“It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” These were the words of Jesus to Saul (about to become Paul) when Saul’s plans were abruptly interrupted by divine intervention. Goads were pointed sticks used to prod oxen to press forward into their harness, pulling their attached load. The oxen quickly learned that kicking against the goads was a painful endeavor. Life for an ox became easier once submission to the master occurred.
Apparently Saul kicked against the goads in a metaphoric manner. What were the goads against which Saul kicked? What was it that caused him pain and discomfort? What was he resisting? We find the answer later in this account. The words of God to Ananias give insight into the Master’s plan for Saul – “for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”
Saul’s struggle against the Master’s plan resulted in nothing more than pain, frustration, and chaos, not only in Saul’s life but in the lives of those around him as well. During this struggle Saul continued to be a religious leader, a Pharisee of Pharisees, to use his words. His life was filled with religious activity and duty. In spite of the religious activity, he still resisted God’s will, his religiosity providing a cover for his rebellion
And so it is for us today – when we refuse to harmonize with God’s plan, we still find ourselves kicking against the goads in misery. Many Christians are most miserable because they refuse to submit to the hand of the Master. Like Saul, they may engage in a great deal of religious activity all the while kicking against the hand of God. And like Saul, they are most miserable.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
contemporary church
As I look back 10-15 years, I find a lot of myself in the following video. While I believe that our heart was good, the focus became establishing this "cool relevant thing". The conferences we attended all espoused this cookie cutter approach to church. Sunday morning services were cool. We bought into the "cutting edge church liturgy".
This coming Sunday around 10 AM (or at 8:30 and 11:00) you can find a "church" near you just like portrayed in the video. Unfortunately it may be just as devoid of God as what you see in the following clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RJBd8zE48A&feature=player_embedded
This coming Sunday around 10 AM (or at 8:30 and 11:00) you can find a "church" near you just like portrayed in the video. Unfortunately it may be just as devoid of God as what you see in the following clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RJBd8zE48A&feature=player_embedded
Sunday, October 2, 2011
the risk
These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
Lately I have been thinking about all the people who started well in this walk with God but have since deserted the pathway to life. Ten years ago many of the people to whom we related had discovered the works and writings of John Eldredge. His message of the possibilites of a very real heart connection with God stirred our hearts. A whole new world opened before us, a world marked by adventure and life, a world so unlike the dull dutifulness of religious exercise.
And so we embarked on a new journey - pursuing God and being pursued by God. Our dissatisfaction with the emptiness of religious exercise coupled the wild and untamed call of the Holy Spirit drew us to launch into the unknown.
Unfortunately in the ensuing years, people slowly but surely left the pathway to life. One here, two there, they returned to religious exercise from which they came. I still have conversations from time to time with some of those who have returned to the place from which they came. In every conversation I notice the same thing - ta lifelessness, a puposelessness permeates their words and actions. The excitement of following a very real and upredictable God has been replaced with a heaviness that is justified as "the cross I have to bear".
Without a doubt, following Jesus will always take us to and through the cross. However, the "Jesus way" never stops with the cross, rather the cross is simply a portal to eternal life. Conversely the cross devised by human ideas never leads to anywhere but death.
Why would people leave the way of a lifegiving journey with Jesus to return to something that can offer nothing but mediocrity, unfruitfulness and death? That is the question I have mulled for the past weeks. What causes people to trade the goodness of abundant life for the dry morsels of religious duty and exercise?
I think it has to do with risk and cost. There is a very real danger in following Jesus. He requires everything - go sell what you have and come follow me. In that time of decision, suddenly the deadness of the past life seems so safe and attractive. Furthermore Jesus begins to probe into the wounds and unhealthy regions of our life. The ugliness of our wounded heart spills out. We feel needy and small. Once again we are confronted with a choice - will we open our hearts to the Healer with the scalpel or will we close our hearts so our appearance of goodness can be maintained?
The word (the logos) offends them, causing them to stumble. The same word which they received with joy now causes them to fall away.
