Monday, October 14, 2013
Thursday, August 25, 2011
One Story. Two Deliveries.
I've lived my life believing that the scripture is God-breathed. However, one cannot escape the constant debates over translation. There is the ever present argument, "the scripture may be God-breathed but it was copied out by man, who is all to fallible." Point. In my time, I've kind of become a translation snob. I've read up on the different translations, I own 5 different translations currently. The only reason I obsess in this way is simply because I love words. I love them; I love that each word has different little nuances so that no two words mean the same thing. Yes, there are synonyms, but the words themselves meet something slightly different. Because of this I have become obsessed with translations. Where I am now I fluctuate between two different translations. I really like the NIV and I like the NASB. I read them both because to me they each serve slightly different purposes. The NASB gets it's bragging rights by being the most literal translation. I like that; my inner History/English major loves this. The NASB also comes with a 'mission statement' of sorts:
The Fourfold Aim of The Lockman Foundation
1. These publications shall be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
2. They shall be grammatically correct.
3. They shall be understandable.
4. They shall give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper place, the place which the Word gives
Him; therefore, no work will ever be personalized.
As I stated before my inner English major did a little dance when I discovered this translation. The only part I have trouble with is the understandable part. The NASB does not really make concessions for readability the way the NIV does. Therefore, in sections it sounds downright pretentious. Now, I really like the NIV as well. Like I said, I think they perform different functions. If you view Translations as a sliding scale you have ESV and NASB at one end as near direct translations. Then, at the other end there is the Message (I have strong opinions on the message that I'll get into later). The Message end of the scale is focused on readability. And then, right smack in the middle of the imaginary sliding scale is the New International Version. It is written to be loyal to the original but also to be pretty. I really like to hold the two side by side. Especially in the case of passages like Romans 3. Here are excerpts of the same verses from NIV and NASB.
In the NIV Romans 3:21-31 reads like this:
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
It's a really powerful set of verses. The beginning is several rather short sentences. However, over in NASB world we have this lovely set of verses:
It's a really powerful set of verses. The beginning is several rather short sentences. However, over in NASB world we have this lovely set of verses:
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Now not only is it all practically one sentences, it's in some sections really wordy. I like to thing my reading level is above average, but after reading this I was like, wait what? So Long story short. I like them both, I think when read together you can get an interesting picture.
This idea was brought home for me in Romans 12. I was having an absolutely terrible day when a good friend of mine does what she does best; she confronted me with the word. I was really stressed when she pointed me to Romans 12:12. I love that, I'm having a mini freak out and I don't get the standard friend response. I'm used to the rote conversation, "I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it? That sucks, let me tell you a similar story in my life." It always goes the same way. A good friend will listen to you complain, offer advice, empathize if they can, share a story about their life to help guide you. It's great sometimes, but it's so of man. Fallible man. And, then there's my friend. She lets me complain - which was probably best because I was about to explode - but then she sends me to God. She does not present me with herself, but with our God. It amazes me every time she does this, every time she veers off the beaten path, the conversation script for a good friend. So I was presented with this verse, one I needed.
When I looked it up in my Bible I noticed it was different than the verse she'd quoted to me. So I looked it up in the NIV (which is the version she passionately defends).
The NIV translation reads:
Be joyful in hop, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
I really like that. The NASB reads:
...rejoicing in hope, perserving in tribulation, devoted to prayer...
Here you can see once again that the NASB loves the semi-colon and again this isn't broken into a smaller sentence. So I went back and read the section.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Now not only is it all practically one sentences, it's in some sections really wordy. I like to thing my reading level is above average, but after reading this I was like, wait what? So Long story short. I like them both, I think when read together you can get an interesting picture.
This idea was brought home for me in Romans 12. I was having an absolutely terrible day when a good friend of mine does what she does best; she confronted me with the word. I was really stressed when she pointed me to Romans 12:12. I love that, I'm having a mini freak out and I don't get the standard friend response. I'm used to the rote conversation, "I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it? That sucks, let me tell you a similar story in my life." It always goes the same way. A good friend will listen to you complain, offer advice, empathize if they can, share a story about their life to help guide you. It's great sometimes, but it's so of man. Fallible man. And, then there's my friend. She lets me complain - which was probably best because I was about to explode - but then she sends me to God. She does not present me with herself, but with our God. It amazes me every time she does this, every time she veers off the beaten path, the conversation script for a good friend. So I was presented with this verse, one I needed.
