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Monday, March 30, 2009
Spiritual Maturity, Youth, and Influence
One of the things lacking in many churches is the spiritual depth of many of her members. So many are content with a mediocre love for Jesus and knowledge of Jesus through the study of the scriptures.
The mediocrity that is present in the adults is non-existent in many youth. Their desire (youth) of spiritual maturity does not even reach the level of mediocrity.
We parents expect that a hour or two a week is enough "God influence" to counteract the negative and sinful influences that bombard our youth the rest of the week.
Consider that children who go to public school are there 32.5 hours out of 168 total hours in a week. Take into account that if, and that's a big if, they get 8 hours of sleep a night during that week--that's 56 hours.
Now, over half the week is gone for them to be influenced in a god-ward direction.
And, then you factor in extracurricular activities, which in and of themselves is not bad, and the amount of time on video games and watching TV...
And, then, we parents expect them to grow up loving Jesus and following Him based upon 1 or 2 hours a week in a youth group...
We need to get real and stop fooling ourselves about the kind of generation that we are raising up.
Most of our youth have no god-ward direction or disposition--it may appear so for the "older folks" so they can say "we have such a good group of youth"--but, for the most part, it is a farce.
We have deceived ourselves--and our youth.
We have taught and lived such a shallow concept and version of Christianity, it no longer looks like biblical Christianity.
Now we come full circle--the spiritual depth and maturity of the adults.
Because we are shallow, our youth and children will be that much more shallow---unless we change.
If we want to be and if we want to raise up a generation that seeks after God (Psalm 24:1-6), we have to change what we do and how we do it.
We must begin with confession and repentance as fathers who have not led our families into spiritual growth toward maturity and a love for Jesus. It may not be all our fault, but it is our responsibility.
Forgive us God for being slackers and cowards in the spiritual growth of our families.
Forgive us for the mediocrity with regard to spiritual depth in our churches and our lack of zeal for growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
Forgive us for raising up a generation of moralistic, worldly, narcissistic, self-centered--wait--they are only modeling to the extreme what they have seen in us.
Forgive us--bring us to repentance.
The mediocrity that is present in the adults is non-existent in many youth. Their desire (youth) of spiritual maturity does not even reach the level of mediocrity.
We parents expect that a hour or two a week is enough "God influence" to counteract the negative and sinful influences that bombard our youth the rest of the week.
Consider that children who go to public school are there 32.5 hours out of 168 total hours in a week. Take into account that if, and that's a big if, they get 8 hours of sleep a night during that week--that's 56 hours.
Now, over half the week is gone for them to be influenced in a god-ward direction.
And, then you factor in extracurricular activities, which in and of themselves is not bad, and the amount of time on video games and watching TV...
And, then, we parents expect them to grow up loving Jesus and following Him based upon 1 or 2 hours a week in a youth group...
We need to get real and stop fooling ourselves about the kind of generation that we are raising up.
Most of our youth have no god-ward direction or disposition--it may appear so for the "older folks" so they can say "we have such a good group of youth"--but, for the most part, it is a farce.
We have deceived ourselves--and our youth.
We have taught and lived such a shallow concept and version of Christianity, it no longer looks like biblical Christianity.
Now we come full circle--the spiritual depth and maturity of the adults.
Because we are shallow, our youth and children will be that much more shallow---unless we change.
If we want to be and if we want to raise up a generation that seeks after God (Psalm 24:1-6), we have to change what we do and how we do it.
We must begin with confession and repentance as fathers who have not led our families into spiritual growth toward maturity and a love for Jesus. It may not be all our fault, but it is our responsibility.
Forgive us God for being slackers and cowards in the spiritual growth of our families.
Forgive us for the mediocrity with regard to spiritual depth in our churches and our lack of zeal for growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
Forgive us for raising up a generation of moralistic, worldly, narcissistic, self-centered--wait--they are only modeling to the extreme what they have seen in us.
Forgive us--bring us to repentance.
Delight
Psalm 37:4-5
What do we delight in most? What is most valuable to us? What holds the place of supreme affection in our heart?
I wonder...
Is Jesus the ultimate and supreme treasure of our lives (Philippians 3:7-10)?
Are we studying, living, giving, serving, loving, preaching, teaching, working, and telling in such a manner that Jesus shines as our greatest treasure and most joyous delight?
What do we delight in most? What is most valuable to us? What holds the place of supreme affection in our heart?
I wonder...
Is Jesus the ultimate and supreme treasure of our lives (Philippians 3:7-10)?
Are we studying, living, giving, serving, loving, preaching, teaching, working, and telling in such a manner that Jesus shines as our greatest treasure and most joyous delight?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Worship and Stewardship
I was thinking about worship and faithful stewardship. The bottom line for all faithful stewardship is the question of what or whom we worship.
If we are faithfully worshipping Jesus with full allegiance and devotion, stewardship would be a natural outflow of our love and devotion for Him.
So...do we love Jesus?
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular
If we are faithfully worshipping Jesus with full allegiance and devotion, stewardship would be a natural outflow of our love and devotion for Him.
So...do we love Jesus?
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular
Time with God, Electronics, and Idolatry
Monday, March 23, 2009
Anger and Bitterness
It is amazing how blinded we can be by our own anger and bitterness toward someone. I suppose that is why Hebrews talks about a "root of bitterness" that can spring up and grab hold of our heart--sometimes without even realizing it.
May God grant us grace to "root" out the "root" of bitterness in our hearts.
May God grant us grace to "root" out the "root" of bitterness in our hearts.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
God's Sovereignty, Our Suffering, and Stewardship
Here is an excerpt from the message today about finding rest in God in them midst of suffering and pain:
Psalm 88
O LORD, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.
(Psa 88:1-18)
In this psalm, we find four features of the psalmist's plea that can help us deal honestly with our pain and suffering without letting our pain and suffering become an idol in our lives:
1. Recognition of and resting in the sovereignty of God over our suffering (vv. 6-8)
2. Recognition of the reality of our suffering (vv. 3-5)
3. Recognition of the depth and desperation in our suffering (vv. 10-12, 14-18)
4. Recognition of the help in our suffering (vv. 1-2, 9, 13)
From there spend some time in Luke 22:39-46 where Jesus is praying in the garden to the Father about the suffering he is preparing to endure.
From there spend some time in 2 Corinthians 12:7-11 wrestling with the reality that God said "no" to Paul's request for the removal of the thorn; rather, the relief that God sent came in the form of His all sufficient grace in Christ Jesus (DA Carson).
No matter what the circumstances or the form of suffering or the place from which the suffering comes, His grace is sufficient to enable us to endure resting in Him and at the same time acknowledging the reality and depth of the pain that we experience in this life.
A phrase that has gripped my thoughts since the death of my mom last summer: don't waste your suffering
I'm not sure where I heard it, but it has constantly come to my mind whenever suffering has been present. God, in his providential care, allowed whatever suffering and pain is taking place. We have a choice to wallow in self-pity or we can experience the pain to its fullest extent, but use it to exalt Jesus and sufficiency of His grace and power that rests upon us.