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Lately I have been thinking about all the people who started well in this walk with God but have since deserted the pathway to life. Ten years ago many of the people to whom we related had discovered the works and writings of John Eldredge. His message of the possibilites of a very real heart connection with God stirred our hearts. A whole new world opened before us, a world marked by adventure and life, a world so unlike the dull dutifulness of religious exercise.
And so we embarked on a new journey - pursuing God and being pursued by God. Our dissatisfaction with the emptiness of religious exercise coupled the wild and untamed call of the Holy Spirit drew us to launch into the unknown.
Unfortunately in the ensuing years, people slowly but surely left the pathway to life. One here, two there, they returned to religious exercise from which they came. I still have conversations from time to time with some of those who have returned to the place from which they came. In every conversation I notice the same thing - ta lifelessness, a puposelessness permeates their words and actions. The excitement of following a very real and upredictable God has been replaced with a heaviness that is justified as "the cross I have to bear".
Without a doubt, following Jesus will always take us to and through the cross. However, the "Jesus way" never stops with the cross, rather the cross is simply a portal to eternal life. Conversely the cross devised by human ideas never leads to anywhere but death.
Why would people leave the way of a lifegiving journey with Jesus to return to something that can offer nothing but mediocrity, unfruitfulness and death? That is the question I have mulled for the past weeks. What causes people to trade the goodness of abundant life for the dry morsels of religious duty and exercise?
I think it has to do with risk and cost. There is a very real danger in following Jesus. He requires everything - go sell what you have and come follow me. In that time of decision, suddenly the deadness of the past life seems so safe and attractive. Furthermore Jesus begins to probe into the wounds and unhealthy regions of our life. The ugliness of our wounded heart spills out. We feel needy and small. Once again we are confronted with a choice - will we open our hearts to the Healer with the scalpel or will we close our hearts so our appearance of goodness can be maintained?
The word (the logos) offends them, causing them to stumble. The same word which they received with joy now causes them to fall away.
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
the woman...and her enemies
As I helped pack some things in preparing for our recent move, I came across a photo of a housewarming party in 1997. We had started Grace Covenant Church nine months earlier and were finally moving into our newly constructed house. People willingly gave of their time to help us finish the house and to help us move from Lewistown. And then they surprised us with a welcome party. We felt loved and appreciated. The future stretched before us, full of possibilities. We planned to change our community and our world. We were so encouraged by the outpouring of support.
I paused for a moment to reflect on the past 14 years. This time our move was differant. Instead of proclaiming how we planned to change the world, we have been led by the Holy Spirit to take a differant approach; a focus not on the glorious but on the insignificant, following the Holy Spirit into a place of nothing-ness.
Our recent move provides a snapshot of the cost of following Jesus. The people in the picture from 14 years ago have all disappeared. Some disappeared quietly, some took parting shots as they walked away, and a few were rather vicious in their attacks on us. So we moved alone this time. Nobody excitedly following us on our journey with Jesus. Please do not think I am complaining. I am simply pointing out what is!
What is the cause for the change, for the abandonment and the attacks? Did we commit some terrible sin? Did we embrace some unbiblical heresy? No, the abandonment and attacks started when we chose the way of Jesus over the ways of church (not the Biblical "ecclesia" but the creation of man). The viciousness of the attacks intensified as we continued to follow Jesus in a practical manner, allowing the "logos" to be our guide. In recent years, we have been falsely accused, literally thrown out of a church service (by the way - this particular group's motto is "worship God, love all".), lied to and lied about.
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. You see - the woman hates the saints of Jesus. She cares not a whit about someones religious affiliation. Her seductive charms are utilized for one purpose and one purpose alone - to disconnect people from the I AM.
As long as one yeilds to her seductiveness she allows whatever belief system one desires to create. However, the moment we turn away from her to embrace the ways of Jesus, she begins to turn her wrath on us. Her choice weapon of attack is not some vile demon. No, it is the ones who have forsaken the way of Jesus to embrace her harlotry.
