I posted this over a year ago, but thought it good to mull over again, especially in light of recently going through Romans 14 in church.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I always listen/read with great interest when the topic of entertainment is discussed as it pertains to its appropriateness for Christians.  It usually begins with a discussion of whether or not a certain book or movie is okay for Christians to watch/read.  Some say that fiction is just that - fiction, and therefore shouldn’t be regarded as a big, scary enemy.  Others say that Christians must carefully guard what they see/hear and only allow what is good and pure.  (Phil 4:8)

Both sides have their points, and the discussion heats up.  Liberty is pitted against high standards.  Yes, we have freedom, and as long as we aren’t sinning, we are free to choose certain things. And yes, we are to feed on that which is good, so that we are growing.

There are usually cautions on both sides, since it is true that forever indulging in the freedoms we have can lead to a spiritual lukewarmness, and yet insisting on the opposite is not acknowledging the inevitable inconsistency in our own life.

I’m not sure how accurately Phil 4:8 is used.  I do know that Jesus saw and heard many, many things that were not pure and lovely when he was partying with the sinners.  Or even dining and talking with them.  Being Godly doesn’t mean removing ourselves from the culture around us.  And yet If we were honest about the context in which Phil 4:8 is usually heralded, then for some, watching the Food Network would be in direct violation of that verse.  The fact is, there are some things we should rightly avoid!

How, then, do we decide on whether or not we ourselves should enjoy a certain object of entertaining media?  I think the right questions to ask ourselves is not whether the media itself is evil or not, but should be regarding our purpose, maturity and response.

Are we viewing what we come in contact with through the correct lens?  Are we in prayer and the Word enough that we are able to discern what is being thrown at us?  Are we capable of enjoying the entertainment value without stumbling, or is it causing us to feed our flesh?

It isn’t necessary to be afraid of everything, seeing a devil around every corner.  We don’t need to fear culture.  We should recognize it, learn it, and use it.

And then someone always, always, has to say something to the effect of “Well I don’t enjoy x, y, or z and never have, and I don’t see how anyone could!”

And that’s where my head falls in my hands, as I sadly realize that once again we miss the point.

The problem with saying such a thing is that, in essence, one is saying that they themselves are the standard to which everyone else must measure up.

And that is not only a scary view, it is hideously wrong.

Tags: Christianity, presuppositions, worldview

It’s the fourth day in this It’s not about me series.

If you’ve been journeying along with me, first we pondered how our focus affects our response, then how our focus affects our daily and family life, then how our focus affects our spiritual life.

I’ve felt the need for some pruning and repenting.  How about you?  But we’re not done yet.

Focus also affects how I view and handle money.  There have been times when worry kept me awake at nights.  There are also times of surplus.  But in both cases, I am called to be generous and wise.  Whether I have much or not enough, am I a wise steward?

Do I view money as a right?  Do I hold it with an open hand, or with selfishness?

Do I give to others ungrudgingly, even when it’s difficult?  Am I a stingy giver, or a lavish giver?  Do I give only to those whom I think deserve it?  Do I give to others regularly, or only when I think I can afford it?

What are my spending habits like?  Do I tend to think I always need a little treat?  Do I stick to a budget, or do I just hope it all comes out even in the end? Do I usually leave a store with way more than I intended purchasing?

How do I view debt?  Is it no big deal, a necessary evil, or something to be avoided at all costs?

Do I save?  Am I mindful of tomorrow’s needs?

Do I resent those who give less?  Do I judge those who continually struggle financially? Do I find ways to help or advise them, or do I avoid them?

Do I resent those who have more money than me?  Am I jealous of those who don’t have to scrimp?  Do I expect others to continually assist me financially?

Tags: spirituality, worldview

This is the third part to the It’s not about me series.  Monday was about focus and response, and yesterday was how my focus affects daily and family life.

My focus also affects my spiritual life.

I want to first point out that unlike other religions or philosophies, Christianity truly embodies the It’s not about me concept.  The core of Christianity isn’t about bettering oneself or obtaining favor.  It’s about the glory of God.

