Piper's intro to "Overcoming Sin and Temptation" for "Kill or Be Killed"

My buddy Anthony Alvarado gave me the heads up on this intro from an Owen compilation (which includes "Mortification of Sin" and "Of Temptation") published by Crossway in 2006. It is a great starting point for anyone encountering Owen for the first time.

As I look across the Christian landscape, I think it is fair to say concerning sin, “They have healed the wound of my people lightly” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11, ESV). I take this to refer to leaders who should be helping the church know and feel the seriousness of indwelling sin (Rom. 7:20), and how to fight it and kill it (Rom. 8:13). Instead the depth and complexity and ugliness and danger of sin in professing Christians is either minimized—since we are already justified—or psychologized as a symptom of woundedness rather than corruption. This is a tragically light healing. I call it a tragedy because by making life easier for ourselves in minimizing the nature and seriousness of our sin, we become greater victims of it. We are in fact not healing ourselves. Those who say that they already feel bad enough without being told about the corruptions of indwelling sin misread the path to peace. When our people have not been taught well about the real nature of sin and how it works and how to put it to death, most of the miseries people report are not owing to the disease but its symptoms. They feel a general malaise and don’t know why, their marriages are at the breaking point, they feel weak in their spiritual witness and devotion, their workplace is embattled, their church is tense with unrest, their fuse is short with the children, etc. They report these miseries as if they were the disease. And they want the symptoms removed. We proceed to heal the wound of the people lightly. We look first and mainly for circumstantial causes for the misery—present or past. If we’re good at it, we can find partial causes and give some relief. But the healing is light. We have not done the kind of soul surgery that is possible only when the soul doctor knows the kind of things Owen talks about in these books, and when the patient is willing to let the doctor’s scalpel go deep.

Read the whole thing here.

Additional Resources
Intro to "Kill or Be Killed"

The Trellis and The Vine Giveaway!

FOR MEMBERS OF SUMMITVIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH!

Up front I will admit, I'm resorting to gimmicks.

Here's the deal. My heart as a pastor has been growing to equip the church with resources that will build an affection for Jesus. This blog has developed out of that growing burden and I would love for it to become at least part of the daily info diet of more members. So, to drum up some exposure to "...all things new" in our local church, I'm giving away two copies of "The Trellis and The Vine" to the two people who recruit the most people to subscribe to the blog.

Here's how it will work:
1) Let your friends know of the scam and your desire for a free book.
2) Direct them to the site.
3) After they subcribe to the RSS feed, become a follower through Blogger or begin following me on Twitter, have them leave a comment on this post with their and your name.
4) The two Summitviewers who successfully refer the most people between now and Tuesday, March 9th will receive a copy of "The Trellis and the Vine" by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.

NEW ADDITION 2/28/10 !!! 5) Every new follower (who leaves a comment on this post) will be entered into a drawing for their choice of The Prodigal God by Tim Keller or The Trellis and the Vine.

Additional Resources
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Church" - a free e-book by yours truly
"Grow: Reproducing through Organic Discipleship" - a free e-book by Winfield Bevins

Leadership Fridays: Powerless but no chicken

When I grow up, I want to be like King Jehoshaphat. He wasn't superhuman or incapable of error, but throughout his life, he remained soft to God and he finished well. Look at this prayer for help when he and his people were surrounded by the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir:

If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20.9–12)

"Our eyes are on you." In circumstances that led many kings to look horizontally and find security in treaties with other nations, Jehoshaphat's vertical gaze strengthened his courage and pulled him through. His example to leaders is rare and stirring.

If you need a fresh picture of humble, God-centered leadership, study his biography in 2 Chronicles 17 through 20. A few observations from his life have provided a great framework to evaluate my heart as leader.

Jehoshaphat put God first, intentionally diverting his focus from idols.

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 17.3–6)

Jehoshaphat cultivated a life of seeking his security in "the God of his father." This consistent pattern of living developed a firm confidence in God that became foundation of his courage.

Jehoshaphat worked to make the Word of God the preeminent word among his people.

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (2 Chronicles 17.7–9)

Jehoshaphat wasn't looking for "yes men" to fabricate the approval of the LORD.

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?” (2 Chronicles 18.4–6)

Second Chronicles 18 is one of the funniest chapters in the Bible and the contrast between Ahab and Jehoshaphat is very revealing. Here we see that great leaders value the word of the Lord over their own ideas or reputation.