Just some thoughts...
Psalm 88
O LORD, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.
(Psa 88:1-18)
In this psalm, we find four features of the psalmist's plea that can help us deal honestly with our pain and suffering without letting our pain and suffering become an idol in our lives:
1. Recognition of and resting in the sovereignty of God over our suffering (vv. 6-8)
2. Recognition of the reality of our suffering (vv. 3-5)
3. Recognition of the depth and desperation in our suffering (vv. 10-12, 14-18)
4. Recognition of the help in our suffering (vv. 1-2, 9, 13)
From there spend some time in Luke 22:39-46 where Jesus is praying in the garden to the Father about the suffering he is preparing to endure.
From there spend some time in 2 Corinthians 12:7-11 wrestling with the reality that God said "no" to Paul's request for the removal of the thorn; rather, the relief that God sent came in the form of His all sufficient grace in Christ Jesus (DA Carson).
No matter what the circumstances or the form of suffering or the place from which the suffering comes, His grace is sufficient to enable us to endure resting in Him and at the same time acknowledging the reality and depth of the pain that we experience in this life.
A phrase that has gripped my thoughts since the death of my mom last summer: don't waste your suffering
I'm not sure where I heard it, but it has constantly come to my mind whenever suffering has been present. God, in his providential care, allowed whatever suffering and pain is taking place. We have a choice to wallow in self-pity or we can experience the pain to its fullest extent, but use it to exalt Jesus and sufficiency of His grace and power that rests upon us.
Just some thoughts...
The Shack - part 3
There has been little time this week to get back into the book. We should be getting back into a regular pattern soon.
I hope to share some passages from the Shack that we can interact with as we deal with the issue of suffering in this life and the goodness and presence of God.
I hope to share some passages from the Shack that we can interact with as we deal with the issue of suffering in this life and the goodness and presence of God.
Would we do the same?
I read Dr. Blackaby's devotion this morning about "the unthinkable." He spoke about the last supper as Jesus told his disciples that someone would betray him.
Blackaby points out the contrast between the disciples' response and what they actually did later--they claimed at the time that they would never do something like that.
Yet, within hours in the garden, Judas would betray, the disciples would eventually scatter, and Peter would deny Jesus.
Would we do the same if the circumstances were just right?
Paul reminds us all to take heed where we stand, lest we fall.
Here is Blackaby's last paragraph:
How quickly the surroundings of your life can shift from the security and tranquility of an upper room to the harsh reality of Gethsemane and the cross. Guard your heart. Listen now to the Lord’s gentle warning: the failure that was possible with His first disciples is also possible with you. You, too, are capable of forsaking Jesus, just as the first disciples did. If Jesus is warning you of an area in your life in which you could fail Him, heed His words today!
May we all heed the warning.
Blackaby points out the contrast between the disciples' response and what they actually did later--they claimed at the time that they would never do something like that.
Yet, within hours in the garden, Judas would betray, the disciples would eventually scatter, and Peter would deny Jesus.
Would we do the same if the circumstances were just right?
Paul reminds us all to take heed where we stand, lest we fall.
Here is Blackaby's last paragraph:
How quickly the surroundings of your life can shift from the security and tranquility of an upper room to the harsh reality of Gethsemane and the cross. Guard your heart. Listen now to the Lord’s gentle warning: the failure that was possible with His first disciples is also possible with you. You, too, are capable of forsaking Jesus, just as the first disciples did. If Jesus is warning you of an area in your life in which you could fail Him, heed His words today!
May we all heed the warning.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Shack - part 2
As I am getting into the "theologically sticky" points of the book, I have drawn a few conclusions:
1) The "theology proper" of the book is heresy. God, as a trinity of a black woman, Jewish man, and Asian woman is difficult to swallow--really impossible--theologically.
2) I am also realizing that the reviews that I have read--extremely positive and extremely negative--both seem to be too extreme for me personally. There has yet appeared, in my opinion, a balanced view that takes into account the whole of the book. The reviews seem to be of an all or nothing variety.
3) I have found the honesty with which Mack deals with his "great sadness" in approaching "papa" is more along the lines of real life. He says things that we are afraid to say, but if we are brutally honest with ourselves, we have all thought them.
More to come...
1) The "theology proper" of the book is heresy. God, as a trinity of a black woman, Jewish man, and Asian woman is difficult to swallow--really impossible--theologically.
2) I am also realizing that the reviews that I have read--extremely positive and extremely negative--both seem to be too extreme for me personally. There has yet appeared, in my opinion, a balanced view that takes into account the whole of the book. The reviews seem to be of an all or nothing variety.
3) I have found the honesty with which Mack deals with his "great sadness" in approaching "papa" is more along the lines of real life. He says things that we are afraid to say, but if we are brutally honest with ourselves, we have all thought them.
More to come...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Seductive Whisper of Materialism
Here is the sermon transcript from today:
Stuff itself is not the issue—rather, it is the attachment of our heart to the stuff and the subsequent neglect of those things in life that are by God’s definition more important and more valuable—namely His kingdom according to Matthew 6:33—
Faithful stewardship of material possessions is the Jesus-exalting use of “our stuff” in the pursuit of the kingdom of God, not the building of our kingdom here on earth
The episode in the gospels of the rich young ruler’s encounter with Jesus is a prime example of someone whose heart was captured by materialism
The one thing that held the allegiance of his heart above all else were his possessions—v. 22 says, but he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
In his possessions he found security, identity, significance and meaning in life—his possessions were his status symbol before the people in his day—his possessions were those things by which he measured his value and importance and self-worth
The seductive whisper of materialism had captured his soul
You and I are no less susceptible than the rich young ruler to this whisper—in fact, we are probably more susceptible living in an age of affluence and mobility—where we in America are richer than most of the people in the rest of the world
“Richness” is certainly relative, but greed and covetousness and materialism can attack us all and we are all vulnerable
The bait for the covetousness and greed that is within each of our hearts is everywhere—just watch the commercials on TV or let someone in the community we know get a new vehicle or one of our friends get a new cell phone or a new ipod or a new TV
Are any of those things in and of themselves evil—well, no—the issue is the motivation of our heart to have those things and the lengths to which we will go to possess them
The covetousness and discontentment within our hearts begins to rise up when we are tempted…
If you will just buy this product—if you just had this cell phone—if you just had this car—if you just had this…---then you would be happy and life would be complete and you would be satisfied…
We are bombarded daily with the bait of materialism…from TVs, music, magazines, peers
See, materialism is not a matter of the actual things themselves…materialism is a matter of the heart…materialism is an expression of the covetousness and greed and selfishness that is already present in our hearts…
Remember Mark 7:21-23…For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
This coveting reality of sin is built into our sinful nature’s DNA—one of the first words that many children learn is what—“mine”—and we think it’s cute…instead of understanding that this is proof of the biblical truth that we are born sinners by nature and also by choice
Things on TV, the possessions that we see our neighbors and friends get are only the triggers of the sin within us.
