Nearly two weeks into the new year and the newness has worn off. That new year smell has faded, and you have probably settled into the same old routines. Why bother with fad-ish resolutions or goals for the new year? After all, there is life to be busy with. But is it the life you want? Are you finding yourself frustrated at the lack of accomplishment in your life?
Breathe.
Sometimes, the best way forward is to stop moving and take a look around. Are you missing something? Do you need to continue moving in the same direction? Is the resistance you are feeling positive or negative resistance? Positive resistance is the feeling you might have if you were breaking free from a restraint. As you strain against the bonds, you feel hope and the sense of anticipation at the coming freedom. Negative resistance is that feeling that keeps you from straining at the bonds that hold you back. Negative resistance says, "What is the sense of trying, things never change."
Sometimes we put too much pressure on the decisions and moments in our life. You hear of an individual who hit a turning point in life or a person who had a make-or-break moment. These concepts leach into our lives, and shape our thinking about what comes next.
Let's say you decide to lose weight. You struggle with comfort eating, poor self-esteem, inexperience with exercise (which often leads to injury), poor eating habits, etc. Thus the decision to lose weight, then becomes your "make-or-brake" moment. You throw all of your hopes on this one, single, solitary, in-the-moment decision--and you expect it to bear the weight of that commitment.
And then, somebody brings donuts to work or invites you to a dinner. You go to the gym only to experience physical pain because you didn't quite know how to use that one machine, and now you need a few days to recover. Your make-or-brake moment cracks under the pressure, and you console yourself with a pint of ice cream. It seems you were destined to be fat.
The real issue isn't what you want to accomplish or even why you want to accomplish it. The real issue is that your plans are often frustrated because you place to much emphasis on the wrong things. Simply put, while there are make-or-brake moments, there are also constant opportunities to either change your course or recommit to it.
People give up too easily because they think to narrowly about big things. They want change to be instantaneous. They want to move from A to Z without ever touching on the rest of the alphabet. All of this can be applied to discipleship. There is a sense in which people fell that spiritual growth should be automatic. They think a believer should go from sinner to saint in a twinkling of an eye. This view takes our justification (the legal declaration by God that we are right with him) and confuses it with our sanctification (the process by which the Spirit brings that righteousness to bear fruit).
Whether we are at the gym working off the last five years of Christmas cookies (and other stuff) or reading our Bible for encouragement, we need to recognize that there are a thousand make-or-break decisions throughout our day. No one wrong decision can derail our progress if we are quick to repent and confess and correct course. If we put too much pressure on one moment, it will break our momentum. But if we recognize that each success will only bring us success if we keep building on it and each failure will only lead to failure if we give, then we move forward.
If you make a wrong turn in your day, make a u-turn. If things aren't going the way you planned, adjust your plan (and maybe your expectations--that's a post for another day). God has promised not to give up on you, so you aren't allowed to give up on you, either.
Showing posts with label discipleship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discipleship. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Called to Discipleship
My calling as a Christian is to be a disciple. I am called to learn from and imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. As a pastor, my calling is to make disciples. It seems no matter how many times I am tempted to forget my calling, God readily reminds me. Discipleship isn't some super-spiritual quest. It is the call of every person who places their trust in Christ. He has blazed the trail we are to follow, and he calls us to take it seriously.
In fact, Jesus was very candid about it. He said, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow men cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, NIV). Yikes! That is harsh.
Many abandoned him for saying things like this. He seemed to be asking for too much. And from a human perspective, he may have been. But from the divine perspective, he was only asking for what was his due. We look at the world and things around us and we assume that these things matter. There is some truth in that they matter, but they don't matter to the extent that we imagine.
Family is important. It is foundational to a healthy society. However, family isn't ultimate. Human beings need social interaction, even the most introverted person on the planet desires companionship. But our relationship to God is more important. Without other people, we would be lonely. Without God, we are eternally condemned.
When Jesus calls the crowd to "hate" their families he is deliberately trying to chase people off. For those without "ears to hear," the words seem harsh. However, Jesus isn't commanding us to hate others. He told us elsewhere that the law was summed up in the commands to love God and love our neighbors. What Jesus was trying to get across is that our relationship to him should override our other relationships. If Jesus u wants us to go to Africa, but our spouse says, "I won't go!" What do we do?
