Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Adventures of Robert Langdon or, Books I Shouldn't Read....Yea Right....

I have recently borrowed a copy of Dan Brown's new novel, "The Lost Symbol." As fan of Brown's novels featuring Harvard Symbology Professor Robert Langdon, and as a poor college student, I have anxiously waited to borrow this book from my good friend and colleague, Matt Smith. As I began to read, my mind remembered that certain people would be displeased with my reading of this book. Why?

Because they are tragically closed-minded.

You see, when The Da Vinci Code was released, it caused a HUMONGOUS controversy. I mean, people arguing about it's validity left and right, sermons preached on it, and numerous people telling me not to read it. So, what do I do with all of this? The answer is simple: I read the book. I greatly enjoyed the plot and pace of the novel. It was extremely thought-provoking. Sure, it included things about the Church and Jesus Christ that were totally untrue. And this is the reason most told me to stay away from it. Yet, to everyone who says that The Da Vinci Code, as well as other books starring Robert Langdon, shouldn't be read by Christians, let me say this: IT IS FICTION.

How else can Christians know about the truth of their faith if they also do not examine false claims against it? Now, I realize that if a young Christian(meaning young in faith, not just age) reads and is confused, why, this is the only danger that these books present. But, that is why there are the offices of the Church. Christians are free to explore outside ideas and contrary ideas in order to strengthen their faith. It is up to the leaders of the Church to make sure that these ideas to not sway believers. Discipleship is the process of learning and growing in the faith, and it is the leaders' jobs to disciple (Eph.4:. I believe people should be encouraged to check things out for themselves and put them against Scripture. This is what I did with The Da Vinci Code. I read it, saw that the story was good but the claims were heretical and untrue in regards to the Scriptures. Also, I do not believe that you can attack something you do not know about. This is so your really are informed AND people can't deny your claims based on the fact that you don't know because you haven't read, watched, etc.

We should face these intellectual challenges with faith, not fideism. Fideism is the notion that we accept things based sole on what others say. In other words, it is blind acceptance. You accept things not based on fact, but on what others simply say. You just go with it. Faith is educated. Faith is not blind acceptance(see previous post, What is faith?). Check things out for yourself, but remember to take the lens of Scripture with you.

I'll probably put a book review up as soon as I finish The Lost Symbol. In the meantime, go grab some Scripture....and a good book. :)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Resistance Transmission #2: Midnight at the Fountain of Eternal Flame or, The Resistance Manifesto

*Begin Transmission*

Lee University has just recently built a new fountain on campus. Water flows from the top over a brick column. From there, it comes to a central tier before flowing over into the bottom pool. At the very top is a censer from which a fire burns right over the water. So, the water is flowing from underneath the flame. I was thinking and walking around campus a few nights ago, and at about midnight I found myself in front of this particular fountain. The fire was raging from its censer as the water swiftly crashed over the bricks and into the pool below. It really was quite a sight for me in light of my midnight musings. Parallels began to form, yet remained incomplete until later in the night. After spending some time there to hold conversations with the Father, I felt I should move on.

I eventually made my way over to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, located right next to Lee’s campus. There is a very calm, quiet garden in the center of the seminary. And what is in this garden? There are some trees, flowers, benches, and…..a fountain. This fountain is larger than Lee’s Eternal Flame Fountain. However, the flow from the top of this fountain had been shut off. The water had become still and stagnant. There was complete silence. As I began to ponder this, I dipped the tips of my middle three fingers into the water. They came away black. I wiped them on my jeans, picked up my backpack and headed on my way.

These two fountains came to represent two distinct facets within the ideals of The Resistance. The Eternal Flame Fountain became a picture of the True Church. It was alive, active, burning, forceful, and captivating. Anyone passing by would give at least a grain of attention to its nature. The True Church should be all these things and more, the roaring sound of truth lighting the way in the darkness of this Corrupt System. The fire is the power of God, and the water the rush of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, this is not so. You see, the Corrupt System has infiltrated and infected the True Church, leaving her battered, bruised, and frail. Instead of being the wonderful fountain of Eternal Flame, she is nothing than the dark, dank, silent Fountain of Stagnation. This has come through division, complacency, apathy, and over all slumber in the Church. It is for this reason that The Resistance exists.

