Death to Life

New Blog Address!

2010-11-15T09:52:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone!

Just a quick update to let you know that Death to Life has moved to a new address!

You can find the updates (including one posted today) here:
http://nathanjohnsonsblog.wordpress.com/

So if you subscribe to the RSS feed or if you have the link saved somewhere, please update it as this blog will no longer be updated or managed.

Thanks for your patience, and definitely go check out the new site - now with 50% more awesome!

- nj

Big Questions, Round 2 (part three): Old Testament Faith in Christ

2010-11-09T10:30:00.021-06:00

Questions

How were the people in the Old Testament made right with God?

Before I thought it was through faith in God in general, and perhaps sacrifices. Then I listened to Mark Driscoll preaching over Genesis. He said that all the Old Testament people who were faithful also believed in Jesus.

The only things I have found that seem to support the idea that the Old Testament patriarchs had faith in Christ is 1 Peter 1:10-12. Also, I found several predictions and prophecies about Jesus, the Messiah. Maybe the Old Testament prophets knew Jesus would come, and it was their job to tell other people.

Also, Luke 24:25-26 says that the whole Bible is about Jesus. But, did the people in the Old Testament know that?

About Abraham: it is clear that he was made right with dad by faith… but faith in who/what?

- Galatians 3:8 says that God told Abraham the gospel by telling him that the nations would be blessed through him.
- Did Abraham know this was because of his offspring (Jesus)?
- Romans 4 seems to suggest that Abraham's faith was in God and his promise.
- John 8:56 says that Abraham rejoiced that he would see Jesus’ day.

Please let me know what you think and also if there are other helpful Scripture passages to read about this.

Answers:

Thank you for your questions - you’re thinking and working through some really deep stuff, and I’m both excited and impressed by the way you’re looking to God to teach you what he has told his children.

To answer your question, our ancient ancestors were made right with God because of Jesus. They knew him (not necessarily by name, but they knew him nonetheless) and had an assurance – though they didn’t see him - [see Hebrews 11] in who he was going to be. So folks were made right with dad because of our big brother and what he did. It’s that assurance of things unseen that let them be right with dad.

This topic is discussed in Romans 3:21-26 and Hebrews 11. It says that Moses chose to trust Christ and endure the shame of being one of God’s people rather than be rich in his comfortable palace as an Egyptian (Hebrews 11:26). But remember, Jesus (although he existed eternally past) hadn’t been born as a man yet. So something else was going on. Which leads me to Romans 3:21-26. It says Jesus died so that he could save us from our sins and make us right with God, but also to prove that God was a just judge. What I’m getting at is that Jesus died not only so we could know God, but also to show that God was a righteous God. Because if what we know about God from Romans 3:25 is true, and if Jesus didn’t die, then God wouldn’t be just – he would allow sin and disobedience to go on without punishing them, which isn’t justice. There are lots of other places where this concept is, but it’s mostly in Romans, especially chapter 5. Look into Ephesians 2 also.

I think Driscoll is right – our Christian forefathers have always believed in Jesus. If you look at Genesis 3:15 it’s the first time Jesus is mentioned (the seminary word for this is “proto-evangelion”). It says that Eve would have ‘seed’ which is a reference to a single male child... But it’s weird because women don’t have seed – men do. And this seed would grow up and kill the serpent (the devil) but it would hurt Jesus too (i.e. ‘bruise his heel’). So when Jesus died, that was the bruising – it was a seeming victory for the serpent, but ultimately it killed him because Jesus crushed him in the same act. The rest of the stories leading up to the New Testament and Jesus talk about him being a king, a servant, etc. - like in Isaiah 53 and 2 Samuel 7:12. There are many stories about Jesus in all of those books, and it’s really cool to read about him. Jesus even says so himself – John 5:39, and Luke 24:27 among others.

I believe Abraham did believe in God’s promise, which was Christ Jesus, the Messiah. When you mentioned Galatians 3:8 you’re exactly right. Those Old Testament prophets all speak of Jesus coming to earth – God in the flesh. So you’re right on the mark there.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that dad says (in Romans 3.21-26) that Jesus died for all of the sins that God had overlooked from previous generations. He withheld his judgment because he knew Jesus was coming and would absorb that wrath and punishment. So God knew that even though they weren’t punished for disobeying, the punishment would fall on the shoulders of Christ.

Big Questions, Round 2 (Part Two): God's Intervening Grace

2010-11-08T10:30:00.007-06:00

Questions:

1) You said that the wicked are people who directly oppose God at every point of their lives and are hardened against him. Don't all people act like this unless dad intervenes?

2) Sometimes like in Romans 9 the Bible says that God hardens people's hearts. So is everyone who will never belong to dad "wicked,” or is it just certain people that the Bible says God especially hates? (For example, false teachers and people who stir up dissension among Christians)

So are you saying that dad loves everyone, but chooses only to adopt some people?

Answers:

As far as your questions, I think you’re definitely thinking and praying hard through some really deep topics, and that’s awesome. I think as far as the Romans 9 part, you’re right on – Romans 1 and 8 talk about the same topics. I think God uses us like clay and uses us for his glory, whether we show his mercy or his justice. To answer your first question, I do believe that people are bad until God steps in and changes their heart (see Ephesians 1-2). That said, there are places where certain people will have a worse time than others – like people who lead children astray (Jesus speaks about this in Matthew 18:6), people who teach wrong things, etc. (see 2 Peter 2:1).

I definitely think that God has a love for everyone because they are part of what he made and they bear his image. But when we (meaning humanity in the Garden of Eden) rebelled against God and rejected him we were broken, dead, and separated from him (Romans 5). Then we were all rejected because of that rebellion and pride in exalting our own wants and reasoning above God’s revelation. And then when God showed us his grace and mercy, he chose some to come back to him as an example of his grace in our lives. That’s why we live everyday for him – because without him helping us on a constant basis, we wouldn’t be anything other than broken, sinful people without hope, rescue, or faith in anything. And that’s also why every part of our lives that is great and glorious is a result of his grace, because it’s all due to him ultimately. So when we see awesome successes, it’s all for him. And when we mess things up, we can still thank him and rest in Christ because our failure doesn’t mean he doesn’t love us – quite the opposite... He loves us more and loves us in spite of ourselves because Christ Jesus stepped in on our behalf and took our punishment on when he went to the cross to bear our sins and give us his obedience and righteousness.

Big Questions, Round 2: God's Grace and Hate

2010-11-06T18:07:00.002-05:00

Recently one of my friends who is doing mission work in a closed country sent me some really great questions and I gave it my best shot at answering them. I thought it might be interesting and maybe beneficial to post them here to get some discussion going. So over the next few days I’ll be posting a distillation of those conversations in a new series called “Big Questions, Round 2.”

Please feel free to comment, submit questions of your own, and/or just entertain your curiosity.

Questions:

1) In the Bible, sometimes it says that God loves the world, but other times it says that he hates the wicked. Isn't everyone wicked? So does that mean that he hates everyone?

2) Also, why does God give so much common grace to the people he hates?

3) Ezekiel 33:11 says that God does not delight in the death of the wicked. And Genesis 6:5-8 says that he was grieved that he had made men. After it says this, then he destroyed nearly everyone. But, this seems to show that he didn't want to destroy them out of hate, but he did destroy them out of justice.

Answers:

1) The ‘world’ you’re referring to needs to be viewed in context in the book and passage it appears in. It usually means a more global understanding of salvation given to God’s people – that is, Gentiles or people from every nation… folks he wouldn’t normally love. The ‘wicked’ are people who directly oppose God, who sin without remorse at every point of their lives and who are hardened against him. Since God is jealous for his own glory and his own fame, he hates those who don’t love him because they are worshiping idols or false gods. Pretty much every time God says he hates someone it’s in connection with idols and misplaced love and affections that should go to him. Ultimately God does love his creation because it reflects his glory. But when, like in Romans 1, we see people worshiping the creation rather than the Creator to whom it all points, God’s wrath is poured out on those people – and rightfully so.

2) The reason God lets even the worst people have common grace is that he is a loving and merciful God who is showing his glory and mercy to the world. But that doesn’t mean he won’t punish those who oppose him… he is just as well as merciful. Read Exodus 34:5-9 where God reveals his own nature… it’s right after the Israelites built the golden calf and God forgives them for what they’ve done. Then he makes another promise to them and reminds them of his love. But he also talks about his justice and exercising his right to judge. Therefore, when we see people cursing God and not falling dead on the spot, that is an example of God’s immense grace and patience (see Romans 9:22-24).

3) As far as God not delighting in the death of the wicked, it does grieve him to punish those he desires love from, but his character is such that he will be himself rather than go back on who he is in order to gain their love. He is ultimately about his glory and his purposes, which are hard for us to delve into because God has chosen to not reveal his purposes to us. In addition to that, God does not need to justify himself – see Job 38-42 and Romans 9… they testify to God’s absolute sovereignty.

Also read Romans 3:21-26 where it talks about God’s mercy – he looked over (or postponed judgment of) the disobedience of his children early on because he had decided to punish Jesus for what they did. Therefore when his Jesus was crucified on the cross, it established not only peace between elect sinners and God, but also established God as a just justifier… it upheld his character as well as made certain that we are his people and in his love. Without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, God would be unjust (because he would have let the patriarchs’ – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. – disobedience be forgiven without punishment). This is the main reason why the cross of Christ is such a big deal – it does secure our salvation and hope, but it also is an integral part of God’s very nature.

Book Review: "What He Must Be..."

2010-09-24T11:00:00.005-05:00

“What He Must Be… if he wants to marry my daughter”
by Voddie Baucham

Rating: 4.5/5

The Short Review:

This is an excellent book that I highly recommend; pretty much everyone should read it. Seriously.

The Long Review:

As a single guy (an introverted one at that), I do a lot of thinking – especially about marriage, family, and dating. I’ve read quite a few books about dating and courtship, but none have challenged me as consistently, as thoroughly, or as deeply as “What He Must Be.” Dr. Baucham takes a gospel-centered view on preparing for marriage from a father’s perspective, and he does so in an engaging, widely applicable way.

Dr. Baucham’s primary audience is both young single men and fathers of daughters, but his understanding of what the Scriptures lay out for marriage is one of value for single ladies (especially those without a spiritually strong father), for couples without children (for laying a blueprint for intergenerational legacy), and pretty much anyone else who cares to delve into the countercultural biblical view of marriage.

The first chapter lays out an incredible vision for building and planning for multigenerational legacies in families, which stands in stark contrast to our culture’s ‘microwave mentality’ and lust for instant gratification at all costs. In chapter two, Baucham goes on to present a gospel-centered view of the ministry of marriage – that men have an obligation to be the spiritual leader in the home, which involves being a Christ-like husband and father. The third chapter goes more in-depth with the role of a father in his daughter’s life as her spiritual protector, provider, and primary male influence. The next five chapters deal with non-negotiable qualifications for men who are of marriage-quality. Baucham asserts that an aspiring husband must be: a Christ-follower; prepared to lead (and do so in a Christ-like way); committed to fathering children; and must be a protector, provider, and spiritual leader for his home. The last two chapters challenge fathers to step up and protect their daughters in very concrete, practical ways, and to do their part to ensure a spiritual legacy by discipling and sharpening their future sons-in-law for the sake of their grandchildren.

What He Must Be has left a deep imprint on me and has emboldened me to step up as an aspiring husband and father. Dr. Baucham’s understanding of the Scriptures as they address men in relation to marriage has challenged me, driven me to Scripture and prayer, and I pray has made me a better man. Though the effects are largely untested as of yet, I hope that time will tell that God has used What He Must Be to shape me into a man of multi-generational vision and excellent character who pastors his home well, honors his wife, and protects his daughters’ hearts – just the way God intended for daddies of little girls to be.

Grace-Driven Effort

2010-08-09T21:26:00.002-05:00

I recently watched an excellent sermon on Gospel-driven sanctfication from one of my favorite pastors, Matt Chandler of the Village Church in the Dallas area. During his address to the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference this year [see the full message here: http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/?p=691 ], he quoted one of my favorite theologians, D.A. Carson:

“People do not drift towards holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate towards godliness, prayer, and obedience. They do not gravitate towards the Scriptures, towards faith, or delight in the Lord. We instead drift towards compromise and call it tolerance. We drift towards disobedience and call it freedom. We drift towards superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation. We slouch towards prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking that we have escaped legalism. We slide towards godlessness and convince ourselves that we have been liberated.”

- D.A. Carson (“For the Love of God” vol. 2)

This quote is haunting to me on a couple of levels – first, it is a scarily accurate depiction of my own heart; second, it is an indictment on the culture and faith that I celebrate and want to bring many others into.

What Carson is getting at, I believe, is the prideful anti-legalistic mindset of many in my own generation. Our parents and grandparents had Sunday School and strict Bible study guidelines, therefore we will abolish Sunday School and have ‘organic’ conversations about Scripture or our favorite podcast or Christian book rather than drive our minds to study Scripture itself. In doing so, we have lost the gumption and courage that it takes to continually war against our flesh and pursue heavenly goals.

To be sure, we have been liberated from sin, death, eternal judgment and suffering, and God’s wrath. But this doesn’t mean that we can traipse along without any care or affection for Christ or his Word. As a side note, merely professing a love for those things without following them up with action cannot and does not suffice – join me in repentance if you’ve seen that disconnect in your life. We have been liberated, which doesn’t mean that we can do whatever we want and God will still receive us because he has to. Rather, we have been redeemed and we now have the privilege of knowing the living God, worshiping him, communing with him, and spending our lives serving him. Our license is not to sin, but to worship a God who has received us into his family.