The work is finished in Christ’s atonement, and if our life has any purpose at all it’s as a sacrifice poured out, living for God and for others.

Much of my spiritual health is based on that understanding.

How do I read my Bible?  Is it only with “me” in mind; ie getting a morsel of daily encouragement for myself, or is it learning more about God?  Do I perform mental gymnastics or take verses out of context in attempts to always apply them to me and my situation (or even skip over the impersonal ones altogether) or do I seek to come to a greater understanding of who God is?  Do I view the Bible as an instruction manual or God’s written revelation of himself and his glory?

When bad things happen in my life, does it cause my faith to doubt or waiver?

How do I view the church?  Am I grateful for God’s people and seek to meet with some regularly?  Is my attendance based on whether or not I feel like it and don’t have too much other stuff going on?  Am I looking for what I get out of it, or seeing to serve and bless others?  I would say that my opinion on those who forsake the gathering of His people altogether is that they have forgotten it’s not about them.

How do I handle spiritual dry spells, inward struggles or sin?  Do I murmur and complain with no change, or is my hope and trust in Jesus’ victory?  Am I constantly asking for prayer and help, or am I looking for ways to also bless others?

Are the majority of my prayers mainly lists of requests or are they also outpourings of thankfulness and praise?

Tags: spirituality, worldview

Yesterday when I wrote about response to circumstances, I concluded that:

My response will be a result of where my focus is.

When my focus is ultimately on my self - my needs, my wants, my goals, my preferences, my hurts, my, my, my - I can be almost certain that I will respond negatively.

But when my focus is on something greater, when I live under the realization that there is a much larger picture, my response is able to be something beautiful.

I don’t have to wait for a tragedy to see what my response will be and know where my focus ultimately is.

What my focus is will manifest itself through my daily living.

How do I manage my time?  Am I using it wisely or am I prone to laziness?  Do I make time for needed things or am I inclined towards busyness?  Am I focused primarily on selfish pursuits?

How do I view children? Do I embrace them?  Am I resentful of how much of my time they take?  Do I enjoy spending time with them or am I eager to be away from them?  How do I parent?

What is my marriage like?  When my spouse makes a mistake, is in a bad mood or demonstrates a poor attitude, how do I respond?  How often do I consider their needs and put them before my own?

How do I view things like hobbies or entertaining activities?  Are they considered periodic enjoyments or do they make up the majority of my life?   Do I have to have them in order to be happy?

Some of my answers to these types of questions cause me to cringe a little.  Constant assessment and adjustment is needful, as my focus so easily gets off.

What I tend to emphasize, be it the blessings or hardships of life, is just an outworking of where my heart is.

Time, children, marriage, hobbies.. How I operate within them can either be an outpouring of my complete satisfaction in something greater than my self, or they can be endless grapplings of futility as I strive to fill up a gaping hole that knows no completion.

A heart preoccupied with “me” will rarely be filled with the kind of love that it really longs for, because it can’t see past “me”.  Because it’s really not about me.

Tags: spirituality, worldview

Human response fascinates me.

How is it that some can respond in a beautiful, even self-sacrificial way amidst horrid circumstances while some constantly struggle or practice bitterness even in decent circumstance?

We’ve all heard stories of admirable people who continued to express thankfulness and give to others if they could, even while they themselves suffered in a concentration camp or languished in a prison cell.

There have been times that I have risen above arduous circumstances, and other occasions when even the daily grind seemed too heavy to bear.  What was it that made the difference?

When battles, hardships, sickness or pain come, how can I have any confidence my response will be praiseworthy?

And what of my response to others’ affairs?  Am I able to rejoice in another’s good news, victories and talents?  Or am I prone to jealousy, questioning why I didn’t experience that, or irritated by the admiring attention and comments they receive?

I think the answer is fairly simple.

My response will be a result of where my focus is.

When my focus is ultimately on my self - my needs, my wants, my goals, my preferences, my hurts, my, my, my - I can be almost certain that I will respond negatively.

But when my focus is on something greater, when I live under the realization that there is a much larger picture, my response is able to be something beautiful.