Jesus says we are to take up our cross and follow him. If everyone rejects us for loving Jesus, then there is little we can do about it. The cost of disobedience is to great. We must obey the Lord.
Discipleship is not an additional category within Christianity. You are either a disciple, that is a believer who is following Jesus, or you're not a believer at all. Jesus warns us not to lose sight of this. We are called to endure to the end no matter how difficult it gets. We need to seek peace with him while he may be found. We must embrace Christ even if it costs us everything. Let those with ears to hear, hear it.
In fact, Jesus was very candid about it. He said, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow men cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, NIV). Yikes! That is harsh.
Many abandoned him for saying things like this. He seemed to be asking for too much. And from a human perspective, he may have been. But from the divine perspective, he was only asking for what was his due. We look at the world and things around us and we assume that these things matter. There is some truth in that they matter, but they don't matter to the extent that we imagine.
Family is important. It is foundational to a healthy society. However, family isn't ultimate. Human beings need social interaction, even the most introverted person on the planet desires companionship. But our relationship to God is more important. Without other people, we would be lonely. Without God, we are eternally condemned.
When Jesus calls the crowd to "hate" their families he is deliberately trying to chase people off. For those without "ears to hear," the words seem harsh. However, Jesus isn't commanding us to hate others. He told us elsewhere that the law was summed up in the commands to love God and love our neighbors. What Jesus was trying to get across is that our relationship to him should override our other relationships. If Jesus u wants us to go to Africa, but our spouse says, "I won't go!" What do we do?
Jesus says we are to take up our cross and follow him. If everyone rejects us for loving Jesus, then there is little we can do about it. The cost of disobedience is to great. We must obey the Lord.
Discipleship is not an additional category within Christianity. You are either a disciple, that is a believer who is following Jesus, or you're not a believer at all. Jesus warns us not to lose sight of this. We are called to endure to the end no matter how difficult it gets. We need to seek peace with him while he may be found. We must embrace Christ even if it costs us everything. Let those with ears to hear, hear it.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
A Brief Guide to Spiritual Warfare
What do you think about when you hear the expression, "Spiritual Warfare"? Typically, I think of demonic oppression and prayer. I know I should know better. Spiritual warfare is bigger than that. It is the spiritual conflict that underlies all human conflict.
Paul faced a lot of conflict. I wonder which conflicts he found the most disappointing. I think the conflict he faced with the church at Corinth would be one of his most trying. After patiently training them in the gospel they were still willing to reject him in favor of false teachers. It is a bit perplexing.
In 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, Paul addresses some of the accusations made against him, and defends his ministry. In doing so, he gives us a brief guide to spiritual warfare. He reminds us that we have divine power to tear down strongholds. Here are three rules to guide us:
Rule 1: Don't use the world's strategies. The world, or the powers that govern this world, use misdirection, pride, guilt, rage, etc. to fight God and his people. However, we are not to resort to those kind of tactics. Instead, we follow the example of Christ living in meekness and with patience. Meekness is not weakness. Patience is not cowardice. Spiritual conflict is all around us, but we can't adopt the world's way of waging war.
Rule 2: Don't use the world's weapons. What are the world's weapons? Violence, slander, lies, bribes, threats, self-promotion, etc. The world will use any means to accomplish the bad that it intends to do. However, we cannot do bad that good may come of it. We must use the weapons God has given us to combat our enemies. Those weapons include: the Truth, speaking the truth in love, the message of Christ, the knowledge of God, Scriptures, divine wisdom, prayer, humility, and holy conduct.
Rule 3: Don't let strongholds stand. What is a stronghold? It is a place of strength from which an enemy can strike. Going to bed angry can create a stronghold for the devil in our lives (see Eph. 4:25-28). Anything, even a church tradition, can become a stronghold if we aren't careful. To demolish strongholds, we must demolish every argument and pretense that sets itself in opposition to God. We need to take every thought captive, and make it obedient to Christ. And we need to be ready to act.
The battle rages around us, even if we don't see it. We need to join the battle, but we have to do it God's way and with the tools God has given.
Paul faced a lot of conflict. I wonder which conflicts he found the most disappointing. I think the conflict he faced with the church at Corinth would be one of his most trying. After patiently training them in the gospel they were still willing to reject him in favor of false teachers. It is a bit perplexing.
