Lately I've been thinking about this whole idea of 'freedom from sin'. I'm not sure I've ever understood it before, but I'm getting there now.
The problem is that Paul tells us in Romans we have it, but a cursory look at our lives tells us we don't. I'm not perfect, and don't really see any way I ever will be. And by the way, you're not either. So what in the world is Paul talking about when he says we as Believers are free from sin?
This question led me to a fundamental error in the way I view the world. Even though the Bible clearly teaches that we are in the middle of a battle, I generally view my life as at peace. This causes big problems, because freedom means very different things in the context of peace versus the context of war.
Think about it like this. In a peaceful context, freedom of the USA from another nation means that the USA would do exactly what they want to do when they want to do it. However, in a context of being attacked, freedom means something very different. It means they continue to fight the battle. The USA is likely being harmed by the other nation, and is likely not doing exactly what they want to do when they want to do it ... but as long as they are still fighting, they are still free.
At peace, freedom is marked by the alignment of heart or will, and action. At war, freedom is marked by a fight.
In the same way: in a peaceful context, freedom from sin means that I would do exactly what I want when I want. My heart or will, and my actions would align. I would be perfect. However, when I'm being attacked, freedom from sin means that I continue to fight. I am likely being harmed by the attack, and I am likely not doing exactly what I want to do when I want to do it ... but as long as I am still fighting, I am free.
When Paul says 'we are free from sin' and at the same time says 'I do what I do not want to do, and what I want to do, I don't do', he is not trying to confuse us. When we believe in Jesus, and yet continue to sin, we do not need to feel that our theology contradicts our experience. While we are on earth, fighting against our adversary (the devil), our freedom results in a fight. When we get to heaven, and have no adversary, our freedom will result in perfection.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Lord's Prayer
Acts is getting boring ... Paul is so predictable: share in the synagogue, share in other spiritual places, make tents, heal people, see many join 'The Way', almost get killed, leave because of persecution, come back to encourage believers, constantly mentor new leaders, and then repeat.
So I'm moving on for a day to another thought ... a thought about where Jesus might have said something that ties it all together, some words where he might have given us some condensed view on how to orient our life. My mind drifted to the Lord's prayer, and the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I've always viewed it as instructions on how to pray, but never taken it to the next step. If it is how we should pray, it would also logically be how we should orient our lives before God. Our communicating with God should be a reflection of real life ... not just pretty words.
In short, the prayer orients life this way: 1) God's nature, 2) God's purpose, 3) Our nature, 4) Our purpose. The order is important. If you skip steps by putting our purpose before his or our nature before his, life doesn't make sense. Also, if we put purpose before nature, we get screwed up. But, in this brilliant order, everything makes sense.
So here it goes ...
First, God's nature:
Our Father who art in heaven ...
We must start with the fact that God exists, that he was before us, that he lives in the heavens which are the air around us. His presence is here, as near to us as the air we breathe and the sky we look at. If we don't know this, there is no use in moving on.
Hallowed be thy name ...
Second we must know that God's nature is to be glorified. Life does not make sense unless we realize it is all about God. Everything is about his honor, his name, his glory. This seems contradictory to a loving God at first, until you realize 'who else would you want God to be all about?'. Being primarily concerned with His own glory is the most loving thing he could do for us, because He is himself love.
Then God's Mission:
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ...
His mission is to expand his kingdom (the place where what He wants done is done) in the lives of men and women. It is to see men and women transformed into the people he designed them to be, and at the same time to see this transformation spread across the face of the earth to people everywhere.
All of that and we just now get to us! Our Nature:
Give us this day our daily bread ...
Just as God's nature is to be self-sufficient and glorified. Our nature is to be dependent. We are very needy. It is so clear that life can not possibly be about us. We also see that physical needs matter on this earth.
And forgive us our trespasses ...
Just as we are dependent physically on food. We are dependent spiritually on God's forgiveness. It is interesting that our spiritual nature is summed up by forgiveness. We so easily want to turn that into something else.
And finally, our purpose:
As we forgive those who trespass against us ...
We finally get to our mission. Our first mission is to take the love and forgiveness of God and to join in His mission by expanding where his will is done. We do this by showing love and forgiveness to others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ...
The rest of our mission ... to be transformed individually and corporately into His will - to be delivered from evil.
So that's it. I don't know if it will help you, but it has helped me. Jesus was so simple. When we are confused, we can go back to this, pray it, but more than that, we can use it to reorient our life step by step to the orientation that matches with the way things really are.
