GospelDrivenLife

Gospel as Universal Antidote, revisited

A reset  . . . four years later, Gospel centrality becoming a fresh work of God, Gospel Coalition formed, Keller writes some books . . .  I go back to my first thoughts as a reminder for me.  I need reminders.  The Good News slips from my heart so very quickly.

August 16, 2005

This BLOG is dedicated to the discussion of the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus for every facet of the Christian Life.  I am convinced that the preoccupation with practicality and user-friendly Christianity is robbing the church of her power.  It is equally disastrous to substitute doctrinal precision or the multiplication of programs for the cross. 

What do I mean by Gospel Driven? 

The sum is this: there is one achievement in history that dwarfs the combined economic, intellectual, physical, military, and social works of humankind – the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. 

As it is the normal expression of human admiration to talk about and celebrate the wonderful accomplishments or great feats of others, we think it is most appropriate that Christians never stop learning about, meditating on, talking about, and applying the achievement of the cross to all of life.  It is the preeminent event of the ages.  We are to be careful to preserve its standing and protect it from any dilution.  We should allow no other center of our churches, no matter how commendable it may be.  In Christ is all the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form.  In Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  In Christ is all life and grace for the supply of the body of Christ.

Why Gospel Driven?

1. Gospel-drivenness is simple.  Not too long ago I spent a few hours in an attorney’s office.  The occasion was the death of my father.  The attorney was helpful and professional.  What caught my eye was the library – volumes of books lining the shelves, full of court records and briefs. Attorneys research the their cases by looking for precedents.  Precedents are interpretations of law handed down by the courts.  We pay attorneys to know the details of precedent in order to keep us out of court.  Their work is complex – requiring hours of study on any given issue.  Mastery of precedent and the many volumes of case history is required.

Many Christians approach their lives in Christ that way.  They think they must read all the books available to get a grasp on how to live the details of the Christian life.  Leaving the cross, they move into the Christian life looking for specific guidelines and rules for life. Modern publishers are too glad to comply and serve up volumes of material where the details of obedience are worked out in every area of life.  A stroll through a local Christian bookstore brings an awareness of forty or more books on marriage – covering application of Scripture to every facet of matrimony.  An equal number are available on parenting, broken into various phases of a child’s life.  Money management receives attention, but the largest section deals with personal problems: anger, lust, despair, moodiness.  After such a stroll I would have the impression that growing as a Christian means mastering thousands of principles and applications of principle to every area of life – and to do that I need to read all these books by all these authors.  Pastors add to this burden by preaching a "how to" sermon week after week, leaving our people with 200 or more applications of Scripture each year.  One many said he goes to church to get “another brick for his backpack.”

How unlike the New Testament!  Quite simply the apostles found that one reference point was needed in any and every circumstance – the cross of Christ and his resurrection.  They believed that in the Gospel was all the wisdom and understanding necessary for life and godliness.  The Gospel provided the truth of the power of the One who overcame sin and death, and it shone across every issue of life with ethical clarity.  Sexuality is governed by the redemption of our bodies (1 Cor 6:12-20).  Generosity is defined by the grace of the cross (2 Cor 8:9).  Humility is portrayed in the obedience of Jesus (Phil 2:5-8).  Suffering unjustly is controlled by Jesus submission to his executors (1 Pet 2:21-24).  I could go on. 

How differently I would live the Christian life if all I had to consider was one question: what does the Gospel say to this situation?  This would give me ONE person to study and know, One truth to meditate on and apply.  That person and that truth are none other than the Savior and his redeeming work for me.  No more bricks for the backpack.

2. Gospel Driven Controls Everything Else. Not only is it simple, it puts programs, doctrinal study, a quest for relevance, and tradition into perspective.  If the achievement of the cross is not the center of the life of a believer or a church, everything is out of balance.  Programs compete for priority.  Doctrinal precision leads to arrogance not humility. Relevance silences hard truths.  Pet peeves take over the focus of ministry.  Tradition becomes a straight-jacket.  Moral improvement is substituted for the power of the Spirit.  Political action eclipses the message of the cross.  Sanctification takes a back seat to activity and action.