When I looked it up in my Bible I noticed it was different than the verse she'd quoted to me. So I looked it up in the NIV (which is the version she passionately defends).
The NIV translation reads:
Be joyful in hop, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
I really like that. The NASB reads:
...rejoicing in hope, perserving in tribulation, devoted to prayer...
Here you can see once again that the NASB loves the semi-colon and again this isn't broken into a smaller sentence. So I went back and read the section.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
After reading it through I was struck by the way the two translations offer what I thought was two halves of the story. They offer themselves this way in the way the language is used. Be Joyful. I cannot hope while I am in the midst of despair. I must find Joy if I'm going to be filled with hope in Jesus. Earlier in Romans Paul charges us to hope against hope as Abraham did(Romans 4:18-21). In the NASB it is used as an action word. I need to be Rejoicing; this requires my action and I cannot be passive about it. Yes I need to be joyful, and I need to remember that there is joy in life. In every part of life, and I need to take joy in the hope I have in Christ. But, I also need to be reminded that this joy is an active thing. I am not just happy, I am actively rejoicing in this hope I have in Christ. His grace is an ocean and I am in it. I'm not outside of it, so I have to see it as an action.
The next part struck me in the same way. Patient in affliction. This one was big for me; patience is a virtue that does not come easily for me. I must be patient before the Lord; he has a plan. On the other side in the NASB though, we are reminded not to be passive. In the NASB we are called to persevere in our tribulations. I like this a lot, because as a very active person I tend to - however erroneously - see patience as waiting and passive. I imagine as sitting and waiting for life to happen. I must have patience, but I must persevere through my troubles. I must keep going confident that my God has a plan for me and I am being carried by him. This part was big for me as I was having my freak out. My tribulations, my afflictions, are from the place of my joys. God doesn't give us more than we can handle. He also is the one orchestrating our run to him, if that requires us to endure some painful stretching that is what is going to happen.
We see this idea of two halves to a whole most clearly in the last need; although to fully get it I do do some twisting of the language. Sorry, I'm not sorry. haha. We must be faithful in prayer. However, not only do my prayers need to have faith, but they must also be devoted. They must be faith filled, and consistent; I must be devoted to my prayers. I cannot call out from the depths and forget God exists once he hears my cry. I cannot pray infrequently. I must be devoted. Now, I understand in this last one I twisted the most likely meaning for faithful - it can also imply consistency - and substituted another. But I really feel this reading of the two halves to the whole is right.
The NIV uses key words that are important to keep in mind: Joy, Patience, and Faith. These words are crucial to our relationship with God. We must be Joyful, Patient, and Faithful. However, we must also be reminded of the need for these things to be actions we perform in our lives. Our faith can in no way be a passive thing. It should be living and active like our Word. That is where the NASB comes in. I think the word choice of the NIV is important because for Christians those words trigger certain feelings, we can’t help but harken back to other verses citing Faith, Hope, Joy and remember other promises of God. However, we need to know how active we must be for our God.
Just a thought.
Also, I have no idea what this highlighter business is. Yo no sey. In the words of my friend.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A Motion to Table. Life just can't be normal.
Throughout the summer communion has become more and more important to me. I was raised thinking it was a tradition practiced a few times a year and done simply in remembrance of Christ. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this. This is a view held by a lot of people. I've just come to the conclusion that it's unfulfilling for me. Especially after the pastor at my new church mentioned he felt communion was crucial to worship and encouraged us to take it as often as possible. I was a little confused. Why? I understand it’s significance, but isn’t it’s place around Easter? The more I saw communion as exactly that, community with Christ, the more I fell in love with it. It’s so intense for me as a practice now. I see the major flaw in my thinking was the idea that anything could be done simply in remembrance of Christ. That word ruins the entire proposal. This belief was further solidified when I attended a sermon in Tennessee.
June 12, 2011 FBCLC A Motion to Table
The passage he looked at was 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
He made the point which I love that, “this is not a normal meal; don’t treat it as such.” The worst thing we can do is make it run of the mill, make it wrote memorization. Should our remembrance of Jesus ever be normal or commonplace? This reminds me of a point Francis Chan makes: if what you’re doing as a Christian doesn’t look a little weird to the rest of the world, maybe you’re doing it wrong. It’s this idea that nothing in our Christian faith is normal or commonplace. We are in an intense love relationship with our God. Why would remembering him be normal? The answer is it shouldn’t. It cannot ever be a simple tradition or quick ceremony. We do this to remember life, death, the resurrection, and atonement. Those are not things to be made light of. The pastor then went on to break down the call to "do this in remembrance of me". I love this; I love when teachers break down the individual words and really unpack them.
