Micah 6:8

Worship

You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.Deut 12:31

This is interesting instruction that Moses gave to the Israelites just before they were to head into the promised land. The promised land was full of people that worshipped all sorts of different idols and God knew that these idols would be appealing to them. Not only were the Israelites instructed not to worship their idols but they were also instructed to not try to worship the Lord in the ways in which the pagans worshipped their idols. God was picky. He had certain ways in which he thought that he should be honoured.

While we are under a different covenant we can still know from this verse and similar verses that God has expectations about how he is to be worshipped. We need to be careful not to look at the world around us and see how they are living and then try to do their things in a worshipful sort of way. Seeking the things of this world with thanksgiving to God in our hearts is not the same as giving up our worldly pleasures for the sake of his kingdom. One is acceptable worship of God and the other is not. Watching movies with lusty scenes with the pretence of being in the world is not the same as being without a hint of sexual immorality. God has standards for our worship and it requires substantial life change and sacrifice. Christians can not just change their attitude by which they do things and expect their worship to be pleasing to God. The actual things that you do must be different then the things that non-Christians do. We can not imitate the world in our worship of God. We must turn to the Bible and see how God would have us worship and honour him.

Meat and Charity

For a long time I've known that regular meat consumption in our western diets causes inflation of world grain prices. Each pound of meat that we eat requires several pounds of grain to be put into the feeding of that animal. Consequently this puts a huge demand on the demand for grain in the world market causing prices to rise leaving the poorest people without access to necessary staples. While I don't know how much good having our family minimize our meat consumption that is what we have done in order to be an example and to stand out apart from our culture of waste.

Recently I read an article written by an alert-net blogger, Tim Large, on how meat production also takes many times more water then agricultural production. I hadn't thought about that before. For me I don't think that it's such a big deal since water is in abundance over here on the wet coast of Canada and is not very practical to ship to where it is needed. For other people who live where water is more scarce this should cause some thought. If we truly care about our fellow brothers and sisters around us shouldn't we be willing to sacrifice a little meat on their behalf? If you live in a wet climate please consider cutting back significantly on meat in order to do your part in lower world grain prices for the poor. Also consider fasting for awhile in solidarity with the world poor.

While Jesus' call was primarily evangelistic our transformation into godliness should make us more compassionate towards the poor and marginalized. True holiness is inseparable from active love and generosity on behalf of those that are suffering. Too often the western church turns a blind eye on poverty and gives a pittance if anything towards charity. Here is what God has to say: "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27 NET) Let us commit to do better.

Missionaries and Evangelism

I found an interesting blog today. I absolutely love missionary blogs especially ones like this one from missionaries that have gained a real perspective on what Christianity is really about. They give me such encouragement. One day we hope to end up in the developing world as long term medical missionaries, hopefully healing the body and soul. In the meantime I'll have to get my fill from blogging missionaries. If you know of any good ones please let me know.

One particularly interesting blog post on Kevin from South America's blog, entitled, "On Being Light" was quite challenging to me. My heart longs to go out into the streets here and spread the light like Kevin did in a slum of a mega-city in South America. I know that what he did there could just as easily be done here. I don't need to go overseas to share the gospel. Honestly, I'm afraid. I don't know how to approach people and start conversations. I'm bursting at the seems to share the wonderful gospel with people but I don't know how to start. Do any of you have experience with this sort of evangelism?

Great post on the vice of materialism

Michael Spencer, aka the Internet Monk, has a great post on his blog about the trap of materialism and how it's often ignored in our culture. He follows up with some challenging question that are worth asking yourself. Here is a preview of what he has to say.

What interests me is how Americans Christians have largely exempted an equally corrupting common set of sins from these same kinds of evangelical efforts at mutual sanctification. Where are the vows and communities aimed at helping us live free from the corrosion of materialism? Where is the peer pressure for what Piper calls “wartime living and giving?” Where is the recognition that Jesus taught many explicit and unmistakable things about possessions, money and materialism?

