It's unfortunate you used Pope F as an example. I agree with Joe Serge that this is a poor example; there are many better examples. Going back to scripture, for example... the apostle Paul "I do/am all things in order to win others to Christ."
Is the bible ahead of culture, or behind it? Is it man's perception or God's perception we should be focussing on? Can we distinguish between harmless cultural change, and cultural rebellion?
"It is sad... that they chose to condemn" says you. Are you then condemning the poor Joe who was formerly a RCath and has knowledge of what he speaks? Are you wiser than he, that gives you the right to condemn him, or to condemn his statement? The RCath as an official whole, condemns protestants as heretics and members of false churches who might make it to heaven, by the skin of their non-RC teeth. Pope Francis, in one of the first statements he made, indicated that praying to Mary was his priority. There are evangelists of all stripes, and God can use them all. But given the name we bear as a denomination, "Reformed", it is ironic to use an example from someone who represents the antithesis for our name. We were not born from this church as much as carved out, cast out, and then reshaped. While it is true the RCath church is not what it was during the reformation, it is also true that Joe's statement should be respected and understood. I know other former Catholics who would say the same as Joe. Isn't it sad that you would condemn him?
In modern day knowledge, we know that sin seeds itself, and that the wheat must be sown by a sower. In modern day knowledge, we also know we have ways of spraying out weeds when they are small and have not yet done much harm to the wheat. Maybe there is a parable in that also.
Culture is a mishmash of customs, recreation, laws, all underlain by faith and philosophy of life. So it seems to me that faith and culture are inseparable, just like faith and works. Culture is the true indicator of faith. Yes I agree that God calls us to be culture making, which you counterposed with your statement, "fighting culture would be like fighting movement". Culture fights culture, or presents an alternative.
Apart from analyzing what culture actually is, we know in simple terms that how you live is who you are. That applies to individuals, churches, and society in general.
The type of culture God asks us to make is a culture of faith and obedience. A culture of priorities that put Him first. A culture that does not worship both God and world, but only God alone. A counter culture that recognizes that the world would be content without acknowledging God as Lord and ruler of the universe, and without acknowledging God as ruler of our daily morality and our daily priorities.
A culture of prayer before meals and meetings, vs not. A culture of church on sunday mornings vs the sunday morning hockey rink or basketball hoop. A culture of donating tithes, vs fancy new shoes. A culture of modest dress, vs piercings, porn, and skin mutilations. A culture of care and mercy, vs equality of outcomes. A culture of work vs sloth. A culture of sharing food, vs sharing drunken revelry. The seedlings of cultural sins are easier to destroy than fullgrown vines that have already entangled and diminished the fruits of faith. But are we being servants of the sower, or are we already entangled by a culture which has rebelled against the sower?
Chris, I thought I would check on CS Lewis perspective on joy. For him, apparently joy was intense longing. Perhaps that makes sense. When we are really joyful, we have a longing for something better than we normally experience, which we sometimes see some glimpses in out-of-the-ordinary events. Apparently, when he became a Christian, he no longer looked for joy, or it was no longer an issue for him, since his relationship with God replaced the feelings he had in looking for something he was missing.
I think we need to distinguish between embracing joy, and rejoicing in Christ. Embracing Christ. Whether "joyful", pleasant, or unpleasant, Christ is Lord of our lives. The joy He gives allows Paul and Silas to sing in prison, but, they were in prison. The joy of God's grace allowed the reformers to publish bibles at the risk of their lives, and some paid with their lives. Joy should not be our focus. We could get joy from possessions, health, drugs, music, family. Christ should be our focus. That will give us the joy that lasts thru tinsel and terror, thru trial and error.
Yes, we should celebrate Christ's victories through us by testifying and sharing. We should rejoice in His victory in our singing, in our prayers. Even we should use some christian humor to highlight God's greatness contrasted to our not-greatness. In our church, singing is a joyful event, usually. Piano, violins, guitars, drums all add to the harmony of God's impact on our lives. Potlucks, visiting, children's witness put smiles on our faces. As Piper puts it, "God is most glorified in us when we are satisfied in Him." Seek God's joy, and the rest will follow.
No matter what a synodical committee came up with, this is a difficult issue to deal with, and their report will not make it any easier. It is always difficult to find a balance between grace and sanctified living, which means how do you love the sinner without making the sin itself seem acceptable? Nor is it easy for people to live sexually pure lives. It often takes a lot of hard work, especially when we remember what Jesus said about adultery, for example, that if you even look on someone with lust you have already committed adultery. (or presumably fornication). I'm not sure what is implied by "robust theology"; why not concentrate on a biblical theology? and it seems to me we already have that.... just how eager are we to live by it?