We must reclaim the actions and practices of the True Church. No longer can we sit idly by and twiddle our thumbs while we pretend the world isn’t going to Hell. No longer can we call ourselves Christians and leave the actions to the preachers. If we are to be the True Church, then we must rise up. The Resistance is made up of those in Christianity who wish to see the True Church restored. We must reclaim the actions of love and humility in ministry, as well as the sound, stable Traditions of the True Church. The Resistance exists not to destroy, but to change and modify. The True Church is in need of a new Reformation. The Reformers were nothing more than early leaders of The Resistance. Consider this a manifesto. For those who are tired of the way things are in the church, who would like to see something different. We must again become the salt and light in the world. Things need to change. Exactly what change is needed will come in future transmissions. Right now, I am trying to keep them short and to the point.

*End Transmission*

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Resistance Transmission #1: Welcome to the Resistance

*Begin Transmission*

I have noticed something that I have come to see as profound. A trend, if you will.

I recently acquired Muse’s new album, “The Resistance.” I find it fascinating. I have always liked Muse due to their unorthodox style and brilliant lyrics. And this time, they didn’t disappoint. In fact, they have brought me to a realization. This realization has stirred me so that I had to change the entire tone and look of the blog. You see, I have noticed that a lot of music groups sing about resistance in some form or another. Barlow Girl vows that a million voices will break the silence. Becoming the Archetype states, “I am not a mechanism. I am part of the resistance.” And Muse declares, “They will not force us. They will stop degrading us. They will not control us. We will be victorious.”

Now, if there is a resistance, there must be something we are resisting, yes? Let me make it clear that I am not an anarchist. I respect the government and follow its laws to the best of my ability. I am not suggesting that we should revolt against the government. It is to my greatest role model that I owe the identity of our oppression. The apostle Paul spoke of not conforming to the patterns of this world in Romans 12:2. The Greek for the word “world” is aion, which is simply defined as age. So, Paul is telling us not to conform to the patterns of this age. Brings more significance, huh? Indeed, in this present age we are seemingly under a system that doesn’t respect the laws of the true Kingdom, and we are ruled by Pharaohs that know not Joseph. And that corrupt system is ruled by “the prince and power of the air.” (Eph 2:2) Paul speaks of those who have been liberated from this dictator, and tells us that it is he who is at work in the “sons of disobedience.”

As Christians, we have been delivered from the rule of the unrightful king of this world. We have come into the rightful knowledge of the Kingdom of God. But, we are still in combat with the Corrupt Kingdom, and there are many who are still enslaved by its rule. It is our duty to go to them and set them free (Luke 4:18, Matthew 28:18- 20). This is the Resistance. Christians, by definition, are in constant opposition to the Corrupt System ruled by the Prince and Power of the Air and his Sons of Disobedience. It’s time we really understood that we are simply in this world, not of it. We are not called to live the same. We serve a different king, and while we are alive we will always be in conflict with the one that rules this world. Many in the church are sitting back and conforming to the patterns and systems of this age. It is time for the Church to wake from her slumber so the light of Christ, the true King, may shine upon her (Eph 5:14). We must combat hate with love, and violence with peace and patience. This is the truth. This is our conflict. If you are reading this and you agree with me, then welcome to the fight.

Welcome to the Resistance.

*End Transmission*

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

It's Not a Ghost....(An Admonition on Paranormal Activity)

I will do my best not to spoil too much of the movie, but I will be fair in warning all who read this: This post will probably contain spoilers. This IS NOT a traditional movie review. I am going tell you all about my experience with the movie Paranormal Activity. Some of you have asked for my thoughts because you’re not going to see the movie anyway. But for those who do not want the movie spoiled, stop reading HERE.

The movie Paranormal Activity follows Micah and Katie, a couple who are “engaged to be engaged.” Micah buys a video camera after Katie insists that there is something has followed her into their San Diego home. From there, the movie progresses, ending in the untimely death of Micah and the disappearance of Katie.

This movie has HIGH potential to carry with it a demonic force. In case you haven’t guessed, the house isn’t haunted; Katie is. You learn throughout the movie that the visitations by this demon (as defined in the movie by the psychic, Dr. Fredrichs) started when Katie was eight years old. For me, this was the first sign that she was possessed by a demon. More events occur, furthering that assumption. This movie is disturbing in that it takes place inside a normal home, in a couple’s bedroom. So, the safety of the sheets is destroyed in the fact that the demon invades the room on a nightly basis, and even goes so far as to drag Katie out of the bed and down their dark hallway.