Wesley on Money

Joel and I taught a class this morning. We focused a lot of the discussion on Jesus' call on us to give of ourselves and our resources. John Wesley was a great role model in this area. Here is what he had to say about our use of money:

Gain all you can, without hurting either yourself or your neighbour, in soul or body, by applying hereto with unintermitted diligence, and with all the understanding which God has given you;-- save all you can, by cutting off every expense which serves only to indulge foolish desire; to gratify either the desire of flesh, the desire of the eye, or the pride of life; waste nothing, living or dying, on sin or folly, whether for yourself or your children;-- and then, give all you can, or, in other words, give all you have to God.

Read the rest of his sermon here.

Denied Yourself of Anything Lately?

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Matt 16:24,25

These are some of my favorite verses. I think that Jesus shows really well here that faith in him that is saving is faith that is willing to surrender everything to him. One of the teachers at the bible school that I went to used to like to say that it is easy to die for Jesus then it is to live for him. When Jesus says that we must lose our lives for him he is not just referring to physical martyrdom but also to an intentional surrender of everything that defines our life. This is just a theoretical surrender but a surrender that will actually change how you live. For example, everyone should evaluate their career and decide whether it is the best way that they could be serving God. Even if you like your job and it pays well if you could be doing something more productive for the kingdom of God then you should change. This is true for everything in life. This is what Jesus means by deny yourself. Our selfish nature requires that in order to serve God's kingdom as much as possible we are going to have to make sacrifices and deny ourselves of things that we would rather be doing. Following Jesus is not just about learning to be good but learning to give more and more to his kingdom.What have you given up lately?

The Sixth Commandment

My children at a peace march earlier this year.

All that we are for the King

I recently started reading Charles Spurgeon devotions that are sent to my each morning. They are fantastic devotions that spur me on to action; nothing like the fluffy crap that we typically call devotions. Here's my entire morning devotion from today. It's so good that I wanted to share all of it.

"In the evening withhold not thy hand."
--Ecclesiastes 11:6

In the evening of the day opportunities are plentiful: men return from their labour, and the zealous soul-winner finds time to tell abroad the love of Jesus. Have I no evening work for Jesus? If I have not, let me no longer withhold my hand from a service which requires abundant labour. Sinners are perishing for lack of knowledge; he who loiters may find his skirts crimson with the blood of souls. Jesus gave both His hands to the nails, how can I keep back one of mine from His blessed work? Night and day He toiled and prayed for me, how can I give a single hour to the pampering of my flesh with luxurious ease? Up, idle heart; stretch out thy hand to work, or uplift it to pray; heaven and hell are in earnest, let me be so, and this evening sow good seed for the Lord my God.

The evening of life has also its calls. Life is so short that a morning of manhood's vigour, and an evening of decay, make the whole of it. To some it seems long, but a four-pence is a great sum of money to a poor man. Life is so brief that no man can afford to lose a day. It has been well said that if a great king should bring us a great heap of gold, and bid us take as much as we could count in a day, we should make a long day of it; we should begin early in the morning, and in the evening we should not withhold our hand; but to win souls is far nobler work, how is it that we so soon withdraw from it? Some are spared to a long evening of green old age; if such be my case, let me use such talents as I still retain, and to the last hour serve my blessed and faithful Lord. By His grace I will die in harness, and lay down my charge only when I lay down my body. Age may instruct the young, cheer the faint, and encourage the desponding; if eventide has less of vigorous heat, it should have more of calm wisdom, therefore in the evening I will not withhold my hand.

I'm so challenged by this. The question "how can I give a single hour to the pampering of my flesh with luxurious ease" gets right to the point. I've been so lazy and reluctant to really get to the work of Christ and yet I deceive myself to think that I am wise. What am I doing with my time? In the house church on Sunday we were talking about the Rev 3:17 and 19

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

One guy there was asking how do we buy gold refined in the fire. I've been thinking about that and I think that the answer is found in verse 17. I think that we ought to take our wealth and time and everything that we have and use it for God's kingdom. Then we are buy treasures in heaven.

The fact of the matter is that this is not a real choice. Freedom in Christ means that we have freedom from sin not the freedom to do as we wish with our time. Not doing everything that we can for Christ is sin. We are not our own. We have been bought at a price and we are slaves of Christ. If I bought a slave to further my kingdom and he chose to do whatever he wanted 3/4 of the time but was nice and moral during that time I would not be happy. As a slave I owe everything. Nothing is mine to seek my own enjoyment from. Thankfully though slaves of Christ are the most joyful people on earth. Nothing could be happier then serving the king.