Tags: spirituality, worldview

Sometimes I can’t help but think that it would be better for our children to be raised pagan, heathen un-churched sinners (as opposed to the religious, churched sinners), get saved later on in life, and then live out their days completely in love with Jesus.

Because, far too often, this is what happens instead…

Children who are raised in a Christian home are mainly taught morality and religion.

(Don’t do this.  Don’t do that.  And don’t even think about the other.)

So then most kids grow up obeying a set of arbitrary, biblically unsupported rules, singing songs about whales, attending church and all the church stuff, hanging out with fellow screwed up church kids, etc. etc. until they get old enough to where they have to think for themselves and life starts throwing them some big curve balls.

They usually respond in one of three ways.

1. They become legalistic morons, parroting the same (out-of-context) verses that they hated so much when they were younger, and end up fulfilling the stereotype that rejects anyone that isn’t exactly like they are.
2. They become just another fake church-goer playing pretendsies, who tithes and periodically warms a pew, and ends up filling the good little boy/girl role well on the outside while their real life is just as screwed up (if not more so) than everyone else’s.
3. They reject everything, scorning church and everyone in it, and end up seeking an alternate pseudo-spirituality or just living entirely for themselves.

And yet, I read a theme over and over in the Bible that says there is great blessing in growing up within the Lord’s teachings and ways.

I don’t want to teach my children a list of right and wrongs. I want their hearts to be gripped by the Gospel.

I want their lives to be fueled by the Spirit and transformed by the love of Jesus.  I want them to be completely enamored by the why’s and how’s of a Gospel-centered life.

But how?  My life is not perfect. I am a work in progress, myself.  A pilgrim walking on the road that leads to sanctification.  So how do I fulfill this seemingly impossible task?

I think the biggest hindrance is hypocrisy.  Children can see right through religious talk, straight into the way their parents lead double lives.   No amount of fake holiness can make up for witnessing people who are motivated (dragged down) by anger or pride, or are bound up in habitual hidden sin, or fail to have valid answers for their childrens’ questions.

All I can say is that I’m beyond thankful for the grace of Jesus.  Through it I have an everlasting hope.

Despite my past failures and future goof-ups in parenting, through this grace it I have the ability to be forgiven, forgive others, and ask my children to forgive me.

And, most of all, I lean on this grace to capture the hearts of my children, to do what I could never do, as God draws them to himself.

Tags: children, Christianity, spirituality, worldview

I’ve been thinking on this quite a bit lately.

There are many ways in which I could be an opponent of God’s grace.

1. Anytime I feel like I am doing something good or right that will therefore cause me to feel more worthy.
2. When I compare myself to those that are doing “worse” than me, and feel better about myself, my righteousness, and a little more deserving of God’s love for me.
3. When I compare myself to those that are doing “better” than me, and feel awful and undeserving of God’s love.
4. When I wallow in self-pity and depression, which is really a form of pride.
5. When I revel in my accomplishments to the point of taking full credit.
6. When I trust in perceived merit by focusing on works - being good, worthy, spiritual, obedient, etc.
7. Not truly believing in God’s steadfast love for me, even during times that I am rebellious or disobedient.
8. When, during times of trial, I’m wanting to know “why” or question God’s love and care for me.

There are plenty more, and I ‘m sure you could think of some of your own.  Feel free to do so in the comments!

So many times, I do the above things and then think “Ooops, I shouldn’t be heading this way”.

But it really takes on a whole new meaning when I understand that in doing so I am not only thinking erroneously, but I am, in fact, an opponent of God’s grace.

Mull on that for a minute.

I think often it’s easy to say, ‘Yes, I am forgiven and cleansed through the blood of Christ, and I fully trust in the atoning, finished work of Christ. I am saved by grace.”

And yet, every time I do any one of the above things I listed, my actions and thoughts are in contradiction to that statement.

Grace.

It is at once a beautiful, awesome word and a horrible, unbelievable word.

