The Strength of Patience

Impatient people are weak.  It takes strength to wait.  And, as John Piper points out, faith in God's glorious might is the channel through which the power for patience comes.

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy" (Colossians 1:11).

Reasons to Worry!

Justin Taylor has a terrific post giving many of the foolish "reasons" Christians worry--he also points to God's Word in response to our anxieties.

"Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10).

Sobering Reflections on De-Conversion

I appreciated Ed Stetzer's heart-felt, humble, and searching reflections on the de-conversion of Bart Campolo.
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Discontented Contentment

This summer has been a season of wrestling to find the wise and healthy “place” the Lord has for me—and for all his children—somewhere between chronic restlessness and sinful complacency.

On the one hand, Jesus offers us “rest”:  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28).  He brings peace (John 20:19, 20).  So release your anxieties into his fatherly care (Matt 6:25-34)!  Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything—that’s how we receive God’s peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:4-7).  Christians under pressure (e.g., 1 Pet 4:12) are to cast their anxieties on God since he cares for them (5:7). 

The life Christ calls you to, here and now, is one of peace, rest, and humble trust.  Anxiety breaks out in our souls when we forget who we are—and who the Lord is!  But godly contentment takes root as we lift up our eyes to the One who loves and saves and sustains and cares for us eternally (Psalm 121:1-2; 123:1-2).  Are you walking with Jesus today in an attitude of contentment?  Or is your heart being lured by the Enemy into a fretful, anxious, contentious state? 

The thing about the restless, straining, driven, overly idealistic path is that, the further you take it, the harder it is to get back.  We know we ought to “be still” (Ps 46:10), but we feed off of the ego boost that comes with all our great work and in imagining our­selves so far ahead of others, and we want more.  And more!  Yes, God is able to deliver us from this swamp—but you may lose the desire to turn to him! 

So peace, rest, calm… that’s the one hand.  On the other hand, the Bible calls us to a life of striving:  Jesus goes on in Matthew 6 to teach his disciples to “seek first God’s kingdom.”  Seek.  Paul tells his story of relentless straining and striving, pressing on, pursuing the prize (Phil 3:12-14); he portrays the life of faith in terms of diligent labor (2 Tim 2:1-7).  God says, You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jer 29:13).  Lukewarm, ho-hum, blasé spirituality in the church is revolting to the Lord (Rev 3:16).

So we’re called to a restless restfulness, a discontented contentment.  That’s our paradox.  And it’s a very delicate balance:  we fallen humans easily slide into one sad propensity or the other—that is, to relax our way beyond contentment into complacency and self-serving mediocrity, OR to strive our way beyond the quest for growth in godliness so we end up as proud, straining achievers who really long to feature our own success rather than the glory of Christ.

What’s more, in some seasons of life we lose balance in an ambitious, striving direction, while in others we tip toward sloth, stifled imagination, and lost vision of earlier dreams.  In light of the fact that we oscillate like that, how can we thrive together in Christ as a church community?  For example, as a family with loved ones at different “places” along the continuum living under the same roof—strivers and resters?  Or as a church family made up of members who are in every possible position along the striving-resting spectrum?

Here are a few words of encouragement when it comes to shaping a life of discerning, humble, hopeful spirituality.  First, remem­ber that we all still have a long way to go in terms of spiritual growth.  Which is to say:  you have not “arrived,” nor is your case hopeless, nor are you too old to make new strides, nor are you too young to have grand hopes.  Settling into a life of “settling” dishonors the Lord:  he is at work in you to will and to accomplish his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13), and his good pleasure includes your development of a healthy, humble rhythm of spiritual life that truly rests in God’s love and that also truly presses on in pursuit of Christ.

Second, be on the lookout for your own “signature sins” (to borrow a phrase from Michael Mangis’s book by the same title).  Know thyself.  Are you prone to slip into the mire of self-pity or doubt or sloth—and are those actually expressions of unbelief?  Or are you inclined to plateau and lock in to a no-change life—and is that actually a way to try and exert control and insulate yourself from life’s harsh winds and waves?  Or, in the other direction, are you prone to push and pull and strive and strain, always seeking more, never at peace, ever chasing some magnificent ideal—yet is that actually a way your heart slides into self-promotion mode while sidelining Jesus Christ?