It was John Piper who pointed out that the sun is over 96% of the mass of the entire solar system -- and because it is the planets spin in controlled orbits around it.  So it should be with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus -- it should dominate, and then all the details of life and church will work in harmony.  It is not that we should not value doctrine or see the importance of administrating the church through program -- it is that the Gospel shapes and controls them.

ShepherdLeader.com

ShepherdLeader.com equips Christians to think biblically about leadership. We provide resources for 21st century leaders who desire to reflect together on Scripture's ancient but timeless wisdom. {more}

via www.shepherdleader.com

This is an excellent new source. There is a huge differences between ranchers and shepherds. Dr Laniak helps revive the shepherd motif for elders.

The Gospel Old and New – Kevin DeYoung

It usually starts with an apology: “I’m sorry for my fellow Christians. I understand why you hate Christianity.  It’s like that thing Ghandi said, ‘why can’t the Christians be more like their Christ?’  Christians are hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous.  I know we screwed up with the Crusades, slavery, and the Witch Trials.  All I can say is: I apologize.  We’ve not give you a reason to believe.”

via thegospelcoalition.org

An excellent piece of careful evaluation.

God and Money 4

People confess all kinds of sin to their pastors.  That is an honor for me, to be entrusted with the fine china of people's lives.  But it is of note, that I cannot remember in thirty years anyone confessing to the sin of greed.  Adultery?  yes.  Pride?  yes.  Lust? yes.  Greed?  never, well . . .  maybe once or twice.

But God says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Maybe we do not see greed for what it is.  But if we ask the question from the other side, maybe we will see how dominant it is.

So -- how can I know if I am greedy? 

Suppose God were to give you for the rest of your life the same body, the same job, with the same friends, in the same church, with the same income, and the same car, and the same amount of savings, and the same clothes, and the same computer as you now have.  Allow for cost of living adjustments, but nothing else changes. No more toys, no better vehicles, no larger house, no more disposable income. 

How does that sit with you?

I am defining contentment.  Contentment is an unusual idea -- it means we are satisfied with what we have and where we live and what we own and what we drive and what we do for work.  

Contentment is the opposite of greed.  Greed is discontent.

We cannot talk about God and money, about budgeting and credit cards, unless we talk about contentment and greed -- and why we are greedy, and what Jesus has done for our greed.

When I answer that question, consider the "sameness" of it all -- I dislike it immensely.  You see, I do think life is improved by possessions.  That is the problem.  And when I live for greed, I end up in financial messes.

God and Money 3

There is little doubt to my mind that the stewardship of resources needs Gospel perspective.  And it needs practical perspective. 

At this point in this series of posts I have raised the question of how trusting in the provisions of God relates to our use of money.  Let me go deeper on that one.

We live in a culture of discontent.  A consumer driven economy works when manufacturers of stuff can persuade us that we need their stuff and will spend for their stuff.  A credit based economy makes spending for stuff as easy as possible.  Credit means I can borrow on the future -- even if just for 28 days until I pay off my credit card balance.

This is the world we are in -- and the world which Jesus died to rescue us from -- and the world which is crucified to us -- and the world which is not to squeeze us into its mold.

There are no ideal worlds.  Pre-industrial and pre-credit societies had their own forms of provoking covetousness.  But let's be clear -- we are in a greed saturated economy and always will be.  It just so happens today that greed is easier, credit more accessible, and the options more plentiful.  The internet has become a massive coke machine -- now I can buy stuff from anywhere at any time and, thanks to the shipping business, can have it delivered to me at my front door, behind which I sit, online, buying more stuff.

Christ judges this.  Greed is idolatry.  Greed believes that more stuff equals more happiness.  Greed is foolish -- it sells the future for present pleasure.  Greed lives in a dream world -- that somehow, increasing debt and having less and less savings will all work out in twenty years when I retire.  The idol of stuff creates a field of delusion. 

Greed is a cruel slavemaster.  Just ask anyone who is near bankruptcy because they bought the line of easy money, guaranteed growth in home equity, low risk zero down adjustable mortgages.