Beautiful and awesome - because I can know that grace is a gift, totally undeserved and freely given to me.  Hallelujah!  What unspeakable joy to think that God the Father sent the Son to die for me, when my sin and the justice of God dictated that I should indeed die and face eternal hell.  Jesus took my sins upon himself and paid the penalty.  Fully.

Horrible and unbelievable - because it goes against the inner, sinful desire to somehow believe that I am a good person.  Part of me likes to think that God saw something in me, a soft heart maybe, and yearned for me to call out to him.  It’s easy to want to believe this great lie!

I cannot wrap my mind around grace, because I tend to think of love in human terms and capabilities.  But God’s love and mercy cannot be compared to ours, and doing so is a grave disservice to who He is.

Part One is here.  Part Two is here.

Tags: Christianity, religion, spirituality, worldview

Someone recently posted a quote on Facebook from John Piper’s book, Don’t Waste Your Life, spurring some old thoughts on the subject. The following was originally posted back in April of 2008.

Don’t Waste Your Life

I’m currently reading a book with that title, and it’s really challenging me in good ways.

The author, John Piper, writes about the tragedy of a wasted life.  He begins by citing a married couple who take an early retirement in their late 50’s and spend their time in Florida cruising on their boat, playing softball and collecting shells.

We can waste our life no matter what our age and occupation.  It’s not a salvation issue.  We can fully belong to Christ and still end up with a wasted life. As Piper puts it, we could get to Heaven and say to Jesus, “Here, look at my seashells”.

Writing specifically to the Christian, he takes a whole 3 chapters to illustrate how our purpose is to pursue God’s glory… and enjoy it in the process.  So our joy is His joy.  Our meaning is displaying His greatness.  In creating us for His glory, he creates us for our highest joy.

This is a strange thought to an unbeliever.  If anyone else were to exult themselves to that level, we would view them selfish to the extreme.  One might ask, If God can love me, how can it be love to create something to simply glorify himself?   But that is viewing it from our distortion of love.  We think love is being made much of.  It’s making self the object of our highest affection, and evaluating everyone by how they treat us, how they make us feel, how they value us.

But God changes that distorted view of love.  He liberates from the bondage of self-regard so that we enjoy making much of him forever.  This is true fullness of joy.  This supreme satisfaction is what should call the Christian to truly love others.  Not by making them feel good about themselves, but by showing them God and His gospel.

Piper puts it this way.  “To make them feel good about themselves when they were made to feel good about seeing God is like taking someone to the Alps and locking them in a room full of mirrors.”

I read for a couple more chapters, enjoying his illustrations and stories.  Then I came to a surprising chapter about taking risk.  He wrote,

“If our single, all-embracing passion is to make much of Christ in life and death, and if the life that magnifies him most is the life of costly love, then life is risk, and risk is right.  To run from it is to waste your life.”

1 Corinthians 15:31, Luke 9:23, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 and 12:9-10

Whatever gain I had [in life], I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of he surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that i may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8

We do not know the future.  We don’t even know what will happen for sure within the next five minutes.  In this aspect, we cannot avoid risk.  It’s a part of us.  It should cause us to acknowledge that there is no real security.  He writes that our myth of safety needs to be exploded.

Take the story of Esther.  She did not have a special revelation from God.  She simply made a decision based on wisdom, love for her people, and trust in God. She did not know what the outcome of her actions would be, but handed the results over to God saying, “…and if I perish, I perish.”

Look at what happened to the people of Israel when they stood at the border of the Promised Land, unable to explode their myth of safety.  They didn’t want to take the risk of battling the giants and instead murmured, complained and even spoke of returning to Egypt!  The result?  Wasted years and wasted lives.

I’ll again quote Piper for he says it best.

“What about you?  Are you caught in the enchantment of security, paralyzed from taking any risks for the cause of God?  Or have you been freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the mirage of Egyptian safety and comfort?  Do you men ever say with Joab, “For the sake of the name, I’ll try it!  And may the LORD do what seems good to him”?  Do you women ever say with Esther, “For the sake of Christ, I’ll try it!  And if I perish, I perish”?

