holiness
Afraid to Preach
08/13/2008 05:39 Past Posts &
ThoughtsPreaching
But when I read this yesterday, it bothered me (I don’t want to link to the post, in case you’re wondering. I’d rather not take up a debate on this matter):
If you are walking up to that pulpit and you are not absolutely certain that you know exactly what that text means and what we are supposed to do in light of it then you need to sit down. You should feel like you know that passage better than anyone in the room…because you have studied it all week long. If this is not the case you should not be preaching.
Here were my initial thoughts: I’m not sure that I could ever preach again. I know that, on occasion, there are older, more mature saints, who know a passage at least as well as I do, perhaps even better. I think I understand the confidence the person is talking about: you’ve studied the text, you’ve done your work, you know the point... now, get up there and preach it with the authority that God has given you as a pastor/preacher of the Word.
But I dare say, there are Sundays (thanks to the grace of God, not many, but still, there are days) when I ascend to the pulpit with the sense that a passasge has escaped me in some respect. Can I say, with absolute, unshakeable confidence that I know beyond the shadow of a doubt what every single text I preach on means? (I’m wondering if this person skips around from text to text, because if you preach like I do, walking through a book of Scripture, passage by passage, you’re gonna run into some difficulties along the way.)
I think what goes on in my mind the most is what one of my seminary profs said in a homiletics (preaching) class: If you’re a bit nervous just prior to preaching, don’t be concerned. You should be. You’re about to open your mouth and speak for God. You’re about to speak to His people His Words. And what they’ll be hearing should be God, not you. So, yes, you should be a bit nervous; not fearful or even paralyzed by fear. But if you don’t have a measure of “holy fear” in your heart at this great task of preaching, then you ought to be very afraid.
I’ve never forgotten those words. And they speak of more grace to me than the quote given above. The one (from my old prof) seems to put the focus upon God and the holy apprehension that ought to come over all of us when we approach Him, especially during the preaching of His Word. The other (from a pastor whom I’ve never met, but I’ve read and listened to) speaks law to me. I know he would disagree (I hope, anyway), but these words are an unnecessary burden that would shut my mouth for good. And I’m not sure there is as much Scriptural merit for the sentiment as there is for that of my professor.
With that said, I’ll be working diligently to speak forth the Word of God this coming Lord’s Day, knowing that as I ascend to that place, it really needs to be His words I’m speaking, not my own.
|
Selfishness
01/17/2008 14:00 Past Posts &
ThoughtsDoctrine
At first,
I didn't even want to write about this chapter of
Bridges' book, Respectable
Sins:
Confronting
the Sins We Tolerate. I wanted
to just not do anything; it made me tired just
thinking about posting today (that's why you won't
find a post for yesterday, Wednesday, January 16).
But when I realized this was the chapter, I thought
to myself, "It's pretty selfish to
not write,
don't you think?" So, after wrestling with
conviction, I'm posting about what I was feeling,
experiencing and reading.
Chapter 12 of Bridges' book is on selfishness: a sin that we are clearly born with. Don't believe me? Before you even read about it in Scripture, look to an infant, who cries the very moment he/she is hungry. Observe preschoolers trying to play together during recess at school. Watch a basketball game with the 9th Grade team or the Varsity from our kids' school (lots of talent; too much selfishness). Bridges points out that the reason selfishness is so difficult to expose in our own life is because it is so easy to spot in others. He then goes on to deal with four areas of selfishness:
1. Interests. Philippians 2.4 says: "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." We're to look out for the concerns and needs of others around us; mighty hard to do when it's our own concerns that consume us. Our interests change, often depending upon the season of life we're going through. The author offers a test for us in this area: "A good test of the degree of selfishness in our interests would be to reflect on the conversation after you have been with someone and ask yourself how much time you spent talking about your interests compared to listening to the other person."
2. Time. Presently, this currency is more valuable than money to many of us. We don't have enough of it and we want more of it. When we get it, we don't want to save it up, we want to use it up upon ourselves. When we neglect the needs of others, it not just because our own interests are taking a higher place; it's also because we think our time is more valuable than theirs. Need an example: just watch the way you drive and think about driving next time. If you're zipping around people, muttering under your breath (or shouting out loud) about how much they're impeding your progress, then you need to examine your heart. In Galatians 6.2, God tells us to "bear one another's burdens." Put aside selfishness by helping others, giving them of your time.
