A few words about the Word

There are a lot of times in your life when following the crowd is wrong.  If you don't believe me, look back at your high school yearbook and look at the clothes you wore.  Think back to the music you listened to.  Clearly, the group-think of your youth led you astray.  At the same time, there are times when following the crowd is the right call.   For years, I have heard/read pastors and authors tell me over and over again, "Don't study the Bible without a pen in your hand!"  Or they've said, "Do you expect to hear from God when you read the Word?  If you do, why aren't you ready to write down what He tells you?"  Now, I can't tell you to turn to a specific passage in the Word that says, "Thou shalt not study My Word without writing things down."  Nope.  Can't do it.  However, I can show you places where everyone from Martin Luther to Charles Spurgeon to Rick Warren to David Platt to Gene Wood has written and challenged believers to approach the Word of God EXPECTING to hear from the Voice of God.  In this instance, I think it's more than acceptable to "follow the crowd."

Even with that being the case, until a month ago, I had never studied the Word with a pen in hand.  Finally, and I don't remember what the catalyst was, I bought a journal and began to write down a few thoughts after each chapter that I read.  Guys.  Lemme tell you.  That has made ALL the difference in the world in my morning quiet times.  It has been, hands down, the best month of Bible study that I have ever had.  Think about it-that book that you hold in your hand is the inspired, perfect Word of the Living God.  If you approach it as part of your routine or a Christian duty, then you will get out of it exactly what you put into it:  not a whole lot.  If, however, you come to the Word humbly, eagerly, and prepared to hear and obey your King, you will get out of it SO much more than you put in.

If you will allow me, I would like to give you all an example of what I mean.  As some of you know, I spent  a few months memorizing the first eight chapters of the book of Romans.  My memorization technique is simple:  repetition.  I would read and say out loud each verse over and over and over and over and over again.  The reason I'm telling you is because I want you to understand this:  Before this past week, I had read Romans 3:1-2 LITERALLY hundreds of time.  I have said these words, "Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God," so many times that I can see them on the page.  If you think you've read a passage many times, trust me, when it comes to Romans 1-8, I've got you beat.  It wasn't until this week, however, that I SAW those words for the first time.  

So, what in the world is Paul talking about when he asks this rhetorical question?  Well, Paul spends time in Romans 1:18-2:16 outlining all the ways that the Gentile is guilty before God.  Then, from verses 2:17-29, Paul shows how every Jew is guilty as well.  No one is off the hook before this Holy God.  Knowing that his readers would bring up the Jews as God's chosen people, Paul answers their objection before they can even voice it.  What he says is truly stunning.  When it comes to God's redemptive arc, do the Jews have an advantage over the rest of the world?  Absolutely.  They do, but it's not what we think it is.

"To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God."  In other words, remember that time when God visited all the plagues on the Egyptians and spared the Israelites?  Not as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  Remember that time that God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites and then drowned the Egyptians?  No as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  Remember that time that God hovered over their camp as a pillar of cloud and fire? Not as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  Remember Jericho?  And when God made the day last longer?  And when God delivered them from vastly superior enemies again and again and again?  None of them were as beneficial to their salvation as the Word of God.  What Paul is claiming is that, when it comes to being saved, there is more power in the charge to not boil a goat in it's mother's milk than in the miracles we see in the Old Testament.

I am so thankful for that message right now, because I am trying (and failing) to be more active and more bold in evangelism than ever before.  I, like I think many of us do, tend to approach evangelism with an "eyes shut" mentality.  In other words, when evangelizing, I shut my eyes and hope for the best.  I don't REALLY expect God to save that person or this person because I don't think I've got enough to do the job.  Well, I don't, but He does.  He has given me His Word to share with the lost people around me.  I have His Word- which is perfect and full of His power and His authority.  I speak THAT Word and people WILL get saved.  Maybe not everyone and maybe not every time, but when I am armed with the Word of God, I have more power and authority than I would possess even if I carried a whole truck load of frogs and gnats on me.  I have read that passage over and over, but it wasn't until I read it EXPECTING to be taught something that I finally was.  I can't wait to read it again and see what He shows me next.  