In 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, Paul addresses some of the accusations made against him, and defends his ministry. In doing so, he gives us a brief guide to spiritual warfare. He reminds us that we have divine power to tear down strongholds. Here are three rules to guide us:
Rule 1: Don't use the world's strategies. The world, or the powers that govern this world, use misdirection, pride, guilt, rage, etc. to fight God and his people. However, we are not to resort to those kind of tactics. Instead, we follow the example of Christ living in meekness and with patience. Meekness is not weakness. Patience is not cowardice. Spiritual conflict is all around us, but we can't adopt the world's way of waging war.
Rule 2: Don't use the world's weapons. What are the world's weapons? Violence, slander, lies, bribes, threats, self-promotion, etc. The world will use any means to accomplish the bad that it intends to do. However, we cannot do bad that good may come of it. We must use the weapons God has given us to combat our enemies. Those weapons include: the Truth, speaking the truth in love, the message of Christ, the knowledge of God, Scriptures, divine wisdom, prayer, humility, and holy conduct.
Rule 3: Don't let strongholds stand. What is a stronghold? It is a place of strength from which an enemy can strike. Going to bed angry can create a stronghold for the devil in our lives (see Eph. 4:25-28). Anything, even a church tradition, can become a stronghold if we aren't careful. To demolish strongholds, we must demolish every argument and pretense that sets itself in opposition to God. We need to take every thought captive, and make it obedient to Christ. And we need to be ready to act.
The battle rages around us, even if we don't see it. We need to join the battle, but we have to do it God's way and with the tools God has given.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Becoming Worthy of Imitation
"You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit" (1 Thes. 1:5b-6, NIV).
It seems that the Christian motto these days is, "Don't look at me." In an effort to appear holier or humbler than we are, we deflect attention away from our life. However, Paul kept pointing to his life as a pattern which should be followed. He even goes further by saying that following his pattern is the same as following Jesus. To the Thessalonians he states, "You became imitators of us, and of the Lord." He isn't saying they imitated both himself and Jesus, he was saying that by imitating him they were imitating Jesus.
It may be that our reluctance to use ourselves as an example stems from our dissatisfaction with our own person walk with Christ. We don't believe we are good enough to be an example, and sometimes we are right. But maybe we need to raise the bar a little higher. Maybe we need to hold ourselves accountable for drawing nearer to God. Maybe we should stop being satisfied with our anemic devotional lives, and start pursuing the Lord like he is the only good thing in the universe.
Some might counter, "But Paul was an apostle!" That is true, and it provides a greater reason for obeying what he says. It is apparent that Paul expects his audience to live in a manner worthy of imitation. Our life should be so in tune with Christ that others can find him by walking in our footsteps.
The other side of Paul's statement, "You know how we lived among you for your sake," suggests that he immersed himself in the lives of the people he evangelized. He was with them as a parent with a child. He hovered over them, teaching them, in the faith, how to walk and talk. He stood by them, correcting them, and encouraging them. Paul used patterns deeply ingrained in the human experience (such as the parent/child relationship) as a structural bases for his interactions.
I came to faith in a context where I was supposed to ferret-out answers on my own. I was given a King James Bible, a book on Baptist doctrine, and a lucky rabbit's foot. Preaching centered on a clear-cut call to be "born-again," but often lacked further instruction concern what came next. I am sure that most of the people I went to church were sincere. They read their Bibles, the believed in Jesus, they prayed, but they often struggled to train new Christians to walk in obedience to Jesus. I believe they loved Jesus and wanted others to love him, but they assumed people would learn the ropes without any hands-on training.
There are many churches in a similar situation today. I find myself tempted to prepetuate this same kind of hands-off approach. At times I have allowed myself to assume that new believers will take to the Christian walk like a fish takes to water and that they will be able to instinctively know how to do the right things in the right way. But that runs counter to the biblical teaching. Jesus commissions us to teach them everything he commanded. We are taught to view new believers as babes. Thus, the analogy that should drive our discipleship efforts is a parent with a baby, not a fish in water.
Paul acknowledged that their response to and growth in the gospel was the work of the Holy Spirit. However, he appears to feel very comfortable with seeing himself as an instrument the hand of the Spirit. Paul's walk in the Spirit, and the Spirit's fruit in Paul's life, provided the example the Thessalonians needed. As the Spirit took a hold of them, they took a hold of Paul's example, and became a model for others to follow.
