Remember when Mr. Potato Head was all the rage? It's once again become all the rage, thanks to Pixar's Toy Story movies. I remember, as a little girl, finding joy in correctly matching the correct eyes, nose, and mouth to make a perfect Mr. Potato Head. As I grew older, though, I found joy is mismatching the parts, adding feet where the ears should be, eyes where the mouth should be, and adding two noses. Sometimes, I think that the church can often becoming the mismatched Mr. Potato Head as opposed to the functioning body that God calls us to be.
I was reflecting on this idea recently as I went on a camping trip. Truly, as a novice camper, my initial reaction to a person planning the event was intimidation and maybe even dislike. He obviously had his act together and was an expert camper. As I reflected more on my reaction, I realized how easily I tend react negatively to people who are different from me. Why? For me, it was intimidation, feeling insecure, and seeing my lack of camping skills that were so opposite from his expert skills. In the end, the camping trip was amazingly refreshing BECAUSE of the expert campers who planned the trip down to the last detail. How blessed I was because of other people's strengths!
Why, though, is it that we have this tendancy to criticize people who are different from us in the church, rather than rejoicing in those differences? For many of us, it probably is feeling insecure toward that person in some way, or maybe fearing what is unpredictable, since the said person is different from us. I think inside the church, though, we have a tendancy to use scripture to back what we think is right, not allowing room for the "weaker brother" or trying to conform everyone to become an "eye." The fact is, scripture says that everyone has different strengths that make up the body. What is more, in John 17, Jesus actually prays that we, "future believers," would have unity.
I think there are a few implications of these passages. First, rather than comparing ourselves to others, we need to be confident in who God has created us to be. We have certain invaluable strengths. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul paints a rediculous picture of the foot saying 'because I am not a hand, I should not be a part of the body.' Can you imagine a person with four hands, no feet? It's as ridiculous as a mismatched Mr. Potato Head! Each part has its essential function, as each person has a vital role in the church.
Second, we need to accept other people's strengths. We shouldn't say to someone "I don't need you!" nor should we think to ourselves that they are not valuable. I need my brothers and sisters who are mercy showers, who remind me of the grace I ought to extend to the needy. I also need my brothers and sisters who speak the truth like they mean it--because I myself am not as blunt! Our body would not only not be a body if everyone was the same (think of a giant glob of eyes!), but we wouldn't be able to survive!
Third, we need to act in unity, even though we are diverse, both in our gifts and in our denominations. Recently, I was listening to Mark Driscoll's sermon on John 17. He explained his church's view on church denominations, which I found very helpful in understanding how to interact with different churches. He explained that each church/denomination is like a state. The states border each other and are part of the same country, but they have their own local government. Washington would not nuke Oregon if they had a disagreement. In the same way, each church that believes the essentials (the Word is God-inspired, Jesus was God and man, etc.) is its own state. The denominations might have differences regarding ordination of women, baptism, order of worship, and so on, but they are united under Jesus. If we hear of a church that is winning people to Christ, we should rejoice with them--we're unified under the gospel.
I think this has major implications for me as a believer. How do I react when I speak with my charismatic friends? Baptists? Non-denominational friends? While I may not agree with every aspect of their denomination, I can rejoice in their strengths! I've found that my charismatic friends are so much more in touch with spiritual warfare than most people in the PCA. I admire many of my baptist friends who actively send people on missions and share the gospel in the community. I rejoice with my Methodist friend, a true believer, who lives out service in her community. Many of the non-denominational churches have great outreaches to the community and have rich diversity. Each church has great strengths that make up the body, and that's just denominations! I could mention the diversity of vocations of members within the church, but that's for another day. Needless to say, Jesus prayed in a sense for a functioning Mr. Potato Head as his church, not a mismatched, four-eyed monster!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Can You Trust Me Now? Good!
Have you ever felt like you're on one of those Verizon Wireless commercials with God? We're fine with trusting God when suddennly a kink is thrown in our plans and God asks "Can you trust me now?" Life eventually gets back to normal, we learn to trust God yet again and then a wrench is thrown into our plans, yet again, and we hear the refrain, yet again: "Can you trust me now?"