Chris, I will add one after thought in terms of sharing throughout at least one event during the rest of the year. When young people or older people make profession of faith, do not read the form in church. Simply indicate that it was read in the council meeting, and that they agreed to it. Instead, have each one give their personal testimony of why they chose at this time to publicly acknowledge their faith, and what their faith means to them, and what difference it will make in their life. This would add beauty, joy and grace to our communal worship in a way that we usually do not see.
And for those not yet ready to make a formal "profession for membership", encourage some to make a personal testimony from time to time to share the growth in their knowledge and walk with God. (using discretion) From the heart. This brings beauty and joy and witness in contrast to the stilted, formalized procedures and formalities, which leave doubt, a lack of edification, or a lack of connection with the observers.
For those who don't feel equipped, I suggest that you look for and purchase some Christian literature on the subject, as there is much available. In response to Daniel Z, while we agree that it is not always easy to love the sinner while not making the sin seem acceptable, this is something that does need to be done and worked at. There is not always a simple formula for it.
On the other hand, Daniel's other comments stray into the area of making the sin seem acceptable. By simply saying that there are two points of view on this, both supposedly equally valid, and that we ought to study this all over again, the sin begins to seem acceptable. This is an old topic now, discussed at least for forty years. There is much literature available on understanding the scriptures that speak to this issue. No matter what physiological conditions are attributed to certain inclinations, it does not really change the moral implications. So putting together a new study on scripture directions for homosex will never make it better, only worse, because of our own sinful inclinations to make excuses for sin.
We can better concentrate on how to love the sinner without excusing the sin, without making the sin seem acceptable. This applies to a much broader area than just homosex, since it also includes dealing with premarital sex, adultery, theft, porn, vulgar language, abortion, etc. I think we already have lots of information on that, and know what our direction should be on that, but we instinctively don't want to walk the talk. We are naturally inclined, as our confessions and scripture indicate, to make excuses for our sin, to "turn the grace of God into a license for immorality" (Jude). What we need to do is pray more for God to give us strength to mount up like eagles and live the life of faith. As in Romans 1, we are "called to the obedience that comes from faith..."
Ryan, this morning I was reading from the passage in Matthew 7:21 that says there are many who will say "Lord, Lord" and yet will not enter heaven. They prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles, and yet God will say, "why were you not obedient? Get away from me!"
Productivity is an economic term, but obedience is what God is asking for. God makes us productive when we are obedient, not by the number of sermons, services, songs, miracles, conversions, healings, visits. Our productivity will never replace our disobedience or our lack of repentance.
However, I appreciate your practical suggestions about patience, hope, trusting in Jesus daily, sabbath, and focus, are very useful in the right context.
Your article was really pertinent, Ryan. Well written too.
I was recently involved in a conversation where three aspects or emphases of christian perspective often found in the crc were mentioned. These included doctrinalism (having your beliefs right), pietism (living right before God), and transformationalism (changing the world, or Christ changing the world's institutions and relationships). What we need to understand as Christians is how these three aspects fit together. We need to start with good doctrine. For example, if we say that we can earn our own way to heaven by our good works, then our living right and our transformation of education and work and the government will be in vain. After we have our doctrine right, then we can understand the purpose of true piety, which is to repent and bring glory to God. In addition, as book of James says, faith without works is dead. Doctrine needs not just to be believed, but to be lived. The transforming of society or of institutions (Christian schools, labor associations, christian farmers federation, etc.) is an extension of the transformation of our own selves. We cannot sidestep our own personal morality by focussing our attention on outward institutions. Conversely, we cannot be truly pious personally, if we ignore God's claims on all aspects of our life, which includes how we educate our children, how we do our work, and how we impliment laws in society. All three of these aspects of our faith life are equally important in the life of each Christ follower. Transformation of belief, leads to transformation of our life, leads to transformation of the world around us.
Posted in: An Evangelizing Joy
It's unfortunate you used Pope F as an example. I agree with Joe Serge that this is a poor example; there are many better examples. Going back to scripture, for example... the apostle Paul "I do/am all things in order to win others to Christ."