Now…it is possible this morning that someone thinks materialism is only a snare for rich people—but that is not true
Materialism has the power to seduce those who are not rich into envy and greed and discontentment desiring wrongly to have “more” because of what they see (lust of the eyes) others with because they think it will bring them “happiness”—the façade of many a rich people’s happiness is a tool Satan can use to deceive those who are not rich into thinking more stuff and more money makes you happier—which is not necessarily the case
And the line that says, “money isn’t everything, but it sure does help” only reveals the depth of the materialistic entrapment of our heart
Those who are not rich begin to say things like, “If only I had…, then everything would be better.”
Materialism has the power to seduce those who are rich into greed, selfishness, and hoarding resulting in a deficient trust in God, but trusting in stuff to provide peace and happiness and contentment
I read a story this week about a young man who had lived in abject poverty for much of his life.
After he became a believer and by God’s providence, this young man came to America for an education and told a friend of his that it was easier to be a Christian in his home land in poverty than in living in America with all its riches and the distractions that it brought
Is that not what Paul told young Timothy in his 1st letter--Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
The seductive whisper of materialism is calling to all of us, regardless of socioeconomic status.
If we listen to, give in to, and follow after the voice of the siren of materialism, our hearts then are being trained in the “covetous practices” of the world according to 2 Peter 2:14.
So, what is materialism exactly?
Here are a few definitions that we might find helpful:
1) Dictionary.com – preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values
2) Materialism is when our hearts have been gripped by stuff instead of gripped by the treasure of God himself in the person of Jesus.
3) Materialism is the habit of valuing and ascribing worth to something as more important than Jesus.
4) Dave Harvey, one of the contributers to the Worldliness book says it this way: “a focus on and a trust in what we can touch and possess. It describes the unchecked desire for, dependence on, and stockpiling of stuff.”
5) Another way to put it is this…”replacing our delight in God with joy in stuff. Materialism is what happens when coveting has cash to spend.”
Again, materialism is not about having stuff as we can see from these definitions—it truly is when our stuff has possession of the allegiance of our heart and we neglect the weightier matters that accompany following Jesus.
At the crux of this matter is idolatry—the worship and valuing of something other than Jesus.
That is the underlying issue—what or whom has captured our heart?
The rich young ruler so worshipped his possessions that he was in bondage to them and captured by them and would not let them go to lay hold of eternal life that was standing right in front of him…
Look at him…he did everything right…v. 17
He ran to the right one…he knelt before the right one…he asked the right one…he asked the right question…
Jesus gave him the right answer, but the rich young ruler had “one thing” that he worshipped and desired more than eternal life…he walked away from eternal life because he valued his stuff more than Jesus…
For the rich young ruler, it was a matter of eternal life or eternal death…his possessions ruled his heart
For some here today, it could also be a matter of eternal life or eternal death…do you live as if this world is your home?
See, there are many who are trusting their stuff more than Jesus—they are valuing their stuff more than Jesus—they are seeking their significance and meaning and purpose and self-worth in life based upon their possessions
For many Christians today, they have committed their lives to Jesus, but over the years the seductive whisper of materialism has captured their attention—they no longer give Jesus all that they are, they fudge here and there in their dedication and commitment, they know God has called them to participate in a ministry, but they shrink back because it might cost them some of their material possessions or their comforts—it has become more important to keep up and take care of those possessions than to love Jesus with those possessions—
Jesus has become less valuable and less treasured—
As an aside, I listened this week to a sermon by John Piper entitled “what is the recession for” where he was seeking to bring the gospel to bear on what is happening in our economy, and I wonder this morning…
Could God, in his providence, have allowed the recession in America as a way to call out to his people and to curb our materialistic appetite and re-ignite our dependence upon him and not our materialistically prosperous nation?
I believe it is at least possible, and definitely something to think about.
But, what about you and me?
What kind of grip do our possessions have on us?
What kind of grip does materialism have on our children? Are we actually igniting and triggering materialism in our children when we “give them what we didn’t have growing up?”
Do we couch our materialistic vice by getting mad at stores at Christmas time who say “holiday trees” but spend more money on gifts that people don’t really want or need and giving less to missionary work for the kingdom of God and the gospel?
Do we find our identity and status and worth from what we possess? Our importance, our perceived importance?
Do we find our joy and pleasure from our stuff? Our meaning and significance?
Have our material possessions become “our mediator” between us and our version of heaven?
Do we hold our possessions with an open hand or a closed hand recognizing that all are gifts of God’s grace?
As we contemplate these questions, let us direct our attention to several passages of scripture that will challenge us and warn us against the seductive whisper of materialism that calls out to all of us…
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Mat 6:19-21 ESV)
And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
(Luk 12:13-21 ESV)
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(Jas 4:2-4 ESV)
In contrast to the rich young ruler and to the rich fool and to the one who asks God for stuff for his own pleasure, we find a different kind of man in Matthew 13:44—
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
His heart was not chained to his possessions—the joy of the kingdom surpassed his best possession, and therefore, he held it loosely with an open hand—he sold all that he had to buy this field for the treasure of the kingdom—because the treasure of Jesus is more valuable and more worthy than anything this world has to offer
Remember Jim Elliot—his now famous quote is on the billboard on Hwy 501—“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”
The man who bought field in the parable understood this—the man who built his self-centered barns did not
Friends, we are all susceptible to the seductive whisper of materialism, but…
Ultimately our possessions cannot bring us happiness—
Ultimately our possessions do not make us important—
Ultimately our possessions do make us secure—
Ultimately our possessions cannot bring us significance or meaning or self-worth—
This life is only temporary and so are our possessions, but Jesus, the greatest treasure of life and the life beyond is what really counts.
Faithful stewardship over our possessions is about holding to them loosely and taking every opportunity to use those possessions as an avenue or a means for the exaltation of Jesus as our greatest treasure.
If anyone is here this morning and your heart has been gripped by materialism, the first step in breaking free is confession and repentance—covetousness and greed is the heart issue that is expressed by materialism—it must be confessed and repented of
Return to the cross—the place where we realize that we are nothing and that there is nothing more valuable and more treasurable than Jesus
We must yield to the Holy Spirit daily in opening our hands with regard to our possessions asking Him to give us a generous heart—to remove the stinginess out of our hearts and the greed
Then, as the Holy Spirit works in us, we can begin to do what Dave Harvey calls “de-materialize” our lives—that might include getting rid of some possessions that really are not that valuable to us, but we had to have it…
It definitely includes seeking to reduce the avenues of influence that move our hearts toward materialistic goals and guard against those influences that seek to draw our attention and affections away from generosity and toward selfishness.
