Saturday, October 24, 2015
Comic Art
Friday, October 23, 2015
Seek Maturity
Ed Stetzer writes of the lack of discipleship in the church and that spiritual maturity should be the goal. Amen and Amen. But then what constitutes "Spiritual maturity?
Spiritual maturity includes, among other things, child-likeness. No child can read Grudem. Spiritual maturity is characteristics, not knowledge. For many, knowledge will help us develop those characteristics, but there are also many among us for whom such intellectual endeavors are impossible, and yet they can be spiritually mature. Characteristics are mentored, not taught. But more that mentoring has to be serious and real and intimate. That means, among other things, that it is a two-way street - the mentor has to be as exposed as the mentee and often learns as much. It is dangerous stuff.
I could not agree more that we need to seek maturity. I just think we need to be serious about what maturity is, and how we obtain it.
characteristics mentoring spiritual maturity
True spiritual depth is about understanding the Word of God and living out its truths. That should be the goal for all of us.Well, yes and no. Later in the piece, he uses the example of reading Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" To which I respond - C'MON, BE REAL! Let's assume for the smallest moment you could get more than a few nerds interested in such a project. Will that result in maturity? I cannot tell you how many seminary graduates I know that remain spiritually immature. I cannot tell you how many times I have had scripture quoted to me, from memory, in the most immature of manners. That does not mean those things are not good, it simply means that they are not necessarily related to spiritual maturity.
Spiritual maturity includes, among other things, child-likeness. No child can read Grudem. Spiritual maturity is characteristics, not knowledge. For many, knowledge will help us develop those characteristics, but there are also many among us for whom such intellectual endeavors are impossible, and yet they can be spiritually mature. Characteristics are mentored, not taught. But more that mentoring has to be serious and real and intimate. That means, among other things, that it is a two-way street - the mentor has to be as exposed as the mentee and often learns as much. It is dangerous stuff.
I could not agree more that we need to seek maturity. I just think we need to be serious about what maturity is, and how we obtain it.
characteristics mentoring spiritual maturity
Friday Humor
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Related To The Holy Spirit...?
Jen Pollack Michel interviews J.D. Greear about his book on the Holy Spirit. One exchange:
Charismatics think we're nuts and vice versa. The answer is not to fight, but to synthesize.
Holy Spirit deep understanding
You ask readers to move beyond theological debates over miraculous gifts (healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues). Why?Amen and Amen.
Too often, discussion about the Holy Spirit runs on two tracks: the conservative track and the charismatic track. Secondary issues create a quagmire, and both sides miss the most important thing: that the Spirit of God wants to have fellowship with us.
I heard a charismatic theologian talk about how the theme of Galatians was the fullness of the Spirit. Instinctively, I wanted to say, “No, it’s justification by faith.” But when I reread Galatians, I realized he was right. For Paul, the two things are one and the same. The deeper you go into understanding you’ve been justified by faith, the more alive you become in the Spirit.
Charismatics think we're nuts and vice versa. The answer is not to fight, but to synthesize.
Holy Spirit deep understanding
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
What Are Yours?
Chaplain Mike writes of five scriptures that are seminal to his life as a Christian. He offers a couple of paragraphs on each one and their significance to his journey. I could not help but think it was a wonderful exercise. For me Phil 2:1-11 immediately comes to mind. As does Gal. 2:20. I Kings 19 and God's still small voice to Elijah moves me deeply.
What passages come to your mind immediately when confronted with this question? What do they mean to you? Why are they so important?
I think you can find much about how you are formed in this exercise. Well worth the time.
scripture spiritual formation
What passages come to your mind immediately when confronted with this question? What do they mean to you? Why are they so important?
I think you can find much about how you are formed in this exercise. Well worth the time.
scripture spiritual formation
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
It's Not That Hard - Really!
Ron Edmondson writes, "7 Ways to Better Enjoy Reading the Bible", one of countless such things I have encountered in my life and I could not help but think, "It is not THAT hard." Just read it.
The Bible is no more difficult to read than any other book, just read it. You don't have to figure it all our, just read it. "How does this apply to me?" - you're just being selfish - read it.
The problem, I think, is that most people just do not read generally. Well, it's a good habit and the Bible is a fine place to start. Some things simply should be done - this is one of them. Don't sweat the details - just read it.
The more ideas we come up with to "help" people read the Bible, the more excuses we give them not to - just do it.
Bible reading
The Bible is no more difficult to read than any other book, just read it. You don't have to figure it all our, just read it. "How does this apply to me?" - you're just being selfish - read it.
The problem, I think, is that most people just do not read generally. Well, it's a good habit and the Bible is a fine place to start. Some things simply should be done - this is one of them. Don't sweat the details - just read it.
The more ideas we come up with to "help" people read the Bible, the more excuses we give them not to - just do it.
Bible reading
Monday, October 19, 2015
What To Do, What To Do
Christian Post carries a piece on conservatives choosing to remain within the PC(USA):
My decision has been made. My wife and I are leaving PC(USA) but we are doing so part of a church and following process, to honor that which is good about PC(USA). I hope everyone that loves Jesus will come with us, but common sense says that will not happen.
Sometimes you can prevent the pain. Sometimes you walk with someone through the pain. Sometimes you are there to hold onto them as after the pain. Sometimes you catch them when they fall. That's what I think we have to do here.
PC(USA) leaving
The Fellowship Community is a biblically orthodox group within PCUSA. Detterman told The Christian Post in a recent interview that he and his organization are staying with the PCUSA because "it is a matter of call and of mission."This one is such a tough call. Is it better to minister to from within or from without? But this fight has gone so long and the church has so often refused to hear. Even Christ has commanded his disciples to move on at some point (Luke 10:1-12)
"We are uniquely equipped to reach out to others in and through the PC(USA) because we know the territory well," said Detterman.
"To leave would be to give up on an entire group of people. Some have been called to move on; we have not."
My decision has been made. My wife and I are leaving PC(USA) but we are doing so part of a church and following process, to honor that which is good about PC(USA). I hope everyone that loves Jesus will come with us, but common sense says that will not happen.
Sometimes you can prevent the pain. Sometimes you walk with someone through the pain. Sometimes you are there to hold onto them as after the pain. Sometimes you catch them when they fall. That's what I think we have to do here.
PC(USA) leaving