Do this in remembrance of me
do: do something!
remembrance: a study
Me: remember the life, death, resurrection, atonement
We are not just eating some bread. He is calling us to do something with our lives. Take action, be a part of this relationship. We are not just reminiscing happily with our Lord. We are making a study of his life and works. We are making his life the path to guide us. We are also examining everything he did. His life, his death, and everything in between and afterwards. The resurrection, the meaning of the resurrection.
We are not just eating some bread. He is calling us to do something with our lives. Take action, be a part of this relationship. We are not just reminiscing happily with our Lord. We are making a study of his life and works. We are making his life the path to guide us. We are also examining everything he did. His life, his death, and everything in between and afterwards. The resurrection, the meaning of the resurrection.
Another cool concept that was brought up is that this is a worktable. This of this as a worktable and a dinner table there is work to be done. We were, and are, called to study the work and life of Christ. This table is about peace with God and the peace of God. The requirements of this table are: believing in Jesus Christ, and believing that he rose again. We believe that our risen Lord gave himself to his people, and we are remembering and communing with him.
With this new attitude, I find my communion time is so much more important to my worship. I am accepting the sacrifice of Jesus and ensuring in my life that it never becomes trivial. I cannot become just tradition. That would be trivializing the most important event to my salvation.
While at a different sermon I was introduced to an awesome prayer about communion that I wish to share with you.
Lord God of our Ancestors;
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us.
Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this table
for solace only, and not for strength;
for pardon only, and not for renewal.
Risen Lord, be known to use in the breaking of the bread.
Amen.
I was struck with conviction at the idea of coming for solace and not strength, pardon and not the will to change my ways. So often we seek God for only the comfort and not the solution to our problems. I feel that my worship can be more complete now that I appreciate communion in this way. Understanding that nothing about my faith can be commonplace or tradition or normal.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Questions for the Heart
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
--C.S. Lewis
I was working through Tim Keller's Galatians study when a member of my CORE group gave me some extremely hard questions to answer. I would like to share those with you. We were working through study 5 which is Galatians 3:1-14
Galatians 3
Faith or Works of the Law
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
One of the things Keller stresses is that Paul is warning the Galatian Christians that it is easy to fall back into works-righteousness as we try to overcome sin and live the Christian life. However, instead of dealing with sin through human attainment and what we can do, we must deal with sin through believing in the gospel. This reminds me of something Louie Giglio mentioned. He says he defines Grace as God at work. It is God at work instead of me at work. Because, if were me at work then it would be pathetic and useless. I think that ties in quite well with this concept of being in tension between our quest for human attainment and our knowledge that it’s really only through believing in the gospel that we might be saved.
Richard Lovelace says that, "A conscience which is not fully enlightened both to the seriousness of its condition before God, and to the grandeur of God's provision of redemption, will inevitably fall prey to anxiety, pride, [and] sensuality...So we start each day with our personal security resting not on...the sacrifice of Christ but on our present feelings or recent achievements…”
All those quotes are there to illustrate the point that I hear often stressed at Perimeter. The importance is at the heart of the issue. Ground breaking isn't it? Sarcasm aside it's true. The first thing that has to be examined within myself when it comes to acknowledging self-righteousness and our habit of limiting the cross is the heart. What is at the heart of this behavior? What is the real reason for doing this? This is where Dee's questions come in. It has to be asked, "where is your heart?" Where is it? It might not be where you left it, or even where you could be.
Number three is always convicting for me personally. As a young adult it is very easy to have several definitions of the "who am I?" question. The essential point is that to maintain that relationship with Jesus you have to continue prodding at these questions. You have to keep poking in order to make sure you do not become a Missing Person.