To Confront or Not to Confront

My sister in law Katie is facing a dilemma that she's written about over on her blog. Basically she's faced with a situation where she believes strongly that a lot Christians around her are sinning but not aware of it. She wants to know if she should confront them on it. I've posted my opinion. What do you all think?

Witnessing Jesus' Style

Consider the following hypothetical situation.

Friend: Joe, I've been thinking. I've always tried to be a good guy. I never lie, cheat or steal but somehow I still don't feel like I measure up to God's standards. What do I have to do to go heaven?
Joe Christian: Well my friend, you're right that you can never meet God's standards. The bible says that we are all sinners and that the only way that we can be saved and go to heaven is by believing in Jesus and repenting of our sin. Jesus took our punishment for us when he died on the cross. This gift is free to anyone that is willing to surrender to him. Jesus will then help you by his spirit to grow more like him everyday.
Friend: That sounds great! What a gift. I'm going to do this right now.

Is Joe's friend saved? Maybe. Joe certainly gave a decent response but I don't think that he was explicit enough. Unfortunately he didn't help his friends count the cost of what true surrender would really entail. Now consider how Jesus responded to a similar question.

Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.

How many people in our churches would have turned away from Christianity if the person who initially witnessed to them told them that they needed to go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. We ought to be careful that we don't let people that would have walked away from Jesus think that they have become Christians.

A quote by Rich Mullins? to ponder: "You guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy, too...But I guess that's why God invented highlighters, so we can highlight the parts we like and ignore the rest."

Thoughts on a Recent Comment

I had a comment on my post "Why I am a Pro-Life Activist". I want to share it, and my response, with everyone. It defintely fueled some good thought for me.

I am very torn on the issue of perspective.

On the one-hand you have, as you say, the life an unborn child. On the other hand, you have the woman's freedom to carry or not carry the unborn child.

I think to argue that "life" should be given priority over "freedom" is over-simplistic. For example, thousands are dying in Africa for basic lack of water, food, etc. Should we send America's rich people to prison unless they all of their money to these causes at least until those people are no longer dying? Why is a woman who is impregnated through rape any more responsible for the life of another than, say, a millionaire who gives nothing to help the starving in Africa?

So, I'm on the fence on this one, putting me in an extreme minority of Americans. The one thing that I think pro-life and pro-choice should agree on however is that the number of abortions should be minimized. If pro-lifers want to meet that goal, they ought to spend less time picketing and more time letting young unwed mothers know that, if they have the baby, their needs and the needs of their baby will be adequately met. I'm amazed how the "religious right" cares an awful lot about the lives of babies up until birth, but after that, do not expect any handouts.

Thank you for your feedback on this issue. I'm definitely open to having rational conversations with people about this topic.

I think that the problem with your argument is that there is a difference between neglect causing death and active killing. Our laws acknowledge this as well. With abortion there is someone actively taking the life of another human being. How would you feel about someone arguing that mothers had no responsibility to feed their babies? They could argue that it wasn't their body and therefore they could just be grossly neglectful of their children. Obviously most people would think that this would be insane. Interestingly enough, though, we would convict someone who is grossly neglectful of a dependent and inadvertently cause their death with a different crime then someone that actively does it. I think that abortion is a situation where someone is actively taking the life of another person. While I think that all abortion is wrong, I also think that there are different levels of guilt for those who have abortions based on how much they know of what they are doing and how pressured they are by life situations. In this regard, I don't think that abortion is directly parallel to someone who sneaks up on an unsuspecting child and shoots them in the head. Both kill a child but one assailant is likely more aware of what they are doing.

Personally, I also think that people should be willing to sacrifice their comfortable lifestyles for the sake of those that are starving in other countries. A big part of my blog is trying to encourage people, but especially Christians, to do just that. While I know that you're not a Christian I want to point out that this is what the Bible instructs people to do. Jesus says that we are to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. How are we loving others as we love ourselves if we live in luxury while other are starving? 1 John 3:17 asks, "if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?". I think that the calling of Christ is to do as much good for others as we possibly can. Out of appreciation for what God has done for me and in recognition that I am no better then anyone else I seek to love others as he loves us.