Somehow, our dreams and plans never quite turn out the way we want them to. We try to be resourceful and save money, but our car breaks down and the repairs cost more than the car. We apply for a job we're sure is perfect, and it falls through. We would like to have kids or be married, but we're infertile or we still haven't met Mr. Right. We try to live a healthy lifestyle, but learn that we have an illness, disease, or cancer. The list could go on. Everyone has stories of broken and lost dreams.
But what does God want us to do with these broken dreams? At times, I can become bitter and angry at God. When this happens, He and I have an all-out argument about how unfair He is to let this aweful thing happen to me, and I wallow in self-pity. For some reason, though, it's not long before he crashes my pity party. "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?....Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?....Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place...?" (Job 38:2,4a,12). "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8). To my chagrin, he reminds me, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps" (Proverbs 16:9) and reassures me "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear....But seek first His kingdom and His righteouseness and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6 portions). And he reassures me that he will "turn the darkness into light before [me] and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake [you]" (Isaiah 42:16).
But I still have the tendency to go back to my general belief that godly life = happy life. That if I'm serving God, I'll have a good life and even deserve a good life. Yet I don't think that's the perspective God wants us to have. In fact, scripture suggests the opposite--we should "count it all joy" in suffering and broken dreams because it means "God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" (Hebrews 12:7) We should rejoice that this is an opportunity to develop character such as perseverance. "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:4). In a weird, almost twisted sense, trials actually mean that God cares for us deeply because he won't let us remain in our current sinful state; He's sanctifying us.
If you're like me, this probably doesn't completely give you peace about difficulties. It's not like we go around saying, "Yes! I lost my job! This is a santification moment!" Sometimes I tell God "enough with the sanctification! Can't you let me be?!"
Yet God promises that we will never be alone in the midst of the difficulties, and that does give me peace. When my dreams are shattered, God prompts me to pull out my favorite Collegiate Devotional Bible that looks just as battered as I feel, and I flip through all of the underlined promises. "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). "1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead" (Isaiah 43:1-3). "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; persecuted, but not abaondoned; struck down, but not destroyed; perplexed, but not in despair" (2 Cor. 4:8). God promises strength, peace, comfort, hope, and Himself during trials.
When I read these and other promises, I can't help but want to trust God. I am comforted in knowing that while my circumstances and emotions change, God never does. To borrow Annie Flint's words, "His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again." That's the kind of God I can trust.
So lesson learned. I can trust you, God. I said to myself, almost finished with my blog. Then true story, my Internet crashed and I thought I lost everything I'd written. I had to chuckle, though. God must be smiling down from heaven, saying, "Can you trust me now? Good!"
Somehow, our dreams and plans never quite turn out the way we want them to. We try to be resourceful and save money, but our car breaks down and the repairs cost more than the car. We apply for a job we're sure is perfect, and it falls through. We would like to have kids or be married, but we're infertile or we still haven't met Mr. Right. We try to live a healthy lifestyle, but learn that we have an illness, disease, or cancer. The list could go on. Everyone has stories of broken and lost dreams.
But what does God want us to do with these broken dreams? At times, I can become bitter and angry at God. When this happens, He and I have an all-out argument about how unfair He is to let this aweful thing happen to me, and I wallow in self-pity. For some reason, though, it's not long before he crashes my pity party. "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?....Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?....Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place...?" (Job 38:2,4a,12). "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8). To my chagrin, he reminds me, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps" (Proverbs 16:9) and reassures me "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear....But seek first His kingdom and His righteouseness and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6 portions). And he reassures me that he will "turn the darkness into light before [me] and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake [you]" (Isaiah 42:16).
But I still have the tendency to go back to my general belief that godly life = happy life. That if I'm serving God, I'll have a good life and even deserve a good life. Yet I don't think that's the perspective God wants us to have. In fact, scripture suggests the opposite--we should "count it all joy" in suffering and broken dreams because it means "God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" (Hebrews 12:7) We should rejoice that this is an opportunity to develop character such as perseverance. "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:4). In a weird, almost twisted sense, trials actually mean that God cares for us deeply because he won't let us remain in our current sinful state; He's sanctifying us.