A lot of this brings us back to the idea that many of problems would be solved if we could only keep before our eyes the significance of the cross. “Luther says that if you look to your moral performance as the basis of your relationship with God, then you are breaking the first commandment: 'have no other Gods before me.' If you fail to grasp and believe the gospel of free justification through Christ's work you violate the 1st commandment"(Keller). We will not break commandments 2-10 if we could just keep the first. Every sin is rooted in lust for something, which comes because we trust in that thing rather than Christ for salvation. Therefore our problems come when we forget the significance of the cross.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Last Words; Lasting Words
This sermon was called Last Word; Lasting Words: “What’s that sucking sound? Dealing with approval Addiction”
This sermon was from June 21, 2009. It was given by Matt Ballard at Perimeter Church.
The sermon deals with Acts 9; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 1:10
As Matt was talking I kept hearing DC Talk’s what if I stumble in my head. You can really see these lyrics in particular in the first passage Matt cites, Galatians 1:10.
“Is this one for the people? Is this one for the Lord? Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford?”
-DC Talk
-DC Talk
The talk opens with a really great passage that I think invokes some serious thought.
Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
This passage gets right to the heart of what a lot of people struggle with. I know for my generation the need for approval is almost suffocating. We really live in an age of competition and measurements. Everything has a value assigned to it and we strive to have a higher value assigned to ourselves. Unfortunately we often look to other people, to our peers, and those we lift up to assign those values. This is where Matt says that idolatry comes in and I totally agree with him. When we look to other people to assign our value to us we are taking that job from God and giving it to someone else. Ouch. It seems pretty bold when we look at it that way.
Matt goes on to say that the great disruptor of our spiritual lives are idols. Idolatry composes the fault lines in our faith. This declaration brings up an important question. What is an idol? As Matt Ballard explains, “an idol is anything other than God that you worship. It is the thing that gives us a sense of value. It makes us happy.” I don’t think he means by that that anything that makes us happy is an idol. Or, if he does I don’t agree with him. But, I do agree that the things we honor and the things we focus on become idols very quickly. I really like that he used worship. I think we can exalt things to a worshipful level without realizing it sometimes.
The Bible says:
1. Idolatry is the root of all sin.
-Misplaced worship, “For when we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.G. K. Chesterton”
-One thing to take note of is the fact that an idol can be anything. Is not the golden calf we picture from the old testament. It can be approval, people, money, absolutely anything can become an idol once we place in front of us and focus on its importance. This really hit me hard when I heard it. I had to take a hard look at the things I lift up in my life. I'm sad to say I did indeed find a few idols there.
2. Idols are not (in and of themselves) bad things. Idols are simply good things elevated too high, into the space only God may occupy.
(God) - Elohim - promise keeping God
(Idols) - Elolim - revered non-sense
→ Quick Hebrew Lesson: Elohim is the plural of El which is the word for God. In conjunction with plural verbs it means gods. However, with singular verbs Elohim is the word used in the Hebrew Bible to denote the God of Israel. For the Israelites God was referred to in the plural and genderless.
I think number 2 is a really great point. These things are not bad. That can't be emphasized enough. Like almost everything in life, with these things we are called to exercise moderation. If idols become too important they will spoil life. One thing I really love about the Perimeter services is that they are very Scripturally sound. When a strong assertion is made, much like the ones here, the next comment is the scriptural basis for that comment. This adds a legitimacy I appreciate.
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Romans 6: 13
I think that when we allow the things we value control us we are offering ourselves up to sin. By keeping God at the forefront and offering ourselves to God as placing him as Lord of our lives we “offer every part... as an instrument of righteousness.”
3. Idols are pseudo-healers.
-seeking to medicate a painful life sometimes we attach ourselves to worldly things which act as pseudo-healers.
- we try to have these things give a “meaning” to life.
- This idea really plays on the common image of people with giant holes in their bodies that they are trying to fill. Despite the fact it is a very tired old image I think it rings true here. These things are valued because they give us meaning. We can define ourselves by them. We are filling that hole with them.
I really like this quote that Matt incorporated:
“Whatever controls us is our Lord. The person who seeks power is controlled by power. The person who seeks acceptance is controlled by acceptance. We do not control ourselves. We are controlled by the ‘lord’ or ‘love’ of our lives.”
-Rebecca Pippert.
I really like this quote that Matt incorporated:
“Whatever controls us is our Lord. The person who seeks power is controlled by power. The person who seeks acceptance is controlled by acceptance. We do not control ourselves. We are controlled by the ‘lord’ or ‘love’ of our lives.”
-Rebecca Pippert.
