Mark Dever makes an interesting point about the purpose of silence in gathered worship. Why are we silent? Do the breaks in our service lead to what Dever is talking about? Mark Dever writes
“There's silence between various aspects of the service. I encourage service leaders to NOT do the "no-dead-airspace" TV standard of busy-ness. We LIKE "dead air space." "Dead air space" gives us time to reflect. To collect our thoughts. To consider what we've just heard or read or sung. The silence amplifies the words or music we've just heard. It allows us time to take it all in, and to pray. We have silence to prepare ourselves. We have silence between the announcements and the scriptural call to worship. We even have a moment of silence AFTER the service! I pronounce the benediction from the end of II Corinthians, invite the congregation to be seated. And then, after about a minute of silence, the pianist begins quietly playing the last hymn that we had just sung. During those few moments, we reflect and prepare to speak to others and depart. We do business with God. We prepare ourselves for the week ahead.
I'm a sound addict. Even as I write about silence now, I've got Paganini blasting in my study! But yesterday morning in church during one of our silences, I became aware of how corporate a labor such public silence is. Everyone works to be quiet. People stop moving their bulletins or looking for something in their purse. There's no movement. We, together, hear the silence. It engulfs us. It enhances our unity. It is something we all do together. Together we consider what we've just heard. Together we contribute to each other's space to think.”
Unfortunately, the breaks at Kimberley fellowship are when someone is taking their time to leave their seat and come to the front. They are not planned periods of silence, but awkward moments when people aren’t sure what they are supposed to do. I agree with Mark that we shouldn’t think of ourselves as a television program. But we should use our moments of silence not for awkwardness, but unity.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The gospel...plus (part two)
There are many issues that Christians do not agree upon, but that does not mean they should divide over them. Someone’s position on drinking alcohol, their understanding of eschatology, or which translation of the scriptures they read from are what we at our church call ‘open-handed issues’. They are not things that should divide us.
More importantly, if they do divide us, we add something else to the requirements for salvation. We are not saved by the gospel plus no drinking alcohol, or the gospel plus the King James Version. We are saved by the gospel. The testimony of the gospel is proclaimed by our practice of unity in the gospel.
I recently heard Don Carson speaking on 1 Corinthians 8’s teaching that we should be concerned for our brother with a weak conscience. He made the point that Paul is not at all meaning the person who believes the gospel plus his area of conscience. In the case of someone who believes that it is the gospel plus abstinence from alcohol, he says...’pass the port’. For in that situation it is most beneficial to defend the gospel’s sufficiency to save.
And I know it’s easy for a guy like me who likes a beer on the weekend to support this, but it is just as important for those who are teetotalers. For example, John Piper put his ministry on the line when in the early 1980’s he had his church remove the clause in their constitution about abstaining from alcohol. Our church has similarly removed statements about eschatology.
Are their issues in your head that you automatically add to the gospel?
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9
More importantly, if they do divide us, we add something else to the requirements for salvation. We are not saved by the gospel plus no drinking alcohol, or the gospel plus the King James Version. We are saved by the gospel. The testimony of the gospel is proclaimed by our practice of unity in the gospel.
I recently heard Don Carson speaking on 1 Corinthians 8’s teaching that we should be concerned for our brother with a weak conscience. He made the point that Paul is not at all meaning the person who believes the gospel plus his area of conscience. In the case of someone who believes that it is the gospel plus abstinence from alcohol, he says...’pass the port’. For in that situation it is most beneficial to defend the gospel’s sufficiency to save.
And I know it’s easy for a guy like me who likes a beer on the weekend to support this, but it is just as important for those who are teetotalers. For example, John Piper put his ministry on the line when in the early 1980’s he had his church remove the clause in their constitution about abstaining from alcohol. Our church has similarly removed statements about eschatology.
Are their issues in your head that you automatically add to the gospel?
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9
Friday, July 10, 2009
John Calvin Turns 500
While you probably think in terms of your theology coming from scripture only, that’s never totally the case. How we read scripture has been shaped by the traditions we have grown up in, and for you and I that means the thoughts of John Calvin. A key reformer of a universal church that was badly off track, Calvin was a pastor and theologian that has re-shaped the Christian world. He has helpfully contributed to my theology the importance of the depravity of man and unearned grace of God.
In Calvin’s day the church was wickedly emphasizing what we must do to be in favor with God. Calvin rightly argued that we are out of favor with God because of our sin, and the only answer to it comes from the cross. Today we need to likewise battle the temptation to work our way into favor with God when he has accomplished the work that puts us into his favor.