As most of you know, I am a Christian. I do my best to view everything through the lens of Christ. I am NOT, however, about to tell you not to watch this movie, for I went to this movie with intentions of research (I wanted to see how it played in to my theories on demons and haunting, which I will share at a later date). I do, however, discourage seeing it. There is some speculation about its authenticity. Is it real, or not. Well, it is most certainly NOT REAL. The whole movie was unscripted and made to look as authentic as possible. All occurrences in the movie (footsteps, loud noises, growls, etc.) were based on actual documented events that have transpired in real life, thus enhancing the authentic feel of the film. 1

Even though it was fiction, three people that attended the 9:45 showing of Paranormal Activity with me emerged from that showing feeling cold on the inside and crying. I felt an assault on my own spirit, as well as a general concentration of violence and an abnormal presence of fear. This movie was handed to Steven Spielberg, and though he is the one who modified the ending, he claimed that the movie itself was haunted.2

You may go to this movie, and walk out laughing because you thought the acting was atrocious and the budget was too low. Or, you may emerge disturbed, frightened, and feeling an inner chill. Nevertheless, I urge everyone who reads this to BE CAREFUL if and when you view this movie, as I am not the only person (famous or otherwise) who thinks that Paranormal Activity has a connection with a true demonic force. Also, I am not trying to tell you all how to live your life. The pastor in me just had to give a bit of warning and wisdom to those who are considering viewing this movie. Also, please comment and share your thoughts or questions about what I’ve said here.

Grace and Peace

Greg

1. http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEDp9FHFHan5GJ

2. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-paranormal20-2009sep20,0,843011,full.story

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Faith: The Demonstration Clause

In my note, "What is Faith?" I attempted to begin a strong definition of faith. I highly encourage you to read that note before this one, so that things will make much more sense. In this note, however, I hope to explore another crucial idea that is foundational for a true understanding of faith. You see, we Christians claim to know about the power of God. We talk about miracles and deliverance and tell everyone we know about how awesome our God is. But we have a very serious problem.

No one is demonstrating his power.

Those on the outside ask us, "Where is your God? Where is this power you speak of?" They challenge and cry out to us, "Stop talking and SHOW ME!!!" This is where the Demonstration Clause of faith comes in. Our faith is not only made up of our experiences with God and the evidence that supports, but also in demonstrating who He is. The Apostle Peter knew this. In Acts 3 we see the famous story of Peter, John, and the man at the Temple gate. When the beggar asked for money, Peter gave him what he really needed: healing. Peter and John demonstrated God's power. Scripture said that those around them were amazed at the power of God and what had happened to the lame beggar. We can see all three "faith builders" in this story. I mentioned experience and evidence in my last note on this. Now I believe I can show you how all three components of faith really work.

1.) Experience- This primarily benefits believers. Christians tend to have events that occur in their lives that cannot be empirically explained (salvation, healing, dreams, visions, etc). John and Peter saw and went though such things. They also experienced the power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, something also unexplainable by empiricism. This is the first building block for faith.

2.) Evidence- This benefits both believers and non-believers. There are many things in Christianity that can be explained through empirical evidence. For example, historical accounts of Jesus (aside from the Bible) and scientific proof for events such as the Resurrection are evidences that both strengthen our knowledge and defense of the faith and gives non-believers reason not to doubt these happenings. Peter and John had seen with their own two eyes the ministry, miracles, transfiguration, crucifixion, and ascension of Christ. The evidence for Him was overwhelming. The Apostle Paul even said that if he was not to be believed, to ask the many eyewitnesses if he was right about Jesus. People today who doubted such things as Jesus Resurrection are now saved because they believed the evidence presented to them. This is the second building block of faith.

3.) Demonstration- This is primarily for the benefit of non-believers. If there are people who do not believe in healing, when witnessing someone being healed as demonstrated by the power of God could certainly change that person's mind!! When Peter healed the crippled beggar, those around them were astonished and amazed. Believers are the ones through which this demonstration is carried out. This is the third building block.

