Next week begins something new for me, namely I've been asked to lead Wednesday nights down at Calvary for the foreseeable future. Last time I spoke with any regularity anywhere was during my internship a couple of summers ago at my home church in Carroll, and that was an extremely stretching experience.
I may have touched on it before, but God used that experience to really start to crack my stone heart. When I went on WILD to Canada the beginning of the summer, I realized that my love for God is a choice. I was expecting it to be a lightning strike, and suddenly, amazingly, I would have this great love for God, and I came back from that trip really on a spiritual high and started right into my internship. I was given the opportunity to preach once a week for ten weeks straight, and about the 6th week or so, I was about halfway through my message, and the thought came into my head, "Okay man, I am boring myself." The people in my church were so gracious about it all, but it showed me very plainly that the spiritual reservoir inside me wasn't quite as deep as I thought it was. Pastor wisely had allowed me to come to that point, and God really used it to make me realize that my love for Him wasn't just a choice; it was a choice I had to keep making.
It's not a once-in-a-lifetime choice, nor is it even a spiritual summit choice. I'd rather use the illustration of walking, where it is a choice I must make each day, each hour, with each step I take. Am I actively looking for opportunities to share Christ with my coworkers, my clients, my friends, and my family? Do I love Christ enough to functionally not be ashamed of Him?
And that's what I'd like to speak about for a little bit at church: Functional Christianity and the Pursuit of Selflessness. It's a big title with a world of meaning behind it. Here are a few of my thoughts I'd like to begin with.
What does your Christianity cost you?
I am convinced that the vast majority of Christians-so-named go to church because it's convenient and socially acceptable. Let me expound: In our culture (nation, not just Christian) it is acceptable to be a Christian still. With post-Modernism, it's not as acceptable for you to believe that Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven, but to go to church and dress up and carry your bible and be in church on Sunday mornings is absolutely perfectly acceptable. We get our time in, do our thing, go out for a nice lunch after services, and we've got our God fix for the week. Now among the Christian culture, it's sort of looked down upon with disapproving eyes if you skip church (unless you're throwing up or whatever), but thankfully, it's actually fairly convenient to put our time in. It takes a modicum of discipline to get up in time for the whole family to get ready for the service, but really, it feels quite nice to get a compliment on your dress or your new shoes or your special music, doesn't it?
But it doesn't cost you much. I've poured so much energy into people trying to get them to come to more than ONE SERVICE A WEEK. But I can't change their hearts. I can't make them choose to be faithful. Church isn't about getting your God fix for the week. As Jason Gray sang, "It's more like falling in love than something to believe in, more like losing my heart than giving my allegiance."
I think I can safely say that if you're the type of person who gives the bare minimum to your church, your Christianity isn't all that important to you. If you're really in love with the God who gave his actual son for you, if you love that God, you will love his people. You'll want to spend time with them, and it won't matter if they compliment you on your dress or your suit. I know that may step on some toes, and I really hope it does, and wakes someone up. Your church ought to be important to you; fellowship with the people of God ought to be important to you. It doesn't matter what you grew up with, what your parents taught you to do. You make the choice for yourself. YOU choose whether or not to be faithful. And please, my dear friend, start now. The choices you make now will create who you are in the future. Become a man or woman of God who is sold out for Him, who is falling in love with your God.
And it's not just about your attendance in church. I want you to ask yourself if your Christianity actually costs you something you deem worthy of giving up. Being in church only costs you some time, maybe some money in offerings and expenses to get there, but are those things that are really important to you? Let me ask you this: when was the last time you shared Christ with someone? And if it was recently, don't puff out your chest just yet. When was the time before that? Yes, I know, I'm pointing three fingers at myself when I point one at you, but come with me and let's consider: is Christ really an integral part of our lives? He gave his life for us, WE who were unworthy, unlovable, filthy and prideful, he died for us. Do we at least have the selflessness to live for him? Does it cost you even a little bit of your pride? Does it cost you having someone like you? Not just what are you willing to give up for him; what have you given up for him? It's not about theory; it's about action. Thus, functional Christianity.
That brings me to the other side of it, that of the pursuit of selflessness. A long time ago, I realized that every sin can be traced back to pride in some form or other. Wanting a toy = pleasure = self-fulfillment = pride. Arguing = the need to be right = self-building-up = pride. Not sharing the gospel = fear/excuses/negligence = self self self = pride. See the pattern? Okay. So pride is the root cause of all sin, or all that's coming to mind at the moment. And the opposite of pride is . . . humility. It's about turning your focus off yourself and pointing your eyes to something and Someone who is better. We know this; we've heard it since we were children (if you grew up in church. If not, it's still true of course). And this living selflessly thing, it has its benefits. Lack of fear, for one thing. If your focus isn't on yourself, you won't have the reflex of self-preservation, which is really what fear is. Contentment and peace, for another. If what you live for is to know Christ and Him crucified, to know and follow his will, and not have the need to be in control of it all, you won't be worrying about the little things that worry so many, and you won't have the unrest that comes from fretting about it all. I've heard it described as this, "Even when the entire world around you is raging like the thirty foot swells on the ocean in a storm, and you're in a life raft holding a cup of water, your own cup is still." You're not thrown about by the circumstances around you. You're not tossed into a tizzy because of the unknown. The peace inside yourself comes from something so much better than knowing it all. It comes from trusting in the One who does.
