On this Memorial Day, we pause to reflect on the sacrifices of those who loved and served this country by paying the ultimate price for our freedom. This day is often a time where we find ourselves evaluating our perspective on life.
This leads to a natural question- what is the proper perspective? Is there even something as a proper perspective? 2,000 years ago, a man named Paul provided an answer to the question "What is the proper perspective?":
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
Paul provides us two timeless truths when it comes to having the proper perspective. First, Paul tells us that we should have a serious desire to possess an eternal perspective. Paul explains that this desire for an eternal perspective flows out of the relationship that we have with Jesus Christ. Paul also tells us that this desire for an eternal perspective flows out of a desire to reflect Christ in our day to day lives.
Second, Paul tells us that an eternal perspective requires giving careful consideration to the eternal. A person who has a relationship with Jesus Christ is not to consider the temporary things of this world for two reasons. First, Paul explains that an eternal perspective recognizes that we have died with Christ to the things of this world. In other words, the things of this world are not to be preeminent and prominent in our thinking and focus.
In addition, an eternal perspective recognizes that we have security in our relationship with Christ. All that we need to have a proper perspective is found in our relationship with Christ; answers about meaning, purpose, and significance are found in who Christ is and whet He has done for us. And these realities should focus our perspective on the eternal and not the temporal.
So what is your perspective based on? Where do you find your identity, meaning, significance, and purpose?
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
When the Road Ends Sooner than Expected...
Yesterday I talked about how all of us come to times in are lives that are proverbial "forks in the road" where we have to choose. We can either choose to submit our thinking to God's will and direction or we can choose to submit God's will and direction to our thinking. When we choose the former, we find ourselves walking with God. When we choose the latter, we can find ourselves fighting against God.
Sometimes, however, the road of life here on earth ends sooner than we expect, even when we choose the right fork in the road. That happened this week to Kyle Christian.
Kyle chose to submit his thinking to God throughout his 28 years on earth. He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction and spent his time here in Arizona investing in the lives of teenagers during a very difficult time in the Youth Ministry at RBC. His example and his investment in the lives of students provided stability to the students and encouragement for the staff. He was part of a group of adults who set the foundation for some of the phenomenal things God is doing now.
He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction by heading back to the Midwest, where he ended up meeting and marrying his wife Abi.
He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction when he discovered only months after his wedding that he had Leukemia. Julie, Rachel, and I had the opportunity to connect with him last November. In the midst of all that was happening, we left our time together understanding that Kyle was still taking the right fork in the road.
He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction when his condition worsened. And earlier this week, God chose to end Kyle's journey here on earth. While the road that Kyle was traveling on here on earth ended sooner than expected, there is no doubt about what road Kyle is traveling on now. He no longer sees in a mirror dimly- he now sees His Savior face to face.
While we currently are traveling on different roads, I can take comfort in the fact that someday we will be on the same road again- a road where the pain and the hurts of this world will be replaced with the relationship with God and the relationships with one another that we were created to experience for all eternity.
Kyle just gets to travel on that road a little sooner than we do.
Sometimes, however, the road of life here on earth ends sooner than we expect, even when we choose the right fork in the road. That happened this week to Kyle Christian.
Kyle chose to submit his thinking to God throughout his 28 years on earth. He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction and spent his time here in Arizona investing in the lives of teenagers during a very difficult time in the Youth Ministry at RBC. His example and his investment in the lives of students provided stability to the students and encouragement for the staff. He was part of a group of adults who set the foundation for some of the phenomenal things God is doing now.
He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction by heading back to the Midwest, where he ended up meeting and marrying his wife Abi.
He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction when he discovered only months after his wedding that he had Leukemia. Julie, Rachel, and I had the opportunity to connect with him last November. In the midst of all that was happening, we left our time together understanding that Kyle was still taking the right fork in the road.
He chose to submit his thinking to God's will and direction when his condition worsened. And earlier this week, God chose to end Kyle's journey here on earth. While the road that Kyle was traveling on here on earth ended sooner than expected, there is no doubt about what road Kyle is traveling on now. He no longer sees in a mirror dimly- he now sees His Savior face to face.
While we currently are traveling on different roads, I can take comfort in the fact that someday we will be on the same road again- a road where the pain and the hurts of this world will be replaced with the relationship with God and the relationships with one another that we were created to experience for all eternity.
Kyle just gets to travel on that road a little sooner than we do.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
When Christians Oppose Jesus...
There are times in our lives as individuals or as a community of Christ followers that we can find ourselves at a proverbial fork in the road. One fork in the road has a sign marked "Submitting Thinking to God's Direction Drive". The other fork in the road has a sign marked "Submitting God's Direction to my Thinking Trail".
