The Constant Pull

I find it so sad and discouraging that so many Christians lose their faith, even Christians who I thought were so very strong and confident in their faith.

Then there's me. One of many sinners. A girl who considers herself unworthy. A girl who has often doubted her faith and has often turned her back on God. Yet a girl who can not let go of God. A girl who has to believe there is a God who loves her no matter what she does.

I can't let go of God. Or maybe it's God who won't let go of me.

Strange, how the "greater" sinners are the ones who hold on while the ones we view as the strongest are the ones who fall. How does that happen? It certainly gives me a greater appreciation for my own faith.

Sabbathing: What Blocks Your Way

I went Sabbathing today. It was something they offered at my school where we are given an hour and a half to spend time a lone with God (and get chapel credit for it :) ). They also provided handouts for us on various topics - guidelines. I did the one on feeling disconnected from God. The passage given was Romans 8:35, 37-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Strangely enough, what I got out of my time with God was fairly simple: God loves His children. His love is unending. He is always with us, even when we don't feel like He's there. So the question is, what are we allowing in our lives that keeps us from experiencing His love? Since we are more than conquerors in Christ, why aren't we conquering the things in our lives that keep us from Christ? If we live in the Spirit, we, too, will not be able to be separated from God's love.

Disciplines: Simplicity

Preconceptions

I didn’t have many preconceptions about this discipline; it was more a matter of my not knowing anything about simplicity. My thoughts were that the discipline was what it sounds like: simple living. What that looked like, I really had no idea. I supposed it meant living without stress or being content with what you have and not letting anything keep you from peace.

Summary

Foster opens with Ecclesiastes 7:30. “God made man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising.” We make life hectic, but God made life simple. The question becomes, how do we return to the simple life God meant for us?

Foster proposes that living simply involves both inward reality and outward practice. We must know and believe simplicity in our hearts and practice it outwardly. Instead of living for wealth or status, we live on ground principles. We do not conform to a sick society and become sick ourselves. Instead, we stand out as Christians.

Foster writes that attachment to this world is evil. Materials are not evil themselves, but what man can do with them is evil. To support this, Foster points to the Bible’s frequent mentions of the evil idolatrous attachment can bring. “Jesus declared war on the materialism of his day” (p. 82). In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus taught that we must be willing to give up everything for the ultimate reward that awaits us in heaven.

Foster reminds us that no matter what we do to live simply, we must always keep the kingdom of God first in mind and not allow the discipline of simplicity to become legalism. Foster also reminds us that all things good come from God, and God wants us to be content with what He gives us. “Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God as a gift that is not ours to keep and can be freely shared with others” (p. 85). Through simplicity, we develop a spirit of trust that God will provide. Thus, we are free to care for others, give of ourselves, and care less about our possessions.

How do we practice simplicity? Foster gives ten suggestions: 1) Buy things for their usefulness. 2) Reject anything that is producing an addiction. 3) Develop a habit of giving things away. 4) Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry. 5) Learn to enjoy things without owning them. 6) Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation. 7) Be skeptical of buy now pay later schemes. 8) Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech. 9) Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others. 10) Sun anything that disracts you from seeking the kingdom of God.

Practice

I chose to focus on the materialistic element of simplicity this past week. I knew I needed new pants, but I didn’t need new shirts or higher-quality pants. So, I decided to buy two pairs of pants at Walmart for $40 rather than one pair at Lane Bryant for $40. I also made a decision to stop eating out. I can make due with what I have at the Caf, and I don’t have to have midnight snacks every night. While at the mall (and Walmart), I did not even look at the book store or at the electronics section of Walmart (both are weaknesses of mine). I made the decision that I won’t get a new cell phone this year, because I don’t need a new one, even if I want a new one. I committed to using my own money only, instead of credit cards.

Reflection

I am addicted to movies and movie scores. I like to eat out. I like to spend money. I like possessions. Once I started reflecting on the discipline of simplicity, the reality of how much I need simplicity in my own life hit me. How easy is it to put aside God when I think watching a movie during my free time would be more relaxing than reading my Bible? Very easy. How easy is it for me to build up my DVD collection? Very easy. I see a five dollar movie at Walmart, and I say to myself, “It’s only five dollars. I’ll get it.” I spend money on fast food, and then, when I really need something like new shoes, I say to myself, “But I don’t have the money for that.” My priorities are messed up. How much more do I need God than all these possessions? A lot more. Yet, I still put him aside. I say to myself, “I have no other God.” Yet, at the same time, I make possessions the gods of my life. I think I can do without for a while, at least until I re-prioritize and build my finances back up. But even then, I’ll still need to practice simplicity.

