Archive for the ‘Practical’ Category

Christians in Politics

Monday, November 16th, 2009

This was the topic of discussion this past weekend as some of the people from Church discussed politics from a Christian worldview.

What exactly is politics and how should a Christian respond? This was definitely an interesting topic though quite broad in nature.

Recognizing God’s sovereignty and that all authority has been given from God, we recognize that in all situations, we need to be faithful to the place that God has called us to be. I think it is easy to get caught up in the larger political scene, but forget that God also called us to love our neighbors and be a blessing to those around us.

I think Jeremiah 29:7 where the exiles are told to seek the “peace and prosperity” of the city… there is real blessing when Christians are in the public sphere, but I think more in the way of being a blessing than pushing any one agenda. Whether we agree with civil government or not, Christians are called to be agents of love, salt and light in this dark world, and active in every way… so that some may be saved through the witness of Christians. We are the bringers of justice, of good news, of freedom to the captives… Christians have a larger responsibility in overcoming the power struggles of this world.

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Reformed view on baptism

Monday, August 24th, 2009

This is a good article on Baptism by R Scott Clark from Westminster Cal.

Introduction

Among Western Christians there are four major views on baptism:

1 Baptism is the means of spiritual renewal and initial justification and sanctification through the infusion of grace received in it, in such a way that one cannot be saved ordinarily without it. Baptism communicates saving grace, by the working of its own power. Children of all church members and unbaptized adult converts must be baptized (Roman Catholic).

2 Baptism is a public testimony to one’s faith in Jesus Christ. Only those who have reached the age of discretion can make such a profession of faith. Therefore, only those who are able to confess Christ should be baptized. (Baptist).

3 Baptism is so closely related to the gospel that through it, Christians receive eternal life and without baptism there can be no assurance of salvation. Both the children of believers and unbaptized adult believers should be baptized (Lutheran).

4 Baptism is a means of sanctifying grace and a gospel ministry to the people of God. It is a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace illustrating what Christ has done for his people and sealing salvation to the same. Therefore covenant children of believing parents as well as unbaptized adult converts should be baptized. (Reformed).

Protestants uniformly reject the Roman Catholic view of baptism as unbiblical and sub-Christian since it replaces faith as the instrument of justification. Among Bible-believing Protestant churches, the Baptist view is easily the most common and the Reformed view is probably the least well known. The view labeled Lutheran is probably somewhere in the middle in popularity. Unfortunately, many Bible-believing Christians assume that all infant baptizing (paedobaptist) churches are identical.
This essay is intended in part to change that perception. I believe (perhaps naively) that if more Bible-believing Christians understood the Reformed view of baptism, they would accept our explanation of what God’s Word says about baptism. I also intend to give Reformed believers a clearer understanding of what God’s Word says about baptism and to answer objections which are often made against the Reformed position.

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Equipping families to do discipleship

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Desiring God is having a conference on Children Desiring God. One of the topics is on family worship and family church. Thought this was an interesting quote. Been looking to do family church in our home and bring about a time where Christ is consecrated and worshiped.

Jonathan Edwards declared, “Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules. Family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual.” It’s still true! If discipleship is occurring in the homes of your church’s members, all other means of grace will become more effective. This seminar will equip you to train families in your church to be, to play, to learn, and to serve together in ways that will strengthen your entire congregation.

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Tips on Engaging Culture

Monday, November 17th, 2008

This is an interesting article from the Resurgence website. Jonathan Dodson gives tips on how to engage culture. You can find it at the following link.

They’re pretty straightforward, but they are helpful in reminding you that you are in the world, but not of the world. It is so easy for Christians to get entangled with the world’s affairs that we forget who we are in Christ and what that means in our lives.

1. Engage Culture Prayerfully
2. Engage Culture Carefully
3. Engage Culture biblically-theologically
4. Engage Culture redemptively
5. Engage Culture humbly
6. Engage Culture selectively.

When engaging culture prayerfully, we depend on the wisdom that comes from the Spirit who searches out all cultures, who can enable us to recognize and rejoice in what is true, beautiful, and good, and reject or redeem what is false, ugly, and immoral. As a result, engaging culture can become an act of communion with God. Relying on the wisdom of the Spirit will also mean careful investigation of cultural issues, being critical of our own biases while maintaining an open ear to the arguments of others. However, we’re not left to navigate the turbulent waters of our culture with only prayer and reason. God has given us his Word, a divine and authoritative Text from which we can glean wisdom and theological principles to engage culture.

