This week's text, John 7:25-36, has no less than 6 separate and distinct questions in it. It made me wonder if there were bigger questions behind the questions that were asked.
Read the text for this week. Note the different questions that are asked. Note who is asking the question and to whom they ask it. Consider if there are larger questions behind them (I believe there are). Consider whether any of these questions are ones that you are asking.
True and lasting answers to life's most difficult questions are ultimately found only Christ. He is not afraid of our questions. Be willing to ask Him your most difficult questions and then listen for His answer.
Pastor Derrick
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Are we to judge at all?
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." John 7:24
Both verbs in this verse - "do not judge," and "judge" are imperative verbs, that is they are commands. Here the command assumes judging, but is concerned with the standards used to perform the judgement - not by appearances (things you see, your own preconceived ideas about how something is supposed to look or behave) but with right judgment.
Jesus also said in Matthew 7:1-5:
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
It made me wonder then what is the place of being a judge in the life of a Christ-follower. Are we to judge at all? Are there circumstances or people where judgment is appropriate? Look at the following verses regarding judgment and see if you can discern the heart of God.
Luke 6:37-38
Rom 2:1-3
1 Cor 5:12
James 4:11-12
A sinner saved by grace, who sees himself as better or different than those around him, probably has underestimated the magnitude and completeness of their own depravity. It seems to me that our judgment should always be couched in and covered with an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the grace that God extended to us, and a compulsion to share that grace with fellow sinners.
Thoughts?
Both verbs in this verse - "do not judge," and "judge" are imperative verbs, that is they are commands. Here the command assumes judging, but is concerned with the standards used to perform the judgement - not by appearances (things you see, your own preconceived ideas about how something is supposed to look or behave) but with right judgment.
Jesus also said in Matthew 7:1-5:
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
It made me wonder then what is the place of being a judge in the life of a Christ-follower. Are we to judge at all? Are there circumstances or people where judgment is appropriate? Look at the following verses regarding judgment and see if you can discern the heart of God.
Luke 6:37-38
Rom 2:1-3
1 Cor 5:12
James 4:11-12
A sinner saved by grace, who sees himself as better or different than those around him, probably has underestimated the magnitude and completeness of their own depravity. It seems to me that our judgment should always be couched in and covered with an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the grace that God extended to us, and a compulsion to share that grace with fellow sinners.
Thoughts?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Do not judge by appearances...
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." John 7:24
God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing. Jewish leadership had turned it into a system or rules to be followed. They created rules around what was allowed and what was not. They created an enormous list of rules around what they thought it meant to observe the sabbath. For example, you were only allowed to tie knots on the Sabbath that could be untied with one hand. As a result, they completely missed the revealed glory of God in Jesus, because He healed someone on the Sabbath, an action Jewish leaders decided was wrong.
Read the following examples of judging people with "wrong judgment" and consider how they missed or nearly missed what God might have had for them because of their own preconceived notions:
1 Samuel 16:1-12
Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-4; 4:1-3
Acts 10:9-35
James 2:1-10
Consider how it is that our preconceived notions about people and about how people should look, or act affect how we see them. Are there people that you find yourself avoiding? Maybe people of different backgrounds, or handicapped people, or older people, or people with tattoos and piercings, or people of a different race. Why is it that we find some people difficult to pursue? How is it that God sees these people?
When we avoid certain people, are we not doing exactly what the Pharisees did with Jesus: "Judge by appearances" and not with "right judgments?"
Christ-follower, pray that God would give you His heart for people. Pray that the very heart of God that pursued us "while we were yet sinners," not because we were lovely, but because he chose to. I've become convinced that we have cheapened the idea of love, to some sort of magical feeling that comes from outside of us, that we can't help when it comes or when it goes. Yet the "love" modeled by God, was a decision. It was a decision to pursue those who had rejected Him - "for God so loved the world" why? Because we had done so many wonderful things? Because we had so much to offer God? NO, because he chose to.
This kind of love is otherly. I mean, we can't do it on our own, but only as our hearts are transformed by the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to let God break down your barriers, your preconceived ideas, your sense of right and wrong that don't come from Him in order to see and pursue people as He did?
God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing. Jewish leadership had turned it into a system or rules to be followed. They created rules around what was allowed and what was not. They created an enormous list of rules around what they thought it meant to observe the sabbath. For example, you were only allowed to tie knots on the Sabbath that could be untied with one hand. As a result, they completely missed the revealed glory of God in Jesus, because He healed someone on the Sabbath, an action Jewish leaders decided was wrong.