Third, have mercy on your brothers and sisters in Christ, even if they’re driving you crazy with raging ambition or torpid sluggish­ness.  Be patient (1 Thess 5:14).  Lovingly encourage one another (Heb 3:12-13).  And bear with one another, always ready to forgive:  you must forgive, just as Christ has forgiven you (Col 3:13).

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About the "Nominal Christian"

Helpful thoughts from Mike McKinley:


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"Faith Is..."

I love this vivid word-picture of Christian faith given by nineteenth century pastor J. C. Ryle—it shows both the active nature of trust in Jesus, yet faith is rightly portrayed not as our work but dependence on the all-sufficient work of Christ: 

Saving faith is the hand of the soul.  The sinner is like a drowning man at the point of sinking.  He sees the Lord Jesus Christ holding out help to him.  He grasps it and is saved.  This is faith (Hebrews 6:18). 

Saving faith is the eye of the soul.  The sinner is like the Israelite bitten by the fiery serpent in the wilderness, and at the point of death.  The Lord Jesus Christ is offered to him as the brazen serpent, set up for his cure.  He looks and is healed.  This is faith (John 3:14-15). 

Saving faith is the mouth of the soul. The sinner is starving for want of food, and sick of a sore disease.  The Lord Jesus Christ is set before him as the bread of life, and the universal medicine. He receives it, and is made well and strong. This is faith (John 6:35). 

Saving faith is the foot of the soul. The sinner is pursued by a deadly enemy, and is in fear of being overtaken.  The Lord Jesus Christ is put be­fore him as a strong tower, a hiding place, and a refuge.  He runs into it and is safe. This is faith (Proverbs 18:10).

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Cosmos

I noticed today that the new FOX / National Geographic thirteen-week TV series, "Cosmos:  A Spacetime Odyssey," makes a bold philosophical statement in the first line of their primary promotional video in which they lay their worldview cards on the table.  The voice of Carl Sagan declares, "The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be."  

So there.

Update March 9:  episode 1 of the rebooted "Cosmos" series began with that same line from Sagan:  "The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be."  This "in your face" philosophical/ideological agenda is stunning.  One thing it isn't, however:  science.
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Winter of Discontent

As I write, pellets of sleet are tapping on the window in front of me.  And I wonder:  is ice accumulating on those oak branches hanging high above the power lines out back?  Is our house about to go dark—again? 

This has become the “winter of our discontent” (that may have been Shakespeare’s line, but it has found new meaning in 2014):  freezing rain, sticky snow, tree limbs crashing down, raging icicles, plus some nasty cold temperatures.  And yet, of the many ways to describe this winter’s weather (such as horrendous, unprecedented, relentless, stunning…), I’d like to suggest a different term:  meaningful.  Packed with significance.  The convulsions of nature are one way God speaks.  So just what is he saying through the wild winter weather?

God exhibits his raw power through Nor’easter and Polar Vortex systems that bring our routines grinding to a halt.  It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that he’s charge and we’re not.  Are you at peace with that?  Or do you get all bent out of shape when conditions don’t toe the line for your “well-laid plans”?

Remember, Psalm 19:1 is true all the time, not just with pretty sun­sets:  “The heavens declare the glory of God.”  The Lord’s creative power and sovereign majesty are on display this winter:  do you have eyes to see?  Praise the Lord, fire and hail and snow and frost! (Ps 148:8). 

God is always at work for the good of his people (Rom 8:28), so let’s be on the lookout for the good in having our agenda squashed.  May­be we need to be disrupted.  Disruption gives us a chance to live by faith—to trust the Lord with down time, loss, discomfort, even pain.  Don’t forget: the Father “disciplines those he loves” (Heb 12:6).

James 4:13-16 confronts our vain self-assurance:  “Of course we’ll go here and there and do this and that tomorrow and the next day!”  Winter Storm Pax reminds us that tomorrow is God’s domain.  The One who runs the universe also holds our future in his hand.  Are you content with that, even amidst the storm?