Biblical Interpretation Paper #2 - 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Observations and Questions

• Contrasts “uncertain riches” of the rich man with “riches” God provides and the “treasure” that he may store up.
• Previous and following verses tie the “pride” and “riches” of the world to false knowledge and false teachings.
• Rich people in verses 17-19 tie back to verse 5, “They think that serving God is a way to get rich.”
• Verse 17’s reference to God giving richly and verse 19’s reference to storing up treasure tie back to verse 6, “Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.”
• Verse 9 does not point at those who are rich, but at those who “want to become rich” as the ones who bring temptation. Therefore, it seems that Paul is saying that those who God blesses with riches in this life should be just as content as the poor, and should not greedily desire more, and, as verse 17 says, should not be proud. Being rich is not necessarily a bad thing. It is the love of money that so often makes rich people bad (v. 10).
• Even the earlier verses of chapter 6 (and parts of chapter 5) appear to be connected to the message of contentment in later verses since Paul says to honor widows and elders and tells slaves to honor their masters.
• “Pride” appears in verse 4 as well as verse 17.
• Conditional clause: Store up treasures... then “they will be able to have the life that is true life.”
• Why the difference between NKJV and NCV and ESV: “they will be able to have the life that is true life” vs. “they may lay hold on eternal life” vs. “they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Are we talking about earthly life or eternal life?
• “Command” is imperative.
• What does “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” mean? Does it refer to planning for this life (which seems unlikely considering the context)? Or does it refer to planning for the next life - planning for God?
• If salvation is free, why do the rich have to store up treasures so “that they may lay hold on eternal life”?
• Commands: charge the rich, do not be haughty, do not place hope in riches, place hope in God, do good, be rich in good works, be generous, be ready to share, store up treasures
• List of things rich should do (above) more of a repetition/comparison for emphasis
• Do good and thus store treasures
• Repetition of “rich” and “good”
• Instructional, but loving tone
• Roles: man - good works and contentment in God’s providence - God - provide
• What does “in this present age” mean? Are we talking about rich people involved in the way of the world? Or are we talking about all rich people?
• “Charge” progressive - “they are (not) to” future - “storing” progressive - “take hold” present - “are” “to be” passive commands
• In what way does Paul expect the rich to be “good”?
• Are we to command others (as commanded) or to take the commandment and apply it ourselves?
• Are “all things” rightly enjoyable”?

Presuppositions

I usually automatically write this passage off, assuming that I am not rich and that this passage does not apply to me in the same way it would to a billionaire. However, I realize that I am rich compared to people in third-world countries, just not rich on an American standard. Sometimes I think the “rich” and “proud” person addressed could not possibly me because I’m a good Christian girl... supposedly (I realize that’s not really the case. We are all sinners, and I have been known to allow pride to take over my life.). I also automatically assume that “be generous and ready to share” refers to charity and that “store up treasure” refers to heavenly rewards.

Research

What do “they will be able to have the life that is true life,” or “they may lay hold on eternal life,” and “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” mean?

Verse 19 presents the result of and motivation for the rich man’s good works. By doing good, man stores up treasures, or riches, for himself where it matters: in God’s eyes - or, in other words, in heaven. We see this when Paul says, “for the coming age.” This coming age refers to the age when Christ returns, as opposed to the current worldly age we live in, which Paul refers to earlier. “While doing good for others, they are simultaneously ‘storing up’ or ‘laying up’... ‘for themselves’... literally ‘a good foundation’... ‘for the future,’ indicating for what time the foundation is being laid up” (Knight, 274).

Some scholars have suggested the storing of treasure is really an “amassing” of treasures that are right and good, but, according to the Tyndale Commentary, this rendering is not supported by the MS and involves bad Greek construction. Instead, the point seems to be that Christians should have an indestructible “foundation” in God. Such a “foundation” refers back to the foundations of buildings, the foundation of the church, and the foundation of the Gospel in a person’s life (that allows him to speak the truth without fear). In a more figurative use, the Anchor Bible suggest “foundation” can mean “that which is laid so that something else can be accomplished” (Johnson ,311).