I have a living illustration of the power of greed right in front of me.  It is my new MacBook Pro. My old MacBook died (yes, apple computers do that and far more often than anyone seems to admit), and under the warranty it was replaced with a machine of equal or equivalent processor speed.  For me, this was an upgrade to a larger machine.  I was so excited about this -- I could not wait for it to arrive and for time to use it.  Strange thing is, it is just a computer.  It's coolness has not improved my life and guarded me from sin or made me a more caring husband. That's idolatry.  IPhones, IPods, etc are all temptations to idolatry.

Here is the key: No financial planner can help with idolatry.  You can avoid debt, do wise planning, prepare for retirement, save appropriately - and still be in slavery to greed.  I think of a wealthy man I met who was worth tens of millions of dollars.  His goal was to hoard more tens of millions, not to invest it for the glory of God.

That is foolishness. Only Christ's death atones for our foolishness, and only the power of the Spirit can bring us back to worship Him and live in freedom in him.

Trusting him is the root of all wise use of money.  Trusting him kills greed, a desire for more and more, stinginess, pride of possessions, reckless spending and borrowing, foolish investing.

Begin with Christ.  Confess the sin of greed and unbelief.  Admit to him that you want to have what you want to have and use what he has given you for your lusts.  He will meet you with grace.  Then ask him for grace to evaluate your motives.  Get help from other looking at your lifestyle.  Review your spending, habits of life, giving or lack of giving.  Trusting his provision settles the soul and gives divine grace to those with hearts are ofetn drawn to greed. 

God and Money, 2

Jesus spoke a lot about money.  That must be because we think about it alot.  But he does not give advice on budgeting.  He speaks to the heart.

In Luke 12 a man comes to Jesus to get his assistance in resolving an estate dispute.  Jesus does not deal with the details -- he deals with the heart.  He warns them about greed -- he tells them that life is not enriched by abundance of possessions -- and he calls them to trust God to provide for them. 

Jesus cuts to the heart as he addresses people’s concerns about money.  The passage tells of a dispute about inheritance, the accumulation of wealth, and worry about having enough to live.  Jesus speaks to all of these with a clear description of the character of our faithful God.  He calls his children to trust God, not to be fearful or anxious. 

This is the heart of all matters financial.  Budgeting, use of credit cards, a desire to have things, a sense of security from money, paying bills and working to care for a family -- these are all expressions of faith in a faithful God.

Our actions and attitudes about money are statements about God. When I want more and take high risks to get it, I am accusing God of being unfaithful and unwise. I am saying that he has not given me what I need.  When I spend all I have and have not given to others or my church, I am refusing to trust God with my needs, and making generosity a matter of leftovers, not faith.

Budgeting and spending is always an expression of what we believe about God. Start with God, not your checkbook.  Look at your habits and ask what they say about God. Ask yourself questions and get others to ask you questions.  Here are some questions to consider.

1. Are you living for more stuff?  Do you ever have the thought that if you just made more, owned a newer car, had a bigger house, wore nicer clothes -- then you would have real life?  That's a lie.  You may never own a home and you can have fruitful and joyous life through Christ.  You may always drive really used cars, and you can know grace and love.
2. Do you use credit cards, leveraging, home equity to accumulate more?  Isn't that a belief that life equals stuff?  Do you sell wisdom out to get what you want?  Did you buy into a high risk mortgage because you just had to have a house? 
3. Are you anxious about money?  Do you fear for the future? Anxiety is the fruit of trusting in and pursuing money.  Our hearts are factories for idols, and idols both disappoint us and enslave us.  Only God is our trust and he will not fail us.

The only antidote to greed and anxiety about money is the faithful love of God for his people.  Christ died to bear our sin and make us his own.  The Father will provide for his blood-bought children.

God and Money, 1

A few months back I did a seminar for our people and their friends on God and Money.  Apparently this is a subject most find unappealing as the only people who came were in financial services of some sort.  Yet, those who came said it was surprising material.  We did not talk about budgets or investments -- we talked about the heart of faith and love and how that revealed itself in money matters.

I want to do some posting on this subject.  As I do so I must extend a reminder that there is grace in Christ for us to repent and be renewed even when unbelief has ruled our lives in money matters and left us in a mess.  There is always hope because Jesus died and rose again for sinners like us. 

