday, March 24, 2008
On Heresy
Followers of Jesus Christ are supposed to be united in the the truth of orthodox doctrine.
Heresies are the teachings that cause people to be tossed about.
Some heresies are teachings that are in direct conflict with the central teachings of Christianity. They attack doctrines like the inspiration and authority of scripture, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the nature of God, the basis of salvation, and so on.
Other heresies are divisions and dissensions over things that are not in the Bible at all.
Paul warned Timothy to study hard so that he would avoid stupid arguments over inane things. "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness." (2Timothy 2:14-16)
In case he didn't get the point, Paul restates it. "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient," (2Timothy 2:23-24)
Still later Paul charges Timothy to preach the inspired, profitable Word of God. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2Timothy 4:3-4)
When he wrote to Titus he said the same basic thing. "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." (Titus 3:9-11) The word translated, "divisive" here is "heretic."
Such heresies include legalistic rules about clothing, foods, and music. There are biblical principles that need to be applied, but an individual's good faith decision about application does not have the same force as scripture. The rules for such decisions are found in Romans 14.
In recent years the heresy of King James Onlyism has been blowing at gale force. The KJV has a long and distinguished history, but the whole spectrum of arguments that the KJV is the ONLY true Bible in the English language are at best "foolish disputes." At their worst they are a terrible betrayal of orthodox theology about the inspiration and authority of the Bible.
Heresies like these distract people from the clear teachings of the Bible about things of eternal importance. We should avoid such things and expose them whenever possible.
(Ephesians 4:1-6) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,If believers are united in this way, they can grow mature so they will not be "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." (Ephesians 4:14)
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Heresies are the teachings that cause people to be tossed about.
Some heresies are teachings that are in direct conflict with the central teachings of Christianity. They attack doctrines like the inspiration and authority of scripture, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the nature of God, the basis of salvation, and so on.
Other heresies are divisions and dissensions over things that are not in the Bible at all.
Paul warned Timothy to study hard so that he would avoid stupid arguments over inane things. "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness." (2Timothy 2:14-16)
In case he didn't get the point, Paul restates it. "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient," (2Timothy 2:23-24)
Still later Paul charges Timothy to preach the inspired, profitable Word of God. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2Timothy 4:3-4)
When he wrote to Titus he said the same basic thing. "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." (Titus 3:9-11) The word translated, "divisive" here is "heretic."
Such heresies include legalistic rules about clothing, foods, and music. There are biblical principles that need to be applied, but an individual's good faith decision about application does not have the same force as scripture. The rules for such decisions are found in Romans 14.
In recent years the heresy of King James Onlyism has been blowing at gale force. The KJV has a long and distinguished history, but the whole spectrum of arguments that the KJV is the ONLY true Bible in the English language are at best "foolish disputes." At their worst they are a terrible betrayal of orthodox theology about the inspiration and authority of the Bible.
Heresies like these distract people from the clear teachings of the Bible about things of eternal importance. We should avoid such things and expose them whenever possible.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Be On Guard
We need to be on guard. Proverbs 4:23 is an excellent verse to keep in mind:
"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."
When I was a boy we lived on the family property in upstate New York. The old farmhouse had spring water that trickled into a reservoir in the basement from a pipe that began 300 yards away. Up on the mountainside, just below the dirt road, was the spring-house. It was a little cement cube with a wooden roof over it. Inside, the spring water bubbled up from the ground and flowed into the pipe that led to the house far below. The low wall was built up to prevent groundwater carrying dirt or pollutants from flowing into the spring from the road just up the hill. The roof kept the leaves from the forest from blowing in. The whole spring-house was supposed to keep bugs and animals out of the water that we wanted to use.
One day the water stopped flowing. I remember going with my dad to check out the spring-house. Dad took off the roof and looked down into the spring with a flashlight. He pointed out the pair of frog legs sticking out of the end of the pipe - blocking the flow. Dad reached down and pulled the frog free and the water was restored (though I imagined it was a bit fishy tasting for a while after that.) While we were there, dad fished out a few leaves and sticks that had fallen into the spring, then put the roof back on. He showed me where it would need some repairs later.
Our heart is like a spring of water. If you want it to flow clean and pure, you need to tend it. Clean out the leaves that fall in. Put up a wall high enough to stop groundwater from running in off the road. Repair the roof periodically to make it effective in keeping critters out.
Moral failure is all around us. It is celebrated in the media and modern entertainment. Lust throws out a snare in modern fashions, in advertisements, in magazines, on TV shows and certainly over the Internet. It is reaching out for us all with the promise that "stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (Proverbs 9:17)
But the real problem is our hearts. We need to have pure hearts. The sin comes from inside of us, not from outside. The Bible says, "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." (James 1:14)
We need to be on guard - keeping our hearts as pure springs. Do what you need to do to protect yourself. Be careful what you read, what you click on, what you gaze at. Sometimes you need to close your eyes. Every day you need to pray for God's cleansing and protection.
(1Corinthians 10:12) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."
When I was a boy we lived on the family property in upstate New York. The old farmhouse had spring water that trickled into a reservoir in the basement from a pipe that began 300 yards away. Up on the mountainside, just below the dirt road, was the spring-house. It was a little cement cube with a wooden roof over it. Inside, the spring water bubbled up from the ground and flowed into the pipe that led to the house far below. The low wall was built up to prevent groundwater carrying dirt or pollutants from flowing into the spring from the road just up the hill. The roof kept the leaves from the forest from blowing in. The whole spring-house was supposed to keep bugs and animals out of the water that we wanted to use.