As a result of building a foundation of treasures in heaven, man can “take hold of that which is truly life.” This “true life” functions next to the “coming age” and the treasures in heaven that matter most. For we, as Christians, are storing up treasures for the future, or “eternal life”. Here, we have a direct contrast with “life propped up by so uncertain a support as [earthly] riches” (Guthrie, 118). We also have a reason for action, for doing good: “to grasp true, eschatological, eternal life” (Mounce, 365). Yes, we live in the present and Christ lives in us. We have God’s blessings and providence in this life, and we do partially store up treasures for this life, but mostly we store up treasures for what is to come.

Big Idea

Do not put possessions above God, but delight and be content in what God does give you, and use it for His glory.

Application

There are many ways I can apply this principle to my life because there are many things I tend to give precedence to over God. My studies, for example, always come first. If I don’t have time to read my Bible, I won’t, and when I do have free time, I watch movies or go to Disneyland because I’ve done enough reading for classes. In another clear example of this, I put food above God. I tell myself I can’t get through a day without food (specifically without food I like, which is why I eat french fries and pizza so often). I tend to put technology above God. I love my Ipod, my phone, and my laptop. Would I save them from a fire before my Bible? Probably. I also put my worries above God, casting off God’s peace and not trusting Him to work things out for the good. What I need to do is set aside specific times for God and His Word. I also plan on doing the fasting discipline in order to try to think of God before my appetite.

When applying this passage to the rich, specifically, I think of my Aunt’s brother-in-law, who is very rich. He has several homes, all very large. He’s also a new Christian. He’s the perfect example of what Paul is saying to Timothy, however. He’s bought a mansion and uses it as a community place for unfortunate children. He also ministers to my uncle a lot through fellowship and work. All this to say, I find myself relating more to the person desiring riches than the person with riches. I see this rich man and think about what I would do with money. I have a hard time with my desires because they make me think that I can only serve God with riches. According to 1 Timothy 6, however, I can serve God with whatever I have because God provides for me for His own glory and pleasure. I need to stop focusing on what I don’t have and start focusing on how I can use what I do have for God’s glory.

Biblical Interpretation Paper #1 - Romans 12:1-2

Observations and Questions

• “Therefore” refers back to previous verses. Passage is a continuation of previous chapter/s, which discusses what happens to the remnant of Israel.
• How does the historical background of Jews vs. Gentiles (discussed in Romans 11) affect the meaning of Romans 12?
• What does Paul mean by “living sacrifice”?
• What does Paul mean by “world”?
• “Do not be conformed” is a command. “Be transformed” is a command.
• Paul contrasts the conforming to this world with transforming of the mind.
• Contrasts the world with God’s will and with man’s spiritual worship.
• Do this... So that.... Be transformed so that... Be tested so that... “You may discern what is the will of God.”
• “Good, acceptable, and perfect” could be counted as a list or repetition for emphasis.
• Roles - God: merciful, has a good and perfect will - Man: living sacrifice, spiritual worship, renewed mind, test, discern God’s will, please God
• NKJV says “so that you may prove.” What does “prove” mean as apposed to “discern”?
• NKJV says “reasonable service” instead of “spiritual worship.” What do these phrases mean?
• “Present,” “do not be conformed,” “transformed,” and “testing” are progressive.
• What does Paul mean by testing? Does it mean living life and seeing what works? Or does it mean testing the world to determine what fits with God’s will and what doesn’t? Is testing part of transformation or a result of transformation?
• What does Paul mean by “mind”? Does it imply mere intellectual renewal?

Presuppositions
My mind automatically strays from the straight path with random ideas of what I assume “world” refers to. I impose my own values and “rules” on this passage. For example, a part of me has a hard time accepting contemporary Christian music and might want to say that such upbeat music conforms to the world. As a modest person, I also automatically think of the way Christian women often dress, especially at Biola. If I think about these assumptions, I begin to catch myself in a lot of hidden judgments.

There are several meanings I would like to give to “worship,” as well. In the modern world, worship often implies singing and dancing in church, but I tend to think of worship as something that varies from person to person as each person acts in his or her own way to please God and follow His will.