When wrestling with issues, we must be careful to bring questions, not assumptions, from our culture to the Word, following a pattern of Text-Theology-Culture. This biblical-theological engagement with culture should always lead to redemptive action, restoring what is ugly and immoral from our position as accepted children of God, citizens of Zion. In turn, we can engage culture humbly and selectively, recognizing our limitations and rejoicing in our unique opportunities to engage the world around us.

Finally, try to practice these six ways of engaging culture not just as an individual but in community. To put a spin on Rufus Wainwright’s words: Only when the Church in this country becomes obsessed with glorifying God in all things will we critically and redemptively engage our culture on all kinds of subjects.

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Things get heated

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

I’m not just talking about the fantasy football season. The American culture has gotten very adversarial as well as become very caricature-like. We all want to “change society,” we all want to “change the world.” But what exactly is that change we want?

CHANGE
As I watch both Obama and McCain, as well as the millions of people they have gotten to support them. I can see their appeal, especially Obama who is seen as the voice of hope. I’ve seen it before. People are disenfranchised, people are in need of something greater. They see someone who can give them what they think they need. Both Obama and McCain offer something. But as I watch the conventions, as I watch the debates, I see that we are a far way off from what “we actually need.”

FRIENDS
The interview with Rick Warren was very interesting. Warren first says both McCain and Obama are his friends. They both love America, but they both have very different ways to change. I think that was a very insightful statement made by Warren. It was to avoid the demonization of both candidates that the media does so easily, whether knowingly or unknowingly… Both “conservative” and “liberal” news media have elevated personal attacks over addressing real issues.

CULTURE WARS
But even when addressing the issues, various camps will view “change” differently. This has led to what Americans have called “the culture wars.” Understanding this culture war from a non-Christian perspective is hard, especially if you were raised in this culture. What I mean is that our views of morality and ethics have been so influenced by the culture itself, by the media, by the education, by other Americans, that is hard to separate “right and wrong” from “what I believe right and wrong” is. Tim Keller says in his new book Reason for God, we have the “schoolyard bully” mentality, meaning whoever has the loudest voice or toughest stance usually wins. What he says goes.

WILL OF THE PEOPLE
But can consensus alone determine “right and wrong.” A true democracy says so. The “will of the people” becomes law. But as we know from history that this system is flawed. Where then does law, morality and ethics come from? As I watched the conventions and the debates, we as a country have pretty much placed our hopes, our future into the hands of government and elected officials. Every special interest group, majority, minority, whoever, almost single-handedly believe the government can be the savior of this land, of this society… we will be greatly disappointed. We will find equally flawed results from a flawed system run by flawed individuals. Government in itself is not necessarily bad, but it is run by flawed people in a flawed system, with flawed information and flawed adoration…

HOPE AND CHANGE
Obama brings hope and change. I don’t doubt that. McCain brings hope as well. I don’t doubt that either. But what type of hope and what type of change are we looking for? I don’t think Americans have thought through this question. We want fiscal responsibility. We want to end our occupation of the middle east. We want to be independant of foreign oil. We want to erase the deficit. We want what is best for America.

WHAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA?
As a nation, we are split as to “what is best for America.” Does this fundamentally come down to culture? One’s ethics? One’s opinions? One’s way of life? Is there a universal code we must adhere to? I have an answer, but I think America needs to consider it one more time. What is best for America?

This blog is about reform but it comes not from government, not from culture, not from ethics or morality. Where then can this change come from? I recognize that change cannot ultimately come from government or special interest groups or supreme court judges. I recognize that change comes from a much higher authority. My hope and my prayer is for Americans to be changed by the spirit of God as taught by the bible and through the person of Jesus Christ. It is only by looking at the “perfect law” that we can truly find what is “ideal” for America. It is only by looking at the “perfect man” that we can truly change our culture. Let me challenge you to look not at what is imperfect, but instead look to what is perfect.

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Four things every Christian needs

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

Our church held an eldership training class a few years back. The pastor made a distinction among Christians in terms of maturity. This can be seen in churches all over. It’s not determined by age or wealth or intellect. It is determined by one’s walk with the Lord. It can be broken down to these five: baby, child, teenager, young adult, elder.

How do you grow from baby into maturity?  The teacher/pastor mentioned four things.  These four things aren’t the only things, but they are so essential that if you’re not doing all four consistently, you might just be a baby/child Christian.

1.  Fellowship – are you meeting with other believers?  Are you sharing what God is teaching you to others to edify the body?  Are you sharing in other’s struggles and sufferings?  Are you rejoicing with them when they rejoice?  Do you neglect meeting with other believers?  Are you able to confess sins and forgive one another?

