This is an excellent article by my friend Russell Roberts.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sometimes love is spelled DISCIPLINE.
As parents of three wonderful children, my wife Emily and I find ourselves having to discipline them on a daily basis. We do this because we love them.
My purpose for this blog today is not to discuss discipline in the home but rather in the church. I find it difficult, to say the least, to confront people in minor disagreements, much more when it is high-handed or presumptuous sin. However, as disciples of Christ we are charged to confront our brothers and sisters of their sin so that they will repent and be restored. It is a joyful time when this is done and the person repents. On the flip side it is tragic when they choose to lie, cover up, reject the truth, or just simply say their sorry and remain in their sin with the hope that God will forgive them anyway. No matter how difficult it is for you it is still necessary to do the right thing. Act in love, confront them, and if necessary practice church discipline.
Recently, I learned of a family member that was living in adultery. She was confronted and her first impulse was to lie, explain it away, and cover it up. Eventually, she confessed to the truth, said she was sorry and ashamed, but remained in the adulterous relationship. Many attempts were made by several people, individually and collectively, to get her to repent and stop the adultery. All attempts were done with love as the motivating force. Though none of the confrontations seemed to do any good they were still necessary. In an instance such as this it is necessary that we invoke church discipline. Church discipline is never easy but nevertheless is extremely important, especially when the believer is pridefully "puffed up". A good example of how this should be done can be found in I Corinthians 5. I have posted a link to a commentary that I found helpful on this passage of scripture.
It is tragic when one of our brothers or sisters fall into sin. It is even more tragic when we let them continue without saying a word.
Click here for Commentary on 1Cor 5
Click me too!
My purpose for this blog today is not to discuss discipline in the home but rather in the church. I find it difficult, to say the least, to confront people in minor disagreements, much more when it is high-handed or presumptuous sin. However, as disciples of Christ we are charged to confront our brothers and sisters of their sin so that they will repent and be restored. It is a joyful time when this is done and the person repents. On the flip side it is tragic when they choose to lie, cover up, reject the truth, or just simply say their sorry and remain in their sin with the hope that God will forgive them anyway. No matter how difficult it is for you it is still necessary to do the right thing. Act in love, confront them, and if necessary practice church discipline.
Recently, I learned of a family member that was living in adultery. She was confronted and her first impulse was to lie, explain it away, and cover it up. Eventually, she confessed to the truth, said she was sorry and ashamed, but remained in the adulterous relationship. Many attempts were made by several people, individually and collectively, to get her to repent and stop the adultery. All attempts were done with love as the motivating force. Though none of the confrontations seemed to do any good they were still necessary. In an instance such as this it is necessary that we invoke church discipline. Church discipline is never easy but nevertheless is extremely important, especially when the believer is pridefully "puffed up". A good example of how this should be done can be found in I Corinthians 5. I have posted a link to a commentary that I found helpful on this passage of scripture.
It is tragic when one of our brothers or sisters fall into sin. It is even more tragic when we let them continue without saying a word.
Click here for Commentary on 1Cor 5
Click me too!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Body of Christ
If you believe in Jesus as the Messiah, then know this, you are the embodiment of Christ. So live like it. Life is not about you. It's about Jesus. Jesus is not a fad or a gimmick. He is not like a slot machine. Don't think for one minute that if you place your faith in him then all your problems will be over. What really happens when you place your faith in him is that sometimes life gets harder. You don't always get what you want but you find out that what you wanted is not that important. What is important is that Jesus be glorified in your life.
Please, don't lose focus of what is really important in life. Love your brother and you will be loving Jesus. If I have all things but have not love then I have nothing. If you want to know how to express your love to Jesus. then love you brother, your spouse, your children, your employer, your enemies, your friends, and your family. Jesus said that what you've done to the least of these, my brothers, then you've done it unto him. Let's love one another. That doesn't mean that you will always have some kind of special feelings or emotions for someone, but you make a decision to put their needs above your own. Love is not a feeling. Tell someone you love them today, then actually love them by doing something for them.
Please, don't lose focus of what is really important in life. Love your brother and you will be loving Jesus. If I have all things but have not love then I have nothing. If you want to know how to express your love to Jesus. then love you brother, your spouse, your children, your employer, your enemies, your friends, and your family. Jesus said that what you've done to the least of these, my brothers, then you've done it unto him. Let's love one another. That doesn't mean that you will always have some kind of special feelings or emotions for someone, but you make a decision to put their needs above your own. Love is not a feeling. Tell someone you love them today, then actually love them by doing something for them.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ooooh... Eunuch! I Thought You Said Unique.
Here lies my "best friend" Duke. After tomorrow he'll be a new man, or should I say a new dog.
