One of the ironies of the Christian experience is our tendency to create new rules, while ignoring God's basic instructions.
One example of this is the misdirected litmus tests of style, and taste. We tend to discount churches and believers on the basis of difference in music style, type of clothing or version of the Bible. These are not small things, but they are not the core.
The trick as my Dad has said many times is to keep the main thing the main thing. While, your stance on abortion is important, and the authority issues that surround speaking in tongues are not little things. The reality of sin, the deity of Christ, penal substitutionary atonement and the combination of repentance and faith are key issues.
We need to have mature conversations about dress codes, decibels from the band and social issues. But don't let's throw out the essentials of the faith with the proverbial Bathwater, even while we engage in mature conversations about the band.
23 December 2012
01 December 2012
Snuggle please
I am right now trying to type this out on my phone while my son awkwardly holds down my arm. Why? because it is Saturday nap time and he loves nothing more than snuggling with his Daddy.
Parenting is always a good teacher. Working closely with children in general is a good teacher, so long as we are paying attention.
And right now I am reminded of the simple truth that we are Children of God by adoption in Christ, that we can beg and plead with God on the simple terms of a child.
And I consider that a reminder that my heart still needs to be refreshed and cleansed. Too much time in the world, and little cares, little burdens, and big problems and crushing loads will crowd a childlike dependence out of my heart.
Not that I become a pagan over night. But that child like faith can afford few distractions.
I would rather be with my daddy than anything this world affords today. That is the cry of the two year old heart, the three year old mind and the simple child of God.
Parenting is always a good teacher. Working closely with children in general is a good teacher, so long as we are paying attention.
And right now I am reminded of the simple truth that we are Children of God by adoption in Christ, that we can beg and plead with God on the simple terms of a child.
And I consider that a reminder that my heart still needs to be refreshed and cleansed. Too much time in the world, and little cares, little burdens, and big problems and crushing loads will crowd a childlike dependence out of my heart.
Not that I become a pagan over night. But that child like faith can afford few distractions.
I would rather be with my daddy than anything this world affords today. That is the cry of the two year old heart, the three year old mind and the simple child of God.
24 November 2012
Prayer on the narrow way
It makes much difference whether we come to God as a criminal or a child. . . Our praying must be buttressed by holy living.
It has always been true that holiness is hard. It may have been C. S. Lewis who said that the way of holiness hadn't been tried and found wanting but found hard and left untried.
I recently was asked why there is no real difference between a decent moral pagan and the average church goer. At the time I thought the question telling but I could not think of the fundamental issue. The reality however is that if the is no discern-able difference between a moral pagan and a moral churchgoer then there probably IS no difference.
Until we accept into our behavior the implications of the truth that the WAY is narrow that leads to life, then we are In fact deceived. And until that changes we will lead a mediocre attempt at faith, And nothing we do will satisfy.
It has always been true that holiness is hard. It may have been C. S. Lewis who said that the way of holiness hadn't been tried and found wanting but found hard and left untried.
I recently was asked why there is no real difference between a decent moral pagan and the average church goer. At the time I thought the question telling but I could not think of the fundamental issue. The reality however is that if the is no discern-able difference between a moral pagan and a moral churchgoer then there probably IS no difference.
Until we accept into our behavior the implications of the truth that the WAY is narrow that leads to life, then we are In fact deceived. And until that changes we will lead a mediocre attempt at faith, And nothing we do will satisfy.
20 November 2012
Thoughts on prayer
I was revisiting E. M. Bounds this week. There is a sense of distilled clarity in the words of this civil war chaplain. He reminds us quite simply that God himself is the one who says that he answers prayer.
Do we have faith in what God says or not?
Well, do you pray? Do you pray with expectation? Do you pray with the tenacity that Jesus instructs?
Then you do or do not believe. It is as simple as that
Do we have faith in what God says or not?
Well, do you pray? Do you pray with expectation? Do you pray with the tenacity that Jesus instructs?
Then you do or do not believe. It is as simple as that
13 November 2012
God has guaranteed the victory
1 Peter 1 indicates that our holiness and faithfulness come in direct proportion to our clarity in understanding the work of Christ on our behalf.
