Sorry guys, I actually have two blogs I am thinking through, but there is a lot going on this week so I am not sure when I will get to it.
-Classes and HW
- SGL 08-09 selection
- Men's Advance Planning
- SGL Meeting planning
- getting hair cut for an auction (to raise money for Rockbridge Scholarships)
- Ring Dance?
So expect to see:
- Our View of Life (through thoughts on an Anime episode)
- Humility lessons part 100000000000000000 (this week)
Prayer as always appreciated. Have a great week.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Orthodoxy? Theology? Life Style?
So this post is coming from a few recent events.
1. I was hanging out with a few friends. They were joking around and some joke about falling or dieing came up. The next comment was "well hopefully we will be in heaven if that happens." That bothered me. It was a few people I know to be Christians. People who I have observed growing drastically in their faith. The next thought I had is the one that bothered me. My thought was "Oh they are Catholic that's fine then." I mean this might seem small but a big part of my faith and my understanding of the Gospel is that we are given confidence in where we are going. I mean I don't know what is up with the time between death and resurrection, we are told God will hold us accountable for what we do, especially those of us who are leaders in the Church (no matter how high or low we are). But I don't think that the scripture leaves room to fear or not be confident where we are headed, that is part of where our confidence and freedom come from. We might not have huge rewards if we don't live well, but we are there none the less. Why is denomination an excuse for bad theology? Why do I feel compelled to correct or morn bad what I see as bad theology?
2. A friend and I discussed an instance of a man who was charged with heresy for saying Christ dying on the cross didn't change the world, rather that act was what God chose to accept as the atonement. And I don't know the story well enough, my explanation and understanding of it had some issues. But we were discussing what types of implications our understanding of what God does and why has on our view of him. Again the question here is what is the importance of orthodoxy. What is the reason why we value it (if you do)?
No matter your view it is important. I mean look around, my generation is largely disillusioned with the church because in the American Church largely Orthodoxy is valued so highly (and sometimes they still mess it up), but acting it out is not a big. I mean a lot of pastors try and many churches are not like this, but enough are that we have lost faith in organized church. Enter the emerging church. They generally push living your faith about as strongly as orthodoxy is valued in the mainstream church. But look at the books they write and sermons they teach. They are right on with how to apply, but so many times I hear misunderstandings of God and our position with him. Again, like before not everyone is like this, but enough to cause some who desire to follow Jesus and honor God to not trust either group.
So if one side is completely unable to do what Jesus commands us to do, and the other seems to not know why, what do we do?
One person suggested one was better than the other, living it out but not having a good foundation for why. But this is the same issue that happened back near the enlightenment, the resurgence against this mindset lead to fundamentalism. So I personally reject the idea that serving without a good foundation of orthodoxy is to be preferred over just the foundation. But we also clearly see from Jesus' teaching that knowing the truth is not the same as or a substitute for living it out.
It seems to me that to be effective we need both. We should be constantly growing in both our knowledge of scripture and God and how we live it out. Anything less is not the maximum of the type of life we can have.
Without good theology how can we answer our critics and our own thoughts when things go wrong?
Without living it out how can we call ourselves followers of Jesus when he says to love and care for the poor?
I have given my thoughts a little, but what do you think about the issue of Theology/Orthodoxy/ and Living out our faith?
1. I was hanging out with a few friends. They were joking around and some joke about falling or dieing came up. The next comment was "well hopefully we will be in heaven if that happens." That bothered me. It was a few people I know to be Christians. People who I have observed growing drastically in their faith. The next thought I had is the one that bothered me. My thought was "Oh they are Catholic that's fine then." I mean this might seem small but a big part of my faith and my understanding of the Gospel is that we are given confidence in where we are going. I mean I don't know what is up with the time between death and resurrection, we are told God will hold us accountable for what we do, especially those of us who are leaders in the Church (no matter how high or low we are). But I don't think that the scripture leaves room to fear or not be confident where we are headed, that is part of where our confidence and freedom come from. We might not have huge rewards if we don't live well, but we are there none the less. Why is denomination an excuse for bad theology? Why do I feel compelled to correct or morn bad what I see as bad theology?
2. A friend and I discussed an instance of a man who was charged with heresy for saying Christ dying on the cross didn't change the world, rather that act was what God chose to accept as the atonement. And I don't know the story well enough, my explanation and understanding of it had some issues. But we were discussing what types of implications our understanding of what God does and why has on our view of him. Again the question here is what is the importance of orthodoxy. What is the reason why we value it (if you do)?
No matter your view it is important. I mean look around, my generation is largely disillusioned with the church because in the American Church largely Orthodoxy is valued so highly (and sometimes they still mess it up), but acting it out is not a big. I mean a lot of pastors try and many churches are not like this, but enough are that we have lost faith in organized church. Enter the emerging church. They generally push living your faith about as strongly as orthodoxy is valued in the mainstream church. But look at the books they write and sermons they teach. They are right on with how to apply, but so many times I hear misunderstandings of God and our position with him. Again, like before not everyone is like this, but enough to cause some who desire to follow Jesus and honor God to not trust either group.
So if one side is completely unable to do what Jesus commands us to do, and the other seems to not know why, what do we do?
One person suggested one was better than the other, living it out but not having a good foundation for why. But this is the same issue that happened back near the enlightenment, the resurgence against this mindset lead to fundamentalism. So I personally reject the idea that serving without a good foundation of orthodoxy is to be preferred over just the foundation. But we also clearly see from Jesus' teaching that knowing the truth is not the same as or a substitute for living it out.