One day the water stopped flowing. I remember going with my dad to check out the spring-house. Dad took off the roof and looked down into the spring with a flashlight. He pointed out the pair of frog legs sticking out of the end of the pipe - blocking the flow. Dad reached down and pulled the frog free and the water was restored (though I imagined it was a bit fishy tasting for a while after that.) While we were there, dad fished out a few leaves and sticks that had fallen into the spring, then put the roof back on. He showed me where it would need some repairs later.
Our heart is like a spring of water. If you want it to flow clean and pure, you need to tend it. Clean out the leaves that fall in. Put up a wall high enough to stop groundwater from running in off the road. Repair the roof periodically to make it effective in keeping critters out.
Moral failure is all around us. It is celebrated in the media and modern entertainment. Lust throws out a snare in modern fashions, in advertisements, in magazines, on TV shows and certainly over the Internet. It is reaching out for us all with the promise that "stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (Proverbs 9:17)
But the real problem is our hearts. We need to have pure hearts. The sin comes from inside of us, not from outside. The Bible says, "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." (James 1:14)
We need to be on guard - keeping our hearts as pure springs. Do what you need to do to protect yourself. Be careful what you read, what you click on, what you gaze at. Sometimes you need to close your eyes. Every day you need to pray for God's cleansing and protection.
(1Corinthians 10:12) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Anything Goes
Do you ever wonder what on earth could motivate people to do the crazy, ugly, self-destructive things they do? I am thinking especially of the almost daily shooting incidents where someone opens fire on strangers in a public place, then shoots himself.
Here is my analysis.
1. America (where almost all of these shootings occur) has moved from separation of church and state (freedom of religion) to separation of church from public life (freedom from religion).
2. Public education has mandated teaching the theory of evolution which theory exists solely for the purpose of suggesting ways that the complex world we observe might have come about apart from supernatural creation. (Too bad they don't give as much attention to teaching actual science - e.g., the second law of thermodynamics & the scientific method for debunking bad theories.)
3. Because several generations have now been indoctrinated with the idea that there is no God, that the creation does not suggest a God, and that God should be banned from public displays and public discourse, many people have obliged by believing it.
4. Since they don't believe there is a God or anything beyond their life in this present world, they believe that they are free from moral dictates and free from the fear of Divine judgment or punishment. They are, in their view, animals ("meat machines" according to Dawkins) living among other animals and operating according to their instincts for survival and procreation.
5. Unfortunately, that view is tremendously unsatisfying for many people. They want to be more significant than mere animals. They want transcendent meaning and purpose. The difficulties of this life and their own sense of right and wrong are absurd if there is no God.
6. I suspect that their reasoning goes something like this. "My life is not fulfilling. My existence is absurd. I want to end it all and go out with a splash that will make the news." Killing people is no more significant than stepping on ants. Since I am killing myself I don't have to fear human judges. Since there is no God, I don't have to fear eternal judgment."
The question is not what makes them do it. I think that is pretty clear. The bigger question is why more people don't do it. I suspect there are lingering doubts - echoes of some religious training or some inborn suspicion that there is a Creator and Judge.
Christians are called to be salt and light. We need to be doing that more and more. Tell the world - every man, woman and child - that the Creator is calling everyone everywhere to repent, turn to Him and find significance and everlasting life in Jesus Christ.
Here is my analysis.
1. America (where almost all of these shootings occur) has moved from separation of church and state (freedom of religion) to separation of church from public life (freedom from religion).
2. Public education has mandated teaching the theory of evolution which theory exists solely for the purpose of suggesting ways that the complex world we observe might have come about apart from supernatural creation. (Too bad they don't give as much attention to teaching actual science - e.g., the second law of thermodynamics & the scientific method for debunking bad theories.)
3. Because several generations have now been indoctrinated with the idea that there is no God, that the creation does not suggest a God, and that God should be banned from public displays and public discourse, many people have obliged by believing it.
4. Since they don't believe there is a God or anything beyond their life in this present world, they believe that they are free from moral dictates and free from the fear of Divine judgment or punishment. They are, in their view, animals ("meat machines" according to Dawkins) living among other animals and operating according to their instincts for survival and procreation.
5. Unfortunately, that view is tremendously unsatisfying for many people. They want to be more significant than mere animals. They want transcendent meaning and purpose. The difficulties of this life and their own sense of right and wrong are absurd if there is no God.
6. I suspect that their reasoning goes something like this. "My life is not fulfilling. My existence is absurd. I want to end it all and go out with a splash that will make the news." Killing people is no more significant than stepping on ants. Since I am killing myself I don't have to fear human judges. Since there is no God, I don't have to fear eternal judgment."
The question is not what makes them do it. I think that is pretty clear. The bigger question is why more people don't do it. I suspect there are lingering doubts - echoes of some religious training or some inborn suspicion that there is a Creator and Judge.
Christians are called to be salt and light. We need to be doing that more and more. Tell the world - every man, woman and child - that the Creator is calling everyone everywhere to repent, turn to Him and find significance and everlasting life in Jesus Christ.
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