Committment: How I learned to stop worrying and put it on my calendar

Looking back over my posts, most of them have been somewhat (ok-TOTALLY) weighty, theological matters that have been the result of a lot of prayer and meditation.  This one...not so much.  I don't want to go so far as to say that is me "venting," but this is certainly me wanting to state my reasons for taking a certain position.  I hope that it doesn't come across as too preachy or confrontational, but, if it does, sorry.  I'm just trying to work through some things haha.

Ok, so let's put the cards on the table.  I like to commit to things.  If you have a program or an idea, I'm all about signing up for it.  I don't know why I'm that way (Mom-why am I that way?), but I know that I am.  And, because I'm a fan of mass communication, everybody else knows as well.  I mention this because-according to every blog, study, poll, anecdote, and personal experience that I have-I am a member of the least committed generation EVER.  Whether it's marriage or church membership, my people don't like to commit to things (except for Crossfit.  Boy, we will commit to Crossfit.  Or Irontribe.  Whatever).  As one who often plans things (nothing sweeter than committing to your own ideas, my friends), here is a rundown of a few of the top reasons I'm given for being unable to commit.

1.)    Too little notice-As in, "I would've TOTALLY loved to come to that, but I've already made plans!  I wish you would have let me know sooner!"  Understandable.  A commitment made should be a commitment honored.

2.)  Too MUCH notice-Y'all, for real.  As in, "I don't know...that's so far away."  Apparently, there is some sort of sweet spot that I have yet to find that is just the RIGHT amount of notice.

3.)  The better offer-Ahh...the better offer excuse.  Let me show you how this one (my favorite!) works.  I shall do it in the form of a dialogue between myself and a friend.

ME:  Hey, _____!  How are you?
THEM:  Good, man!  How are you?
ME:  I'm great-hey, listen.  Did you see that event I invited you to on Facebook?
THEM (looking nervous):  Yeah...I did...
ME:  Can you come?  It should be a lot of fun!
THEM (looking positively UNCOMFORTABLE now):  I'm not sure....I'll have to see
ME:  Oh...you've already got plans?
THEM:  No.  No plans.
ME:  So, you don't want to come?
THEM:  No, I want to.  I just need to see if I'll be available that night.  I don't want to say yes and then not be able to come.

Ah!  "I don't want to say yes and then not be able to come."  In other words, what if I say yes to you, and then something better comes alone?  I'll feel obligated to come to your thing, but I don't really want to!  What's a millennial to do?

This is where I want to dip my toe, ever so slightly, into the pool of Biblical truth and then move back to venting.  I'm not saying that if you're unable to commit to a facebook event you'll be unable to commit to marriage.  I'm not.  I'M NOT.  What I'm saying is that this word of wisdom from John Piper is so good that I think it has applications across many areas of our life.

To paraphrase, Piper says that most people today think of "love" being the soil out of which "commitment" grows in a marriage.  In other words, I love you, so I am committed to you.  But, as Piper points out and every married person can attest, love in a marriage is not constant.  You may always love your spouse (but there will probably be times when you don't), but you certainly don't always love them the same.  If at any moment that love wanes or even dies, there goes your commitment.  Hence the catastrophic divorce rate even among the church.  If, however, we view our commitment as the soil out of which our love grows, then we will have an unshakable foundation for that love.  There will be times when the love will not be there, but the commitment that you made before God and man sustains that love.  (If you're interested, here is that roundtable discussion in which John Piper, Tim Keller, and D.A. Carson discuss marriage:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZiM362HN-Y).

Now, what in the WORLD does that have to do with committing to day-to-day things?  This is what:  making promises is LIBERATING.  Committing is good for the soul.  How do I say that?  Well, first off, read this article:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/decemberweb-only/12-16-56.0.html?start=5.  Done?  Ok, good.  Let me try and draw a contrast between how I think I build my calendar and how it seems that others draw theirs.

