(Random Picture from my apartment window)
So I've been thinking about a lot of different topics recently, and I just thought I'd throw some of my thoughts out there. These thoughts are not edited, published, or clear in any way, they're still in the brainstew phase, so as I right, I'm thinking them through still; so please don't judge them too harshly. At the same time, any input you have on any of the topics would be most appreciated.
Topic 1: Comfort
So this idea of comfort I've never really seen as a "temptation" or a bad thing in any way. It's nice to be comfortable. Everyone seems to be striving after it, and I don't see any blatent sin in comfort. I don't see "thou shalt not be comfortable." And yet, in the past year, I've been bombarded by messages, sermons, people, and ideas who are warning against the dangers of comfort. And I guess what it boils down to is that like many good things, comfort can easily become an "idol." And like most of Satan's plans, comfort is a deceptive, and below-the-radar temptation.
I'd say John Piper, more than anyone else, has been hammering home this idea of comfort trumping radical Christian living, particularly in wealthier countries. Paul's life alone I think shows that comfort is not the ideal that Christians should strive for. Most people today would feel cursed if their car didn't start in the morning. And yet, for Paul, it was not unusual for him to be beaten, whipped, stoned and threatened almost daily. I heard a sermon that effectively chronicled all of Paul's sufferings for the sake of Christ, and the question came up, is there anything keeping me from striving after this same kind of devotion to Christ? And comfort was the big stumbling block.
I think in more wealthy nations, people don't struggle with persecution, poverty, or overt Satanic activity, but instead, we deal with the shackles that come with wealth and riches. And the Bible constantly refers to the accumulation of wealth as a curse! If this is the case, why is comfort and wealth a curse? I don't want to judge anyone's motives for leading a comfortable life, and if your life is comfortable, I in no way want to suggest that it is the result of sin. I merely want to open people to the idea that comfort is often a huge hinderence in effectively serving Christ.
One major cause that John Piper brought up as the cause for a comfortable lifestyle is the idea that people don't think that they can be effective servants for the Kingdom of God. They feel like they haved sinned too greatly, or somehow have ruined their witness, and as a result, instead of striving after a Paul lifestyle that considers everything rubish in comparison to Christ, people settle for a comfortable life because they think that's the best they can do. Like C.S. Lewis said, we are too easily satisfied. We settle for the joy of TV, houses, money, and ease, effectively the McDonalds of life, while we give up the joy that comes from walking totally with Christ, effectively the Steak of life.
In John 21, Jesus asks Peter 3 times, "Do you love me?" And after Peter understands why Jesus goes on to ask this question 3 times, Jesus then tells him, "I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"'
Jesus tells Peter here that he would be crucified for the sake of Christ. The cost of discipleship is not wealth and prosperity, and Jesus calls us to follow him even unto death. We are called to glorify God with our lives, and even in our death. And my question is, does the comfortable life really match up with Jesus' plan and desire for Peter's life in this passage. Do we really love Jesus? In this passage Peter was comfronted with the guilt of his rejection of Christ. But Christ forgives Peter here, and says, Follow me! It's not about our worthiness that makes us effective servants. Peter is even poked fun at earlier when Jesus calls him the "rock" of the church. Basically saying, if Peter, a man who has shown time and time again that he can not do things on his own strength, can be such an instrumental tool in spreading the gospel, then everyone can be used.
John Piper's big plea, and he even has a conference named after this, is DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE! Jesus is greater than all of our best efforts will ever be. Just look at the feeding of the 5000. It was not people's efforts that made this wonderful miracle possible, but Jesus' grace. In the same way, Jesus can, does, and will use all Christians even though we often feel weak and unworthy.
And also, to take from Piper, I want to be a "Christian Hedonist." I want to MAXIMIZE MY PLEASURE IN GOD! I'm all about pleasure. I want my joy to be complete, and the comfortable life can't offer me that. Only a life a sacrifice, devotion, and total satisfaction in Christ will bring me that joy.
So what does this mean for us? I'm not sure what it may me for you. I don't think this means we should all give up everything and go be missionaries. Most people are called to be senders, only a few are the ones who go. But I'm sure we can all do things to change the way we live. For me personally, I still don't know where my life is headed. I don't have a set career path in mind yet, but you better believe that this philosophy and conviction is the fuel behind my search. Whatever I do in life, I want to be fueled by the same desire that Paul had. I want my life to count for Christ! I don't want to waste my life. I want every action I take to be guided by the desire to see God glorified and Christ magnified!
In the end, we're all unworthy servants. Nothing we can ever do will add to the work of Jesus. Jesus must get all of the glory! But my question is, how will we respond to the wonderful work of Christ? Christ is our righteousness. When we stand before God, we will have nothing to present to Him except Christ. In light of this wonderful grace, what is Christ worth to you?
