Adam Morris and I were sitting around talking, and he said something that triggered a serious of thoughts to come to my head. They are recorded below:
"The rapture ruined my lock in!" This is the cry of many a youth pastor and even some senior pastors. While it may never be spoken, it is lived out. The attitudes of many of these so-called Christian leaders ring out far louder than their voices ever will. Their youth and the adults in their congregations will come to believe that lockins, games, and programs are far more important than the King of the universe.
Lockins and programs are great, but if there is no reference to Jesus other than thanking Him for our food, then we have left out the gospel and created a social club and not a church. All we are doing is commercializing Christianity. We cannot think up, advertize, or create anything to win people to Chirst. If we attempt to do that, then all we have done is glorify ourselves. What audacity to say that our program drew someone to Jesus! NO, Jesus drew that person to Himself. We do not have the power or the ability to win people to the Lord. All we can do is live because of Him and in love with Him. People will then see our lives and hear our words, and they will want to know our King.
What happened to the days when all that attracted people to church was Jesus? What have we missed in our churches and in our hearts? How did the early church live in order that people be added to their number daily? I think that it rests with two things: belief and prayer. Many of our churches have stopped believing in the power of Jesus Christ. He does not need us to get people to come to church. He does not need us to create a program or create a six-flags-over-Jesus. All we need to do is believe in Him, and live our lives based on that believe.
What does that mean for your lockin or your program? Better yet, what does that mean for your life? You had better put Jesus at it's center or quit doing it. In fact, life with out Jesus is death. Are you a walking dead man or a who is fueled by Christ? Is your program driven by the Lord and His word or by your own strength? Would Jesus' return mess up your plans? Our lives should be so intertwined with Christ's that His plans are our plans, and His return should bring joy to our hearts, not fear or frustration.
We should also pray that His will be done. When we believe, admitt that Jesus is Lord and live because of it, then we must pray. In pray Jesus will change our will to His, and He will act. The power of prayer is far greater than any lockin or program can ever be. Infact, without prayer these things will fail. They will waste away as if they had never existed.
If the return of Jesus would depress you because you wouldn't get to go to your staff meeting on Monday and brag about all the kids you had at your lockin over the weekend, then you need to check your motives, and there is a possibility that you need to get out of the ministry. You may even need to get saved. The fact is that you are definately not serving Jesus, but you are serving yourself. Jesus doesn't need your lockin or your big block party to reach the lost. He doesn't need you getting mad that no one came to hear you preach. He doesn't even need you to get out of His way, because sooner or later, He is going to move you out of His way.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Problem Among Calvinists
I do not admit to be an expert on this subject, but I am merely going to comment upon what I have seen and observed over the past few months.
I live with an individual who has confessed and taken great pride in being a Calvinist. For one thing, I believe that he misunderstands the full implications of this claim. While Calvin was an incredibly smart individual who had many contributions to the world, he was still a mere mortal. Therefore, he had many flaws. For one, he believed in baptizing babies. I doubt that my friend and roommate would agree with this belief. The early church father, Cyprian, explained that infant baptism excused the infant from sins. Basically, it was the act of baptism and not the death and resurrection of Jesus that saved. A true-Calvinist agrees with Calvin's belief in infant baptism. Many so-called Calvinists are wrong to call themselves Calvinists. Reformed-Christian, Biblicist, or follower of Christ would be a more accurate label.