So on days like today where what I had planed fell through, I look forward to the glorious inheritance, already bought and paid for, and guaranteed with the precious perfect blood of Christ, and I do not loose hope.
The task is beyond me the needs are too much, but my hope is secure!
So on days like today where what I had planed fell through, I look forward to the glorious inheritance, already bought and paid for, and guaranteed with the precious perfect blood of Christ, and I do not loose hope.
The task is beyond me the needs are too much, but my hope is secure!
10 November 2012
Crazy hat night
With as many hats as I get to wear some days I wish I had a pirate on mine!
I have spent the past week juggling Church, church planting, and the AF chaplaincy.
What a convoluted combination of different emphasis, interests and challenges.
08 August 2012
With Whom to Fellowship
One potential problem that rears it's
head in every generation as we struggle to maintain orthodoxy, and
not loose the truth in the challenges of our generation is that of
misplaced loyalty. As believers our loyalty is first and foremost to
the Kingdom of God. When we find ourselves in a place that runs
counter to the Kingdom of God, then we must fight for reform (using a
variation of the principles found in Mathew 18) and if that fails
then we must separate from whatever institutions organizations and
relationships we find ourselves a part of.
We cannot lightly disband or create
division in the family of God in the visible churches and
institutions. We have a secondary but still very high priority to
pursue unity and maturity in the visible expressions of the family of
God. And in that context we need to think through carefully how and
when to disagree. In an attempt to explore that question I propose
the following matrix.
In this general matrix, we find at
least the beginning steps to decide how to handle the challenges that
assault the believer in this age of pluralism.
But we also find these categories in
various sets of relationships, in the World, in our denominations or
Para-church institutions, and in our own churches, the same type of
issue will merit a very different response if it is in your home
church rather than in an alternative temple down the street.
01 August 2012
No Undisputed Molecule in the Worship Wars
I went to a conference this past two days focusing on the need to plant churches. On the whole it was a very good conference with good speakers, experienced breakout leaders and helpful tips. While there is nothing new under the sun, we all tend to have very short memories and reminders of some simple realities of our spiritual condition are of great value.
We reveled in the profound impact of the gospel on every area of life, and how it should transform our attitudes toward every aspect of life and ministry.
But I did have one thought that caught in my craw. In the context of giving encouragement to young (or not so young) church planters, to help them be able to finish well, one of the speakers, a richly experienced and well respected pastor made a statement that has made me think.
Specifically he told us that Music is just sound waves traveling in the air. There is no moral connotation to an instrument, or a style, and we need to get over our prejudices about music, and get back to praising God.
What occurred to me however, is that by that Logic alone there is nothing wrong with ink or pigment on a page, nothing wrong with electromagnetic waves traveling through the air to receivers, and nothing wrong with any particular arrangement of letters or words. But if you follow that premise to it's logical conclusion there is nothing wrong with pornography, nothing wrong with violent or demeaning television, movies, or writings. I can't accept that conclusion so I think there is something wrong with the premise.
The inversion of this argument is also worth considering. I think it was aptly encapsulated by a bumper sticker I saw once: "If guns are responsible for killing people, then my pencil is responsible for my bad spelling." Obviously the misuse of God's creation be it photons, sound waves, or ballistics, is the responsibility of human beings.
The problem of course is that the human heart is deceitful and wicked at it's core. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory, and every piece of creation that is touched by the human hand has the potential to be used for good or for evil. Properly stated I suppose that there are no immoral notes, but that notes can be used by immoral people.
And that of course is the problem, when it comes to the worship of God, it is fundamentally about the human heart. We must worship, as Jesus made clear, in spirit and in truth. It isn't about external forms, it is about the heart. So from that foundation we can say that the style of music is secondary, but I think there are dozens of biblical principles that apply to our choices of music. These are deep theological and moral issues that we must explore if we are to have integrity in our choice of music.
Does it cause a brother to stumble?
More than once I have seen music become the expression of a deep distain for the mature members of a church, and of harsh and ungracious judgements of the young. This is a reflection of the attitudes of the heart, and the music itself is irrelevant. When the young are rebellious and the old are arrogant this is sin- pure and simple. To re-phrase Paul's dictum: While I am free to chose any music, If it causes my brother to stumble I will not sing or play any instrument or style ever again.