The first attack will be isolation. She is fully aware of our God-given need for community. So she attempts to isolate us from relationships. Those under her spell suddenly no longer associate with us. The shunning is an effort to drive us back to her bed. She offers community and relationship if only we will disconnect from the I AM.
If the shunning does not bring us back to her fold, the attacks become more intense. She will attempt to destroy us. Baseless accusations will be unleashed on us. Those under her spell will spew her venom without regard for truth. Our words will be carefully critiqued in an effort to find some incriminating statement. If none is found, our words will be subtly twisted to create an appearance of heresy. Throughout history, she has gone as far as inciting physical violence resulting in the death of the saints. Much of the martyrdom has occurred in the name of some god in the protection of some religious system.
The followers of Jesus should not be surprised by the viciousness of her attacks. Jesus himself was crucified by those who purported to be godly.
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
I paused for a moment to reflect on the past 14 years. This time our move was differant. Instead of proclaiming how we planned to change the world, we have been led by the Holy Spirit to take a differant approach; a focus not on the glorious but on the insignificant, following the Holy Spirit into a place of nothing-ness.
Our recent move provides a snapshot of the cost of following Jesus. The people in the picture from 14 years ago have all disappeared. Some disappeared quietly, some took parting shots as they walked away, and a few were rather vicious in their attacks on us. So we moved alone this time. Nobody excitedly following us on our journey with Jesus. Please do not think I am complaining. I am simply pointing out what is!
What is the cause for the change, for the abandonment and the attacks? Did we commit some terrible sin? Did we embrace some unbiblical heresy? No, the abandonment and attacks started when we chose the way of Jesus over the ways of church (not the Biblical "ecclesia" but the creation of man). The viciousness of the attacks intensified as we continued to follow Jesus in a practical manner, allowing the "logos" to be our guide. In recent years, we have been falsely accused, literally thrown out of a church service (by the way - this particular group's motto is "worship God, love all".), lied to and lied about.
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. You see - the woman hates the saints of Jesus. She cares not a whit about someones religious affiliation. Her seductive charms are utilized for one purpose and one purpose alone - to disconnect people from the I AM.
As long as one yeilds to her seductiveness she allows whatever belief system one desires to create. However, the moment we turn away from her to embrace the ways of Jesus, she begins to turn her wrath on us. Her choice weapon of attack is not some vile demon. No, it is the ones who have forsaken the way of Jesus to embrace her harlotry.
The first attack will be isolation. She is fully aware of our God-given need for community. So she attempts to isolate us from relationships. Those under her spell suddenly no longer associate with us. The shunning is an effort to drive us back to her bed. She offers community and relationship if only we will disconnect from the I AM.
If the shunning does not bring us back to her fold, the attacks become more intense. She will attempt to destroy us. Baseless accusations will be unleashed on us. Those under her spell will spew her venom without regard for truth. Our words will be carefully critiqued in an effort to find some incriminating statement. If none is found, our words will be subtly twisted to create an appearance of heresy. Throughout history, she has gone as far as inciting physical violence resulting in the death of the saints. Much of the martyrdom has occurred in the name of some god in the protection of some religious system.
The followers of Jesus should not be surprised by the viciousness of her attacks. Jesus himself was crucified by those who purported to be godly.
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
Friday, September 9, 2011
oswald chambers
I don't often post the writings of other poeple. However, this morning I read something written by Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest. It expresses my heart better than I could do it.
...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Determinedly Discipline Other Things.
This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul said, according to the Moffatt translation of this verse, “ I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ .” So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will—“the Son can do nothing of Himself ” (John 5:19). Then compare this with what we do—we take “every thought” or project that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.
Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity” are criticized and told that they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity,” but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.
We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ’s view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to “be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind .” (Romans 12:2).
...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Determinedly Discipline Other Things.
This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul said, according to the Moffatt translation of this verse, “ I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ .” So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will—“the Son can do nothing of Himself ” (John 5:19). Then compare this with what we do—we take “every thought” or project that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.
Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity” are criticized and told that they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity,” but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.
We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ’s view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to “be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind .” (Romans 12:2).
Sunday, September 4, 2011
reconnect
No...I didn't forget about the blog. In fact I will publish more about the woman in the near future. It's just that life has been full of responsibilities lately. We moved to the farm. We love the solitude and quietness of the old house...the peacefulness of our surroundings. The birds frequent our birdfeeders in front of the porch regularly. However getting to this place has created a bit of chaos in our lives.
Adding to the chaos has been the fact that our parents have experienced some health issues. Quite frankly - August was a month from hell. My dad had a stroke and then discovered that he has cancer. Bev's dad had surgery and ended up with a blood infection. Her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and went through surgery to remove the cancer. We've been in numerous hospitals and medical facilities in the past month. Her parents are doing well right now, however, my father is struggling. For me - it's tough seeing the man I so deeply admire going through this right now.
But then...that's life. We find the hand of God in the midst of the crap. We find rest in the midst of chaos. We enjoy the finch at the birdfeeder, the brightly colored morning glory entwining a corn stalk. The wobbly legs of a newborn calf cause us to smile. The hand of God is there...we just have to look for it!
Adding to the chaos has been the fact that our parents have experienced some health issues. Quite frankly - August was a month from hell. My dad had a stroke and then discovered that he has cancer. Bev's dad had surgery and ended up with a blood infection. Her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and went through surgery to remove the cancer. We've been in numerous hospitals and medical facilities in the past month. Her parents are doing well right now, however, my father is struggling. For me - it's tough seeing the man I so deeply admire going through this right now.
But then...that's life. We find the hand of God in the midst of the crap. We find rest in the midst of chaos. We enjoy the finch at the birdfeeder, the brightly colored morning glory entwining a corn stalk. The wobbly legs of a newborn calf cause us to smile. The hand of God is there...we just have to look for it!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
the woman...the cost
I watched him for a while from the back of the room. His head tilted sideways in slumber. I wasn't sure if I was seeing in the spirit or if he was actually sleeping. I had trouble believing he was sleeping. It was a rather tense meeting of church members and leaders. The discourse bordered on unpleasant at times and since he was a leader that had a vested interest in the proceedings, I assumed that I was actually seeing in the spirit. God allowed me to see what really was going on.
There was a group in that meeting that had already chosen to disconnect from God. They heard the call of the woman and chose to heed her, turning aside from God in order to fulfill their own soulish desires. This leader was part of the group. Instead of embracing the radical call of discipleship that leads through the cross, the women offered an easier way. She seductively spoke of worth and value in a way that resonated with the innate desire for significance. The desires of the heart were available without the great cost demanded by God.
Now...there was a slight cost in heeding the woman as well. In order to obtain what the woman offered, there was a slight caveat. One must disconnect from God in order to receive her benefits. On the other hand, she does offer an appearance of godliness, a godliness so fashioned after the real thing that most people will never notice the differance. Scripture refers to those who slumber in relation to their connection with God. They may possess the appearance of godliness but their spiritual sensitivities have been completely dulled by their love affair with a prostitute - they sleep, completely unaware of God and His ways.
There was a group in that meeting that had already chosen to disconnect from God. They heard the call of the woman and chose to heed her, turning aside from God in order to fulfill their own soulish desires. This leader was part of the group. Instead of embracing the radical call of discipleship that leads through the cross, the women offered an easier way. She seductively spoke of worth and value in a way that resonated with the innate desire for significance. The desires of the heart were available without the great cost demanded by God.
Now...there was a slight cost in heeding the woman as well. In order to obtain what the woman offered, there was a slight caveat. One must disconnect from God in order to receive her benefits. On the other hand, she does offer an appearance of godliness, a godliness so fashioned after the real thing that most people will never notice the differance. Scripture refers to those who slumber in relation to their connection with God. They may possess the appearance of godliness but their spiritual sensitivities have been completely dulled by their love affair with a prostitute - they sleep, completely unaware of God and His ways.
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