Doing Away With what Does not Profit

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

~C.S. Lewis

Jeremiah 2:8 (NASB)
The priests did not say, "Where is the Lord?"
And those who handle the law did not know Me;
The rulers also transgressed against Me,
And the prophets prophesied by Baal
And walked after things that did not profit.

Yes, we are far too easily pleased. Tonight I came home to a vacant main floor and proceeded downstairs. Without even thinking, I began glaring at the Netflix showing that was going on. This is the experience of a person who resolved only three days ago to give up TV, and tonight I watched it without a second thought.

The truth that we are far too easily pleased is alarming. But what adds to this even more is that we create habits for filling our lesser pleasures, and it becomes even more difficult to pursue Christ - the all-satisfying Treasure - above all.

Do not fool around with drink and sex and ambition - those are mud pies. Our earthly bodies will only last so long in their present state. We must learn to live as dying men because living is Christ and dying is gain (Php. 1:21). Give up fooling around, and look to Christ, for He is the highest pleasure.

Seeking is Seeing

Oftentimes I have wondered why it is so easy to sin. I pray hard, I read God's word, I sing, I request, I yearn, I sin. I confess, I repent, I get back up, I sin. I have conversations, I encourage, I receive encouragement, I sin.

Why is spending time on worthless things so easy? Why is gluttony easy? What makes meditation so hard? How are we to break sinful habits?

If you've been reading me lately, you know I've been constantly harping on the idea of looking. If we wish to see anything about God, we must look at God. Look. Look! LOOK! Because Jesus said, "seek, and you will find."

Seeking is seeing.

Looking is finding.

"Beholding is becoming" (John Piper on 2 Cor. 3:18).

Being still is knowing (Ps. 46:10).

Asking is receiving;

Knocking is entering (Matt. 7:7-8).

Opening is dining (Rev. 3:20).


So open the door. Be still before God's word, and just listen. Seek God in prayer. Open the door of your heart unto the submission of Christ. Seek, and you will see; behold, and you will become; be still, and you will know; ask, and you will receive; knock, and you will enter; open, and He will come.

Shoelaceless Converse

I'm amused by the simplicity: "no strings attached."

Be Still

Psalm 46:10a

Be still, and know that I am God.

A Visit from Marco, Sherrie, and Ashley
This weekend, I had the immense privilege of hearing a missionary from Italy. The preceding text was the one from which he preached on Sunday, and I must admit that I was torn to pieces. It was perhaps the most important sermon I've ever heard. I needed it. Marco helped me realize that I spend too much time looking at a TV screen and not enough time looking at Christ.

Look!
In the second appendix of his book Think, Piper introduces a story of an aspiring scientist who was required to look at a fish for four straight school days. He didn't use a magnifying glass or a microscope - just his eyes and his bare hands. After reporting his observations to his professor day after day, the teacher would respond, "That's good. But that's not all. Look again!" A few days went by, and the student heard the same thing over and over again: "Look. Look! Look!"

He drew pictures, felt the fins, counted the scales, smelled it, stuck his fingers down the fish's throat to feel how sharp the teeth were, gazed into its eyes to see the lids - if it was on the fish, he smelled it, felt it, and stared at it endlessly. Needless to say, when the four days had passed the student knew more about that fish than anyone on his campus. And it was only because he looked.

What Piper (and Marco DeFelice) meant: Look, look, look! Look!

Where is My Mind?
My looking began with Psalm 63:3. For quite some time I could not understand how "steadfast love" and "life" were comparable ideas - the verse says that God's "steadfast love is better than life." I didn't get it. But it sounded beautiful, so I looked. And I looked again. That was some 15 months ago. (I haven't stopped looking).

But in other areas, I know I haven't spent enough time looking. And Marco rightly pointed out to me that I'm distracted by phones, TV, electronics, music, work, school, and everything else that's stealing my thoughts. I want to take every thought captive, so I'm going to be still.

Applications

And right now, being still means throwing TV completely out of my life. It means Psalm-reading comes before I start school, not after. It means amputating football-watching, BWWs, and any texting that is void of Jesus. Oh, my soul cries out with all that I am: I want to know God! I want to know Christ! And I want nothing else!

Brothers, sisters - we cannot know God more deeply if we don't actively pursue silence before God and prayer unto His throne. We cannot have the iPod on 24/7 and expect to grow even an inch. How can we begin to muse on the great works of our great God if we're focused on not-so-great TV shows?

If it Will Not Help Me Know, it Will Not Help Me Grow
This is my resolution: if there is something that will not help me grow to become more like Christ, it will not be an active part of my life. Coram Deo. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. I will be silent. But to You, O Savior, to You and to You alone be the glory!

