Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
What doctrines make you blush?
You know how it is.
You're just about to sit down to dinner when the doorbell rings. There, at the door...everyone's worst "just-about-to-sit-down-to-dinner" nightmare - Mormon missionaries.
That's what happened to me last week. However I was in the mood to engage our young friends. We got into a good discussion and I raised the question...
"Do you believe that there is only one God?"
Almost without hesitation, Elder Hall (I believe that was on his nametag) replied, "Yes!" Before he could continue I said, "No, no. I know you are going to say that we have one God for this world, but do you believe that there are many more gods besides this one? Don't you believe that you too have the potential to be a god?"
His head dropped and he looked toward the ground. "Well, um, yes..."
Last week I had the opportunity of having lunch with Chip Thompson, our missionary to Mormons in Utah. He was recounting how he got tickets into the General Conference of the LDS church in Salt Lake City. He was surprised at how openly they talked about doctrines in the conference like the one which our Mormon missionary blushed at. According to Chip, Mormons are reluctant to discuss these doctrines outside Mormon circles. He explained it as them being a bit ashamed of their strange doctrines. I suppose I would be self-conscious too if I really believed that I was going to be a god with a world of my own.
As I reflected on my encounter last night, I wondered if there are any doctrines that I am ashamed of.
I finished an article recently written by Wayne Grudem. He was addressing evangelical scholars about how seriously they took the Scriptures. Sure they all professed belief that "the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written", but did they believe it to the degree that they recognized it as the authority source for truth in confronting many modern issues? Did they believe it to the extent they they would faithfully quote from it, refer to it, and declare its truths to the unbelieving world?
Perhaps we who subscribe to such a glorious doctrine as the doctrine of the God-breathed Scriptures feel a bit foolish saying as much to a world which will not receive those who hold such a position graciously. If we really believe we hold God's words in our hands, should we be timid? Is it right for us to blush at this doctrine? We should rather joyfully proclaim our belief without reservation or hesitation.
We have nothing to be ashamed of. Indeed, we have everything to be confident of because we have God's Word and it is sufficient to address every need. Do you believe that?
You're just about to sit down to dinner when the doorbell rings. There, at the door...everyone's worst "just-about-to-sit-down-to-dinner" nightmare - Mormon missionaries.
That's what happened to me last week. However I was in the mood to engage our young friends. We got into a good discussion and I raised the question...
"Do you believe that there is only one God?"
Almost without hesitation, Elder Hall (I believe that was on his nametag) replied, "Yes!" Before he could continue I said, "No, no. I know you are going to say that we have one God for this world, but do you believe that there are many more gods besides this one? Don't you believe that you too have the potential to be a god?"
His head dropped and he looked toward the ground. "Well, um, yes..."
Last week I had the opportunity of having lunch with Chip Thompson, our missionary to Mormons in Utah. He was recounting how he got tickets into the General Conference of the LDS church in Salt Lake City. He was surprised at how openly they talked about doctrines in the conference like the one which our Mormon missionary blushed at. According to Chip, Mormons are reluctant to discuss these doctrines outside Mormon circles. He explained it as them being a bit ashamed of their strange doctrines. I suppose I would be self-conscious too if I really believed that I was going to be a god with a world of my own.
As I reflected on my encounter last night, I wondered if there are any doctrines that I am ashamed of.
I finished an article recently written by Wayne Grudem. He was addressing evangelical scholars about how seriously they took the Scriptures. Sure they all professed belief that "the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written", but did they believe it to the degree that they recognized it as the authority source for truth in confronting many modern issues? Did they believe it to the extent they they would faithfully quote from it, refer to it, and declare its truths to the unbelieving world?
Perhaps we who subscribe to such a glorious doctrine as the doctrine of the God-breathed Scriptures feel a bit foolish saying as much to a world which will not receive those who hold such a position graciously. If we really believe we hold God's words in our hands, should we be timid? Is it right for us to blush at this doctrine? We should rather joyfully proclaim our belief without reservation or hesitation.