The following assertions will be easy to misunderstand. I am in no way denying the sovereignty of God. I say that in order that you do not misunderstand me. There is nothing and no one more powerful than God. He is the measure for all things, and no one can or will control Him. Proverbs 16:9 says this, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." God is in control of our lives whether we like it or not. We may want to do many amazing things, but, in the end, God decides what we end up doing. He is sovereign over all things, and nothing is outside of His control. However, it is wrong of us to assert the sovereignty of God and then give up. We have been commanded to be holy as the Lord our God is holy (Lev 11:44; I Peter 1:15; etc); therefore, we are responsible for our actions. Yes, you can go ahead and say that we are sinful beyond measure and that our hearts are deceitful from birth. I agree with you! I am probably one of the most sinful people I have ever met. I realize that I sin because I am a sinner. BUT I have been given the Spirit of redemption. The kindness of God has led me to repentance. I am a new creation. I have been transform and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. I am being changed little by little. These changes have made me capable of obeying the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. I am responsible for the things that I do; if I'm not responsible for my actions, why does I Corinthians 3 and many other passages tell us that we will be judged for every deed done in the body? God has given me the ability to overcome, to resist, and to abandon sin. Galatians 5:1 says, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." We are to fight with every fiber of our being in order that we be found pure and without reproach upon the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is a sin to say, "God is sovereign," and then move on and continue in sin. When we do this, it's almost as if we believe that God desires for us to sin. How can God desire us to sin when He sent Jesus to die for sin? How can God desire for us to sin when He despises sin? "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). We have not been born of God to do the will of Satan, but we have been born of God in order to do the works of God, who is our Father. Therefore, we must never proclaim the sovereignty of God in a way that defames, belittles, and defiles the name of God.
So, let me sum up. Don't call yourself a Calvinist if you disagree with infant baptism, and don't use the sovereignty of God as an excuse for sin.
I live with an individual who has confessed and taken great pride in being a Calvinist. For one thing, I believe that he misunderstands the full implications of this claim. While Calvin was an incredibly smart individual who had many contributions to the world, he was still a mere mortal. Therefore, he had many flaws. For one, he believed in baptizing babies. I doubt that my friend and roommate would agree with this belief. The early church father, Cyprian, explained that infant baptism excused the infant from sins. Basically, it was the act of baptism and not the death and resurrection of Jesus that saved. A true-Calvinist agrees with Calvin's belief in infant baptism. Many so-called Calvinists are wrong to call themselves Calvinists. Reformed-Christian, Biblicist, or follower of Christ would be a more accurate label.
The following assertions will be easy to misunderstand. I am in no way denying the sovereignty of God. I say that in order that you do not misunderstand me. There is nothing and no one more powerful than God. He is the measure for all things, and no one can or will control Him. Proverbs 16:9 says this, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." God is in control of our lives whether we like it or not. We may want to do many amazing things, but, in the end, God decides what we end up doing. He is sovereign over all things, and nothing is outside of His control. However, it is wrong of us to assert the sovereignty of God and then give up. We have been commanded to be holy as the Lord our God is holy (Lev 11:44; I Peter 1:15; etc); therefore, we are responsible for our actions. Yes, you can go ahead and say that we are sinful beyond measure and that our hearts are deceitful from birth. I agree with you! I am probably one of the most sinful people I have ever met. I realize that I sin because I am a sinner. BUT I have been given the Spirit of redemption. The kindness of God has led me to repentance. I am a new creation. I have been transform and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. I am being changed little by little. These changes have made me capable of obeying the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. I am responsible for the things that I do; if I'm not responsible for my actions, why does I Corinthians 3 and many other passages tell us that we will be judged for every deed done in the body? God has given me the ability to overcome, to resist, and to abandon sin. Galatians 5:1 says, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." We are to fight with every fiber of our being in order that we be found pure and without reproach upon the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is a sin to say, "God is sovereign," and then move on and continue in sin. When we do this, it's almost as if we believe that God desires for us to sin. How can God desire us to sin when He sent Jesus to die for sin? How can God desire for us to sin when He despises sin? "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). We have not been born of God to do the will of Satan, but we have been born of God in order to do the works of God, who is our Father. Therefore, we must never proclaim the sovereignty of God in a way that defames, belittles, and defiles the name of God.
So, let me sum up. Don't call yourself a Calvinist if you disagree with infant baptism, and don't use the sovereignty of God as an excuse for sin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