We must be careful, however, to not overreact to this for the sake of reaction itself. We must not slide into the legalistic mindset of “well if this is what I’m prone to not do, then I will set my every faculty to do it.” In other words, we must not become intolerant in order to avoid compromise or syncretism. We must not drive ourselves to heartless effort so as to combat laziness and/or a lack of discipline.

Rather, the appropriate response to this penetrating insight is to first acknowledge the truth of our hearts, to repent to our Lord, and to see that our desire to know him is a grace in and of itself. Not only has God paid our sin debt and redeemed us for himself, but he has also given us the grace to desire to know him. Let us then put our minds to studying our own affections and rhythms, and how they affect our relationship with God. Where are you weak? Where are you strong? What cultivates your affections for God and puts your mind on heavenly things? What distracts you from thinking about eternity and spiritual things? With what does your heart resonate, and what leads you to spontaneous worship? Then let us finally turn our minds to those things which drive us Christ-ward and either redeem or leave those things which pull our hearts away from him. These will be different for each person, and we must not be legalistic in our pursuit of them, but we must exert ourselves under the banner of God’s grace.

For me, this will look like experiencing nature (seeing mountains, watching animals, etc.), early mornings with strong coffee and deep Scriptures (Ecclesiastes, Hebrews, Romans), and mutually sharpening Gospel-centered conversations. For you it may look very different, or somewhat similar. Whatever the case may be, study yourself and pursue your God.

Respond with me and let us follow our King with this grace-driven effort – the passionate pursuit of God by the power of the Holy Spirit through the grace of Christ Jesus according to the Scriptures.

Fight Clubs - Gospel Centered Discipleship

2010-06-28T16:47:00.002-05:00

One of the things we strive for at CityView Church (where I am currently the Pastor for Spiritual Formation) is to live authentic Christ-focused lives that emanate the gospel in every way possible. One way that we’ve decided to equip our people with is through implementing Fight Clubs – a type of gospel-centered accountability and discipleship group that we borrowed from some guys down at Austin City Life in Austin. Take the time to check out www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com for more details and to stay up to speed on what these guys are doing. It’s a tremendous ministry and it’s been huge for me personally.

What are Fight Clubs?

The basic idea of a Fight Club is that you have a group of two or three same-gender Christians who are committed to growing in Christ in accordance with Scripture. These folks will meet regularly (at least once ever couple of weeks) and study the Bible with a direct focus on sharpening each other and living out God’s Word.

There are three rules for Fight Clubs:

- Know your sin (Where are you inclined to sin, what form does that sin take, and what is ultimately the source of that sin?)

- Fight your sin (How do you go about living in obedience/victory/redemption rather than just treating the symptoms of your sin?)

- Trust your Savior (What does the Bible say about you, your sin, and Jesus?)

The format for a Fight Club is “Text-Theology-Life” - in other words, studying God’s word in such a way as to put it directly into our lives. To begin the meeting time there is a focused Bible study (I recommend about a chapter’s worth of reading or less with a few discussion questions) and from that content the group deduces some theological concepts about God, Jesus, and themselves. The group then discusses actionable items to put into their lives before the next meeting or for a longer-term set of goals. From then on, they keep each other accountable to those items and pray for each other throughout the week. The next meeting is another section of Scripture and the same process of gleaning theological understanding that the group can put into their lives.

Where Do I Start?

The best thing you can do to get oriented to the topic of accountability/discipleship groups is to pick up a copy of Jonathan Dodson’s book “Fight Clubs.” You can only find it here for $8.50 plus shipping. If that doesn’t work for you or if you’re not in the mood to read 60 pages, download a copy of this "fight clubs overview" document.

The next thing you should do is take a look at this document "Fight Clubs orientation" that consists of bullet-point take-aways from the book, my heart for this ministry, some practical how-to tips for making sure Fight Clubs are done well, and finally some potential road blocks and benefits of doing Fight Clubs.

What’s Next?

Now that you’ve gotten a (hopefully) decent understanding of what we’re after, it’s time for you to get into your own Fight Club if you’re up for it. Talk with people that are in your life group or other close friends at CityView about starting up a Fight Club and contact us if you have any questions. If you don’t have anyone in particular that you’d like to start a Fight Club with, let us know and we'll do our best to introduce you to other people who are in the market for a Fight Club.

Slavery: Redemption Groups Immersion part 4

2010-06-08T18:41:00.004-05:00

[A note of introduction: I am indebted to Pastor James Noriega of Mars Hill Church for quite a bit of the material in this post. It is a distillation of the notes that I took during his session at the Redemption Groups Immersion I attended in Seattle a couple of months ago.]

This past weekend I had the opportunity to teach our Redemption Groups session on the Golden Calf – Volunteering for Slavery. Now, most people in the United States don’t bow down to crafted pieces of metal or wood and burn offerings on an alter to them on any kind of regular basis. But idolatry is very much alive and well in our culture – much more so than we would like to admit. And here I would also like to distinguish the kind of idolatry I’ll be addressing from ‘crackberry’ addictions and being a slave to your email inbox. I’d like to go deeper and cut more to the heart of the issue of idolatry rather than saying that certain behaviors or creations are bad.

So, for the purposes of this post, I’ll consider an idol to be:

- Anything that is more important to you than God.

o What do you do to the exclusion of loving and following Christ?

o What comes between you and developing your relationship with God?

- Anything that absorbs your heart and mind more than God.

o What do you think about or have a love for more than Jesus?

- Anything that you look to provide only what God can give.

o Where/what/who do you seek approval, affection, love, atonement, satisfaction, peace, security from?

- Anything that gives you meaning and significance other than God.

o How do you introduce or describe yourself?

o What do you base your identity in?

- Anything that gives you happiness other than God.

o Where are you most happy?

o What defines what happiness and joy are in your life?

And we sign ourselves up for voluntary slavery to these idols by:

- Trading the Truth for a lie (Romans 1:25)

o Knowing what Truth (theologically and biblically correct worldview) is and still choosing something that is contrary to it.

- Being seduced by a lie

o Knowing Truth but listening to and being wooed by something else.

- Choosing to be a victim by your slavery

o Explaining away or justifying a victim mentality (“I’m so abused and hurt that I don’t think I’ll ever get out of this sin”)

o Being victimized, though it is horrid and awful, is no excuse to continue making the situation worse.

- Allowing something else to give you identity

o Your sin does not determine who you are (divorcee, rapist, addict, pornographer, rape victim, etc.)

o God determines who you are, not someone who has either sinned against you or who has endured your sin against them.

Several questions to get at your heart:

- Is your sin defining you?

- Are you allowing sin to happen in your life?

- Are you in voluntary slavery?

A story about Abraham Lincoln before the Civil War holds that he bought a slave woman at an auction and then immediately set her free. She asked if she was free to go wherever she wanted and do whatever she pleased, and he said that she indeed was. She then said that she would follow him wherever he went, because she wanted to be with the person who set her free rather than anyone else. [1]

This illustrates the principle that we find in Romans 6:17-18:

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (emphasis added)

So for our situations – no matter what they are – where else would we rather be than with the one who has freed us from our slavery to sin? What more desirable set of circumstances could we find ourselves in than to be with the one who exercised his authority and power to release us from our pitiable situation?

Repent, be reconciled to God because his grace is immense, his love is pure, and his desire is for us to live in joy-filled freedom.

This repentance process should look something like this:

- turn your heart away from your sin and toward God

- understand the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the weight of your sin against an almighty and holy God

- confess your sin to God, your community of believers, and anyone affected by it

- restore any damages or losses that have been incurred because of your sin (this is NOT atonement, but rather only repairing what you’ve damaged)

- rejoice in your forgiveness and freedom, and praise God for giving you the gift of repentance

1) This story occurs in many places, but I found a pretty good rendition of it here: http://www.leaderu.com/common/porn.html

D-Day + 66 years - This Day in History, June 6th

2010-06-06T17:43:00.003-05:00

Today is a big day for me as an (amateur) historian, a Texas Aggie (whoop!), and as an American.

One of the most iconic moments in United States history occurred 66 years ago today: the amphibious assault on the Bayeux region in Normandy, France which began the Allied invasion of Europe (‘Operation Overlord’) in World War II.

Late the night before on June 5^th, several airborne divisions landed behind enemy lines and got into position for the main assault the following morning. Early in the morning on June 6, 1944, 5,000 vessels carrying over 160,000 Allied soldiers (nearly 75,000 Americans) landed at various beachheads along the northern French coast. Though it was by no means the beginning of American involvement in World War II (we’d already fought in the Pacific and North African theaters), it did represent the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

A whole host of factors came together in a perfect storm to make the D-Day landing a success, including: Hitler sleeping late because he was coming down from the moral equivalent of a crystal meth high, a brilliant fake-out involving General George S. Patton and a cardboard army in southern England (‘Operation Quicksilver’), and a daring assault involving a 100 ft. climb up a rocky cliffs under enemy fire.

Though there are many cool stories surrounding the D-Day invasion, I’d like to tell you of one in particular that struck me as extra awesome. Pointe du Hoc lay directly between the American-assigned Omaha and Utah beaches on the western edge of the Allied assault. There, on a ridge overlooking the sea was a large fortified battery of German artillery with a commanding view of the entire invasion force. After a bit of pre-invasion bombing, Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder (a Texan) led a force of Army Rangers up a100 foot steep, rocky climb under fire to directly attack the enemy artillery position. Rudder lost half of his men in the initial assault, but after capturing their objective held off enemy counterattacks for two days until American soldiers from the Utah beachhead fought their way to the point. ‘Rudder’s Rangers’ ultimately suffered 70% casualties (Rudder himself wounded twice), but accomplished a pivotal objective in the Normandy invasion which helped the largest amphibious assault in history to succeed.

Rudder went on to become one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II, and also served as the president of Texas A&M University – my alma mater – from 1959-1970 (the main auditorium and meeting room complex at A&M bear his name).

I had the opportunity to visit the Bayeux and Caen area on a long weekend during a study abroad trip in the summer of 2004 (I missed the 60^th anniversary ceremony by just a couple of days), and it is a beautiful area. The rich history of a united Allied effort against a tyrannical dictator and an oppressive fascist permeated the beautiful rural region, which still bears the scars of naval and aerial bombardment.

So whether you love history or Texas Aggies, or don't care about either, please join me in remembering and honoring the heroism that 66 years ago today helped establish the freedom in which we as Americans now live.

Graduation - Joy and Gratitude

2010-05-09T00:33:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I completed a journey that has taken me four years to complete – I graduated with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

It has been a long road and I am overwhelmed with emotion when I think back over the past four years and God’s sustaining grace through it all. One of the biggest evidences of that grace has been my friends, family, mentors, community, and church family who have helped me in countless ways. I believe with all of my heart that I could not have done this without you. Therefore, this post is a letter of gratitude, of rejoicing, and of praise to you all – I hope you’ll indulge me for the next few paragraphs as I put my thoughts into words as best I can.

First, to my family:

I honestly do not know where to begin thanking you. This seminary journey could not have begun without the patient correction, biblical instruction, wisdom-filled encouragement, and steadfast prayers along the way. I am only partially aware of the financial burden that you have taken upon your shoulders, and I am truly grateful for God giving you the means to bless me and provide for me in that very specific and absolutely essential way. Thank you also for you kind words through email, phone calls, texts, and letters, and thank you for loving me through the good years as well as the bad. God has been most gracious to let me do life with all of you, and I am blessed beyond compare to know that he has given us the added grace of knowing, loving, and following Christ together. I pray that our fervor and sanctification to God’s glory continues, and I am excited to pray with you for the future generations of our family. I love you, I thank you, and I am praying for you.

To my dear friends:

I don’t believe that I have a sufficient vocabulary or eloquence to express to you how much you have meant to me these past few years. Each and every one of you has blessed me in countless ways, from the late-night conversations to the dinners, movies, sunburns, inside jokes, road trips, and literally thousands of cups of coffee that we have shared. Know that I love you all and that God has worked through you in so many incredible ways that I am overwhelmed when I try to think through all of them. You have seen me at my best, have endured me at my worst, have slogged through the depths and have rejoiced with me on the heights. You know who I am and you stick with me anyway. I am honored to be called ‘friend’ by you, and if God gives us the grace to spend many more years together, I pray they are as fruit-filled and memorable as these have been. I hope I have been as much of an encouragement and sharpening iron as you have been on me. I love you all, I thank you for this season, and know that I am praying for you.

To my church family:

God affords us many joys in this life, but there are precious few that can compare with the blessing I have received through worshiping our Lord with you, praying with you, and living out this Christ-life with you. It has been quite the journey, and I am grateful for a body of believers who are dedicated to Christ our King above all, and to knowing him more deeply in spirit and in truth. I am honored to have done life with you these past four years, and though God has blessed me with a tremendous biological family, you have been my adopted family during this season in my life and I cannot thank you enough for that. We have been through many joy-filled seasons, as well as times of grief and tragedy together. Through it all, you have been a delight to lead and serve, and I count it equally a blessing and a privilege to be called one of your pastors. I pray that I have stewarded this season with you well, and I look forward to watching how God moves in an amongst our expression of his Bride. I love you all, I thank you for making this season a joy, and I pray for you constantly.

To my fellow pastors, mentors, and ministry leaders:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your wisdom, advice, encouragement, rebuke, perspective, direction, and examples – all of these I have needed, and God has blessed me with more than I could have hoped for in you. I’ve seen the bar set very high by all of you, and I aim to follow your example and serve faithfully with you until the Lord calls us home. Thank you for showing me that our calling is not a job or vocation, but a burden, a weight, a joy, a burning in our hearts to lead. Thank you for sharpening me and serving God faithfully during our time together as we fulfill his will for our lives. You challenge me to be the man that God has called me to be, and the man I aspire to be. I am indebted to all of you, and I look forward to seeing how God will shape our ministries and use us to further the gospel to his glory. Thank you for your time, your insights, and your patience with me. I am by no means a polished finished product, but you have helped chip away and sand down my rough edges. I love you men dearly, I thank God for you daily, and I am praying that God puts men in your life who are to you what you have been to me. May our work continue until our Lord calls us home.