The decision that must be made by individuals, or in community, is "what road am I going to take?" And the results of that decision has a profound impact on our relationship with Jesus and with one another in community.
In the Bible, there is a story that provides a timeless truth about the implications that the choice of surrender and obedience to God's will and direction can have in our lives. The religious people of the day wanted to kill early followers of Jesus, who were proclaiming the message and teachings of Jesus. In the midst of their plans, one of the religious leaders made the following statement:
"So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." Acts 5:38-39
Unfortunately, the religious people of the day ultimately chose not to follow this leaders advice. The result was that they opposed God's direction, and the advancement of God's kingdom mission, by placing their thinking and plans above God's plan.
How often do we tend to do the same thing? God gives us clear guidance and direction through His word and godly counsel about what we should do as individuals and as a church. Yet, in spite of knowing God's will and direction, we choose to submit God's direction and Scripture under our thinking. And when we do that we end up, as followers of Jesus, fighting against Jesus.
So are your decisions placing you in opposition to Jesus? Do you find yourself, as individuals or as a church, fighting against God? What direction do you take when you come to the fork in the road?
Decide today, before you reach that fork in the road, that you will always submit your thinking to Jesus and His teachings. Because when we make that decision, we find ourselves walking with Jesus instead of fighting against Jesus?
So what decision will you make when you come to the next fork in the road?
The decision that must be made by individuals, or in community, is "what road am I going to take?" And the results of that decision has a profound impact on our relationship with Jesus and with one another in community.
In the Bible, there is a story that provides a timeless truth about the implications that the choice of surrender and obedience to God's will and direction can have in our lives. The religious people of the day wanted to kill early followers of Jesus, who were proclaiming the message and teachings of Jesus. In the midst of their plans, one of the religious leaders made the following statement:
"So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." Acts 5:38-39
Unfortunately, the religious people of the day ultimately chose not to follow this leaders advice. The result was that they opposed God's direction, and the advancement of God's kingdom mission, by placing their thinking and plans above God's plan.
How often do we tend to do the same thing? God gives us clear guidance and direction through His word and godly counsel about what we should do as individuals and as a church. Yet, in spite of knowing God's will and direction, we choose to submit God's direction and Scripture under our thinking. And when we do that we end up, as followers of Jesus, fighting against Jesus.
So are your decisions placing you in opposition to Jesus? Do you find yourself, as individuals or as a church, fighting against God? What direction do you take when you come to the fork in the road?
Decide today, before you reach that fork in the road, that you will always submit your thinking to Jesus and His teachings. Because when we make that decision, we find ourselves walking with Jesus instead of fighting against Jesus?
So what decision will you make when you come to the next fork in the road?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Danger of Deceptive Religion
There are dangers followers of Jesus face when it comes to deceptive philosophies. In addition, there are dangers followers of Jesus face when it comes to deceptive religion. Religion is an attempt by people to enter into a relationship with Jesus through following a list of rules and regulations that have nothing to do with actually following Jesus. In a letter in the Bible, a man named Paul makes us aware of these dangers:
"Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"(which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence." Colossians 2:18-23
In these verses, Paul reveals five dangers that deceptive religion present to followers of Jesus. First, deceptive religion desires to rob us of our reward. Religion desires to remove the reward of an eternal relationship with God with rules and regulations.
Second, deceptive religion desires that we delight in self humiliation. Deceptive religion focuses on our earthly bodies being evil instead of being a blessed creation of God.
Third, deceptive religion desires that we devote ourselves to idols. Religion tries to entice us to worship things that are created; either spiritual beings, the things of this earth, or even ourselves.
Fourth, deceptive religion desires to remove us from community. Religion will attempt to remove us from the community that is led by our Lord and Leader, Jesus Christ. In addition, religion will attempt to remove us from the community that is united in Christ. It is interesting that many religious people can be identified by their divisive demeanor, especially religious "Christians".
Finally, deceptive religion desires we live apart from Christ and according to the world. Religion will deny a connection to Christ and is often rooted in prior flawed religious systems. Religion also replaces freedom with rules. These religious rules always involve the material and perishable. In addition, these religious rules are man-made and fail to result in any spiritual growth. Wile man-made religion and its rules appear to be wise, at the end of the day the denying of physical desires, or asceticism, and other practices that man-made religion promotes do not satisfy the selfish desires that lead to sin.
So are you being endangered by deceptive religion? Are you aware of the danger that deceptive religion presents to the relationship with God that you were created for through Jesus Christ?
"Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"(which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence." Colossians 2:18-23
In these verses, Paul reveals five dangers that deceptive religion present to followers of Jesus. First, deceptive religion desires to rob us of our reward. Religion desires to remove the reward of an eternal relationship with God with rules and regulations.