Read the following examples of judging people with "wrong judgment" and consider how they missed or nearly missed what God might have had for them because of their own preconceived notions:
1 Samuel 16:1-12
Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-4; 4:1-3
Acts 10:9-35
James 2:1-10
Consider how it is that our preconceived notions about people and about how people should look, or act affect how we see them. Are there people that you find yourself avoiding? Maybe people of different backgrounds, or handicapped people, or older people, or people with tattoos and piercings, or people of a different race. Why is it that we find some people difficult to pursue? How is it that God sees these people?
When we avoid certain people, are we not doing exactly what the Pharisees did with Jesus: "Judge by appearances" and not with "right judgments?"
Christ-follower, pray that God would give you His heart for people. Pray that the very heart of God that pursued us "while we were yet sinners," not because we were lovely, but because he chose to. I've become convinced that we have cheapened the idea of love, to some sort of magical feeling that comes from outside of us, that we can't help when it comes or when it goes. Yet the "love" modeled by God, was a decision. It was a decision to pursue those who had rejected Him - "for God so loved the world" why? Because we had done so many wonderful things? Because we had so much to offer God? NO, because he chose to.
This kind of love is otherly. I mean, we can't do it on our own, but only as our hearts are transformed by the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to let God break down your barriers, your preconceived ideas, your sense of right and wrong that don't come from Him in order to see and pursue people as He did?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"For not even his brothers believed in him." John 7:5
What an astounding idea, that those who had spent more time with Jesus maybe than any other human beings, who had possibly worked side by side with him in the family business for years, did not even believe in Him. In fact, they encouraged him to go to Jerusalem, where they knew that He would at least be humiliated, and at worst arrested and killed. As Scott was preaching this on Sunday it reminded me of Joseph, whose brothers were so jealous of the attention he was getting that they sold him into slavery in Egypt and then concocted a story that he had been killed by wild animals to explain Joseph's disappearance to their father.
As an aside, both events that on the surface were intended for evil, were part of God's greater plan, to deliver the nation of Israel from a famine in Joseph's case, and to redeem all of humanity in Jesus' case.
But, I think it is sometimes easy for us to look at what they did, Joseph's brothers, and think "What were they thinking? How could they possibly not believe?!" And yet as I consider it, I'm not sure that we are really a great deal different. We can be a finicky people, who are willing to accept the things we want to accept and disregard those things that are more difficult. Just like the multitudes that departed when Jesus said that they had to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, or the rich young ruler who left when he was asked to sell all he had and give it to the poor.
David had conquered Jerusalem and then returned the Ark of the Covenant for the first time in years. And following this great victory and restoration of the nation of Israel to Yahweh, David sang a song of thanks. A section of that song is:
1 Chronicles 16:25-26
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
The other gods we serve today are not usually carved images on a mantle in our homes, but are much more socially acceptable ones - career success, our kids, money, possessions, recreation, security, acceptance, etc. A god is anything that vies for the passion of our heart. They can be good things, like our kids, but when serving them begins to squeeze our heart and passion for serving the Lord, where we willingly make sacrifices in our service to the LORD who "made the heavens" on behalf of these things they become gods.
I'm not sure that I am a great deal better than Jesus' brothers. I am willing and able to believe and serve as long as it fits my grid, as long as what God asks of me isn't too out there. We qualify our requirements to serve, "I'll do anything you ask of me God, but not ...", "Let me take care of some things, and when I reach...then I will be able to truly serve you," or "If you would take care of...then I will be able to serve." It strikes me that each of these is a form of unbelief. That we believe that our plans, our hearts, our ideas are better, and as long as the LORD is willing to submit His call and His plans to ours, well then we're happy to serve. Don't ask me to give up my gods, that is just too much.
Take some time to read David's song of thanks 1 Chron 16:8-34, and consider whether this song reflects your heart or are you like me, in need of setting aside some gods, and be willing to "believe."
What an astounding idea, that those who had spent more time with Jesus maybe than any other human beings, who had possibly worked side by side with him in the family business for years, did not even believe in Him. In fact, they encouraged him to go to Jerusalem, where they knew that He would at least be humiliated, and at worst arrested and killed. As Scott was preaching this on Sunday it reminded me of Joseph, whose brothers were so jealous of the attention he was getting that they sold him into slavery in Egypt and then concocted a story that he had been killed by wild animals to explain Joseph's disappearance to their father.