3. Money. This would have been obvious to most of us. But Bridges doesn't talk about the selfishness of greed, at least not in the sense of gaining more. He directs our attention to the selfishness of not giving. Each year, WORLD magazine lists the results of surveys about the state of financial charity and giving. It's never encouraging. And when it comes to the church in this country, it's down right abysmal. If I remember last year's stats, it was somewhere around 2.5% given by church-going people. The observation was made, that if all who go to church (and surely, not all these would be truly regenerate) would double their present giving, there would be sufficient monies to feed nearly every starving person in Africa. Imagine what would happen if we'd tithe? John addresses our need to give to others and not be selfish in 1 John 3.17: "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?"
4. Inconsiderateness. This gets worked out when we fail to think about how our actions or words affect someone else, whether they were the intended target or not. The person who is always late exhibits this sinful tendency. (Don't start making excuses for why you're always late; just repent, change and don't be late any more! Plan better and think of those you're holding up while they wait for you.) Cell phone etiquette is non-existent in our culture; which is an outworking of our selfish way of thinking and using this little device that has become so indispensable. Too many, especially among Christians, just have the attitude: "I say what I think. I call'em like I see'em. I speak my mind and I try to speak the truth." But do you try to speak the truth in love? (Ephesians 4.15)
The unselfish person seeks the other's good, concerns and interests ahead of his own. She seeks to balance her own longings with those of others around her. Obviously, our greatest example is Jesus Christ – "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8.9) I'm wondering if more families in their own homes would seek to put this sin to death, what difference would it make? At home, with our own families, we often put off all restraints, which means our own personal needs begin to take precedence over that of other family members. May we all ask the Holy Spirit to show us the evidence of selfishness in our lives. Then, may He grant us grace and strength to put off this besetting sin.
Chapter 12 of Bridges' book is on selfishness: a sin that we are clearly born with. Don't believe me? Before you even read about it in Scripture, look to an infant, who cries the very moment he/she is hungry. Observe preschoolers trying to play together during recess at school. Watch a basketball game with the 9th Grade team or the Varsity from our kids' school (lots of talent; too much selfishness). Bridges points out that the reason selfishness is so difficult to expose in our own life is because it is so easy to spot in others. He then goes on to deal with four areas of selfishness:
1. Interests. Philippians 2.4 says: "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." We're to look out for the concerns and needs of others around us; mighty hard to do when it's our own concerns that consume us. Our interests change, often depending upon the season of life we're going through. The author offers a test for us in this area: "A good test of the degree of selfishness in our interests would be to reflect on the conversation after you have been with someone and ask yourself how much time you spent talking about your interests compared to listening to the other person."
2. Time. Presently, this currency is more valuable than money to many of us. We don't have enough of it and we want more of it. When we get it, we don't want to save it up, we want to use it up upon ourselves. When we neglect the needs of others, it not just because our own interests are taking a higher place; it's also because we think our time is more valuable than theirs. Need an example: just watch the way you drive and think about driving next time. If you're zipping around people, muttering under your breath (or shouting out loud) about how much they're impeding your progress, then you need to examine your heart. In Galatians 6.2, God tells us to "bear one another's burdens." Put aside selfishness by helping others, giving them of your time.
3. Money. This would have been obvious to most of us. But Bridges doesn't talk about the selfishness of greed, at least not in the sense of gaining more. He directs our attention to the selfishness of not giving. Each year, WORLD magazine lists the results of surveys about the state of financial charity and giving. It's never encouraging. And when it comes to the church in this country, it's down right abysmal. If I remember last year's stats, it was somewhere around 2.5% given by church-going people. The observation was made, that if all who go to church (and surely, not all these would be truly regenerate) would double their present giving, there would be sufficient monies to feed nearly every starving person in Africa. Imagine what would happen if we'd tithe? John addresses our need to give to others and not be selfish in 1 John 3.17: "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?"