To anyone and everyone else who has impacted me during my seminary career:

You may not ever know how God has used you in my life, and this is such an inadequate means of thanking you, but I am grateful that God uses ‘chance’ acquaintances, ‘random’ meetings, and the most unassuming interactions to shape and mold the world to fit his kingdom and his will. Thank you for serving the Lord’s purposes, and even though you may not receive this note of gratitude, know that you are appreciated and that you have greatly impacted my life. I pray that God lets you see how he works in and through you, and I pray that you either know him already or come to know him at some point while you live. Live your life for Christ – he is the greatest treasure that’s ever been given to all of Creation, and he is worthy of our worship. You have stirred my heart in many ways to worship him more fully, and I pray that someday in some way God uses someone else to do the same for you. Grace and peace be with you in Christ Jesus.

So again, thank you all for supporting me and encouraging me through this season – I am very grateful that I am able to rejoice with you in God’s good grace. When I look at my diploma on the wall I am thinking not of the classes that I took and the papers that I wrote, but rather of the times that we spent together and how much you all mean to me. One of the most beautiful things that I’ve learned while at seminary has been that you and I cannot live this out on our own. We must have each other. We must know and love each other, and we absolutely must run toward Christ together. I would not and could not have done this without you, so in a way this diploma is also yours.

I am humbled by God's grace to me through you, and I am thankful for you.

In Christ,
- Nathan Johnson

“Now, to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

Death to Life turns 1

2010-04-25T10:42:00.002-05:00

Well, it has been a year since I first started this endeavor and I have to say it’s been an interesting one to say the least. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing my posts (check out the first one here), even though I honestly don’t know who reads what I have to say. Several people have outed themselves at various times with comments either on my posts or on Facebook/Twitter, or in person, and the feedback has been encouraging. I’m thankful for the opportunity to write and I appreciate all of you who take a look at what God is and has been doing in my life.

This being the one-year birthdiversary of the inaugural post, I’d like to take a look at how this whole thing has shaped up, and then I’ll lay out a few goals/ideas for the next year or so.

First, we’ll start off with a couple of stats: I have posted a total of 28 times in twelve months – the highest number of tags being random musings (15), theology (14), daily living (8), and questions that friends have asked me that I thought were interesting enough to put on here (8) – there is obviously some overlap. I have no idea how many visitors I get or how often they visit because I’ve had no way of obtaining that information, nor do I know what I would do with it. Second, I’ve enjoyed posting Lastly, I gave the blog a facelift a few days ago and I like the new look. There are still a few things that I’m trying to get used to and need to work out, but overall I think it’s a pretty solid improvement over what I had. It’s been a good year and I’m pleased with where I’m at – but I’m not satisfied… I think there’s a lot more to do this next year, which brings me to my next point.

Where I’d like to go with this over the next year, should God’s sense of humor persist and his patience with me prevail:

1) I would like to develop something of a regular posting schedule – whether that is once a month or once a week I won’t know until my seminary schedule is no longer existent (I’m definitely excited about graduating in a couple of weeks!).

2) I would also like to greatly expand the topics and types of posts to include: book, music, and movie reviews/discussions; this-day-in-history and related factoids; more series of postings; maybe a few more picture postings from my travels; possibly some interviews and/or conversations; and then a few other things that are to be determined.

3) I would like to make use of the Amazon widget on the right side of the page to help sell books and maybe make some cash – but that depends on your willingness to read my blog, take my recommendation seriously enough to make a purchase, and then make your purchase via my blog. That seems like a pretty tall order.

4) Somehow I’d like to tease out some more conversation and discussion on here, but we’ll see how that goes – that’s not exactly a clearly defined goal, but whatever.

5) I would also like to figure out how many of you there are and who the heck you are… I’m still working on that, and whether that goal is met with success or dismal failure, you probably won’t ever know.

6) Lastly, I get a fair amount of people who ask me questions about random theological and biblical topics, and I would love to incorporate that into my blog somehow – maybe start a page for question submissions or something like that. I’ll have to do some work to figure that whole thing out.

A few things that I do not want to change: I want my blog to continue being a place of open discussion and interaction. I also want to stay fiercely dedicated to being authentic, real, raw, and mostly unedited (I rarely, if ever, proofread or edit anything I write). I would love to continue growing as a writer and as a Christian, though I must say I am at the Lord’s mercy for both of those. I have done nothing to acquire either of those precious gifts, and I pray that I use them to God’s glory.

Thank you for indulging me once again – I appreciate your willingness to read what I write, and I look forward to hearing from you in one way or another on down the road.

Grace and peace through Jesus,

- nj

Constant Need: Redemption Groups Immersion part 3

2010-04-24T00:47:00.003-05:00

The last two posts concerning Redemption Groups have – I hope – driven home the idea that God has been taking me through an intense time of rediscovering who I am and where my allegiance lies. The first post (Ashes) focused on God bringing me to the point of complete desperation and dependence on him alone, and the second (Discipline) highlighted the ever-present and active role that God plays in our suffering and trials – that they are not the backhanded disapproval of a vengeful god, but rather the merciful discipline of a loving Father who wants much more for us than we could possibly secure for ourselves. In this post I’ll set out to show that God not only wants our best and his glory, but accomplishes both in the cross of Christ.

Our culture is replete with drivel masquerading as ‘self-help’ books and ‘fix this part of your life and everything else will fall into place’ literature. To our shame, many Christians have hijacked the gospel and turned Jesus into a guru of whatever topic the author chooses to twist Scripture to fit. Now, just so I am clear, there are surely times where we need to seek the wisdom and support of others in making decisions and living life and books are a great source of a lot of that wisdom, so don’t hear me saying that getting other peoples’ input is wrong or bad. I do, however, want to point out the insidious underlying motives behind much of this genre, and see how we can view it through a gospel-centered lens.

This world mimics the pattern of original sin in the Garden of Eden – that is, that rather than following what God has revealed and instructed us to do, we come up with our own plan and strike out on our own course. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 both say that there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. In Eden man’s way resulted in banishment from the Garden, a curse for all of creation, and lots of other bad stuff. Today this looks like us forsaking the counsel of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for logical conclusions, excusing sin for various reasons, and ultimately taking God’s rightful place as the ruler and sovereign lord over our lives. I would submit to you that there is a way that seems right to a man about how to use and apply Scripture, but in the end if it’s not anchored with the full counsel of Scripture, led by the Holy Spirit, and in accordance with historical orthodoxy, then it will most certainly lead to death.

So if we use Scripture as God’s instruction book, a list of good morals to live by, how to manage your money, how to rightly order your family and home, or how to eat healthier, then we’ve completely missed the point of Scripture. Of course the manifold wisdom of God is to be expressed in the way that Christians live life, handle their finances, love their spouses and parent their children, but the main point of Scripture is not what we do, but who God is and what he’s done. You see, when we start boiling down God’s self-revelation to a how-to or a list of helpful anecdotes we’ve forsaken God’s most precious gift – himself – for common grace gifts and an easier temporal existence (or at least what we think will be easier..).

Let’s take this a step further and delve into it a little further. How about using the Bible as a sin-eradication tool. Maybe you don’t want to have a ton of cash or have the best sex, life, job, etc. Maybe you don’t have that high and/or greedy of aspirations. Maybe you just want to be rid of some frustrating circumstance… maybe you’d like to stop driving around the same cul-de-sac of sin and finally live in true victory over it. I would say to you that even the desire to be free from sin can itself be sinful if you don't view the cross as the ultimate goal in your life.

If you’re only wanting to live in victory over sin or in some other state of existence without bowing at the foot of the cross and walking the hard, narrow pathway of true heartfelt confession, repentance, reconciliation, and restoration, then you’re short-circuiting the significance of the cross and the entire redemption process. In effect you’re forsaking God’s magnificent sacrifice of himself on our behalf for the gifts that he freely gives his children. The cross must not be some historical event that we at one time trusted in – rather, we must live our lives as an echo of Martin Luther’s first thesis: that ‘all of life is repentance.’ We must never move away from the cross – it must permeate everything about who we are and what we do and we must let our weakness and meekness and neediness be the place where God’s strength and grace shines through our lives.

I think this is the heart of Paul’s reaction to struggling with his ‘thorn in the flesh’ that he mentions in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Paul asks God three times to take away some kind of temptation or struggle (it’s not completely clear what he’s referring to specifically) in his life, but then realizes that God allowed that darkness (‘messenger from Satan’) to stick with him so that Paul would not grow conceited. See, Paul realized that being free from sin and struggle wasn’t the point – having more of Christ and a closer relationship with him is. So rather than shuffle past our sin and telling ourselves we’ll do better next time, let’s confess the full extent of our sin and throw ourselves upon the mercy of God who calls us to do so. Let’s realize that there is no way that we can out-sin God’s grace if he has called us into his family. Of course this doesn’t give us license to sin – Romans 6 deals with that very firmly. But it does mean that we who are redeemed live not in light of our constant sin, but in light of our constant need of the cross.

One day we will be sin-free and glorified in the presence of God for eternity (see Revelation 20-22 for a vision of this awesome future reality), and we yearn for that day like the rest of Creation (see Romans 8:18-25), but it is not a reality yet. So let us in the mean time struggle well in a redemptive way. Let us cling to the cross with all that we have and count this world as a temporary home. Let us lean not on our own understanding, but on the grace that God gives us freely as his children. And may we realize that our primary end in life is not to be free of sin and struggle, but rather to know Christ more deeply and live in light of our constant need of the cross.

San Jacinto Day and Aggie Muster - Today in History, April 21st

2010-04-21T11:19:00.003-05:00

This Day in History: April, 21 – San Jacinto Day, Aggie Muster

Today is a very cool day for me in several different ways – first as a Texan, second as an Aggie, and third as ~~a nerd~~ an amateur historian.

As a Texan, April 21^st (1836) is a momentous day because it marks the victory at San Jacinto for Sam Houston and the Texas Army, effectively ending the Texas Revolution. You should definitely read the full article on Wikipedia (it’s actually pretty good), which you can find here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_San_Jacinto . Just in case you’re more devoted to my blog than history, I’ll give you a brief run-down on what happened and why it's awesome.

Mexico and ‘Texians’ (American settlers in the Mexican territory of Coahuila y Tejas) were increasingly at odds until armed conflict broke out at Gonzales (the ‘Concord and Lexington’ of Texas – google that if you don’t get what I’m talking about). Anyway, the Texas Revolution begins a war of independence from October 1835 until April 1836. After several conflicts of note, the Mexican army under their president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (several thousand soldiers) surrounded and besieged the Alamo at San Antonio de Bexar (modern day San Antonio) on February 23, 1836. For thirteen days the small force of 180-200 men inside the Alamo held off the Mexican Army bombardment and small skirmishes, eventually losing a main assault early in the morning on March 6^th. During that siege, a delegation of Texans drafted and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2^nd (Sam Houston’s birthday, coincidentally).

After the Alamo, Santa Anna split his force into several prongs in order to try to find and eliminate the Texas Army under Sam Houston. Over the next month and a half, Houston continually retreated to the east (toward the Houston area) so that he could train his men and consolidate his ragtag military and engage the Mexicans on a good battlefield – this is what we know as the ‘Runaway Scrape.’ On April 20^th, two prongs of the Mexican Army (Santa Anna and Cos) caught up with the Texas Army at the San Jacinto River. The Mexicans expected the Texans to retreat again and did not prepare to attack. To their dismay the Texans mounted a surprise assault in the mid-afternoon on April 21^st and completely defeated the larger Mexican force in about 18 minutes.

Santa Anna disguised himself as a Mexican private and was captured immediately after the battle was over, hoping to escape the attention of the Texan leadership. He was discovered and brought to Sam Houston who had suffered a gunshot wound in his ankle and was laying down at the time. Houston exchanged Santa Anna’s freedom for Texas’ independence, ending the Texas Revolution and establishing Texas as a sovereign republic. Therefore, April 21^st, 1836 is an awesome day for all Texans.

Now, as an Aggie, this day also holds a very special significance because it is the day on which we hold a celebration called ‘Muster’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muster_%28Texas_A&M_University%29). On April 21^st (because of the immense importance of San Jacinto Day) Aggies all over the world get together to commemorate current and former students who have passed away in the previous year. Loved ones gather during the ‘Roll Call of the Absent’ and as a list of the names of the deceased is read, their loved ones answer ‘here’. It is a solemn time of celebration and remembrance, and one of the most moving traditions at A&M, of which there are many. ‘Silver Taps’ is another similar tradition where students silently gather in the Academic Plaza on the A&M campus the first Tuesday of every month to honor current students who have died in the past month. A special harmonized rendition of Taps is played and then a 21-gun salute is given for the deceased.

If you care to perpetuate the stereotype that A&M is a cult, please do so in an educated fashion by refraining from commenting until after you have studied up on what the traditions actually mean – you can find them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditions_of_Texas_A%26M_University .

Thanks, Gig ‘Em, and Remember the Alamo.

- nj

Discipline: Redemption Groups Immersion part 2

2010-04-18T23:50:00.004-05:00

In my last post I wrote about how God is with us as we struggle and as we walk through the tough parts of life. One of the biggest paradigm shifts of that week in Seattle was the realization that God not only allows, but ordains our suffering and trials in this life. I do not say that lightly, by the way. In the past six months I have seen several sets of dear friends go through some of the roughest situations that can be endured in this life, and their simultaneous grief and faith have deeply impacted my soul.