Calvinism (the school of thought that has sprung from his teachings) is as strong as ever. Time magazine recently placed new calvinism as the #3 idea that is shaping the world right now. Pastors like Mark Driscoll, Rick McKinlay, Mark Dever, C.J. Mahaney, John Piper and many others are sure calvinists and experiencing effectiveness in their teaching. In particular, Calvin’s teaching on total depravity is easily accepted in a generation that has been abused, found relationships difficult, addictions a struggle, and had developed a mistrust from immoral celebrities and leaders. To put it bluntly, a people who spend more money on porn than music doesn’t have to be convinced that they are wicked.
There is a danger of course in becoming a ‘calvinist’ at the expense of being a Christian. People like Calvin do not set out to make a religion after themselves as much as bring the church back to the teachings of scripture. This is how Calvin helps our church. Five hundred years later he is calling us back to scripture, back to the grace of God and the depravity of man. Back to celebrating God’s merciful act of saving believers and keeping them in his love.
In Calvin’s day the church was wickedly emphasizing what we must do to be in favor with God. Calvin rightly argued that we are out of favor with God because of our sin, and the only answer to it comes from the cross. Today we need to likewise battle the temptation to work our way into favor with God when he has accomplished the work that puts us into his favor.
Calvinism (the school of thought that has sprung from his teachings) is as strong as ever. Time magazine recently placed new calvinism as the #3 idea that is shaping the world right now. Pastors like Mark Driscoll, Rick McKinlay, Mark Dever, C.J. Mahaney, John Piper and many others are sure calvinists and experiencing effectiveness in their teaching. In particular, Calvin’s teaching on total depravity is easily accepted in a generation that has been abused, found relationships difficult, addictions a struggle, and had developed a mistrust from immoral celebrities and leaders. To put it bluntly, a people who spend more money on porn than music doesn’t have to be convinced that they are wicked.
There is a danger of course in becoming a ‘calvinist’ at the expense of being a Christian. People like Calvin do not set out to make a religion after themselves as much as bring the church back to the teachings of scripture. This is how Calvin helps our church. Five hundred years later he is calling us back to scripture, back to the grace of God and the depravity of man. Back to celebrating God’s merciful act of saving believers and keeping them in his love.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The need for Relational Capital outside the church
I have been thinking about the concept of relational capital, in an organization. Let's take our church for example. We have financial capital (the money in the bank), asset capital (the building and things inside it), and we also have relational capital. This is the culture we have created to develop healthy relationships. It exists on every level from whether someone will let you borrow their table saw for the weekend to how happy the leadership is about their work. In the church, we should excel at this. The work of the Spirit in our lives is to build a people for His name. Having healthy relationships at all aspects of church life should be our strength, and I think we are blessed in this at our church. But for many businesses and organizations in our city, this is not the case. How badly do some need the help of others who know how to operate in a healthy environment. People who respond in love when they are hurt, people who are loyal when times are tough, people who will work with integrity. This is one area of your life where you can live the gospel. Wherever you work, or wherever you volunteer, be someone who can introduce the gospel as you introduce relational capital.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
the gospel...plus (part one)
The gospel is the only thing that saves and we receive this life-changing truth alone. We don't need the the gospel plus anything else. Beware of falling into the many traps that involve us believing the gospel plus anything else to be saved. In a series of posts I hope to bring some of the common ways we fall into this error.
The gospel plus common interests is a lie that abounds in our fallen church culture. People leave gospel-believing churches for all sorts of reasons, but most of these reasons comes down to not finding common interests (ie: there is no one here my age, there is nothing here for my kids, I don't like the style of music...). Conversely, people stay at churches because they find a social network there. Now, the church is about people, but the common reason we have for committing to a local church is the gospel, not the gospel plus anything else. We believe a 'gospel...plus' theology when we stay at a church because others that share our hobbies keep us there, or we leave a church because there are not enough people who share our hobbies. The gospel is enough to unite us, we do not need the gospel plus anything else. Many people who are highly involved in para-church organizations will often find that it is not the gospel that connects them to those they work with, but the task of the organization.
When people leave a local church in search of people they can spend time with on the weekend they ultimately leave with a powerless gospel that cannot redeem the relationships that don't involve a common goal. If your church is all people who hike together, or read the same books, or work in the same office, or whatever, it is likely that it is not a church, but a social gather of people who like that activity.
Do you have relationships with people in your church with whom you have little in common but the gospel? Develop those relationships, love those people, reconcile any fractured relationships only because you have the gospel in common.
The gospel plus common interests is a lie that abounds in our fallen church culture. People leave gospel-believing churches for all sorts of reasons, but most of these reasons comes down to not finding common interests (ie: there is no one here my age, there is nothing here for my kids, I don't like the style of music...). Conversely, people stay at churches because they find a social network there. Now, the church is about people, but the common reason we have for committing to a local church is the gospel, not the gospel plus anything else. We believe a 'gospel...plus' theology when we stay at a church because others that share our hobbies keep us there, or we leave a church because there are not enough people who share our hobbies. The gospel is enough to unite us, we do not need the gospel plus anything else. Many people who are highly involved in para-church organizations will often find that it is not the gospel that connects them to those they work with, but the task of the organization.