Jehoshaphat pursued God through failure and punishment. He took his licks, without shifting the blame or crying "Unfair!" and continued to love and serve his God.

Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asherahs out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.” Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 19.1–4)

The absence of a painful lament or a plunge into deeper rebellion is conspicuous here. Jehoshaphat understood his own sin. He remained confident in the greatness of God and humanity's need for him even after receiving word of God's discipline.

Jehoshaphat boldly charged men to seek justice in a fear of the Lord.

He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” (2 Chronicles 19.5–7)

Jehoshaphat sought the LORD in times of fear.

"...we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20.12)

Jehoshaphat valued worship over victory.

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

(2 Chronicles 20.18–21)

Jehoshaphat rose early before the battle in 2 Chronicles 20, not to fortify his position but to pour out his heart to God in worship... before he had any sense of the results. To Jehoshaphat, God was glorious regardless of the circumstances.

Oh how the church needs men and leaders with Jehoshaphat's vertical gaze and steady confidence in God! For the good of the world and the glory of God, ask and pray for men with this humility, focus and passion to lead Christ's church. Beg him to be one yourself.

Additional Resources
Good Leaders Actually Finish (featuring video from Matt Chandler)

Counterfeit Masculinity

From "Future Men" by Doug Wilson

Counterfeit masculinity excels at making excuses. Because the "masculinity" is a matter of pride, not humble acceptance of responsibility, then anything which threatens that pride must be rejected. One of the things which always threatens pride is any kind of failure, and the way that insecure males deal with this is through making excuses. True masculinity accepts responsibility, period, while false masculinity will try to accept responsibility only for success. This is a key distinction and is worth pursuing at some length.
...
Boys must learn to say, regularly - to God, to others, and to themselves - that they were wrong when they were wrong, and that they were responsible when they were responsible. When they do this, they will discover that authority, naturally flows to those who take responsibility. That same authority naturally flees from those who seek to shift responsibility or the blame. When boys learn to do this, they are learning what it means to be a young man. When young men learn to do this, they are learning what it means to be a grown man.

Additional Resources
The "Men" posts at "...all things new"
The Men's Ministry Podcast at Summitview

Two free e-books!

"A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Church..."

Churches often find themselves floundering in a sea of busy programs or dying the slow death that accompanies a lack of compelling vision. One simple distinction provides the understanding we need to see how these things happen and how they can change.

Jesus said he would build his church and called us to make disciples.

Often, our drive to build the church (to our own glory) runs us ragged and distracts us from the true mission of the church namely, to make disciples.

"A Funny Thing..." looks at the distinction between building churches and making disciples and how our choic of focus affects the church.


"Membership, Leadership and Discipleship"

Well-defined words are necessary in any organization. Good leaders, then, are the protectors of words. In the church, there are many words worth protecting. Big words like substitution, atonement, redemption and deity need to be protected. And, although they may not seem as critical, we will find that words like membership, leadership and discipleship need protection as well.

"Kill or Be Killed" 2010 Spring Training for Men

In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4.3–7)

"In this we see the deceitfulness of sin. It gradually prevails to harden man's heart to his ruin (Heb. 3:12-13). Sin's expression is modest in the beginning but, once it has gained a foothold, it continues to take further ground and presses on to greater heights. This advance of sin keeps the soul from seeing that it is drifting from God. The soul becomes indifferent to the seed of sin as it continues to grow. This growth has no boundaries but utter denial of God and opposition to Him. Sin precedes higher by degrees; it hardens the heart as it advances. This enables the deceitfulness of sin to drive the soul deeper and deeper into sin. Nothing can prevent this but mortification." John Owen, Mortification of Sin, Banner of Truth Trust, Chapter 2

God's words to Cain reveal that sin is a volitional force. It has intentions to devour. Owen tells us that nothing can stop the intentions of sin that remains alive. We can't harbor a little sin, a little love for it's intentions, without it growing to harden and destroy us. "Be killing sin" Owen reflects "or it will be killing you."

This year's Spring Training for Men entitled "Kill or Be Killed" will take a serious look at sin through the writings of puritan pastor John Owen in his classic "Mortification of Sin" and the life of King David. "Kill or Be Killed" will begin on Wednesday March 24th (6:00am to 7:30am at the Summitview building) and last 7 weeks. Each meeting will consist of book discussion and a short (<30 minute) message the life of David, specifically where David did or did not kill the sin in his life.