God has some very sobering instructions for us Christians in Hebrews 12. Verse five says that we are not to ‘regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,’ and continues on in verse six to say that God disciplines those he loves and chastises every son whom he receives. Therefore, if we are truly sons (and daughters) of God, then as his children we will have to endure hardship and pain from his hand. There is no alternate way – it will happen, and it will suck to a certain degree. Yet we are not left without hope – verse ten goes on to say that God’s hand of discipline is for our good and for our holiness or sanctification. So we have an immense amount of hope in the toughest of times – God has not and will never abandon us, and he is with us in the midst of our suffering.

At this point I think it’s absolutely essential to point out that God is not some vengeful knee-jerk reaction kind of disciplinarian just waiting for us to screw up so he can pound us into a pulp. He is a merciful, loving, caring father who wants the best for his kids, and is willing to cause some temporary pain so that there is an enduring joy (just like disciplining a child who wants to run in the street or slapping away a hand that is on its way to a burning stove). This is what we see in Hebrews 12:11 – that all discipline seems for the moment to be painful rather than pleasant, but soon it will put forth the ‘peaceful fruit of righteousness’ for those who have been molded and trained by it. J.I. Packer describes it this way: “And still He seeks the fellowship of His people and will send them both joy and sorrow to detach their hands from the things of this world and attach them to Himself.”

But this introduces a very scary reality that was very hard for me to get through my head, and chilled my spine when it did finally hit home: my sins, other people, various situations or circumstances – these things are not ‘holding me back’ from where or who I want to be. I cannot assign to anything else the responsibility that only God can possess. God is the one who is sovereign and orchestrates it all – he has us exactly where he wants us. At all times. In every circumstance and situation. There are no exceptions, and he is never caught off-guard.

One quick aside: if you have endured the heavy hand of the Lord in one way or another, or have suffered unspeakable evil in this life, know that it is not pointless and it is not endless. God chose not to change what happened to you or what you’ve done – rather he redeems it and redefines it with the cross of Christ. What men have meant for evil for millennia now, God has intended and orchestrated for good (see Genesis 50:20 in its broader context). Those shameful things that you have either inflicted or suffered are now scars that are a testament to God’s healing grace if you trust in Christ Jesus and let him redefine your story of suffering and shame as one of redemption and glory.

So if you are like me when I was in Seattle, and you’re dealing with a quiet undercurrent of bitterness toward God concerning a given unfulfilled desire, or a tough situation or circumstance in your life that you just don’t like, I want to ask you a question that a very perceptive, Spirit-led man named Kirk McKelvey asked me: “When are you going to agree with God on where he’s got you?” You can only gloss over your disdain for your circumstance for so long. At some point you will run out of excuses and you will come to the end of your ‘if only ___ were the case… then I would be ____…’ statements. I urge you and plead with you to confess that bitterness toward God, honestly confess where you’re at and what you think about it (seriously… be honest and unleash it on him – he can take it, and he already knows exactly what’s on your heart), and then begin to pray about what you have been holding more dear than God. Odds are, the thing that you have wanted more than anything else and have tried to snatch from God’s hand as if he wouldn’t notice – that is your idol, or at least a clue to what it is.

Discipline is not fun, but it will in time bring forth that fruit of righteousness, and you will begin to see God’s hand of grace in freeing you from your idols, whatever they are. You see, each of us if we’re honest has a certain list of things that we want in addition to a right relationship with God. But God gives us so much more than that – he gives us himself! And that is all we should ever want or need.

But that's a whole other topic... I'll try to tackle some of it in Part 3.

Ashes: Redemption Groups Immersion part 1

2010-04-17T18:57:00.002-05:00

Last month I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Seattle at Mars Hill Church called Redemption Groups Immersion (a one-week intensive boot camp that trains ministry leaders to implement and lead a ministry called Redemption Groups). I was put into a group where we delved into the depths of our lives with brutal honesty and walked through the material during the main teaching sessions, which were some of the finest and most Spirit-led teachings I've heard. The week that I spent up there was one of the most heart-wrenching and healing times I’ve ever experienced as a Christian, and I am immensely thankful to God for the men and women at Mars Hill who serve him relentlessly with unbridled passion.

The next few posts will be some of my take-aways from that conference, all of which impacted me in profound ways.

Anyway, as that week went on and God kept hammering away at the junk in my life – the bitterness toward God that I didn’t even know I had, the wicked sense of entitlement that I’ve carried for most of my life, etc. – I was moved pray the following prayer late one night in bed:

Father, you have chosen to love me in spite of me. You redeemed me for your glory and it seems that all I’ve done is trample on it and childishly demand more – because I think that you’re not good enough for me. I’ve forsaken the Creator for creation – an infinite offense. The highest of treason. And yet you saved me, redeemed me, bought me. You said “Mine!” and I rebelled. I confess I wanted your gifts more than life itself. And like a fool I looked elsewhere for that which only you can provide. My pride, lust, lies, self-importance, self indulgence, doubt, distrust, shame, - my sin. All of it. Stinking, festering, choking my life and killing my soul. And yet you took them all on- you atoned for every bit of my sin before I even breathed. So how can I remain unmoved? How can I not worship you? Your kindness has brought me to repentance, and I confess I have no other hope, no other aspiration, no other God. You are all I have. I have been a fool to see you as a tormentor, a taskmaster; in you and you alone is freedom and grace abounding in steadfast lovingkindness. So Father, thank you for loving me – thank you for loving me enough to not let me fumble about in my sin, but that you revealed my idols and crushed them with your love on the cross. I relinquish my desires to you – everything I felt entitled to; everything I was using you for: A wife. A home. Children. Financial prosperity. Respect. Honor. Success. Education, diplomas, intellect. Appreciation, affection. A place of ministry. Sleep. Health. Food. Salvation. All of these I’ve taken for granted and tried to snatch from your hand without you looking. And yet you are so much more gracious than to give me what I want. I see now that my pain and shame and sanctifying affliction were not the heavy hand of a vengeful God, but rather the merciful discipline of a relentlessly pursuing Father for his son. God hear this prayer as a desperate plea for what you’ve already given freely. And a grateful hallelujah that this world is ashes to me. Ashes. Come Lord Jesus!

In my nearly 20 years of being a Christian I have gone through stages of repentance, but at this conference God truly made me aware of my idolatry, pride, selfishness, and bitterness toward him. I began to see sin not as a measurement of how bad I am, but rather how immensely good God’s grace is. And I finally saw that the things that God has been withholding from me – the graces common to many people – was a beautiful picture of God’s grace in my life, not his wrath. My sin and loneliness and frustration and bitterness were not out of God’s reach – rather, he was right in the middle of them! … and he was the cause of them. God has loved me enough to not let me be satisfied by what I want and the junk that my heart pursues. He wants my affections to be solely for him, and he works to that end by showing me how fruitless my pursuits are so many times. And you know what I’ve found after exploring this new thing that God has shown me? I don’t need anything in this life except for the cross. I know – it seems so simple and so Sunday-schoolish to say that, but I can honestly say with no caveat, no asterisk that I need nothing more than the cross for satisfaction. God’s incredible grace has brought my soul peace and rest. It’s just as the old hymn says: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”

So now, a few weeks removed from the mountain top high of the conference, I still do wrestle with finding my satisfaction in the cross. But I am much more apt to turn and repent of my sin and rest in the perfect finished atoning work that Christ did on the cross, and I am moved to live in light of his resurrection and current intercession on my behalf. If you also claim the name of Christ, then I would urge you to join me in taking heart in the fact that God’s hand is with us even in the midst of our suffering and pain. He has not abandoned us, nor will he will ever forsake us. And he is not frustrated or angry with his kids – he loves us more than we could ever have imagined, and he is not a wicked father who frustrates his children. He is good, he is sovereign, and he is enough.

-nj

Some cool verses (make sure to read them in context) that have to do with ashes:

Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes…” - Genesis 18:27

“… I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” - Job 42:56

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes…” - Isaiah 61:1,3

Clearly Ambiguous

2010-01-20T11:55:00.006-06:00

This made me laugh out loud because it characterizes so much of what academic writing entails (and I used to be a huge Calvin and Hobbes fan)... And I confess, I have definitely done this from time to time in my seminary career. (Side Note: I have also written several book reports on books I haven't read... but that's another blog post altogether.)

Why is academic writing so boring and inaccessible?

It seems to me that the smartest people don't write up in the clouds so that you need a dictionary alongside their book or article to understand what they're trying to communicate. Instead, the most brilliant writers know their readers well and write in a way that is challenging, yet easy to digest and interact with.

What are your thoughts - have you ever encountered this scenario?

What authors are easy to read? Whose books require wikipedia and dictionary.com?

Winter

2010-01-19T00:22:00.004-06:00

In a lot of ways 2009 was a tough year for me. Struggling with loneliness, bitterness, and burnout along with all kinds of other sins too numerous to mention here, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a deeper need for God and had it answered with a more fleeting joy. Looking back over my journal entries, written prayers, and various writings I’ve also seen a theme of bone-weariness that taken a heavy toll on me spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. So in the post-sunset twilight hours of 2009 I am compelled to reflect on what a year it was, and speculate on the first glow of 2010’s sunrise as it peaks over the horizon.

Even though it has been one of the toughest years in the hardest season of my life yet (my post-graduate mid-20’s), I am hopeful in God’s purposes for me. He has never and will never forsake me. And his goodness doesn’t depend on my happiness – he is good whether I die tonight on my way home or whether I live to see my great-grandchildren. And even though I am very tired and weary right now and it feels like winter in my soul, I am looking forward to the day when I look back on this time and see the hidden smile of God all the while. And I am looking forward to a time when life begins to make sense again. But most of all I am looking forward with eager expectation to the eternal rest that awaits me in heaven.

So right now I am breathing a sigh of relief – relief that a tough year is past and I am another year closer to heaven; relief that God has yet again proven himself faithful in answering my needs, and relief that God is much bigger than my struggles.

God, even though life doesn’t make sense to me right now my faith in you remains steadfast because you are more than struggles, more than certainty, more than confidence, and more than I could ever have hoped for. Even though I see in part and know in part, I praise you that you know more fully than I ever will, and I ask that you sustain me in my nearsightedness. I pray that you remind me of your goodness and your sovereignty in times like these, and I pray that I don’t miss what you’re teaching me through them. God you are so gracious to me in giving me the righteousness of Christ – I pray that I don’t take it for granted and that I am a good steward of the gifts that you’ve given me. Let me live for you; let me glorify you with my thoughts, actions, words, and motivations. Give me the grace to yearn for you and seek you in all that I do. And I pray that I follow you faithfully this year, no matter where you lead me or what you lead me through.

“Winter”

by Shawn McDonald

Sometimes I feel like winter, cold I feel

Icicles are forming

It's hard to tell what is real

Cold winter, cold winter day

Frost is on the windshield and it's hard to see

Air is like slivers

It's hard to breathe

It's a cold winter, cold winter day

Warm me up inside

And let your face from me not hide

'Cause You are what I long for

To melt this cold heart of mine

'Cause when You are around I am found

Sometimes I feel like the prodigal, a wandering weary son

Gone in search of something beautiful

Something to make me one

It's a cold winter, cold winter day

The world is full of lies that will only rob you blind

Hit ya' when you are not looking

And steal away your time

It's a cold winter, cold winter day

And warm me up inside

Let Your face from me not hide

'Cause You are what I long to find

To melt this cold heart of mine

And when You are around I am found

Warm me up inside

And let your face from me not hide

'Cause You are what I long to find

To melt this cold heart of mine

'Cause when You are around

And when You are around I am found

Avoiding Sin in Theology

2009-10-14T10:30:00.007-05:00

This post emerged from a question posed to a prior entry ("Thoughts on Theology")...

Question: What precautions could you take in the seminary environment to prevent sin through theology? (because that is a place where you run a high risk of placing the theologian over the scripture)

I think the first and most important thing is to study the Scriptures relentlessly and know them much better than you know any other book that you read. If you know the Old Testament well, how the New Testament authors quote and comment on it, and what more they have to say about Christ and the Christian life, then you will be much better equipped to see bad teaching and heresy for what it is, and you will also be able to bring a ready defense of solid Scriptural support for your conviction and understanding of what God is communicating to us through his written Word.

A very close second to knowing the Bible well is not reading the Bible through a theological grid, but reading the Bible for what it is actually saying about God. The books of the Bible were not composed in a vacuum, so we must study their historical and canonical context. They also were not composed by a theologian trying to build a system. Rather they were composed by a God who was intent on revealing his character, his attributes, his actions through history, and his Son who was the focal point of all creation. So we shouldn’t read the Bible looking for verses that support a certain theological conviction, getting all excited when we find a neat proof-text. The Bible is not meant to be stood over and told what it says – rather it is to be read in such a way as to bring the reader to a closer relationship with God. God is not a doctrine to be studied, but rather a ‘person’ (divine being with personal attributes) to be worshiped. Theologians have done us a great service in aligning the text to assert certain theological positions. However, while the ideas and concepts that they have picked up on may indeed be in the text, it is best to approach the Bible without using them as an interpretive lens. We have the Holy Spirit in us to testify to the meaning of the text and I think we are much better off listening to him first and foremost. That having been said, I do believe that theologians are immensely helpful in bringing up points and showing us things that we have either ignored or interpreted differently in the text – thus challenging our position and sharpening us in our convictions.