So I'm moving on for a day to another thought ... a thought about where Jesus might have said something that ties it all together, some words where he might have given us some condensed view on how to orient our life. My mind drifted to the Lord's prayer, and the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I've always viewed it as instructions on how to pray, but never taken it to the next step. If it is how we should pray, it would also logically be how we should orient our lives before God. Our communicating with God should be a reflection of real life ... not just pretty words.
In short, the prayer orients life this way: 1) God's nature, 2) God's purpose, 3) Our nature, 4) Our purpose. The order is important. If you skip steps by putting our purpose before his or our nature before his, life doesn't make sense. Also, if we put purpose before nature, we get screwed up. But, in this brilliant order, everything makes sense.
So here it goes ...
First, God's nature:
Our Father who art in heaven ...
We must start with the fact that God exists, that he was before us, that he lives in the heavens which are the air around us. His presence is here, as near to us as the air we breathe and the sky we look at. If we don't know this, there is no use in moving on.
Hallowed be thy name ...
Second we must know that God's nature is to be glorified. Life does not make sense unless we realize it is all about God. Everything is about his honor, his name, his glory. This seems contradictory to a loving God at first, until you realize 'who else would you want God to be all about?'. Being primarily concerned with His own glory is the most loving thing he could do for us, because He is himself love.
Then God's Mission:
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ...
His mission is to expand his kingdom (the place where what He wants done is done) in the lives of men and women. It is to see men and women transformed into the people he designed them to be, and at the same time to see this transformation spread across the face of the earth to people everywhere.
All of that and we just now get to us! Our Nature:
Give us this day our daily bread ...
Just as God's nature is to be self-sufficient and glorified. Our nature is to be dependent. We are very needy. It is so clear that life can not possibly be about us. We also see that physical needs matter on this earth.
And forgive us our trespasses ...
Just as we are dependent physically on food. We are dependent spiritually on God's forgiveness. It is interesting that our spiritual nature is summed up by forgiveness. We so easily want to turn that into something else.
And finally, our purpose:
As we forgive those who trespass against us ...
We finally get to our mission. Our first mission is to take the love and forgiveness of God and to join in His mission by expanding where his will is done. We do this by showing love and forgiveness to others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ...
The rest of our mission ... to be transformed individually and corporately into His will - to be delivered from evil.
So that's it. I don't know if it will help you, but it has helped me. Jesus was so simple. When we are confused, we can go back to this, pray it, but more than that, we can use it to reorient our life step by step to the orientation that matches with the way things really are.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Ralph Winters on culture and faith
I came across this quote by Ralph Winter while surfing the net.
"One of the most important functions of the missionary movement is to continually rescue the faith itself from becoming lost through institutional and cultural evolution and absorption.... That process of trying to make our faith understandable cross-culturally has in many different but vital ways pumped back into the home church a constantly renewed sense of what is, and what is not the [gospel]... Unless we become as serious about rediscovering the true faith in contrast to the assumptions of our own culture, we will trumpet an uncertain sound wherever else we go"
This is the most significant thing that I experienced personally while living overseas. Like it or not, our faith and our culture get very intertwined and we begin to confuse the two. Look no further than all the people out there who confuse patriotism (the desire for success and prosperity for the USA) with following Jesus (the desire to see 'His will be done'). Living in a different culture (even for a short time) reveals what is foundational and what is cultural. (BTW. the US is not foundational to the gospel. It's not even in the Bible. :) ) If you have not travelled internationally on a trip where you get to interact with the local people and with God, you should. Careful though, it will mess you up (in a good way). You will never be the same!
"One of the most important functions of the missionary movement is to continually rescue the faith itself from becoming lost through institutional and cultural evolution and absorption.... That process of trying to make our faith understandable cross-culturally has in many different but vital ways pumped back into the home church a constantly renewed sense of what is, and what is not the [gospel]... Unless we become as serious about rediscovering the true faith in contrast to the assumptions of our own culture, we will trumpet an uncertain sound wherever else we go"
This is the most significant thing that I experienced personally while living overseas. Like it or not, our faith and our culture get very intertwined and we begin to confuse the two. Look no further than all the people out there who confuse patriotism (the desire for success and prosperity for the USA) with following Jesus (the desire to see 'His will be done'). Living in a different culture (even for a short time) reveals what is foundational and what is cultural. (BTW. the US is not foundational to the gospel. It's not even in the Bible. :) ) If you have not travelled internationally on a trip where you get to interact with the local people and with God, you should. Careful though, it will mess you up (in a good way). You will never be the same!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Back from Vacation and Acts Chapter 17
I'm back from vacation and it was great. We drove 3000 miles and saw some of the most beautiful sites anywhere in the world. On top of that, I got to wake up everyday and spend it with my wife and kids which is always a treat. Here's what happened: Kansas driving, Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge, boring drive to Albuquerque, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater, on to Phoenix to see my dad and stepmom (and various cats and dogs), swimming, dinner with aunt and uncle, golf with my wife (shot a 83!), the Phoenix zoo, Rainforest Cafe, naps, more golf (only a 96 this time), train park, Scottsdale shopping, PF Changs, more swimming, family dinner, Sedona, ice cream with Kelly Ripa and family (kind of), Grand Canyon, and then the very long drive home. I loved all of it.