For some this will be a long process of confessing and repenting and yielding to the Holy Spirit…it will be a daily struggle for some to overcome this temptation—by God’s grace and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit the victory can be won
For others, this is not really a big issue for you…praise God, but be careful…be careful that you do not look down upon or despise others who may be tempted in this area…show love, give encouragement, and pray for them without being judgmental
We must pray for each other in this…we are all susceptible…
Michael, what’s the bottom line…does our attachment to and use of our possessions reflect a heart whose greatest treasure is Jesus or have we been seduced by the whisper of materialism?
Stuff itself is not the issue—rather, it is the attachment of our heart to the stuff and the subsequent neglect of those things in life that are by God’s definition more important and more valuable—namely His kingdom according to Matthew 6:33—
Faithful stewardship of material possessions is the Jesus-exalting use of “our stuff” in the pursuit of the kingdom of God, not the building of our kingdom here on earth
The episode in the gospels of the rich young ruler’s encounter with Jesus is a prime example of someone whose heart was captured by materialism
The one thing that held the allegiance of his heart above all else were his possessions—v. 22 says, but he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
In his possessions he found security, identity, significance and meaning in life—his possessions were his status symbol before the people in his day—his possessions were those things by which he measured his value and importance and self-worth
The seductive whisper of materialism had captured his soul
You and I are no less susceptible than the rich young ruler to this whisper—in fact, we are probably more susceptible living in an age of affluence and mobility—where we in America are richer than most of the people in the rest of the world
“Richness” is certainly relative, but greed and covetousness and materialism can attack us all and we are all vulnerable
The bait for the covetousness and greed that is within each of our hearts is everywhere—just watch the commercials on TV or let someone in the community we know get a new vehicle or one of our friends get a new cell phone or a new ipod or a new TV
Are any of those things in and of themselves evil—well, no—the issue is the motivation of our heart to have those things and the lengths to which we will go to possess them
The covetousness and discontentment within our hearts begins to rise up when we are tempted…
If you will just buy this product—if you just had this cell phone—if you just had this car—if you just had this…---then you would be happy and life would be complete and you would be satisfied…
We are bombarded daily with the bait of materialism…from TVs, music, magazines, peers
See, materialism is not a matter of the actual things themselves…materialism is a matter of the heart…materialism is an expression of the covetousness and greed and selfishness that is already present in our hearts…
Remember Mark 7:21-23…For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
This coveting reality of sin is built into our sinful nature’s DNA—one of the first words that many children learn is what—“mine”—and we think it’s cute…instead of understanding that this is proof of the biblical truth that we are born sinners by nature and also by choice
Things on TV, the possessions that we see our neighbors and friends get are only the triggers of the sin within us.
Now…it is possible this morning that someone thinks materialism is only a snare for rich people—but that is not true
Materialism has the power to seduce those who are not rich into envy and greed and discontentment desiring wrongly to have “more” because of what they see (lust of the eyes) others with because they think it will bring them “happiness”—the façade of many a rich people’s happiness is a tool Satan can use to deceive those who are not rich into thinking more stuff and more money makes you happier—which is not necessarily the case
And the line that says, “money isn’t everything, but it sure does help” only reveals the depth of the materialistic entrapment of our heart
Those who are not rich begin to say things like, “If only I had…, then everything would be better.”
Materialism has the power to seduce those who are rich into greed, selfishness, and hoarding resulting in a deficient trust in God, but trusting in stuff to provide peace and happiness and contentment
I read a story this week about a young man who had lived in abject poverty for much of his life.
After he became a believer and by God’s providence, this young man came to America for an education and told a friend of his that it was easier to be a Christian in his home land in poverty than in living in America with all its riches and the distractions that it brought
Is that not what Paul told young Timothy in his 1st letter--Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
The seductive whisper of materialism is calling to all of us, regardless of socioeconomic status.
If we listen to, give in to, and follow after the voice of the siren of materialism, our hearts then are being trained in the “covetous practices” of the world according to 2 Peter 2:14.
So, what is materialism exactly?
Here are a few definitions that we might find helpful:
1) Dictionary.com – preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values
2) Materialism is when our hearts have been gripped by stuff instead of gripped by the treasure of God himself in the person of Jesus.
3) Materialism is the habit of valuing and ascribing worth to something as more important than Jesus.
4) Dave Harvey, one of the contributers to the Worldliness book says it this way: “a focus on and a trust in what we can touch and possess. It describes the unchecked desire for, dependence on, and stockpiling of stuff.”
5) Another way to put it is this…”replacing our delight in God with joy in stuff. Materialism is what happens when coveting has cash to spend.”
Again, materialism is not about having stuff as we can see from these definitions—it truly is when our stuff has possession of the allegiance of our heart and we neglect the weightier matters that accompany following Jesus.
At the crux of this matter is idolatry—the worship and valuing of something other than Jesus.
That is the underlying issue—what or whom has captured our heart?
The rich young ruler so worshipped his possessions that he was in bondage to them and captured by them and would not let them go to lay hold of eternal life that was standing right in front of him…
Look at him…he did everything right…v. 17
He ran to the right one…he knelt before the right one…he asked the right one…he asked the right question…
Jesus gave him the right answer, but the rich young ruler had “one thing” that he worshipped and desired more than eternal life…he walked away from eternal life because he valued his stuff more than Jesus…
For the rich young ruler, it was a matter of eternal life or eternal death…his possessions ruled his heart
For some here today, it could also be a matter of eternal life or eternal death…do you live as if this world is your home?
See, there are many who are trusting their stuff more than Jesus—they are valuing their stuff more than Jesus—they are seeking their significance and meaning and purpose and self-worth in life based upon their possessions
For many Christians today, they have committed their lives to Jesus, but over the years the seductive whisper of materialism has captured their attention—they no longer give Jesus all that they are, they fudge here and there in their dedication and commitment, they know God has called them to participate in a ministry, but they shrink back because it might cost them some of their material possessions or their comforts—it has become more important to keep up and take care of those possessions than to love Jesus with those possessions—
Jesus has become less valuable and less treasured—
As an aside, I listened this week to a sermon by John Piper entitled “what is the recession for” where he was seeking to bring the gospel to bear on what is happening in our economy, and I wonder this morning…
Could God, in his providence, have allowed the recession in America as a way to call out to his people and to curb our materialistic appetite and re-ignite our dependence upon him and not our materialistically prosperous nation?
I believe it is at least possible, and definitely something to think about.
But, what about you and me?
What kind of grip do our possessions have on us?
What kind of grip does materialism have on our children? Are we actually igniting and triggering materialism in our children when we “give them what we didn’t have growing up?”
Do we couch our materialistic vice by getting mad at stores at Christmas time who say “holiday trees” but spend more money on gifts that people don’t really want or need and giving less to missionary work for the kingdom of God and the gospel?
Do we find our identity and status and worth from what we possess? Our importance, our perceived importance?
Do we find our joy and pleasure from our stuff? Our meaning and significance?
Have our material possessions become “our mediator” between us and our version of heaven?
Do we hold our possessions with an open hand or a closed hand recognizing that all are gifts of God’s grace?