The more that I think about it the more I realize that neglecting charity is essentially gross neglect causing death. If someone left a child on my doorstep and I left it out in the cold to die this would essentially be no different then refusing to help others across the world. I guess that this situation also comes down to ones level of awareness of their crime although I don't think that is why the crimes are handled differently by the law. I think that the reason that we have laws against the one and not the other is that our laws are set up to protect our society rather then people. This is why we have tax funded social programs, which are basically mandated charity, but we only give a token for international aid. This is why we have minimum wage for our people but our happy inflicting sweat shop labour on other people. In my opinion, this is also why we have legal abortion but illegal homicide of other people.

The Ironies of Life

While I was shopping yesterday, I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a new SUV that said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. - Mother Teresa". We don't have a large pro-life population around here so it stood out to me. I wanted to know whose vehical it was and encourage them to keep on fighting. When I mentioned it to Joel, he pointed out the irony in the fact that the money used to buy their vehical could have gone to save the lives of children. As a consequence of the way that they are choosing to live, people are not being helped that otherwise could have been. Potentially, children are dying that could have otherwise been saved.

I think that this illustrates my feelings that the pro-life community should be more holistic in it's approach. Really I think that all Christians, not just the pro-life community, has the responsibility to do as much as it can for those in need. I'm anti-abortion but also anti-war and anti-poverty. How can we really claim to care about life when we're not willing to acknowledge that our own actions, or lack of action, affects the well being of others? Of course we all screw up and hurt others but more specifically I'm thinking about how our use of resources can significantly impact the lives of others. Five dollars can feed a family for a day or buy you a Starbucks coffee or a meal at McDonalds. I struggle with using my time to bring glory to God. I'm much too lazy. There are a lot of good things that I could be doing to help others that I never seem to be able to commit to doing. None of us are perfect but let us not give up seeking to be so.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt 5:48

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. James 4:17

Subversive Christianity

In our church meeting this afternoon we were discussing the subversive nature of Christianity. I've thought about this before but hadn't thought about it much recently. It was good to revisit it because I think that it is at the heart of the gospel.

In a lot of circles Christianity is treated as something that we can add onto our lives. Lets face it. We've all done this at one time or another. We often treat God as though if we believe the right things, pray regularly, try to avoid certain sins, and be loving to others we can please him. I think that this is a subtle lie. Jesus calls us to radically overhaul our lives, die to self. I think that this means that we can't add good behaviour and beliefs onto our lives to be in good shape. We need to drop all ambitions, hopes, dreams, and plans. We have to ask what is the best thing that we could be doing rather then whether this is an acceptable thing to be doing. These are very different questions with very different answers but easy to confuse.

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this. How is this subversive? I think that it is because when we start to really seek God's kingdom first we are putting aside the world's values. This says to people that their way of doing things is not good. When I run against the flow of society people know that I'm doing it for a reason and that I disagree with them. For example, when I choose to not slowly make my home nicer by buying better furniture, nicer decorations, and replacing odd dishes because I would rather give my time and money to the kingdom, I make people who do these things uncomfortable. Our lifestyles should convict other people of their sin.

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 2 Cor 2:15,16

Thoughts on the (mis-)celebration of Christmas

Here is a blog entry that my husband wrote on our church blog. I'm including it here in it entirety because I agree with it and I like him :)

Imagine for a moment that you are driving along a busy highway. Without warning, a vehicle a short distance in front of you spins out of control. Despite your best efforts, you and a number of other vehicles around you are involved in the resulting crash. Due to where you were in relation to the other vehicles, you survive the accident completely unhurt and with only minor damage to your vehicle. However as you overcome your shock and look around, you notice that one of the vehicles involved in the accident was a motorcycle. The motorcycle appears to have been caught between two large cars that were also involved in the crash. The motorcycle rider lies bleeding and unconscious several metres from the seriously damaged motorcycle. As well, you notice that the driver of the vehicle that originally spun out of control is slumped over his steering wheel, seemingly unconscious. You see that several other drivers appear to have been injured also. As you climb out of your car to see what you can do to help, a close friend who is a paramedic runs up. Your friend had fortunately been driving by when the accident occurred. Surprised to see you, your friend runs over to see if you are injured. You quickly reassure him that, besides being a bit shaken up, you are fine. Your friend tells you that since you are obviously under considerable stress, he would like you to sit down so that he can give you a back massage. As you get over your initial shock at such a suggestion, you hurriedly point out the badly injured motorcyclist, the unconscious driver and the other injured people at the accident scene. However, your friend tells you that although the other people at the scene obviously need his help, he is primarily concerned with helping you since you are his close friend and he doesn't even know these other people.