Now that I'm back, we're moving on to Acts 17 - Thessolonica, Berea and Athens.
Paul's Entrance Strategy:
It's the same as before - in all three places Paul starts at the synagogue. Verse 2 even explicitly recognizes that this is a pattern. In Athens he also tries out going to the places of philosophical and/or religious conversation.
Gospel Presentation:
This is my favorite part of the chapter. We get a glimpse of how Paul shares the Gospel in two different settings - first, in a synagogue in Thessolonica, and second, in a meeting of philosophers in Athens. We can learn a lot from how Paul approaches each situation. In both cases he uses the religious background of his audience to share the Gospel. In the synagogue he 'reasons with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.' With the philosophers, he does not use scripture. He instead starts with their religious experience and builds off of it. He talks about their altar, and their poetry. He begins the Gospel with God and creation, not with Jesus. He gets to Jesus in the end, but as he has done in previous chapters, he just mentions Him and His resurrection then waits for them to ask for more. In both cases his message is very God centered and not people centered. He does not appeal to selfish, personal, individual needs.
This is so much different than what many in the church demonstrate today. There is no 'altar call'. There is no 'sinner's prayer' there is no promise of individual prosperity. We see that the way we share about Jesus with an Atheist, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Chinese person, an Indian person, a European person should be DIFFERENT. And sometimes it may be best not to quote scripture (gasp!).
Leadership Development:
Silas and Timothy are able to stay in Berea and carry on the work on their own. Paul is clearly investing into these two men.
Out of his control:
Persecution is everywhere. This is maybe the dominant theme in Acts so far - that persecution comes and mostly sparks expansion rather than hinders it.
Results:
New leaders gain experience and begin to do some things on their own.
There are new believers left in every location.
Now that I'm back, we're moving on to Acts 17 - Thessolonica, Berea and Athens.
Paul's Entrance Strategy:
It's the same as before - in all three places Paul starts at the synagogue. Verse 2 even explicitly recognizes that this is a pattern. In Athens he also tries out going to the places of philosophical and/or religious conversation.
Gospel Presentation:
This is my favorite part of the chapter. We get a glimpse of how Paul shares the Gospel in two different settings - first, in a synagogue in Thessolonica, and second, in a meeting of philosophers in Athens. We can learn a lot from how Paul approaches each situation. In both cases he uses the religious background of his audience to share the Gospel. In the synagogue he 'reasons with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.' With the philosophers, he does not use scripture. He instead starts with their religious experience and builds off of it. He talks about their altar, and their poetry. He begins the Gospel with God and creation, not with Jesus. He gets to Jesus in the end, but as he has done in previous chapters, he just mentions Him and His resurrection then waits for them to ask for more. In both cases his message is very God centered and not people centered. He does not appeal to selfish, personal, individual needs.
This is so much different than what many in the church demonstrate today. There is no 'altar call'. There is no 'sinner's prayer' there is no promise of individual prosperity. We see that the way we share about Jesus with an Atheist, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Chinese person, an Indian person, a European person should be DIFFERENT. And sometimes it may be best not to quote scripture (gasp!).
Leadership Development:
Silas and Timothy are able to stay in Berea and carry on the work on their own. Paul is clearly investing into these two men.
Out of his control:
Persecution is everywhere. This is maybe the dominant theme in Acts so far - that persecution comes and mostly sparks expansion rather than hinders it.
Results:
New leaders gain experience and begin to do some things on their own.
There are new believers left in every location.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 16
First, I have to say that Acts Chapter 16 is a great chapter! There is a lot going on here and a lot to learn from. Paul again reveals his entry and gospel strategy. He always seems to either share the Gospel at a 'spiritual' location or as the result of a miraculous event. We see entire households believing together which indicates the involvement of non-believers and new-believers in reaching their family. We see baptism happening quickly after belief with no stated prerequisites other than belief.
I wonder what would happen if the American church did a better job of challenging people who are thinking about following Jesus with sharing with their family up front. There is power in groups and in positive peer pressure. Imagine a family beginning with Christ together!