When people leave a local church in search of people they can spend time with on the weekend they ultimately leave with a powerless gospel that cannot redeem the relationships that don't involve a common goal. If your church is all people who hike together, or read the same books, or work in the same office, or whatever, it is likely that it is not a church, but a social gather of people who like that activity.
Do you have relationships with people in your church with whom you have little in common but the gospel? Develop those relationships, love those people, reconcile any fractured relationships only because you have the gospel in common.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Missional Living
Everyone is talking about being ‘missional’ on the blogs that I read. Unfortunately it’s mostly pastors that read these blogs and every believer that should live the gospel beyond their church. So, let me introduce you to the biblical concept of missional living.
If you only know Christians, you are not able to be a part of the mission of the church. But, instead of knocking on strangers’ doors with a copy of the New Testament or developing an in-church program for these strangers to come to, I am encouraging us get to know these strangers by bringing the gospel to them. The Apostle Paul spent time in the cultural hotspots, the places where people were. He proclaimed the gospel in those places and from there the joined churches. This is very evident in Athens, see Acts 17:16-34 for the story. If we are waiting for our neighbor to come to church to share the gospel, they will likely never hear it.
So how can we live the gospel in our city in realistic ways? Here are some examples:
Spend time in the coffee shops. There are several good places to get a coffee and meet the people of our city. I try and spend a few hours each week working from a cafe. Sometimes I get a lot of work done, but often I spend that time talking with people, many I’ve met for the first time.
Volunteer. Get involved in your kids sports program or help out with a community event. Find something that you care about and ask if there is any way to help out.
Get to know our neighbors. Most of us live in communities where we can easily talk with our neighbors, help them with something, go on a walk with them, talk at the park while our kids play together, etc.
Be a regular. When we frequent the same shops, cafe’s, or restaurants, people get to know us, we have conversations, trust is built and opportunities to share the gospel present themselves.
Join. If your hobby is golf, join a men’s night. If you work out at the gym, join a class.
The point is, you have been entrusted with the gospel, so live it, get to know your city, your culture, your neighbors.
If you only know Christians, you are not able to be a part of the mission of the church. But, instead of knocking on strangers’ doors with a copy of the New Testament or developing an in-church program for these strangers to come to, I am encouraging us get to know these strangers by bringing the gospel to them. The Apostle Paul spent time in the cultural hotspots, the places where people were. He proclaimed the gospel in those places and from there the joined churches. This is very evident in Athens, see Acts 17:16-34 for the story. If we are waiting for our neighbor to come to church to share the gospel, they will likely never hear it.
So how can we live the gospel in our city in realistic ways? Here are some examples:
Spend time in the coffee shops. There are several good places to get a coffee and meet the people of our city. I try and spend a few hours each week working from a cafe. Sometimes I get a lot of work done, but often I spend that time talking with people, many I’ve met for the first time.
Volunteer. Get involved in your kids sports program or help out with a community event. Find something that you care about and ask if there is any way to help out.
Get to know our neighbors. Most of us live in communities where we can easily talk with our neighbors, help them with something, go on a walk with them, talk at the park while our kids play together, etc.
Be a regular. When we frequent the same shops, cafe’s, or restaurants, people get to know us, we have conversations, trust is built and opportunities to share the gospel present themselves.
Join. If your hobby is golf, join a men’s night. If you work out at the gym, join a class.
The point is, you have been entrusted with the gospel, so live it, get to know your city, your culture, your neighbors.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
What Does the Cross Accomplish?
For the past seven weeks I've been teaching at the afternoon and the evening Bible studies atonement theology. My point has been to present the cross as Christ dying as our sacrifice to atone for our sin. At our last study I hoped to summarize the work of the cross with the 26 points below. I was helped by John Piper's book on the subject, a free on-line version of this is available here. http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/books_pojc/bpojc_all.pdf
I write this after the last evening study and I am relieved that it is over. I am relieved partially because it has been a lot of work, but mainly because this subject matter is very emotional. Everything that matters to me matters because of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. And I so desperately want our church to respond to the cross with the deepest appreciation at every point of our life. The application of the cross is endless. We will fall away from faith or the church because we don't understand and haven't been affected by the work of the cross. I am appreciative of all who attended the studies, yet I am deeply concerned for those who don't feel the weight of importance that this event has. It is not dull theology, but the life-changing work of God to which there is no substitute. A break from the weight of these concerns is needed for me. Be amazing this Easter at the glory of the atonement.
Here are the 26 points. This is good news.