Here are some more verses to think about:
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
- in this passage the Bible shows us that we must seek God’s approval first. Seeking any other approval puts that thing that Elolim (nothing) on a pedestal.
Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
-The cool thing about the word fear when it appears in the Bible is that it means a great deal of things. Fear does indeed mean afraid, but when read in the context of the Bible the reader must understand that it almost means awe, respect, and love. These emotions are all ones that are associated with things we cherish and lift up. The things we awe, and respect are undoubtedly the things that may become idols for us.
I think it's crucial that we can look to several places in the Bible to back up the point Matt is making. I also think it's crucial that the homework was done and the passages were presented within the sermon.
Loving God and others well is true spirituality. The need of approval takes from loving others. Matt makes a great point here in showing that the need for the approval of others actually takes away from the love you are giving them.
Sometimes it seems we are hiding behind walls of wealth, approval, etc to gain acceptance. This acceptance can be personified by the fig leaves of Adam and Eve. Because we are afraid and ashamed of ourselves - much in the way Adam and Eve were - we feel compelled to cover ourselves in our wealth and the approval of others. We are therefore hiding who we are and the person God created. We are masking God’s creation and calling it unworthy. How bold. This need to hide ourselves makes us fraudulent. However, God makes us legitimate. Because God shields us from the need of others approval, because we are filled with God’s approval, we am safe. By worshiping God as my only Idol I am safe.
In a different sermon Randy Pope made the comment that if we were able to always keep the first commandment, we would never break any of the other nine. Something to think about. You shall have no other Gods before me. If I could honor that in all ways I would never break the other commandments. What do you think?
All the best,
Kearstin H. Sale Tuesday, May 17, 2011
How C.S. Lewis spoke the words my heart was searching for.
I want to start my first real post with a quote from C. S. Lewis. This is the first quote in the journal I've been keeping and it really sums up how I feel about Christianity and its effect on world view.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." - C. S. Lewis in Is Theology Poetry?
The sun is essential for sight. Lewis' Christianity affects his sight, and gives him a lens with which he views the world. The sun provides the perfect example for this. The sun is essential to sight, and we see not only the sun, but also the things it illuminates. In this way God should be essential to my own sight. I should not only believe in him, but see everything else in my life through the truth of what he has done for me. "Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." I want to see everything else with the light that Jesus gives me.
This idea which is, admittedly, floating around in my head largely half formed leads me to another quote. And I should probably take this time to note, that I truly love quotes. You will see a great deal of them in this blog. This mindset that C. S. Lewis mentions, the one I want to incorporate into my life, is a good deal more difficult that it seems. I think it represents the Christian ideal. Truly giving your life to God and letting him influence and color every aspect of your life. So the quote that this leads me to is one by G. K. Chesterton.
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." G. K. Chesterton
I have to admit I have found this to be true. This Christian ideal, this Godly way of living is hard, and it is something I struggle with. Living life in the way that Jesus dictates is essential for a relationship with him is hard. However, it is worth it. What he gives in return for my life is unquestionably the most valuable thing I can receive. It is essential to my life because of what he gave to make me new. What he did so I could be forgiven.
So one of the first things I have to do if I am going to live my life by the light of God, letting myself see everything by him, is figure out who this God is. The Bible says that God is who he says he is. So I need to dig up who he says he is.
Who God is...
1. He is the one true God. (Deuteronomy 4:39, Isaiah 45:5-6, Exodus 34:14)
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Deuteronomy 4:39
2. He is immutable, He never changes. ( Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
3. He is omniscient. ( Psalms 139: 2-4, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20)
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
Psalm 139:2-4
I am understood? by Relient K is a wonderful musical representation of this idea.
[to listen to the link w/o leaving the blog right click and select open in new tab. :) ]
4. He is omnipotent. (Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 33:9, Matthew 19:26)
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17
5. He is personal. (Deuteronomy 4:7, Genesis 5:24, James 2:23)
What other nation is go great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
Deuteronomy 4:7
6. He is independent. (Psalm 90:2, Exodus 3:14, Acts 17:24-25)
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:2
7. He is omnipresent. (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10
8. He is all wise. (Psalm 18:30, 1 Corinthians 1:20, 25, Isaiah 40:13)
As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORDS's word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:30
9. He is truthful. (Titus 1:2, Psalm 31:5, John 14:6, John 17:17)
in the hope of eternal life which God who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
Titus 1:2
10. He is good. (Nahum 1:7, Psalm 25:8)
The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
Nahum 1:7
- Psalm 25:8 gets to the heart of my aforementioned quotes.