As we contemplate these questions, let us direct our attention to several passages of scripture that will challenge us and warn us against the seductive whisper of materialism that calls out to all of us…
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Mat 6:19-21 ESV)
And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
(Luk 12:13-21 ESV)
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(Jas 4:2-4 ESV)
In contrast to the rich young ruler and to the rich fool and to the one who asks God for stuff for his own pleasure, we find a different kind of man in Matthew 13:44—
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
His heart was not chained to his possessions—the joy of the kingdom surpassed his best possession, and therefore, he held it loosely with an open hand—he sold all that he had to buy this field for the treasure of the kingdom—because the treasure of Jesus is more valuable and more worthy than anything this world has to offer
Remember Jim Elliot—his now famous quote is on the billboard on Hwy 501—“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”
The man who bought field in the parable understood this—the man who built his self-centered barns did not
Friends, we are all susceptible to the seductive whisper of materialism, but…
Ultimately our possessions cannot bring us happiness—
Ultimately our possessions do not make us important—
Ultimately our possessions do make us secure—
Ultimately our possessions cannot bring us significance or meaning or self-worth—
This life is only temporary and so are our possessions, but Jesus, the greatest treasure of life and the life beyond is what really counts.
Faithful stewardship over our possessions is about holding to them loosely and taking every opportunity to use those possessions as an avenue or a means for the exaltation of Jesus as our greatest treasure.
If anyone is here this morning and your heart has been gripped by materialism, the first step in breaking free is confession and repentance—covetousness and greed is the heart issue that is expressed by materialism—it must be confessed and repented of
Return to the cross—the place where we realize that we are nothing and that there is nothing more valuable and more treasurable than Jesus
We must yield to the Holy Spirit daily in opening our hands with regard to our possessions asking Him to give us a generous heart—to remove the stinginess out of our hearts and the greed
Then, as the Holy Spirit works in us, we can begin to do what Dave Harvey calls “de-materialize” our lives—that might include getting rid of some possessions that really are not that valuable to us, but we had to have it…
It definitely includes seeking to reduce the avenues of influence that move our hearts toward materialistic goals and guard against those influences that seek to draw our attention and affections away from generosity and toward selfishness.
For some this will be a long process of confessing and repenting and yielding to the Holy Spirit…it will be a daily struggle for some to overcome this temptation—by God’s grace and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit the victory can be won
For others, this is not really a big issue for you…praise God, but be careful…be careful that you do not look down upon or despise others who may be tempted in this area…show love, give encouragement, and pray for them without being judgmental
We must pray for each other in this…we are all susceptible…
Michael, what’s the bottom line…does our attachment to and use of our possessions reflect a heart whose greatest treasure is Jesus or have we been seduced by the whisper of materialism?
The Voice of the World and True Fellowship
I just read in my personal devotions 1 John 3 and 4.
In chapter 4:5, it says, "They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them."
When people speak from a world's perspective (the philosophy of living that is antagonistic toward God), what does that say about those people?
Does that mean that their heart has been captured by the world?
The person who speaks from a worldly perspective reveals that his/her heart has a disposition toward, affinity toward, and affection for the world. Does that mean that person belongs to the world?
Didn't Jesus say in John 10:27 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me"
Have we sought to blur the lines of distinction (that the bible does not make) between Christian and non-Christian because we don't want to truly come to grips with the lack of love, affection, and affinity for Jesus in our own hearts?
What about those whose lives are marked by affection for the world? Are we, as a body of Christ, willing to speak the truth in love to them, or will we continue to let them live life with, maybe, a false assurance of their salvation?
We have lost the true biblical understanding of fellowship and community--the mutual accountability and love for one another.
We think that as long as we are all "getting along" and there is no "major drama" going on, everything must be OK.
Yet, the hidden sins of the heart go unchecked because we don't want anyone to dig deep into our lives because it's none of their business.
How sad that we don't have real fellowship and love as we strive to love Jesus and show that love in word and deed to a dying world.
In chapter 4:5, it says, "They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them."
When people speak from a world's perspective (the philosophy of living that is antagonistic toward God), what does that say about those people?
Does that mean that their heart has been captured by the world?
The person who speaks from a worldly perspective reveals that his/her heart has a disposition toward, affinity toward, and affection for the world. Does that mean that person belongs to the world?
Didn't Jesus say in John 10:27 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me"
Have we sought to blur the lines of distinction (that the bible does not make) between Christian and non-Christian because we don't want to truly come to grips with the lack of love, affection, and affinity for Jesus in our own hearts?
What about those whose lives are marked by affection for the world? Are we, as a body of Christ, willing to speak the truth in love to them, or will we continue to let them live life with, maybe, a false assurance of their salvation?
We have lost the true biblical understanding of fellowship and community--the mutual accountability and love for one another.
We think that as long as we are all "getting along" and there is no "major drama" going on, everything must be OK.
Yet, the hidden sins of the heart go unchecked because we don't want anyone to dig deep into our lives because it's none of their business.
How sad that we don't have real fellowship and love as we strive to love Jesus and show that love in word and deed to a dying world.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Stewardship of Our Bodies
Here is the transcript of last week's sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.
As we seek to obey the command to love the Lord our God with all that we are, which includes the body, we are directing our attention to the letter of 1st Corinthians today for at least two reasons:
1- 1st Corinthians is part of the bible – God’s Word.
As followers of Jesus, it is absolutely essential for us to find our instruction in and from the Bible, for in the bible God, in concert with the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, has given us everything we need for life and godliness according to 2 Peter 1.
As followers of Jesus, it is absolutely essential for us to place ourselves under the authority of the Bible, for in the bible we are given our marching orders as citizens of the kingdom of God whose king is Jesus as we live and express that citizenship as aliens and pilgrims and exiles here on this earth.
Though, this ought to be understood without saying, it is invariably stated by many people, “Oh, I believe the Bible” or “I am a Christian” and yet the Bible, in its clear directives, seems to hold no sway over the conduct of their daily lives with regard to the body and its various activities.
A second reason…
2- The church in Corinth was situated in the midst of a culture very much like ours.
It was a pagan culture rampant with over-indulgence and un-restraint.
Liberty had digressed into license without regard to consequences—freedom had digressed to self-indulgent pursuits at any cost—even among many of those who claim to be Christians.
There is evidence that the phrase “all things are permissible” in v. 12 was a popular slogan among the Corinthian people because many had taken their liberty in Jesus spiritually and perverted it in order to indulge themselves in their sinful behaviors and to cloak and hide their immorality as if their behavior in the body did not matter to God.
There was a belief in that day that what was done in the body and by the body had no affect on the soul—there was a strict distinction between body and soul with little interaction or connection between the two.
They had become as the ones in Jude who had taken the grace of God and turned into licentiousness and recklessness and decadence and ungodliness.
They had become as the ones in 2 Timothy who had a form of godliness but denied the power to transform their lives from the inside out.
They are like ones today who claim fire insurance against eternal dwelling in hell, but demonstrate by their lifestyle no intention or desire or disposition toward living a holy life separated unto Jesus because they love him and have experienced his life-transforming power through conversion.