What about you, could people walk like Jesus by following your example? Are you nurturing those individuals you helped to come to faith in Jesus? Who taught you how to pray? Study your Bible? Memorize Scripture? Who are you teaching?
Note: They didn't really give me a lucky rabbit's foot.
It seems that the Christian motto these days is, "Don't look at me." In an effort to appear holier or humbler than we are, we deflect attention away from our life. However, Paul kept pointing to his life as a pattern which should be followed. He even goes further by saying that following his pattern is the same as following Jesus. To the Thessalonians he states, "You became imitators of us, and of the Lord." He isn't saying they imitated both himself and Jesus, he was saying that by imitating him they were imitating Jesus.
It may be that our reluctance to use ourselves as an example stems from our dissatisfaction with our own person walk with Christ. We don't believe we are good enough to be an example, and sometimes we are right. But maybe we need to raise the bar a little higher. Maybe we need to hold ourselves accountable for drawing nearer to God. Maybe we should stop being satisfied with our anemic devotional lives, and start pursuing the Lord like he is the only good thing in the universe.
Some might counter, "But Paul was an apostle!" That is true, and it provides a greater reason for obeying what he says. It is apparent that Paul expects his audience to live in a manner worthy of imitation. Our life should be so in tune with Christ that others can find him by walking in our footsteps.
The other side of Paul's statement, "You know how we lived among you for your sake," suggests that he immersed himself in the lives of the people he evangelized. He was with them as a parent with a child. He hovered over them, teaching them, in the faith, how to walk and talk. He stood by them, correcting them, and encouraging them. Paul used patterns deeply ingrained in the human experience (such as the parent/child relationship) as a structural bases for his interactions.
I came to faith in a context where I was supposed to ferret-out answers on my own. I was given a King James Bible, a book on Baptist doctrine, and a lucky rabbit's foot. Preaching centered on a clear-cut call to be "born-again," but often lacked further instruction concern what came next. I am sure that most of the people I went to church were sincere. They read their Bibles, the believed in Jesus, they prayed, but they often struggled to train new Christians to walk in obedience to Jesus. I believe they loved Jesus and wanted others to love him, but they assumed people would learn the ropes without any hands-on training.
There are many churches in a similar situation today. I find myself tempted to prepetuate this same kind of hands-off approach. At times I have allowed myself to assume that new believers will take to the Christian walk like a fish takes to water and that they will be able to instinctively know how to do the right things in the right way. But that runs counter to the biblical teaching. Jesus commissions us to teach them everything he commanded. We are taught to view new believers as babes. Thus, the analogy that should drive our discipleship efforts is a parent with a baby, not a fish in water.
Paul acknowledged that their response to and growth in the gospel was the work of the Holy Spirit. However, he appears to feel very comfortable with seeing himself as an instrument the hand of the Spirit. Paul's walk in the Spirit, and the Spirit's fruit in Paul's life, provided the example the Thessalonians needed. As the Spirit took a hold of them, they took a hold of Paul's example, and became a model for others to follow.
What about you, could people walk like Jesus by following your example? Are you nurturing those individuals you helped to come to faith in Jesus? Who taught you how to pray? Study your Bible? Memorize Scripture? Who are you teaching?
Note: They didn't really give me a lucky rabbit's foot.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Discipleship
As a pastor I feel that discipleship is an integral part of my ministry. Actually, I view it as the central focus. Discipleship is the goal of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). Yet, I often struggle with the "how" question about discipleship. My first few months in Christ (and Baptist life) I was just given a couple of books on doctrine, a KJV, and then turned loose to preach and teach. I was ignorant, biblically illiterate, and immature. The Lord used men like Bro. Wilbur Lindsey to help me to correctly understand the Bible. The Lord provided me with an excellent education first at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College (CCBBC) and then at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). I am thankful for his providential care.
While much of my training remedied my biblical illiteracy and a fraction of my ignorance, knowledge is not the same as maturity. Reading about prayer is not the same as seeing prayer modeled effectively and powerfully. Reading about evangelism is not as helpful (although it is helpful) as being with an effective evangelist (not the revival preaching kind, but a person who is very capable at sharing their faith with friends and strangers).