Satisfied his justice over sins gone unpunished before Jesus’ death
‘in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins’ (Romans 3:25)
We no longer face the consequences of the fall and our own sin
‘redeemed us from the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13)
God is pleased
‘a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God’ (Ephesians 5:2)
God shows he loves us
‘God shows his love for us’ (Romans 5:8)
We lose our criminal record
‘canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands’ (Colossians 2:13)
Our sins are forgiven
‘redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses’ (Ephesians 1:7)
To abolish all rituals as a path to salvation
‘but if I, brothers, still preach circumcision’ (Galatians 5:11)
To bring us to faith and keep us in the faith
‘I will make with them an everlasting covenant...And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:40)
To make us holy
‘in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him’ (Colossians 1:22)
To give us a clear conscience
‘purify our conscience from dead works’ (Hebrews 9:14)
To give us all things that are good
‘will he not also with him graciously give us all things’ (Romans 8:32)
To save us from the evil in the world today
‘to deliver us from the present evil age’ (Galatians 1:4)
We are friends, not enemies of God
‘we are reconciled’ (Romans 5:10)
To create the church
‘care for the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28)
To bring to an end the OT Priesthood and sacrificial system
‘He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily’ (Hebrews 7:26-27)
We can fully love each other
‘that you may belong to another’ (Romans 7:4)
Live for God
‘those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised’ (2 Corinthians 5:15)
To show married couples how to live
‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her’ (Ephesians 5:25)
To give us an example of how to live in a sinful world
‘Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example’ (1 Peter 2:21)
To destroy the devil and slavery to the fear of death
‘destroy the one who has the power of death’ (Hebrews 2:15)
That we would be with him when we die
‘whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him’ (1 Thessalonians 5:10)
To secure our resurrection from the dead
‘we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his’ (Romans 6:5)
To unleash the power of God in the world
‘it is the power of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:18)
To destroy hostility between races
‘people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9)
To bring us and him joy
‘For the joy that was set before him’ (Hebrews 12:2)
Blessings are bestowed on Christ
‘to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’ (Revelation 5:12)
I write this after the last evening study and I am relieved that it is over. I am relieved partially because it has been a lot of work, but mainly because this subject matter is very emotional. Everything that matters to me matters because of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. And I so desperately want our church to respond to the cross with the deepest appreciation at every point of our life. The application of the cross is endless. We will fall away from faith or the church because we don't understand and haven't been affected by the work of the cross. I am appreciative of all who attended the studies, yet I am deeply concerned for those who don't feel the weight of importance that this event has. It is not dull theology, but the life-changing work of God to which there is no substitute. A break from the weight of these concerns is needed for me. Be amazing this Easter at the glory of the atonement.
Here are the 26 points. This is good news.
Satisfied his justice over sins gone unpunished before Jesus’ death
‘in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins’ (Romans 3:25)
We no longer face the consequences of the fall and our own sin
‘redeemed us from the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13)
God is pleased
‘a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God’ (Ephesians 5:2)
God shows he loves us
‘God shows his love for us’ (Romans 5:8)
We lose our criminal record
‘canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands’ (Colossians 2:13)
Our sins are forgiven
‘redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses’ (Ephesians 1:7)
To abolish all rituals as a path to salvation
‘but if I, brothers, still preach circumcision’ (Galatians 5:11)
To bring us to faith and keep us in the faith
‘I will make with them an everlasting covenant...And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:40)
To make us holy
‘in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him’ (Colossians 1:22)
To give us a clear conscience
‘purify our conscience from dead works’ (Hebrews 9:14)
To give us all things that are good
‘will he not also with him graciously give us all things’ (Romans 8:32)
To save us from the evil in the world today
‘to deliver us from the present evil age’ (Galatians 1:4)
We are friends, not enemies of God
‘we are reconciled’ (Romans 5:10)
To create the church
‘care for the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28)
To bring to an end the OT Priesthood and sacrificial system
‘He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily’ (Hebrews 7:26-27)
We can fully love each other
‘that you may belong to another’ (Romans 7:4)
Live for God
‘those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised’ (2 Corinthians 5:15)
To show married couples how to live
‘Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her’ (Ephesians 5:25)
To give us an example of how to live in a sinful world
‘Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example’ (1 Peter 2:21)
To destroy the devil and slavery to the fear of death
‘destroy the one who has the power of death’ (Hebrews 2:15)
That we would be with him when we die
‘whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him’ (1 Thessalonians 5:10)
To secure our resurrection from the dead
‘we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his’ (Romans 6:5)
To unleash the power of God in the world
‘it is the power of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:18)
To destroy hostility between races
‘people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9)
To bring us and him joy
‘For the joy that was set before him’ (Hebrews 12:2)
Blessings are bestowed on Christ
‘to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’ (Revelation 5:12)
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