We have nothing to be ashamed of. Indeed, we have everything to be confident of because we have God's Word and it is sufficient to address every need. Do you believe that?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Gospel-Driven Church: A Missional Way for the Pro-Life Passion
The Gospel-Driven Church: A Missional Way for the Pro-Life Passion
by Jared Wilson
Let me lay my cards on the table:
1) If you put overturning Roe v. Wade to a popular vote, I'm in line early ready to vote in favor of protecting the approximately one million unborn babies killed each year, and if you're a politician, the best way to lose my vote is to align with the pro-choice agenda.
2) Nevertheless, I don't believe laws -- or the protests and petitions and politicking that seek to achieve them -- are how we are going to eradicate abortion. Overturning Roe v. Wade is a win -- and it's a win we should work for -- but in my way of thinking, it is notthe win.
The emancipation of the slaves was necessary. But it didn't end racism.
I am not proposing an either/or. What I'm proposing is that evangelicals take the harder route, adopt the harder cause, that we aim for Spiritual change of hearts more than we aim for legal stay of hands.
1) If you put overturning Roe v. Wade to a popular vote, I'm in line early ready to vote in favor of protecting the approximately one million unborn babies killed each year, and if you're a politician, the best way to lose my vote is to align with the pro-choice agenda.
2) Nevertheless, I don't believe laws -- or the protests and petitions and politicking that seek to achieve them -- are how we are going to eradicate abortion. Overturning Roe v. Wade is a win -- and it's a win we should work for -- but in my way of thinking, it is notthe win.
The emancipation of the slaves was necessary. But it didn't end racism.
I am not proposing an either/or. What I'm proposing is that evangelicals take the harder route, adopt the harder cause, that we aim for Spiritual change of hearts more than we aim for legal stay of hands.
Read the rest of the article here
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
God-Centered Transformation
"When the child of God looks into the Word of God and sees the Son of God he is changed into the image of God by the Spirit of God for the glory of God." -Warren Wiersbe (as shared by Joe Humrichous last night in our Prayer Conference)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Christ Magnified
What makes a person a Christian? This is a question which the eminent Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) takes up in a chapter of his book Revival. Before he answers the question in the positive, he details what a Christian is not:There are so many false notions current today as to what a Christian is. Some may say that a Christian is a good man. Yes, but there are many good men who are not Christians. Others say that a Christian is a man who has had a marvelous experience. Ah yes, but there are cults that can give people experiences, and they are very wonderful. A Christian, says another, is a man whose life has been entirely changed. I know, but the psycho-therapists can do that and the cults can do that. Then again, a Christian, according to some people, is a man who has taken a decision. Yes, but you can tale many sorts of decisions to be better and to live better, and to join a church, and to do a thousand and one other things, yet clearly there are many people who have done all that and still are not Christians. Well, other maintain, a Christian is one who has had some sort of a vision, who has seen a ball of light or something like that. No, there are many people who have had that kind of experience but who clearly cannot be admitted as Christians. They do not believe the very elements of the Christian faith...So I am not prepared to accept any of these statements as being determinative of whether we are Christians or not. (pp. 239-240)This past Sunday morning, we looked in Philippians at Paul's vision of Christ as it is displayed chapter-by-chapter. Paul moved from the Gospel of Christ (chapter 1), to the humility of Christ (2), the knowledge of Christ (3), and the Strength of Christ (4). Jesus dominated the Apostle Paul's life. So much so that he would write "it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (1:19-20) This is what makes a Christian. To be born again is to understand the significance of who Jesus is and what He has done for you and for the world. It is to see the glory of God in the Person and Work of Christ. It is to yearn for Christ's glory to be magnified in your life. Listen to how Dr. Jones answers the question What makes a Christian?
What is it, then, that makes a man a Christian? Well, surely it is the realisation of the fact that God has given a revelation of his own glory in the face of Jesus Christ: 'God who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined in our hearts...' - what for? - 'to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' A Christian is a man who believers that. A Christian is a man who has experienced that in a measure, or to a certain extent. This is the thing that constitutes the Christian. Not a change of life, or habits or of behaviour. Not merely being religious, not merely attempting to worship God. No, it is the realisation that God has done this, has given this manifestation of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. (p. 240)May Christ dominate our vision and may we continually have our eyes opened to see His glory!
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