Men, this is an issue we cannot ignore. We need more than accountability groups. We need to do more than stop certain behaviors. We must hate and kill the sinful intents within them and, by the power of the Spirit, we can (Romans 8:13). Without this intentional focus, sin will gain ground over time to the destruction of our lives and those around us. Please listen to this introduction and prayerfully consider joining with other men for these 7 weeks.

Reading Schedule*
March 24th - Chapters 1 and 2
March 31st - Chapters 3 and 4
April 7th - Chapters 5 and 6
April 14th - Chapters 7 and 8
April 21st - Chapters 9 and 10
April 28th - Chapters 11 and 12
May 5th - Chapters 13 and 14
*please read the listed chapters prior to each meeting.

If your schedule prevents you from attending email our office and let them know your interest in participating in a discussion group at a different time. We will contact you the week prior to March 24th and help you find a off-time group.

Additional Resources
A Summary of Mortification of Sin from theResurgence
Purchase Mortification of Sin from MongerismBooks.com (we will also have copies available on Sundays for $7)

Membership, Leadership and Discipleship - Part 3

(This is the final post in a series defining membership, leadership and discipleship. You can listen to the message here.)

Discipleship
We start with a simple observation. With the advent of the Great Commission, Jesus called every Christian to matheteusate (verb), to the making of mathetes (disciples). The entire membership of the church is to be matheteusate and not of specific men or schools of thought (1 Cor 3:12-17), but of Jesus Christ as Lord, the one who is to be obeyed as absolute authority over all heaven and earth. This is discipleship.

Now as we progress through Ephesians 4 we see this description of the work of the membership:

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (Ephesians 4.12–13)

Note the characteristics of the "work of ministry" described here:

1) It builds up the body (the membership).
With the goals of
2) unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God (which Paul describes as mature manhood)
3) the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

The entire membership is to pursue faith in, knowledge of and the fullness of Christ. Members are called to encourage each other closer to Christ but not every member is called to be a leader (Rom 12). This is an important distinction. Discipleship is the common activity of the membership. It is what we do with each other. No specific gifting is necessary for this work. We speak the Gospel to each other in every context so our faith, knowledge and fullness in Christ might increase (see also Hebrews 2:1, Hebrews 3:12-14 and Hebrews 10:24-25).

When the lines are blurred between leadership and discipleship, both are neutered. Leaders shy from asserting themselves as leaders because they have imported the more egalitarian "body building itself up" aspects of discipleship into their role. Members who do not possess leadership gifts feel disqualified from the work of the church. When leadership and discipleship are clear and distinct, leaders are freed to fulfill their responsibility and members are called to Christ's co-mission.

How they fit together
Leaders have responsibility to preserve the membership and lead it into a life of discipleship, where people (in and out of the church) are encouraged to trust and know Jesus Christ as Lord, Redeemer and Life. Membership defines the church's boundaries (answering "Who are we?"), discipleship defines its trajectory (answering "What are we to do?") and leaders set the course (answering "Who initiates?"). Seeing this interplay strengthens each element.

Why this is important
Membership, leadership and discipleship are biblical mandates for the church and a wide variety of programs can promote and preserve them. When a congregation understands these things, they begin to kill unfruitful and constraining sacred cows. For instance, depending on your season of life, certain meetings may provide a sense of membership but no discipleship. These need to change. Like a palette to an artist, clear definitions of membership, leadership and discipleship provide the basic elements leaders need to creatively find a solution. We can be flexible and creative with our solutions as long as they provide these basic biblical elements.

It is human nature to lean on our own understanding, institutionalize systems that meet our objectives and then hold them as sacred. Often (one must wonder if by God's design) circumstances change and our institutional systems no longer work. Curiously, a look back at the Bible reveals that God gives us very little in the form of institutional systems. Instead, He calls us to fundamental things like love, generosity, kindness to the poor, holiness, gospel-gratitude, gospel proclamation, membership, leadership and discipleship. It is as if His fatherly heart actually desires that we unite with Him to creatively discover how these things can be championed freshly every day.

Additional Resources
Rabbi and Talmidim by Ray Vander Laan

Membership, Leadership and Discipleship - Part 2

(Continued from yesterday's post. Part two in a series of posts defining Membership, Leadership and Discipleship in the local church introduced here.)

Leadership
A review of the next verse in Ephesians 4 reveals that membership is not the only biblical mandate for life within the church.