I'm sure when you read this faster than I'm typing, there'll be some spots that aren't filled in, but you get the big picture: A Christianity without action is worthless, and to get there you have to be selfless.
But that leaves out one crucial step, and that is the step between theory and action. Right now these are just words on a screen, thoughts that flow from my head into the keyboard, off the screen and into your head. You may agree with them. You may want to do them. You may hope for this life. You may think, "Yes, I want a Christianity that works and a life that isn't wasted." But this step is the hardest. And I want to help spur you into taking this step.
JUST DO IT.
Yes, I shamelessly just used Nike's slogan. But they've got something, really. How many times have you been thinking, "Man, I really should go run. I really ought to read that book. I should talk to him about Christ. I need to clean my room and wash the dishes," and then you went and spent three hours surfing the internet and/or watching tv. (For the record, I think tv is one of the most worthless things a Christian can spend his time doing. Use it to relax a little after a long day, but if it doesn't help you get closer to Christ, seriously, cut it out of your life.)
And that kind of is my last point. I used a word earlier; perhaps you caught it. EXCUSES.
We make excuses. When we know we should do something and we don't want to do it (selfishness coming in again), so we make excuses. In our jobs, in our school, in our relationships, and most of all in our Christianity. And it needs to end. And that end starts with you, my friend. Quit making excuses not to do what you know is right, because I am convinced that you will never grow closer to God than those excuses. Let me reiterate: "YOU WILL NEVER GROW CLOSER TO GOD THAN THE EXCUSES YOU MAKE NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING." Get up off your rear and go run. Cut out half an hour of tv and read your bible and a good commentary. It's okay to start small if you start.
There is so much more here, such as the way God often uses pain in our lives to kind of supersede our excuses and force us closer to Him, but this is probably enough to digest for now. Oh and by the way, if you're in the category of one who doesn't go to church on Wednesday nights, then why don't you come join us this next week? And if you're in the category of one who should be there and you make excuses, then why don't you let that be one of the first things you choose not to make an excuse for, and come join us? Come join us in the house of God as we worship together and study His word and consciously choose to fall in love with Him.
It's okay to start small if you start.
www.calvarybaptistwest.com
(my email) The7words@live.com
(my number) 712/579-5754
I may have touched on it before, but God used that experience to really start to crack my stone heart. When I went on WILD to Canada the beginning of the summer, I realized that my love for God is a choice. I was expecting it to be a lightning strike, and suddenly, amazingly, I would have this great love for God, and I came back from that trip really on a spiritual high and started right into my internship. I was given the opportunity to preach once a week for ten weeks straight, and about the 6th week or so, I was about halfway through my message, and the thought came into my head, "Okay man, I am boring myself." The people in my church were so gracious about it all, but it showed me very plainly that the spiritual reservoir inside me wasn't quite as deep as I thought it was. Pastor wisely had allowed me to come to that point, and God really used it to make me realize that my love for Him wasn't just a choice; it was a choice I had to keep making.
It's not a once-in-a-lifetime choice, nor is it even a spiritual summit choice. I'd rather use the illustration of walking, where it is a choice I must make each day, each hour, with each step I take. Am I actively looking for opportunities to share Christ with my coworkers, my clients, my friends, and my family? Do I love Christ enough to functionally not be ashamed of Him?
And that's what I'd like to speak about for a little bit at church: Functional Christianity and the Pursuit of Selflessness. It's a big title with a world of meaning behind it. Here are a few of my thoughts I'd like to begin with.
What does your Christianity cost you?
I am convinced that the vast majority of Christians-so-named go to church because it's convenient and socially acceptable. Let me expound: In our culture (nation, not just Christian) it is acceptable to be a Christian still. With post-Modernism, it's not as acceptable for you to believe that Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven, but to go to church and dress up and carry your bible and be in church on Sunday mornings is absolutely perfectly acceptable. We get our time in, do our thing, go out for a nice lunch after services, and we've got our God fix for the week. Now among the Christian culture, it's sort of looked down upon with disapproving eyes if you skip church (unless you're throwing up or whatever), but thankfully, it's actually fairly convenient to put our time in. It takes a modicum of discipline to get up in time for the whole family to get ready for the service, but really, it feels quite nice to get a compliment on your dress or your new shoes or your special music, doesn't it?
But it doesn't cost you much. I've poured so much energy into people trying to get them to come to more than ONE SERVICE A WEEK. But I can't change their hearts. I can't make them choose to be faithful. Church isn't about getting your God fix for the week. As Jason Gray sang, "It's more like falling in love than something to believe in, more like losing my heart than giving my allegiance."