Although this situation seems absurd and it is hard to imagine something like this ever happening, this is essentially how most people in Western nations celebrate Christmas. Despite the fact that countless people around the world are in desperate need of help, most people choose to give lavish and usually unnecessary gifts to their close friends and family instead of helping those who really need gifts.

Jesus gave himself as a gift we can not repay to meet our greatest need. It is sadly ironic that so many celebrate his birth by giving unneeded gifts to those who can easily repay the kindness.

He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you host a dinner or a banquet, don't invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." -Jesus (Luke 14:12-14, NET)

Husbands and Wives

Another issue that I run into when I think about gender is God's role for each gender in marriage. I read the bible and I know that a wife should submit to her husband and the the husband is the head of the house. How should this practically play itself out. In my marriage I would say that Joel is dominant. He's definitely not domineering or aggressive just dominant. We discuss any larger decisions but usually we end up going his direction. This isn't because I'm passive or a doormat. It's just that usually I see that his way is better. He also tends to have a bigger picture view when it comes to decisions that need to be made. I respect this aspect in him. In these ways I think that he is the head of our house.

Submission in marriage is hard for me to do. The majority of the time we just discuss things and come to a mutual agreement. We have rarely had situations where he has actually told me to do something and he's never told me 'this is the way it's going to be'. The handful of times where Joel has told me what to do have been in situations where after the fact I can see that it was totally warranted. I think that it has always been in big fights where I've lost all perspective and I'm being a big fat butt head. He's told me to that I need to go take some time to gather myself before I do anything else that I'll regret. Unfortunately I've dismally failed at submitting in these situations.

Really I think that a lot of this comes down to respect. Joel is the best husband I could ever imagine. He's gentle and yet firm. He calls me into line when necessary. I want to show him the respect that he deserves. Do any of you have thoughts on the roles in marriage. Either insights from the bible or just your opinions are welcome.

Sexual Immorality and Sin in the Church

Over the last year I've been aware of several different incidences of sexual immorality within different churches. In one situation a new immigrant was living with a girl friend here while his wife was still back in his home country. He told his pastor that the woman was only a roommate. The pastor believed him and was willing to baptize him as a new believer. The crazy thing about this story is that the pastor knew that they were sharing a bed together.

In another situation a friend of mine told me that her sister had become a Christian. When I asked her if she had moved out from her boyfriend's place (and his bed) she tried to assure me that her sister wasn't having sex. This girl had even been caught with birth control on hand and had come up with some excuse as to why she had them. This story is really hard for me to swallow.

Also, my best friend (besides my husband) became pregnant while engaged. Her church's response was to remove her from her role as a Sunday school teacher. She was fairly sure in the situation that the reason that she was removed was because it would upset the parents if she was to remain the position. Nothing else was done or said about the pregnancy.

In the situations where people were claiming to be abstinent I recognize that it is a theoretical possibility. It just seems either very naive to believe that or very wishful. I think that we need to have more nerve to face people when they present us with these tales.

I think that this lack of concern about sexual immorality is just a symptom of an underlying problem. I think that the underlying problem is that most of the church as we know it is afraid to deal with sin in any substantial way. What I mean by this is that we are unwilling to purge the rebellious that are among us and those in roles of preaching are often unwilling to speak against sin that is common in our society. Consider, when was the last time that you heard a sermon about greed, sexual immorality, obeying traffic laws or downloading mp3's? So much of the focus of sermons seems to be about the different blessings that God offers us who believe.

When I've confronted people with sin it's often been excused on the basis that no body is perfect. While I acknowledge that that is true, our standard is perfection. God commands us to be perfect. I recognize that nobody can achieve this standard but we shouldn't except this as an excuse for not trying in ourselves or in others.