I also wonder what would happen if we emphasized Baptism more and if it was done asap after belief by the person who led the new believer to Christ. I believe Baptism is at it's core a confession of faith. Being that, it seems to lack some meaning if done months or years later by a pastor you may have never met before, or if done just to meet a church membership stipulation. Baptism should not be about joining an organization, but rather should be about identifying with a movement and a person (Jesus Christ) It is a good thing for a new believer to realize that faith requires immediate obedience, even if obedience is something as seamingly silly as letting a good friend dunk you under water!
So here are the details:
Strategy for entry, gospel, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication:
Leadership Multiplication: vs 1-5 the finding of Timothy. Paul decides to take Timothy with him. This is really the first sign of leadership multiplication - the selection of a key leader to come along.
Entry Strategy: vs 6-10 Once again, Paul only goes where God is calling. He relies on the Spirit of God. It is important to me that he is constantly trying new things, and then relying on the Spirit. In this case, the Spirit blocks his ideas in order to call him to a new place. (Macedonia) Paul obeys immediately.
Entry Strategy: vs 13 Once again, Paul starts by going to a 'spiritual' place and talking to the people there.
Gospel Presentation: Lydia hears and believes.
Discipleship: Two important things here. First, she believes with her household all at once meaning Paul in some way had her reach out to her household! Who says that discipleship has to start after belief?!! Second, she is baptized immediately. Baptism acts as a first step of obedience, a confession of faith, and a clear mark in the life of Lydia and her family.
Entry, Gospel Presentation: Paul chooses not to leave when the jail is opened miraculously. Seems like a strange decision to me, but he must have sensed a higher purpose. The jailer believes as a result of this miracle.
Discipleship: We see the jailer's household believe in a similar way to Lydia's, and we see immediate baptism. The word immediate is even included in the text.
What was uncontrollable?
Once again, miracles and persecution.
vs 6-10: The calling to Macedonia.
vs 16+: The slavegirl that is healed leading to persecution.
vs 25: The jail is opened.
What was the result?
Lydia and the Jailer and both their households believe. They are baptized. We can guess that they are given some basic teachings, but Paul again leaves early, following a pattern he showed in earlier chapters.
I wonder what would happen if the American church did a better job of challenging people who are thinking about following Jesus with sharing with their family up front. There is power in groups and in positive peer pressure. Imagine a family beginning with Christ together!
I also wonder what would happen if we emphasized Baptism more and if it was done asap after belief by the person who led the new believer to Christ. I believe Baptism is at it's core a confession of faith. Being that, it seems to lack some meaning if done months or years later by a pastor you may have never met before, or if done just to meet a church membership stipulation. Baptism should not be about joining an organization, but rather should be about identifying with a movement and a person (Jesus Christ) It is a good thing for a new believer to realize that faith requires immediate obedience, even if obedience is something as seamingly silly as letting a good friend dunk you under water!
So here are the details:
Strategy for entry, gospel, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication:
Leadership Multiplication: vs 1-5 the finding of Timothy. Paul decides to take Timothy with him. This is really the first sign of leadership multiplication - the selection of a key leader to come along.
Entry Strategy: vs 6-10 Once again, Paul only goes where God is calling. He relies on the Spirit of God. It is important to me that he is constantly trying new things, and then relying on the Spirit. In this case, the Spirit blocks his ideas in order to call him to a new place. (Macedonia) Paul obeys immediately.
Entry Strategy: vs 13 Once again, Paul starts by going to a 'spiritual' place and talking to the people there.
Gospel Presentation: Lydia hears and believes.
Discipleship: Two important things here. First, she believes with her household all at once meaning Paul in some way had her reach out to her household! Who says that discipleship has to start after belief?!! Second, she is baptized immediately. Baptism acts as a first step of obedience, a confession of faith, and a clear mark in the life of Lydia and her family.
Entry, Gospel Presentation: Paul chooses not to leave when the jail is opened miraculously. Seems like a strange decision to me, but he must have sensed a higher purpose. The jailer believes as a result of this miracle.
Discipleship: We see the jailer's household believe in a similar way to Lydia's, and we see immediate baptism. The word immediate is even included in the text.
What was uncontrollable?
Once again, miracles and persecution.
vs 6-10: The calling to Macedonia.
vs 16+: The slavegirl that is healed leading to persecution.
vs 25: The jail is opened.
What was the result?