Now, to explain why I have said all this. These three things work together, in a circle so to speak, so that one relates directly to the other. There is, however, one problem. We aren't demonstrating enough. We've had plenty of experience and we have tons of evidence, but we don't really demonstrate. I believe, as people of faith, we are called to demonstration. Why aren't we laying hands on the sick and they are healed? Why do we sit around and talk about healing and deliverance when we are supposed to be going out to heal and deliver people? If this is such a key thing to faith, why have we dropped the ball? I say, it's time to fix this. I say, it's time to live out all three aspects of faith. I believe that without these, faith is not complete. We may know that our faith isn't wishful thinking, and we may be able to prove that it isn't, but can we show that it is truthful? People don't just want words. The want to see those words come to life.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Remembering Ideas

So, I bought a digital voice recorder. It came in today. I bought it mainly to keep track of ideas when I can't write them down. You thinkers out there, you know how it goes. You can be anywhere and a very profound thought enters into your already bombarded mind. You want to write it down, but most of the time you can't because carrying a pen and some paper around is not always the best thing to do. But, those awesome epiphanies always come when we can't write them down. By the time I get back to my dorm to write my awesomely profound thought down, I've forgotten it.

Now, with the help of this small device, I can speak my ideas into a little microphone and remember them long enough to do something productive with them. For those who may read this and decide to buy one, eBay is an awesome place to get one. I encourage all you thinkers out there to try this idea out with me. Hopefully we can all be more productive now.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

What Is Faith?

The question of faith is ever present in our Christian walk. In a sense, it is a defining characteristic of such. Yet, often times we ask ourselves and others this question: “What is faith?” By no means is the concept and action of faith easy to define, or even grasp for that matter. This question was asked of those of us who were in Dr. Skip Jenkins’s Intro to Theology class. We were asked to give the first thing that came to mind whenever Skip asked what faith is. The responses were many and scattered across a broad spectrum.

Some gave highly complex answers, while others gave simple definitions such as “devotion” and “trust.” Once everyone that wished had given their answers, comments, and rebuttals, Skip brought us to the biblical definition of faith. This is where I will park this machine. Because, regardless of what we think, the Bible has the correct answer to our question. We can come up with every conceivable though as to what faith is, but nothing comes close to what the writer of Hebrews said.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”- Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Let’s look at this a little closer. The two key words in this verse are substance and evidence. The Greek word for substance is the word hypostasis which means “a setting under, substructure.” In other words, it sounds like we have a foundation. Likewise, the Greek for evidence translates back to elegchos. This word means, “a proof.” So, let’s see how the verse reads when we insert these words:

“Now faith is the foundation of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.”

Puts things into a slightly different perspective, huh? I like the way Dr. Skip put it. He said, “Faith is the foundation of things hoped for, and the closing argument of a case already won.” This is true because, usually, a proof is the end of a process. If something is proven, it is final. Here’s where we jump into the deep end, so hang on. A foundation is a beginning, and a proof is an end. This means that faith has a beginning and an end. It’s no coincidence that in the very next chapter, the writer of Hebrews calls Jesus the “author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2) Jesus is the foundation and ending proof of our faith.

Yet, if there is a beginning and an end, that means there is something that connects the two, correct? What makes up the nuts and bolts, the in between that connects the two points of faith? The answer here is experience and evidence. You see, every Christian typically has some kind of experience or set of experiences to back up their faith. It could have been healing. Or, you may have heard God speak to you. Whatever it is, experiences with God do wonders for increasing you faith until the day of perfection. But, what about evidence? What about cold, hard, empirical evidence?

Some would say that you don’t need evidence to prove reasons for your faith, as faith is a proof itself. Now, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water here. The Bible is clear about presenting a defense, or apologetic, or our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 says,” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” It is interesting to note that the word “answer” is translated back to “apologia” which means, “a defense of.” Knowing evidence of our faith and defending it are crucial for keeping and building.

So, to state it all, Faith (along with Heb 11:1) is made up of experiences and evidence that prove what we believe, beginning and ending with Jesus Christ. By no means is this a complete answer to the question of faith, but I do believe it is a strong starting point. This is to show that faith was never meant to be taken or used as a “cop out” when we don’t know the answer. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. I hope, everyone, that this has benefited you in some way.

Grace and Peace.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Hide and Seek, Part 1: Looking For Him

"Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you." (Matthew 7:7, ISV)

Talking to my friend Rebekah the other night, I found myself recalling a brilliant analogy dealing with our relationship with Jesus. It was something told to me over a year ago by my spiritual big brother, Bruce Purvis.