Therefore, the instructions given to the church in Corinth are particularly relevant for us today with regard to our faithful stewardship of our bodies.
Let’s ask a very basic question…
Does our body matter to God?
Of course, the answer is yes—our body matters to God.
The myth, or false assumption, that plagued many in the first century that what is done in the body does not affect the soul, I believe, has infected many people’s thinking today.
It may not be explicitly stated by our words, but it is reflected in the carelessness with which we treat the activities of the physical body.
Many act as if there is no connection between the two.
What is done in the body does affect our soul (heart, mind, will, emotions)…it affects our relationship with God for better or for worse…and what we choose to participate in with the body is also a reflection of the condition of our souls.
Therefore, what we do with, to, put in, put on, or do for the body matters to God, and God has something to say about the physical body for us as Christians.
It is a matter of faithful stewardship for which we will all be held accountable before Jesus.
The overarching theme of this series to love the Lord our God with all that we are has a companion verse that fits well within our framework of discussion this morning…
That is 1 Corinthians 10:31 – Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
No matter what we do, no matter how seemingly mundane or trivial in life, including what we do with our bodies, we have a God-given responsibility to reflect the glory of God—his magnificence, his majesty, his grace, his holiness, his character, his transforming power through the gospel—to a world that desperately needs Jesus.
There is a missional aspect to the faithful stewardship of our bodies…Matthew 5:16—Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The vehicle through which the light of God’s glory shines from our soul is the body.
Therefore the body matters to God.
In 1 Cor. 6, Paul begins to address some issues within the Corinthian church that deal with the stewardship of the physical body.
Vv. 12-20 form what I would call an introductory paragraph to these issues.
He introduces a general principle in v. 12 along with the two specific issues within the Corinthian church—food and sexual immorality.
He addresses the issue of food in chapter 8 and part of 9 in a more thorough manner.
He begins in this section of chapter 6 to address the issue of sexual immorality.
This discussion carries over into chapter 7 as he brings this teaching to bear in the realm of singleness and marriage.
The general instruction given in v. 12 is a principle of wisdom…look at verse 12…
He quotes the popular slogan of that day with a qualification.
Certainly, there is freedom in Christ…that is why it will not be given today any list of legalistic measures that say “you must do this with your body” and “you must not do this with your body”
A small caveat—there are some things the bible explicitly declares as off limits for believers to participate in—things that are in direct violation of biblical commands—these do not fall into the category of maybe what we would call “gray areas” that we are discussing today
For example—Paul gives the example of sexual immorality—all forms are off limits without exception—fornication, adultery, pornography, etc.
Now back to the qualification Paul asserts to the Corinthian slogan…all things are permissible, but all things are not helpful...
All things are do not confer a benefit…all things are not profitable or useful or advantageous…
Helpful or beneficial to what extent…well, what is the point of this little introductory section…
Look down in v. 20…therefore, glorify God in the body…
The extent to which we should discern the helpfulness or benefit of some activity of the body is the glory of God.
We ask the question—will it further demonstrate and reflect and honor and extol and show off the majesty of God’s glory and character?
For Christians, whatever we do with, to, put in, put on, or do for the body must have as its primary goal and intended purpose the glory of God.
There is a second aspect to this wisdom principle…v. 12
Another way to put this last part is this… “I will not allow myself to be brought under the authority of something else”
This aspect of the wisdom principle reveals the human tendency toward over-indulgence and addiction and idolatry.
Though certain things have a more addictive nature than others and certainly can exert an influence over us, there is also the element of volitional choice, an act of the will that is indicated in this principle that far too often is passed over or swept under the rug in a way that undermines personal responsibility.
Furthermore, each person because of his/her individual make-up, will have a tendency to over-indulge, be addicted to, and worship other things beside Jesus.
See…I believe, as do others, that the underlying and foundational reality connected to this principle is the answer to the question…who or what do we worship?
Here’s why…because that which we worship is that which holds sway over us and exerts the most influence over us in our decisions and actions.
We are all worshipers…the question is to what or to whom do we give our allegiance.
For the apostle Paul, his allegiance was exclusively Jesus.
This is directly related to a particular aspect of the gospel—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Look in v. 19…you are not your own…you were bought at a price…
You are not your own has the sense of belonging…it can be understood as… “you do not belong to yourself”
When Jesus died on the cross in our place and for our sins, he paid the sin debt and ransomed us and redeemed us from slavery to sin and freed us in order that we might worship him and follow him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, we do not belong to ourselves anymore, we belong to Jesus.
That’s why the apostle Paul would often refer to himself as a “servant or slave of Jesus Christ”—he understood his redemption.
He had not been redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ—and neither have we.
The stewardship of our physical bodies in this passage is a reflection of what we think of the redemption of Jesus Christ for us—
Paul gladly and joyfully denied himself, took up his cross daily, and followed Jesus because he had been captured by the redeeming grace of God in Jesus.
We do not belong to ourselves—it is not “my body” in terms of ownership, but in terms of stewardship for the glory of God.
If we make decisions concerning our bodies without consulting the owner of the body, we are in violation of the new covenant that has been ratified in Jesus Christ applied to us in particular by faith.
Through faith as a result of regeneration, there is a kind of “rights transfer” to Jesus as our new king and master—we used to be king, we used to call the shots, we used to do whatever we wanted to, we used to be autonomous, we used to be slaves to our sinful nature and its appetites and desires and motivations—but, not any longer…
There is a new king—a good king, a gracious king, a merciful king, a saving king, a glorious king—
This rights transfer is given up gladly—not in the sense of moving from one task master to another, but in the sense of relief and gratitude and joy and the greatest treasure that we have found in life.
It is all centered in the gospel and its transforming effect upon our heart, mind, will, emotions reflected in our faithful stewardship of the body
We gladly give our bodies to Jesus not even regarding “our life” for His glory and His will.
One more phrase we want to examine this morning that has a significant role in our understanding of stewardship of the body…v. 19…
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit…the word for temple here is the word used for the inner sanctuary of the temple…not the outer courts, but the inner dwelling place of God
The temple under the OT covenant was the ordained dwelling place of the presence of God—therefore, the place was set apart and holy to God for God-glorifying purposes with specific consequences for not operating in the prescribed manner
The old covenant relationship was done through sacrifices made in the temple, but these in their relative aspect between man and God have been made obsolete because of Jesus—they foreshadowed Jesus, but are no longer valid or necessary because Jesus has come
Now, God relates to His people not through a place, but through Jesus by the Holy Spirit who now dwells inside every believer—Jesus is the one mediator between God and man
Therefore, under the transfer of the new covenant, God’s house, God’s place of dwelling is no longer a building, no longer a place but his dwelling, his house is now within the souls of men and women through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
Furthermore, just as the temple in the OT was set apart and holy for specific God-ward purposes, so are we, our bodies, set apart and holy separated unto God for God-ward purposes
In a similar way, just as the temple served to make the glory of God known, so our physical bodies as the new covenant temple of God serves to display the magnificence of God and the treasure of Jesus
If this is the way the bible instructs us concerning the body, how do we respond?