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” ... And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, (Ephesians 4.7-8, 11–12)

Paul goes on to say that within a membership, there are specific roles. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers exist to equip the saints for "the work of the ministry." God has given leaders to churches to ensure that the membership is working. Although each has a different contribution, they all are given responsibility to initiate "work." This leads to a number of implications:

1) Membership needs a push. Committed relationships have inherent value but they need purpose. Directionless relationships eventually become self-serving or tiresome. Leaders overcome inertia and protect members from merely forming a social club.

2) Leaders push by equipping. They help members be successful. This is unnatural. In man-made organizations, members exist to make leaders successful.

3) "But grace was given.." Leaders are a grace to any membership, not a necessary evil.

The author of Hebrews provides additional insight to the grace given to the membership through leaders.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13.7)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13.17)

4) Leaders keep watch over members' souls. They wake up in the morning with a sense of responsibility. Their responsibility is limited because the buck only truly stops with Christ and every member is a free agent, but they are the ones who will give an account for the direction of the membership.

5) When leaders lead joyfully it is an advantage to the membership.

6) Therefore God requires obedience to leaders because it benefits the entire membership.

7) Leaders teach the word of God while living in accordance with that teaching. This teaching penetrates the membership providing vision, vocabulary and the equipment necessary "for building up the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12) "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4.13). Leaders continue to push members in this direction; the direction of discipleship (to be discussed tomorrow).

Additional Resources
Obey your joyful leaders: Part 1 and Part 2
Workers with you for your joy
all by J.P.

Membership, Leadership and Discipleship - Part 1

(continued from yesterday's post)
Well-defined words are necessary in any organization. Good leaders, then, are the protectors of words. In the church, there are many words worth protecting. Big words like substitution, atonement, redemption and deity need to be protected. And, although they may not seem as critical, we will find that words like membership, leadership and discipleship need protection as well.

Membership
We're not talking about what happens after taking a class a church and signing a commitment form. That is one expression of membership but membership is more fundamental. The root word "member" represents a part of something greater (like a body). A membership is a cohesive collection of parts that form a whole. This membership comes together under one head, for a common identity and purpose. Paul's letters to the Corinthians, Colossians and Ephesians provide examples of New Testament membership:

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12.24–27)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3.12–15 ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4.1–6 ESV)

Note the radical descriptions of loyal commitment in these passages. Christians are to be gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, forgiving one another, living in perfect harmony and eager to maintain unity. Members value, protect, serve and pray for each other in times of hardship and in plenty. Biblical membership does not part ways easily. Members tough it out, working to preserve unity because they have one Lord. New Testament membership is a group of people committed to one another under the authority Christ. When you hear "membership", think commitment.

It is impossible to maintain this kind of commitment with hundreds of people. Therefore, in a large church, smaller groups must become the practical expression of that membership. New Testament membership includes a flesh-on-flesh commitment that local church membership (which is necessary) does not ensure.

Right now you are either thinking of the people in your "membership" or you are feeling an ache for membership. If you have it value it and participate in it. If you are alone, become a member. It is an essential component to being Christian. And, yet, it is not the only component. To find the fullness of Christ, members must be led and they must experience discipleship. In the next two days, we will work to define our remaining terms; leadership and discipleship.

Additional Resources
Leadership Training on February 16th

Leadership Fridays: Protect the words

Words matter.

Words are the fundamental elements of every idea and the main vehicle for every relationship. A word richly defined and commonly held, adds an efficiency and power to the sentences it inhabits. Conversely, communication loses power and intelligence when definitions lose their meaning. This affects the quality of relationships and the strength of an organization. Therefore, it is imperative that a leader work to build a common, robust vocabulary.

Church leaders should work to develop and preserve rich definitions for words like "gospel", "faith", "love" and "ministry." These words then become weighty contributions to every conversation. The Holy Spirit can break the heart with a phrase as simple as "Repent and believe the gospel" as long as the mind understands the biblical definition of "repent", "believe" and "gospel." With the wrong definitions, this sentence simply blends in with all the other noise and looks like it belongs on a sandwich board.

If you are involved with a Christian church at any level, you have most likely encountered the words membership, leadership and discipleship. They are often used to describe key elements of life together as Christians. But there are almost as many definitions for these terms as there are churches. Consequently, the words carry a vague meanings that are neither distinctive nor compelling.

Membership is different than discipleship. Without that distinction, people might miss the narrow path of following in Christ's footsteps because their "discipleship" box is checked after a weekly meeting. Discipleship is different than leadership. If this isn't clear, many people will sit on the sidelines of the Great Commission because making disciples only happens when a leader is in the room.