Let's begin with some questions:

1. Has the recent recession hit you hard, revealing a heart of worry and the idolatry of money? Do you find yourself checking investment news often?
2. Have you been hit had because you built your future on a high risk house purchase or high debt planning?  Have you borrowed on your home equity to buy things?
3. Do you carry a monthly balance on your credit card?  Do you think this is acceptable?  Or is it just a necessity for now?
4. If you sold everything you have, would you be able to pay off debts or would you be bankrupt?  Do you have a plan to reduce debt?
5. Do you live a life where you support yourself with work or do you live off the support of others (whether parents, government, benevolence)?  This is a question of overall lifestyle, not temporary necessities or schooling. Scripture makes clear we are to work to supply for ourselves and not live off others, so that those who cannot take care of themselves may be cared for.
6. Are you content with what God has given you or do you live for more stuff and borrow to live better than God has ordained for you?
7. Do you give generously or only as a last resort?
8. Are you aware of how much you have, how much you are paid, how much you spend?
9. When you give do you seek to control or do you give freely and gladly, releasing control to God and church leaders?  Do you use giving as a "vote"?

There are more, but that should be a beginning.

All of these questions are not matters of financial management but of heart management.  All of them relate to whether I believe and trust my Savior to be all-loving, always faithful, perfectly able to supply my needs, and as giving me what he knows I need now.

more happy but not more secure

I grew up in the Christian world of charts and maps and beasts.  I cut my eye teeth on the rapture, as it is called by the Left Behind authors.  But those details of the "end times" are no longer of any interest to me.

I will not give all my reasons.  But I will give the simplest one -- the focus of the Bible is not on the details, but on one fact: we shall see His face.  In this all Christians of all centuries agree.

Reflecting on this truth -- that Christ will return, judge the world, remove sin, and create a new heavens and a new earth -- led me to consider some old songs.  One of them had words I found quite stunning.

Toplady wrote that those who are in Christ when they see his face will "be happy but not more secure."  Think about that.

For someone who has been graced with the forgiveness of sin and has come to rest in the sacrifice of Christ -- seeing him will bring vast joy, infinite joy. We will be far happier than the happiest Christian now.  But, says Toplady, we will not be more secure.  Today I am as protected and kept by Christ as I will be on that day. 

Expand on that with me.  Will Christ love his people more then, than he does now? Will Christ delight in us more then, than he does now?  Will Christ exercise more power toward us then than he does now?

No -- I am as fully loved, fully accepted, fully forgiven, fully protected by God today as I ever shall be. I will see and taste it more clearly then, but I will be no more protected and secure then. 

So, look around. If you are in Christ today -- you are in the midst of a variety of personal trials.  And our society and economy are fragile.  H1N1 virus threatens you.  Blogs tell you that you have to watch out for pesticides on your food, not trust MD's, prepare for a certain natural disaster by storing food, etc.

On that day, you will face none of those threats.  But today you do.

On that day you will be loved, protected. cared for, secure forever.  Today you are just as loved, protected, cared for, and secure.

Here is what God says to his people in light of this truth: Banish sadness.  Fear not. 

Bay Area Action

I love the SF Bay Area.  Not only is it a fascinating place to live, but it is one of the most difficult places in the US for Christians and for new churches.  That is my kind of place.  

That is why I am excited about a new journal that is the fruit of a movement to bring the Gospel to the Bay.  That is, the Gospel, good news, not good advice -- an announcement of what God has done in Christ, not a religious discipline, a moral code, a therapeutic insight, or some sort of inner light.  

My friend Justin Buzzard took the initiative.  Another friend, Toby Kurth (who is planting our Sovereign Grace Church in the heart of the city), contributed. 

Check out this new journal HERE. 

» 3 Truths That Change Your Life Buzzard Blog

My friend Justin is back to blogging.  Check out his great thoughts.

via www.buzzardblog.com

Contending For The Gospel |

What is the Gospel and how do we effectively live it out in our lives, families and communities? Join us as we explore these questions together with engaging presentations by gifted and passionate speakers, plus powerful worship led by Josh Gumbert, Tyson & Julianna Morlet, and James Doezie.

via contendingforthegospel.com

If you are in the SoCal area -- check this out.