One more thought:  could it be that God gives us this mild misery to awaken us from our self-sovereignty stupor so we’d see a world in need—people facing affliction far worse than our blizzard?

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Alone, Yet Not Alone

Here's the song and a glance at the recording of it by Joni Eareckson Tada, "Alone, Yet Not Alone," which has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song from the movie, "Alone, Yet Not Alone."

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Paying Attention to God

Taking God seriously--wise words from a senior saint:
Taking God Seriously - J.I. Packer from Crossway on Vimeo.
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Ideas About and From the Manger

Food for thought from Ross Douthat in the New York Times.
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Ronnie Smith Killed in Libya

On Dec. 5, 2013, American teacher Ronnie Smith was shot to death while jogging near his home in Benghazi, Libya.  Smith had been a Chemistry teacher at an international school in Benghazi for the last year and a half.  Prior to that he had served on the ministry staff at Austin Stone Community Church in Texas.

ASCC provides helpful guidance and resources for their congregation, and for the wider public, in the aftermath of this tragedy.  If you want to get a feel for Ronnie's passion for Christ and the gospel, watch his sermon, "The History of Redemption" (see video below), which is made up entirely of memorized Scripture.  He tells the story of the whole Bible, and he tells it well.

Ronnie's widow, Anita Smith, has spoken out in a CBS interview in a most thoughtful, gracious, kind, Christ-honoring way.  Especially noteworthy is her open letter to the Libyan people, along with her specific remarks to the killers of her husband.  See also her remarkable interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper.  Note also this collection of news reports.

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39, ESV).

Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Sermon - The History of Redemption from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.
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Spurgeon on God's Blessing

Charles Spurgeon offers thought-provoking words about just what God's blessing involves (from ch. 12 of his work, An All-Around Ministry):

"Do you not think that we all make mistakes as to what will be a blessing? In the matter of faith-healing, health is set before us as if it were the great thing to be desired above all other things. Is it so? I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness.  Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has. If some men, that I know of, could only be favored with a month of rheumatism, it would, by God's grace, mellow them marvellously. Assuredly, they need something better to preach than what they now give their people; and, possibly, they would learn it in the chamber of suffering. I would not wish for any man a long time of sickness; and pain; but a twist now and then one might almost ask for him. A sick wife, a newly-made grave, poverty, slander, sinking of spirit, might teach lessons nowhere else to be learned so well. Trials drive us to the realities of religion. You may feed on chaff until you have real work to do, or real grief to bear; but then you want the old corn of the land, and you must have it, or else you will faint and fail."
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Faith Matters

Love cares about faith—1 Thessalonians 3:1-10 makes this point with urgency.  Five times Paul says that one thing weighed most heavily on his heart:  the vitality of their FAITH.  3:2 we sent Timothy … to establish and exhort you in your faith,… 3:5 when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith,… 3:6 Timothy has brought us the good news of your faith… 3:7 we have been comforted about you through your faith… 3:10 we pray that we may supply what is lacking in your faith. 

Faith is the heartbeat of Christian life; without faith there is no spiritual pulse (Heb 11:6).  Love compels believers to check one another’s vital signs.  If we love people, we’ll care about their faith (or their lack of it); if we don’t care about their faith, we don’t love them.

Think of some of the good things Paul does not mention five times in this chapter.  He does not say five times that he could no longer bear not knowing about their feelings—were they feeling positive, feeling happy?  He does not say five times how deeply con­cerned he is for their health—was anyone sick or injured?  And he does not say five times how he just had to know about their safety, were they all safe and sound, free from harm?  These good things are overshadowed by what really moves Paul’s heart.  FAITH is what counts (cf. Gal 5:6); Paul loves them, so he simply must know about their faith.

What about us?  Are we content to rub shoulders at church without getting to know about each other’s faith?  It’s nice if we can testify of one ano­ther’s pleasant demeanor or regular attendance or church activities.  But do we see faith?  I don’t mean fuzzy “faith” that’s little more than optimism:  I mean conscious dependence on the mercy, power and shepherding care of Christ.  I mean serious confidence in the Great Hero of the Uni­verse, such that we take bold steps to honor him.  As we watch one another walk this earth, do we see evidence of strong, heart-felt, biblically-informed trust in Christ?  Do we look in the mirror and in the pew and find faces that light up at the wonder of God’s majesty and gift of his grace through Jesus?  What do our conver­sations, spending habits, and scheduling patterns say about our faith in Christ?  Do we know each other well enough to have a sense for these vital signs?  How is your faith today?

