Be The Fruit

First off, I want to apologize to my faithful reader(s) for not posting an Idolatry Thursday yesterday.  I was a little preoccupied working on my gluttony paper, but do not fear because I. T. will be back next week with some discussion on gluttony.  I may even throw in a post next week about what a trip to the buffet might be like for Jesus.

 Back to this post.

Terry Delaney wrote a thought provoking post over at S. A. S. questioning whether breaking the speed limit is a sin or not.  His point is that the Bible commands us to be subject to our government, but when we break the speed limit we are refusing to do so; therefore we are breaking this command and sinning.

Go read the article here.  It is interesting and there is some interesting discussion in the comments as well.

In the American Christian culture today, most people talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus.  In fact, it seems that the biblical call to repent and believe has been replaced with “entering into a personal relationship with Christ.”  Trevin Wax wrote an article at Said at Southern some time ago questioning the validity of using that phrase. Read his article here.  One of the things he stated was that the term arose as a reaction to formal religion.  The notion is that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion.

I do believe Christianity to be a relationship, but I have been thinking about what it should look like.  I get the impression that many people view this relationship like any other relationship they have in their lives.  It seems like there is an ongoing conversation, give and take, working together, etc…  It is almost as if Jesus has been reduced to being a good friend in the way many people use the phrase.  I really think many people are missing what God intends the relationship to look like because we have to remember that “God is not your buddy.”

My first question for today is:  What does a personal relationship with Jesus look like to you? 

My second question is:  What does the Bible say it should look like?

Give me some feedback on this.  This is a topic I intend to do some research on in the future, but I wanted to throw this out there to see what you might think.

Do you have an opinion on the multi-site churches?

If you do, Ed Stetzer is holding a discussion at his blog regarding the movement with Aubrey Malphurs, a well-known church consultant and author.  The discussion will begin at 10 am Eastern time.

You can visit Ed’s blog here and join in on the discussion.

For preparation, visit his announcement today which has links to two other such discussions he has had on his blog regarding multi-site churches.  Read his announcement here.

I have grown to enjoy Ed’s perspective on issues like this.  Check it out.

I was looking back through my notes from my Personal Evangelism class I had this past semester with Dr. O’Neal here in Nashville, and one thing stood out from my notes that I am not sure many people get.  It was this:

“Concentrate on churching the area, not building the biggest church in the area.”

How does that thought change our focus?

How cool would it be to have like-minded churches support each other in their efforts to impact communities instead of each one drawing small pieces away which dilutes the Kingdom impact?

If the focus is on churching an area instead of building a bigger church, then larger churches may want to invest in and support a young pastor with finances and knowledge in his efforts to plant a church in a nearby area.  If the focus is on building a bigger church then the larger church would focus on drawing people in from such area and thus take away from such a young pastor’s impact.

This thought has been on my mind, so I thought I would share it with you.  It just seems like we are all too focused on having bigger churches instead of having a bigger Church (universal).

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

I have included the following book review on “Idolatry Thursday” because in this book, Ed Welch argues that addictions are primarily sins of idolatry (along with others) and not diseases as they are called by most today.  Many may disagree with this point, but I ask you to consider this:  Would you ever send a person with cancer to a 12-step program?  Welch argues that addictions are life-enslaving sins that are seemingly out of our control. 

I may touch on the subject myself later, but here is a brief review of the book if you are interested in digging into the subject.

In Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave, Edward T. Welch lays out a Biblical view of addictions. The author states his goal in writing the book is to “show how the theological riches of the Bible speak practically and meaningfully to the problem of addictions” (88).

The key principle taught in this book is that the Bible always views addictions as sin and never as sickness (22). The secular view of addictions is that they are sicknesses, and certainly the uncontrollable nature of them makes them appear to be sicknesses. Welch points out, however the “sickness” is truly a voluntary slavery to sin (33). The basic principle of sin is that it is both voluntary yet enslaving. What may begin as a choice to sin by indulging in the drug of choice turns into something that controls an addict’s entire life. It is at this point when the addiction becomes the god of an addict’s life, which means that the addict is committing the sin of idolatry (47). Welch explains that its core, addiction is a “worship disorder” in that we are worshiping the object of addiction rather than God (251).