Tomorrow he goes to the vet to get his guidance system removed. Say goodbye to the family jewels, Duke. Look on the bright side bud - at least you want have to worry about some old girl breaking your heart.
I know you probably think I'm cruel for having this handsome fellow castrated. Well it is pretty cruel, but it's not all my fault. I had a talk with Duke about it and asked him if had any concerns. He just sat there looking up at me, as if to say, "I couldn't care less". I guess we'll find out tomorrow my friend.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
N.T. Wright on sola scriptura
I am sooo jealous of Trevin Wax for getting the opportunity to interview N.T Wright. I have posted one of his blog entries below for your enjoyment. Check out Trevins website, he has some really good content.
Trevin Wax: How does the doctrine of sola Scriptura influence your work and your method?
N.T. Wright: Well, in terms of method, sola Scriptura is what I’ve always tried to do, basically. You could put it negatively… If you find yourself thinking down a track where you think, Oh, well, if I go there, that’ll mean ditching this bit of the Bible or that bit, then all sorts of warning lights flash and say, “You probably shouldn’t be going there!” It may be that you’ve misheard your own mind, as it were, and there may be a way through this because there are always puzzles that we hit, but basically, my aim has been to expound Scripture and to expound Scripture in such a way that I do not set one Scripture over against another.
However, I have to say, and my work on the authority of Scripture, which you probably know – a little book called The Last Word in America. Silly title, by the way. That was Harper’s folly to call it that. It wasn’t my idea. Fancy having a book called The Last Word! I mean… it’s very silly. If I was going to write a book called The Last Word it would be on Christology, not on Scripture. “In the last days, God has spoken to us by his Son…”
But I’ve been trying to stress that the risen Jesus does not say to the disciples, “All authority on heaven and earth is given to the books you chaps are going to go off and write.” He says, “All authority on heaven and earth is given to Me.” So that if we say that Scripture is authoritative, what we must actually mean is that the authority which is vested in Christ alone is mediated through Scripture.
That’s a more complicated thing than simply having a book on the shelf, full of right answers that you can go and look up. It’s more a way of saying that when we read Scripture and determine to live under it, we are actually saying we want to live under the sovereign lordship of Jesus mediated through this book.
When you say it like that, then all sorts of other things happen as a result, like what is the sovereign lordship of Jesus all about? Is it simply to fill our heads with right answers to difficult questions? Well, right answers to difficult questions are better than wrong answers to difficult questions. But no, the authority of Jesus Christ is there to transform and heal and save the world, to make the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. So the question then is, how does the authority of Scripture serve that purpose?. And that’s actually much more interesting than simply using Scripture to settle or raise indeed doctrinal disputes within the church.
Trevin Wax: How does the doctrine of sola Scriptura influence your work and your method?
N.T. Wright: Well, in terms of method, sola Scriptura is what I’ve always tried to do, basically. You could put it negatively… If you find yourself thinking down a track where you think, Oh, well, if I go there, that’ll mean ditching this bit of the Bible or that bit, then all sorts of warning lights flash and say, “You probably shouldn’t be going there!” It may be that you’ve misheard your own mind, as it were, and there may be a way through this because there are always puzzles that we hit, but basically, my aim has been to expound Scripture and to expound Scripture in such a way that I do not set one Scripture over against another.
However, I have to say, and my work on the authority of Scripture, which you probably know – a little book called The Last Word in America. Silly title, by the way. That was Harper’s folly to call it that. It wasn’t my idea. Fancy having a book called The Last Word! I mean… it’s very silly. If I was going to write a book called The Last Word it would be on Christology, not on Scripture. “In the last days, God has spoken to us by his Son…”
But I’ve been trying to stress that the risen Jesus does not say to the disciples, “All authority on heaven and earth is given to the books you chaps are going to go off and write.” He says, “All authority on heaven and earth is given to Me.” So that if we say that Scripture is authoritative, what we must actually mean is that the authority which is vested in Christ alone is mediated through Scripture.
That’s a more complicated thing than simply having a book on the shelf, full of right answers that you can go and look up. It’s more a way of saying that when we read Scripture and determine to live under it, we are actually saying we want to live under the sovereign lordship of Jesus mediated through this book.
When you say it like that, then all sorts of other things happen as a result, like what is the sovereign lordship of Jesus all about? Is it simply to fill our heads with right answers to difficult questions? Well, right answers to difficult questions are better than wrong answers to difficult questions. But no, the authority of Jesus Christ is there to transform and heal and save the world, to make the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. So the question then is, how does the authority of Scripture serve that purpose?. And that’s actually much more interesting than simply using Scripture to settle or raise indeed doctrinal disputes within the church.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Love is a Verb
This post was written by my dear friend Russell Roberts.