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Trusting God through Trials

Very helpful, encouraging, challenging words of testimony from the Harms family.

Smooth Sailing?

The Lord definitely called Paul and Silas on mission to Macedonia—it was indisputable:  “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night:  a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” (Acts 16:9).  So they sailed from Troas across the north Aegean Sea toward Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea.

And in so doing, the Lord definitely led his global ambassadors into places where they’d face fierce opposition and violent persecution.  At Philippi Paul and Silas were arrested, flogged, and shackled—all due to false accusations.  In Thessalonica a mob drove them out of town (they escaped by cover of darkness).  Then, after preaching in the synagogue of Berea, raging Thessalonian adversaries hunted Paul and Silas down, and they had to run for their lives once again.

This seems unsettling:  God leads his missionary team into Mace­donia, but then he doesn’t protect them from hostile powers and intense suffering while they’re proclaiming the gospel and planting churches there. What do we make of this apparent tension?

I say “apparent” because, in God’s scheme of things, all things work together for the good of his people (Romans 8:28).  It’s just that we must allow the Lord to achieve that good on his terms and in his time.  We may think it’s wrong for Christian witnesses to suffer harm as they spread the truth of Christ.  But have we considered the value of the testimony of Christians who find their true joy in the love of Jesus even though they suffer?  Don’t forget 1 Thessalonians 1:6:  the newly born-again believers there received the word of Christ amidst much affliction “with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (cf. James 1:2-4).

Or think back to Philippi (Acts 16):  what does it say to the jailer when his Christian prisoners, bleeding from flogging, feet fastened in the stocks, sing songs of praise to God in their dark cell?  We might assume it would have been better if Paul and Silas had been kept comfortable all along their mission journey, but that assumption is entirely now-centered and self-focused.  What about eternal conse­quences?  And what about the potential impact on unbelievers?

Here’s the point:  when the Lord’s at work in our lives, his leading does not and is not supposed to mean smooth sailing.  So if you assume God owes you smooth sailing, think again.  And if your “faith” in Christ is conditional upon being granted smooth sailing, you need to get on your knees before the One who called you to take up your cross (Luke 9:23) and ask if it’s really faith that you have. 

Assuming we should have a comfy, cushy Christian lifestyle, and supposing that our witness in this world ought not to bring us into any kind of trouble, is just wrong-headed, unbiblical thinking.  Plus, that kind of self-oriented, comfort-driven vision for the church will divert us from Jesus’ mission.  He’s called us to go and make disciples among all the people groups of the world—including those in “hard” places (Matthew 28:18-20).  Scripture speaks with eyes wide open about the dangers:  “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Another part of the biblical picture, of course, is that the Lord will not give us more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13), and that he’ll be with us, right beside us by his Spirit, as we face any and every kind of trial (Hebrews 13:5).  We’re never alone.  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).  The biblical picture, then, is not of Christian life bypassing suffering but of Jesus’ loving presence with his children in and through and beyond all of this world’s sorrow.

It is extremely important that those who make up a local church family—as disciples of Jesus Christ, as children of the living God, as citizens of heaven traveling together through this world—lock it down in their hearts:  trouble will come; the Lord does not intend to insulate you or me from pain.  In fact, in his wisdom and sovereign ingenuity the Lord orchestrates our lives so as to bring about great good and great gain through the afflictions we face while trusting in him:  our own hearts are reassured at the genuineness of our faith, nonbelievers are struck by the compelling joy of our authentic witness under pressure, and the Lord we love and trust is honored.  And that is GOOD.

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God Wins!