Another significant point is that in order to keep Scripture supreme we should always always always know the Scripture behind a certain theologian’s convictions. So you have your five solas (fide, gratia, Scriptura, Christus, Deo Gloria)... great. But where are they found in the Bible? For my fellow Reformed theologians, you have your TULIP… excellent. Quote the Scriptures as they make sense to you and have a working knowledge of the full counsel of God that feeds into these theological constructs and convictions. Do not forsake Scriptural knowledge for the convenience and sanctification-shrinking ease of quoting a theologian. To give an utterly practical example, when a non-Christian brings an pagan heresy against the Bible or has a legitimate question, will you quote the Scriptures back to them, or will you first turn to a theologian or philosopher to do your dirty work for you? To give an utterly biblical example, this is what was happening in Corinth when Paul rebuked the church for starting quarrels about what the apostles and early church fathers were teaching:

“… each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13

In other words, are not all Christians baptized in the name of the Triune God? We are Christ-followers, not Calvinists. We are Jesus’ disciples, not Piper-ites (… Piperians? Piperinis?). Mark Driscoll is not the fourth member of the Trinity. What it boils down to is first knowing the Bible well and having a working personal knowledge of what God has written to us. Once that has been accomplished, then begin sorting out your deduced theological convictions and finding out who is like-minded, who disagrees and why (for each camp).

And finally (thank you, by the way, for reading this far), we must also be relentless to tie theology to life.

We seminarians have an uncanny knack for engaging in great theological conversations but leaving them at the coffee table next to our ESV Study Bible and our Moody Handbook of Theology (both of which I recommend, by the way), never to make it into the real world for real effect. So you can carry on an extended debate over supra- infra- and sub-lapsarianism. Excellent. So you can articulate your eschatology clearly, succinctly, and with Scriptural coherence. Incredible. But how do those things help you mortify sin, vivify affections for Christ, and make disciples of Jesus out of non-believers? I think in an academic environment like seminary we must be doggedly determined to always ask the question: “What does this have to do with how I live, and what am I going to do about it?”

Cool Website: The Art of Manliness

2009-10-05T17:04:00.014-05:00

I've been made aware of one of the coolest websites, and it has afforded me much procrastination and entertainment over the past few hours, so I figured I'd share it with whoever pays attention to my blog.

check it out here

This little bit of awesomeness chronicles a wide variety of topics concerning the art of manliness in an era where chivalry, self-sufficiency, self-respect, responsibility, and socially appropriate facial hair are scarce at best. In it you'll learn about cooking, taking pride in things that you do, manly life skills, really cool gadgets, fashion, personal hygiene (especially shaving), relationships, career-oriented things, and life tips in general. It is a fine collection of wisdom, practical advice, and lively discussion.

So if you haven't already, give the link above a click. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have so far.

- NJ

Thoughts on Theology

2009-09-19T09:20:00.005-05:00

The following is an assignment from one of my classes... we were to define theology and then we had a discussion on whether theology could be sinful.

Theology is the study of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in and through his self-revelation, human religious experience (including church practices like worship and teaching, and the processes of salvation, sanctification, and glorification), faith, spirituality, and orthodox church tradition, resulting in the pursuit of (and conformity to) Truth as expressed in Scripture – all of which being ultimately for the glory of God. Systematic Theology seeks to express in a cogent, coherent system of beliefs the commands, teachings, principles, implications, truths, and spirit of the Scriptures in addition to the God with whom they are concerned and from whom they come.

Can theology be sinful? If so, when does it become sinful?

It seems to me that theology can and does become sinful when it begins to be an end in and of itself. When a theological perspective ceases being first and foremost for the glory of God in Christ Jesus, and becomes more dedicated to proving itself (its logical consistency, its universal appeal, its biblical basis, etc.), replicating itself, or making itself known and respected rather than aiding discipleship of the saints in understanding God’s self-revelation, it has dethroned God (by making him and his glory a secondary or tertiary goal) from his rightful place and has exalted itself above him. In this way, it becomes sinful.

For example, if I quote a certain theologian (Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Edwards, Grudem, Piper, Driscoll) – or any other man, for that matter – more than I quote Scripture, and if I know a certain book or collection of writings better than I know the Scriptures themselves then I have begun traveling down this road. Rectifying this situation does not involve merely reading the Bible more and studying it more intently… rather, it begins with repentance for idolatry, turning from my trust of fallible humans over the infinite God and pursuing what he has said above all others.

This is not to say that theologians are detrimental or obstruct our understanding of the Scriptures. The men mentioned above have been immensely formative to my beliefs and my sanctification. The sin lies not with the theologian (unless they are a heretical false teacher), but rather with me. If I put my trust in Grudem’s theology or Edwards’ sermons or Calvin’s doctrine before I put my trust in the Scriptures from which they are derived, then I have turned the appropriate order on its head – I have begun examining the Scriptures through a theologian’s lens rather than measuring a theologian’s claims against the Scriptures.

The end goal of theology, then (as far as I can tell), is the study of God’s self-revelation in such a way as to bring him glory through truth-based spirit-filled worship, bold Christ-centered gospel-saturated preaching and teaching, and through the transformed lives of Christ followers working out the lifelong process of sanctification.

Groping for the Door

2009-09-15T00:41:00.004-05:00

So I have been reading through Genesis for my Old Testament class. For the most part it has been a really refreshing look at the beginnings of our world, the foundations of theology from God’s revelation, and a convicting reminder of both humanity’s sinfulness and God’s sovereign grace. I made my way through Creation and Fall, Noah, the Tower of Babel, and Abraham… but then one story in particular – in fact just one line from Genesis 19 – blew my mind, and immediately I began to pray, think, and write.

As the story of Sodom unfolds in Genesis 19, God has sent two angels (in human form) to investigate and destroy Sodom for its immense wickedness and ‘very grave’ sin (18:20). Lot (Abraham’s nephew) met the angels at the city gates in the evening and invited them to stay at his home. Then the men in the town surround Lot’s house, demanding that Lot hand over his visitors to them “that [they] might know them,” (19:5). Now up to this point if you have no idea what’s going on, you might think that these men are a welcoming bunch and are practicing for the meet and greet time at church on Sunday. This scene is much more sinister than it appears, though, because these men have such a grave sinfulness in their hearts that they desire to gang rape Lot’s heavenly visitors (the Hebrew word translated ‘know’ conveys a bit more than a handshake and a smile if you know what I mean... in fact the English word ‘sodomy’ comes from this story). Lot goes on to demonstrate his excellent parental wisdom by offering to sate the men’s lust with his virgin daughters - to no avail. The angelic visitors pull Lot back into his house and strike the crowd (which ranges in age from young to old) with blindness… which brings us to the line that stopped me in my tracks.

“And [the angels] struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house… so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.” (Genesis 19:11 - emphasis added)

These men were so consumed with their lust and hell-bent on gratifying their wicked desire to sexually abuse two other men that even when they were miraculously struck with blindness, they continued pursuing their sin with full intention of carrying it out.

My immediate reaction to reading this astounding phrase came in the form of a few questions:

How often do I continue pursuing my sin, even when God hems in my way and disciplines me so as to show me my sinfulness?

See, I am prone to wander far from the Lord’s guidance in my own pride and arrogance. I like to try things on my own, and I like to think that my way is correct and beneficial. But when I experience God’s gracious discipline and the merciful pain that is designed to bring me to repentance (Hebrews 12:11), I must heed that conviction and truly repent – meaning that I turn away from my sin and turn toward Christ. To not heed the wisdom of Scripture and to continue on unhindered in pursuit of my sin denotes a hardness of heart that characterizes those who do not know Jesus. In other words, if the life I lead appears no different than those men in Sodom (continuing in my pursuit of sin despite divine intervention), then I have just cause to seriously question whether I am one of God’s children. The Holy Spirit not only leads us to a deeper knowledge of both God and his Scriptures, but he also brings conviction of sin for the purposes of repentance and sanctification.

What does it look like for me to wear myself out ‘groping for the door’?

· When I feel that heart check from the Holy Spirit warning me to turn from the path that I’m on and I disregard it, continuing on in my pursuit of sin, I have begun groping for the door.

· When I consciously decide to disregard Scripture or distort the clear teachings of the Bible to create ‘gray areas’ that give me license to sin, I have begun groping for the door.

· When I acknowledge the horrid effects of sin (corporate and/or personal) and continue in it anyway, I have begun groping for the door.

What will it take for me to see that the way that I’m pursuing only leads to folly, destruction, and death?

When will I repent of my sin and return to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, who will welcome me with open arms and throw a celebration for his prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-32)?

When will I see that I am not gaining even fleeting pleasure, but rather rejecting the eternal promises of Christ and slopping around in worldly filth?

One thing that I’ve learned through my experiences with sin is that it's actually Jesus we're groping for and we will not truly be satisfied until we look to him (St. Augustine wrote in his “Confessions” that ‘our hearts are restless until they find rest in God’). So we will continue being frustrated and blind as long as we are pursuing unworthy ends. But as soon as we turn our affections toward Christ’s loving grace and see that he is actually not for our pain and hurt, but rather for our good and our joy, then the world begins to look wholly different. Monogamous relationships and marital fidelity are no longer shackles but rather unlock the full potential for love and intimacy. Fleshly hedonistic pursuits ring hollow and fall flat in comparison to the richness of the depth, breadth, length, height, and beauty of our Savior (Romans 11:33; Ephesians 2:7) working on our behalf for his glory - for they are not mutually exclusive, but actually work in tandem. God is both sovereign and good, and when we realize that he is not some cosmic buzzkill but rather a mighty king who saves (Zephaniah 3:17) his people from themselves, the better off we will be, and the more glorified God will be in and through our heartfelt worship in light of his unequalled grace.

My Battle Axe and Weapons of War

2009-09-08T23:06:00.011-05:00

I’m so very thankful for the wisdom of men and women who have gone before me into ministry and have felt the need to offer advice and direction to those following similar paths. Charles Spurgeon is one such man who has impacted countless souls for the sake of Christ both before and after his death. “Lectures to my Students” is a collection of manuscripted lectures given by Spurgeon to the young men in training at his seminary, and it has proven to be one of the most helpful, challenging, and encouraging books that I’ve read to date. I would encourage any who have felt the call to ministry or seminary to read it and take his advice to heart. What follows is a reaction to one of my favorite quotes from “Lectures” which rests in a wooden frame on my desk.

“It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organize societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service; my spiritual faculties, and my inner life, are

my battle axe and weapons of war.”

- Charles Spurgeon (from ‘Lectures to my Students’) -

It seems to me that all too many seminarians fall into the trap of writing papers, reading books, and being concerned with climbing the ministerial ladder… and seminary does train you to do those things. But let us not forget our calling – to minister to people, and to administer the Word of God correctly, by the power of the Spirit, under the authority of Christ, to the glory of God. While ‘stocking the library’ can bring new ideas to light, share experiences, and sharpen the mind, it can become a pursuit that allows the excuse for avoiding ministry and inflating the ego. And while ‘organizing societies’ (conversations over coffee and/or lunch, etc.) is the medium of a precious sort of ministry, it can take precedence over those times that fill our tanks so that we can be sharp during such conversations and offer that bit of wisdom, that spiritual insight, or that word of encouragement that makes such meetings worthwhile. Finally, as a strategist I am no stranger to spending countless hours ‘projecting schemes’ and getting ministry-oriented things organized in my head. However, if this energy is divested of both the foundation and the end goal of such plotting – that is, the glory and renown of Christ – then it is less than in vain. Obsessive planning and ‘strategery’, when pursued without having been anchored in a solid consistent walk with Christ, become filled with prideful sin (self-importance and self-reliance) and will rarely be honored by the Lord.

And let us not forget that all of the theological training, exegetical papers, and seminary professor recommendations on our resumes will be completely useless if we neglect the culture of ourselves and fall into egregious sin that disqualifies us from serving as shepherds.

[As a quick aside, if you find yourself struggling with sin while serving in ministry, please, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, do not let yourself become a wicked pastor. Get help; pursue repentance-oriented counseling, resign from your position, or begin by confessing your sin to another pastor before it finds you out and you must deal with it publicly. Enough men have walked down that path – we do not need any more.]

Getting back to my original train of thought, it is not as though stocking libraries, organizing societies, and projecting schemes is bad; rather, they are all secondary and we should treat them as such. Do them in as much as they further your sanctification and help you develop your spiritual faculties.

God has called us to the ministry – not our books, not our social schedules, and not our church planting proposals. He has called us to steward our minds, our bodies, our hearts, and ultimately our walks with Him in such a way as to serve him faithfully and glorify him with our successes and our failures. So do spend the appropriate time relating to God and anchoring your soul in Him first and foremost every day. Read the Bible regularly and conform your life to its mandates rather than conforming the Word to your life and in so doing justifying sin. Get to know yourself, find out where and when you are most vulnerable to sin and build up your defenses so as to not fall into Satan’s numerous traps. Honestly examine your soul and let the Holy Spirit show you where the rough and unpolished areas of your life are. Find true biblical accountability and have the hard conversations that will lead to solid growth – do not allow yourself to get by with the auspices of battling sin, all the while allowing sin to fester and rot the foundation of your ministry. Pray fervently for the Gospel to continue transforming you and your flock, for without it we are adrift and most of all to be pitied.

What is the purpose of Doctrine?

2009-08-26T00:27:00.005-05:00

The following is a short assignment for one of my theology classes in which I was to read all of 1 Timothy and briefly describe the nature and purpose of doctrine and theology.

"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine."
- Titus 2:1 -

Solid doctrine is not a myth or endless genealogies, and it doesn’t promote speculations or vain discussions (1:4,6; 4:7). Rather it is Truth (revealed, not obscured), that brings certainty, confidence, and faith; it is in accordance with the gospel (1:11). Sound doctrine comes only from God’s revelation in Scripture, not from man’s obsessions and curiosities.