I think that the heart of this issue has to do with how we view God's holiness. When we view God as our chum who helps us we tend to forget that he is a holy God that despises sin. We need to remember our place before him. We are wretched, pitiful little worms that were forgiven only because God had mercy on us and was willing to suffer in our place. When I remember this I am more willing and able to acknowledge that my sin spits in the face of that gift. No amount of sin is too small to ignore. It's repulsive to God and it should be to us as well.

Conflict

We were talking about conflict in our church group yesterday about how conflict is handled within our culture and within the church. Within the church we have a morbid fear of conflict. Our consumeristic approach to church leads people to leave a church when interpersonal conflict arises. Because of this many church leaders fear creating conflict and desperately work to produce a sense of peace within the congregation. Sin is not dealt with in many of these situations because it means that conflict will arise. In many churches that I have been in, sermon after sermon is about God's love, grace, peace or other good things but without equal attention given to our sin and responsibilities this lead to lazy sinful Christians. Then when someone is actively sinning they are often excused to avoid conflict. There are definitely some sins that get attention and for the most part will be dealt with such as adultery or alcoholism but when was the last time you saw someone disfellowshiped for greed? 1 Cor 5:11 says that they should be.

Another problem is that we keep people at an arms length because when people get too close then conflict will inevitably rear it's head. This weakens our ministry to others. We are to be united in Christ and this unity is a powerful witness to the world. As people are hungry for community united inviting Christians are a powerful way to draw people to the gospel. I know that it was the loving nature of Christians that drew me to Christ. Imagine how much more powerful our witness would be if we were united in deep love for one another.

What I don't know is where the line between confrontation and accepting the other the person where they are should be. My family never had any problem confronting each other over anything that even slightly annoyed us (usually in a not so nice way). I'm trying to learn when to bite my tongue and when to speak up for the truth.

The Fight Against Godzilla

I've really been thinking a lot lately about what it means to submit ourselves fully to the Lordship of Jesus. What would my life look like? What would I do with my time? I think that the more that learn to submit the more my life will be focused on God's priorities for my life. We know from the two greatest commands that our first two priorities should be to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. I think that the question that we should be asking ourselves is "what would God most like me to do with my time, money, etc.?". The answer to this question is what you should be doing.

My biggest trouble is trying to figure out and be faithful to what God would have me do with my time. I don't know how many days go by where I realize that for the vast majority of the day I was focused on myself. Much of, if not all of the time that I spend doing something for God is mingled with selfishness. Why did I decide to serve God in a particular way? Probably because it was the easiest way or at least a way that I didn't mind. I think that my selfishness is blinding me in trying to figure out what God wants me to do. I don't want to hear that he wants me to live downtown east-side (where the prostitutes and drug addicts live) or something scary like that so I don't genuinely ask what he would most like me to do. I feel like trying to stifle my selfishness is like trying to defend myself from Godzilla with a wooden spoon.

Shoulds and Should Nots

So much Christian talk is about what we shouldn't do. I think that it's a lot easier to discuss these things then to discuss what we should be doing. People get really defensive if you start discussing shoulds. They say things like "you don't know what God has specifically called me to" or "everybody's Christian walk looks different so you shouldn't judge that person for what they are not doing". I think that this a form of Christian relativism. Essentially they are saying that what's right for you is not necessarily right for them. This is a faulty argument. Let me give you an extreme example. If you told me that you didn't pray I'd tell you that you should. I'm going to tell you that I know that God has not called you to a prayerless Christian life and that your Christian walk should not look like that. Why then if I tell you that you should give your excess money to help those in need rather then spending it on yourself do you get defensive? God is clear that this is expected. If you are to love your neighbour as you love yourself then you will feed and clothe your neighbour as you would feed and clothe yourself. I'd like to see more discussion about what we should be doing rather then watching the church atrophy further into a position where everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes.

Why my heart aches

The picture to the right is of a Sudanese boy at Bredjing refugee camp in eastern Chad, on July 26, 2004. (Photo: Desirey Minkoh/AFP-Getty Images)

I read this article this morning and it made me sad. I get so emotional when I think about the gross suffering in these sorts of situations due to systemic injustice. I think that what makes me the saddest is to realize that there is only so much that I can do to help and that this sort of suffering will continue in different forms until the return of Jesus. I can help relieve the suffering of some individuals but I can't end the injustice that causes suffering. I'm also sad because I know that there are so many Christians that choose to not to think about suffering and choose not to help. If you followed the link, did you click away from it because you didn't want to think about it? If you choose to spend money on yourself simply for your own pleasure you are allowing God's precious children like the boy at the top of this entry to suffer and possibly die. Can you justify that?