Posted in: Angst
Is the bible ahead of culture, or behind it? Is it man's perception or God's perception we should be focussing on? Can we distinguish between harmless cultural change, and cultural rebellion?
Posted in: Understanding Islam, Loving Muslims
Shawn, are you a muslim now, and would you read the new testament of the bible?
Posted in: An Evangelizing Joy
"It is sad... that they chose to condemn" says you. Are you then condemning the poor Joe who was formerly a RCath and has knowledge of what he speaks? Are you wiser than he, that gives you the right to condemn him, or to condemn his statement? The RCath as an official whole, condemns protestants as heretics and members of false churches who might make it to heaven, by the skin of their non-RC teeth. Pope Francis, in one of the first statements he made, indicated that praying to Mary was his priority. There are evangelists of all stripes, and God can use them all. But given the name we bear as a denomination, "Reformed", it is ironic to use an example from someone who represents the antithesis for our name. We were not born from this church as much as carved out, cast out, and then reshaped. While it is true the RCath church is not what it was during the reformation, it is also true that Joe's statement should be respected and understood. I know other former Catholics who would say the same as Joe. Isn't it sad that you would condemn him?
Posted in: Angst
In modern day knowledge, we know that sin seeds itself, and that the wheat must be sown by a sower. In modern day knowledge, we also know we have ways of spraying out weeds when they are small and have not yet done much harm to the wheat. Maybe there is a parable in that also.
Culture is a mishmash of customs, recreation, laws, all underlain by faith and philosophy of life. So it seems to me that faith and culture are inseparable, just like faith and works. Culture is the true indicator of faith. Yes I agree that God calls us to be culture making, which you counterposed with your statement, "fighting culture would be like fighting movement". Culture fights culture, or presents an alternative.
Apart from analyzing what culture actually is, we know in simple terms that how you live is who you are. That applies to individuals, churches, and society in general.
The type of culture God asks us to make is a culture of faith and obedience. A culture of priorities that put Him first. A culture that does not worship both God and world, but only God alone. A counter culture that recognizes that the world would be content without acknowledging God as Lord and ruler of the universe, and without acknowledging God as ruler of our daily morality and our daily priorities.
A culture of prayer before meals and meetings, vs not. A culture of church on sunday mornings vs the sunday morning hockey rink or basketball hoop. A culture of donating tithes, vs fancy new shoes. A culture of modest dress, vs piercings, porn, and skin mutilations. A culture of care and mercy, vs equality of outcomes. A culture of work vs sloth. A culture of sharing food, vs sharing drunken revelry. The seedlings of cultural sins are easier to destroy than fullgrown vines that have already entangled and diminished the fruits of faith. But are we being servants of the sower, or are we already entangled by a culture which has rebelled against the sower?
Posted in: An Evangelizing Joy
Chris, I thought I would check on CS Lewis perspective on joy. For him, apparently joy was intense longing. Perhaps that makes sense. When we are really joyful, we have a longing for something better than we normally experience, which we sometimes see some glimpses in out-of-the-ordinary events. Apparently, when he became a Christian, he no longer looked for joy, or it was no longer an issue for him, since his relationship with God replaced the feelings he had in looking for something he was missing.
I think we need to distinguish between embracing joy, and rejoicing in Christ. Embracing Christ. Whether "joyful", pleasant, or unpleasant, Christ is Lord of our lives. The joy He gives allows Paul and Silas to sing in prison, but, they were in prison. The joy of God's grace allowed the reformers to publish bibles at the risk of their lives, and some paid with their lives. Joy should not be our focus. We could get joy from possessions, health, drugs, music, family. Christ should be our focus. That will give us the joy that lasts thru tinsel and terror, thru trial and error.
Yes, we should celebrate Christ's victories through us by testifying and sharing. We should rejoice in His victory in our singing, in our prayers. Even we should use some christian humor to highlight God's greatness contrasted to our not-greatness. In our church, singing is a joyful event, usually. Piano, violins, guitars, drums all add to the harmony of God's impact on our lives. Potlucks, visiting, children's witness put smiles on our faces. As Piper puts it, "God is most glorified in us when we are satisfied in Him." Seek God's joy, and the rest will follow.
Posted in: Are We Fully Equipped?
No matter what a synodical committee came up with, this is a difficult issue to deal with, and their report will not make it any easier. It is always difficult to find a balance between grace and sanctified living, which means how do you love the sinner without making the sin itself seem acceptable? Nor is it easy for people to live sexually pure lives. It often takes a lot of hard work, especially when we remember what Jesus said about adultery, for example, that if you even look on someone with lust you have already committed adultery. (or presumably fornication). I'm not sure what is implied by "robust theology"; why not concentrate on a biblical theology? and it seems to me we already have that.... just how eager are we to live by it?