You see, Jesus likes to play hide and seek with us. This isn't negative like it sounds. Instead, this is one of the most profound pieces of personal theology that I've ever come across. Our relationship with Jesus is like a big, ongoing game of hide and seek, in which we are always the seeker. But, just like in the real game, Jesus doesn't hide in the same place every time. If we find him behind a bush one round, we can expect he won't be there the next. In other words, every time we seek Jesus, we will find him in a different place every time. He isn't going to be where he was before.

Let me put this into better terms. You won't always find Jesus in his blessings (financial, etc). You won't always find him in his power (healing, gifts). You will find him there sometimes, and maybe even frequently. But you will not find him there EVERY time. He does this to teach us how to seek him. And, here's the best part. You WILL find him in a familiar place again. Because, as any smart hider knows, after one spot has been overlooked as it has become a common hiding spot, it is game to hide there again. So, if Jesus hid behind a bush the first time, give him a few rounds, and he'll hide there again!! The important thing to remember here is this: the more you seek him, the more places you will find him. Just remember to look for him in a different place and a different way.

Can't find him lately? Quit looking behind the bush and look behind the shed, or in a tree. He's there, waiting to see if you can find him and more importantly, if you want to find him.

Remember, seek and you will find......

Monday, May 18, 2009

Playing Dumb: Further Objections About Calling

In "Who Am I?", I shared with all of you my thoughts and revelations on calling. Let's recap on that before I cover the next three objections that we give.

I said that most objections to God's call on your life start with a feeling of unworthiness. This is the gateway to the self-destruction of your call. It is also the door that leads to any further objections to the task at hand. As you can see in the Bible, Moses objected FOUR different times, with "I'm not worthy" being the initial excuse. Now, let's jump into the other three.

OBJECTION #2: I Don't Know What To Do

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ' The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, "What is his name?' What should I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13)

Now, this objection is more of an invitation for instruction. I believe that Moses really didn't know what to say to the Isarelites. You see, Moses understood the mentality of the Hebrews. After all, he had lived among them as a Egyptian for most of his life. He knew that the Hebrews would be doubtful if he couldn't give them some sort of legitimate answer. But, yet again, God gave him an answer.

God said to Moses, "I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, "The Lord, the God of your fathers- the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3: 14-15)

You see, you are powerless to do anything without God. So, using the excuse of not knowing what to do is very pointless. NOBODY knows what to do without the direction of God. He will never lead you astray. If you follow his direction, everything will fall into place. Just look at what happened later on. Moses and Aaron went to the elders, per God's instructions, and the elders believed and worshiped (Ex. 4:29-31). That takes care of what you are supposed to do.

OBJECTION #3 & #4 I CAN'T DO THIS

This is where unworthiness comes back into play. You see, because of the false sense of unworthiness, Moses believed that he was incapable of doing anything God had said. in Exodus 4:1, Moses tells God that they people will not believe him, and in verse 10, Moses tells God that he cant speak very well.

This is where things get interesting. God will always give a way of accomplishing the task at hand. If you read verses 2 - 9, God give Moses the power to do wonders. This is so the Israelites would believe in what Moses was saying. No problem, right? God has taken care of every problem Moses could have.

Wrong.

Moses STILL had to object by saying that he didn't have the ability to speak to the people. God had given him direction, words to say, and power!! But this was not enough to convince Moses to do anything. It was because of this stubbornness and fear that God became angry with Moses. In verse 11, God basically told Moses that if he had made Moses, then Moses could do what was asked of him. He told Moses that he would teach him what to say, and Moses still begs for God to send someone else!!! God becomes enraged and tells him to take Aaron with him to help speak (verse 14-17). In the end. God still provided a way for Moses to go about his task. I do believe, though, that if Moses had made one more objection, God would have really chosen someone else.

God has called you for a reason, and he wants YOU to do it. If God has said you can do it, THEN YOU CAN!! He isn't stupid; he knows what he's doing. Nothing you do our say can convince God that you are not capable of doing his will. But if you still refuse, then he will move on, and your life will be nothing but a shell of what it could have been.

You are called of God and are endowed with the abilities to do what he asks. He will guide you every step of the way and provide every means of accomplishing his will for your life. Be careful, though, because once you do, the enemy still has tricks up his sleeve.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Hindsight: Look Into the Past

So, a WHOLE lot of stuff has happened to some friends and myself this past semester, wrapping up one heck of a freshman year in college. As of late, a friend and myself have discovered something, thought it is nothing new. This concept is called, you guessed it, hindsight.