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
Psalm 25:8
Our God leads us by example. In his guiding light we see the way we should strive to live.
11. He is loving. (1 John 4:8, John 3:16, Romans 5:8)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8
12. He is faithful. (Deuteronomy 7:9, 2 Timothy 2:13)
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9
13. He is righteous. (1 John 1:9, Isaiah 5:16)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
14. He is merciful. (Exodus 34:6, Ephesians 2:8)
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "the LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,"
Exodus 34:6
15. He is peaceful, he is separate from confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33, 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace - as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.
1 Corinthians 14:33
16. He is perfect. (Psalm 18:30, Deuteronomy 32:4, Matthew 5:48)
As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD's word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:30
There. 16 things the Bible tells us about God. I find it comforting to look at this list, to see a small sampling of what my God is. To see all the ways that he is equipped to love and protect me. He is truly an awesome God.
I would like to end this post with an explanation of the URL. This blog is heansweredme.blogspot.com. I was sitting in church one day when my pastor said something I will never forget. He said, "The gospel can be summed up in three words: he answered me." This blew me away in both its simplicity and its truth. So I leave you with that idea. What God is telling you over and over again is that he will answer your cries. He will answer you. Every time. It may not be in the way you imagined, but he will answer you.
All the best,
Kearstin H. Sale
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." - C. S. Lewis in Is Theology Poetry?
The sun is essential for sight. Lewis' Christianity affects his sight, and gives him a lens with which he views the world. The sun provides the perfect example for this. The sun is essential to sight, and we see not only the sun, but also the things it illuminates. In this way God should be essential to my own sight. I should not only believe in him, but see everything else in my life through the truth of what he has done for me. "Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." I want to see everything else with the light that Jesus gives me.
This idea which is, admittedly, floating around in my head largely half formed leads me to another quote. And I should probably take this time to note, that I truly love quotes. You will see a great deal of them in this blog. This mindset that C. S. Lewis mentions, the one I want to incorporate into my life, is a good deal more difficult that it seems. I think it represents the Christian ideal. Truly giving your life to God and letting him influence and color every aspect of your life. So the quote that this leads me to is one by G. K. Chesterton.
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." G. K. Chesterton
I have to admit I have found this to be true. This Christian ideal, this Godly way of living is hard, and it is something I struggle with. Living life in the way that Jesus dictates is essential for a relationship with him is hard. However, it is worth it. What he gives in return for my life is unquestionably the most valuable thing I can receive. It is essential to my life because of what he gave to make me new. What he did so I could be forgiven.
So one of the first things I have to do if I am going to live my life by the light of God, letting myself see everything by him, is figure out who this God is. The Bible says that God is who he says he is. So I need to dig up who he says he is.
Who God is...
1. He is the one true God. (Deuteronomy 4:39, Isaiah 45:5-6, Exodus 34:14)
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Deuteronomy 4:39
2. He is immutable, He never changes. ( Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
3. He is omniscient. ( Psalms 139: 2-4, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20)
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
Psalm 139:2-4
I am understood? by Relient K is a wonderful musical representation of this idea.
[to listen to the link w/o leaving the blog right click and select open in new tab. :) ]
4. He is omnipotent. (Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 33:9, Matthew 19:26)
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17
5. He is personal. (Deuteronomy 4:7, Genesis 5:24, James 2:23)
What other nation is go great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
Deuteronomy 4:7
6. He is independent. (Psalm 90:2, Exodus 3:14, Acts 17:24-25)
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:2
7. He is omnipresent. (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10
8. He is all wise. (Psalm 18:30, 1 Corinthians 1:20, 25, Isaiah 40:13)
As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORDS's word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:30
9. He is truthful. (Titus 1:2, Psalm 31:5, John 14:6, John 17:17)
in the hope of eternal life which God who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
Titus 1:2
10. He is good. (Nahum 1:7, Psalm 25:8)
The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
Nahum 1:7
- Psalm 25:8 gets to the heart of my aforementioned quotes.
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
Psalm 25:8
Our God leads us by example. In his guiding light we see the way we should strive to live.