Lydia and the Jailer and both their households believe. They are baptized. We can guess that they are given some basic teachings, but Paul again leaves early, following a pattern he showed in earlier chapters.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 15
Acts Chapter 15 doesn't really apply to the questions I've been asking because Paul is not on a church planting journey in this chapter. It is really a chapter of conflict, and because of that I think there are some really valuable observations. Here is what I see in the chapter:
1. Those troubling the new believers were existing believers bound by tradition. It should not be this way, but often nothing kills the enthusiasm of a new believer faster than an 'old', supposedly mature believer listing off a bunch of commands.
2. When Jesus is reduced to a set of rules and traditions, we completely miss the point. I think this is why I love cross cultural missions. Our rules and traditions look silly in another culture, and it forces us to focus on the person of Jesus - a person who came to bring something that rules and traditions could not bring - LIFE.
3. Imagine a conversation like this ... "you know, (insert Indian, Chinese, Arabic name here), I'm glad you want to follow Christ, but I need to tell you something ... you know that extra skin down there - chop it off!" That would go over well. Maybe we could even provide a sharp rock like Moses had. Praise God we have baptism as a new symbol!!
4. The apostles, listened, then looked at scripture, then responded. We would do well to follow that pattern.
5. Paul and Barnabas had big conflict and separated for their future journeys. Conflilct happens and God uses it. It's ok to disagree on what's next, and still love Jesus! Why do we always think conflict is bad?
6. Finally, both Paul and Barnabas went back to the churches to strengthen them. So they did leave early on in the church planting process and trusted those churches to God, but that doesn't mean they never went back.
1. Those troubling the new believers were existing believers bound by tradition. It should not be this way, but often nothing kills the enthusiasm of a new believer faster than an 'old', supposedly mature believer listing off a bunch of commands.
2. When Jesus is reduced to a set of rules and traditions, we completely miss the point. I think this is why I love cross cultural missions. Our rules and traditions look silly in another culture, and it forces us to focus on the person of Jesus - a person who came to bring something that rules and traditions could not bring - LIFE.
3. Imagine a conversation like this ... "you know, (insert Indian, Chinese, Arabic name here), I'm glad you want to follow Christ, but I need to tell you something ... you know that extra skin down there - chop it off!" That would go over well. Maybe we could even provide a sharp rock like Moses had. Praise God we have baptism as a new symbol!!
4. The apostles, listened, then looked at scripture, then responded. We would do well to follow that pattern.
5. Paul and Barnabas had big conflict and separated for their future journeys. Conflilct happens and God uses it. It's ok to disagree on what's next, and still love Jesus! Why do we always think conflict is bad?
6. Finally, both Paul and Barnabas went back to the churches to strengthen them. So they did leave early on in the church planting process and trusted those churches to God, but that doesn't mean they never went back.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 14
As I looked at Chapter 14 a few things stand out to me. The miracles and persecution are constant. Paul and Barnabas face persecution boldly, but also run from it when it gets to a certain severity. As a practical matter, Paul returns to each of the places he has been and appoints elders. It is interesting that he did this on his return trips and not initially. Maybe this was to let things settle down, and see who sticks with the faith. He also prays, fasts, and trusts these churches to God. He realizes that God must be sufficient for the new churches. God does not require him to stick around.
What was Paul's plan for entry, gospel presentation, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication?
Entry and Gospel Presentation:
In Iconium, Paul went to the synagogues again to share the Gospel. When persecution came, they decided to stay and speak boldly. When a death threat came, they fled.
In Lystra, Paul tries to talk people out of sacrificing to him. Everything was in upheaval so there doesn't appear to be any strategy here.
Discipleship and Church Formation:
Paul returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch encouraging the believers to overcome hardship. Paul appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting committed the churches to the Lord and left.
What happened that was uncontrollable?
In Iconium, both persecution and miracles were not controllable.
In Lystra, God healed a crippled man through Paul.
In Lystra, Paul was stoned and left for dead by people from Iconium.
What were the results?
Many believed, and many opposed. On return trips, churches were formed and elders were appointed.
What was Paul's plan for entry, gospel presentation, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication?
Entry and Gospel Presentation:
In Iconium, Paul went to the synagogues again to share the Gospel. When persecution came, they decided to stay and speak boldly. When a death threat came, they fled.
In Lystra, Paul tries to talk people out of sacrificing to him. Everything was in upheaval so there doesn't appear to be any strategy here.
Discipleship and Church Formation:
Paul returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch encouraging the believers to overcome hardship. Paul appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting committed the churches to the Lord and left.
What happened that was uncontrollable?
In Iconium, both persecution and miracles were not controllable.
In Lystra, God healed a crippled man through Paul.
In Lystra, Paul was stoned and left for dead by people from Iconium.
What were the results?
Many believed, and many opposed. On return trips, churches were formed and elders were appointed.
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