Sound doctrine also inspires a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith that are evidenced by love (1:5). Therefore it is beneficial and spurs to action; it is life - transforming, not stuffy, boring, or stale.

Solid doctrine is to be taught and commanded; it is the fuel for public reading, teaching, and exhortation (4:11,13). Therefore it is meant for the public ministry and leadership of the Church, not just debates in coffee houses and seminary classroom discussions.

Sound doctrine is in accordance with the words of Christ and does not puff up - it breeds humility as it conforms our lives to the gospel. It also does not promote controversy and quarrels - it silences the cravings for more/extra teaching, and it nourishes and sates the appetite with the gospel rather than tickling the ears with unfulfilling false teaching. It doesn’t produce envy - it brings humility and focuses the glory on God, not me. It should not breed dissension, but rather should unite Christ-followers around the gospel. With sound doctrine, there is no reason or opportunity for slander, evil suspicions, or friction in relationships - it produces love, humility, trust, unity, love, peace, and harmony (6:3-5).

Sound doctrine can be stained (or eclipsed by sin, clouding the world’s perception of the gospel), so it must be guarded and pursued to avoid swerving from the faith (6:14,20).

So my questions are thus:

- What is your reaction to doctrine? Is it boring? Is it something that fuels your ego and eclipses the gospel in your life?

- Does your love of sound doctrine flow from a deep, abiding love for Christ and the gospel resulting in a life of love and God’s greater glory, or is it a vehicle through which you steal glory from God and a crutch that you use to neglect your walk with Christ?

- Do doctrine and theology transform your life and help further your walk with Christ, or are they a source of friction (both with Christians and non-Christians), providing a stumbling block to the gospel?

Big Question Follow-Up

2009-07-09T15:34:00.008-05:00

Follow-up to Big Question #4:

So how exactly does a Reformed (Calvinist) person share the gospel using theologically precise language? How would it sound different than the typical Arminianist gospel presentation?

My answer is that a Reformed gospel presentation should not sound very different from an Arminianist one, because the basis and goal of the conversation is exactly the same. We are Christians appealing to non-Christians to become Christians based on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. While there are very distinct differences in Arminian and Reformed understandings of conversion and regeneration, a gospel presentation with a non-Christian is not the appropriate place to have such discussions. That is more of the 'meat and potatoes' which would choke a new believer who needs 'milk.' (1 Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:2)

[As a note of preface, what follows is in no way meant to make me look like the end-all, be-all of evangelism... I am simply sharing an approach that I have used that seems to grant me an audience and extended conversation with non-believers. I am not a skilled evangelist and am far from perfect in the way that I conduct myself during these conversations.]

Whenever I share the gospel with someone I am always very careful to take them through Scripture – not just spout off doctrine or opinions. I bring a Bible that I will give them (nice decent Bibles, not cheap ones... They’re an immensely important gift and I like to make sure that I honor them with a Bible I would use) and a list of the Scriptures that I will reference throughout our conversation, and I make sure to give them a CityView Church business card so they can visit if they’d like. I also take quick notes about who they are so that I can effectively guide the conversation and pray for them after we're done (I'll tell them that I'm writing down things that I'll be praying about for them so they don't get skittish).

Basically after we've talked about their spiritual beliefs or religious heritage, I ask the person in question if I could share what I believe. I have never had anyone turn me down on this. I then tell them (the words and depth depending on our previous conversation and their religious/spiritual background) that God created everything in the universe for a specific purpose. He created humans to honor and worship him, but we rebelled against God and tried to do things our own way. As a result, our connection with God was broken, and we have all sorts of problems in the world (hate, fear, greed, insecurity, etc.) because of our rejection of God and his subsequent wrath toward our disobedience. God, however, sent his Son Jesus to live a perfect life and teach us how to live (he is God in human form) and to absorb the punishment and wrath of God because of our sin. Jesus died on the cross in order to make it possible for us to be with and know God personally – he reconnects us with God, and if we trust that Jesus will save us and if we obey what Jesus told us to do we will be in heaven when we die, living with God for eternity. Then I talk about how faith is a gift from God, and that we cannot save ourselves with just living well – we must trust God to give us the Holy Spirit, made possible by the grace of Jesus’ death, according to the will of God the Father.

Along the way, I will sprinkle in the Scripture references from my cards (as well as others) and show the person where in the Bible I get the material I’m talking about.

The references (and brief descriptions) are:

- Romans 3:23 – we have all sinned against God

- Romans 6:23 – because of our sin we are spiritually dead

- Romans 5:8 – God loves us in spite of ourselves and sent Jesus to save us

- Isaiah 53:6 – God punished Jesus for our sins

- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – God sent Jesus to take away our sins and renew our relationship with God

- Ephesians 2:8-9 – we are saved by faith in Jesus and that faith is a gift from God

- Romans 10:9-10 – if you believe that Jesus died for your sins, give your life to him and follow him faithfully and you will be saved

At that point, the conversation has had many rabbit trails and we’ve had some good laughs and a few points of disagreement. I give them an opportunity to pray with me if they would like, I invite them to church, give them my contact information, and get theirs as well. I’ll also follow up and keep talking with them so they don’t drop off the map. I’ve seen first-hand the illustration of the parable of the sower (some receiving the news with joy and then falling away, some growing and bearing fruit, and some completely rejecting what I have to say - see Matthew 13).

In evangelism it’s important to realize that the average person who comes to faith in Jesus hears the gospel between 7 and 10 times before they make a decision... And you may be the third time in that line. It’s important that you build a relationship with the person rather than trying to check items off a to-do list. Teach them well and express yourself clearly, but remember that you’re building the kingdom and if you’re successful you may start a lifelong relationship with a new brother or sister in Christ. Keep the pressure off by keeping your conversation in perspective. One-conversation conversions are incredibly rare in today’s society... Just be patient and gracious with them. They will learn far more about Christianity from your actions and the way that you speak than from the words you say and the concepts you’re talking about.

Again, I didn't write this because I'm an evangelism guru... I'm just trying to answer questions and start conversations. That's about all I've got for now.

Big Questions - Day 5

2009-06-23T07:05:00.004-05:00

Question #5:

How much of our relationship with God is our responsibility? How does God's Spirit and our actions work together? When are we walking in the Spirit vs. flesh?

I’ve got to say that this is by far the toughest question for me. It is a deep, involved discussion on which Scripture is not explicitly clear. I can tell you that if we are saved in Christ then we are not under God’s wrath, but under his mercy as his children. His grace covers our sin (and we do most definitely sin), and he does indeed discipline us when we disobey.

At this point, I cannot offer you a 100% definitive answer, but I will do my best to tell you what Scripture says to this effect, and offer my best shot at an opinion. I do know that God has begun a good work in me, and will perfect it (Philippians 1:6). Our sanctification began by the regenerating work of the spirit, and cannot be perfected by our own efforts in the flesh (Galatians 3:3). So for sure, God is the one who drives our sanctification. However, we are still responsible for our actions, otherwise there would be no commands to obey God’s commands, consider ourselves dead to sin, and to stop sinning (Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 2, 10; Galatians 5; Ephesians 4, etc.).

See, there is this tension in Scripture that we find throughout Paul’s letters… there’s a sense of Christians already having the perfecting power of the Holy Spirit inside of us, but we are not yet perfected – that will only be when we are in heaven for eternity. It’s called the ‘already/not-yet’ paradox, and there have been many books written about it as well as the interaction between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.

The best thing that I can tell you from this point on is to fall on your face before the sovereignty of God and pour your heart into your relationship with him. Pray constantly that he will continue to drive your sanctification and trust that the Holy Spirit (God himself) is enough to help you as you live your life.

As far as knowing when you’re walking by the Spirit as opposed to gratifying your flesh, read the Scriptures and figure out what God’s heart is and where your convictions lie. Also, find a solid church that can teach you and sharpen your walk with the Lord, and get plugged in with a group of people who love you and who you will let speak into your life with authority, and hold each other accountable. Trust that God will convict you of sin, pray that he would open your eyes to it, and lean on the grace of Christ when (not if) you find it in your life. That, as far as I can tell, is how we can humbly work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

As a final reference, I would encourage you to read Romans 6-8 (especially 8:1-17).

Big Questions - Day 4

2009-06-22T15:33:00.004-05:00

Question #4:

What message of Good News are we supposed to bring to people in light of God's Sovereignty? Do we tell people that aren't Christians yet that it is in fact God's choice whether they will be saved or not? What would this message sound like?

I think a lot of people in the Reformed camp are confused about this, and don’t really know how their theology should practically work itself out in their lives. The best thing I can say to you on this question is that you shouldn’t let your theology get in the way of clear commands from Scripture. While it is very true that God is the one who brings souls to himself, he is also clear in commanding us to go and share the gospel with nonbelievers. Even though we don’t know who will respond in faith and be saved, God does – which lets us share the gospel confidently, knowing that God will ultimately act for his glory, whether the person we’re talking with comes to faith or not. It is simply not in our hands. It is not our job to predestine, but it is our job to obey our Lord Jesus and follow the commands he has set for us (Matthew 28:18-20).

So in a sense, the message would sound no different. We are to call people to repentance and a saving faith in Christ, and then the process of discipleship should kick into high gear. When we proclaim the gospel, only those whom the Holy Spirit has already started working in will respond – those who are still dead in their trespasses and cold toward the gospel will merely shrug it off and go on about their business.

I think another misconception about Reformed theology and gospel presentations (especially trips to other nations) has to do with us ‘bringing the gospel’ to that place. We don’t ‘bring the gospel’ with us… God is already at work in that place, beginning to stir in people’s hearts to bring them to repentance and saving faith. The gospel working and bearing fruit doesn’t depend on our presence, and it doesn’t depend on our ingenuity or our well-articulated phrasing of biblical truth. Rather, it rests in the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, and we as the ones who are there sharing the gospel are just spectators and get the incredible opportunity to see God’s hand at work saving people. Going on ‘mission trips’ is more about obeying God’s call and getting to see God at work rather than ‘taking the gospel’ somewhere because ‘if we don’t, they won’t hear the gospel and none of them will be saved’.

A while back I heard someone that I greatly respect say that we should ‘believe like a Calvinist, and act like an Arminianist.’ By that he meant that we should trust God to bring souls to himself, but we should also co-labor with God to bring them to faith in Christ. We as humans with a limited perspective do not know who will be saved – we can only know who true Christians are by their fruit and works (James 2:14-26; Galatians 5:16-26; Matthew 7:15-20, 13:1-9, 18-23). That should take the pressure off of us when we share the gospel and realize that there’s nothing that we can do to screw up God’s plan to bring someone to salvation, and on the flip side of that coin there’s also no amount of creativity or attractive speech that will bring someone to genuine repentant saving faith if they are lost and the Holy Spirit is not working in them.

Big Questions - Day 3

2009-06-21T14:32:00.006-05:00

Question #3:

Since God is sovereign and He does choose some people to be saved and others to go to hell, does he hate those he doesn't choose to be saved?

The short answer to this question is yes - BUT with a large footnote for clarification and explanation. God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in faithful covenant love, and forgiving of all kinds of sin (Exodus 34:6-7). However, God is also holy and must punish sin if he is indeed a righteous and just God (Exodus 34:7). For example, would a state or federal judge be just if he acquitted a guilty criminal and dropped all of his charges without any form of retribution or punishment for the offense? Absolutely not. It’s the same way with God – he is infinitely holy, so our sin is infinitely offensive to him; therefore if he is just he must punish sin in keeping with his holiness. This is why the Old Testament has the sacrificial system (in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), the prophets proclaiming judgment on disobedient nations (Jeremiah, Nahum, Obadiah, Malachi, etc.), and ultimately why God sent Jesus to suffer and die on our behalf, that we might become children of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God hates sin and exercises his wrath toward and upon it (Romans 1:18-32 – especially verses 18, 24, 26, and 28). He also tells us through Paul in his letter to the Romans (3:23, 5:12) and through the prophet Isaiah (53:6) that we are all sinners and deserve to go to hell. But God, being rich in his mercy has chosen some to be examples of his grace to live for his glory (Romans 3:24, 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-10) and through his infinite wisdom has chosen some to be vessels of his wrath (Romans 9:13-23). For those elect, God punished Jesus so that he would be just in rightfully punishing our sin, but also so that he would be the one who justifies us by presenting Jesus as the one who takes that punishment (Romans 3:25-26).

So yes, God does hate sin, and he punishes all sin because he is a just and holy God. However, those whom He has chosen have the precious blood of Christ protecting them from God’s wrath, whereas those who do not know Jesus as their savior are left to endure the consequences of their sin and will ultimately face eternal judgment in hell. This is not a pleasant discussion, and it is not easy to see God as the righteous judge of the universe, but I believe that this is the picture that God's revelation of himself (the Bible) paints of who he is. This is also why it is immensely important to trust and follow Jesus, for he and he alone is the one who can truly take our sins away and guarantee our favor with God by his perfect sacrifice on the cross.

Big Questions - Day 2

2009-06-20T11:26:00.005-05:00

Question #2:

How do you stay focused on God's glory?

My goodness… this one could easily fill a book. Actually, now that I think of it, John Piper has written a great book on this subject called “Desiring God”… I highly encourage you to read it and plod through it. It’s a great read, but it is thick and deep – so pack a lunch and some Advil.

In a nutshell, we stay focused on God’s glory by understanding who he is in relation to us – in other words, we’ve got to have the right perspective. God is uncreated; we are created. God is infinite, omniscient, and holy; we are finite, limited in our thinking, and sinful. So, knowing that God is much grander than we will ever be means that we honor him as the most glorious being that ever will be.