Over the next four days, I'll be posting a summary points from Summitview's Leadership Training on February 16th. In that message, I work to define membership, leadership and discipleship and distinguish them from each other. It is an attempt to drive the ball of our new focus to make disciples over building churches further down the field.

Additional Resources
Leadership Friday's posts (also available in RSS)

Licking the earth - by Ray Ortlund

“Sinners lick the earth, that is to say, love earthly pleasures.”

Pascal, Pensées, #666.

Our lifestyles devoted to earthly pleasures while marginalizing Christ — let’s depict them bluntly: “licking the earth.” But here is what we were created for: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8).

There is nothing degrading in Christ. Only satisfying, uplifting, humanizing.

Follow Ray here.
Additional Resources
"Lurking and nourished sins are always a sign."
Coming to Jesus without hating what we have left
No one thanks a vending machine

Lyndsey Jacobellis, the Olympics and religion

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. (Galatians 3.10–11)

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. (James 2.10)

Religion is a deadly trap. Religious people rely on their adherence to some legal code to obtain justification or righteousness. Anyone who truly considers their life for very long realizes the futility in this arrangement. There may be no better display of the strict requirements of the living by a legal code than the Olympics. Even the New York Times uses religious language to describe it ("Redemption, But not for Jacobellis" - 2/17/10).

Consider Lyndsey Jacobellis. Lyndsey has spent the last 4 years of her life working for her own redemption. In the Torino Olympics in 2006 she lost the gold medal in the snowboard cross; falling down after a premature celebration with some "method air" on the last jump of the race. It was the most bitter silver medal of the 2006 Winter Games. Yesterday, the rigid legal code of the Olympics erased that 4 year pursuit with one fall. The favorite Jacobellis will not visit the podium in Vancouver. One sin disqualified her.

It is a bitter lesson for any of us tempted to find justification (or redemption) by adherence to any code be it environmentalism, corporate-ladder-climbing-ism, I'm-a-good-parent-ism or religion of any form. We cannot justify ourselves. Everyone of us has fallen down in the semis of the snowboard cross or in the skating short program and there will be a day where we fall again. We need something more. If God doesn't provide our righteousnes (or if we don't accept what He provides), we are forever cursed. The Good News is... He has!

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3.21–25)

May Lyndsey find redemption and justification not through her own efforts but in the efforts and perfect righteousness of the Savior.

Redemption: You are not your own and you never will be

Here is a summary of the message from the Rock on February 12th, 2010 entitled "Redemption."
You can listen to it here.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1.13–14)

It is easy to think of redemption in terms of freedom. Andy Dufrense finds freedom from Shawshank prison and heads to Zihuatanejo and we call it "Redemption." And, surely, Christ does free us from sin (Romans 8:2 and Hebrews 9:15). The greatest story of redemption in the Old Testament is the Exodus of Israel from Egypt; freedom from 400 years of slavery. But the disquiet we feel when we continue to read the story of Israel, and they are rebellious and complaining on the other side of the Red Sea, is revealing. Something in us senses that they should obey God completely, with gratitude, because He is their Redeemer. And we are right. Biblical redemption is not deliverance from slavery into autonomous freedom, rather, it is the transference of ownership. The redeemer purchases the redeemed at a price.

I realize I'm treading on some cultural high ground here. It is an American value to be owned by none. But just because we value it doesn't mean that it's true. The truth is that none of us are truly free... ever. We all are slaves to something (Romans 7:25). Jesus tells us that anyone who does sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34 - which he said, incidentally, in response to Jews who claimed that they have never been enslaved.) If you can't say no to it... "it" is your master (2 Peter 2:19). Some claim that they will never be a slave to anyone or anything. No one tells them what to do. And, yet, after all this chest puffing they come to realize they are a slave to the identity of never being a slave. So our choice is not freedom or slavery it is Master A or Master B.

In the end, the greatness of redemption is not found in autonomous freedom but in ownership by Christ, who paid the purchase price of our redemption with his blood (Eph. 1:7 and Heb. 9:12). We have been delivered from sin (its guilt and power) but then we were brought into a kingdom with a King. This is great news for at least three reasons:

1. There is no greater master you could see (Rev. 5).
2. There is no greater master you could serve.
   All masters use you for their benefit, but only one died to own you and with only one does his benefit equal your benefit.
3. There is no greater master you could proclaim (again looking to Rev. 5).

