Grace

Christ and Him Crucified

2011-09-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

I am worried. Maybe concerned is a better word. Actually it's probably more like a burden more than anything.

As a pastor in America I see all around me men who claim to be followers of Christ pastoring the church but only seek attention for themselves and their "church" in the name of being relevant or reaching the lost. Yet, when Christ lived and then as the apostles carried on the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit it seems to me that they never desired attention for themselves.

In fact, Paul seems to think the true sign of a follower of Christ is his lowliness (stating the apostles were the "scum of the earth" in 1 Corinthians 4). I believe I remember Christ even mentioning such a think when he talked about those who would follow in His footsteps - that they would be hated and persecuted (doesn't he even mention something about carrying our cross?).

So then, if the model is to at all costs sacrifice ourselves and our comfort why is it that these "rock star" pastors - in their middle-class clothes standing in million dollar facilities, video streaming their image to thousands of people, and living in houses that most of the worldwide church could not even afford to rent a room in - Why are they our beloved image of Christianity?

I'll answer why...because in America it's easier to just be American first and Christian second than to truly follow Christ. Now am I exempt from these same condemnations that the truth of Christ brings against these men? No, unfortunately. I must constantly re-evaluate my life, and must continue to make strides denying myself for His sake. But to glorify this "rock star" pastor image as the way Christ intended the church to be is simply un-Biblical.

What gets me the most is this new movement to "celebrate" numbers. Are we serious? As if the American culture of business had not infiltrated our church enough now we are going to make it all about numbers? And then to justify this by saying that the Bible has numbers in it. Seriously? You are going to take the fact that Luke was estimating the number of people who experienced the coming of the Spirit and equate that with your prideful need to tell the world how many people you baptized so that you can be the next big thing in American Christianity...

Isn't it interesting that Jesus reserved his harshest condemnations for the religious leaders of his day and many times it was about the attention they were drawing to themselves by praying eloquently in the middle of the city? Just a thought...but what's different about that and projecting yourself on video screens to multiple campuses and putting yourself on TV because you've been "gifted" with worldly communication skills? God uses the weak to confuse the strong, and the unwise to confuse the wise. Moses had a speech problem and yet led Israel out of Egypt and Paul was apparently so unimpressive in some way that the Corinthians were embarrassed of him. Just think about it.

No one is even going to read this blog, maybe because I don't care to be a pastor who simply draws people to myself and calls that Christianity, but I just pray for God to bring persecution to the church in America and maybe our "pop culture" bad excuse for the church will be purified and become more about a crucified and risen Savior than glorifying man.

"I resolve to know only Christ and Him crucified" - Paul, the apostle

I challenge you to read Matthew's account of Jesus' teaching on tithing, prayer, and fasting during the Sermon on the Mount and compare it to what the popular mega-church pastors/movement is promoting. Judge all things by Scripture, not by culture. If the Gospel condemns it, then it must be corrected. If it confirms it, then all glory to God.

Preaching

2009-08-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Right now Sarah and I are "choosing a church." This might be the most interesting process I have ever been through. I mean, church has always been a part of my life, but I have never been in the position to have to choose one. Especially not in a city such as Charlotte which offers every church you could imagine.

So Sarah has different criteria in her church choosing than I do, and I find it interesting. I am someone who tries to look at content. What comprehensively the church has to offer. Small groups, challenging pastor, solid beliefs, good organization, friendly people, meaningful worship, etc. Of course outward appearance is important too just like in everything, but more important to me is the substance.

A church can always make the outward appearance look however it wants, but you can always tell what a church really is by what it does and the message it portrays. Many churches are starting to look alike. Which is good and bad. It is good because you know what to expect, but it is bad because it causes apathy. I like churches that are different. I appreciate challenging pastors who push the envelope and challenge congregations like the Scriptures say to. However, the hardest thing about most churches that are trying to be different is the unfortunate movement towards completely contemporary worship. I love music. And this generation loves a more rock style to their worship. I tend to agree. A band with a lead acoustic guitar, guy and girl singers, bass, electric, drums, keyboard, etc. It is all wonderful. However, when we fly towards completely contemporary music we abandon some of the depth that worship through music once had.

I am not a traditional kind of guy for the most part, but the words in hymns provide the depth that worship needs. Yes, emotions are important in praise, but what you are saying is also. Our worship unfortunately has become shallow and somewhat showy with this new influx of contemporary worship. The band is on stage "putting on a show." The words are simple and sometimes shallow. We need depth to go with the emotions. We must recognize God as the complex being he is, not just what he has to offer us. The only way to do that means we must combine two elements of worship that can seem so distant at times, and manage to do it all in such a way that we do not draw attention to ourselves, but only to God.