Now, that’s not to say that I don’t get sidetracked and follow after less glorious things (the ‘created things’ from Romans 1) and spend my time and affections following after things that don’t deserve what only God deserves. Staying on track, then, takes diligence, discipline, and God’s grace. The Christian life isn’t always peachy – it’s tough being a sinner, dealing with sinfulness and other sinners. But, if we keep our eyes on heaven and have an eternal perspective (not a temporal earthly one), then we will stay devoted to prayer, knowing and studying Scripure, and following what God has willed for our lives. The Holy Spirit is instrumental in this, as Jesus calls him the ‘helper’ (see John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7; Romans 8:15, 23, 26-30). Also, the community of believers is a huge help that God has given us a bunch of folks to run with, to live with, to worship with, to encourage us, to challenge us, to help teach and lead us, and to battle in the trenches with us.

The last thing that I can say to you on this is to keep the faith and study the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. The men who were entrusted with the talents (large units of money back then) were told to spend them wisely for their master’s glory. The ones who were faithful and wise stewards were praised, given more, and allowed into their master’s joy (heaven). But the one who was not diligent and neglected what his master entrusted him with was cast into the darkness (hell). Stay faithful, not out of fear of God’s judgment, but rather out of joy because God has enabled you to be faithful, and gives us grace and merciful discipline when we are not.

Big Questions - Day 1

2009-06-19T10:07:00.008-05:00

Recently, an acquaintance of mine sent me a list of really good, tough questions about Christianity and Reformed theology. I have decided to post the questions and my answers to them here over the next five days (1 question per day) in hopes that it may help someone else, or at the very least get a good discussion going. Please feel free to throw your comments out there, add some more Scripture, or offer counterpoints.

Question # 1:

What does it look like to have a daily relationship with God that is not going through the motions? The other day our pastor said that he didn't think you had to have a quiet time to spend time with God, you could just hang out with God during the day. That sounds great, but how do you do that in practical terms?

I would guess that the majority of Christians know neither what this means nor looks like. So, being prideful enough to venture an answer, I’ll give it my best shot. The first thing that goes into having a daily relationship with God is to realize that we’re never outside of his sight or presence. That means that God is always with us, no matter whether we’re singing worship songs in church or cussing out bad drivers in our car.

Use the analogy of human relationships to consider the elements of your relationship with God. We communicate, we spend time with, we think about, and we act toward other people that we are in various relationships with. For example, if you are acquainted with someone, you will say hi and acknowledge their presence, and might meet up with them every once in a while for a special occasion (like a birthday or game night). But if you truly love someone, you will talk with them regularly, you will spend time thinking about them and want their desires to be fulfilled, and you’ll work toward that end with your actions, words, and thoughts. This is the same way with God. If we only know who he is, nothing in our life will drastically change at all. We will acknowledge him when we see a miracle or a spiritual thing on TV, and we will meet up with him every few Sundays, especially Easter and Christmas. But if we truly love him, it will show in how we treat others, in how often we talk with him (prayer), how much we think about and consider what he thinks about everything (ethical issues, morality, etc.), how often we read his revelation to us (the Bible), and how much his presence affects our lives (are we being sanctified on a daily basis, or are we limping along in our spiritual development, hoping we’re doing the right things?).

While it is insufficient and breaks down after a while, human relationships serve as a decent analogy for our daily walk with God. So when your pastor said that we don’t necessarily have to have a 20 to 60 minute block of time where we read the Bible and journal our thoughts (the proverbial ‘quiet time’), he meant that our daily relationship with God isn’t determined by how many pages of a journal we’ve filled or how many times we’ve read through the Bible. Rather it’s how deep a spiritual intimacy we have with the Lord (how well we know him and how well he knows us), and how much of an impact God is having on our daily lives (our progressive sanctification).

Singles Ministry Scorecard

2009-06-02T15:26:00.007-05:00

I recently came across a particularly satirical Christian blog and thought this post was especially funny... and it hit a little close to home. Below are my comments, and I have included some 'excellent' singles ministry logos down at the bottom for good measure.

My Score: 28

My Personal Favorites Are:

#5 - never really figured out how to respond to this one

#6 - seriously... as a culture, let's stop saying this

#11 - this is the biggest enemy to my school work

#20 - i agree with the Scriptures, but it MIGHT have a different application in the 21st century...

#21 - this one made me laugh out loud in Starbucks

#29 - has happened to me a couple of times... true story.

#31 - always makes me smile when this happens

#34 - my personal favorite; just because i'm currently single and want to be a pastor doesn't mean that it's an open door to bring in random Bible trivia to 'try to make me feel better'... I don't want to be Paul, and you don't need to help me justify my singleness.

Changing Times...

2009-05-29T01:57:00.004-05:00

As the present now, will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

" The Times They Are A-Changin’ "
– Bob Dylan –

Things are always changing – in fact they never stay the same. The world is constantly in flux – changing governments, changing weather, changing life stages, deaths, births, etc. – and this is something that I’ve recently turned my thoughts and prayers to lately. Whether it’s weeping with a family over the loss of an unborn child, celebrating the closing chapter of another’s seminary career, seeing the preparations for several upcoming life-long marriage covenants, or seeing the dynamics of many friendships change, God has seen fit to remind of the truth behind Bob Dylan’s words ‘the present now will later be past’ as I struggle to make sense of this time in my life.

I guess I’m not so much struck by the fact that life changes, but rather how often and how much it changes. Because in a few months’ time, babies will be born that will change a family’s dynamic forever, people’s jobs will change, people will move to different cities, and the things that seem so important now will fade into a distant memory only to be replaced with new ambitions, desires, and longings. So I’m left with this tension of having temporary stresses, emotions, and situations, all the while knowing that in a few years’ time and a little more perspective, I will simply shake my head and smile at the drama and ‘turmoil’ that made up my mid-twenties.

Being a ‘type-A’ kind of guy, I like to attempt to exert some control over my life and I enjoy it when things are predictable and stable. But if I’m being honest, this is never really the case (and I hear it only gets worse after marriage and children). It’s a rare occurrence when I feel like everything is in its groove and I’m firing on all cylinders, and when that happens things are smooth and seemingly easy. But then something unexpected happens – a fender-bender that puts my Jeep in the shop, a change of plans that makes me rearrange my schoolwork for something ministry- and/or entertainment-related, or any one of the million things that can change at the drop of a hat.

Surely there is a season and a time for everything under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and I thank God that he makes everything beautiful in its time, because death, weeping, loss, and war hardly seem beautiful while we’re walking through them. But the beauty of trusting in God is that no matter what happens in this life, and no matter how hectic the schedules or how random the events, I know that God is ultimately working for my good and for his glory (Romans 8:28, 31). The same God who upholds the world by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3) also knows the number of hairs on my head (Luke 12:7), so my ‘type-A’-ness can rest easy and worship in all circumstances because I know that God has dealt bountifully with me (Psalms 13:6 and 116:7) through the grace that comes by faith in Christ. Thank God that his sovereignty is so comforting because without it I would be a nervous, neurotic, depression-prone bitter cynic… well, even more than I already am.

I hope that these rambling musings made sense. If they seem jumbled it’s because they’re that way in my head, and I’m praying for the wisdom and perspective to sort them out… or at least the patience and faith to trust God and lean not on my own understanding.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
– Isaiah 55:8-9 –

Acting

2009-05-14T10:51:00.005-05:00

"Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

- Romans 12:2

I remember this time I took a theater class when I was in high school. I’m not really a theater-artsy kind of guy, so it was a challenge to get into character… I didn’t know how to act at all. I remember how frustrated I was with the whole ordeal. I had the right outfit with the right props and I had the lines memorized but my performance was still crap. Somewhere along the way I had missed something crucial to the performance process. So I stayed after class to talk with my teacher, and she gave me some great advice: I had to put myself in the mindset of the character… get to know the character I was playing and then mold my viewpoints to fit that person before my performance would be believable. If I didn’t make that change in my mind, my role would conform to my personality rather than come off the way it was meant to be played. She told me it wasn’t just about the props or the wardrobe, or even the lines… acting wasn’t about representing someone else’s character on stage, it was actually being that character, and that started on the inside.

So that memory got me thinking… aren’t we Christians like that? It seems as if we’ve got the lines memorized (“I’m good, how are you? How can I be praying for you?”), we have the right clothes for church and our Christian camp t-shirts for class, and we even have the coolest props around (iPods with sermons and acoustic praise music, worn-looking Bibles and trendy journals).

The problem is, the performance isn’t real unless we have the character of Christ on the inside. And if we appear to do everything right on the outside but inwardly we’re not living it out, Jesus calls us whitewashed tombs. Our role as Christians won’t resemble Christ, but will rather conform to our own fallen flesh. If we are trying to deal with sin but aren’t dwelling in the victory that we have in Jesus, then we’re trying to tackle a monumental spiritual problem with just our discipline, reliability, and faithfulness. That leaves us shorthanded and outmatched with no reinforcements… pretty much a strategic nightmare.

However, if the mind is renewed and if we are transformed in light of that, then we live in the purity that Christ purchased in His death on the cross as well as the victory that He accomplished at His resurrection. And when we base our lives (or ‘performance’ as it were) on our Lord Jesus, then He gets the glory and He saves the day. It then rests on His perfect will, not our imperfect one. Our outward character will begin resembling our renewed inward soul as the glorious grace of Christ moves from inside out.

What I’ve found in my short time on this planet is that God is the only one who can change hearts. I’ve tried it without Him, and it just flat doesn’t work.

Another thing that I’ve found… when God begins this renewing and molding process, we begin conforming to the image of Christ and start thinking like Him, walking like Him, talking like Him, and acting like Him. We start memorizing our lines (of Scripture), and we begin really playing our part in the Kingdom.

Fig Trees and God's Sovereignty

2009-05-06T12:56:00.004-05:00

The following was written in August 2007...

Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

God is sovereign even if He does not give us money, food, cars, a spouse, etc. Though we toil through life and experience hardship along with providence, God is still our hope and strength, for who have we in Heaven but Him (Psalm 73:25)? We must throw ourselves on His mercy and expect the Almighty, the One with the highest wisdom to bring about His glory and the best things for us, regardless whether they make us sting or sing, or whether they bring pain or bring joy. Our reliance on God cannot and must not rely on His providing everything that we want, for if we ask God to provide for everything we want, we automatically assume that we know what is best, and that our finite knowledge and experience of a few decades is loftier than the wisdom of the Creator of both life and time.

Though the sweetness of this earth has evaded us (“the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines”), we must trust in the sweetness of God. His Word is ‘like honey on our lips’ (to steal a line from a worship song), and His wisdom is like honey to our souls. Though the prosperity of life hides itself from us (the olive crop fails), and we yearn for food (both spiritually and physically), we must trust that God has a plan, a purpose, an awe-inspiring plot behind the scenes that we are only beginning to awaken to. As in the book of Job (1:16-17), though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, we must fall on our faces and worship God for who He is, whether that be with anointing oil running down our faces, or whether we sit with shaved head in the midst of ashes wearing torn clothes.

On a more personal note, we must be supremely satisfied to know the Bridegroom and to attend their wedding feast. Our joy must be found full and complete in hearing the Bridegroom’s voice (John 3:29-31), though there is no mention of our own bride on this planet. John 3:27 says that man cannot receive anything unless it’s been given him from heaven. This includes our measure of faith (Ephesians 2:8), the grace that comes from it, and any other Gift (1 Corinthians 12) or Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) that we experience in our days under the sun. Marriage is a gift, a responsibility, a dedication, a commitment, and a wondrous delight, but it need not distract us from the surpassing greatness of God, His Son Jesus, or the pursuit of His glory on this earth at the behest of the Holy Spirit.

God is our strength. To deny such is to deny belief in Him at all, which is a dangerous proposition at the very least. To forsake the rod and staff of God, to deny the authority of His law is to throw off the wonderfully secure blanket, to shred His hedge of protection, and to dismantle His fortress of defense in our lives brick by brick. He makes our feet like the deer and allows us to walk in high places. He allows us to transcend this world’s thorns and thistles, to scale the heights as only those who are pure in heart can (Psalm 15). Therefore we submit to His authority, His will for our lives and put our concerns fully in His hands, casting our anxieties at His wonderful feet, and though we may cry tears of pain or joy, we are fully confident that they are falling on the feet of our Savior, our Protector, our Potter and Creator.

Geese and Confession

2009-05-02T18:46:00.005-05:00

I was watching this show on the Discovery Channel and I observed something that made me immediately sit back and think.

The show had a few men and women testing and foot-tagging Canadian geese for some kind of scientific data endeavor. They had helicopters hovering overhead so the geese would feel intimidated and not fly off, and then they built a corral of sorts to herd the geese into. After all of this goose wrangling, they picked out the geese one-by-one and put the foot tag on, swabbing them to see if they had bird flu, and doing a few other things. Once the workers were finished with this alien-abduction-like process, the geese were free to go. But the birds wouldn’t run off or fly away – even after the helicopter had gone and the restrictions on their wings were removed. The former goose captives, even though they were free to go, would huddle back up with the rest of the gaggle… back inside the corral. They chose a communal prison rather than the temporary isolation of freedom (the birds always find each other in the wild fairly quickly).