Does it cause a brother physical harm?
I once heard a preacher boast of the fact that the little old ladies in his church would hold their hands over their ears during the worship service. He was proud of the fact that they didn't let the new style drive them away even though it was too loud for them. That is a disrespectful arrogance that must grieve the heart of God. If my "worship" is so loud that it is physically painful to a member of the body of Christ. I don't care what the style may be it is wrong.
While the audiologists are not agreed as to the harm that excessive volume will produce, we often allow volumes in the name of worship that are illegal to subject people to in the work place. I have witnessed more than once young people leave a concert physically deafened by the "worship" that took place. And the physical side effects of drum beats are well known to cause a re-alignment of cardiac rhythms which can induce moods, and physical conditions that are manipulative.
We need to consider the practical realities of the physical impact we are having on the individuals under our influence, and the sound waves themselves are the objective issue in question.
Does it spur others on to love and good deeds, or toward idolatry?
Perhaps the best definition of an idol I have heard is this: "Anything for which you will sin if you get it, sin to get it, or sin if you don't get it." Music that tempts people to idolize the style of music, the performer, or the experience is a serious issue. Again the music is not objectively at fault here, but it serves as the light revealing the bitterness, and anger in our hearts, because our personal idols are being messed with. We ignore idolatry in worship at our own peril- it has always been the primary problem with human worship.
Does it carry with it the appearance of evil?
Ethics is not situational, but the application of ethics always occurs in a context. Modesty being a clear example. various cultures have widely divergent standards of dress that would be considered modest or immodest, in regard to whether the person is likely to cause sexual temptation, or is engaging in exhibitionism. Music is no different, for those who grew up in a pagan musical context that music carries cultural baggage. While we can and should attempt to redeem the culture, we must be careful to remain in but not of the culture. Musical styles indistinguishable from their millue run a great risk of falling into moralistic relativism, Where so long as the words are "christian" anything goes.
We must speak the heart language of our target audience in evangelism, and in that context and for that purpose I think almost any genre can be adapted, but in the corporate worship of the body of Christ we need to wrestle with the implications of the music we choose.
Does it speak truth, not just in it's words but in the emotional and physical consequences it produces?
Music stirs the emotions. Hence it's powerful application in a worship setting is so critical. To stir the emotions touches the human heart right at our point of greatest need. Out hearts are the seat of desire and our music can spur our desires, driving the integrity of our worship. Music that is cogent with a clear and Biblically content is essential. Sensuality is a great danger to the human heart, we are warned that those who pursue sensuality are not fit for the kingdom of God. Music that stirs the emotions, produces pleasure and possibly the lowering of inhibitions (all known and explicitly desired effects of many poly-rythms, chord structures and progressions) is an area where we are subjecting ourselves to the potential for great temptation to sensuality.
The reality of the sensual orgy that music can produce is well known. Any movie that makes the big time has a sound track that supports encourages and drives the emotional content of the film. Music is often the difference between laughing and crying in any given moment. All of that being accomplished very frequently without any words. Music heightens emotion, allowing for manipulation of the emotions.
Through that emotional power our music can contradict our message, spurring self-indulgence, and sensuality, and often doing so in opposition to the words of the song. If people choose your church based on the emotional impact of your music, and not the gospel, we are guilty of worshiping the created thing and not the Creator. If yours is the greatest show on earth, be ware.
Does it lead people to glorify God or man?
Following in the same vein far too often music is a cult of personality. We become followers of the band and not followers of God. Our hearts are drawn to the human figures, with a form of godliness, but that in the end denies it's power. Musicians are often the ones who are most likely to break into homes and gain control over weak willed young women. In the secular world every generation has a heart throb, or boy band and they have all the groupies they want. In the spiritual arena the idolatry, and adultery of the heart is far too common.
While we want our worship to God to be a thing that reflects his glory, his beauty and his majesty. We must be careful that it doesn't instead usurp those things for the glory of man.
Does it function as manipulation such that the same effect could have been achieved by a completely secular drama, musical score?