The implications of this understanding of redemption are obvious. Paul sums them up in 1 Corinthians 6 and Romans 7:

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6.19–20)

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7.4–5)

May we find life in glorifying the King who purchased us and not pine for some counterfeit form of life back in Egypt, in the domain of darkness.

Additional Resources
"He's just institutionalized" - a very old post. There is a lot of talk of gospel freedom here with that sense of autonomy. I thought about re-writing it to fit the ideas in this post but I think it is better to see my learning process. May all our minds continue to be sanctified by a growing understanding of the Bible.

The "feedback" of atheism and porn (or any willful sin)

A recent conversation with a friend helped me see something chilling about sin. This friend is looking at porn and, simultaneously, discovering a growing doubt in his soul. This is because every indulgence of pornography must include some level of atheism. To keep looking we have to believe:

• God is not there.
  
• God is not good (at least He is holding out on me, so I will get what I want for myself).
• God does not see.
• God doesn't care about my sin.

To do what God forbids, at least one of these prerequisite beliefs is required. I couldn't look at porn if Jesus were physically present. (Some of the more hardened types might think they could, but my guess is they aren't free with their viewing when any person walks in the room). So I must repress the idea that he sees, cares about and must deal with my sin.

The problem with "believing" these things (even temporarily) is that I cannot plant the seed and not expect it to grow. Puritan pastor John Owen said it this way:

"Every time sin rises to tempt or entice, it always seeks to express itself in the extreme. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression; and every unbelieving thought would be atheism. It is like the grace that is never satisfied."

So the temporary atheism required to willfully sin will increase to more lasting doubt in God and His promises. This doubt will open the way for more sin. It is a feedback loop that leads to hardness of heart. We shouldn't be surprised if we find a growing doubt in the midst of our willful sin. We are fostering it.

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3.12–14)

There is much more than morality at stake here. With every click (or any willful sin) you are choosing to lose softness to God and your original confidence in the gospel.

Stay Tuned...
This year's Spring Training for Men starts on 3/24 (for 7 weeks) and will include reading "The Mortification of Sin" by John Owen (I have purchased 40 copies)

Leadership Fridays: Be careful of living for cruel masters

If you are a leadership type, I already know something about you. Your greatest temptation is to find your identity in successfully leading... anything. There are a thousand opportunities calling you to use your vision, your personality, and your gifts to make things better. Your daughter's soccer team is disorganized and has no stated objective. Your group at work is floundering in laziness, comparison and small vision. Your small group at church is stagnating, attendance is waning and people keep coming out of sheer duty. All of these things beckon your attention and energy. Be careful of living to successfully lead of any one of them. And be careful to look at "making disciples" like just another nagging voice in the crowd of opportunities.

Listen to Tim Keller from "The Reason For God":

If you live for career and you don't do well it may punish you for the rest of your life, and you will feel like a failure. If you live for your children and they don't turn out all right you could be absolutely in torment because you feel worthless as a person.

If Jesus is your center and Lord and you fail him, he will forgive you. Your career can't die for your sins. You might say, "If I were a Christian I'd be going around pursued by guilt all the time!" But we all are being pursued by guilt because we must have an identity and there must be some standard to live up to by which we get that identity. Whatever you base your life on - you have to live up to that. Jesus is the one Lord you can live for who died for you - who breathed his last breath for you. Does that sound oppressive?"

Additional Resources
Don't Waste Your Life - Audio, J.P.
Cheating the Thief Part 6 - Purpose (from last year's "Spring Training for Men")

Message in a Bottle: Social Networking and the prophetic voice of the Police

As a responsible father, I have been introducing my kids to the Police (the band, not the law enforcement - I'll do that later). At this point the family favorite is "Message in a Bottle." I have always loved the guitar riff but, until now, I have never noticed the lyrics.

Now, every time I hear the song, the lonely cry of the human heart and the advent of social networking have been on my mind. Examine the lyrics for yourself and consider if, like me, some of your attraction to social networking is fundamentally a loneliness that cannot be addressed by a bottle on steroids.