When I look at my calendar full of white spaces, I first fill them up with the essentials.  Daily time in the word and prayer, time with faith family on Sunday, time with my small group(s) on Thursday and Wednesday.  Those are the foundations of my week.  Those are sacrosanct.  Next, I want to pay bills, so I add in when I'm working.  Then, I try and see when I can see friends, clean the house, mow the lawn, grocery shop, do some reading, and just be alone.  These are all good things that a person needs to stay balanced.  When a friend of mine asks me to do something, and if I'm available I say yes.  Why?  Because, even if whatever we're doing isn't my favorite thing, I want them to know that they matter to me.  I want them to know that, even if there's THE WORLD'S GREATEST PARTY going on next door, I'm happy to spend time with them.  To be totally honest, there are many people, people that I love dearly, who, when they show up to something that I've invited them to, I don't feel honored or pleased.  I feel, partially, that they just showed up because nothing better came along.

It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that many people get intimidated or greedy when they see white spaces on the calendar.  Intimidated in that, with SO MANY OPTIONS being thrown at them at all times, they are afraid to pick one lest it turn out to be the "wrong" one.  Greedy in that, with SO MANY OPTIONS being thrown at them at all times, they refuse to pick anything lest it not be exactly what they want.  We are a generation with nearly limitless options for life, yet we commit to none of them.  We can do anything and go anywhere, but we stay at home or in our bubble-afraid to make a wrong move.  We can change the world, but we don't for fear that it won't be as fun as something else.  My friends, leave all that behind.  Commit to things-good things!  Make a promise, keep that promise, and know that you are bringing glory to the Father in both of those actions. Now, I'm not telling you to re-up for that kickball league that you love so much, I'm telling you to commit to serving others or spending time with a friend.  Then, if necessary, give up something else to keep that promise!  It's good for you!  There is, of course, a danger in over-committing; I will freely admit to that.  It seems to me, however, that our generation is going to pass away without committing to a single thing that is worthwhile.  I'd fear that far more.  

The offense of the Cross

"Just don't buy any Bibles with crosses on them."  That was the request I got from my best friend a few weeks ago.  My best friend, being the selfish guy that he is, had recently ABANDONED ME and moved overseas to make the Gospel known in an unreached context amongst Muslim peoples.  He then had the gall to ask me to send him a few new Bibles.  Matt needed the new Bibles because he had written in his, and, for a number of reasons that we won't go into in this post, that simply would not do when sharing with Muslims.  Well, as anyone who has stepped foot into a Christian book store can tell you, Bible buying is a tricky business.  What translation?  What size?  What font size?  What features do you want?  What kind of binding?  As we tackled these pressing issues, one issue kept coming up.  "Whatever you get," Matt said, "just don't get one with a cross on the cover.  No crosses."  The cross, you see, offends Muslims.  Well, we finally settled on the right kind of Bibles for Matt (ESV, small and medium size ones, regular, no features, leather), and I was left chuckling over how silly those Muslims were.  Offended by the cross, indeed.  What a bunch of nuts.  As I left the bookstore, securely saddled on my high horse, I was slapped smack dab in the face by the Holy Spirit.  Offended by the cross?  All men are offended by the cross; Muslims just admit it.  

I'll just come right out and say it:  The cross IS offensive.  If you think of the cross as a piece of religious "memorabilia" then you aren't thinking of the same cross as I am.  If you think about the cross as a good example of loving others, then you aren't thinking about the same cross as I am.  If you think about the cross as a piece of our history, then you aren't thinking about the same cross as I am.  The cross is pain.  The cross is torture.  The cross is shame.  The cross is death.  The cross is life.  If you have never been offended by the cross, then you have never seen it for what it is.  