If the me that surrendered to preach almost 13 years ago came forward after a service today, I ask him if he knew the Lord. I would carefully explain the gospel to him and make sure he understood that he was first committing his life to Christ, and secondly to the ministry. I would give him some books on doctrine (for starters I would get them A Theology for the Church--which was unfortunately unavailable 13 years ago), a Bible (probably a NIV or an ESV), but I would not turn him loose. I would invite him to dinner, I would take him with me to the hospital, the nursing home, during evangelistic visits, and I would pray with him. I would call him in the middle of the night and early in the morning to test his resolve, to keep him accountable, an to offer him encouragement. I would ask him pointed and personal questions. I would urge him to integrity in his inner life. I would give him homework and meet with him for extended times of prayer, at the church building, in each others homes. After I was confident is growing character, I would begin helping him understand how to craft a sermon, because the Lord always crafts a man, before he crafts a sermon.
If that guy that I used to be surrendered to the ministry this coming Sunday morning, he would not be preaching two week later. No, I would obey the Scriptures and test him. Having taught him sound doctrine, I would find an opportunity to see if he was able to teach it to others. After, his character and knowledge were growing, I would expand his opportunities. Much of Christian maturity comes from on-the-job training. For example. we learn about evangelism through sermons, testimonies, and books. We learn evangelism through modeling. But we become evangelists by actually telling another about Jesus. Sometimes I wish my start in the ministry would have been different. Although, I am thankful that God not only called me, but has seen fit to us me.
If the Lord gave you the chance to start your Christian walk all over again, what would you change? What would you do differently? What kind of training did you receive? What kind of training do you wish you would have received?
Imagine a slightly different scenario. It is Sunday morning. During the invitation someone goes forward for whom you have been praying. The Lord says to your heart, "Teach them to follow me". How would you go about that task? What would you do? How would the process look like? Where would you start?
How should churches go about the process of discipling new believers/members?
Note: I know many of you are shy about posting comments. But dialog is key to this post. If you are uncomfortable commenting on this page send me an email at: brorandy@ymail.com. If you want I could post it for you or if you don't I won't. All I ask is that you let know what your thinking.
While much of my training remedied my biblical illiteracy and a fraction of my ignorance, knowledge is not the same as maturity. Reading about prayer is not the same as seeing prayer modeled effectively and powerfully. Reading about evangelism is not as helpful (although it is helpful) as being with an effective evangelist (not the revival preaching kind, but a person who is very capable at sharing their faith with friends and strangers).
If the me that surrendered to preach almost 13 years ago came forward after a service today, I ask him if he knew the Lord. I would carefully explain the gospel to him and make sure he understood that he was first committing his life to Christ, and secondly to the ministry. I would give him some books on doctrine (for starters I would get them A Theology for the Church--which was unfortunately unavailable 13 years ago), a Bible (probably a NIV or an ESV), but I would not turn him loose. I would invite him to dinner, I would take him with me to the hospital, the nursing home, during evangelistic visits, and I would pray with him. I would call him in the middle of the night and early in the morning to test his resolve, to keep him accountable, an to offer him encouragement. I would ask him pointed and personal questions. I would urge him to integrity in his inner life. I would give him homework and meet with him for extended times of prayer, at the church building, in each others homes. After I was confident is growing character, I would begin helping him understand how to craft a sermon, because the Lord always crafts a man, before he crafts a sermon.
If that guy that I used to be surrendered to the ministry this coming Sunday morning, he would not be preaching two week later. No, I would obey the Scriptures and test him. Having taught him sound doctrine, I would find an opportunity to see if he was able to teach it to others. After, his character and knowledge were growing, I would expand his opportunities. Much of Christian maturity comes from on-the-job training. For example. we learn about evangelism through sermons, testimonies, and books. We learn evangelism through modeling. But we become evangelists by actually telling another about Jesus. Sometimes I wish my start in the ministry would have been different. Although, I am thankful that God not only called me, but has seen fit to us me.
If the Lord gave you the chance to start your Christian walk all over again, what would you change? What would you do differently? What kind of training did you receive? What kind of training do you wish you would have received?
Imagine a slightly different scenario. It is Sunday morning. During the invitation someone goes forward for whom you have been praying. The Lord says to your heart, "Teach them to follow me". How would you go about that task? What would you do? How would the process look like? Where would you start?
How should churches go about the process of discipling new believers/members?
Note: I know many of you are shy about posting comments. But dialog is key to this post. If you are uncomfortable commenting on this page send me an email at: brorandy@ymail.com. If you want I could post it for you or if you don't I won't. All I ask is that you let know what your thinking.
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