I'm crying as I write this because I feel so strongly for the victims of injustice and yet I know that I can't change your hearts. All the eloquent words in the world can't change you. Only God can. I long for a church that sees its calling to help the poor and oppressed. I long for friends that understand why Joel and I choose to spend as little money as absolutly possible. I long for friends that not only understand us on an intellectual level but who will walk with us down
this road.

Thankfully I can put my hope in Jesus. Here is a prophecy of Isaiah that Matthew attributes to Jesus that I find very encouraging.

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or taise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In the law the islands will put their hope." Isa 42:1-4

Our Missional Assignment

Here is an interesting exert that I found on the Dying Church.

The North American Church is suffering from severe mission amnesia. It has forgotten why it exists. The church was created to be the people of God to join him in his redemptive mission to the world. The church was never intended to exist for itself. It was and is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ. Its union with him is designed for reproduction, the growth of the kingdom. Jesus does not teach his disciples to pray, "Thy church come." The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional preoccupation the church has abandoned its real identity and reason for existence.

God did not give up on his mission in the Old Testament, when Israel refused to partner with God. God is a reckless lover. He decided to go on with the mission himself. We do not need to be mistaken about this: if the church refuses its missional assignment, God will do it another way. The church has, and he is. God is pulling end runs around the institutional North American church to get people in the streets. God is inviting us to join him on mission, but it is the invitation to be part of a movement, not a religious club. (Reggie McNeal, The Present Future)

I agree with what is said here but I want to add a few things. I think that the reason that the church is suffering from "missional amnesia" is that the individuals within the church are suffering from the same condition. The individuals have forgotton why they exist. We have been called to join God's redemptive mission to the world. We were never intended to become Christians for our own benefit. We have been chosen to work towards the expansion of God's kingdom. Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray, "Thy blessings come". The kingdom is the destination. In our self-focused preoccupation we have abandoned our real identity and reason for existance. If we do not learn to focus our attention and lives on building God's kingdom he will do it without us.

Worship Through Death

I found this quote on the Connexions blog.

Why did Christ come? Why was He conceived? Why was He born? Why was He crucified? Why did He rise again? Why is He now at the right hand of the Father? The answer to all these questions is, "in order that He might make worshipers out of rebels; in order that He might restore us again to the place of worship we knew when we were first created."

Now because we were created to worship, worship is the normal employment of moral beings. It's the normal employment, not something stuck on or added, like listening to a concert or admiring flowers. It is something that is built into human nature. ~ A. W. Tozer (1879-1963)

I agree with everything that Tozer says here but I think that he forgets to point out that worship is NOT just about singing songs or praise although that can be a part of it. Worship is about giving up our selfish ambition and desires for the sake of the gospel.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Rom 12:1,2

Notice that the verse calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifes not just as a sacrifice. We our constantly to be putting to death all desires that take priority over God and his kingdom. I think that we often hear that our salvation is found in surrendoring our lives to Christ but there is a huge emphasis on it being a one time event. I argue that to be in a state of worship we must be constantly in a place of death. Our priorities must become God's priorities in order to truely worship him.

To Become Like a Child

I was watching my kids play in the mud today and it made me think about how kids don't mind being dirty. Faith was smearing the mud on her legs and Paul was eating it. They were really quite a sight. We teach kids as they age that dirt is bad and it's better to avoid it. Why? Mainly because it's unattractive. I think that it's the same with sin. My kids show no pretense about their selfishness. When things don't go their way they whine, throw temper tantrums, scream, bite, hit, shove, etc. In a way, we teach children phoniness. We teach them to internalize their sin. When they feel hateful we teach them not to show it by their actions. I think this is somewhat unavoidable. You can't teach a one year old to love their sibling because Jesus loves them. My point, and I do have one, is that I think that the natural order leads to hypocrisy. I put on my good face when I'm in public. I would like to learn to be vulnerable, transparent, and willing to show people my dirt again like my children.