How does the cross offend?  The cross offends by being a real piece of our history and a daily part of our existence.  You see, the cross of Jesus Christ is, before it CAN be anything else, a real event.  Even respected, pagan historians testify that there was a man named Galilee named Jesus who was crucified on a cross around 2000 years ago.  We won't even get into the resurrection in this post, but let's just all agree that Jesus existed, Jesus died on a cross, and Jesus followers began to claim that He was alive almost immediately.  My pastor, David Platt, often makes the statement that wearing a cross around your neck is like wearing an electric chair around your neck.  With respect, that's not even scratching the surface.  I'm not saying the electric chair is a fun way to die, it does not compare the depth and length of suffering that the cross offered.  The cross was created by the Romans as a way to punish and intimidate the worst of the worst of their subjects.  The cross was so barbarous that Roman citizens could not be put to death by crucifixion.  The cross was an all day affair of torture and pain and humiliation.  THAT is what Jesus endured for us.  He was brutally tortured for hours before dying.  When we wear a cross around our neck, we are wearing an instrument of torture.  What's more, Jesus told his followers that, to really follow Him, THEY had to take up their cross and follow him every day.  Want to follow Jesus?  Take up a cross and give away your rights.  The cross is the real death of Jesus and the real death of your own desires.  

How does the cross offend?  The cross offends by showing us just how deep our sin is.  There was a recent controversy within the Presbyterian church that broke my heart.  They voted to remove "In Christ Alone" from their hymnals because the writers would not let them change this line:  "Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied."  They no longer wanted to sing about God's wrath against their sin.  They were offended by the thought that God could be angry at them.  Even more, they were offended by what God's anger says about their sin.  My friends, have no doubt:  the wrath of God is real.  If God was not full of wrath against our sin, then the cross was exactly what one theologian called it, "Divine child abuse."  We all like to think of ourselves as being pretty much OK.  We've drawn a scale in our heads, you see.  On one end is Hitler.  On the other end are people like Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, and Martin Luther King.  In the middle are "regular" criminals.  We like to think of ourselves as not so good as Jesus and not so bad as "regular" criminals.  We're not THAT bad.  We're pretty much good.  The cross destroys that illusion.  There is no scale in God's eyes.  We all-me, you, everyone who has ever lived-are bad.  All the way bad.  We are just as bad as Hitler.  The cross looks at me, regular Joe Andy Wood, and says your wickedness is so deep, so pervasive, so OFFENSIVE before the Holy God of the universe, the only way to remove the shame and the guilt was to kill the Son of God.  The cross tells all of us that our guilt is infinite.  Oh, do we hate that.    

How does the cross offend?  The cross offends by showing us just how helpless we are our to save ourselves.  We're Americans!  We pull ourselves up by our boot straps!  There's nothing we can't fix with a little bit of elbow grease and best intentions!  The cross puts an end to that illusion.  The cross says that not only are we infinitely guilty, but there is no way-NO WAY-that we can remove the guilt on our own.  Our own efforts are, in fact, offensive to God.  Do you see that?  If there was anyway for you and I to "make it right" between us and God, Jesus would not have had to die.  But He DID die-so there is no way for us to be made right before God on our own.  All of our efforts, all of our best intentions, all of our illusions are put to death at the cross.  Your guilt is infinite.  Your efforts are insufficient.  The cross leaves no doubt of either of those facts.  Oh, do we hate that.  

How does the cross give life?  The cross gives life because the Son of God paid our price on that instrument of pain and death 2000 years ago.  Despite all of the offense of the cross (or maybe BECAUSE of the offense of the cross), life can only be found in kneeling before it.  Jesus was tortured and killed on the cross.  You are guilty.  You are unable to save yourself.  But, praise be to God!, we are not without hope because of that cross.  If you are reading this, have you seen your guilt for what it is?  If you are reading this, have you seen your inability to save yourself?  If you have not, I pray that your eyes are opened at this moment.  I pray that you are brought to life through this instrument of death.  The cross is where the wrath of God was poured out on His Holy Son so that guilty sinners like you and I could be declared innocent and enter into His presence.  The way is open to you.  Don't let the offense of the cross be a stumbling block.  Repent, believe, and live.