Message in a Bottle
written by Sting, 1979

Just a castaway
An island lost at sea
Another lonely day
With no one here but me
More loneliness
Than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair

I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

A year has passed since I wrote my note
But I should have known this right from the start
Only hope can keep me together
Love can mend your life
But love can break your heart
I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

Walked out this morning
Don't believe what I saw
A hundred billion bottles
Washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone at being alone
A hundred billion castaways
Looking for a home

I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle
Sending out an SOS

In the words of Jeremiah, "How lonely sits the city that was full of people!" (Lamentations 1.1). We are not alone in being alone and, yet, a hundred billion bottles (or followers) sent by other castaways will not resolve that loneliness. We need more. We crave something that ones and zeros are limited in providing, namely, Trinitarian intimacy.

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. (Psalms 25.14–18)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8.38–39)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3.1 ESV)

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3.16–18)

Additional Resources
Is the local church my only place to develop relationships?

How Jesus Made Disciples (from theResurgence)

A great series on discipleship from the folks at the Resurgence:

Posts in this series:

Hospitality

Mission

Emotion

Monologue & Dialogue

Stupid Questions

The Heart

Testing

Object Lessons

Discomfort

Sending & Praying

Pointing to the Father

Pointing to the Spirit

Dying

Jesus Equips

Jesus’ Teaching Methods

Additional Resources
"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." - A message on Luke 5:1-11.(Discussion Questions)

The Trellis and the Vine - I'll mention it again... it is worth your reading!

Building The Church or Making Disciples
Why We Prefer Church-Building
The Downstream Effects of Church-Building
The Downstream Effects of Making Disciples v. Building Churches - Part 1
The Downstream Effects of Making Disciples v. Building Churches - Part 2
The Downstream Effects of Making Disciples v. Building Churches - Part 3
How does a church change from "church-building" to "disciple-making"? - Part 1
How does a church change from "church-building" to "disciple-making"? - Part 2

Andy McKee's "Drifting": See why it has been viewed 27 million times

You may have seen it before but it is so worth your 3 minutes:

Leadership Fridays: Leading Yourself (from theResurgence)

A helpful post by Mars Hill Pastor Dave Kraft to generate some healthy self-examination among leaders:

"When most leaders think of leadership, they think of downwardly leading those for whom they’re responsible. But you really lead upwardly (with those to whom you are responsible), horizontally (with those who are your peers), and, perhaps most importantly, inwardly (you lead yourself). If I am not able to lead myself, how can I lead others?

...
A Checklist For Self-Leading
Here are a few areas to consider that are consistent with 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 as you reflect on leading yourself.

1. My gifts. How am I doing at leading myself to know my gifts, stay within my limits, and develop those gifts to their highest, God-pleasing potential?
   
   
2. My character. How am I doing at leading myself to be a person of integrity who follows through on promises made and is a person that others can trust?
   
   
3. My purity. How am I doing at being careful of what my eyes see, my ears hear, and my mind thinks about? How are my relationships with members of the opposite sex? Do I have guidelines, safeguards, and appropriate and honest accountability?
   
   
4. My pride. How am I doing at keeping Christ at the center? Am I the hero of my own stories? Do the words I speak communicate an attitude of arrogance and superiority, or am I characterized by humility and teachability?
   
   
5. My pace. How am I doing at leading myself in the use of my time? Is my schedule writing checks my body can’t cash? Am I going at an unbalanced pace that is digging myself, and those whom I lead, an early grave? Do I have a biblical view of work and leisure, or am I a workaholic who gets a sense of self-worth based on my work?
   
   
6. My finances. How am I doing at leading myself in the money arena? Do I have healthy protection and checks and balances built-in regarding organizational funds that don’t belong to me? Are there healthy audits over all financial dealing with which I am associated? Do I resist the lusting and grabbing lifestyle of my culture, choosing instead to be content and satisfied with God’s provision? Or is my happiness at the door of the next purchase?
   
   
7. My anger. How am I doing at leading myself emotionally? Do I have a reputation for being a hothead and having a short fuse? Do I keep score regarding perceived slights, insults, and put-downs? Do resentment, bitterness, and lack of forgiveness characterize me? One survey I came across revealed that bitterness is the major cause of burnout for men between 38 and 50 years of age.

Read the whole thing here.

Additional Resources
Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft
A survey (Based on 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) to get the input of those around you.

Sally Jenkins (Washington Post) on Tim Tebow

(HT: Josh Harris)

Washington Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins writes about the controversial pro-life commercial Tim Tebow helped make for the Super Bowl:

I'm pro-choice, and Tebow clearly is not. But based on what I've heard in the past week, I'll take his side against the group-think, elitism and condescension of the "National Organization of Fewer and Fewer Women All The Time." For one thing, Tebow seems smarter than they do.