Once it is established that addiction is sin, it follows that the only solution can be found in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The author explains that all change begins and ends with Jesus (142). It is the sacrifice of Jesus that makes it possible to overcome the slavery of sin. The key to this book is showing that the Bible views addictions as sin. It is the key principle because once we know that it is a sin, we know that it can be overcome through Jesus.

I think Welch is correct in his view.  If you watch someone abusing themselves with a drug or alcohol, you will have no doubt that such action is a sin.  Read this book and dig into the topic.

I was watching a little TV this weekend and I came across a story on ESPN about NFL rookies having to go to the NFL Hall of Fame.  Apparently, Michael Irvin started this tradition and it became some sort of requirement. 

In the story, Michael Irvin remarked about how special the place is for football players.  He shared that the day before his induction into the HOF he had some time to spend alone in the hall where they keep all the busts of the players.  Irvin said that he was thinking about his career and thought, “I love this game.”  He then said the busts began to speak back to him and asked, “Do you love the game, or do you love what the game has done for you?”  Did he love the game, or did he love the money and fame it gave him?  Would he have played the game for nothing like many members of the Hall of Fame did?  All these kinds of questions were ringing in his head.

Now, the part about the statues talking to him is odd, but the question made me think about Jesus.  I thought, “Do I love Jesus for who he is, or just for what he did for me?”  To be honest, I think there are lots of times that I just love him for what he did.

When I just love him for what he did, I think I tend to let known sins slide.  When love him for what he did, it is easier to walk through my life and say “oh well” to my sins because Jesus took care of them for me..  When I love him for who he is, I grieve over my sins because I know they are an offence to him.  When I love him for who he is, I realize that my sins caused him to brutalized and murdered when he did not deserve it.  When I love him for what he did, I am complacent in my sin.  When I love him for who he is, I am ready, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to rid myself of the filth that still exists inside me.

As I thought about this, I remembered the account of when Jesus reinstates Peter in John 21:15-19.  Peter seems so broken.  He expresses his love for Jesus, but I get the feeling that he has no thought of himself in the encounter. 

So what do you say?  Do you love Jesus?  Do you really love Jesus, or do you love him for what he did?

Liturgy is defined as “a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship” (Mer.-Websters).  Liturgy is simply the way you worship.  Every church has its own liturgy.  It could include a certain kind of music, Scripture reading, prayer, preaching, etc… 

At its essence, idolatry is worshipping something other than God.  Just as we have methods for worshipping God, we have methods or liturgy for worshipping idols as well.  The liturgy of idol worship includes all of the rituals, methods, means, and provisions that you make to allow yourself to worship the idol.

I remember watching an episode of  Intervention on A. & E., and the subject of the night was a young lady who was a bulimic.  In the interviews, her husband and family said that they thought that she probably purged 2-4 times a week.  When they interviewed the young lady, she said that she purged more than 2 -4 times per day.  You may find it hard to believe that her husband and family could be that far off, but the reason they were was because she had such an elaborate liturgy of worship.

The young lady shared with camera crew how she had her whole day planned around binging and purging.  There was a normal time that her family would leave the house which would allow her to hit the Shoney’s breakfast buffet.  The most elaborate thing she did was that when she would vomit, she would do into a large Ziploc bag and hide it in her closet.  Once a week, she would pack them up and haul them to a dumpster.  She explained how the Ziploc bag would seal the smell quickly, and how she could not always count on the toilet flushing properly, so using the Ziploc allowed her to purge without anyone know it.

For this young lady, eating was her god.  The comfort she would receive from the binge controlled her life.  In order to worship her god, she had to develop an elaborate liturgy so that she could worship without anyone knowing it.

Now this is an extreme example, but this type of thing happens anytime we have an idol.  Whatever it is we indulge in, we will figure out ways to do it, to worship it.  That is our liturgy.  As you seek to rid yourself of your idols, you will have to be sure to rid yourself of your liturgy, or methods of worship as well. 

The Apostle Paul tell us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom. 13:14).  Our liturgy for idols makes provisions for our flesh so that we can worship them easier.  We need to rid ourselves of our provisions so we are less likely to sin.

Be watchful of those things that control you, and look for what you do to allow yourself to be consumed by them.

Until next time, put God first and “be the fruit.”

Yesterday I got started on my J-term.  I am taking Typical Problems in Biblical Counseling taught by Dr. Stuart Scott.  This is my second class with Dr. Scott, and I am looking forward to learning a ton of stuff this week.