Yes it is tough, and pretty much impossible to pull off, but it must be done. At all costs we must point people to Christ and God the Father. And if others are looking at us too much without knowing we are strictly pointing them to Him, it can have destructive possibilities for both us and them. We must quit impressing people with our contemporary worship, and challenge people to worship with both their emotions and intellect. So if you play contemporary worship music I challenge you to be a pastor to those you lead in worship and challenge them with the truth of the Scriptures during worship. Choose challenging songs, both emotionally and intellectually. Be a true worshiper of Christ in front of others, and create more worshipers of Christ, don't simply lead them in worship. Allow them to worship Him for all that He is with all of their being.

"For in Christ, we live and move and have our being"
Paul

Leaders

2009-03-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Questioning leadership is something I inherently do. I wonder, when in a leadership position someone questions me, will I listen to people like me? Will I take into consideration the concerns and perspectives of others when I am in a place of authority? I hope I do.

I bring this up because I hate when people in leadership use something that has nothing to do with them to promote their own popularity or make them seem like if they were not there everything would fall apart without their leadership. I do not care what company, club, or team you are a part of, if the leader is only making servants and not training those under them to become other leaders, then that person is acting selfishly. And do not get me wrong, a lot of people have great hearts and come across as very sincere with their motives for leadership, but my problem with that is actions speak louder than words.

I can say all day that I agree with this country being built upon grassroots movements, but then when I choose not to support the little people and just vote for big name candidates in elections because they are a Democrat or Republican, do I really believe that grassroots movements matter? Or am I just trying to be cool and relevant and say that I do and really do not, so I act pro-establishment?

My favorite radio station is ESPN on XM and my favorite personality is Colin Cowherd. Yeah he is a USC homer and kinda a jerk, but I like that about him. What that does for him, is also make him very perceptive about people and their motives. Today he was discussing about the very thing I'm typing on, blogs. He said that blogs use to be, and somewhat still try to be, anti-establishment. The problem with that is that the establishment own all the blogs. He referred to people who are all about doing "correct" journalism and hate companies like The New York Times or Time Magazine, and yet when they call and offer a job that same person would drop everything and take it.

Let us not lie to ourselves, our beliefs are only as true as our actions, and this is seen especially within social organizations. Where other people are involved by choice, and you are a leader of people not because you are their boss, but just their leader, it makes it more interesting. In that position you hold influence that a boss does not hold. You have the ability to actually have people listen to you and choose to follow you, not because they have to but because they want to. The problem this presents, is that causes many of those leaders to begin to believe that they are the reason for that group of people having interest and that they are the only one that can do the "job" that they do. That is when an organization becomes dangerous. If the cause is not the focus of the leader, and empowering the people that are a part of the organization to further the cause, then the leader has become inherently corrupt. Selfish really.

Ok, so all that is to say this. Good leaders train servants. Great leaders train leaders. If you are someone and you hold a position of leadership now or do one day, remember that you not only be judged by what you do while your in leadership, but also by the leaders you leave behind when you go. If you are not planning for what the company, club, or team will be after you leave, then your perspective as a leader is skewed.

"Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results"

George S. Patton

Glory

2009-03-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

A sermon that all should read, if not pour over. If you are a people person, he presents a fantastic picture of how we should relate to others in light of God, and really truly in light of Love. His discussion of merriment is life changing. Piper's statement "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" is truly inspired by Lewis.

Our aim should always be merriment. Merriment not in anything that is mortal, but rather in what is immortal. And since we need to be reminded, because of the infiltration of worldliness in our minds, all humans are immortal. No, the physical body of course is not. But the essence of humanity - the soul - will exist when nothing else does, including this earth. And when that immortal soul reaches the Father, shall the Father look upon it and declare, "Well done my good and faithful servant." No longer should that be a burden, as chores are to children, but should fill us with excitement as the longing for being fully known by God will that day finally be fulfilled.

What does this mean? Basically how perceptions of our life in Christ tend to be too negative in nature. We see it as having to give up our desires for this burdensome life. But really we have to realize that these desires within us are fully satisfied only in our merriment in God. It just takes some discipline of learning, sacrifice, and perseverence to reach a point where merriment in God is a recognizable part of our life. Maybe that's why we say "Merry Christmas."

Hello

2009-03-16T23:08:00.001-07:00

Well this is exciting. I have not blogged since my first two years in college when the craze was xanga. This time I am not blogging out of a need to join the latest fad (although I am twittering because of that need), but I am because I feel like it should be a part of my life again. I will warn you. Sometimes I am funny, sometimes I am even witty, but mostly I am serious (and usually too deep in thought for my own good). I am attempting to continue to embrace what C.S. Lewis did and John Piper continues to remind people of, and that is the joy of Christ in my everyday life. Not the pursuit of happiness (no offense Will Smith), but rather finding complete satisfaction in Christ. Ok, so that is how I will start my blog. Peace.