Christian Hedonism

The teaching of John Piper on Christian hedonism has forever changed my way of thinking about life. Today I attempt sum up his thoughts in this way:

When one is discontent in his life, it is because he is not drinking from the fountain of living water. The fountain itself has not run dry, but the beholding and the drinking of it has ceased. We suffer because "we are far too easily pleased" (Lewis); we settle for less than the greatest Joy. This is a great sin; "You have made us for Yourself, oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You" (St. Augustine). We are created for the glory of God.

When we are minimally satisfied, God is minimally glorified. God is maximally glorified in our lives only when we are maximally satisfied in His because He designed the world in such a way that our ultimate satisfaction and His utmost glory are adjoined to one another. We cannot find any hope or light outside of the hope we have in His Son, Jesus Christ. As we pursue that hope, we are met by the greatest happiness of all - joy in God. And that is the purpose for which He created the world.

In summary:

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
~John Piper

I'm a Liar - That's the Truth

Scene 1 (in church):
Be a good example, don't blow it, maintain that smile.

Scene 2 (with a parent):
Smile, give a good firm handshake, nod often, use gestures, thank them for all those sweet comments, act like a truly humble person, portray a good church person.

Scene 3 (in general):
Say a lot of things about your weaknesses to intensify your good reputation, smile, be kind, make rainbows.

Scene 4 (with God):
Confess everything, make it sound bad, take the grace.

Scene 5 (with myself):
[You don't have to].


We're all actors. We all play the part. Right when fellowship with God and sweet communion is maximally enjoyable, our hidden pride ruins everything. So we try to cover it up. We go soft. We fake. We act.

Put on that good face. Make that great-looking girl (or, for you ladies, guy) impressed. Make sure everyone younger than you idolizes you and everyone older than you is put to shame by how darn good you are. Come across as good. Try to be good. Be good. Act.

Act.

I know myself too well, but not well enough to beat myself. I hate my sin, but not enough to slit its throat. I "love," but I don't go so far as to get my hands dirty. Make me look good. I'll walk away with the smiles, praise, and fans - you take all the dirt.

Acting is perhaps the greatest struggle of the Christian's life. Brothers and sisters, let us seek together to give it up. Together we can stop sugarcoating our sin and putting cherries on top of our failures. We no longer have to strive; we have a greater grace. Let us as such.

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Ephesians 4:25

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak the truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Galatians 2:19

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1 John 3:18

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

Crippler of the Church

Let me begin this post by being honest: I often find myself greatly skeptical of the teachings of people in the far right in the Church. Sure, I'm conservative - many believers would say too conservative. But I think the notions and methodology of many conservative Christians are dangerous because many Christians refuse to think.

When I was a young believer, I went against my local church's teaching that Christ died only for the elect. Based on what I saw in the Bible, I was convinced that His death was a universal covering. It turned out that I made a terrible mistake, and eventually I saw that; I was utterly wrong for many reasons. But this was also a foundation for me in that I wasn't going to accept everything my instructors would tell me. I must examine it myself to see if it's true.

I know and deeply love a great many people who sit in church and, for no good reason, accept everything that is said. I'm constantly surrounded by men and women who deny a universal atonement but would have absolutely no response to a person who would interject with a 1 John 2:2 or a Hebrews 2:9. I am well familiar with those who deny atheism but could not carry a conversation with a well-versed atheist who claims that Jesus promised His triumphant coming would take place before His death. There are masses who say they know, but they have no response to Gnosticism. There are many who say, "Jesus is my Lord" and cannot refute the teachings of Islam. A multiplicity claims Scripture's truth and uniformity to itself, but most of them are unwilling and unable to defend it.

Why do such atrocities happen? Our world, and perhaps our nation, of believers is too uneducated to help it and too lazy to do something about it. They don't know, but they won't learn.

Of all things, this is tragedy. We are the America with the broadest access to the greatest sermons, debates, arguments, and apologetics in all of history. We can learn about virtually anything that has ever happened in the history of the world. Therefore the failure to do so is perhaps the greatest of all treason to education. And it is ultimately a great treason to Christian faith.

I remember once meeting a man with a small form but a huge mind. His name was Andrew. I met him in 2009, the summer before he went to Purdue University to study food science. Andrew wasn't anyone special. He just loved God and wanted to find out as much about Him as he could. Had you asked me at that time, undoubtedly I would have given full assurance that he would become a pastor. But I too was caught up into the notion that pastors study the Word and history and important things like that while the rest of us go to school and invest in our careers.