The song "Thanks For The Memories," by Fall Out Boy makes a surprisingly profound statement. Near the end of the second verse, the song states, "It's always cloudy except for when you look into the past." Granted, the song itself is talking about the mistake of a one night stand. But, it speaks volumes. As humans, we can't rightly see ten feet in front of our face as far as the future is concerned. We try SO hard to figure out what the future holds. We are so impatient. In short, foresight is harder to receive than hindsight. Our future is cloudy; our past, painfully clear.

Romans 8:28 tells us that everything works out. In the midst of a hairy situation, we can't see the road ahead of us for what it is. We see only the immediate hardships. Yet, God saves us from seeing what we COULD have went through, the pain he saved us from. Here's a good way to see it. A pastor was speaking at my school one day, and he told a story of his ascent of Mt. Sinai. It was grueling, exhausting, and seemed to be a waste of time. He saw how dangerous the path was, despite the fact he was climbing during early morning, with almost no light from the sun. He finally made it to the top as the sun was rising. The pastor looked down the mountain as the sun began to cast its light in the path he had just endured. It was then, he saw what God wanted him to see. The sun's light revealed the many cliffs and extremely dangerous ledges that he had been oblivious too during the ascent due to the low light . By looking back from where he came, he saw what God hid from him in order to keep him safe.

We will never fully understand what we go through. Yet, it is not always what we go through that teaches us; it is what God spared us from in the process. Hindsight is one of life's greatest teachers, used by the Lord frequently to save us from much harm. A lot of things have happened to me as of late, but God has given me the hindsight to see what could have been. I have developed perseverance in the face of trial (James 1:2-3) and kept my eyes on God every step of the way. And so, this concludes my end-of-the-semester post.

Good night, and God Bless.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Who Am I? - The First Objection to Calling

I’ve been doing some thinking lately (go figure, haha). My thoughts have parked on the issue of God’s calling on someone’s life. Interestingly enough, I’m taking a class that deals heavily on this subject, as well as another class that has touched on it. I’ve decided to write a little blog series about it.

So I watched The Prince of Egypt last night with my Old Testament Survey class. It was during this that God profoundly spoke to me on what to write about. He gripped my heart and opened my ears to a deeper message in the movie.

In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m writing about Moses.

You see, God called Moses to do His will, just like He has called many of you who may be reading this. A profound assignment was laid out for Moses to accomplish. Do you remember what Moses did?

He tried to chicken out.

Now, Moses wasn’t the only one who objected to his calling (remember Gideon and Jeremiah?), but he was the first. He objected FOUR different times to the call God had given him. Let’s look at the first one.

OBJECTION #1: I’M NOT WORTHY

After God had given Moses his assignment, he tried to tell God that he was not good enough.

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” (Ex.3:11)

This is the first attack on your calling. You are tricked by the enemy into thinking that you’re not worthy. This is typically the first excuse that some make. You feel like, for whatever reason, you are not qualified to do the task that God has set you apart to do. Really, all four objections Moses made were born of this one feeling of unworthiness. If you feel unworthy to even do the task set before you, then you will never take the first step into fulfilling your calling. It may have something to do with an event in your past.

If God chose people because of what they had or had not done, he wouldn’t have chosen half the people in the Bible. Moses killed a man and ran for his life. David also killed a man after sleeping with his wife, just so he could have her! Solomon slept around too much, and Elijah was always depressed. Peter was self-righteous, Paul killed Christians under a different name and, well, you get the idea.

There is nothing in your past that will hinder you from fulfilling the call God has on your life. Romans 8:30 says, “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

Here’s the best part. After Moses objected, God said this:

“And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be a sign to you that it is I who sent have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’”(Ex. 3:12)

God Himself told Moses that he would be with him, and would continue to guide. When you take your first step, God is there, leading you. But, you have to take that first step….

What is God calling you to? Great or small, the calling is the same.

Just think about it…

Stick around. I have THREE more objections to cover. ;)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

GOD: me

"He must become greater, I must become less." - John 3:30

Think about that.

John the Baptist said those words. He was baptizing people when his own disciples came to him and told him Jesus was doing the same on the other side of the Jordan. They were worried that everyone was going to receive Jesus' baptism and not John's.