The most biblical and appropriate response is Romans 12:1-2—one that we know so well.
Let’s turn there as we respond to God’s Spirit today—
Faithful stewardship of what we do with, do to, put in, put on, or do for the body is a growing and joyful relinquishment and yielding of those decisions concerning the body away from ourselves to Jesus.
It is growing in sanctification as we yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as the good, gracious, merciful, and glorious king of our lives—including our bodies.
Let’s see if we can make this really practical by asking Jesus a few questions…
Jesus, what should I eat? Jesus, how much should I eat?
Jesus, what should I wear? Does this honor you? Does this accentuate my body and draw attention to my body or does it honor the biblical principle of modesty?
Jesus, should I put this is my body? How does this action with my body reflect a love for you as my greatest treasure above the desire of pleasure?
Jesus, should I exercise? Jesus, how much should I exercise?
Jesus, how much sleep should I get?
Jesus, whatever I do may it be for your glory and honor and fame…that is really the bottom-line…Does the way I use my body show that I love Jesus as the greatest treasure of all of life?
As we seek to obey the command to love the Lord our God with all that we are, which includes the body, we are directing our attention to the letter of 1st Corinthians today for at least two reasons:
1- 1st Corinthians is part of the bible – God’s Word.
As followers of Jesus, it is absolutely essential for us to find our instruction in and from the Bible, for in the bible God, in concert with the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, has given us everything we need for life and godliness according to 2 Peter 1.
As followers of Jesus, it is absolutely essential for us to place ourselves under the authority of the Bible, for in the bible we are given our marching orders as citizens of the kingdom of God whose king is Jesus as we live and express that citizenship as aliens and pilgrims and exiles here on this earth.
Though, this ought to be understood without saying, it is invariably stated by many people, “Oh, I believe the Bible” or “I am a Christian” and yet the Bible, in its clear directives, seems to hold no sway over the conduct of their daily lives with regard to the body and its various activities.
A second reason…
2- The church in Corinth was situated in the midst of a culture very much like ours.
It was a pagan culture rampant with over-indulgence and un-restraint.
Liberty had digressed into license without regard to consequences—freedom had digressed to self-indulgent pursuits at any cost—even among many of those who claim to be Christians.
There is evidence that the phrase “all things are permissible” in v. 12 was a popular slogan among the Corinthian people because many had taken their liberty in Jesus spiritually and perverted it in order to indulge themselves in their sinful behaviors and to cloak and hide their immorality as if their behavior in the body did not matter to God.
There was a belief in that day that what was done in the body and by the body had no affect on the soul—there was a strict distinction between body and soul with little interaction or connection between the two.
They had become as the ones in Jude who had taken the grace of God and turned into licentiousness and recklessness and decadence and ungodliness.
They had become as the ones in 2 Timothy who had a form of godliness but denied the power to transform their lives from the inside out.
They are like ones today who claim fire insurance against eternal dwelling in hell, but demonstrate by their lifestyle no intention or desire or disposition toward living a holy life separated unto Jesus because they love him and have experienced his life-transforming power through conversion.
Therefore, the instructions given to the church in Corinth are particularly relevant for us today with regard to our faithful stewardship of our bodies.
Let’s ask a very basic question…
Does our body matter to God?
Of course, the answer is yes—our body matters to God.
The myth, or false assumption, that plagued many in the first century that what is done in the body does not affect the soul, I believe, has infected many people’s thinking today.
It may not be explicitly stated by our words, but it is reflected in the carelessness with which we treat the activities of the physical body.
Many act as if there is no connection between the two.
What is done in the body does affect our soul (heart, mind, will, emotions)…it affects our relationship with God for better or for worse…and what we choose to participate in with the body is also a reflection of the condition of our souls.
Therefore, what we do with, to, put in, put on, or do for the body matters to God, and God has something to say about the physical body for us as Christians.
It is a matter of faithful stewardship for which we will all be held accountable before Jesus.
The overarching theme of this series to love the Lord our God with all that we are has a companion verse that fits well within our framework of discussion this morning…
That is 1 Corinthians 10:31 – Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
No matter what we do, no matter how seemingly mundane or trivial in life, including what we do with our bodies, we have a God-given responsibility to reflect the glory of God—his magnificence, his majesty, his grace, his holiness, his character, his transforming power through the gospel—to a world that desperately needs Jesus.
There is a missional aspect to the faithful stewardship of our bodies…Matthew 5:16—Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The vehicle through which the light of God’s glory shines from our soul is the body.
Therefore the body matters to God.
In 1 Cor. 6, Paul begins to address some issues within the Corinthian church that deal with the stewardship of the physical body.
Vv. 12-20 form what I would call an introductory paragraph to these issues.
He introduces a general principle in v. 12 along with the two specific issues within the Corinthian church—food and sexual immorality.
He addresses the issue of food in chapter 8 and part of 9 in a more thorough manner.
He begins in this section of chapter 6 to address the issue of sexual immorality.
This discussion carries over into chapter 7 as he brings this teaching to bear in the realm of singleness and marriage.
The general instruction given in v. 12 is a principle of wisdom…look at verse 12…
He quotes the popular slogan of that day with a qualification.
Certainly, there is freedom in Christ…that is why it will not be given today any list of legalistic measures that say “you must do this with your body” and “you must not do this with your body”
A small caveat—there are some things the bible explicitly declares as off limits for believers to participate in—things that are in direct violation of biblical commands—these do not fall into the category of maybe what we would call “gray areas” that we are discussing today
For example—Paul gives the example of sexual immorality—all forms are off limits without exception—fornication, adultery, pornography, etc.
Now back to the qualification Paul asserts to the Corinthian slogan…all things are permissible, but all things are not helpful...
All things are do not confer a benefit…all things are not profitable or useful or advantageous…
Helpful or beneficial to what extent…well, what is the point of this little introductory section…
Look down in v. 20…therefore, glorify God in the body…
The extent to which we should discern the helpfulness or benefit of some activity of the body is the glory of God.
We ask the question—will it further demonstrate and reflect and honor and extol and show off the majesty of God’s glory and character?
For Christians, whatever we do with, to, put in, put on, or do for the body must have as its primary goal and intended purpose the glory of God.
There is a second aspect to this wisdom principle…v. 12
Another way to put this last part is this… “I will not allow myself to be brought under the authority of something else”
This aspect of the wisdom principle reveals the human tendency toward over-indulgence and addiction and idolatry.
Though certain things have a more addictive nature than others and certainly can exert an influence over us, there is also the element of volitional choice, an act of the will that is indicated in this principle that far too often is passed over or swept under the rug in a way that undermines personal responsibility.
Furthermore, each person because of his/her individual make-up, will have a tendency to over-indulge, be addicted to, and worship other things beside Jesus.
See…I believe, as do others, that the underlying and foundational reality connected to this principle is the answer to the question…who or what do we worship?