If you're like me, this probably doesn't completely give you peace about difficulties. It's not like we go around saying, "Yes! I lost my job! This is a santification moment!" Sometimes I tell God "enough with the sanctification! Can't you let me be?!"
Yet God promises that we will never be alone in the midst of the difficulties, and that does give me peace. When my dreams are shattered, God prompts me to pull out my favorite Collegiate Devotional Bible that looks just as battered as I feel, and I flip through all of the underlined promises. "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). "1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead" (Isaiah 43:1-3). "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; persecuted, but not abaondoned; struck down, but not destroyed; perplexed, but not in despair" (2 Cor. 4:8). God promises strength, peace, comfort, hope, and Himself during trials.
When I read these and other promises, I can't help but want to trust God. I am comforted in knowing that while my circumstances and emotions change, God never does. To borrow Annie Flint's words, "His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again." That's the kind of God I can trust.
So lesson learned. I can trust you, God. I said to myself, almost finished with my blog. Then true story, my Internet crashed and I thought I lost everything I'd written. I had to chuckle, though. God must be smiling down from heaven, saying, "Can you trust me now? Good!"
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Stone Uncast: A Short Explanation
"Why don't you tell those Jewish kids they're going to hell?!" a classmate once asked me in high school. Several classmates around me were shocked at this statement, and I myself was taken aback. But then I understood.
Too often, Christians have the reputation that they are superior to everyone else. And in my short time period of life interacting with various people, I have to say that often WE ARE stuck up, arrogant, and self-centered. But the thing I wished that this classmate could see was that we are not perfect because we are Christians; rather, we are Christians because we are imperfect. The whole story of the gospel is that we in and of ourselves cannot make ourselves perfect, though we try. "It is only by grace that we have been saved, and this is not of us--it is the gift of God so that no one can boast!"
One of my favorite passages comes from Hosea 2 where the Lord speaks to Israel as Hosea should speak to his unfaithful wife, Gomer. Israel has been unfaithful to the Lord, and now she is in the dessert. During those days, when one was taken to the desert, and especially when found guilty of committing adultery, it meant that the person was to be stoned to death. Yet the Lord says "I will speak tenderly to her....I will be her God, and she will be my people...I will betroth her to me in righteousness..." And what a picture it is when Jesus is in the same scenario many years later! The rulers and elders of the law try to trap Jesus into stoning the adulteress woman. And his response? Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. Yet even sinless Jesus does not cast the first stone. This amazing picture of grace and forgiveness is my 'story and song' as I am a sinner who greatly needs a Savior!
With this in mind, I write to share honest, Lord-willing humble thoughts about life, Christianity, and the great grace that causes me to rejoice. I am a product of the stone uncast.
Too often, Christians have the reputation that they are superior to everyone else. And in my short time period of life interacting with various people, I have to say that often WE ARE stuck up, arrogant, and self-centered. But the thing I wished that this classmate could see was that we are not perfect because we are Christians; rather, we are Christians because we are imperfect. The whole story of the gospel is that we in and of ourselves cannot make ourselves perfect, though we try. "It is only by grace that we have been saved, and this is not of us--it is the gift of God so that no one can boast!"
One of my favorite passages comes from Hosea 2 where the Lord speaks to Israel as Hosea should speak to his unfaithful wife, Gomer. Israel has been unfaithful to the Lord, and now she is in the dessert. During those days, when one was taken to the desert, and especially when found guilty of committing adultery, it meant that the person was to be stoned to death. Yet the Lord says "I will speak tenderly to her....I will be her God, and she will be my people...I will betroth her to me in righteousness..." And what a picture it is when Jesus is in the same scenario many years later! The rulers and elders of the law try to trap Jesus into stoning the adulteress woman. And his response? Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. Yet even sinless Jesus does not cast the first stone. This amazing picture of grace and forgiveness is my 'story and song' as I am a sinner who greatly needs a Savior!
With this in mind, I write to share honest, Lord-willing humble thoughts about life, Christianity, and the great grace that causes me to rejoice. I am a product of the stone uncast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)