Second, deceptive religion desires that we delight in self humiliation. Deceptive religion focuses on our earthly bodies being evil instead of being a blessed creation of God.
Third, deceptive religion desires that we devote ourselves to idols. Religion tries to entice us to worship things that are created; either spiritual beings, the things of this earth, or even ourselves.
Fourth, deceptive religion desires to remove us from community. Religion will attempt to remove us from the community that is led by our Lord and Leader, Jesus Christ. In addition, religion will attempt to remove us from the community that is united in Christ. It is interesting that many religious people can be identified by their divisive demeanor, especially religious "Christians".
Finally, deceptive religion desires we live apart from Christ and according to the world. Religion will deny a connection to Christ and is often rooted in prior flawed religious systems. Religion also replaces freedom with rules. These religious rules always involve the material and perishable. In addition, these religious rules are man-made and fail to result in any spiritual growth. Wile man-made religion and its rules appear to be wise, at the end of the day the denying of physical desires, or asceticism, and other practices that man-made religion promotes do not satisfy the selfish desires that lead to sin.
So are you being endangered by deceptive religion? Are you aware of the danger that deceptive religion presents to the relationship with God that you were created for through Jesus Christ?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Danger of Deceptive Philosophy, pt. 2
Yesterday I wrote about the danger of deceptive philosophies that are empty of truth and find their foundation in man's attempt to return us to former faulty religious systems. Another danger of deceptive philosophies is that they deny the person and work of Jesus Christ. But in order to see how deceptive philosophies deny the person and work of Christ, we first need to know who Jesus Christ is and what He accomplished for us through His life, death, and resurrection.
A little later in the same letter that we looked at yesterday, Paul talks about the person and work of Jesus:
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. hen you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."
Colossians 2:9-17
Paul reveals for us seven different aspects of the nature and work of Jesus Christ. First, Jesus Christ is "God in a bod": He is the unique, one and only Son of God who took on flesh and entered into humanity in order to reveal and explain God to us. Second, Jesus Christ makes us complete; believing, trusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader brings us into the relationship with God we were created for. Third, Jesus is large and in charge; He is in charge over all earthly powers and over all spiritual powers.
Fourth, Jesus Christ identifies us with Him. As His followers, Jesus Christ spiritually strips away our selfishness and sin and restores us to a relationship with God through His death and resurrection. Fifth, Jesus Christ makes us alive in Him. Through His gracious forgiveness the record of our selfishness and sin, that was hostile to us and that sentenced us to death, is obliterated.
Sixth, Jesus Christ stripped away the spiritual forces in the heavenlies. Jesus life, death, and resurrection exposed the spiritual enemies of God for who they were and provided triumph over those enemies. And seventh, Jesus Christ provides freedom from judgment. Jesus Christ provides us the freedom from judgment when it comes to our worship of God. Jesus also provides us the freedom to focus on the reality of who God really is instead of focusing on temporary religious activities that have no eternal value.
To recognize and remain unscathed from the dangers of deceptive philosophies, we must understand and embrace who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us.
So how do you recognize the dangers that deceptive philosophies pose? How do you determine the difference between various philosophies?
A little later in the same letter that we looked at yesterday, Paul talks about the person and work of Jesus:
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. hen you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."
Colossians 2:9-17
Paul reveals for us seven different aspects of the nature and work of Jesus Christ. First, Jesus Christ is "God in a bod": He is the unique, one and only Son of God who took on flesh and entered into humanity in order to reveal and explain God to us. Second, Jesus Christ makes us complete; believing, trusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader brings us into the relationship with God we were created for. Third, Jesus is large and in charge; He is in charge over all earthly powers and over all spiritual powers.
Fourth, Jesus Christ identifies us with Him. As His followers, Jesus Christ spiritually strips away our selfishness and sin and restores us to a relationship with God through His death and resurrection. Fifth, Jesus Christ makes us alive in Him. Through His gracious forgiveness the record of our selfishness and sin, that was hostile to us and that sentenced us to death, is obliterated.
Sixth, Jesus Christ stripped away the spiritual forces in the heavenlies. Jesus life, death, and resurrection exposed the spiritual enemies of God for who they were and provided triumph over those enemies. And seventh, Jesus Christ provides freedom from judgment. Jesus Christ provides us the freedom from judgment when it comes to our worship of God. Jesus also provides us the freedom to focus on the reality of who God really is instead of focusing on temporary religious activities that have no eternal value.
To recognize and remain unscathed from the dangers of deceptive philosophies, we must understand and embrace who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us.
So how do you recognize the dangers that deceptive philosophies pose? How do you determine the difference between various philosophies?
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Danger of Deceptive Philosophy
A common objection to the claims of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible is "there can not be only one way to God" or "there is no absolute truth; all truth is relative". The problem with these points of view is that two competing "truths" can not both be true.