I also make automatic assumptions about what it means to “transform” and “renew your mind.” I’ve always believed these words referred to reading the Bible and keeping God’s Word fresh on my mind, which may be part of the equation, but as I look deeper, I think there’s more to the passage than what I automatically assume.

Research

What does Paul mean by “mind”?

The mind takes center stage in both verses. Therefore, to have a full understanding of what Paul means when he tells Christians to renew their minds, Christians need to take a closer look at the context of verse 2. Romans 12 marks a transition in Paul’s content and intended meaning, one that takes the previously stated theological matters and shows his audience that such knowledge is not meant for knowledge alone, but also for application. “Theology in isolation promotes a barren intellectualism” (Black, 230).

The mind is not only for knowledge, but also for the ability to choose to act. The “body” Paul refers to represents the whole of man, including his mind. “The idea is... that the sacrifice we render is intelligent and deliberate” (Expositor’s, 127). Rather than being a sacrifice of dead animals, the Christian sacrifice lives as a voluntary act of worship, as a willful sacrifice of giving one’s life to God instead of taking lives away.

Paul’s reference to “spiritual worship” enforces the idea of voluntary worship. The NCB defines spiritual worship as “the worship offered by mind and heart” (Black, 151), and the KJV indicates “spiritual worship” can mean “‘reasonable’ in the sense of ‘in accordance with reason’” (Sampley, 705). Thus, worship (and action), should be the natural response to God’s mercies (which Paul uses in his appeal in verse 1).

Paul continues to explain what “reasonable worship” means in verse 2. Transformation comes after salvation. “It is the mind in which this inner ‘transformation’ takes place; and this is in keeping with the rational or ‘spiritual’ nature of our service” (Black, 151). The mind, able to think for itself, chooses to accept Christ and, consequently, chooses to live as Christ. The transformation that comes after salvation is a continual process in which the Christian chooses to follow Christ instead of “the world.” This process includes ongoing trial and errors, renewing the mind, and testing what surrounds us or discovering God’s will and putting aside what isn’t God’s will. “Our pattern here is Christ, who refused Satan’s solicitations in the temptation and was transfigured... in his acceptance of the path that led to calvary... He had come to do the Father’s will” (Expositor’s, 128).

Big Idea
You should live in the “life” Christ gives and allow Him to transform you into His image as one who discerns and acts upon God’s will.

Application
First, I want to address my own personal biases. Romans 12 talks about the “body.” Romans 11 talks about God’s acceptance of Jews and Gentiles alike. One of the toughest issues I have in applying God’s acceptance of a unified body worshipping Him is that I have my own personal biases against certain stereotypes. These biases affect how I live for Christ, because, with them, I hold back on showing God’s love to all people and, consequently, am not able to fully offer my body or whole being as a living sacrifice. I need to willingly sacrifice my presuppositions and biases and lay them at the cross in an effort to cooperate with the transformation that the Holy Spirit is working within me.

Second, it would be easy for any person to mistranslate this passage and automatically assume that whatever they test and “feel” is God’s will is actually God’s will. I won’t always be able to know God’s will, and sometimes, I think He presents me with choices that He could use in my life for good no matter what choice I make. Also, when it comes to making moral choices, I have to have something with which to test the world’s standards: the Bible. That said, the Bible isn’t going to tell me what to do in every specific situation, but it does provide the grounds on which I make decisions.

I can’t take this passage too literally. The point isn’t that God will give me the means to know His will in every situation. Even if I knew His will, I probably wouldn’t always go along with it (as evidenced by the Israelite’s response to God in the Old Testament). The point is that I need to follow Christ’s example and grow in Him. I need to read my Bible and strive to know God on a personal level. I need to put aside my biases. I need to seek to glorify God in all I do.

Spongebob

"Nothing makes God laugh more than our plans - except Spongebob. He cracks God up."

From Fresh Start by Doug Fields, page 110.

I love Spongebob, so I couldn't resist posting this.

Jesus Politics

If Jesus lived in today's society, which side do you think He would endorse? The Republicans or the Democrats?

Or would He just say, when asked about such things, "Render to Caesar what is Caesars"?

What do you think? How much involvement should faith have in politics?