I think I can safely say that if you're the type of person who gives the bare minimum to your church, your Christianity isn't all that important to you. If you're really in love with the God who gave his actual son for you, if you love that God, you will love his people. You'll want to spend time with them, and it won't matter if they compliment you on your dress or your suit. I know that may step on some toes, and I really hope it does, and wakes someone up. Your church ought to be important to you; fellowship with the people of God ought to be important to you. It doesn't matter what you grew up with, what your parents taught you to do. You make the choice for yourself. YOU choose whether or not to be faithful. And please, my dear friend, start now. The choices you make now will create who you are in the future. Become a man or woman of God who is sold out for Him, who is falling in love with your God.
And it's not just about your attendance in church. I want you to ask yourself if your Christianity actually costs you something you deem worthy of giving up. Being in church only costs you some time, maybe some money in offerings and expenses to get there, but are those things that are really important to you? Let me ask you this: when was the last time you shared Christ with someone? And if it was recently, don't puff out your chest just yet. When was the time before that? Yes, I know, I'm pointing three fingers at myself when I point one at you, but come with me and let's consider: is Christ really an integral part of our lives? He gave his life for us, WE who were unworthy, unlovable, filthy and prideful, he died for us. Do we at least have the selflessness to live for him? Does it cost you even a little bit of your pride? Does it cost you having someone like you? Not just what are you willing to give up for him; what have you given up for him? It's not about theory; it's about action. Thus, functional Christianity.
That brings me to the other side of it, that of the pursuit of selflessness. A long time ago, I realized that every sin can be traced back to pride in some form or other. Wanting a toy = pleasure = self-fulfillment = pride. Arguing = the need to be right = self-building-up = pride. Not sharing the gospel = fear/excuses/negligence = self self self = pride. See the pattern? Okay. So pride is the root cause of all sin, or all that's coming to mind at the moment. And the opposite of pride is . . . humility. It's about turning your focus off yourself and pointing your eyes to something and Someone who is better. We know this; we've heard it since we were children (if you grew up in church. If not, it's still true of course). And this living selflessly thing, it has its benefits. Lack of fear, for one thing. If your focus isn't on yourself, you won't have the reflex of self-preservation, which is really what fear is. Contentment and peace, for another. If what you live for is to know Christ and Him crucified, to know and follow his will, and not have the need to be in control of it all, you won't be worrying about the little things that worry so many, and you won't have the unrest that comes from fretting about it all. I've heard it described as this, "Even when the entire world around you is raging like the thirty foot swells on the ocean in a storm, and you're in a life raft holding a cup of water, your own cup is still." You're not thrown about by the circumstances around you. You're not tossed into a tizzy because of the unknown. The peace inside yourself comes from something so much better than knowing it all. It comes from trusting in the One who does.
I'm sure when you read this faster than I'm typing, there'll be some spots that aren't filled in, but you get the big picture: A Christianity without action is worthless, and to get there you have to be selfless.
But that leaves out one crucial step, and that is the step between theory and action. Right now these are just words on a screen, thoughts that flow from my head into the keyboard, off the screen and into your head. You may agree with them. You may want to do them. You may hope for this life. You may think, "Yes, I want a Christianity that works and a life that isn't wasted." But this step is the hardest. And I want to help spur you into taking this step.
JUST DO IT.
Yes, I shamelessly just used Nike's slogan. But they've got something, really. How many times have you been thinking, "Man, I really should go run. I really ought to read that book. I should talk to him about Christ. I need to clean my room and wash the dishes," and then you went and spent three hours surfing the internet and/or watching tv. (For the record, I think tv is one of the most worthless things a Christian can spend his time doing. Use it to relax a little after a long day, but if it doesn't help you get closer to Christ, seriously, cut it out of your life.)
And that kind of is my last point. I used a word earlier; perhaps you caught it. EXCUSES.
We make excuses. When we know we should do something and we don't want to do it (selfishness coming in again), so we make excuses. In our jobs, in our school, in our relationships, and most of all in our Christianity. And it needs to end. And that end starts with you, my friend. Quit making excuses not to do what you know is right, because I am convinced that you will never grow closer to God than those excuses. Let me reiterate: "YOU WILL NEVER GROW CLOSER TO GOD THAN THE EXCUSES YOU MAKE NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING." Get up off your rear and go run. Cut out half an hour of tv and read your bible and a good commentary. It's okay to start small if you start.
There is so much more here, such as the way God often uses pain in our lives to kind of supersede our excuses and force us closer to Him, but this is probably enough to digest for now. Oh and by the way, if you're in the category of one who doesn't go to church on Wednesday nights, then why don't you come join us this next week? And if you're in the category of one who should be there and you make excuses, then why don't you let that be one of the first things you choose not to make an excuse for, and come join us? Come join us in the house of God as we worship together and study His word and consciously choose to fall in love with Him.
It's okay to start small if you start.
www.calvarybaptistwest.com
(my email) The7words@live.com
(my number) 712/579-5754