2.  Prayer – are you praying more than grocery lists?  do you repeat the truths of God?  Are you consistent in praying for those entrusted to your care?  Are you interceding for God’s people?  Are you praying for leadership and missionaries and pastors?  Are you praying that the Gospel will go forth?  Are you praying more than “bless so-and-so?”  Are you truly seeking God? 

3.  Ministry/Tithe/Service – Are you serving the body?  Are you giving of yourself as Christ gave himself for the church?  Are you using your spiritual gifts to edify the body?  Have you found a place where you can serve regularly?  Do you give a regularly portion of your money to the work of the church?  Do you desire for people to come to know the Lord?  Do you desire to disciple?

4.  Reading Scripture – Are you consistently in the word?  Do you nourish yourself with God’s word?  Does God speak to you through his word?  Are you able to see Jesus in context of the law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms?  Do you preach and share the word with others?  Are you able to lead others into the word?

Well, these four things aren’t the only things, but they are basic.  If you’re not doing any of the following, it’s like a plant trying to grow without water or sunlight.  Christians will have a hard time growing without the word, prayer, ministry, or fellowship.  I encourage you if you are discipling anybody or seeking to grow yourself from child to adult… submit yourselves to God and discipline yourselves with the following disciplines. 

Let me know what you think.  Did I miss any?

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Humble Orthodoxy

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

Humble Orthodoxy – Joshua Harris teaches on 2 Timothy2:14-26.  Are you reacting to the previous generation or God’s approval? Do you try to prove yourself right or desire to turn people to Christ.  What does it mean to be a generation approved by God? Handle the word of truth rightly…

2 Timothy2:14-26 – Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.  Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

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Consumerism

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

What should we make of consumerism? Should we accommodate it as Paul accommodated some aspects of culture? We take for granted and no aspect of life is untouched by it. Shopping goods and services, specifically 3 characteristics –

1) Cultural phenomenon – framework of meaning. Consumerism is not just a behavior, it is an evaluative outlook of the world that is propped up and sustained by institutions. It is a worldview – unconscious worldview. It is an outlook. It is an ideology. They shop more than they use to because they are in the grip of the ideology that is transmitted to us unconsciously.

2) Desire to accrue status among one’s peers. Vebelen – most noted by sociologist, chief way to achieve status and leisure through conspicuous consumption. Connected to wealth by flaunting it as a culture. Juliet Schor – another sociologist – study done on rise and effect of consumerism. Number of social changes have caused middle income families to look upward to higher income families as a reference group. As a result, people have stopped using people in geographic neighborhood and looking at people at the next socio-economic bracket. These things sets off spending habits places a great stress on family and relationships at home.

3) Way in which products are not viewed for usefulness, but rather goods consumed in maintenance and cultivation of identity. Marx – goods in a capitalist society can be fetishized. Distanced tool from purpose, these products reveal particular place in our lives when production becomes less personal, empty receptacles we pour meaning into them. Commodities are shroud in a religious fog. Consumer goods are more than objects to what we wear and its usefulness. Goods are not valued for use, but they have meanings that send signals to others, define status, construct identities. Corporations spend lots of money creating value and meaning.

Five major concerns of negative effects of consumerism:
1) Creates an unsustainable lifestyle demolishes financial stability, family, etc. Competitiveness of spending: savings rate 8% in 1980s and 4% in early 1990s and 0% currently. Personal bankruptcy rates continue to set records. 200,000 people in 1980 and 1999 1.4 million people declared bankruptcy. It demolishes people’s financial stability. People are spending more and have to work more and less leisure activity.
2) Places severe financial pressure on all but extremely wealthy.
3) Social problems begin to arise when parents spend less and less time with children. Severe influence to mass media and negative ways.
4) The coarsening of pop culture. Lower standards to get people’s attention
5) Cost to environment and public health. Risky behavior, unhealthy lives to project a certain image.

Evangelical Christian Network: Environmental critique of consumerism. Within Christianity, there is a deep concern with money and how we use it.
Stewardship: we have to be wary of consumerism and poor stewardship. Spend it on the Kingdom of God, church, missions, mercy ministries. What does it mean to follow Jesus?
More troubling of these effects of consumerism – the ethos of consumerism affecting the Christian life and Christian belief. One of the features of consumerism is the cultural phenomenon. It advances a pattern of behavior. More deeply it advances an ideology and worldview. What makes consumerism work in this world is that it advances but not in an overt or conscious ways. It doesn’t have a belief or creed. Evangelicals can smell false doctrine, but the spirit of the age is so slight, it changes the way in we say and believe. The tunes have changed. Consumerism advances a narrative that advances a narrative that is deeply at odds with the narrative with the Gospel. What is the new consumerist story?