11. He is loving. (1 John 4:8, John 3:16, Romans 5:8)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8
12. He is faithful. (Deuteronomy 7:9, 2 Timothy 2:13)
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9
13. He is righteous. (1 John 1:9, Isaiah 5:16)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
14. He is merciful. (Exodus 34:6, Ephesians 2:8)
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "the LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,"
Exodus 34:6
15. He is peaceful, he is separate from confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33, 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace - as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.
1 Corinthians 14:33
16. He is perfect. (Psalm 18:30, Deuteronomy 32:4, Matthew 5:48)
As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD's word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:30
There. 16 things the Bible tells us about God. I find it comforting to look at this list, to see a small sampling of what my God is. To see all the ways that he is equipped to love and protect me. He is truly an awesome God.
I would like to end this post with an explanation of the URL. This blog is heansweredme.blogspot.com. I was sitting in church one day when my pastor said something I will never forget. He said, "The gospel can be summed up in three words: he answered me." This blew me away in both its simplicity and its truth. So I leave you with that idea. What God is telling you over and over again is that he will answer your cries. He will answer you. Every time. It may not be in the way you imagined, but he will answer you.
All the best,
Kearstin H. Sale
An Introduction
In the summer of 2009 I started a project that would affect my life in startling ways. I thought it would be cool to start taking down notes while sitting in church, talking in small groups, and while in my private time with God. I found that by writing my prayers out I concentrated more fully. By putting them into writing they became more precious, I was less like to be frivolous as I put my thoughts, dreams, desires, and gratitudes into words. This project was very slow on the uptake. I would forget my book, neglect my quiet time, and I was very lax about this idea that I had come up with. From 2009 to 2010 it was something I always meant to do. It was in the back of mind, but the whole thing never came to fruition. The notes were scattered and inconsistent; between one page and another entire seasons would pass. That is until December of 2010. At this point I became almost religious about my note taking. I cataloged everything. What I read, what I heard, and what I discovered.
This is what I want to share with you, with anyone who is interested. This project I started in 2009 did not see real fruit until about 6 months ago. I began to see trends in the notes I was taking. I was drawing connections between what I was reading and what I was hearing. I would sit in sermons and notate in the margins passages in books or lines of songs that went along with what I was hearing. I would really like to share what I have discovered, what I have learned, and what I have come to believe. I mentioned before that it changed my life in startling ways. It did. Actually writing things down does something to a thought. It becomes corporeal. I really can't fully explain how writing something down somehow makes it more real. This solidification helped stream line my thoughts into convictions. I believe it has caused me to grow in my faith and produce real fruit in my life.
I have always thought that knowledge is like a sponge. If you fill a sponge with water and leave it alone it rots. It's quite disgusting after only a week or so. In the same way I see it as useless to just gather information. The only way a sponge can be useful is to wring it out and spread what it has collected around. In this blog I will wring out what I have heard, what I am thinking, and what I am struggling with. I hope that in this I can help solidify my own beliefs and convictions, as well as maybe helping those who read this with theirs. I want to share what I have learned and draw connections where I can find them.
If you have made it this far, I want to thank you. I hope you can find something useful in what I am going to post.
All the best,
Kearstin H. Sale
This is what I want to share with you, with anyone who is interested. This project I started in 2009 did not see real fruit until about 6 months ago. I began to see trends in the notes I was taking. I was drawing connections between what I was reading and what I was hearing. I would sit in sermons and notate in the margins passages in books or lines of songs that went along with what I was hearing. I would really like to share what I have discovered, what I have learned, and what I have come to believe. I mentioned before that it changed my life in startling ways. It did. Actually writing things down does something to a thought. It becomes corporeal. I really can't fully explain how writing something down somehow makes it more real. This solidification helped stream line my thoughts into convictions. I believe it has caused me to grow in my faith and produce real fruit in my life.
I have always thought that knowledge is like a sponge. If you fill a sponge with water and leave it alone it rots. It's quite disgusting after only a week or so. In the same way I see it as useless to just gather information. The only way a sponge can be useful is to wring it out and spread what it has collected around. In this blog I will wring out what I have heard, what I am thinking, and what I am struggling with. I hope that in this I can help solidify my own beliefs and convictions, as well as maybe helping those who read this with theirs. I want to share what I have learned and draw connections where I can find them.
If you have made it this far, I want to thank you. I hope you can find something useful in what I am going to post.
All the best,
Kearstin H. Sale
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