Dr. Scott threw out an idea in class yesterday regarding something he would like to see utilized in counseling situations.  He referred to it as expository counseling.  Before I describe his idea, I probably should explain the concept of Biblical counseling first because I am sure some of you don’t what it is.

I don’t have canned definition to throw out, but I will try to describe Biblical counseling the best I can.  Have you ever been to a psychologist, Christian or otherwise?  Were they licensed therapists?  If you have and if they were, then you have an idea of what Biblical counseling is NOT.  Biblical Counseling is based fully on the Word.  Imagine a really good sermon then make it more in-depth and customize it for an intense one-on-one meeting and then you start to get an idea of what Biblical Counseling is.

Yesterday, Dr. Scott explained that he would like to see “expository counseling” utilized in counseling sessions.  The way he described it was to essentially counsel people by unpacking entire passages of scripture instead of just using single verses.  Essentially, expository counseling would look like one-on-one expository preaching. 

I think it is a great idea.  To understand the Bible properly, we must understand the context.  It seems like if single verses are effective, then unpacking entire passages would be even more effective because the counselee would be coming in contact with the true meaning of the text.  If it is good for the pulpit then it ought to be great for the counseling office.

 Any thoughts?

This is a little off topic for this site, but I thought some of you might be interested in this. 

A friend of mine, Jason Bradford, posted an article this week regarding some his ideas and vision for the future of marketing utilizing online communities.  The way I understand it, (and I could be wrong) is that marketing could be focused on creating communities where people go for advice and information about products, services, or whatever.

What he describes reminds me of a site I frequent, Said at Southern.  I read Said at Southern not so much for the content written on the site itself (although it is good), but for the list of posts that my fellow bloggers at Southern Seminary write.  It is an interesting collection of knowledge because everyone is connected by the seminary, but everyone has their unique interests, specialties, and experiences that they share.  One thing that would apply to Jason’s idea at this site would be books.  I go to SAS and read book reviews to see if a particular book may be worth reading or not.  I tend to trust their opinions because I know the great education they are receiving.  If the review is good, I might buy the book.  The marketing does not come straight from the publisher, but through word of mouth through the blogs.  I think that is what Jason is talking about.  Is this similar to what you are talking about, Jason?

Anyway, check out Jason’s post and give him some feedback here. 

Doesn’t it seem like our country is consumed with being entertained?  I just read an article citing 2006 statistics that states that the average American home has more TVs than people, and the average American watches in excess of 4 1/2 hours a day of television (Article here).  On top of that we have the Internet, phones with Internet, radios in cars, ipods, etc…  The worst thing to date may just be these wretched blogs (that is, blogs other than this one or blogs on my blogroll). For some reason, it just seems like we can’t do anything without being entertained while we are doing it. 

I don’t write this as an attack on TV, Hollywood, or the evilnet  Internet.  I am merely writing this to call all of us (me included) to take a look at how we are spending our time.  The truth is that any medium of entertainment whether it is TV, movies, Internet, etc… can be used for great things, but much of what we consume is either meaningless or bad.  Many things on TV are just downright ungodly.  Even the “preachers” on TV are bad.  I can’t figure out which is worse, Sex in the City or Joel Osteen.  Like I wrote, this is not an attack, but I just want us all to think about what we may be wasting our time on.

Entertainment becomes an idol when it keeps us from doing things God would have us do.  Are there shows that you will not miss?  How many?  Consider not only how much time these shows are taking, but consider what could be done in their place.  How is your prayer life?  How is your Bible reading plan coming?  Have you shared your faith lately? 

The Bible says, “whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (Jas 4:17).  If we know that we should be studying more, witnessing more, or praying more and we are not doing it, then it is a sin.  Is your entertainment keeping you from doing the things you know to do?  If we are shaping our lives around our entertainment rather than serving the Lord, then entertainment has become the god of our lives.

I am not saying that entertainment is all bad, but it can and does get in the way of our service for the Lord.  Just remember, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).  So if you watch TV, go to the movies, or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.  This may mean watching different shows, or it could mean inviting unsaved neighbors that you have never met over to watch something.

Remember that our lives are short, and there is much work to be done.  So don’t waste your time. 

“What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (Jas 4:14). 

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psa 90:12).

Until next time, put God first and “be the fruit.”