1) Consumerism tells us that meaning and satisfaction come through admiration and esteem of our peers. It tells us that if we have the right stuff, people will esteem us. People will view you differently.
2) Consumerism encourages us to see our life activities as preferences or lifestyles that are satisfying. Religion becomes part of our lifestyle. Lifestyle becomes an arbiter. Discrete lifestyle elements. Jobs, hobbies, and faith are on same level.
3) Consumerism is highly individualistic. It lets the individual as sovereign and detaches from communal activity and group activities. It encourages us to see ourselves as right and primary. Self becomes the center of person’s world.

The church and the world has been co-opted by consumerism.
First, it is a distinct worldview, be aware of the subtle yet powerful influence of consumerism.
Second, if consumerism is a cultural worldview, propagated by institutions. Christians need community and church to back non-consumerism worldview. Church must be important over life and light over individualism. Peace and shalom might be a deeper fulfillment over the shallow fulfillment offered by contemporary culture.
We are surrounded by a great need. All Americans except for the most impoverished are at the top 1% of the people that ever lived. The question of wealth and the poor cannot be sidestepped. To what extent can we ignore spending habits? Ethical side.

We need to be aware of the consumerist spirit of the age. Our worth does not come from things that we surround. We don’t need to replace the old with the new. We don’t deserve the trappings of American lifestyle. Biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation, God calls us back into revolution. Jesus promises to transform us to something we have yet to imagine. Inconceivable glories offered by God. We are far too easily pleased. C.S. Lewis.

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Globalization: Coming Christendom

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

A look at religion on the world. Christianity is growing in the world, not just Islam. A new reformation, caused by globalization. A shift in the center of power.

Many think the 21st century will be the main force that religious influence on human affairs and attitudes to political liberty, war, conflict, etc. A Christian revolution that is happening and this is not suburban Christian. Worldwide, Christianity is moving towards supernaturalism, a return back to orthodoxy, and the ancient worldview in the New Testament (Jesus overcomes evil forces), people are believing the bible is true, overcoming demonic powers, sickness and calamity.

The global south is expanding. Third world countries are reproducing like crazy. 480 million in Latin America, 360 million in Africa, 315 million in Asia, compared to 260 millions in North America. A catholic scholar calls the Third world as the Third Church. The west is not getting it. Religious power is shifting towards east and south. Very few people in the west recognize the potential of the rise of southern Christianity. Christian west is shrinking except for evangelical. Liberal west (shrinking) and growing west (growing). Christian centers are shifting to Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The growth in Africa is relentless. Today the Christian in Africa total 360 million or 46% whereas 100 years ago, it was only 9%. That number is likely to rise due to population growth. The industrial countries are experiencing a birth decline.

2.6 billion Christians in the world, which will be by far the world’s largest religion. By 2025, 50% Christians will be in Africa and Latin America, 17% in Asia. By 2050, United States will have largest single contingent as a country, all other leading nations will be southern ex. Mexico, Congo, Philippines, Nigeria, Brazil, Ethiopia.

Population shift in the catholic world, Europeans will be minorities, 16 million in 1915 now 120 million African Catholics. Demographic change will have implications for theology, society and politics. Theology and morality will be more conservative in the south than in the American version. Thriving in the south are traditional and reactionary to consumerism. Catholics in Asia and Africa looks more like Pre-Vatican II. Understands authority and charisma, not consultation or democracies. Nigerian cardinal Arems might be in the running for Pope. Conservative biblical.

Shift in Pentecostal Christians, they are buddying up with Catholics in South America. Revelation override biblical authority. Most successful southern hemisphere church preaches orthodox faith, communal, mysticism, Puritanism, and obedience to spiritual authority. Prophecies are an everyday reality. Scholars to religions of the south call churches – prophetic churches.

The northern institutions are fragmenting. Progressive sides are holding to dear life. It is only a matter of time before they fall altogether. Experience in the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. Conflicts over gender and sexuality, the south wants to re-evangelize Europe and America. They view the northern church as close to heresy or heretical. Ordination of women and homosexuality has met objections from African and Asian churches and worldwide communion. Nigerias have more practicing Anglicans than any other country, Uganda is not far behind. In 2050 – large majority of Anglicans will not be white or English. AMIA – Anglican missions in America – sponsored by Africans.

