What is the core of loving God? Hundreds have written, sung, and debated this for centuries. Here's my addition to the subject. It is loving what he loves and hating what he hates.
What does God love? People. People. People. "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:19-20). Yes, we must love our brother. Love the way our Father loves, sacrificially, laying our lives down for one another.
Loving people also means loving him who is not our brother. Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:12-14). No matter how difficult it is for us to believe God really does love wicked, vile, people. He loves them so much he refuses to leave them wicked and vile. If we love God we will also love this way.
Yet it is not enough to love the things God loves, we must also hate the things he hates. You cannot read the Bible without noticing there are A LOT OF THINGS GOD HATES. Things he calls "detestable" and "abominable." The list is too long to enumerate but can be summed up with words such as idolotry, immorality, abuse, and injustice.
We've all heard the saying, "love the sinner, hate the sin." Unfortunately, this saying is somewhat out of favor as being somewhat impossible to do. Yet our Father does both with such passion and zeal, it puts us to shame. I'm sure a mother can love her son while hating the drugs that are destroying his life. She does not feel any sense of hypocrisy for hating his addiction with every fiber of her being. Actually, her hatred is a sign of her love. For we hate that which destroys someone we love.
Yes, there are those who treat people shamefully in the name of hating sin. We are right to reject such an example even as our Lord did. But that does not mean that we are to embrace the converse. Loving people without loving them out of the sin that is destroying them, is love in name only. While the radical middle may seem elusive, it can be found by simply loving God and allowing His Spirit to live his life through us.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Why are people so self-centered?
Ever asked yourself this question? About someone else of course. It's other people who are self-centered, never YOU!
The unfortunate truth is human beings by nature think of themselves first, and think of themselves often. The truth is, self-centerdness is the human auto pilot. That's who we are when we are born (been around a baby lately?) You can blame it on biology, technology, or sin. It doesn't really matter. The result is the same. The truth is I am self-centered and if you are honest you'll admit so are you. So what do you, I mean we, do about it?
First you have to decide you want to do something about it. This is a value decision. Perhaps you like being self-centered. After all in this context YOU are in the CENTER! On the other hand YOU in the center may not be working out so great for you, so you say, "Yeh, I don't want to be self-centered any more." This is a good start.
You could decide just to be more other-centered. In other words, value others more than you value yourself. Personally speaking, I find it difficult to value others more than myself. I'm just not as concerned about others as I am about ME! I don't think about others as much as a think about ME! I don't think I love others, quite as much as I love ME! I guess its cause I'm around ME so often, all the time actually. So this really doesn't work for me. It might work for you, and if it does, don't let me discourage you. Go ahead...
What does work for me is being Christ-centered. You see, I do value him more than myself, because the truth is he IS more valuable. The first reason being He is God and I'm not. Forget reasons 2-10,000. I don't really think they matter much once we establish reason #1.
Jesus once said, "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." This too is a value statement. A woman had poured a box of very expensive perfume over Jesus. One his followers, one of his closest actually, objected saying, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." Unfortunately, his motives were not exactly pure. The writer lets us in on the secret that this fellow, actually the treasurer of the group, did not say this "because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." Putting all this drama aside, Jesus reply is still extremely interesting. He basically says, the best use for this extremely costly item is not the care of the poor but ME!!!
Now before you accuse Jesus of being self-centered, something that a person who lays down his life for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD is probably NOT guilty of. Think about this. Jesus knew who he was and his value. He IS more valuable than the poor and one of the ways we can demonstrate His value to us as believers is to care for the poor, feed the hungry, practice hospitality, and in general be other-focused. You see when you focus on Christ, you end up focusing on those He focused on- OTHERS! This does work for me. Try it! It might work for you too.
The unfortunate truth is human beings by nature think of themselves first, and think of themselves often. The truth is, self-centerdness is the human auto pilot. That's who we are when we are born (been around a baby lately?) You can blame it on biology, technology, or sin. It doesn't really matter. The result is the same. The truth is I am self-centered and if you are honest you'll admit so are you. So what do you, I mean we, do about it?
First you have to decide you want to do something about it. This is a value decision. Perhaps you like being self-centered. After all in this context YOU are in the CENTER! On the other hand YOU in the center may not be working out so great for you, so you say, "Yeh, I don't want to be self-centered any more." This is a good start.