But if all we do in learning is go to school, study textbooks, and invest in careers, we have missed the entire point of education. All education exists for the glory of God, so it only makes sense that much, if not the bulk - and ultimately all - of our education should be aimed at God Himself. But again, we're too lazy.

I appreciate the diligence of many atheists more than that of many believers. Atheists are blind guides who deny the truth, but many of them try to defend what they believe, and they go to great lengths to do it. I am impressed to see a believer do the same with the hope of God's Word.

If atheists have a lie and try to defend it, how much more should believers defend the pearl of the Gospel? Perhaps a good illustration would be children working hard and successfully playing a good basketball game while the coast guard sits on the beach and has a picnic while watching enemy planes fly overhead.

Tragedy.

The question immediately following what one believes is why he believes it. This is only logical. Yet some lop off the second part.

This is somewhat of a new beginning for me. I'm tired of ignoring questions I have about the Bible. So now I ask them. And I seek out the answer. I don't want to take any tradition or practice done in my life personally or in my circles for granted. The Thessalonians did things like that; I want to be a Berean.

And if you are a believer, you should want to be a Berean too.

1 Peter 3:15

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

On Learning Love

Anthem of the Dead and Dying

Feel the roof go dry.
Inhale.
Exhale.

Sin - the sinful spy.
Inhale.
Exhale.

Slave - I give in.
Inhale.
Exhale.

Me - forgiven?
Inhale.
Exhale.

Listen to the sound -
Feel the blood pound.
I'm a bloodhound.

Feel under the eye -
Feel it, thick and dry.
The dark lines never cry.

Feel the grinding teeth,
Headache round the wreath,
Intensity beneath.

And all this so that I
Daily learn to die.



Love means sacrifice.

Resolutions for Ministries

I will not knowingly take part in any ministry which preaches a false gospel.

I will take part only in ministries that have standpoints consistent with the teachings of Scripture.

I will not actively involve myself in a ministry if it causes me to violate my conscience.

I will serve faithfully and fruitfully as long as I am a part of any ministry.

I will not slander any God-honoring ministry.

I will not create dissension over matters not essential to the preaching of the true Word of God.

I will not take part in any ministry which encourages or stimulates shame of the Gospel.

I will rejoice in the preaching of the Gospel in ministry.

I will not attack a ministry which preaches the true Gospel.

I will not endorse or support a ministry which preaches a false gospel.

Should any division or disagreement exist which cannot be solved, I will not gossip about or slander any person or leader involved in or associated with such a ministry but will quietly remove myself from its presence.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is holding not against others what Christ held not against us. Forgiveness, because of the cross, is not optional - it's essential.

A Blog of the Devotional Kind

Just as a head's up for my readers, I'm planning on starting another blog hopefully in the near future. Every day I've been writing meditations on different verses from the Psalms, and I think it would be helpful to share them. So for those interested, keep your eyes open. I'm hoping to have it going by the end of next month at the very latest.

Deepest Secrets

God, You know my thoughts, but I wish You didn't.

Recently, I've been planning on implementing more instances of real people truly loving God. Therefore, I found it appropriate to include the above statement. Those words were uttered by a dear brother of mine last night at a prayer meeting. That was his day - or week or even season - yesterday; it's my day today.

When it boils down to our sin nature and we are all brutally honest, the truth is that we would never reveal our deepest thoughts to those around us, and we sincerely wish that our holy God did not know them. Impressed upon our hearts is the knowledge that there is a stainless God who is too pure for us, and rightfully so, for His "eyes are too pure to look on evil" (Hab. 1:13). Because we know that we are evil, this statement is our greatest fear.

When Isaiah saw a vision of the train of God's robe filling the temple and heard the angels crying, "Holy! Holy! Holy," his response was dramatic yet fitting: "Woe is me! For I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips" (Is. 6:5).

These days we have our petty little "worship" services where we beg for God to come and fill the room. Bearing with this foolishness (there are several errors in such a statement) - even if God's presence were not in every place in a very real way, we wouldn't want it to be. Why? Because He is holy and we are not. We say God's name as if it were a part of our every day vocabulary without giving the very least of thought to who He really is. We think God is just like us.

He's not (Ps. 50:21).

We can only start to understand true confession, true repentance, true relationship, and true grace when we begin to realize that God is pure and holy. His ways and thoughts far exceed the standard of ours (Is. 55:6-9).

Few people get this. Thankfully, my close friend is beginning to, and because of it I am too. I am but a man of unclean lips, one as useful as dirty rags. God is holy, and I have no clue what that means. So I hide. But He is still loving, still forgiving, and forever faithful. Though I falter then run away, He longs for me to return to Him and willingly accepts my empty soul with open arms; and He fills it with His love, and no one can ever take me from His hand.