Tebow's 30-second ad hasn't even run yet, but it already has provoked "The National Organization for Women Who Only Think Like Us" to reveal something important about themselves: They aren't actually "pro-choice" so much as they are pro-abortion. Pam Tebow has a genuine pro-choice story to tell. She got pregnant in 1987, post-Roe v. Wade, and while on a Christian mission in the Philippines, she contracted a tropical ailment. Doctors advised her the pregnancy could be dangerous, but she exercised her freedom of choice and now, 20-some years later, the outcome of that choice is her beauteous Heisman Trophy winner son, a chaste, proselytizing evangelical.

Pam Tebow and her son feel good enough about that choice to want to tell people about it. Only, NOW says they shouldn't be allowed to. Apparently NOW feels this commercial is an inappropriate message for America to see for 30 seconds, but women in bikinis selling beer is the right one. I would like to meet the genius at NOW who made that decision. On second thought, no, I wouldn't.

Read the full article

No one thanks a vending machine

I have an agreement with vending machines. Their job is to take my change and give me what I want. When, as often is the case, I don't receive the reward for my offering, I am furious. My frustration is often proclaimed in an indictment against the machine. "Stupid machine!" I exclaim. I am indignant that the machine has not followed the rules. On the flip side, when I get exactly what I paid for, I walk off merrily enjoying the dispensed with no regard for the dispenser. Why should I? The dispenser has only performed its duty - no hoopla necessary.

Over the past couple of years, Ryene (my 10 year-old daughter) and I have been discussing vending machines. Specifically, how easy it is to make God a vending machine with all the same arrangements. Last week Ryene pointed out that this mentality didn't arrive with the industrial revolution and the advent of vending machines. She saw it in Luke 17 in Jesus' exchange with the ten lepers.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17.11–19)

The lepers in this story understood and obeyed the rules. They didn't interact with the non-leprous and stood at a distance from Jesus. They knew that Jesus had the power to heal. They knew his healing power was bound up somehow with his mercy toward them. When he told them to go and show themselves to the priests, they responded with remarkable obedience and faith. Showing yourself to the priest was an act reserved for those who had already been healed (Leviticus 14:1-32). In going to the priests, they were communicating trust in Jesus implied promise to heal them. Indeed, on the way, they were healed.

To this point in the story, we see a great picture of humility, obedience and faith and, yet, something is missing that can only be revealed by the end of the story. Nine of them went on their way without thanking the one who had healed them. In fact, we are left to decide for ourselves whether they actually even made it to the priests. As Ryene pointed out, they saw Jesus as a vending machine and, when he delivered as expected, no thanks was necessary.

It's remarkable. We can have humility, obedience and even some measure of faith toward God and still miss the picture completely. The nine lepers had all these things and they had themselves at the center of their universe. Jesus' words to the returning Samaritan leper reveals the point of God's healing in our lives. Whether in our redemption from sin, binding our broken hearts or healing our physical bodies, God is looking to be the object of praise not the dispenser of good gifts. The thanks and not the healing is the point.

These lepers eventually experienced more physical aliments which eventually led to their own death. The gift of healing they had received was temporary but the gift of seeing their God, Savior and King was the very substance of eternal life (John 17:3). To miss that is the very root of sin (Romans 1:21,25).

Am I Like One of the Nine Lepers?
When the gifts are the true objects of our affection, we will see it in our gratitude. It's easy to take our spiritual temperature with the wrong thermometer. Often we look for signs of humility, obedience and faith. These are important indicators of life in the Kingdom of God. But the point in this exchange is that these things may exist and our affections may be somewhere else all together. God will not settle for giving us second best. His discipline and withholding is often an expression of that passion. His best comes when our eyes are not fixed on the temporary gift but on the eternal giver.

After receiving the grace we have sought in prayer, do we stop and give legitimate, heart-felt thanks? If, after all my prayer and obedience, my prayers aren't answered, am I quick to indict God with no regard for the previous 10,000 days of His grace? The answers to these questions reveal more of the work of the gospel in our lives than a thousand works of service. If you want to know the real temperature of your heart, put down the "Am-I-Obedient?" thermometer and use the "Am-I-Grateful?" one. It works better.

(Thanks Rye!)

Additional Resources
Burning Out? Don't forget the end to which we labor and strive
Real Gritty Joy: All Things Rubbish
Coming to Jesus without hating what we have left