That went longer than I expected...
Here are some videos that John Piper presents that deal with this topic:
Topic 2: Hell
This is something I personally don't like talking about. Hell scares me. No lying about that. It's been something that has terrified me from a very young age. Before I was even sure if I believed in God, I believed in hell. Now as I've matured as a Christian, I have become more secure in my hope in Christ, and more recently, I've heard many pastors discuss the issue of salvation and hell in a new, refreshing light that I never thought of before.
Number 1: God gives condemned people what they want. People like Mark Driscoll, Bryan Chapell and others have really opened up this idea to me. People who go to hell are merely getting what they want. People who aren't saved don't want God. And hell is the place where God is completely absent. So people who reject God, and go to hell, are getting what they wanted. The only people who don't get what they want, "originally," is Christians. Everyone wants to sin and turn away from God, and God has to change people's hearts and make them new creations and give them new desires. Anyone who desires God has had a POWERFUL MIRACLE take place. Because left as dead sinners, no one wants God. This is why calvinism is so important, because it recognizes the power God has to save sinners. It takes a miracle for someone to love Jesus; and God is the only one who can change a sinners heart to make that happen!
Here's a good video where Bryan Chapell explains what hell is like:
Topic 3: Female Pastors
I don't really have to much to say on this issue. Historically, I've been raised to say that female pastors are unbiblical. Recently, most people I know would say that female deacons are ok, but not elders or pastors. Now I still say that I don't think it's Biblical for a woman to be a pastor. I've heard some very convincing sermons that argue this point. And the whole idea of the man being the head of the home, makes it hard for me to say that a woman could be the pastor of a church. I mean, how could a female pastor's husband still be the spiritual head of his family? There's a slew of other concerns in there, but that's just one example that I think of.
But my pastor, whom I respect greatly, and most of the time, agree with, gave a sermon which advocated female pastors. He used 1 Timothy 2 as his scripture reference, where it clearly states, "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." Now my pastor did say that women should not be the head or lead pastor. He thinks that that position is only reserved for men. But he does believe that scripture cites many examples of women in leadership positions in the church, and goes on to use this passage to advocate for female pastors. What are people's thoughts on these issues? I can't say that I know biblical history well enough, or that I'm smarter than my pastor to say that he's wrong? Does anyone know any good books? Or other specific passages that would argue one way or the other? It's not a huge issue for me, but just something I thought about recently.
Well there you go, there's some topics to stew on for a while. Again any feedback is more than welcome, and I hope I didn't offend anyone in a way that was unbiblical.
Lastly, on the light side, here's a video of me sledding in the mountains of South Korea, and not being very successful at it:)
3 comments:
Comfort is relative. The senders can appear to be comfortable and the goers, uncomfortable/discomforted. But we all know there are goers who are worshipers of comfort and senders who remain active, not allowing comfort to become an idol.
Joy is a choice as we discovered last night at our small group from reading Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, by Piper. We must choose how we will respond to each situation the Lord brings into our lives.
Mark, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As I think about comfort I realize it is not the stayers who are comfortable and the goers give up their comfort. No, but there are some goers who also live for comfort and some stayers who may appear comfortable but have an attitude of living solely for Christ. For me to live is CHRIST and to die is gain. Regarding the Joy Piper speaks of, it has to come from Jesus to us as we make the continual choice to live above the situations that come into our lives, to see it from God's perspective, not our own.
Thanks Mrs. Prontnicki, I really appreciate your input:)
I think you're very right about the relative nature of comfort. I think I can sometimes tend to think in black and white when it comes to issues like this. It's definitely not a simple thing to diagnose.
I definitely don't want to give the impression that if your living a wealthy life and not a missionary, that your a slave to comfort. I don't feel that way, but at times, it's easy to judge people on those standards.
I heard a good sermon on generosity, that talked about 2 kinds of rich people and 2 kinds of poor people.
1. Good Rich: They are stewards of the grace God's given them, they have worked honestly for what they've earned, and they are very wise and generous in how they spend their money.
2. Bad Rich: Their money is their idol, and in certain cases, they even get their money through illegal or immoral means.
3. Good poor: People who are poor just because that's their circumstances. They are faithful in working hard, but sometimes times are tough, and yet they are still generous.
4. Bad Poor: People who become poor because of sinful habits such as gambling or drinking their money away.
Neither being rich or poor is a sin in and of itself, neither is either one a sign of godliness by itself. It's a case by case situation. The question, like you said, is how do these people treat the money they have, and do they treasure Christ above all of their possessions.
Another I would say is that out of the heart, we see people's actions. So even though we can't judge a person's heart by merely looking at their income, we can judge their heart by how they use the gifts God has given them. In the end, all of our possessions an d wealth are God's, and he has entrusted them to us to use them in a stewardly manner.
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