Here’s why…because that which we worship is that which holds sway over us and exerts the most influence over us in our decisions and actions.
We are all worshipers…the question is to what or to whom do we give our allegiance.
For the apostle Paul, his allegiance was exclusively Jesus.
This is directly related to a particular aspect of the gospel—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Look in v. 19…you are not your own…you were bought at a price…
You are not your own has the sense of belonging…it can be understood as… “you do not belong to yourself”
When Jesus died on the cross in our place and for our sins, he paid the sin debt and ransomed us and redeemed us from slavery to sin and freed us in order that we might worship him and follow him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, we do not belong to ourselves anymore, we belong to Jesus.
That’s why the apostle Paul would often refer to himself as a “servant or slave of Jesus Christ”—he understood his redemption.
He had not been redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ—and neither have we.
The stewardship of our physical bodies in this passage is a reflection of what we think of the redemption of Jesus Christ for us—
Paul gladly and joyfully denied himself, took up his cross daily, and followed Jesus because he had been captured by the redeeming grace of God in Jesus.
We do not belong to ourselves—it is not “my body” in terms of ownership, but in terms of stewardship for the glory of God.
If we make decisions concerning our bodies without consulting the owner of the body, we are in violation of the new covenant that has been ratified in Jesus Christ applied to us in particular by faith.
Through faith as a result of regeneration, there is a kind of “rights transfer” to Jesus as our new king and master—we used to be king, we used to call the shots, we used to do whatever we wanted to, we used to be autonomous, we used to be slaves to our sinful nature and its appetites and desires and motivations—but, not any longer…
There is a new king—a good king, a gracious king, a merciful king, a saving king, a glorious king—
This rights transfer is given up gladly—not in the sense of moving from one task master to another, but in the sense of relief and gratitude and joy and the greatest treasure that we have found in life.
It is all centered in the gospel and its transforming effect upon our heart, mind, will, emotions reflected in our faithful stewardship of the body
We gladly give our bodies to Jesus not even regarding “our life” for His glory and His will.
One more phrase we want to examine this morning that has a significant role in our understanding of stewardship of the body…v. 19…
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit…the word for temple here is the word used for the inner sanctuary of the temple…not the outer courts, but the inner dwelling place of God
The temple under the OT covenant was the ordained dwelling place of the presence of God—therefore, the place was set apart and holy to God for God-glorifying purposes with specific consequences for not operating in the prescribed manner
The old covenant relationship was done through sacrifices made in the temple, but these in their relative aspect between man and God have been made obsolete because of Jesus—they foreshadowed Jesus, but are no longer valid or necessary because Jesus has come
Now, God relates to His people not through a place, but through Jesus by the Holy Spirit who now dwells inside every believer—Jesus is the one mediator between God and man
Therefore, under the transfer of the new covenant, God’s house, God’s place of dwelling is no longer a building, no longer a place but his dwelling, his house is now within the souls of men and women through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
Furthermore, just as the temple in the OT was set apart and holy for specific God-ward purposes, so are we, our bodies, set apart and holy separated unto God for God-ward purposes
In a similar way, just as the temple served to make the glory of God known, so our physical bodies as the new covenant temple of God serves to display the magnificence of God and the treasure of Jesus
If this is the way the bible instructs us concerning the body, how do we respond?
The most biblical and appropriate response is Romans 12:1-2—one that we know so well.
Let’s turn there as we respond to God’s Spirit today—
Faithful stewardship of what we do with, do to, put in, put on, or do for the body is a growing and joyful relinquishment and yielding of those decisions concerning the body away from ourselves to Jesus.
It is growing in sanctification as we yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as the good, gracious, merciful, and glorious king of our lives—including our bodies.
Let’s see if we can make this really practical by asking Jesus a few questions…
Jesus, what should I eat? Jesus, how much should I eat?
Jesus, what should I wear? Does this honor you? Does this accentuate my body and draw attention to my body or does it honor the biblical principle of modesty?
Jesus, should I put this is my body? How does this action with my body reflect a love for you as my greatest treasure above the desire of pleasure?
Jesus, should I exercise? Jesus, how much should I exercise?
Jesus, how much sleep should I get?
Jesus, whatever I do may it be for your glory and honor and fame…that is really the bottom-line…Does the way I use my body show that I love Jesus as the greatest treasure of all of life?
The Shack - Part 1
WARNING: If you read this series of blogs before you read the book, I'm sure I will give away the plot and storyline.
I began my journey with Mack this weekend--the main character in The Shack.
To start, let me say that I am not a fiction book reader. It is a strain for me to even start reading this. However, I am finding myself relating to Mack as a father and wondering how I would respond if I were in a similar situation. I also find myself drawn into the discussion, at least with myself, concerning the reality of pain, evil, and suffering and the goodness of God.
I feel myself drawn into the storyline--which by the way, is really good so far. The big theological issues that many detractors have emphasized have yet to come up explicitly.
There has been some discussion about God, but Mack has not yet reached "the shack".
More to come...
I began my journey with Mack this weekend--the main character in The Shack.
To start, let me say that I am not a fiction book reader. It is a strain for me to even start reading this. However, I am finding myself relating to Mack as a father and wondering how I would respond if I were in a similar situation. I also find myself drawn into the discussion, at least with myself, concerning the reality of pain, evil, and suffering and the goodness of God.
I feel myself drawn into the storyline--which by the way, is really good so far. The big theological issues that many detractors have emphasized have yet to come up explicitly.
There has been some discussion about God, but Mack has not yet reached "the shack".
More to come...
Mission
I just listened to a sermon by David Platt, pastor of Brook Hills Church in Alabama.
He was teaching on the Great Commission from Matthew 28:16-20 as part of their church membership series and the reality of making disciples as our "biblical mission" that is to be accomplished within a "biblical community."
Thus, he unites, as they should be, two friends who very often within Christian circles are separated unnecessarily.
It was very interesting and informative.
Check it out.
He was teaching on the Great Commission from Matthew 28:16-20 as part of their church membership series and the reality of making disciples as our "biblical mission" that is to be accomplished within a "biblical community."
Thus, he unites, as they should be, two friends who very often within Christian circles are separated unnecessarily.
It was very interesting and informative.
Check it out.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Busy...
It's been awhile. Things have been fairly busy lately. We should be getting back on schedule this week.
Blessings.
Blessings.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The 'S' Word
SNOW! SNOW! My kids are loving that they are out of school today. I guess more time for family and studying today. That's good because it is shaping up to be a somewhat busy week.
I'm not a big fan of cold weather or snow, but the Lord uses it to slow me down sometimes...to take stock of what's happening in my life and even get my attention sometimes to remind me that the world will be fine since He is the one who is in control.
Have a great day today and read a little.
I'm not a big fan of cold weather or snow, but the Lord uses it to slow me down sometimes...to take stock of what's happening in my life and even get my attention sometimes to remind me that the world will be fine since He is the one who is in control.
Have a great day today and read a little.
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