That was his response.

Do we really understand this? Do we live this out? Or are we too consumed with our selfish lives to stop and look at the GOD:self ratio?

I’m not writing this to chastise anyone or anything of that sort. But this realization came to me just the other day. How often do we really put God higher than ourselves?

We are a very selfish people. American culture is primarily focused on the self. Every day, media and pop culture vigorously advance the ever-growing kingdom of the self. Are we, as Christians, advancing the kingdom of God? I sincerely think that a lot of Christians are buying more into the kingdom to self.

Literally.

Why? Why are we more worried about the way we look and dress and appear to others than we are about God? Why do we complain about missing one meal when there are those (which God has charged us to take care of; Matt 25:40) who have nothing to eat at all?

I think it’s time that we decrease so that he may increase, and increase greatly. I know it’s harder than it sounds, and in all honesty it sounds pretty hard. If anything, I’m addressing this note to myself, using this as a means of self-evaluation. So to everyone reading, and me, I issue a challenge.

Let’s fix the ratio. Think about ways you can increase God in your daily life. What can we lay aside? What can we do? Think about it, and get back to me. Don’t forget the ratio.

GOD:me

Viewpoints, Opinions, and Divisions.

I have once again felt the need to hash out the ever present problem with unity in the Body of Christ. I've been on this kick for quite some time, because the Lord won't let it leave me. This subject has become a reason for my existence. Ask anyone that knows me, and they'll tell you that unity is my thing. But this time, there is a more specific matter I would like to cover: books.

I was in Books-A-Million last night, browsing through various books and such, and I decided to wonder into the Christian section. I had already seen most of what was there in visits past. Yet, this time, I felt my heart grow heavy as I paid a better look at what I was seeing. This all started with a book I found that discredited some ministers and prophets who I know to be legitimate in their calling and teachings. Now, I did not begin to feel this way right away, but soon I saw more of it. One book on one part of the shelf would be there for the sole purpose of bashing another book on the other side. Again, my spirit began to remind me of the greater need for unity.

Guys, we live in a backward society that needs the Church as she is supposed to be: whole and able. Yet, we have let too much dissention come among us, thereby reducing the Body to a weak and almost powerless entity. I know that we all don't agree all the time, but there is a problem when Christians keep writing books to discredit other Christians. There are too many viewpoints and opinions out there destroying the unity of the Church. True, there may be some heresies and false teachings in the Body that need to be openly cast down, but seriously, this whole factor of disunity is coming down to the smallest of differences in OPINION!!!! Opinions and viewpoints are destroying us, people. my question to you is this: WHAT AE WE GONNA DO???

I'll give my answer later. I wanna see what everyone else says. Ya know, monitor opinions.....

Pride is gonna be an issue here too..........

Knowledge...or a Lack Thereof

So, for those who know me well, you know I'm a reader. I'll go to a bookstore once or twice a week just because I can. Well, lately my mind has puzzled with some questions while walking through the aisles of books. I will share one of these with you now.

I like theology, among many other things. Yet, a slight depression came over me as I browsed through the shelves that contained all the technical information of Christianity. I began to ask myself as I looked around, "What do these people know? Who are they to tell me what is and what isn't? Where do they get their knowledge, and what is knowledge anyway?? I grew irate and bitter, because I knew that some of this so-called "knowledge" was tearing Christianity apart. I was with a group of friends, and they noticed the change in my demeanor.

After having a little pow wow with Daddy(Jesus), I realized that I knew the answers to these questions. Or, rather, Daddy had given them to me a long time ago. You see, Proverbs 1:7 says, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." The Message puts it this way: "Start with God- the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning." So, true knowledge begins with Daddy. Without him, all else is useless and only fools reject his sound teachings. So, there's where you start.

Now, to address the destructive nature of some knowledge. As we all know, nothing can be done without love(1 Cor. 13). Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up, according to 1 Cor. 8:1. I wonder if sometimes if the big theologians and thinkers out there ever consider that. From the looks of some of those books on the shelves, I should say that many miss the mark, some simply out to prove the other wrong. If that be the case, then according to the Bible, the very thing that they are arguing over, proves their knowledge to be worthless.

This world doesn't need more thinkers. This world need people who will love. Love is the foundation of all knowledge, and true knowledge is from God. If we do not respect one another in our differences, then our knowledge and religion is nothing. Keep this in mind