So many times its tempting to remain stagnant because its easy to worship at the idol of security.  What that really means is bowing down to fear.  Fear of the unknown is a difficult thing.  It’s been challenging to me search my heart and root it out.

There’s a need for prayer to ask for guidance and wisdom.  And then there’s the next step of taking action.  How easy it would be for me to never move forward by simply claiming that I’m not clear what God’s direction is in a certain area!

I am not a natural risk taker.  But being married to a man who isn’t afraid of change and risk stretches me, and yet frees me.  I have peace because I pray continually for God’s will and hand in all my husband’s decisions.  Therefore I can simply trust, because by following him I am in essence trusting in God.  So even if he makes what I think is a bad choice, I can lay it at Christ’s feet and not fret or worry.

The last thought that’s challenged me in this book so far (I’m not finished so there’s sure to be more!) is what Piper calls a “wartime lifestyle”.  When making choices, especially about how we spend money, it should be with this wartime mindset.

We acknowledge there is a war going on between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and unbelief, and there are weapons to be funded and used.  Weapons of the Gospel, prayer, and self-sacrificing love.

How easy it is to slip into a “peacetime mindset” and focus on comfort and fun.   Or just get wrapped up in my own day to day busyness and forget the larger picture.  If there truly is a war, how can I be content to live a life of ease?  To simply work, play, sleep and repeat day after day?  To talk only to the same people; those like-minded individuals or families who are just like me?  To live without truly engaging others by isolating myself within my home and my family?

This was challenging in and of itself.  But then I came across this paragraph;

“Why not speak of a “simple lifestyle”?  It is more helpful to think of a wartime lifestyle than a merely simple lifestyle.  Simplicity may have a romantic ring and a certain aesthetic appeal that is foreign to the dirty business of mercy in the dangerous places of the world.  Simplicity may also overlook the fact that, in wartime, major expenses for complex weapons and troop training are needed.  These may not look simple, and may be very expensive, but the whole country sacrifices to make them happen.  Simplicity may be inwardly directed and may benefit no one else.  A wartime lifestyle implies that there is a great and worthy cause for which to spend and be spent. (2 Corinthians 12:15)”

What a great thought.  Simplicity is so often over-romanticized.  In an effort to stick to basics, the focus can increasingly become self and it becomes an idol. 

While we are patting ourselves on the back for practicing frugality and plainness, those on the front lines of battle are crying out for our help and support.

Further, the related terms independent homesteading and self-sufficient living can be used to justify a reclusive lifestyle.  Maybe it’s helpful in a limited sense to our self when we are isolated and practice mere avoidance.  But how does that impact anyone, especially for the Gospel?  How does that prepare our children for what they’re sure to face if they do not choose the same reclusive lifestyle?

Ultimately, whether we squander our time here on earth, become immobilized by fear of risk, or end up too focused on our tiny dot of the universe, we’re likely to miss the fullness of a life lived radically for Christ.

We’re likely to waste our lives.

Tags: Christianity, presuppositions, spirituality, worldview

So often, we hear things very differently than what was actually said.

We could say that the fault of a communication misunderstanding lies in the poor expression on the part of the one doing the talking, but more often than not, we filter what we hear through our preconceived notions.

Basically, we are already making assumptions, and so we presume things that were never stated, let alone implied. This causes unnecessary confusion, inaccurate information, offenses, and hurt feelings.

We do it in marriage:

Husband: I’m planning on going canoeing with the guys on Saturday.

Wife hears:  I don’t love you as much as you love me.

We do it with acquaintances:

Person A:  I hate spaghetti.

Person B hears:  You like spaghetti, therefore you’re stupid.

It takes conscious effort to overcome our “auto-pilot” ears and endeavor to listen with an open mind.  Sometimes we even have to say, “I heard you say ____.  Is that what you meant?”  It seems silly, but I think the extra work is worth it.

Christians, especially, should be able to overcome differing personalities, worldviews, and culture to communicate on a deeper level.  May we have the mind of Christ that allows us to truly “hear” another person’s heart.

Tags: Christianity, presuppositions, worldview