I confess to having been moved, to pity, to anger and compassion in films and stories that were entirely devoid of a Biblical moral framework. What makes the arts any different in church? Are we settling for the cheep tricks that Paul so expressly avoided in his dialogue with the Corinthians? The philosophers and disputers of our age use the arts as one of their primary mediums. We are to rely not on cleverly constructed musicals, or heart warming solos, but the power of God in the Gospel. In the end, if we have the best music, and the greatest worship sets, but we have not love . . .
And fundamentally of course, does it spring from a heart responding rightly to God?
In many ways we need to be more critical of our musicians than our preachers. The theology of the preacher will be retained for a few hours, the theology of our musicians will be retained for a life-time. We most often remember music not sermons. And thus the heart of the musicians in our churches, and the hearts of our worshipers are more important than we give them credit for.
Who are you to judge? How can you say that about a person's heart? You don't even know the artist or his or here intentions. No, but we must in fact judge people by their fruits. We can't know a person's heart, but we are to examine the fruit of their way of life. We need to hold our musicians to the highest of biblical standards. We need to examine their family life, their moral life, their ethical behavior, and the way they deal with conflict. We need to judge the music we hold dear by the character and life of the messenger. Because God will not share his honor, and he will not bless any worship that is not grounded in a dependent walk of grace.
In conclusion, we are not concerned about sound waves and pigment molecules per-say. But those sound waves have Theological implications that are profound. And we must not simply accept anything that comes our way. We must be discerning, we must be wise, for the days are evil.
We reveled in the profound impact of the gospel on every area of life, and how it should transform our attitudes toward every aspect of life and ministry.
But I did have one thought that caught in my craw. In the context of giving encouragement to young (or not so young) church planters, to help them be able to finish well, one of the speakers, a richly experienced and well respected pastor made a statement that has made me think.
Specifically he told us that Music is just sound waves traveling in the air. There is no moral connotation to an instrument, or a style, and we need to get over our prejudices about music, and get back to praising God.
What occurred to me however, is that by that Logic alone there is nothing wrong with ink or pigment on a page, nothing wrong with electromagnetic waves traveling through the air to receivers, and nothing wrong with any particular arrangement of letters or words. But if you follow that premise to it's logical conclusion there is nothing wrong with pornography, nothing wrong with violent or demeaning television, movies, or writings. I can't accept that conclusion so I think there is something wrong with the premise.
The inversion of this argument is also worth considering. I think it was aptly encapsulated by a bumper sticker I saw once: "If guns are responsible for killing people, then my pencil is responsible for my bad spelling." Obviously the misuse of God's creation be it photons, sound waves, or ballistics, is the responsibility of human beings.
The problem of course is that the human heart is deceitful and wicked at it's core. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory, and every piece of creation that is touched by the human hand has the potential to be used for good or for evil. Properly stated I suppose that there are no immoral notes, but that notes can be used by immoral people.
And that of course is the problem, when it comes to the worship of God, it is fundamentally about the human heart. We must worship, as Jesus made clear, in spirit and in truth. It isn't about external forms, it is about the heart. So from that foundation we can say that the style of music is secondary, but I think there are dozens of biblical principles that apply to our choices of music. These are deep theological and moral issues that we must explore if we are to have integrity in our choice of music.
Does it cause a brother to stumble?
More than once I have seen music become the expression of a deep distain for the mature members of a church, and of harsh and ungracious judgements of the young. This is a reflection of the attitudes of the heart, and the music itself is irrelevant. When the young are rebellious and the old are arrogant this is sin- pure and simple. To re-phrase Paul's dictum: While I am free to chose any music, If it causes my brother to stumble I will not sing or play any instrument or style ever again.
Does it cause a brother physical harm?
I once heard a preacher boast of the fact that the little old ladies in his church would hold their hands over their ears during the worship service. He was proud of the fact that they didn't let the new style drive them away even though it was too loud for them. That is a disrespectful arrogance that must grieve the heart of God. If my "worship" is so loud that it is physically painful to a member of the body of Christ. I don't care what the style may be it is wrong.