4. Inconsiderateness. This gets worked out when we fail to think about how our actions or words affect someone else, whether they were the intended target or not. The person who is always late exhibits this sinful tendency. (Don't start making excuses for why you're always late; just repent, change and don't be late any more! Plan better and think of those you're holding up while they wait for you.) Cell phone etiquette is non-existent in our culture; which is an outworking of our selfish way of thinking and using this little device that has become so indispensable. Too many, especially among Christians, just have the attitude: "I say what I think. I call'em like I see'em. I speak my mind and I try to speak the truth." But do you try to speak the truth in love? (Ephesians 4.15)
The unselfish person seeks the other's good, concerns and interests ahead of his own. She seeks to balance her own longings with those of others around her. Obviously, our greatest example is Jesus Christ – "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8.9) I'm wondering if more families in their own homes would seek to put this sin to death, what difference would it make? At home, with our own families, we often put off all restraints, which means our own personal needs begin to take precedence over that of other family members. May we all ask the Holy Spirit to show us the evidence of selfishness in our lives. Then, may He grant us grace and strength to put off this besetting sin.
Discontentment
12/20/2007 16:38 Past Posts &
ThoughtsDoctrine
What a
great time of year to give a review of chapter eight
of Jerry Bridges' work, Respectable
Sins: Confronting the Sins We
Tolerate. If
anxiety is a "fearful uncertainty over the future"
and if frustration is "the result of some immediate
event that has blocked my plans or desires", then
discontentment "most often arises from ongoing and
unchanging circumstances that we can do nothing
about." (Bridges, page 71)
Bridges
quickly acknowledges that there is a place for
legitimate discontentment: when it is over the state
of our spiritual life. We should all want to grow in
our maturity in Christ. And we can be discontent with
the spiritual nature of our church, should it need to
grow as well. Plus, given the moral plight of our
country, we can be given over to a legitimate degree
of discontentment.
Usually, when we talk about discontentment, we discuss matters financial and material. "I wish I had ...." or "I don't have enough..." However, Bridges goes the path of unchanging circumstances, which probably gets closer to the heart of what Paul meant when he said he'd learned to be content in whatever circumstance he found himself (Philippians 4.11-12). Drawing from his experience of a long-time single prior to marriage, Bridges lends very credible advice anecdotally.
So, how do we fight this sin (and remember, discontentment is a sin, which must be put to death)? Grim resignation is not a solution. That's simply acceptance without a heart's change. We must truly trust the Lord, that He knows what's best for us in every single circumstance. We must accept His sovereign providence, His goodness toward us and His unfailing mercy, even if those situations seem so difficult for us.
There's a moving response from a friend sent to him after the death of his first wife which helps:
Lord, I am willing to –
Receive what you give,
Lack what you withhold,
Relinquish what you take.
The powerful truth of God's Word can come to bear in killing this sin. Psalm 139.13 says, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." And Job is also helpful "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1.21, ESV) I've already mentioned Philippians 4.11-12: "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."
So, I trust no matter what circumstance you find yourself in during these special holy days, that you'll find yourself laying hold with great dependence upon God who knows what's best for you, has planned nothing but good for you and is with you all along the way. He is Immanuel.
Usually, when we talk about discontentment, we discuss matters financial and material. "I wish I had ...." or "I don't have enough..." However, Bridges goes the path of unchanging circumstances, which probably gets closer to the heart of what Paul meant when he said he'd learned to be content in whatever circumstance he found himself (Philippians 4.11-12). Drawing from his experience of a long-time single prior to marriage, Bridges lends very credible advice anecdotally.
So, how do we fight this sin (and remember, discontentment is a sin, which must be put to death)? Grim resignation is not a solution. That's simply acceptance without a heart's change. We must truly trust the Lord, that He knows what's best for us in every single circumstance. We must accept His sovereign providence, His goodness toward us and His unfailing mercy, even if those situations seem so difficult for us.
There's a moving response from a friend sent to him after the death of his first wife which helps:
Lord, I am willing to –
Receive what you give,
Lack what you withhold,
Relinquish what you take.
The powerful truth of God's Word can come to bear in killing this sin. Psalm 139.13 says, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." And Job is also helpful "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1.21, ESV) I've already mentioned Philippians 4.11-12: "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."
So, I trust no matter what circumstance you find yourself in during these special holy days, that you'll find yourself laying hold with great dependence upon God who knows what's best for you, has planned nothing but good for you and is with you all along the way. He is Immanuel.