You could decide just to be more other-centered. In other words, value others more than you value yourself. Personally speaking, I find it difficult to value others more than myself. I'm just not as concerned about others as I am about ME! I don't think about others as much as a think about ME! I don't think I love others, quite as much as I love ME! I guess its cause I'm around ME so often, all the time actually. So this really doesn't work for me. It might work for you, and if it does, don't let me discourage you. Go ahead...
What does work for me is being Christ-centered. You see, I do value him more than myself, because the truth is he IS more valuable. The first reason being He is God and I'm not. Forget reasons 2-10,000. I don't really think they matter much once we establish reason #1.
Jesus once said, "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." This too is a value statement. A woman had poured a box of very expensive perfume over Jesus. One his followers, one of his closest actually, objected saying, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." Unfortunately, his motives were not exactly pure. The writer lets us in on the secret that this fellow, actually the treasurer of the group, did not say this "because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." Putting all this drama aside, Jesus reply is still extremely interesting. He basically says, the best use for this extremely costly item is not the care of the poor but ME!!!
Now before you accuse Jesus of being self-centered, something that a person who lays down his life for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD is probably NOT guilty of. Think about this. Jesus knew who he was and his value. He IS more valuable than the poor and one of the ways we can demonstrate His value to us as believers is to care for the poor, feed the hungry, practice hospitality, and in general be other-focused. You see when you focus on Christ, you end up focusing on those He focused on- OTHERS! This does work for me. Try it! It might work for you too.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Breathe
Take breath in. Now let it out. This is the most basic of life functions: breathing. Yet, while, it is also the most essential of life functions, it is, for the most part, involuntary. You don’t have to think about breathing. You do it whether you are asleep or awake, whether resting or working, whether crying or laughing. The moment you cease to breath, you cease to live.
Breathing is the physical manifestation of a spiritual reality. Just as breath is essential to physical life, the “breath of God” is essential to spiritual life. We are not alive until it is breathed into us for the first time. The Bible calls this “being born again”. How clear an analogy of the absolutely indispensable quality of this breath!
Like the physical we need this breath for all of life, the vital and the mundane. There is no part excluded from our need of breath. Jesus expressed this truth when he said, “without me you can do nothing,” for he came to give “life and life more abundant.” How easy it is for Christians to deceive themselves into thinking their need for God’s sustenance is only for those spiritual or religious acts such as praying, worshiping, or doing ministry. What is prayer but spiritual communion with God which we are commanded to do “without ceasing?” What is worship but a life submitted to His Sovereign Lordship? What is ministry but service to God and man? Is there a time we are not praying, worshipping or serving in some way? Is there anything we can do without the breath of God?
Unlike the physical though, this breath is not completed involuntary. Yes, God breaths into us, as he did into Adam and as Christ did unto his disciples when he said, “receive the Holy Spirit.” We too are given this Spirit whose name literally means “breath,” but unlike the physical we must participate in our breathing. It is not completely involuntary, nor is it completely voluntary. It is a beautiful dynamic of the Father’s provision, through the Son, of the Spirit! Life in the Spirit IS the life of God, breathing in, breathing out. 100% me, 100% God. So go ahead. Breathe.
Breathing is the physical manifestation of a spiritual reality. Just as breath is essential to physical life, the “breath of God” is essential to spiritual life. We are not alive until it is breathed into us for the first time. The Bible calls this “being born again”. How clear an analogy of the absolutely indispensable quality of this breath!
Like the physical we need this breath for all of life, the vital and the mundane. There is no part excluded from our need of breath. Jesus expressed this truth when he said, “without me you can do nothing,” for he came to give “life and life more abundant.” How easy it is for Christians to deceive themselves into thinking their need for God’s sustenance is only for those spiritual or religious acts such as praying, worshiping, or doing ministry. What is prayer but spiritual communion with God which we are commanded to do “without ceasing?” What is worship but a life submitted to His Sovereign Lordship? What is ministry but service to God and man? Is there a time we are not praying, worshipping or serving in some way? Is there anything we can do without the breath of God?