While the audiologists are not agreed as to the harm that excessive volume will produce, we often allow volumes in the name of worship that are illegal to subject people to in the work place. I have witnessed more than once young people leave a concert physically deafened by the "worship" that took place. And the physical side effects of drum beats are well known to cause a re-alignment of cardiac rhythms which can induce moods, and physical conditions that are manipulative.
We need to consider the practical realities of the physical impact we are having on the individuals under our influence, and the sound waves themselves are the objective issue in question.
Does it spur others on to love and good deeds, or toward idolatry?
Perhaps the best definition of an idol I have heard is this: "Anything for which you will sin if you get it, sin to get it, or sin if you don't get it." Music that tempts people to idolize the style of music, the performer, or the experience is a serious issue. Again the music is not objectively at fault here, but it serves as the light revealing the bitterness, and anger in our hearts, because our personal idols are being messed with. We ignore idolatry in worship at our own peril- it has always been the primary problem with human worship.
Does it carry with it the appearance of evil?
Ethics is not situational, but the application of ethics always occurs in a context. Modesty being a clear example. various cultures have widely divergent standards of dress that would be considered modest or immodest, in regard to whether the person is likely to cause sexual temptation, or is engaging in exhibitionism. Music is no different, for those who grew up in a pagan musical context that music carries cultural baggage. While we can and should attempt to redeem the culture, we must be careful to remain in but not of the culture. Musical styles indistinguishable from their millue run a great risk of falling into moralistic relativism, Where so long as the words are "christian" anything goes.
We must speak the heart language of our target audience in evangelism, and in that context and for that purpose I think almost any genre can be adapted, but in the corporate worship of the body of Christ we need to wrestle with the implications of the music we choose.
Does it speak truth, not just in it's words but in the emotional and physical consequences it produces?
Music stirs the emotions. Hence it's powerful application in a worship setting is so critical. To stir the emotions touches the human heart right at our point of greatest need. Out hearts are the seat of desire and our music can spur our desires, driving the integrity of our worship. Music that is cogent with a clear and Biblically content is essential. Sensuality is a great danger to the human heart, we are warned that those who pursue sensuality are not fit for the kingdom of God. Music that stirs the emotions, produces pleasure and possibly the lowering of inhibitions (all known and explicitly desired effects of many poly-rythms, chord structures and progressions) is an area where we are subjecting ourselves to the potential for great temptation to sensuality.
The reality of the sensual orgy that music can produce is well known. Any movie that makes the big time has a sound track that supports encourages and drives the emotional content of the film. Music is often the difference between laughing and crying in any given moment. All of that being accomplished very frequently without any words. Music heightens emotion, allowing for manipulation of the emotions.
Through that emotional power our music can contradict our message, spurring self-indulgence, and sensuality, and often doing so in opposition to the words of the song. If people choose your church based on the emotional impact of your music, and not the gospel, we are guilty of worshiping the created thing and not the Creator. If yours is the greatest show on earth, be ware.
Does it lead people to glorify God or man?
Following in the same vein far too often music is a cult of personality. We become followers of the band and not followers of God. Our hearts are drawn to the human figures, with a form of godliness, but that in the end denies it's power. Musicians are often the ones who are most likely to break into homes and gain control over weak willed young women. In the secular world every generation has a heart throb, or boy band and they have all the groupies they want. In the spiritual arena the idolatry, and adultery of the heart is far too common.
While we want our worship to God to be a thing that reflects his glory, his beauty and his majesty. We must be careful that it doesn't instead usurp those things for the glory of man.
Does it function as manipulation such that the same effect could have been achieved by a completely secular drama, musical score?
I confess to having been moved, to pity, to anger and compassion in films and stories that were entirely devoid of a Biblical moral framework. What makes the arts any different in church? Are we settling for the cheep tricks that Paul so expressly avoided in his dialogue with the Corinthians? The philosophers and disputers of our age use the arts as one of their primary mediums. We are to rely not on cleverly constructed musicals, or heart warming solos, but the power of God in the Gospel. In the end, if we have the best music, and the greatest worship sets, but we have not love . . .
And fundamentally of course, does it spring from a heart responding rightly to God?