One of the most important services the American churches can do is assisting in education and training of southern countries clergy. And so this is what we must do. The southern churches are praying for us. We must pray for them.

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American Youth Culture

Saturday, January 12th, 2008

This is a list of characteristics made by sociologists about the state of America’s youth in relation to religion. This is a helpful resource for youth ministers and those involved in youth ministry. Some of the things they noted on the list is quite surprising. Though, just thinking about the youth these days, just shouldn’t surprise me. Religion at large as observed by sociology of religion.

1) U.S. youth are not irreligious or a-religious. They are religious.

Religion is a significant presence in many young adults. Most have not drop out of their religious congregations. They are regular participants. Many asserts faith is important in their lives and have influence on their moral views. But they have a hard time articulating their beliefs. Categories they have are influenced by culture.

2) Very few youth are not involved in a spiritual quest.

Most teenagers allow the right to others to pursue quest, but very few do it themselves.

3) Teenage religiosity is conventional.

They are not rebellious. They are quite content to follow in their parents footsteps. Most youth feel positive about religion. They talk about the positive and benefits to individual and society.
When it comes to teenagers and religion, they are happy to go along with the flow.

4) Youth are not religiously diverse.

The diversity represented by teens and adults right now is same as it was in prior generations. The vast majority identify themselves as Christians. Most of the non-christians are nominal, non-religious, mormons, Jewish. The world says Americans are vastly diverse in religion, but that is false, we are clearly Christian.

5) Religious vitality and strength

When it comes to religious vitality and strength, mormon teenagers appear to have healthy balance of faith and life, then comes conservative protestant youths, mainline protestant teens, catholic, jewish, then non-religious.

6) The greatest influence

The single most important social influence on spiritual and religious lives is the parents. Stereotype, we think youth pastor, mentors, culture, grandparents, etc were influential, but it was the parents. This should influence how we do church.

Note: You might be the most dynamic influential pastor in the world, but the parents are still the key.

The strongest predictor of a child’s spiritual life will mirror what their parents spiritual life looks like.

7) Second greatest influence:

Supply side dynamic youth – the greater number of religious programs, relationships, activities, challenges, opportunities- the more vested they will be to remain in religious. When religious communities are not invested in youth, the youth are most likely not going to be invested in their faith. Churches will get back what they invest.

What should we do? Pleasantly overwhelm them.

8) Deep religious practice being mimicked. Parrot effect. Unreflective nature – apathy begets apathy.

Subjective consciousness level, youth understanding is very weak regarding faith. Most U.S. youth have a very difficult time explaining what they believe, what it means, and its implications. They reflect their parents. If their parents are biblical unreflectiven, that would be mimicked as well. For them religion is important but not a priority. Value but not invested.

When preaching or teaching. Repeat things over and over again. People do not listen. Boil everything down to a sentence. And repeat this sentence. Illustrate. Illustrate. Illustrate. Find something to get their attention.

Do you want to be a seminary professor or love people? Right exogesis but boring, or getting people attention with illustration with good theology? Jesus preached using parables, after parables. Make the text as alive as possible.

9) The religion of America reflected in the youth: MTD – Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deism.

This is the mainstream religious faith of the youth are individualistic, consumer, capitalistic society. Deistic – distant god with minimal involvement, but be moral. Moralism – be good to be happy. Therapeutic – focuses on one’s own subjective happiness. MTD is the religion of the day

10) Cultural and social forces shape their lives

Their lives are shaped by cultural and social forces of therapeutic individualism, mass consumerism, digital communication revolution, scientism, structural disconnect with world of adults, and the only connection with adults are adult problems like divorce,

11) Outcome: Religion makes a positive difference.

Despite religion is weak in subjective consciousness, most teens can hardly articulate coherent, unfocus background in social life, many cultural forces that try to undermine.

Observation that sizable and significant differences in a variety of life outcomes of religious teens in the U.S. Highly religious teens are doing more than non/less-religious teens. Religious life leads to better more constructive life contrary to the secular.
Conclusion

As adults, we need to look at children not as aliens. We need to look at the generation gaps as superficial differences. Contemporary youth have bought into the mainstream social system. They are well socialized to enjoy the consumerist benefits of U.S. society. Most problems and issues children face are directly linked to adult world problems. They cherish their relationships with the adult-world ties. They don’t need to be segmented out. Religious congregations have a unique role to strengthen ties between adults and teenagers. All need to be involved. Embracing youth. Your investments are not immediate, payoffs are not immediate.

Sources:

- Wade Clark – Group spiritual marketplace,

- Withnells – America religious diversity

- Christian Smith – Soul searching.

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