Unlike the physical though, this breath is not completed involuntary. Yes, God breaths into us, as he did into Adam and as Christ did unto his disciples when he said, “receive the Holy Spirit.” We too are given this Spirit whose name literally means “breath,” but unlike the physical we must participate in our breathing. It is not completely involuntary, nor is it completely voluntary. It is a beautiful dynamic of the Father’s provision, through the Son, of the Spirit! Life in the Spirit IS the life of God, breathing in, breathing out. 100% me, 100% God. So go ahead. Breathe.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Game Show Theology
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
I love this scripture. I love it because it has a wonderful yet overlooked truth in it. I don't think I'm alone in loving it. I think there are many out there that are drawn to it, though perhaps not for the same reasons. I think one reason people like it so much is because it talks about reward. People like rewards.
It's like being on a game show. You can win stuff. First there's the blender, but if you can answer the right questions you might be able to trade it in for a car. Sometimes you don't even have to answer a question, just take a gamble between what's behind door number 1 and door number two.
You learn a lot about people watching those shows. I admit I've watched a few, though not many. It's just not my thing. But I've watched enough to know people like to win stuff and sometimes they're willing to go to all sorts of lengths to do so.
This verse may seem a bit "game showy" to some. There's a reward, perhaps a slew of them and there's the key to winning them- faith. Religious movements have been started, millions of books written, and men and women have found fame from the game show application of this verse. "With just a little faith you can have a new house, a new car, maybe even a vacation for two in romantic Italy....." That's with just a little bit of faith, imagine what could be done with a lot.
Unfortunately, actually fortunately, that is not what the writer of Hebrews is communicating to us. He is not giving us the key to winning the heavenly game show. He is telling us something so much simpler and yet so much more profound. Yes faith will win you a reward, but what reward?
Notice what it says, "because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." You get rewarded with what you are seeking for. In other words, God is the reward! We don't seek him to get a new house, new cars, or a vacation anywhere. We seek him to find him!
Jesus taught us this same principle when he said, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). God is the pearl; He is not the currency. The man sold all he had so he could possess the pearl. In doing so he revealed the value he placed on the pearl and that which he placed on everything else.
What are you seeking for? Is God what you desire or are you simply using him to get to other things you really want? What value do you place on him? Is he the treasure you seek, or the currency you use to get the things you really love? Oh, they may not be cars or trips, perhaps its health, joy, and everlasting life.
Our Father is willing to give us Himself, for that is the greatest treasure he can give us. Do you want him or what's behind door number 2? Is that your final answer?
I love this scripture. I love it because it has a wonderful yet overlooked truth in it. I don't think I'm alone in loving it. I think there are many out there that are drawn to it, though perhaps not for the same reasons. I think one reason people like it so much is because it talks about reward. People like rewards.
It's like being on a game show. You can win stuff. First there's the blender, but if you can answer the right questions you might be able to trade it in for a car. Sometimes you don't even have to answer a question, just take a gamble between what's behind door number 1 and door number two.
You learn a lot about people watching those shows. I admit I've watched a few, though not many. It's just not my thing. But I've watched enough to know people like to win stuff and sometimes they're willing to go to all sorts of lengths to do so.
This verse may seem a bit "game showy" to some. There's a reward, perhaps a slew of them and there's the key to winning them- faith. Religious movements have been started, millions of books written, and men and women have found fame from the game show application of this verse. "With just a little faith you can have a new house, a new car, maybe even a vacation for two in romantic Italy....." That's with just a little bit of faith, imagine what could be done with a lot.
Unfortunately, actually fortunately, that is not what the writer of Hebrews is communicating to us. He is not giving us the key to winning the heavenly game show. He is telling us something so much simpler and yet so much more profound. Yes faith will win you a reward, but what reward?
Notice what it says, "because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." You get rewarded with what you are seeking for. In other words, God is the reward! We don't seek him to get a new house, new cars, or a vacation anywhere. We seek him to find him!
Jesus taught us this same principle when he said, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). God is the pearl; He is not the currency. The man sold all he had so he could possess the pearl. In doing so he revealed the value he placed on the pearl and that which he placed on everything else.
What are you seeking for? Is God what you desire or are you simply using him to get to other things you really want? What value do you place on him? Is he the treasure you seek, or the currency you use to get the things you really love? Oh, they may not be cars or trips, perhaps its health, joy, and everlasting life.
Our Father is willing to give us Himself, for that is the greatest treasure he can give us. Do you want him or what's behind door number 2? Is that your final answer?
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