Posted in: An Evangelizing Joy
Chris, I will add one after thought in terms of sharing throughout at least one event during the rest of the year. When young people or older people make profession of faith, do not read the form in church. Simply indicate that it was read in the council meeting, and that they agreed to it. Instead, have each one give their personal testimony of why they chose at this time to publicly acknowledge their faith, and what their faith means to them, and what difference it will make in their life. This would add beauty, joy and grace to our communal worship in a way that we usually do not see.
And for those not yet ready to make a formal "profession for membership", encourage some to make a personal testimony from time to time to share the growth in their knowledge and walk with God. (using discretion) From the heart. This brings beauty and joy and witness in contrast to the stilted, formalized procedures and formalities, which leave doubt, a lack of edification, or a lack of connection with the observers.
Posted in: Are We Fully Equipped?
For those who don't feel equipped, I suggest that you look for and purchase some Christian literature on the subject, as there is much available. In response to Daniel Z, while we agree that it is not always easy to love the sinner while not making the sin seem acceptable, this is something that does need to be done and worked at. There is not always a simple formula for it.
On the other hand, Daniel's other comments stray into the area of making the sin seem acceptable. By simply saying that there are two points of view on this, both supposedly equally valid, and that we ought to study this all over again, the sin begins to seem acceptable. This is an old topic now, discussed at least for forty years. There is much literature available on understanding the scriptures that speak to this issue. No matter what physiological conditions are attributed to certain inclinations, it does not really change the moral implications. So putting together a new study on scripture directions for homosex will never make it better, only worse, because of our own sinful inclinations to make excuses for sin.
We can better concentrate on how to love the sinner without excusing the sin, without making the sin seem acceptable. This applies to a much broader area than just homosex, since it also includes dealing with premarital sex, adultery, theft, porn, vulgar language, abortion, etc. I think we already have lots of information on that, and know what our direction should be on that, but we instinctively don't want to walk the talk. We are naturally inclined, as our confessions and scripture indicate, to make excuses for our sin, to "turn the grace of God into a license for immorality" (Jude). What we need to do is pray more for God to give us strength to mount up like eagles and live the life of faith. As in Romans 1, we are "called to the obedience that comes from faith..."
Posted in: Understanding Islam, Loving Muslims
Why do you prefer the King James version of the Bible? And can I ask what is your favorite verse in the new testament?
Posted in: Gospel-Driven Productivity
Ryan, this morning I was reading from the passage in Matthew 7:21 that says there are many who will say "Lord, Lord" and yet will not enter heaven. They prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles, and yet God will say, "why were you not obedient? Get away from me!"
Productivity is an economic term, but obedience is what God is asking for. God makes us productive when we are obedient, not by the number of sermons, services, songs, miracles, conversions, healings, visits. Our productivity will never replace our disobedience or our lack of repentance.
However, I appreciate your practical suggestions about patience, hope, trusting in Jesus daily, sabbath, and focus, are very useful in the right context.
Posted in: The Gospel Affects Everything
Your article was really pertinent, Ryan. Well written too.
I was recently involved in a conversation where three aspects or emphases of christian perspective often found in the crc were mentioned. These included doctrinalism (having your beliefs right), pietism (living right before God), and transformationalism (changing the world, or Christ changing the world's institutions and relationships). What we need to understand as Christians is how these three aspects fit together. We need to start with good doctrine. For example, if we say that we can earn our own way to heaven by our good works, then our living right and our transformation of education and work and the government will be in vain. After we have our doctrine right, then we can understand the purpose of true piety, which is to repent and bring glory to God. In addition, as book of James says, faith without works is dead. Doctrine needs not just to be believed, but to be lived. The transforming of society or of institutions (Christian schools, labor associations, christian farmers federation, etc.) is an extension of the transformation of our own selves. We cannot sidestep our own personal morality by focussing our attention on outward institutions. Conversely, we cannot be truly pious personally, if we ignore God's claims on all aspects of our life, which includes how we educate our children, how we do our work, and how we impliment laws in society. All three of these aspects of our faith life are equally important in the life of each Christ follower. Transformation of belief, leads to transformation of our life, leads to transformation of the world around us.