As I thought about this, I wondered to myself whether we Christians aren’t the same way sometimes. After being convicted of sin and asking God for forgiveness, rather than escaping into the newness of life and the freedom that ensues confession and openness (as James 5:16 tells us), we huddle back up with the other captives and hurry on as if nothing has changed. We’re back in captivity with the rest of the evangelical gaggle. No observable repentance, no discernible victory, no lasting change… sanctification grinds to a halt. But what if we were, like Nate Larkin - the author of “Samson and the Pirate Monks” - to be mature enough and confident enough in our God and His Son Christ Jesus that we could and would confess our sins to each other and experience the healing within the safe confines of true Christian unity. In “Samson,” Nate tells his gritty story of addiction, adultery, pain, and long agonizing despair in sin. But he also tells of the victory that is found in godly repentance, spirit-led confession, and the true victory that walking in the light brings. It is one of the few books that addresses sin as it truly is, and warns of the danger of keeping secret sin from the potentially helpful awareness of true brothers and sisters in the faith.

I think it took this one crazy goose who went off into the freedom of open confession and the joy in victorious living for me to see that the way to holiness and continuing sanctification is by weeping at the foot of the cross, but not alone in my room at night before I sleep… rather in the sight of trusted believers. And I’ve found two really cool things… First, I’ve seen that it hasn’t necessarily made my struggles easier, but it’s made my walk more comfortable because I know that I don’t have to be the hero. I don’t have to be the Christian Superman who has it all down. Second, I’ve realized that there are a lot of solid, mature believers out living in the openness of true confession and repentance. The community is real, the brotherhood authentic, the relationships wholesome and fulfilling. The rest of the evangelical geese back in the communal captivity of the religious corral have some semblance of community, but it’s all based on a common fear – that their armor might be seen as rusty or that it might have a weak spot or two. But I’ve found that the true community is found in patching each other’s armor and grinding the rust off each other’s blade.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” – James 5:16

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” – Romans 13:12

Praying Through the Beatitudes

2009-04-29T23:50:00.009-05:00

The following is a series of prayers in preparation for my trip to Niger in September '08, along with a few pics from the trip...

PRAYING THROUGH THE BEATITUDES
(Matthew 5:3-12)

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…

Jesus, help me to know this Scripture intimately while I am in Niger. Let this verse be on my mind and my heart as I observe, interact, and pray for those who don’t know the pride that excess and luxury bring.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…

God let me be a comforting hand and voice to those who are hurting and emotionally downtrodden. Let me mourn with them, and let my joy, jokes, happiness, and sarcasm not be an offense to them. I pray that I see that they are truly blessed, and that I have plenty to mourn over in my own life.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth…

Oh sweet King, may I be meek! I pray you kill my pride and quiet my to ngue from wicked speech and my mind from wicked egotistical, ethnocentric thoughts. Let me be meek, let me be humble as you were. Let me not bring shame upon your name through overbearing, controlling, self-concern. And let those who are kind, humble, and meek be exalted in your Kingdom. Soften hearts, prepare the soil of mind and soul as we prepare for this trip. I pray you raise up a quiver of sons and daughters from this trip with which to share your glorious graceful bounty of inheritance.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied…

Jesus, I have known what it is to hunger and thirst for righteousness… I do now, and I know I will in the future, according to your sovereign will. We all groan with longings for your grace and mercy to fall on us… but would you satisfy? Will you show us and those that we will meet that there is satisfaction in you and you alone? I know you are drawing people to you, and that they long to be redeemed, sanctified, and sons in your kingdom. Will you answer that longing? Will you satisfy?

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy…

God, let our hosts be merciful to us and give us grace as we adjust to their culture, habits, and lifestyle. Let us be merciful as we go about your work in Niger. And God have mercy on us… let that be the fuel that drives our interactions with these people that we’ll be visiting. Let your grace and mercy pour outward from us as we work, tell stories, have meetings, and everything else that we’ll do. And let us not forget the mercy that has been extended us from the cross.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God…

Jesus may I be pure in heart! And let those who travel with me have purity in motives, vision, and purpose as we try to lay a foundation for ministry and evangelism in Niger. Let us see those whom you have purified, and let us encourage and challenge them to know you more deeply. And Christ let us see you at work here in us, there in the culture, and let us see you in Heaven. I pray we hear a ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ and enter into your rest. Let us be pure in heart and let us see you.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God…

Will you raise up men of peace in the villages we plan to visit? Let there be peacemakers that extend a hospitable hand and an open heart to us as we travel. I ask that you bring them to yourself and well up your Spirit in them and let them be drawn into your fold. Let them be called sons of God. And I pray that I bring peace rather than enmity, love rather than hatred. I pray I understand what you have given on my behalf that I can be known as a son of yours. Thank you for who you are and what you’ve given. I pray I keep that at the front of my mind as I travel.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness; sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…

These are tough words and tough prayers, but Jesus if we are persecuted, let us be persecuted for your sake. I pray this trip goes smoothly and that there are no complications, but if it is your will that we be beaten, imprisoned, killed, or otherwise persecuted, that it is on account of our faith in you, not skin color, nationality, actions, etc. And Jesus, please encourage and sustain those who are being persecuted for their faith in you. Let them not turn aside and denounce you, but rather withstand any opposition that you see fit to put in their path. And have mercy on those who persecute them… whether they know not what they do or whether they do it in full understanding… have mercy and give grace. Let them know who you are and bring them to yourself.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for you reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Let me be gracious and humble if I must face this temptation to slander and be bitter in return. Let my passion for truth not supercede my passion for you, and let me know your peace and life-giving grace even when I’m ridiculed and insulted. My spiritual heritage isn’t the most comfortable, and it’s not the well-trodden path of the world… rather it’s the narrow, steep-sided path that winds its way to the gates of heaven. Let me guard my steps carefully, and let me withstand whatever reviling that may be in store for us. I love you Jesus. Give your servant grace that is undeserved and that washes clean my sins.

Future Past

2009-04-27T16:22:00.004-05:00

The following post was a short thought written to myself on 10.5.08. As I've revisited it, I've been driven to meditate on God's grace in a more realized way. I hope that you find encouragement in it, and that Paul's words and God's mercies impact you in some way - be it new or different.

Future Past

I think what I may need to begin understanding life and living it well (or at least better) is a redeemed perspective. Always before I’ve carried around this burden of my past – memories, experiences, guilt, pride, etc. This has played a large part in how I view the present, and also shapes how I view the future (I don’t want to repeat past mistakes, and think that the ‘good old days’ are the best that it can get). So I think I need to take a page out of Paul’s letter to the Philippians… ‘forgetting what lies behind…’ I need to learn from the past, to be sure… but it can’t dictate me and control how I perceive things. I must see the hand of God working in and among my life’s events, and trust that He knows that my path is straight, regardless how many roadblocks, potholes, and seemingly dead-ends there are. To live with joy, I think begins with redeeming the past and looking at the present as a ‘future past’… that is, to see that someday I’ll be looking back on this time and realize I missed opportunities, took chances, made good decisions, or screwed stuff up. It takes on a more heavenly view of things, rather than focusing on the mundane vanities under this sun.

If all goes well in this department, it seems as though the future will take a backseat for the time being, and in so doing will free me up to dream, respond to God in faithful obedience, and not be so anchored by the doubt, insecurity, and pride that has shackled me to the old man that I was. I look forward to what God may or may not teach me through this. I’m just along for the ride at this point.

Home

2009-04-25T18:27:00.005-05:00

Another older writing from November 16, 2008...

"Home"
– Shawn McDonald –

I've seen enough to say that I know
That this old world is not my home
From lustful eyes and tainted lies, pride to hide the way that I
The way that I feel inside

I am ready to go home
I'm packing my bags and I'm hitting the road
I am ready to go home
I'm packing my bags and I'm hitting the road

I'm packing my bags and I'm hitting the road
Yes, I'm gonna run, I'm gonna run for my home
To stand in the sight of the Living God
That's where I'm longing to be

“But out citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”
– Philippians 3:20

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:12

I’ve found during my 24 years on this earth that there is a hunger in my soul that longs for peace, comfort, and true happiness. From time to time I catch glimpses of what I’m looking for – like an image shimmering on the surface of water. A long dinner with close friends, a strong cup of coffee by a roaring fire in a log cabin, a mural of stars across a black African sky – they all echo a serenity that transcends this reality and moves my mind to dwell on things heavenly. But it is only an echo. It is not Home.

I long to be with my Creator. I long to drop the confusion, the loneliness, the sadness, and the vanity under this sun. I look forward to the freedom, the joy, the heavenly community that awaits my last breath.

There are good times, wonderful memories, and precious blessings under this sun, but they pale in comparison to my wildest ruminations. In the end, this world is fleeting, but it is my dwelling place for now – like a small tent on a camping trip. And though there are proverbial rocks under my sleeping bag, I’ll do my best to take some good pictures of this trip in hopes that my friends and I will be able to share stories one day.

Raising the Dead

2009-04-23T19:51:00.003-05:00

The following is something that I wrote a while back (12.1.08 to be precise), and I figured I'd post it here just to get things started...

Raising the Dead...

I think one of the more profound things I’ve heard recently is actually a very simple truth. That is, God not only heals lepers and restores sight, but He raises the dead. This is where hope is to truly be found.

For so long – most of my life, actually – I have been listening for Jesus to say “Go and wash your eyes in the Pool of Siloam” (cf. John 9). I believed that my own sin, sadness, melancholy attitude, etc. were the result of genetics, upbringing, generational sin, or just my own fallen nature. I failed to realize that God made me who I am so that His good works might be manifested in me. Now that in no way makes God responsible for my sin – He only gave me my personality and knit me together… the sin is my own, the full flowering of my depravity.

So I have been looking for the scratch for my itch – a wife for my intimacy desires, a Christ-centered community for my loneliness, a sweet gig for my greed… the list goes on. And I’ve been listening for God to tell me, “Hey, I fixed this… all you have to do is go ‘wash yourself off’ and you’ll see that it’s been taken care of.” But this is woefully inadequate when it comes to truly dealing with the roots of sin, and it can’t be heard because God’s not saying it. My God is holy… and not the awesome vaulted-ceiling-cathedral kind of holy, but really holy. Like touch-the-Ark-of-the-Covenant-and-you’re-toast holy. Your-goat-touches-the-foot-of-the-mountain-that-God-has-enveloped-in-a-cloud-of-His-glory and it’s game over for him… that kind of holy. And I’m sinful. But not in the “I got frustrated at work” kind of sinful… I mean I’m the rebellious, prideful, self-aggrandizing seminary junkie expecting the world to cater to my needs sinful.

So I can’t downplay my sin and trivialize God’s holiness – I must accept them both at full-strength, like a stiff shot of whisky or a black cup of coffee. And this means that dealing with it isn’t just a cleanliness issue, it’s a death issue. I’m not just a kid with a dirty diaper, I’m a corpse in the morgue.

There’s no spit-shine miracle mud that can peel away the layers of prideful self-pity and the heart calloused by lust and lies. No, it takes more. It takes a miracle like making dead man live again. I’ve tried taking showers, and I’ve tried the various approaches to making amends with or accepting my junk… but none of them work. If I am to be free from the chains of my sin, I must die… be slain… expire… exhale that stirring death rattle. I must see myself as a flat-lined dead body in terms of sin. And not only that, but I must see that the same breath of life that was breathed into Adam has flooded into my lungs by the death, burial and resurrection of the Second Adam (see Romans 5), and the same Spirit that resurrected Christ in the tomb is at work in my heart. I must not only die to sin, but live, breathe, and walk by the Spirit.

I think this is the heart behind Romans 5-8 and Galatians 5… that we are dead to sin and alive in Christ. We must consider ourselves as cold decaying corpses to the wicked pursuits of the flesh, and vibrant, alive and joyfully responsive/submissive to the Spirit if we are to see victory, peace, and joy this side of heaven. Satan’s fate is sealed – death and hell await him. But our King Jesus is alive and well, sitting on his throne - or atop his white horse (Revelation 19:11ff), whichever suits your fancy.

Obligatory First Post: The Inaugural

2009-04-23T15:43:00.003-05:00

And so it begins…

First off, this blog will (hopefully) be my humble attempt at sharing thoughts and keeping a record of the goings-on in my life for my close friends, random acquaintances, and anyone else who would care to give me the time of day. Among other things, it will most likely contain thoughts on Scripture, books, music, humor, and anything else that strikes a chord in my mind.

As a word of self-introduction, my name is Nathan Johnson and I’m currently a 25 year-old seminary student who grew up in a decent-sized town in west Texas. The most incredible life-changing thing that’s ever happened to me occurred while I was still in elementary school… God worked in my life and, despite myself, gave me the faith - by His grace - to surrender my life to His will. I was baptized several years later as a senior in high school, which is when my true passion for Scripture and a life devoted to following Christ began. After graduating from high school I made my way down to College Station to attend Texas A&M University where I spent some of the most memorable and formative years of my life. I majored in Psychology and tacked on a History minor before graduating in May '06 and making the move to Fort Worth to follow my calling into ministry. I am now at the tail-end of my seminary experience, and am excited to see what doors God will open and where He will lead me. I pray that at some point I will get the awesome responsibility and blessing of being a husband and father (in that order), and at some point use my gifts to both serve and edify the Church as a pastor, teacher, disciple-maker, and leader.

I do know that God will never leave me or forsake me, and that whatever happens to or around me – be it good or bad – will be for my good and His glory. It is in that hope and promise that I have put my faith. God has seen fit to give me a unique set of gifts to worship and glorify Him, and I pray that through them I bring Him honor and not shame.

Beyond that, I thoroughly enjoy reading, writing, long conversations over cups of coffee, traveling, steaks, hunting and fishing at my family’s ranch, cold weather, snowy mountains, deep Scriptures, and good theology (I’ve also been known to dabble in photography and guitar playing, but I’m an amateur at best in both fields).

I would appreciate any input that you would care to voice on anything that I post... feel free to say whatever is on your mind and we’ll get a discussion going.

The last thing that I would leave you with on this first post is a quote from one of my personal heroes, Martin Luther: “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”