It seems to me that to be effective we need both. We should be constantly growing in both our knowledge of scripture and God and how we live it out. Anything less is not the maximum of the type of life we can have.
Without good theology how can we answer our critics and our own thoughts when things go wrong?
Without living it out how can we call ourselves followers of Jesus when he says to love and care for the poor?
I have given my thoughts a little, but what do you think about the issue of Theology/Orthodoxy/ and Living out our faith?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
New Orleans
I spent spring break in New Orleans doing relief work. I was not all that anxious going in. I mean I went to New Orleans for the 2005 Sugar Bowl. I didn't expect a whole lot. I mean we were working on houses, so I had a lot to learn there. But this would be the 3rd spring break trip to a city, the 9th week of my time I will have spent in cities for ministry. I got this down.
LOL.
So in many ways I was right, the talks were nothing too new, though many were good. I had a lot to learn about houses and construction. But there was so much more for me to learn. I worded the first paragraph to show that a little. I have become complacent. I know how to do things:
Discipleship... I got that down
Vision Team... I got that down too
Inner City... I know whats up
Caring for friends... That's what I do
Theology.... Child's play
The last few weeks I have founds a few incidents where I said or did something that I wasn't happy about. A comment that was not needed, a joke that did nothing (wasn't funny and didn't build up the body, though the later is more important), comments under my breath that let a little more out that I would like, mentioning a conversations with friends that caused issues between them, when the comment was unnecessary. Each time I walked away feeling I should not have done that, but not to worried, I mean I am covered by grace right?
Over the week similar instances observed or actions I took reminded me of this, and the earlier paragraph seems intense but that all happened over the last 2 months so it was easy to ignore. I found myself being far to open with other peoples lives in groups (still not too bad but far more than I am ok with, and one instance I was called out about) and I found that my stated objectives and values were not the ones my thoughts were valuing.
This was disconcerting. I rejoiced in grace, that I am still loved and accepted by my heavenly father. But repentance is part of that, I was asking for forgiveness but not changing much. Then I realized. I was complacent. I would tell people to give the glory to God if I gave good advice or there was a great conversation. But on some level I was starting to believe it was me that was good with people, me that could give good advice, me that could lead, me that had any idea what was going on in the city. I am not denying that I have those things, though my understanding of the city and caring for people are things that I am always learning more about and trying to do and understand better. But God has given me alot of gifts, and I do the work he has set before me fairly well.
But there is a bit of a twist.
I left off there, at least recently. All that is true, God has done all that in and through me. But the trick is, I have to be abiding in him and in a constant posture of worship and dependence on him. Saying my gifts are from God and then doing my own thing, using them (especially for His service) but not depending on him to continue to bring them out. And forgetting that my gifts only exist, and their full strength only comes when I have that posture and constant communication and trust in him. That sounds so crazy, I mean how can you take a gift from God and use it "for Him" but not be relying on him? Well you can't. But I had lost sight of that, and my effectiveness suffered.
I was not receiving the counsel of the Holy Spirit as well as I could.
It is encouraging that even though I am not happy with how some parts of the last few weeks have gone, they were not unforgivable, God is in control. And he is not afraid to remind us when we are not where he wants us.
Thank you Lord (Father, Son, Spirit) for all you do.
LOL.
So in many ways I was right, the talks were nothing too new, though many were good. I had a lot to learn about houses and construction. But there was so much more for me to learn. I worded the first paragraph to show that a little. I have become complacent. I know how to do things:
Discipleship... I got that down
Vision Team... I got that down too
Inner City... I know whats up
Caring for friends... That's what I do
Theology.... Child's play
The last few weeks I have founds a few incidents where I said or did something that I wasn't happy about. A comment that was not needed, a joke that did nothing (wasn't funny and didn't build up the body, though the later is more important), comments under my breath that let a little more out that I would like, mentioning a conversations with friends that caused issues between them, when the comment was unnecessary. Each time I walked away feeling I should not have done that, but not to worried, I mean I am covered by grace right?
Over the week similar instances observed or actions I took reminded me of this, and the earlier paragraph seems intense but that all happened over the last 2 months so it was easy to ignore. I found myself being far to open with other peoples lives in groups (still not too bad but far more than I am ok with, and one instance I was called out about) and I found that my stated objectives and values were not the ones my thoughts were valuing.
This was disconcerting. I rejoiced in grace, that I am still loved and accepted by my heavenly father. But repentance is part of that, I was asking for forgiveness but not changing much. Then I realized. I was complacent. I would tell people to give the glory to God if I gave good advice or there was a great conversation. But on some level I was starting to believe it was me that was good with people, me that could give good advice, me that could lead, me that had any idea what was going on in the city. I am not denying that I have those things, though my understanding of the city and caring for people are things that I am always learning more about and trying to do and understand better. But God has given me alot of gifts, and I do the work he has set before me fairly well.
But there is a bit of a twist.
I left off there, at least recently. All that is true, God has done all that in and through me. But the trick is, I have to be abiding in him and in a constant posture of worship and dependence on him. Saying my gifts are from God and then doing my own thing, using them (especially for His service) but not depending on him to continue to bring them out. And forgetting that my gifts only exist, and their full strength only comes when I have that posture and constant communication and trust in him. That sounds so crazy, I mean how can you take a gift from God and use it "for Him" but not be relying on him? Well you can't. But I had lost sight of that, and my effectiveness suffered.
I was not receiving the counsel of the Holy Spirit as well as I could.
It is encouraging that even though I am not happy with how some parts of the last few weeks have gone, they were not unforgivable, God is in control. And he is not afraid to remind us when we are not where he wants us.
Thank you Lord (Father, Son, Spirit) for all you do.
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