A remarkable expression of faith in Jesus Christ from a woman battling cancer:

God Wins from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

Faith and Evidence

Steve Fuller has a helpful post on the importance of evidence for Christian faith.  He also provides a great summary of the various lines of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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"My Chains"

Several of the letters God inspired the Apostle Paul to write were penned in prison.  In fact, it’s on account of declaring the message of Christ, Paul says, that “I am in prison” (Colossians 4:3), and he urges the church to “Remember my chains” (4:18; see also 1:24; 4:10).  Just imagine what it was like—chains on his ankles clanking, sores bleeding, rats scurrying, cold and dark … as he wrote!  Philippians, Philemon, Ephesians, and 2 Timothy are also prison letters.

I don’t know about you, but when my circumstances go south, I’m tempted to wallow in frustration over how things ought to go better for me—why do I have to put up with this?  It isn’t right!  (Etc.)  But that’s exactly what we don’t find in Paul’s Prison Letters.  Despite chains, he’s free to bless and encourage and build up believers as he shepherds them from a distance.  Just think what he says; consider the content and tone of this prisoner’s message as he writes the church at Colossae:

Colossians oozes with gratitude; Paul is grateful to the Lord for his brothers and sisters in Jesus, thankful for how they’ve learned and grown and given testimony to the Gospel in their mission (1:3; cf. 1 Thess 5:18).  How would my gratitude hold up if I were bound in chains?  How about you?

Colossians overflows with praise, with highest worship of the all-glorious, eternal Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator and Sustainer of “all things,” the Head of the Church, who is the very Fullness of God, the Preemi­nent Redeemer (1:15-20).  Praise from prison! (of course, we’ve seen this before [Acts 16:25]).

Colossians reports how Paul boldly, confidently rebukes the false teachers who propagate insidious error (2:8-23).  This is not a letter from a timid man, pining away with his chains, hoping someone might just pay attention to his “two cents” on the matter.  Rather, it’s a definitive, authoritative word, inspired by the God of the Universe, to defend and declare life-giving truth.

Colossians may speak from behind bars, as it were, but it pulsates with hope of Christ’s appearing in all his glory, and to our union with him (3:4).  The Apostle’s anticipation of his Lord’s future full victory will not be squelched.

Colossians looks right past the obstacles of captivity to the advance of the Gospel, calling for prayer that God would open doors, pave the way and help his ambassadors speak the word of Christ—to make it clear, so that many might find true freedom (4:2-4)!

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What Demons Believe

The resounding point in chapter two of the Letter of James is that authentic Christian faith is a dynamic reality, that it "works."  If we claim to have faith in Jesus but there is no meaningful expression of that faith in our actions, the claim lacks merit.  Faith without works is dead (vv 17, 26)--lifeless, useless, meaningless.  In other words, "faith" that does not lead to changed living is not true Christian faith.  And the heart that says "I believe Jesus died for me so now I can just live as I please because I'm forgiven and heaven's a done deal" is a heart that lacks genuine faith in Christ:  it is the heart of an unbeliever.  That's because real faith involves trust in and admiration for and a readiness to follow in the steps of the One we trust, the living Lord Jesus Christ.  Faith involves not only knowing truth but loving the God of truth.  No, that doesn't mean real Christians practice their faith perfectly--James is aware of that error too (3:2; cf. 1 John 1:8, 10).  But it does mean that true faith simply cannot be bottled up in the brain:  it must get out and get hands and feet and words--it must "work."


The folly of "faith without works" is driven home vehemently in 2:19:  "You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe—and shudder!"  Notice that affirming truth does not add up to biblical faith.  If we say we "believe" that the Bible is true, and if we believe that there is just one God, one great creator God, and if we go on and affirm the doctrine of the incarnation and the deity of Christ and the truth of the sin-bearing work of the Son of God on the cross on behalf of sinners (etc.), that kind of mental assent, valuable as it is, does not save.  In fact, it does no more than what the demons do.  Satan and his vile cohorts acknowledge true information about God--his oneness, even his awesome majesty (note that they "shudder" at the thought of the true God).  But "believing" the facts is not enough, and that's because "believing" the facts is not what it means to have faith.  Authentic Christian faith involves trust, admiration, devotion, and praise; genuine faith necessarily engages the heart and arouses the will, but it is never be content just to sit in the mind affirming abstract information to which we tip our hat.
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