Despite what my kids may think, I was not alive when the light bulb was invented, or when Orville and Wilber Wright flew their first plane, or when the first automobile rolled down the street, frightening horses and small children. Although one son did tell me I looked like a T-Rex when I typed on my laptop computer, I think he knows that I’m not living in the “dark ages”—you know, back when people used pen and paper to express their ideas instead of computers and text messages. I was not one who used to say, “If men were meant to fly, God would have given them wings.”
Anytime there is new technology or media coming out, it seems many people ask the question if it is good or bad. When talking movies first came out, many questioned if society was going to regret it. When TV sets were being placed in nearly every home, was that a good thing? How about today’s new social media? We now have Facebook and Twitter that allows us to post our thoughts and activities within seconds, for the world to see. We have the ability to play video games with someone from Scotland and talk by video link using Skype, or a smart phone or iPod Touch. Is that good?
We’ve all heard about evil uses of such devices. The congressman who sent out immoral photos of himself has been in the news lately. We have crime units in our own county that are involved in internet stings to apprehend child molesters. And it is true that gossips and slanderers can now spread their poison at the speed of cyberspace, causing great damage to the people of God and His church. But does that make the technology evil?
The truth is that the radio is neither good nor evil. The blessing, or the curse, is with the one who is broadcasting. The same is true about Facebook. It is a tool. Just like hammers can be used to build something or destroy something, emails and text messages can be used to build up, or tear down. Put the hammer in the hands of a carpenter and you might have a house to live in. Put the hammer in the hands of a three-year old, and you might need to replace the house you live in! The internet is like a power tool! There needs to be a little maturity on the part of the user before we turn him loose with it.
We need to be careful not to say something about a person on Facebook that we would not say to her face to face, or in front of her mother, or with TV cameras pointed at us. Our message may be read by more people than those who watch the evening news! Even an email can be mistakenly shared with others you did not expect to read it.
Jesus taught that we should let our “yes” mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no.” The words of our lives must be true to our hearts’ intent. They are an expression of our heart. That is especially true on the internet. What you type today cannot be taken back once it is posted, and there is a good chance your great-grandchildren might be able to retrieve it one day once it is out there.
Some may suggest that it is better to let the technology pass us by. “Who needs to send a text-message when you can just pick up the same phone and call the person?” they say. The answer lies in the fact that the technology can be used for good. It can be used to help the old, old story be told in a new and relevant way. It can be used to remind your spouse that you are thinking about her and you love her all the more. Recently, I took a close-up picture of my eye and sent it to my daughter’s boyfriend and sent the text, “I have my eye on you.” Isn’t technology great?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Church's First Priority
What is “job one” for the church? We know the church has three basic purposes: 1) Community Worship God, 2) Building up Believers and 3) Sharing Christ with our world. Of these three purposes, which is our first priority as a church?
On a personal level, I am convinced that everything in my life flows out of my worship relationship with God. I will grow on an individual level in direct relationship to my personal worship experience with Jesus Christ. But on a church level, is worship job one? In other words, on a corporate level, as a church body, is worship our first priority?
As I read the Scriptures I believe evangelism is the first priority of a church body. As we analyze our use of money, time and manpower related to our work as a church family, reaching people with the gospel message should come first. The church does many important things, but our number one mission is the same as it was in the days of the Apostles.
History reveals that many churches and denominations have come and gone. Their loss of influence began as they allowed “good things” to replace the first priority of the church. Social and political actions can be a part of the church’s effort to be “salt and light” to the world. Caring for the poor and needy is something in which each Christian should be involved. But we stop being the church God has called us to be when the salvation of souls becomes a secondary issue.
We proclaim a saving gospel, not a social gospel. Ours is a life-changing message of redemption, not a self-improvement message of social reform. All these things have their place, but the number one priority will be the same until Jesus returns. Share Jesus!
On a personal level, I am convinced that everything in my life flows out of my worship relationship with God. I will grow on an individual level in direct relationship to my personal worship experience with Jesus Christ. But on a church level, is worship job one? In other words, on a corporate level, as a church body, is worship our first priority?
As I read the Scriptures I believe evangelism is the first priority of a church body. As we analyze our use of money, time and manpower related to our work as a church family, reaching people with the gospel message should come first. The church does many important things, but our number one mission is the same as it was in the days of the Apostles.
History reveals that many churches and denominations have come and gone. Their loss of influence began as they allowed “good things” to replace the first priority of the church. Social and political actions can be a part of the church’s effort to be “salt and light” to the world. Caring for the poor and needy is something in which each Christian should be involved. But we stop being the church God has called us to be when the salvation of souls becomes a secondary issue.
We proclaim a saving gospel, not a social gospel. Ours is a life-changing message of redemption, not a self-improvement message of social reform. All these things have their place, but the number one priority will be the same until Jesus returns. Share Jesus!
Monday, June 6, 2011
What Does it Mean to be a Disciple of Christ?
Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ is the ultimate goal of the Christian life. The word “disciple” carries the idea of being an apprentice or a pupil of a master teacher. The word also conveys the idea that certain disciplines are necessary to carry out the responsibilities of a disciple. A modern tragedy is that many come to Christ for salvation but never experience what it means to be His disciple. Today I want us to focus on what it really means to follow Jesus as His disciple.
Being a disciple has three basic components according to Luke 9:23. The first is to deny yourself. That means we must renounce a self-centered life to follow Christ as His disciple. The second component is to take up your cross. That is, die to self and live for Christ. Third, Jesus says, “Follow Me.” That means to minister in His name. These components really get to the motivation of the disciple.
We abide in Christ by spending time with Him—John 15:5. Every serious disciple must learn to develop a daily personal “quiet time” with God. The concept is simple. If I am to learn from Christ, I must spend time with Him. To meet with the Lord, find a quiet place and a quiet time that works for you and then aim for consistency. Don’t worry about the number of minutes you spend in prayer and reading the Word. Focus instead on having at least a brief time every day.
Living in the Word is a basic discipline of a disciple according to John 8:31-32. We need to hear the Word preached and taught. We need to read the Word regularly and study it using a pen and paper to write down what God is saying to us. When we include memorization and meditation, we are on our way to growing deeper in the Word of God. There is no shortcut to knowing your Bible.
According to John 15:7, praying in faith is another basic discipline of a disciple. For years I have used a simple four-part approach in my personal prayer time. It spells the word P-R-A-Y. I begin with praise. Praise focuses on the character of God and includes times of thanksgiving. Repentance requires serious self-examination and confession of specific sins to maintain a clear conscience with God. Asking is the next part of my prayer time. I ask for blessings and help for myself as well as others. Yielding is the fourth part of my prayer time as I seek to recommit myself to the Lord all over again.
Fellowshipping with Believers is a vital part to being a disciple—John 13:34-35. The church is not a building or organization though it uses both. The church is a living “body” carrying out Christ’s ministry on earth today. I don’t think anyone can be a serious follower of Christ without involvement in the local church unless, perhaps, they are providentially hindered.
The next discipline of a disciple is witnessing to the world. John 15:8 gives little room for our many attempts at excusing ourselves from sharing Christ with the lost. Through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we witness through our lifestyles, but the reality is that no one is saved without a verbal witness (1 Peter 3:15). As His disciple we must be ready to share when He opens a door.
Finally, a disciple is one who ministers to others—John 15:13. We each have received a spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10) with which to serve. There is always a way to serve others, no matter our age or abilities. By such love toward each other, the world knows we are His followers.
Being a disciple has three basic components according to Luke 9:23. The first is to deny yourself. That means we must renounce a self-centered life to follow Christ as His disciple. The second component is to take up your cross. That is, die to self and live for Christ. Third, Jesus says, “Follow Me.” That means to minister in His name. These components really get to the motivation of the disciple.
We abide in Christ by spending time with Him—John 15:5. Every serious disciple must learn to develop a daily personal “quiet time” with God. The concept is simple. If I am to learn from Christ, I must spend time with Him. To meet with the Lord, find a quiet place and a quiet time that works for you and then aim for consistency. Don’t worry about the number of minutes you spend in prayer and reading the Word. Focus instead on having at least a brief time every day.
Living in the Word is a basic discipline of a disciple according to John 8:31-32. We need to hear the Word preached and taught. We need to read the Word regularly and study it using a pen and paper to write down what God is saying to us. When we include memorization and meditation, we are on our way to growing deeper in the Word of God. There is no shortcut to knowing your Bible.
According to John 15:7, praying in faith is another basic discipline of a disciple. For years I have used a simple four-part approach in my personal prayer time. It spells the word P-R-A-Y. I begin with praise. Praise focuses on the character of God and includes times of thanksgiving. Repentance requires serious self-examination and confession of specific sins to maintain a clear conscience with God. Asking is the next part of my prayer time. I ask for blessings and help for myself as well as others. Yielding is the fourth part of my prayer time as I seek to recommit myself to the Lord all over again.
Fellowshipping with Believers is a vital part to being a disciple—John 13:34-35. The church is not a building or organization though it uses both. The church is a living “body” carrying out Christ’s ministry on earth today. I don’t think anyone can be a serious follower of Christ without involvement in the local church unless, perhaps, they are providentially hindered.
The next discipline of a disciple is witnessing to the world. John 15:8 gives little room for our many attempts at excusing ourselves from sharing Christ with the lost. Through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we witness through our lifestyles, but the reality is that no one is saved without a verbal witness (1 Peter 3:15). As His disciple we must be ready to share when He opens a door.
Finally, a disciple is one who ministers to others—John 15:13. We each have received a spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10) with which to serve. There is always a way to serve others, no matter our age or abilities. By such love toward each other, the world knows we are His followers.
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