Love, as taught in the Bible, is a verb, not an emotion. It is a choice, a determination to seek the benefit of another, even at the expense of ones self. It was supremely and graphically demonstrated on the cross when Jesus 'loved his disciples unto the end.' It is an amusing fact that we don't necessarily have to like those whom we choose to love. It is wonderful when those two ideas coincide but they don't always. The failure to understand this principle is the reason that most marriages fail. The chemicals in the brain that caused the excitement we once felt eventually wear off. Then, hopefully, we make the choice to love.
My pastor is fond of joking that the only thing that kept Peter's sword out of Matthew's back is that Jesus slept between them. For those who don't know, Peter was a Zealot, a patriot bent on overthrowing Roman oppression of the Jews. Matthew was a tax collector who, in effect, worked for Rome. Tax collectors were considered to be traitors. You can understand how there might be some animosity between them but you can rest assured that they loved each other. The characteristics of love are described in I Corinthians 13 in the Bible.
1Co 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.
6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends............
Love is a death to self. As such, love transcends life. That is what Christmas is all about. God loved his creation so much that he sent Jesus, gift-wrapped in swaddling clothes, to accomplish what nobody else had been able to do: To light the way for the rest of the world. From the cross Jesus shined forth like a beacon to humanity crying out "This is the Way". Jesus had every right to stay where he was in heaven with God the Father. He is equal with God. But Jesus understood his equality with God, not as a right to be exploited, but as something that uniquely qualified him for the task at hand, to save creation.
We Christians ought to think the same way. God, dwelling in us, is not a right to be exploited but uniquely qualifies us for the task at hand, to love as Jesus loved, to voluntarily offer our lives as a sacrifice on behalf of others. Merry Christmas my beloved blog readers!
Php 2:4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
Php 2:5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
Php 2:6 who though he existed in the form of Goddid not regard equality with Godas something to be grasped,
Php 2:7 but emptied himselfby taking on the form of a slave,by looking like other men,and by sharing in human nature.
Php 2:8 He humbled himself,by becoming obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross!
Php 2:9 As a result God exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,
Php 2:10 so that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth —
Php 2:11 and every tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is Lordto the glory of God the Father.
Love, as taught in the Bible, is a verb, not an emotion. It is a choice, a determination to seek the benefit of another, even at the expense of ones self. It was supremely and graphically demonstrated on the cross when Jesus 'loved his disciples unto the end.' It is an amusing fact that we don't necessarily have to like those whom we choose to love. It is wonderful when those two ideas coincide but they don't always. The failure to understand this principle is the reason that most marriages fail. The chemicals in the brain that caused the excitement we once felt eventually wear off. Then, hopefully, we make the choice to love.
My pastor is fond of joking that the only thing that kept Peter's sword out of Matthew's back is that Jesus slept between them. For those who don't know, Peter was a Zealot, a patriot bent on overthrowing Roman oppression of the Jews. Matthew was a tax collector who, in effect, worked for Rome. Tax collectors were considered to be traitors. You can understand how there might be some animosity between them but you can rest assured that they loved each other. The characteristics of love are described in I Corinthians 13 in the Bible.
1Co 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.
6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends............
Love is a death to self. As such, love transcends life. That is what Christmas is all about. God loved his creation so much that he sent Jesus, gift-wrapped in swaddling clothes, to accomplish what nobody else had been able to do: To light the way for the rest of the world. From the cross Jesus shined forth like a beacon to humanity crying out "This is the Way". Jesus had every right to stay where he was in heaven with God the Father. He is equal with God. But Jesus understood his equality with God, not as a right to be exploited, but as something that uniquely qualified him for the task at hand, to save creation.
We Christians ought to think the same way. God, dwelling in us, is not a right to be exploited but uniquely qualifies us for the task at hand, to love as Jesus loved, to voluntarily offer our lives as a sacrifice on behalf of others. Merry Christmas my beloved blog readers!
Php 2:4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
Php 2:5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
Php 2:6 who though he existed in the form of Goddid not regard equality with Godas something to be grasped,
Php 2:7 but emptied himselfby taking on the form of a slave,by looking like other men,and by sharing in human nature.
Php 2:8 He humbled himself,by becoming obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross!
Php 2:9 As a result God exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,
Php 2:10 so that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth —
Php 2:11 and every tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is Lordto the glory of God the Father.
Friday, December 21, 2007
I Passed
Well, if your wondering why there hasn't been much blogging going on lately, its because I have been preparing for the state exam to obtain my appraisal certification, which I passed this morning. There will be no excuses after the holidays, other than just laziness. I look forward to posting some more on my study in Matthew. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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