As an aside, both events that on the surface were intended for evil, were part of God's greater plan, to deliver the nation of Israel from a famine in Joseph's case, and to redeem all of humanity in Jesus' case.
But, I think it is sometimes easy for us to look at what they did, Joseph's brothers, and think "What were they thinking? How could they possibly not believe?!" And yet as I consider it, I'm not sure that we are really a great deal different. We can be a finicky people, who are willing to accept the things we want to accept and disregard those things that are more difficult. Just like the multitudes that departed when Jesus said that they had to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, or the rich young ruler who left when he was asked to sell all he had and give it to the poor.
David had conquered Jerusalem and then returned the Ark of the Covenant for the first time in years. And following this great victory and restoration of the nation of Israel to Yahweh, David sang a song of thanks. A section of that song is:
1 Chronicles 16:25-26
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
The other gods we serve today are not usually carved images on a mantle in our homes, but are much more socially acceptable ones - career success, our kids, money, possessions, recreation, security, acceptance, etc. A god is anything that vies for the passion of our heart. They can be good things, like our kids, but when serving them begins to squeeze our heart and passion for serving the Lord, where we willingly make sacrifices in our service to the LORD who "made the heavens" on behalf of these things they become gods.
I'm not sure that I am a great deal better than Jesus' brothers. I am willing and able to believe and serve as long as it fits my grid, as long as what God asks of me isn't too out there. We qualify our requirements to serve, "I'll do anything you ask of me God, but not ...", "Let me take care of some things, and when I reach...then I will be able to truly serve you," or "If you would take care of...then I will be able to serve." It strikes me that each of these is a form of unbelief. That we believe that our plans, our hearts, our ideas are better, and as long as the LORD is willing to submit His call and His plans to ours, well then we're happy to serve. Don't ask me to give up my gods, that is just too much.
Take some time to read David's song of thanks 1 Chron 16:8-34, and consider whether this song reflects your heart or are you like me, in need of setting aside some gods, and be willing to "believe."
Monday, February 1, 2010
What would the Church be like if...?
Over that last few weeks, God has taken me on a little Odyssey to continue to expand my vision of what it is that He wants to do through theGathering Fort Mill. The day to day events of my life and the challenges of the demands of our church finances, my personal finances, church activities, and a myriad of other "good things" can have the effect of drawing my gaze down, of having me look on things that are far too small and losing sight of the God whom we serve.
A friend of mine and I are reading a book together entitled "Transformation" by Bob Roberts. Roberts is a pastor and church planter in Texas, and shares his heart regarding the church in this book. I have found that at a number of places, I have truly resonated with Roberts, and have found his vision compelling and challenging. Pastor Roberts shares a portion of his story that he had been the planter of a successful church plant, that after some initial staggering growth, crashed and burned. This left him doing some serious soul searching and wondering what he needed to learn. He made a number of conclusions that I will list below, along with some scripture references that my friend has added to those statements. I would ask you to consider these statements and to look up the scripture, and begin to hear what God might have for you and for theGathering Fort Mill as a part of His Church:
A friend of mine and I are reading a book together entitled "Transformation" by Bob Roberts. Roberts is a pastor and church planter in Texas, and shares his heart regarding the church in this book. I have found that at a number of places, I have truly resonated with Roberts, and have found his vision compelling and challenging. Pastor Roberts shares a portion of his story that he had been the planter of a successful church plant, that after some initial staggering growth, crashed and burned. This left him doing some serious soul searching and wondering what he needed to learn. He made a number of conclusions that I will list below, along with some scripture references that my friend has added to those statements. I would ask you to consider these statements and to look up the scripture, and begin to hear what God might have for you and for theGathering Fort Mill as a part of His Church:
- We have learned relevance and communication, but not transformation (Matt 15:7-9; Is 29:13; 2 Cor 3:18)
- We have learned purpose and functionality, but not essence and core DNA (John 4:23-24)
- We know so much of how, but so little of why (Prov 2:6; 2 Tim 3:1-7)
- We want to change the world, and we become managers of organizations (Mk 10:42-44)
- We make people more religious, but no different spiritually or culturally (Matt 23:13)
- We know what we believe, but we cannot live it (Rom 7:14-15)
- We think that we are respectable, but we have lost credibility (Hosea 5:5)
- We have become mass media market, not a movement to shake the world (Rev 3:1-3)
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