Food as our Idol

I've been thinking about food lately. Something that I've noticed that I've never been aware of before is just how obsessed our culture is with eating good tasting food. It seems as though people try to move from one taste experience to another. Some people do this by eating out a lot; others do it by experimenting with recipes at home. I know that I've been guilty of putting too much energy into ensuring that my family and I got good tasting food. I spent hours upon hours looking through recipe books and trying new recipes.

I think that in some ways this drive for taste and satisfaction has become an idol in many of our lives. It certainly has consumed too much of my attention and money at times. Like similar idols such as the drive to own more I've found that it has never left me satisfied. What I enjoyed last week now tastes bland. I think that we need to break out of these habits and mindsets and start viewing food more pragmatically.

While the obsession itself is a problem, I think there are several secondary problems that stem from it. Obesity is the first obvious problem. Obesity hinders us from doing all the God would like for us to be doing. I've been overweight in the past and certainly attest to the fact that I did not have as much energy as I do now at a more healthy weight.

Another problem is that we consume more than our fair share of the world's resources. This occurs in a couple of ways. The first most obvious way in which we do this is just simply that money we spend on food beyond what we need for basic nutrition could have been used to feed those that don't have enough. We can do this by eating too much food or by eating food that is more expensive then other food that would provide adequate nutrition. For example, if I buy gala apples instead of red delicious apples even though they are more expensive just because I like them better then I am being wasteful with my money. Similarly, prepared food (for the most part), junk food and candy are all also wasteful. Since the world and it's resources has been given to all, if we take more then our fair share we are stealing from those who don't have enough and thus we sin.

Another way in which we take more than our fair share of resources is through the amount of meat that we consume. Each pound of commercial meat that we eat takes several pounds worth of grain in feeding the animal. When we continue to buy this meat we put a demand on the market for more grain fed animals and thus more waste.

Consuming cash crops also leaches resources unfairly. When I buy sugar, cocoa, coffee, coconut, bananas or any other cash crop I take advantage of cheap labour in foreign poorer countries and their land that could have been used to feed them. So far I've found that it is possible to eat nutritiously and avoid all cash crops from grocery shopping if I'm careful. Some people argue that if everyone was to do this then the people would have no jobs instead of poor jobs. I think that this might happen temporarily as companies that own the land are forced to leave but then I believe the land would be redistributed to the people. Maybe this is simplistic but as far as I can tell it's better then encouraging the current levels of exploitation.

When we obsess over food we also end up wasting our time. When I think of all the time that I spent planning, preparing and eating for pleasure I realize that I've wasted so much time that could have been spent on building the kingdom of God. It's sad to realize that my drive to consume has at times ended up consuming me.

Serving our Master

Joel and I have recently been considering the plight of the poor and marginalized people in the developing world. We've come to realize that this is through our study of scripture that God is passionate about justice for the poor and oppressed.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked clothe him..." Isa 58:6,7

Religion that God our Father accepts is as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world Jas 1:27

In fact Jesus even says that whatever you do not do for one of these people it is as though you have chosen not to do it for him.

If we are to truly love our neighbours as we love ourselves then we will do for them what we would want done for ourselves. I know that if I was dying from malnourishment in Africa I would want people in the western world do something to help me.

We been trying to evaluate what we can do to help even if in only small ways. Some of the things that we've been doing include trying to cut back what we buy to only the bare bone essentials so that we can share more, boycotting cash crops and those who produce them, boycotting Nestle and it's subsidiaries, eating less meat for cost and protein waste reasons, sharing about justice with others, and reading about strategies for how we can help in bigger picture sort-of ways.

Do any of you have comments on what more we could do or how we might be misguided? When we look back we are amazed at how seduced we were/are by our culture. What we ate/eat, value, spend time on, and spend money on have not been dictated by what will most please God but more by what will most please us. We know that there must be so many other things that we have given more value to then those in need so I ask you to give us guidance on how we might better serve others. We also want to consider where we spend your energy. If we do something to primarily please ourselves then I think that it needs careful evaluation. We are not free to do as we choose but are slaves whose primary goal should be to serve our master and further his purposes. Whenever we fail to make our master's priorities first in our lives we sin.

I long for the day when the struggle to be a slave to righteousness ends and I can find perfection in Christ. Only God can help me persevere.