In many ways we need to be more critical of our musicians than our preachers. The theology of the preacher will be retained for a few hours, the theology of our musicians will be retained for a life-time. We most often remember music not sermons. And thus the heart of the musicians in our churches, and the hearts of our worshipers are more important than we give them credit for.
Who are you to judge? How can you say that about a person's heart? You don't even know the artist or his or here intentions. No, but we must in fact judge people by their fruits. We can't know a person's heart, but we are to examine the fruit of their way of life. We need to hold our musicians to the highest of biblical standards. We need to examine their family life, their moral life, their ethical behavior, and the way they deal with conflict. We need to judge the music we hold dear by the character and life of the messenger. Because God will not share his honor, and he will not bless any worship that is not grounded in a dependent walk of grace.
In conclusion, we are not concerned about sound waves and pigment molecules per-say. But those sound waves have Theological implications that are profound. And we must not simply accept anything that comes our way. We must be discerning, we must be wise, for the days are evil.
04 July 2012
Deja-Review
Deja-Review: the sensation that: "I have heard this all before . . . taught it in fact, and yet here we go again."
I had that odd sensation this past Monday sitting in the dentist's office. The dentist was explaining the best way to start a new habit (i.e. regular flossing). I am an irregular flosser. I do it cheerfully, when I remember to do so.
So the dentist gave me some good advice:
Find a regular quiet time in your schedule, do it every day at the same time, create a place where all your stuff is ready to go.
I use that same outline to tell my guitar students, and in my personal devotion classes, and about how to develop a prayer time. And I struggle with them all.
And hence I am hearing the lesson again.
I think the problem is that I for one complicate my life way too much. I have no "regular" schedule. Every day is different, every year is different, with an infinite degree of variety.
I spend several weeks this past month working on my roof, a project I hope to not need to repeat at this house in my time here. -Very irregular.
I went to camp this past month as a speaker- first time at this camp in that capacity- very irregular
I have just started the in-processing challenge for a new job- very irregular
I finished seminary and am trying to start a church plant- very irregular
And thus it may be that that kind of advice which we so eagerly preach about our favorite topics, be it dentistry, musical proficiency or Spiritual exercises may not be a helpful refrain. Perhaps it boils down to knowing what we love in the midst of irregular lives filled with upheaval. And that we do the things we must as they come our way, because we love to do what is right.
In the end neither my dentist, nor God are going to kick me out because I am an irregular person in a less than monotonous life. They will continue to gently remind me that I need to take care of some simple things every day if possible, and they will help me clean up the mess, and deal with the pain when I loose sight of the small things that really matter, or when despite a good effort, life in a fallen world takes it's toll.
I had that odd sensation this past Monday sitting in the dentist's office. The dentist was explaining the best way to start a new habit (i.e. regular flossing). I am an irregular flosser. I do it cheerfully, when I remember to do so.
So the dentist gave me some good advice:
Find a regular quiet time in your schedule, do it every day at the same time, create a place where all your stuff is ready to go.
I use that same outline to tell my guitar students, and in my personal devotion classes, and about how to develop a prayer time. And I struggle with them all.
And hence I am hearing the lesson again.
I think the problem is that I for one complicate my life way too much. I have no "regular" schedule. Every day is different, every year is different, with an infinite degree of variety.
I spend several weeks this past month working on my roof, a project I hope to not need to repeat at this house in my time here. -Very irregular.
I went to camp this past month as a speaker- first time at this camp in that capacity- very irregular
I have just started the in-processing challenge for a new job- very irregular
I finished seminary and am trying to start a church plant- very irregular
And thus it may be that that kind of advice which we so eagerly preach about our favorite topics, be it dentistry, musical proficiency or Spiritual exercises may not be a helpful refrain. Perhaps it boils down to knowing what we love in the midst of irregular lives filled with upheaval. And that we do the things we must as they come our way, because we love to do what is right.
In the end neither my dentist, nor God are going to kick me out because I am an irregular person in a less than monotonous life. They will continue to gently remind me that I need to take care of some simple things every day if possible, and they will help me clean up the mess, and deal with the pain when I loose sight of the small things that really matter, or when despite a good effort, life in a fallen world takes it's toll.
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