This is not a new view of the world or the nature of truth, however. In the Bible, there is a letter written by a man named Paul that called followers of Jesus to be alert to the danger of deceptive philosophy. In Colossians 2:8, Paul reveals how deceptive philosophy can be so dangerous:
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
In this single verse, Paul makes us aware of four reasons why deceptive philosophy is so dangerous. First, deceptive philosophy desires to take us captive; faulty philosophical systems desire to carry us into a captivity that enslaves us to its view of the world. Second, deceptive philosophy is empty of any truth. While deceptive philosophy claims to contain truth, at the end of the day it is empty. For example, the person who states that they do not believe in absolute truth actually does believe in absolute truth; they absolutely believe that there is no absolute truth.
Third, deceptive philosophy tries to return us to the past. Many deceptive philosophical systems that exist today are not new; they are simply repackaged lies from previous periods in history. These systems either attempt to return us to one of two faulty philosophical streams from the past. Some systems try to return us under the control of previously flawed and failed religious systems that were created by man in an attempt to become God. Other systems try to return us under the control of systems that are influenced by spiritual forces that set themselves up in opposition to God and His kingdom.
Another danger of deceptive philosophy is that they deny the person and work of Jesus Christ. Tomorrow, we will look at exactly how deceptive philosophies deny who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us through His life, death, and resurrection.
Are you critically evaluating the framework that you use to navigate life with? Or are you opening yourself up to be deceived by philosophy that has no basis in truth?
This is not a new view of the world or the nature of truth, however. In the Bible, there is a letter written by a man named Paul that called followers of Jesus to be alert to the danger of deceptive philosophy. In Colossians 2:8, Paul reveals how deceptive philosophy can be so dangerous:
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
In this single verse, Paul makes us aware of four reasons why deceptive philosophy is so dangerous. First, deceptive philosophy desires to take us captive; faulty philosophical systems desire to carry us into a captivity that enslaves us to its view of the world. Second, deceptive philosophy is empty of any truth. While deceptive philosophy claims to contain truth, at the end of the day it is empty. For example, the person who states that they do not believe in absolute truth actually does believe in absolute truth; they absolutely believe that there is no absolute truth.
Third, deceptive philosophy tries to return us to the past. Many deceptive philosophical systems that exist today are not new; they are simply repackaged lies from previous periods in history. These systems either attempt to return us to one of two faulty philosophical streams from the past. Some systems try to return us under the control of previously flawed and failed religious systems that were created by man in an attempt to become God. Other systems try to return us under the control of systems that are influenced by spiritual forces that set themselves up in opposition to God and His kingdom.
Another danger of deceptive philosophy is that they deny the person and work of Jesus Christ. Tomorrow, we will look at exactly how deceptive philosophies deny who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us through His life, death, and resurrection.
Are you critically evaluating the framework that you use to navigate life with? Or are you opening yourself up to be deceived by philosophy that has no basis in truth?
Friday, May 21, 2010
Obedience and Intimacy
There are many times when we can feel like God is distant and far away from us. We wonder why church services suddenly feel cold and impersonal. We wonder why our prayer life and our devotional life seems dry and detached from the encounter with God we once experienced. And we can find ourselves asking the question "where is God? Did He leave? Where did He go?"
Sometimes, however, a better question to ask may be "Who moved?" Does God move away from us, or do we move away from God? Could it be that the reason that we lose intimacy with God has more to do with our failure to follow Jesus? Could it be that our intimacy with God as followers of Jesus is directly connected with our obedience to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible?
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus, in a conversation with His disciples, reveals for us a timeless truth when it comes to the link between obedience and intimacy:
"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." John 14:21-23
Jesus explained to His disciples that faithfulness to His teachings results in intimacy in our relationship with Him. As we follow Jesus and His teachings, God discloses Himself to us and dwells with us.
So, if your relationship with God is dry and distant, who moved? What is keeping God disclosing from disclosing Himself and dwelling with you?
Sometimes, however, a better question to ask may be "Who moved?" Does God move away from us, or do we move away from God? Could it be that the reason that we lose intimacy with God has more to do with our failure to follow Jesus? Could it be that our intimacy with God as followers of Jesus is directly connected with our obedience to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible?
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus, in a conversation with His disciples, reveals for us a timeless truth when it comes to the link between obedience and intimacy:
"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." John 14:21-23
Jesus explained to His disciples that faithfulness to His teachings results in intimacy in our relationship with Him. As we follow Jesus and His teachings, God discloses Himself to us and dwells with us.
So, if your relationship with God is dry and distant, who moved? What is keeping God disclosing from disclosing Himself and dwelling with you?
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